676-02-07 - Bleeding Personality
Bleeding Personality | |||||||
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Summary: Aeryn fills in the king about the bandit trouble, followed by a tearful confession about how she misses the Brais Princes. | |||||||
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Arriving after she's had a chance to rest after her ordeal she has called upon the King for a private moment. She waits in the Garden with a guard sitting nearby watching Aeryn rather at ease. Wearing her red dress that clings to her with long snug sleeves, it flares out at the waist into a swaying skirt that reveals her long knee-high boots somewhat underneath the cut which stops at about a foot from the feet. It's most striking feature might be the 'Aeryn the Red' embroidered in yellow across the right breast. Charlotte the little wolf is son the ice of the pond skittering about, plopping into snowbanks, then jumping to attack them flying right into them. Aeryn has her sleeves tucked up, with bandages wrapped around a fair bit of them. Her left arm is in a sling tied off around her neck. Her neck is red with the severe choking she had received, fingerprints still visible upon it. Her face has a few minor bandages placed upon it but mostly has minor cuts and scrapes. Aeryn is at the edge of the ice playing with little Charlotte, poking her on the behind with her foot when she manages to catch her balance to keep throwing her off.
It does not take long and the king arrives, attired in a warm cloak in black and red, with some fur set into it. Below the cloak he wears a doublet and breeches, of fine quality but of rather unflashy design. "Aeryn," he greets as he spots her, pausing then to study those marks of recently received violence, his brows furrowing. "You wished to see me. I've heard you've returned... And under which circumstances," he says with concern in his voice. "It seems you got into trouble." That being an understatement. "And you came back with some bandits...? Can it be that I have to assign more than two guards for you, to keep yourself from getting into trouble?" This clearly a jest.
The mirth fades from King Barret's features and he sighs. "I am glad you are alive, Aeryn, but we both know this could have gone differently..."
Aeryn moves over to the King to hug him with her good arm snugly, clinging for at least a few moments. "I am sorry faer' being such a failure, mae' King." She releases (assuming she wasn't made to relent even sooner) and looks up at the King. "I had two, and it was fortunate that I did. I heard that a family was killed and their ownings ransacked. I thought they would strike again. I just wasn't...smart enough. I used my wits to look at the geographic location and went to where I thought they would strike next..but I was wrong. They killed another family, then went on to kill the one I picked. My failure in prediction left an entire family dead. Something in my gut just told me..that if I were to leave to get help there wouldn't be time. I was right..
She dips her eyes down to her feet. "We caught what I think is the leader. We killed a few, with the help of the family that came with us. We caught the half dozen, but they came after us with such fervor. Such..numbers. A dozen..maybe two? We had to run with the prisoners. We were going maybe 5 days without rest? We cut ourselves and used the extreme pain of Salt in the wound to keep going. It's why our wounds are infected I'm sure. We were hallucinating..the body isn't meant to be awake that long, and I knew that. I killed one...a bear of a man tried tae' overpower me. I stabbed him when he put his hands on my neck..again and again, I put an arrow into his neck, but he wouldn't let go. The men got him off..such....such violent strength." She visibly shivers and her good hand runs along her neck softly with it's fingertips. "If we stopped, we would die. They were coming after us..by the end we weren't sure of friend from foe. We didn't go by a town, because it would have put the people in danger. We had to come here. It was the only place we could relent and know we would be safe. If we stopped, we would collapse." She looks up towards the King's eyes. "If we stopped, we would die. And I don't want to die."
"You had two guards," Barret confirms, allowing the hug and even returning it. After all, Aeryn has been raised with the family, so he feels for her almost like a father - which may in part explain why his brows furrow and he continues with a bit of reproach in his tone. "You and two guards alone against a large number of bandits...? Why didn't you approach Bainsworth with this? He would have sent some knights and soldiers to deal with the matter. Before you chose to bring yourself and the guards into danger."
Worry shows in his eyes when he lets go of Aeryn, but when he looks at her it is with a faint smile. "Aeryn. Noone wants you to die, in fact all of us would be devastated. Promise me to act with reason next time. Tell us of your suspicions and we may deal with them." A gentle squeeze is given to her hand. "As for the leader and the other thug, they are being questioned in the dungeons. I am sure the rest of the villains will be hunted down shortly."
