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message 51:
by
Kit
(new)
Feb 23, 2015 07:34PM
((Maybe, since in the idea, it said there was people acting up in Halian that there's an assassin at the ball? and he/she tries to attack them?))
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((That sounds great :) Who do you want the assassin to attack? One of the two of them, or both of them?))
((Hm what do you think? I don't really have a preference))
((Well, since it's my turn to post next anyway, how about the assassin is there for Harrison?))
((Okay. I'll try to post tonight, but if not, I'll post in the morning.))
As he leaned against a column at the edge of the room, Harrison observed the festivities. The ball was in full swing now, and all across the room, people laughed and talked. On the dance floor, colorful skirts and dresses swirled outward as women were twirled by their dance partners. In some way, Harrison had to admit it was a nice event. Or at least, people seemed to be having fun. Harrison took a sip from the glass in his hand, frowning slightly at the taste. At banquets and balls like this, more often than not the wine was watered down so people wouldn't get drunk quickly, and the party could go on longer. It was a successful strategy, since the guests were still enjoying themselves a couple hours into the ball, but Harrison couldn't help but feel like the watered down wine left a bad taste in his mouth.
Harrison set the half full glass down on a nearby table, before glancing around the crowd of guests. He hadn't seen Elias all night, and he was more than a little annoyed. His cousin had agreed to come to the ball and keep him company, and yet he's failed to show up so far. Harrison couldn't exactly say he was surprised, though. It wasn't like Elias was exactly known for punctuality, or attending social events.
After taking another glance around the large room to make sure he wasn't needed, Harrison started weaving his way through the crowd, trying to get out of the great hall. He could slip away for a few minutes without being missed, and it would be nice to stand outside in the cool air for a little bit. He had only just reached the archway leading out of the hall when he heard a voice behind him
"Prince Peter? May I speak to you for a moment, Your Highness?"
Harrison turned to the voice, coming to stand face to face with a tall, lanky man. He didn't recognize the stranger, but from the man's clothes, it was obvious he was a noble, or at least a wealthy merchant of some sort. The kind of person Harrison had to pay attention to. "Can I help you?" He asked.
"You can, actually." The man said with a nod. "I represent a group of nobles with a special interest in the kingdom, and they have some concerns that need to be addressed. Why don't we discuss their concerns somewhere a little quieter?"
Harrison considered it for a second. He was going to leave anyway, but he didn't want to leave just to discuss business. At the same time, he couldn't just tell the man no. He put on a warm smile as he responded, "I can't, unfortunately. Why don't we discuss the matter another time?"
"Well, that is unfortunate," The man simply said in response, and Harrison almost didn't notice the dagger slipping down out of the man's sleeve and into his hand. The man's arm lashed out, aiming the knife for Harrison's chest. All Harrison could see was a bright flash of silver in the air, rushing towards him, and he leapt back in alarm, trying to get out of the path of the blade. It missed his chest, but sliced across his upper arm.
All around him, people were starting to take notice of the fight, and shouting rang through the hall. Harrison could hear the running footsteps of numerous guards, and dodged one more swipe of the blade before the man was pushed to the ground by several guards, screaming expletives at the guards holding him down, at the royal family, and at anyone around. Harrison was hardly able to move, just staring frozen at the knife laying abandoned on the ground. His heart pounded in his chest, the sound of it in his ears nearly drowning out the worried voices of the people around him. The voices sounded like they were underwater, or a million miles away, and it took him several moments to realize they were actually talking to him. He gave himself a moment to catch his breath, and finally pulled his eyes away from the dagger.
"Uh, yes, I'm--I'm fine." He said, answering the question that he presumed was being asked of him, and nodded, partially to reassure everyone else, and partially to reassure himself. Blood slowly trickled down from the gash on his arm, small rivers flowing to his fingertips and falling to the floor. He was too shell-shocked to really notice the blood or gash, and absently wiped away the blood as best as he could.
After a few hours in the ball, Katherine found herself finally able to slip away from the whole thing. She quietly made her way to the balcony, closing the doors behind her as she took a deep breath of fresh air. The Ilis born princess found herself enjoying the peace out here, much more than the entertainment inside. She had spent more than enough time inside observing everyone and having nobles introduce themselves to her in order to try to win her favor and get a higher position. There was also the few other songs she danced with Peter and with just those two things, she had been kept quite busy.Back home she would have laughed and joked with friends, danced with her brother, with some wine here and there. But here was completely different. She didn't know anyone anymore in Halian and while she had hoped to make the evening more exciting for her through the method of alcohol, it had obviously been tampered with. Ilis had some strong bottles in their arsenal but the more time she spent in Halian, the more obvious it became on how different the two countries were. Not surprising considering Ilis was more a war country and Halian an artistic one.
