Carol
Elroy Thèvenet
Provincial Thèvenet, early the next morning

Elroy groaned quietly as his eyes fluttered open. His mind was muddled as the exhaustion from training the other day set in despite a good nights rest. Turning to the side, he watched Jasmine sleep. Her face was beautiful and peaceful. He hoped she was having good dreams or none at all. He gently caressed her cheek and moved some hair off her shoulder. Elroy considered himself very lucky to have her. As a young boy, he had never been particularly thrilled by his choices among the Araedian aristocracy, finding many of the women to be meek, shy, and quiet. If he approached them, they became obedient and submissive. The ones who weren't fell on the opposite side of the spectrum. Overbearing, dominant, with a need to prove something. 

He couldn't help but feel Xolile had plucked him from the battlefield and saved his life so he could meet Jasmine. She was a breath of fresh air and he distinctly remembered the first time he had seen her. She looked angelic in the moment, though he saw her much the same even now. The fact that she ran a school of healing, one as well-renowned as La Gruador, had enticed him further. Her intelligence was not something anyone could deny, but it was not due to her bragging. It was her simple contentment with her knowledge and yearning to learn more. When they had first married, Jasmine had pestered him about war, military strategies, and even sat in on a few strategy analysis sessions. Her curiosity had been endearing even if she looked particularly lost during most. Chuckling at the memory, he gently pulled her closer to him, breathing in the scents of jasmine and patchouli that lingered on her skin. 

In the moment, he was perfectly content and happy to watch her sleep until the sun was well over the horizon.
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Jasmine slowly opened her eyes as soft rays of sunlight touched her face. She felt a bit drowsy, but overall refreshed. Relaxed. She had not slept very well while she was away, and there was still a decent bit to catch up on. And she felt so cozy. 

As her eyelashes fluttered, trying to decide between getting up or going back to sleep, she noticed that Elroy was facing her. She rubbed her eyes, trying to combat the drowsiness, before she gazed over at him. He stared at her with a happy, reminiscent smile.

"What is it?" She asked, a small smile appearing on her face as she stared up at him, still half-asleep. The bout of curiosity helped her mind wake up a bit.
Carol
Elroy Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Elroy watched her unfocused gaze fall on him and smiled as she rubbed her eyes to clear the haze. "Nothing." He replied quietly, closing the distance between them to kiss her good morning. "I was just thinking that the maids might have found the most alluring nightgown for you yet." Chuckling, he pulled back and let his head rest against his pillow. 

Elroy found the maids attempts to dress Jasmine in the lastest fashion amusing, moreso because she would have none of it. Of course she gave into their good natured fun sometimes and Elroy would fully admit that he had found it very difficult to remain professional when she wore some of the outfits. 

"Should we get up?" He asked, pushing himself up on his elbow. "Perhaps go for a ride this morning before we rush to our duties?"
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

"Have they now?" Jasmine asked with a laugh, looking down at her attire. In the morning light, the nightgown somehow appeared more dainty and feminine than it had when she viewed it the previous afternoon. "It's quite comfortable, but don't tell them know I said that. My closet would be full of new clothes before the day is over."

She sighed softly at the mention of their duties. Normally, a day would feel wasted if she was not busy for the majority of it. But right now, she wished they had a day to themselves, where they did not have to worry about anything except spending time with one another. She knew, however, that such thoughts were unrealistic, especially given the current circumstances. They were both busy people with their hands full.

"That sounds wonderful," She replied after his suggestion of riding. Though she was still a bit saddle sore from her trek, she would not miss an opportunity to spend time with Elroy. She pulled herself into a sitting position on the bed, willing herself to fully get up.

A small smile crossed her face as she turned to her husband after a few moments. "Do you remember when we first took Marcus riding? He was so little, and though he was so excited, he tried very hard to behave."

