675-09-15 - Pain and Comfort
| Pain and Comfort | |||||||
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| Summary: Barbeta is devastated after speaking with her father, and finds comfort in strong, loving arms. | |||||||
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The heavy door of the young princess chambers are guarded by two heavily armored men. Though, even they glance at each other, not being able to stay indifferent to the storm inside. The clatter can be heard of a metal bowls rippling across the floor and a quiet murmuring of Esther. However, the sound is interrupted by the cry out shot through with disappointment, anger and sadness, "HE HAS TO DO WHAT SERVES FOR HIS COUNTRY? HE HAS NO CHOICE? DID HE EVEN ASK WHAT HIS COUNTRY WANTS?!!!!"
The words are followed with the angry scream and molar bowl breaking into the door. Even the guards flinch a bit in surprise, when it happens.
Casually making his way down the hall the noise draws the attention of Agostino, his dark eyes settling on the door and guards. He may not fully know his way around yet but generally if no one tries to block his path he will explore on his own. As the voice on the other side of the door sounds a bit familiar, after all how many people does the patrician of the Ningo really know in the Two Rivers capital? Making his way over dressed in a crimson tunic, leather sandals, and the seemingly ever-present dire wolf pelt cloak the tall man silently turns to head for the door at a calm pace.
The quiet whispering of another woman, who happens to be Esther, can be heard once again. Though, it is hard to understand her words, which would remind just a quietly murmuring wind in the forest. Though, she is interrupted once again. This time the voice of the young princess is just mad, "GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" She spits out. Each sentence is stressed out with the bump of something into the wall. The door opens, a silver goblet flies out of the room and bumps into the opposite wall, landing on the floor and rippling closer to the feet of Agostino. Esther was just on time to lean her head to the side, avoiding the goblet, and then close the door, before something huskily strikes it again. Poor handmaiden, all sweating and with her eyes widely opened leans against these door and sighs, did not noticing Agostino at first.
Pausing as something flies out of the room to strike the wall Agostino looks to Esther and approaches her offering a respectful nod and asks in the Ningo language, "What troubles my bride-to-be?" in a calm, casual voice.
The shouting ends up and just a very heart-tearing sobbing can reach the pair from behind the door. Esther shakes her head and whispers to Agostino, even if nobody can understand their language, "Misfortune!" she says, "Misfortune, Agostino!" She calls the man in his name, maybe, still not being able to believe, that he is the King of Ningo. After all, she met him as if he would be a random warrior. "I fear, that whole alliance may be useless. The King, father of my dear princess, decided to marry again. The young princess feels devastated. The King took away her Gods, Agostino. Now he wants to take away her mother and get rid of her. At first, he talked how the grandchild will be able to be heir. But now, he decided it is time to stop grieving for the lost wife, mother of Barbeta. He will marry Sigrid Bjornsvartr, niece to King Hroaldr Gylkrohn. He is the King of Estoria. If that woman will give birth to a male boy, he will be announced as the heir. The King will forget his daughters from the first marriage, sending them away to their husbands lands. If that will happen, and the King Barret will die... Nobody can be sure, that the woman won't try to kill princess Luanda and princess Barbeta as a treat to her son's succession. This way whole Kingdom of Two Rivers might fall in the hands of Estoria. Maybe not, maybe she is good woman, but nor you, nor Barbeta will ever see a throne of Two Rivers. You both will have Estoria as a rival too. They both will push Ningo out of Felaguria again. Moreover, King Barret learned that you have still alive two wives and you are married. He was furrious about it. He may want to break everything!"
Agostino listens and nods saying, "I only have one surviving wife. As to the rest, they would be hard pressed to bring her to harm when surrounded by my people once she proves worthy of a title. As to the king, is it certain he can still have children at his age, or that he will even live long enough to produce them? If he is angered by my surviving wife then arrange a meeting with him and I will explain matters to him. The one advantage we have is that your translations can be cast into doubt on minor matters such as my wives, a 'misunderstanding' of sorts. Whether true or not. I have faced several challenges in the past, I have grown accustomed to soothing tempers." He speaks in his own language and seems quite calm and casual in his tone. Though are his question simple musings or would he attempt something? Who can tell with someone from such a different culture.
Esther shakes her head, "Your wives are not the main matter. I care just for my princess, Agostino. She must become a new Queen or your and hers son has to become King of our Kingdom. We would bring back our Gods. My princess is serving for her Gods. I am serving for her,serving for the gods too.It may be confusing, but it is very important. I am telling you, if that woman will marry the King, you will see your alliance, lands and glory like you can see your ears now. Please, come in, calm down my princess. You both are almost family right now. You both have similar goals... You understand, what I am suggesting, I am sure."
Agostino nods and says, "I understood you had no faith since your gods abandoned you. I will speak with her, we can discuss your faith later. What age was Barbeta when she lost her mother?"
"She was 15 years old, when she lost her mother. The same year, almost the same month, she lost her two brothers and younger sister. It was a plague. After that plague, our King burned all the temples. He blamed the Gods for everything, when Gods had nothing to do with it. So,since then, Barbeta never smiled. She promised, that she will become the son, whom her father lost. She didn't care about anything, but knowledge, training.Her view into the world changed. She wakes up each day and prepares herself for the war. She wants that memory of her mother would stay alive forever through her. She wants to bring back the Gods to our lands. People love our princess, believe me. People love her."
