675-12-08 - Royal Talks 2: Madalyn

Royal Talks 2: Madalyn
Summary: After Nathan it is Madalyn's turn to speak with her mother.
Who: Abegayle Onimus and Madalyn Onimus References: re:Nathan Onimus, re:Jerrick Onimus, re:Moshe Machuri, re:Edris Alachri, re:Nimoria When: December 8th, 675 Related Logs: The Queen's talk with Nathan Date of RP: 30-31/12/2014 Where: The Queen's Chambers, Isle of the Crown, The Isles Room Desc: This room is massive, roughly a quarter of the size of the Great hall of the castle. The ceiling is vaulted, around the edges of the room the vault is less pronounced compared to the center of the room. Pillars can be found in the center of the room, helping to support the ceiling above. The pillars are crimson in color with decorative vines winding their way up the pillars with the blooms of roses, lilies, and canary creepers stud the decorative vines in ways to enhance the beauty. The blooms and vines both are covered in gold leif. The ceiling is adorned with decorative patterns around the edges of each slope of the vaults, with a cascade of decorative feathers adorn the arches between the vaults. All of the decorative touches including the feathers are inlaid gold. The floor is white marble like the rest of the castle, though a large collection of various rugs and furs cover the floor. This both covers most of the white and also provides a warm, soft surface to walk upon as opposed to the cold, hard marble underneath. Hanging from the crest of each vault are golden chandeliers with tallow candles. Silken crimson sleeves cover the chains which connect the chandeliers to the ceiling above. Entering from the main hall the first thing one typically sees is a large portrait of Matyas Onimus, the husband of Queen Abegayle Onimus, which is centered on the wall. Surrounding this portrait are other portraits, all in gold frames, of the Queen or her husband, or the two of them together. Opposite the wall of portraits and a few feet from the door to the main hall is a massive bed with an intricately carved headboard and baseboard, covered entirely in gold leif. Running between two of the central pillars as well as between those same pillars and the wall is a golden frame that surrounds the bed, from which hang silken curtains of crimson with a golden trim and also stitched in gold is the sigil of House Onimus itself. To the left of the main entry doors are windows covering the entire wall to let in the light of the sun, and perhaps to enjoy sunrises as well. The windows are framed in gold and panes of the finest glass fills the spaces between. A few plush benches have been arranged by the windows to allow one to sit and enjoy the view. Opposite the windows is a wall with a set of double-doors matching those that lead out into the main hall, crimson in color with decorative golden frames and knobs. This door leads to an antechamber for use by the Queen and her husband only, and is almost always closed. The rest of the room is furnished with end tables, chairs, couches, a desk, and a table as well. All of these are crimson in color with gold trim, accents, or the like.

The healer disappears briefly to see Nathan to the sleeping chamber of Queen Abegayle. But soon the elderly man will be back, closing the door behind him gently. He will sit down on a bench, his hands folded before him. Some time passes until the youngest Onimus prince returns. Even so, when the royal enters, the healer will rise from his seat, and his gaze will shift from Nathan to Madalyn. “I believe it is your turn now, your highness,” he says, offering his arm to support the princess. The young white-haired woman has been severely injured and probably still suffers from the consequences.

Should she come along, he will lead her into the sleeping chamber, over to a chaise-longue that has been pulled a little closer to the bed. The healer will make sure Madalyn is safely settled there, before he offers a bow to both the queen and the princess and heads out again., leaving the two of them behind. Madalyn will notice the curtains are drawn, keeping the light of day out of the room. There are torches at the walls however, that offer a dim lighting, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows.

The figure in the bed will straighten when she sees her daughter. “Madalyn,” she greets, the voice a shadow of her former determination. There is a slight tremble in her tone, pointing to the fact that she is already quite fatigued. “It is good to see you are well.” The smile the Queen of the Isles offers Madalyn seems to be genuine enough.

The young pale princess moves slowly into the chambers of her mother. It's good that healer extands his arms, allowing Madalyn to lean on him a bit. She still feels a pain on the right side of her stomach, what makes each step pretty hard.

However, no bandages are seen. She is wearing purely white dress, which does not expose a single inch of skin from her neck down. The gown is full of elegance and gives a lot of grace even for the injured princess.

She stops at the end of the Queen's bed and lowers her look shyly to the ground, "Mother..." The girl whispers and there is a tiny smile on the girl's futures, even if quite worried. Madalyn peeks at the Queen, but quickly lowers her gaze again. She folds her hands in front of herself, "I was scared, that I may die, not even able to say, how I love you, mother..."

Abegayle looks up, just in time to catch that glance of her daughter. Her brows lift just a tad when she notices the frailness about the young princess, her health that has not fully recovered yet. A pause follows as that realization sinks in, the queen changing into her regal poise as she sits in her bed, her back straight. "Onimoria was kind, child. She let you live. Alas, your own mother may have little time left..." The admission comes with a sigh. "You need to be strong, Madalyn. Now tell me. What has happened to you, since you left for Two Rivers?"