Aeryn shakes her head softly. "I..it was a mistake, but I didn' think I had time. I couldn't let families, children..mothers, die if I could stop it. I felt compelled. When the man was at my throat..I was scared." She casts her gaze downward again, blushing as she seems to be ashamed. "I couldn't kill this man I thought..He should've been dead. My strength wasn't enough..and that scared me. I thought I was to die. I always thought I was strong since coming here with you, it's the only time I've felt weak."
A soft sigh. "I had help, the family was there, and without their help we likely wouldn't have made it. They are staying here as our honored guests at my invitation till we can be sure their home is safe. I have offered to get them going again with what they may need so that their lives are not destroyed when they return. I may not have saved the first two families I'm aware of, but I saved this family. I could not allow people to prey upon our people, spreading fear and death. But I realize now..I am certainly not invincible. I am human and as such fallible, please forgive the arrogance I have shown my King."
"I understand," replies the King thoughtfully, inclining his head to Aeryn's words. "I understand that you wished to help. It is a vital lesson, to learn we are not invincible. Especially ladies, Aeryn. They need to be guarded. And when I gave you the two guards it was rather to look after your safety, not for you to use them for... risky adventures." He snorts, mildly amused. "There may be differing customs in the Isles and towards the North, with the Ningo. But usually here in Two Rivers, ladies are not supposed to be exposed to dangerous situations. You are very brave for a woman. But you are one of the very few cases where such behaviour has been tolerated and even rewarded. The other being Lady Saide Argyris."
Friendly eyes regard the fiery haired woman, and the king smiles. "We are all human, Aeryn. But to deal with this you should have realized that you would not be able to handle it on your own. The arrogance you have shown was that of overestimating your own abilities, and perhaps underestimating their numbers. It is no shameful thing to seek help against such a threat. The situation would have afforded it, and still does. The bandits shall be pursued. Our families and villages have a right to live in peace."
"And now I am done with lecturing you. I am glad," he adds with a gentle pat to her shoulder, "that you made it back alive."
Aeryn hangs her head lightly. "I didn' think they had sae' many numbers..I thought maybe they'd sneak in. And the guards, I didn't make them come but they felt obligated I'm sure. So they should be considered heroes. I considered the residents, but I didn't consider their safety too. Even if on board with the action, I should have considered their lives as well as my own. This foolish girl is sorry." She leans forward to hug the King again, before retracting and looking back up to the King.
"I'm sorry tae' make yae' worry. With so many worries I really hate to be one to add to them. Let's talk of happier things? Do yae' like my dress? I remember crying one day when smaller, and one o' your boys asked me why. I told him because people called me Aeryn the Red. He said I should take that name and make it a good thing. So I did that. He had this dress made for me on my birthday..you know, the day I was brought here. Since..we don't really have a real birthday. I've had it taken out a bit since I've grown..particuarily in the hips and bosomy area. But it's true to his design. I wish he could see me in it now. I wear it when I feel at ease..when I am not expecting a possible fight. I don't wear it all that often but when I do I feel closer to him. It's a silly thing.. but it's how I feel."
She tilts her head "So when do we get to meet our new Queen? Your not hiding her somewhere are you? That would be a pretty mean game of hide n' seek." She gives a soft little giggle, something she almost never does.
"I understand, Aeryn.", the king replies with a low good-natured grumble, patting her shoulder in an encouraging manner - gently enough as not to cause any discomfort. The tale about the dress draws his attention though, his bushy brows lifting in faint amusement. "Which one of my sons was it, I wonder?", he asks looking curious, although the mention of his sons does bring a rather solemn look to his face. "Ah. Those were happier days."
When Aeryn asks about the guest from Estoria, King Barret shoots her a surprised glance. "She is here, and not really hiding from anyone! Nor would I bid her to do such a thing. Alas, her girls are clinging very much to her skirts right now, as if they sense what the future will bring - their mother's to marry, and to become a queen."
Aeryn smiles, somewhat towards a sly grin. "Oh, no no no, you have to guess! I was close to them all so it should be rather difficult to guess I would imagine.." Her smile fades just a little, but remains. "Your boys all taught me something. And that something from each of them lives on within me, just like all of us whom were close with them carry a piece of them with us. When people are no longer with us their actions are remembered and they live on within us. We are all Brais in one way or another. You and the former Queen's traits were instilled in all of them, and in turn they have been passed on to me, as well as Barbete and Luanda. Unfortunately I think part of it is the stubbornness, and we all seemed to have inherited that trait."