It was still fresh in her mind, as if it had happened yesterday instead of almost fifteen years ago. It was spring, early morning. The sunshine was bright and the air was brisk and refreshing. Three year-old Marcus sat in front of Elroy on the horse, his big blue eyes shining as his father instructed him how to hold the reins and how to properly command the horse. Elroy had been so patient. The smile he gave her as he guided his son's small hands, and the fondness and pride in his eyes. How Marcus's little riding boots were the miniature version of his father's. The memory very dear memory to Jasmine. It was bittersweet.
Carol
Elroy Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Elroy's expression fell slighly when she brought up the early years of their sons life and he smiled sadly. "Yes, I remember." When Marcus was a boy, Elroy had taken great pleasure in showing him the beauty and joys of life. Seeing the world through the excitable eyes of a child had been reinvigorating and changed his own perspective. 

*'Then he grew up.'*

As Marcus grew his ideas of what was important differed from Elroy and he forsook his studies in favor of Erillian politics and the temptations of high society. He found ways out of all military strategy lessons and decided the sword was not good enough for him. His favorite turn of phrase during his adolescents was "Words are my sword. I do not need to physically beat a man to win at the game." Elroy despised those thoughts. Words could only protect a country to an extent and words would not save you when your life was at risk.
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

It pained Jasmine to hear the sadness in Elroy's voice. She knew that he wanted a successor to the Bladegarden, someone who would fill his role. It was not enough for Marcus to agree to oversee it. Elroy wanted his son to be involved firsthand, to train the men as well as handle its affairs directly. His entire life revolved around fighting and military tactics, and he expected his son to feel similarly.

But he didn't.

"Elroy..." She used a hand to tilt his face upwards so that she could see his expression better. His brows were drawn together, and his mouth was in a scowl. He was thinking about Marcus. She knew Elroy viewed their son as a disappointment. And it broke her heart.
Carol
Elroy Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Elroy met his wifes eyes for a brief moment before pushing the covers off and pulling away. He disapproved of Marcus' profession and lack of care when it came to the protection of the country he claimed to hold dear. But Elroy also felt guilty about their relationship and blamed himself for the way it soured over the years. "Let's not talk about Marcus now." He replied quietly, opening the closet to find their riding clothes.
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Jasmine retracted her hand after Elroy pushed off his covers and abruptly pulled away. She wanted to say something, but felt her throat tighten. If she spoke at all, she knew her voice would tremble. So instead, she just sat on the bed as Elroy rummaged through the closet, focusing on breathing slowly to calm down her once again rising emotions. She didn't want to look as upset as she felt.
Carol
Elroy Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Elroy removed their clothes and placed them on the bed. When he looked up, he saw her disappointment and sighed. "Say what is on your mind, Jasmine." A hand rustled through his damp hair as he waited for her to get the lecture over with. He knew she didn't approve of his thoughts on Marcus. That he didn't give their son enough credit, but Marcus had not earned his respect and he would stand by that.
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Jasmine willed herself to glance over and saw Elroy was looking at her impatiently, and how bluntly he told her to speak stung a little. She understood that the subject of Marcus upset him, and she often tried to tread around it best she could. Very often, she felt as though she was the only one who put forth any effort to try to salvage what little there still was between the two of them. Her eyes averted back to the floor as a heaviness loomed in her chest.

"It just saddens me, is all," She said with an empty smile. The small break in her voice made her hands tighten in her lap. Whenever Marcus or Elroy spoke about one another to her, it was almost as if Jasmine could feel her heart cracking, slowly breaking with each harsh word. She loved them both so dearly, and yet she had to witness their arguments and anger towards each other firsthand. When she tried to gently introduce the other's perspective, they grew mad at her. Despite her best efforts, Elroy and Marcus continued to wear their relationship thin, and she did not see it improving anytime soon. They were both too stubborn.

Gazing at the edge of the bathroom door, she felt her throat tightened yet again as her hands subconsciously clenched the fabric of her nightgown.