675-09-04 - A Foolish Father's Concern
| A Foolish Father's Concern | |||||||
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| Summary: The King has a talk with his daughter, after his first encounter with Patriarch Agostino. | |||||||
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It is much later on that same day, where the princess has returned - luckily in one piece and unharmed, after causing some at the court a most hard time, and one particular person a lot of grief. It may come as no surprise then, that this one person summons the princess to the audience chamber, by early evening. Once Barbeta enters she will find her father on his seat. All courtiers have been sent away, leaving only a pair of guards by the door. Barret will raise his gaze to meet that of his daughter and a faint smile will warm his features.
"Barbeta." The name is murmured rather than spoken as he gestures for her to take a seat on a chair beside his own.
When Barbie enters the room, she wanted to just run and hug her father. However, his slightly serious posture stops the girl. She shifts from one foot to another, before inhaling deeply, straightening and walking to take a seat.
Her black gown fits closely to the body until the midhip and then widens gradually to the hem. The neckline is shaped like the top half of a heart, stressing out her young forms. The wide and posh silver necklace attracts the gaze to her chest even more. The black as a burned stump stone is inlaid in the middle of the necklace.
When she settles, the girl whispers, "Father."
Barret's head turns at the whisper, and he shoots his daughter a long glance before he lowers his gaze. One hand reaches to take hers, and he squeezes it gently. "It is good you're back," he says, the corners of his mouth twitching lightly. "Do you know, you've caused your father many a sleepless night?"
The girl's smile grows, when she feels the touch of her father, "I know, father. Though, I did it all for our people, for you! What worth are these sleepless nights, these few sleepless nights, when the war was upon our heads. We could lose many lifes and yours. But now... We might safe it! I knew I will come back. I had my talents, Esther and Tukus. I am sorry father, but to be honest... I know I was right to do so."
Barret turns his head again, bushy brows lifting above his brown eyes. "Why? Why make a secret of it? Why not /play/" - a faint smirk as he uses the word - "with open cards, Barbeta? Why lie about your handmaiden? Why..." He sighs, his brows furrowing as a line appears between them. "Why run away with an escort of merely two guards? Were you completely out of your mind?" Air leaves his lungs as the king exhales, the sign for his daughter that he is done yet. "You could have been kidnapped, killed, or even worse, child. Are you aware of that?"
Barbeta raises her gaze up to the ceilings. She sits like that for a few thoughtful minutes, before she answers, "Father, you can tell me anything you want. You may try to lie to me right now, but be honest with yourself. If I would have told you, that I want to send Esther to find these barbarians, learn their language, meet with their leader and propose alliance and marriage to me... Would you allowed? Would you allowed her to go? Later go for me and organize everything? Do the main talking? I don't think so. You would have send your Master of Spies with me or Esther. We would be surrounded by men, because you all want to rule here as if you would be better. Or maybe you would have sned my sister, because the first born daughter is somehow better than the second? Al this is so unfair. That is why I had to leave without letting you to know. I knew that I will come back."
"I would have sent more people with you, to guard you, child." Barret affirms. "I wouldn't have allowed esther to go alone by herself and unprotected. Aye. You are either not very caring for her safety, or just a very naive, little girl. I am glad none of you two came to harm. But I am angry at you for taking the risk. I am sure a meeting could have been arranged under other circumstances. In fact, there has been a small company been sent towards the Dark Forest to gather information. Just tell me... I understand you care little for your own safety. But to put your own handmaiden into that risk... seems very hard for me to understand." Another sigh follows. "And no. This is not because I would think men are superior to women. But women, especially those as young as you are in danger of getting violated in a way, that will be hard to recover from, when it happens..." And there Barret leans back and shakes his head.
Barbeta stands up, she leans against the table with her palms and leans closer to her father, fixing her dark gaze on him. She doesn't look angry, she doesn't look sad, disappointed or mad. Though, for a moment, something really scary glints in her gaze and the young girl may look quite dangerous, "OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES!" The young princess inhales deeply, before lowering her voice, "So, I was right? You would have offered that men or my sister would deal with all that and I would sit locked in my room, yes? Cause it would be better, right? Because I am too young, right?" She leans her head to the side, but keeps her gaze fixed on the King, "NO, father. I don't play like this. Not anymore. I am older than you think. I saw much more than most of the children in other kingdoms. I saw Gods and how they were banished. I saw the death of my mother and brothers. I burned with the people of our Kingdom on these flames during the plague. I heard each tear, I touched each ash and it burned. With each dead body I saw I grew up older and older and I am almost the same age as you are. I read more books than my sister, I shot more arrows than your master of spies. So, I am sorry, but I am no longer play according your rules. I create my own rules. We live in the endless war and just the strongest survive. I make sure you, that I am the strong one."
Barbeta leans back and straightens, "That handmaid, you are so carring for, is the reason why your daughter is so strong. She lived in the woods since a very young age. She lived alone and survived. She is like tehse barbarians, forest is her home and she can kill the man quicker than any knight around. She walks more quietly than your master of spies. She is the shadow itself. That guy you have and trust so much is just a table boy comparing with her. I care for Esther, that is why I trust her. She had her stud and Tukus. These three can't be defeated and I feel more safe with them than these guards you sign on me. Plus, I have... (*my gods...* the young princess thinks in her thoughts during the pause) my own talents," Barbie finishes.