Another soft giggle, definitely a rarity for her to be so..feminine. Perhaps even girly? "I haven't seen our new Queen, but I've been involved in this and that so heavily lately so I suppose it's nae' surprise. I've about mastered the Ningo language but the learning consumed me pretty heavily. I'll have to find this woman and her daughters and see if there's anything we can do to make them feel any more at home. This should be..a homey comfy place for them. I'll have to rope in Agostina, the Principess tae' the Ningo. She's a one-person bubbly greeting committee. I like her. Be careful though, she's unbelievably intelligent. Amazing wits, she may end up being the leader. She uses her bubbly personality and charm to set one off-guard and have others underestimate her. All the while she is evaluating them, their actions, and..she is going to be an extremely strong ruler some day, even if she isn't leading the Ningo people. Her brother, Domitanus. I like him, we're kind of friends in a way. I think we have eachother's respect as we're both warriors. He's handsome, but nothing has happened and nothing will. He's a Prince, and a Lady, and we both know that kind of arrangement wouldn't be made. I'm not sure who will rule but they will end up practically ruling together. If Domitanus rules he will be the might, and use Agostina as the intelligence gatherer. If Agostina rules, Domitanus will be the ruler of men, likely in combat of some sort. Either way both of them have a strong head on their shoulders which will lead to stable relations for the next generation of the Ningo. Not all future rulers can be said that they can rule with reason instead of ambition. I feel confident that they will make very strong allies."
Aeryn pouts a bit, putting her good hand on her hip. "Well I didn't mean by blood. Personality traits, they bleed into children and those around you didn't you know? Though..bleeding is probably a bad analogy tae' use when separating blood from bloodlike elements. Let's pretend I said a different word other than bleeding shall we? Since we're using a pretend word, we'll pretend it was something witty. Yes..I rather like that." grins softly "And you haven't seen Agostina in her element. You'll meet her. You'll see. And then I bet you that you'll get this little tremble when you realize that she's far more intelligent than she lets on."
She pauses a moment as the King has taken her back to a time she rarely thinks of anymore. "I was a scared little girl that had been abused in some of the worst ways one could ever think of. Though there is truth, I was stubborn. I didn't just give up and die..and I wouldn't let anyone harm Luanda. I still wont to this day. There was a lot of hatred. Hatred of men.. and what they did to me. It's fortunate I was placed with boys because they helped diminish that hatred greatly. Even though they would tease me mercilessly sometimes because I was a girl! They taught me some things. They taught me that I can focus..focus everything else around me out, take those negative feelings and use them for something constructive. They taught mae' to think instead of acting out physically, which back then was mae' first instinct." Tears begin to flow from her eyes..at first slowly, then they quicken in pace.
Those were mae' brothers as they accepted mae' as a person, even though I didn't accept mae'self as one. I miss them all very much. Ah' miss being underfoot.. I miss our talks, and their scary stories. Ah' miss their warm embrace of hugs and company. Why dae' ah have tae' be so rational huh? Ah' want them back! @%@#* Ah' want them back because mae' heart hurts sae' much with them gone!" She points up at the ceiling "Hey gods, if yae'r up there, which ah' really doubt yae' are...$@#$@# you for taking mae' loved ones! Even if Two Rivers forgives yae'..ah' never will! Useless deities! Die! Die! Die!"
Barret seems still a touch amused, as Aeryn babbles on with her theory, a smirk forming on his features, his brows furrowing slightly when Agostina is once again mentioned, although he chuckles, shaking his head.
"I am sorry," he comments with concern in his gaze, when Aeryn speaks of his sons and how they affected her view on men, a view that had been based on less than pleasant experiences, noting her agitation, and how the topic affects her. His arms are once again extended as he gives the fiery-haired lady another hug. "Hrrm, yes we do miss them, don't we all..." he mutters in a low grumble, somehow keeping his composure, although his sentiment is clearly discernible below.
"They won't come back, Aeryn."
The King inhales, hearing her plea to the Gods.
"And they aren't there. They never were." Said with a sombre finality to his tone as he lets go of her and digs a royal handkerchief from somewhere, handing it to her.
"Now dry your tears, child."
Aeryn sniffles, hugging to the man tightly when he offers, her arm in the sling struggling to try to hug too. "I believe people make their own fate, tha' nothing is predetermined. Ah' fought hard to become strong, and ah' am because o' that determination." She slowly slips away and takes the handkerchief, wiping at her eyes but the tears do keep coming. "I..I'll behave more, ah' promise. I don't want you to have to worry any more about the young ones beneath you."