And despite the ball that was taking place, she rather be in Ilis with her family. When the thought struck, she realized she was a bit lonely, considering that the only person she had really known had changed into an entirely different person. But as soon as the thought came, she pushed it back. There was no time for sentimental thoughts, they were unneeded as well. The blonde was no weakling, and these thoughts did her no good. She knew her personal feelings would be put aside for the good of both countries and that was all.
Katherine pushed off the balcony railing, the bright moon was making her sentimental and she did not like it, not one bit. Still, she was a bit hesitant to go back inside and have to sit through getting to know a couple hundred more nobles. Her green eyes rolled at the thought of them, greedy bastards, didn't they have anything better to do than to bother her? Trust her when she said she had long observed each and every single one of them before the first one had introduced himself to her. So far, she did not like what she saw but she endured it with a smile. Any other day or night it wouldn't have irritated her so, but she had not slept a wink since getting to Halian, and at this moment she was a little irritated but being one who hid so well, it was noticeable to no one.
Even so, an uneasy feeling crept into her stomach and she decided it was best to go back inside. Slipping back into the party, she still couldn't shake the feeling and decided a quick glance around to reassure herself would be fine. Her eyes traveled past the entire room, but there was not- wait there. A flash of silver caught her eyes as well as the tall figure of Peter. Her eyes widened momentarily before the entire room was plunged into chaos. The guests were screaming and running, guards pushing past to get to Peter, the royals trying to get to him as well admist all of this.
And despite what could have taken place, Katherine felt the familiar rush of adrenaline fill her lungs. It was almost like she was back in the war against Majana. Except this time she had no sword in hand and there was people who weren't the enemy panicking. Being so used to the panic of the people, she easily weaved in and out of the crowd, making a clear path towards Peter. The guards may have been preoccupied with their prince but her eyes were set on the man who was struggling to get away. Their eyes met for a second and she already had on her poker face when he crashed into her shoulder, before pushing past, a few guards chasing after him.
Despite wanting to go after him, she continued forward like a princess would do, she would not go after a man who tried to kill her betrothed. What seemed like hours, was merely seconds as she finished crossing the threshold, her heel stepping on the dagger and her dress covering it up. Carefully but quickly she picked up the dagger, slipping it within the sleeves of her dress without letting anyone see. "That is enough!" She stated loudly, authority ringing withing her voice, the panicked crowd stopping at her words.
"As you had all obviously seen, there was an unfortunate accident that just took place but that man will be dealt with. Under these circumstances, I suggest you all go home, however this was a party for the two of us, so,"She turned to look at Peter," What do you say Peter? This decision lies with you too." She gave nothing away and honestly, she didn't feel much for putting him in the limelight after what just happened. He was to be king and he had to pull it together, he couldn't just let everyone panic. What if she hadn't taken charge? But besides it made them look stronger as a couple.
What did made her feel sympathy for him and the family was that they must remember the hurt they felt at losing one family member to assassination, and they almost lost another.
In all honesty Katherine wanted everyone out the way so she could inspect the dagger. There might be more to it than met the eyes but she didn't trust the Halian Palace Guards to figure that out. She might not be in love with Peter, but that could have very well been her.
Harrison could hear Katherine speaking, and he could understand what she was saying, but she and the guest at the ball sounded a hundred miles away. It felt like his brain was underwater, so far below the surface, and he struggled to swim to the surface, to connect individual thoughts together into some form of coherence. It took him a moment to realize that Katherine was even speaking to him, and several more to pull himself together enough to speak. Focus, focus, focus, he repeated that like a mantra until he was sure he could speak intelligibly. "Of course," He said. He pulled himself together remarkably well, becoming a picture of confidence and assuredness, speaking as though he wasn't incredibly shaken up by what happened. There was a noticeable pause between Katherine's words and his response, but he supposed that couldn't be helped. "We appreciate you all coming tonight, and wish you all a safe journey home."
Whispers and hushed conversations went through the crowd, people variously discussing who must've been behind the assassination, expressing concern, or trying to find out what even just happened. The conversations faded as people began to file out of the great hall, heading towards the carriages awaiting them at the front gates. Harrison didn't wait until they had all left for his shoulders to slump slightly, and he pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment. In any normal situation, he wouldn't have allowed himself this, and instead would've remained as unshakable as a statue until he was alone, but this... Tonight was not a good night, and he just didn't have the energy or the desire to pretend it was.