Barret's gaze hardens during Barbeta's outbreak. "Foolish girl! Who is speaking of your sister? Noone! I was merely worried! Unwilling to lose yet another of my children! You may have faith in your handmaiden. I am happy nothing happened to her, as I said! Because /I/ of all would have felt responsible if she had come to harm. More than you obviously would have, Barbeta. So... let's leave it at that. However..." And here he sighs again, his hand now letting go of Barbeta. "It is your wish to marry that man. If it will serve the Two Rivers I will agree to it, aye. I only want to let you know, that I was scared to have lost you as well. That is all." His hand rises in a gesture, showing her out if she will. "A foolish father's concerns. A weakness in your eyes maybe. But one that makes me human, I suppose..."
"OH, SO I AM NOT A HUMAN?" Barbeta stands up and turns to leave. However, something stops her. She sways a bit. Her fingers curls into fists and then she turns back. The girl is crying. Tears are rippling across her cheeks like these two murmuring Rivers over her father's lands. Barbeta springs forward and leans in to give a firm hug for her father even if he will move away. She will find a way to catch him in her arms, "All I am doing is to prove somehoa to you, that I may be respected equally as all members of your council. I want you to be proud of me. You have no idea how it is hard to grow up in the shadows casted by others. I was lack of some air and just now I get my breath back, father!" She squeezes the man.
A strange sound comes from the depths of the king's throat, not unlike a low grumble, when Barbeta makes her retort. "It's the first time in a while that I hear you admit you are," he murmurs, arms closing about her slender frame when she jumps at him for a hug. He will hold her for a moment, his hand moving to the back of her head, stroking it soothingly. A bit of moisture blinking in his own eyes as well, but then again, maybe that is just an effect of the flickering torch light in the audience chamber. "The King is proud," he grumbles after a moment at a low volume. "Alas, the father almost died from worry about you." Then releasing his grasp about her he will lean back a little to study his daughter, his brown eyes flickering ever so slightly. "You have done our kingdom a great service. Your action, while showing your courage, has revealed a lack of consideration as well. Allow your father to point you to such. As long as I'm still able to do so." The tone is almost apologetic. But then a chuckle comes as he shakes his head. "You are intent to be married. To leave Two Rivers. Aren't you afraid of the path that may lay ahead of you?"
"Oh, father, if you have chosen me as your aprentice, I would have all the needed skills! I could be the son you lost. I could!" The girl nodnods eagerly, raising her gaze up to her father, "Afraid?" She chuckles, "I am curious! So many things waits for me there. Father, I promise you... That kingdom will become ours. I am not sure how they call their lands, but I promise, that I will lead their nation to get more lands. I will become their Queen and... Oh, father, I promise, that these two kingdoms will become one very strong!" Then young princess cuddles her head to father's chest again. She does not release him.
There is a curious glance Barret shoots her when she expresses her eagerness. Amusement fades a little from his face, when his expression becomes rather pensive for a moment as Barbeta continues. "You think so?", he muses, raising a brow. "I am not eager for more lands. I only wish our own kingdom would regain its old former glory. I am excited about this alliance, should it come about. Still... there are differences between Patrician Agostino and I, as there are between his people and ours." His hand still stroiking the dark curls of his daughter as she leans her head against him. "You will become a Ningo, Barbeta. A Queen. I'm not sure what they call that in their tongue. For now let me tell you that your Ningo leader seems to be far less barbaric than we would have assumed according to tales of old. I was... surprised about his reaction to my mention of dragons. About his remark that there are some, nesting in the Scales. Legends, old fairy tales... We are already beyond those, I fear."
"Never say never, father... Maybe dragons still live there!" And her father, likely, knows about Barbie's pasion for dragons. After all, her stud is named like that, "We are different, father. I know it more than you do. But I will learn everything about their culture. I will do anything to become their true Queen, whom they would respect. You will be proud of me,father." The girl smiles, "Is it all you needed from me?" She raises her gaze to the man's "I love you, father, but I would like to go back to Esther. She is teaching me Ningo language. Do you know, that Agostino offered her to come amd live with them? He offered her to become noble but she refused, because she wanted to be beside me."
A warm smile finally lightens up the king's features. "I admire your enthusiasm, and yes, if you will be as stubborn in pursuing your goal of becoming their respected Queen as you have been in carrying out this daring plan, I am sure you will succeed." His gaze follows her when Barbie slips away from him and he nods. "You can go now, child. Go to Esther. Good to know she is so loyal to you, dear." His smile is still there when his daughter turns to leave and moves towards the door. His expression turns a bit pensive though, after the door has shut behind her. Exhaling, the king will turn towards one of the windows, scratching his chin. "So far so good, little one. Noone of us can tell what the future holds in store for us...", he mutters more to himself. As the sun outside is approaching the horizon, shedding a marvelous glow that paints all the interior in a warm orange tone.