Madalyn's eyes widen. She raises her look up and springs forward to take a seat beside Abegayle. Well, her spring might be not as quick as it could be, but she does her best to appear as quickly close to her mother as possible, "Shhh... Just lay down. You will get better, mother. You still need to find a Mistress of Coins to your Queen's Council. I managed to speak with King Barret Brais, and he agreed to allow Luanda to marry Jerrick. Well, if she will like him, of course. But he will reconsider it!" She speaks in one breath and then exhales.

"Mother, I fixed my mistakes. Now, you need to get better and... am... rule!" Madalyn smiles, but, somehow, fearfully.

"Well... I just remember, how everything was good. I managed to fix my mistakes, and then... Storm came. When I woke up, I was in a tent and two healers were taking care of me. There was another woman, also. She used to come to me. She had a snake around her eye. Wonderful drawing. But I do not remmeber things clearly. I used to wake up, and fall asleep again. But they were good for me. If not they..." She sighs and leans on the bed if allowed, just to wrap her one arm around mother's body and place her head on it gently, "I love you, mother."

Abegayle leans back a little when Madalyn encourages her to. A faint smile appears when her daughter assures her that she will get better. "Maybe. But it is also possible, that my life is coming to an end. You did well, in speaking with the Two Rivers King. The idea to bring the Princess here was good. I only wish you had not run into these complications... The pirates..." Her voice trails of and she raises her hand to place it over her chest. "It is important that this Princess weds one of my sons. Jerrick, if she'll like him. But I hear she is quite taken with Nathan..."

The Queen listens to Madalyn's account of what has happened to her at the pirate camp. A brow is raised. "That woman with the beautiful drawing, as you call it, was that pirate leader wench. She is dead now. She held your brother captive and tried to blackmail Us to give her an island. She sent a finger, claiming it was his. But instead she cut a finger off of one of Nathan's men." A coldness has entered the tone of Queen Abegayle Onimus. "You need to grow up, Madalyn. Fast! Right now I can feel how even this little conversation tears at me, uses up all of my energies, child. You WILL BE Queen, when I die. You need to remember that. And grow with your tasks." One arm wraps about Madalyn when she comes closer and leans on the bed, although there is an almost desperate urgency about her mother, both in her tone and in her demeanour. "You are my daughter. I love you, too." This added, after another moment. In an exhausted sigh.

"I am sorry, mother... I understand, mother!" Madalyn nods quickly, hearing Abegayle's words, "I... must be Queen, but you won't die. Not now, not soon. No. Onimoria loves you and respects you, and Nimoria is here, right? She will do everything to convince Marqueritte, that it's still not your time, mother!" Madalyn looks at Abegayle with widely opened and full of hope eyes. Tears start rippling across the girl's cheeks, "Mother, if you allow... I want to tell you, that maybe the woman done horrible things, but she may have reasons for that. Some people are soo poor, or so hurted by something, what..."

Madalyn hugs Abegayle and cuddles her cheek to the woman, "I am sorry mother. You need to rest. Just rest. Just lay down."

The girl releases the Queen and withdraws a bit, giving enough space for the Queen.

"You have the Council, they will help you," Abegayle says with a firmness in her tone. "And no, I will not ask Nimoria to contact Margeruitte. I am useless, in the state you see me in here. My heart... it hurts. Breathing hurts. You have no idea, child." Her tone turns softer when she sees the tears on her daughter's face. "You may cry now, Madalyn. Just make sure you dry your tears before you leave this chamber again." A shake of the head comes at the remark of the pirate. "Your own people always come first. Always remember that. She may have had her reasons, but that does not justify her actions. She got what she deserved. And no, I can't rest yet. Not till I've spoken with all of my children... I've hoped for my health to get better, but it is unchanged. It may get worse again soon...."

"No, mother!" Madalyn frowns and cleans her tears from cheeks with these pale fragile fingers, "Don't speak like that. It sounds as if you want to leave us. No. You must be strong, you must not give up. Believe, that you will get out of this bed and we will..." Madalyn sighs, "Everything will be alright, mother..." The girl leans to brush woman's hair gently, "Zephan was really great, I heard. The way he tried to save us all. He is very good. Also, Abell is amazing husband, amazing father and he is your best son!" The girl giggles, "I do hope he will come to visit us all soon. He is so busy in the Island of his wife. You were... am... you are..." the girl's voice trembles, "the best mother in the world and I am sorry for everything!" She leans to place a peck on mother's forehead, "People are waiting for you to come back!"