It wasn't as though he wasn't used to assassination attempts. Far from it, actually. Besides his father's assassination, there had been numerous plots and schemes over the years, a few coming closer to fruition than the others. People had tried to kill practically every member of the royal family in practically every way imaginable. Incidents such as these were unfortunately a part of life at court, but every time it still left him shaken, and he felt like a young child again at a dinner turned nightmare, watching his father's horrified face as he died. It was a feeling he couldn't stand; the shaking of his hands and inability to think clearly leaving him frustrated and annoyed, to say the least.
Without a word, Harrison turned to leave. He just wanted to get out of here and sleep, or maybe drink more alcohol than would really be advisable. With all the confusion and commotion, he was sure he could slip in and out of the kitchen unnoticed, a bottle of wine in hand. He almost made it to the doorway leading out before a guard stopped him.
"I apologize, Your Highness, but you should have a guard accompany you," The guard said. "We don't know if there are other assassins in the castle, so it's best not to be alone."
Harrison just wanted to leave as soon as possible. "There are guards posted in every corridor in this entire palace," he responded. "I'm sure I'll be fine."
(Sorry! I'll get to this soon, I'm just making charries for a group)
(Definitely. I just haven't had time to write up a reply for this one. I promise I'll do it tomorrow)
(Sorry for the unexpected delay, I had work. But I'm working on a reply now)
Katherine stood near Peter as their guests all left and soon it was only the royal family and the guards left. It was pretty clear that he was shaken up from what had just transpired. Her lips pursued as she surveyed the scene, blocking out the disagreements as she surveyed the scene. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she came to a conclusion.Pulling back from her minds process, she waited for Peter to get his say in before deciding to interrupt. "I have a suggestion, if I may,"She interjected, deciding that since everyone else was still in shock or startled, she would be the one taking charge, clearly she was the only one who was still pulled together. It didn't faze the blonde princess, she had grown accustomed to looking over her back in the times past, and this just proved how relaxed Halian had been. "How about some of the guards escort Her Majesty and her daughters to their rooms, while another one of you get us a drink to clear our thoughts, and the rest of you stand guard outside the ballroom. I would like to have a word with Peter, privately,"She added. A patient smile lifted her lips as the guards exchanged looks before nodding and doing as told, probably deciding it was a lot more safe than what their prince had been thinking of doing.
She was quiet as they all left and even after the large room was empty besides the two, she was silent for a couple of more moments as she maneuvered her way to the table and swiping the wine bottle before handing it over without a word. "From the looks of it, you're going to be needing this." After handing it over, she let her hair down, feeling a lot more comfortable covering her tattoo and slipping out her heels before finding herself a glass of wine. "Do you know why we were engaged to be married? Why us of everyone there?" She asked after a few minutes, sipping her wine.
"Both strong countries, even stronger if under a single crown. Ilis benefits with the new trading routes, partners, ideas. But what does Halian get? Why a country like Ilis? Our home countries are so different from one another. But then let me ask you this; Do you know why Ilis conquered Majan?" She asked, watching him very carefully. "Majan was a nuisance, yes, but nothing we couldn't handle. But the thing about small rebellions is that they grow, no matter what you do. Except for one way. The way of the jungle. How does the King of the Jungle keep everyone in place? They show their strength, killing anything or anyone who dares threaten that."
Katherine took a seat at one of the table, twirling her glass between her fingers before putting it down and slowly slipping the dagger out from her sleeves, twisting it between her fingers with the point at one tip and the hilt at the other, smearing her fingers with a few drops of blood. "Under that commotion no one saw me pick up the dagger and hide it, getting rid of any evidence if I pleased. Nor was the wanna be assassin caught." She laughed without humor, shaking her head. "Halian is good at many things but I would say war would not be one. A fresh pair of eyes is always nice, isn't it? Especially one in this expertise, one fresh off war. The guards will tell you they didn't see anyone, just a man running away through the panic. Would you like to know what I saw?" She asked, her gaze locking with his own.
((Sorry that this is sort of short. I wanted to get it up before I fell asleep.))Harrison wasn't happy about having to stick around, needless to say. No, he wanted to get out of here, away from even the few people still remaining in the ballroom. The quiet stillness of his room away from everyone else seemed to call out to him, but it seemed as though that would just have to wait. There was really no sense in disagreeing or making a scene, so instead he simply watched as everyone else filed out of the ballroom.
Glancing over at the proffered bottle of wine, Harrison took it with a slight nod as a silent thanks. In nearly any other situation, he would've gotten a glass to drink from to at least maintain a semblance of civility, but at the moment he just skipped the unnecessary step. He took a long swallow of wine straight from the bottle as he leaned against the heavy wooden table, staring ahead at the opposite wall. Silence hung in the air for several minutes, but he didn't break the silence. When Katherine spoke again, he raised the bottle to his lips again, and considered her question.
