676-01-09 - Conversation is over!
| Conversation is over! | |||||||
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| Summary: Lady Adara wanted to speak with princess Madalyn about "EDRIS' STUFF". | |||||||
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It had been a few days since Madalyn took on her new handmaiden. Adara asked Madalyn to meet her in the Queen’s Council Chambers. The Mistress of Whispers is wearing the colors of House Onimus in a formal gown and corset. The trim and accents of her modest and conservative attire done in the colors of House Zorich.
Adara waits in the Council Chambers for the future queen, sitting in the seat of the Mistress of Whispers. When Madalyn arrives Adara gestures to the Queen’s seat and says, “Please have a seat, I would like to speak with you.” Her tone is calm, almost motherly.
Madalyn walks inside and looks over the place as if she would be entering it for the first time. She is not here for the first time though. However, obviously, the girl looks around the room differently. The young Princess looks thoughtful and maybe even a bit sad, when she walks over the offered chair and sits down.
"Good evening, lady Adara," her soft voice whispers, but there is something in her tone, something unusual for the young princess as if she is ready for a fight.
Adara nods to Madalyn and asks, “I understand former Chief Whisper Edris has been given leave from the chambers she was assigned for her pregnancy. I believe her Handmaiden was also dismissed. This was with the Queen’s permission I am told, is that correct?” in calm, curious tone.
"Lady Adara," Princess Madalyn speaks slowly, quietly, but clearly, "I was told that you will be disappointed. I met with my mother,your Queen. She told me many things a d one of them was that... I must prepare myself... She is... weak she says. I am sure that she will get better. But anyway, she said that she leaves decision of Edris to me. I offered her to make mistress Edris as my handmaiden. I lost mine in the storm, after all. My Mother said, that I should keep my eye on her, but she approves my decision. Mistress Edris is my responsibility now and my servant. Not a Whisper anymore."
Adara nods and says, “I’m afraid its not that simple of a decision. There is much you are not aware of about Edris and Whispers.” Pausing a moment Adara says, “You know I consider you my own daughter. I want to help you and this kingdom become stronger, with that said I cannot in good conscience allow this without warning you strongly against it. Your brother Nathan tried to usurp the throne. He believed you were so unfit that the moment you took the throne the people would rise up and assassinate you. Under that foolish notion he secretly produced a bastard which he directly told me would be our replacement because they had royal blood. He was deluded, but he still did it. That is why his expedition to the Unknown World was granted, it was exile for treason.”
Adara lets that sink in for a moment then adds, “Whether Nathan’s experience has changed him I cannot say yet. Regardless Edris was the one carrying his seed, and when confronted with it, she didn’t express regret or concern. She was brazen about it, proud of it. She acted as though she were already the new queen, she even implied she was out of my control because she was under Nathan’s protection. Your mother was lost to grief and sorrow and allowed the child to live, feeling it would be her new heir. I believe she has now regained her mind and no longer seeks this end. The bastard has already been taken care of and is no one’s concern anymore. Edris however is still guilty of treason, I intended to send her away from the kingdom and Nathan so she could continue to serve as a Whisper and cleanse herself of the taint of treason through loyal service to the kingdom.”
Taking a breath Adara continues, “She is a Whisper, I know that you know such individuals act as spies, but you need to understand Whispers do this primarily by assuming whatever role will get them what they need. Normally this is a good thing as what they need is information to benefit the kingdom, yet the last time I spoke to Edris she showed signs she believed she was above our laws, and served only herself and Nathan’s treasonous plan. She would be too dangerous as your handmaiden. In addition to that I was already trying to find you a worthy Handmaiden, I was even considering looking at ones from other kingdoms to best serve you as the future queen. I ask that you reconsider this decision, I genuinely believe no good can come from it and that you may even be brought to harm.”
"First of all," calmly answers Madalyn, even if her fingers nervously runs across the edge of the table. The girl honestly tries to remain serious and firm, "My brother Nathan made one very important mistake. People love me. I care for the poors more than anyone. They love me and believe, that I am the real image of Onimoria, that I have her blood in my veins more than anyone else. That maybe her soul is in me... Not Nimoria," she sighs and lowers her gaze, "People love me and believe in me. These simple people, who are the strength of our Kingdom."