"Zephan..." Abegayle frowns at the mention of the name. "He did for once the right thing. Yet it was Nathan who killed the pirate wench. Zephan is of course not to be considered for Princess Luanda. He is a lost case. He has always opposed me. No... it is Jerrick I need to speak with. He has brought forth a concern, a wish to marry. I need to speak with him about that. Maybe... maybe Nathan is the one to secure our bond to Two Rivers... And Jerrick may be doing a similar thing for us, he could be our connection to Onimoria herself. As he's expressed interest in Nimoria, Madalyn." Her breathing has become labored, as if she were putting all of what is left of her strength into providing all of this information to her daughter. "Oh... And this woman who bore Nathan's bastard, I... have offered her a chance to redeem herself. The child has been taken from her... Lady Adara will know the details. The bastard will be brought up to serve the Isles as a Whisper. Upon my orders. You may give this Edris a task here in the castle. Or something else entirely. I will leave it upto you." Abegayle exhales with a a pained grimace. "You need to remember all of this I am telling you now, Madalyn. This is... important."

The girl listens intentively and nods, "Yes mother, but... I am sorry for asking, but... Nimoria? Isn't she a priestess? It would be a bad example. Priestesses can't have families. They must be devoted to our Patrons. Plus, Onimoria is always with us. DO we really need such marriage? I am not saying... if he loves her..."

The girl lowers her head and sighs, "Mother, I fear, that Nimoria... I am not sure... She is... but maybe I am just silly girl. I thought, maybe Jerrick could find love in Estoria, if Nathan likes Luanda. It's actually nice, if they will marry from love. Actually... I may be in love myself," the huge smile flashes in her futures, but then it quickly disappears too. "I am sorry mother..." She says it again and then nods a bit, "Could that other woman be my handmaiden? I... I lost my handmaiden in the storm."

"We don't need Jerrick to marry Nimoria," Abegayle admits after a short moment of consideration. "I will ask him about his thoughts in this, however. After all, YOU are the heir. You need to marry, Madalyn, and have some daughters to rule the Isles after you're gone. So... I gather you have already someone in your mind...?" That huge smile has not escaped her notice, and her gaze lingers attentively on Madalyn. "As for this Edris... she could certainly become your handmaiden. Her qualifications go beyond that, though. She has been a Chief Whisper, she has been abroad. You may ask her for advice, but if you do, keep it between the two of you. If anyone should learn about a Queen relying on the counsel of a former brothel madame who has borne a royal bastard, it will damage our reputation..."

Madalyn nods, "Yes, mother. I will keep that in mind and I will not show my... am... that I trust her in public, or that I ask her advices. Yes. Mother. Thank you. I saw the woman a few times and she looks really lovely. I will go straight to her after our conversation and I will inform her of her new station. She will be able to join my old handmaiden's chambers."

The young princess’s chambers are connected with her handmaiden's chambers just in case. After all, day or night, she must be close to the heir.

"And about that someone..." Girl's smile goes wide again and she leans closer to whisper, "I talked with that person many times. He is very kind, very good, very caring. He is... am... handsome," Madalyn's cheek blush and the blush looks heavier than it actually is on her pale futures. "He is my saviour. He is named sir Moshe Machuri... I do like him. A lot, mother."

Abegayle watches Madalyn attentively, before she inclines her head. "Trust her as far as is comfortable for you. But watch out that she doesn't interact too much with Nathan. After all they have had an affair, please keep that in mind. If all goes well, he may be leaving for Two Rivers anyway soon, anyway." She leans back again, obviously relieved she has managed to address the matters she needed to address. A smile curls her lips when Madalyn speaks of her crush - that smile fades at once when the name of the man leaves her daughter's lips. "Sir Moshe Machuri? The Machuri bastard? No way, Madalyn. A bastard to become the husband of the next queen? Impossible! No way can you marry him. In questions of marriage, you should seek the advice of the Council." Again she draws a deep breath, and the queen frowns again, probably due to the pain in her chest.

Madalyn sighs. She did not expect her mother’s support on the matter, after all. She had too many times, hearing - "No way can you marry him." Poor thing heard these words since she fell in love first time in her life and she was 12 years old then? Yes, it was that really funny stable boy then!

Madalyn notices mother's frown and stands up. She leans to kiss mother's forehead, "Yes, mother. Thank you for your advice. Now you should rest. Everything will be alright," the girl tries to convince herself more than her own mother,likely, "You need to rest. I will go and I will come back tomorrow. Just to check on you, mother. I love you!" The girl curtsies and starts to withdraw backwards, watching the woman with some kind of worry in her eyes.

Abegayle nods, a faint smile flickering over her features. "Be well, my daughter. And keep everything I told you in mind for the future. Whatever will happen..." Again, there is that urgency in her tone. One hand is raised, maybe in a gesture of bidding her farewell, before the queen leans bank, sinking into the cushion, her skin suddenly looking very pale. "A brief moment of rest... before I speak with the others. Jerrick... Zephan..." Her voice trails off as her eyes close, for a brief second.

They will open again in the moment, the door falls shut behind Madalyn. There are still more conversations to be had...