Surely she had to be asking a rhetorical question, not a serious one. They both knew why it was they of all people were engaged: they both had crowns coming to them one day, and what better way to unite two countries than to unite its future rulers? It was a point that had been stressed to him by his mother repeatedly throughout his life, and Harrison could see the logic in the plan. He chose to stay silent rather than answer the question, sipping on the wine and waiting for her continue her point.
As Katherine spoke again, Harrison suddenly understood her point. And as unfortunate as it was, she was right. Halian was a prosperous nation, full of craftsman, artisans, and traders. Its ports were the beating heart of a trade network spanning both land and sea. But what it had in diplomacy, art, and economics, Halian lacked in war. Its armies were lacking, and its navies laughable. Halian thankfully survived for generation after generation despite its deficiency, but that didn't mean it wasn't a sore spot for the kingdom.
"Glad to know you stole the evidence of an attempted assassination." Harrison said humorlessly, but he wasn't trying accuse her of anything, rather just flatly making an observation. He turned slightly to face Katherine, meeting her eyes for the first time in the conversation, and watched as she twirled the dagger between her fingers. It was the first time he had seen it clearly, before only seeing it as a blur, or being to shaken up to really notice the details of it. It was an ornate dagger with fine craftsmanship, and certainly an expensive piece of work. "But regardless, what did you see?" He asked.
(It's okay :D))"I stole evidence?" The corner's of her lips tilted upwards, obviously amused. "That says two things already all in it's own." She watched him as he met he looked at the dagger between her finger tips. The way he looked at it, it was obvious he wasn't seeing it in the way she did. He was looking at it with interest and paying more attention to the hilt then the actual dagger in itself. When she looked at it, she saw it as nothing more than a weapon, taking into account the size, sharpness, and even if it was long range or short.
"If I was able to steal the dagger without anyone noticing then it shows a lack of observation. And two, had it not been for me the dagger would have been trampled between the panic of the nobles and never found." She raised an eyebrow at him, a slow smile spreading over her lips. It was cool and calculating, as she recalled what she had seen from the moment she stepped foot in the room. It was so obvious to an eye like hers, one trained for battle, but she supposed if it came down to picking an intricate and beautiful work of art, Peter would do much better than her.
"I suggest you take another drink when I tell you how flawed your guards are. First and foremost, no one took notice that a man who didn't belong here managed to slip into a private party. Secondly, no one even kept an eye on you and let him try to take your life. Third, they were so obsessed with just you that no one even attempted to arrest him until it was too late, try to secure the weapon, notice I took it, or even calm down the mass. But that's not all,"She told him, running everything over in her head.
"That man was close to you, had the advantage of taking you by surprise, but he missed. Obviously he wasn't very skilled, very little at most." The blonde could assure that if she had been that man she would have succeeded without having gotten caught. "To send someone like that could mean three things. One I'm almost sure of already. The first is that their desperate to get rid of you that's why they sent someone. Second they are just warming up and that was nothing more than a first attempt. Or third they saw an opening. The third one isn't that hard to spot but Halian operates on trade. They just figured no one would see them. I saw an opening because Halian is too relaxed. You have all been lulled into a false security. Weak guards, a wedding as a distraction, perfect time for going in for a kill."
"Oh, how could I forget this one, no one checked to see if the dagger was coated with poison. Whether it be fast acting or slow, that small cut you got could have killed you. Don't worry I already checked, your safe,"She informed him, getting up and walking to his side, dagger in her hand. "Here,"She extended it out to him, blade first,"I'll show you how easy it could be to kill you. Come at me, you even have the advantage of a weapon." Peter could have some training, but she was the princess of a country of war, Katherine would no doubt dominate despite the difference in raw power, stature, and weight.
She wondered if he saw that. Peter wasn't an idiot. Either way it would be fun.
((Sorry, I've been meaning to respond but have been pretty busy for the most part. I'll hopefully reply tonight, or tomorrow at the latest.))
(No it's fine, I know how life gets busy^^)
[I feel really bad about this but I've lost interest in this. I promise it's not personal at all, but just that I've lost interest in rping the medieval/royal genre. Again, sorry :( I did really enjoy rping with you though, and would be totally willing to rp again sometime if you ever want to :) ]
(Aww okayThat sucks, I really liked this one and you were a great person to roleplay with )
[Again, sorry :( I just randomly sort of lost interest in the entire genre after loving it for months, unfortunately. I did enjoy this rp though :) ]
(It's okayBut if you ever want to rp with me just let me know :D )