Then Madalyn grins a bit and looks at lady Adara, "You know who hate me? Nobles. Why? Because they are the ones who think that I am weak, or maybe differently? I am too strong to obey for their sins, for their intrigues and all that dark politics."
Madlayn listens more and shakes her head,"Thank you, I don't need strangers as my handmaidens. I better have former Whisper beside me. My mother warned me not to trust mistress Edris, but if she so easily became loyal to Nathan, who will be send away to the Kingdom of Two Rivers soon, likely, she may easily become loyal to me. Sometimes people chnage their loyalities. Sometimes enemies become your best friends. Edris will be my handmaiden and it's my last word as Princess Madalyn Onimus!" The girl stands up and shivers a bit.
"Lady Adara," she adds, "Remember, Edris is no longer a Whisper. That will be a good punishment for her. She will no longer serve to you. She is my handmaiden and she will brush my hair from now on. This conversation is over and if you do not have any other matters to discuss..." The girl inhales deeply, gathering all her bravery, "Then I will go..." First time in her life she tried to stand up on her own believes, and she tried to be strong! A tiny grin of pride shows up in her pale features.
Adara nods to Madalyn and says, “Forgive my informality, but Madalyn. I care for you I do. I know the people love you, I don’t doubt this. It is why I said Nathan’s plans were stupid and foolish, he was blinded by a lust for power. I was simply looking for candidates to be your new Handmaiden, I would have had no issue with you picking the one you liked most. A queen still listens to her advisors, and you will likely be queen soon, even if I hope I am wrong. I care a great deal for your mother as I do for you. I am not simply telling you what I think you want to hear. I genuinely do consider you a daughter.Your brother Jerrick seems to even be considering marrying my eldest daughter Liat. I’m not sure yet how I feel about this, she is my child after all. I feel that same concern for you. Yes loyalties can change, but there is an old saying. Take a traitor into your charge and you risk the same fate. I do not want to see you hurt, and Edris was a Chief Whisper in the capital, she has a great deal of understanding and power. Not to mention the fact she was a Madame of a brothel, none will view her very highly. Commoner nor noble.”
She sighs heavily like a mother wishing to help her child while also trying to allow her to be her own woman and adds, “I love you child, I don’t want to see harm to you. As member of the Queen’s Council I strongly advise against his action. The fact that Whispers remain Whispers for life due to the sensitive nature of what they learn, she is still a traitor to the kingdom and a potential threat. She can to easily make you think she is a friend until she has the chance to act. The fact her child was taken from her will only make her bitter and resentful, regardless of her claims. I am a mother, I can fully imagine how any sane mother would react to such a thing. Please Madalyn, if you have any love for me, even as a friend I implore you to take my words and consider them carefully on this matter.”
She then stands up and returns to a more formal tone, “Whatever you decide I will still be here. I know the darkness of politics well enough, the things I know about some of the nobles you don’t wish to hear. I will continue to serve to the best of my ability, both to your mother and to you. I will warn you of the dangers and the threats the darkness of politics throw at you and your mother, but if you will not listen to my words how can I protect you?” She then walks over, as they are alone, and if allowed will try to give Madalyn a motherly hug for as long as the Princess allows it.
The girl allows to Adara hug her. She even hugs her for a brief moment too, becomming that young and kind child,who just wants hugs. However, that quickly changes and she pushes lady Adara a bit, "People will do what I will tell and they will listen for me. If I am telling that Mistress Edris' past does not exist and she has just the future... It's truth." She sighs and becomes really sad, "I don't like people to be hurt. I want to show them kindness instead of killing them or punishing them, lady Adara.I know,that you will keep me safe and informed, but... let me keep Edris. It's my decision and for once I want to feel respected," she bites her lip as if she may cry soon. Madalyn becomes herself finally, "I am sorry, lady Adara..." And she almost runs out of the room, adding, "Conversation is over."
Adara nods and says, “I am simply saying there are times kindness doesn’t work and punishment is needed.” As Madalyn starts to cry she adds, “I will respect your judgement for now, though i hope you will give weight to my words if I can prove Edris means you or the kingdom harm.” as she runs off declaring the conversation over.