Agostino nods and says, "I lost my mother when I was only ten, my father not long after. Though a plague would explain why we noticed a steady decrease in resistance to our raids." he then gestures to the door passively.
Esther nods, hearing the man's words, "You two may be quite similar. Maybe it was a destiny, what lead you into each other hands..." She shrugs, giving a shy smile to Agostino, before turning to the door. The sobbing still can be heard. Esther knocks twice on the door, "Your Highness... May we come in. Patrician Agosgtino is here. He would like to speak..." The sobbing just becomes more loud and Barbeta mumbles something unclear. Esther risks. She slowly starts opening the heavy door. For her own surprise,no things are tossed their way. When the door will be opened fully, the pair will see Barbeta Brais laying on the middle of the ground. She is curled into the blanket and her wide wide skirts. The girl is crying,not even looking at the people, who come in.
Agostino says, "I'd attribute it more to you then fate." smiling back. As the door is opened Agostino simply walks in as though he owns the place and gestures back to Esther to close the door. Once he hears the door close he simply walks over and attempts to scoop Barbeta up into his arms to hold her close if she allows it. Seemingly holding her in a close embrace to lend her support to allow her to feel his strong arms around her. At least if she allows it.
Barbeta wraps her arms around Agostino, when the man comes. She squeezes him tightly and slides into his armful. Though, she keeps her face burried into the man's chest, that the man wouldn't see her red from crying face. Her sobbing reminds that one of a baby. So honest.
Agostino simply holds her much as a father would hold his daughter, but as he told Barret he has two daughters, one of which is fifteen winters. Waiting a bit he says in a soft voice, "Tell her what I told you about my parents." as he gives a little bit of a squeeze, likely to not only offer extra support but also to help her in case the subject strikes her deeper then planned. Nothing else it will prove he can understand how she feels, even if their cultures mean they handle things differently. Not to mention the fact he's in his late thirties.
Barbeta is not in the need of words. She can feel the support, just cuddling to the man. However, when Esther speaks, the girl starts sobbing even more. Esther tries to explain for the princess, "He lost his mother when he was only ten, his father not long after... He understands, what do you feel. Agostino is a good man. Trust him. He will be beside you. He treated me nicely, when I was taken to him. He will help..." Barbeta curls even more,almost curling on the man's knees. She turns her gaze to Esther and whispers incredibly quietly something. Esther can't hear what the princess says. So she kneels and comes closer, cuddling her ear to Barbeta's lips. The princess repeats her words. Then Esther looks at Agostino and speaks in his language, "She wants to see that woman dead. Otherwise, she will lose her father, her kingdom, her whole family, all these people she loves. She promises to be faithful wife to you, if you could bring news of that woman's death as the wedding present to her."
As Barbeta sinks down, Agostino adjust his grip on her body and simply lifts her up like a child, as she simply hangs in his arms as he supports her weight for her and says softly to Esther, "I will do what I can, the alliance makes things delicate and I must see what opportunities become available." as he holds his bride-to-be like a child. However obvious their age gap might be normally this position shows how much larger he is physically and her emotional state and his support shows how much of an experienced man and how much of a child she still is, likely more then the size difference.
Esther quickly translates that sentence of Agostino to Barbie, what makes the girl quickly offer a smile, even if some tears are still rippling across her cheeks. She wraps her hands around Agostino's neck and places a peck on his cheek, if allowed, "Thank you..." She says and Esther quickly translates that, if needed. Then Barbeta starts rubbing her eyes with her hands, trying to clean the tears. "He changed. Someone changed my father or he always was like that... I am not sure... What a shame, Esther. Ago saw me like this!" The girl rolls her eyes and Esther chuckles, translating to Ago, "Now she is worried, that you saw her in such a state."
Agostino smiles softly at the translation and says, "Yet I also saw you smile which I am told has become a rarity." He doesn't stop her from giving him a peck on the cheek as he adjust his grip to place his forearm under her rump, hoisting a bit higher up so he can drop one arm and reach up to gently wipe her face as well if she allows it and adds, "I have two daughters don't forget, even a Principessa or a Principe has need for tears at times." as though understanding the need fully, perhaps he even shed tears when his own parents died. What would a ten year old Agostino look like, crying for his lost parents?
Esther translates Ago's words,sighing a bit and whispering under her nose, "Would be so much more easier if you could speka with each other without me..." She chuckles. Barbeta nodnods, "I do hope that you daughters won't be so mad like I am,when you will bring me to your home..." And Esther translates that question.
Agostino chuckles softly and says, "It is Ningo culture, they know of it. You are a bit younger then typical, but you are old enough to be wed by our traditions. Fortunately my eldest has been through this before and can deal with his younger siblings if needed. Though he might be a few winters older then you."
When Esther translates all this, Barbeta nods and just husg Ago, resting in his arms quietly. She does not say much anymore. Though, Esther adds in both language, "Maybe you two want to learn the language of each other finally?"
Agostino looks to Esther and says, "I requested such without her knowing as a gift for our wedding, though it would appear I have a more serious gift to consider."
Esther says, "Yes. I believe, that if you both would come to my lessons together, it may help you two to become more close,get to know each other, you know!" Barbeta just continues calmly laying in her to-be-husband arms.
Agostino nods and says, "You are the only one who is fluent in both languages, you are welcome to do so, though I believe some things do not require translation." he then wraps his free arm around Barbeta's shoulders and starts to sing softly. He's hardly a very good singer, but his voice is low and soft, and his voice rumbles well in his chest as he cradles Barbeta.
