For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Ace Flyer on 22-09-2010, 12:32:35</h2>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ace Flyer</strong> on <strong>22-09-2010, 12:32:35</strong>
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				Reynick returned greeting from the guards he passed in the hall, nodding instead of saluting as he made his was to the queen's apartments. There were less guards in the castle as usual, giving it a rather...comfortable feel, in the knight's opinion. It didn't feel like someone was watching every single move that was made now, permitting those inside a bit of breathing room. Though, really, this was how the castle usually was. King Zarin Royalis was once again off at war, punishing their kingdom's enemies and securing their borders. Like his predecessors the man had a taste for war and he was always off in one or another. He was a hard man, a cold man...Not cruel, but not exactly one many people would call a friend. But he was a master of war, and just what the kingdom needed.<br><br>Situated in the north, faced with a year that rarely saw warmth and usually a lot of snow, they were surrounded on three sides by barbarians. North of them, in the Badlands, orc and goblin tribes that loved raiding. Occasionally a chieftain would band enough tribes together to actually cause a war. To the east, drow. They simply hated humans. To the west the Drakimin; a savage, barbaric race of humans that believed in pagan gods, self-mutilation, cannibalism...Everything most dark and foul. They were the ones to cause the latest war.<br><br>To manage such a king the Royalis line had to be crazy. But ever since the land was granted to the first of the line, generations ago by the Lord Emperor to protect the northern half of the empire, they had defended it valiantly. Their kingdom might not be the bets place to live, or the easiest...But taxes were low, crime was low (as humans realized by now fighting each other here only helped their enemies), and life was more or less easy in the brief times of peace.<br><br>Besides, pretty much only those foolish enough to live up here were people wishing to join the most decorated and resilient army in all of the Empire. of course, there were peasants who took advantage of the low taxes to come and open farms, merchants making new caravan, and all that stuff. And that was how Reynick had started. He had been the son of a farmer, only to be conscripted into the king's army.<br><br>Coming in front of two large, oaken doors, he sighed. Knocking three times, he waited...And a few minutes later, a door was pulled open, a maid beckoning him into the queen's waiting room.<br><br>"Please wait here a moment, Sir Reynick. Her Majesty will call you in shorty."<br><br>"Of course, Elsa."<br><br>The maid blushed as the knight smiled at her, and left to return to her queen's side. Most women in the castle liked Reynick. Unlike most knights, who pursued many of them for...physical reasons...Reynick was always kind and courteous. And strangely pleasing to the eyes. He wasn't a large man. He actually a bit on the short side for a knight. While most knight were tall and muscular, bulky even, from all of their training Reynick was more of a medium height, with a build that showed more precision than brute force. Not that many knew just how muscular he was, as he had come to be known for really ever letting his face be known. Out in public, most assumed because of his role as the queen's body guard, he was almost in full armor.<br><br>But his face, well...For one he stayed clean shaven, instead of growing a beard like most men. Which many appreciated, as a beard would just look silly on him. He was handsome, but, beautifully so. It was strange, and no one could really explain why eyes were drawn to him. Even some men admitted to it. There was a betting pool going around the castle on if he had elvish blood in him, as that was the only way a man could look as he did. And it explained the lack of facial hair as well.<br><br>No one would ever guess the really reason...That Reynick was a woman.<br><br>She was Reynick twin sister, and when he fled the family farm when conscription orders came, well...She looked enough like him to pass off as him so their family didn't loose their home. Through the years, through the training, she had kept who she was a secret, and more than once luck had saved her. And, it had taken it's toll on her...<br><br>For one she could barely remember her real name. And really, she was far from ladylike anymore. While still having a feminine body, it was toned, strong, fairly muscular from all of the training and fighting she had been through. Hell, she was stronger than many of the men here, and that was nothing a man would want in a woman...Not that she really seemed to mind anymore. To survive in an all man army, she had to act like a man. Or at least, enough like one not to cause suspicion. Reluctance to get close to women could be passed off as he was just a timid man, or one more focused on the war than other things. But, she was, kinda, looking at women now...No! Bad! Stop that! She was <em>not</em> turning into some kind of freak. <br><br>With a sighed, she shook her head. This was her life now. Luck had seen her do well enough in battle to be promoted, and saving the king's own life had landed her as his wife's new bodyguard when her previous one died of natural causes. And somehow, they had become friends. Or as well of friends as a knight and his queen can be.<br><br>Now, if the queen would just finish her daily preparations, they can begin the days events. She knew what they were supposed to do, attend a few meetings and entertain a few nobles, but...Well, Reynick had yet to see a day that the queen didn't take complete control of the day and ignore most of what her husband's advisors wanted her to do.
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				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>14-10-2010, 00:50:27</strong>
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				Miriana, or Miri to those who knew her well, stared outside her chamber window into the icy white mountains in the distance topped with the pale blue sky. It was one of the best views in the kingdom, at least that's what King Zarin had told her before he set out for war with the west Drakimin more than half a year ago. She imagined him in battle, glorious, fearless and strong but sadly, she could hardly remember what his faced looked like. Miriana fancied that he had grown gruff with his beard and rough from the battles. Most of all, she fancied that he was alive and well, at least for the sake of the Kingdom.<br><br>As much as Miriana hated to speak of it, King Zarin only had eyes for the first Queen. She was just the second choice, the alternative so that the King may have a child to continue the bloodline. Even now, King Zarin barely showed any affection towards her and when they would spend meals together, he would always look into the distance as if he was somewhere else. The only love she ever received where the dutiful nights when she would lay with the king so that she could be with child. It was a lonely relationship, but the nights of sleeping alone in an empty bed were even lonelier.<br><br>"Elsa." She spoke, turning to her favorite chambermaid. Elsa was young, simple and naive which is the reason why Miriana loved her so much. The maid was loyal. The Queen knew that Elsa would guard any secrets she would confide to her with her life. "Do you think the advisers will finally let me speak at their meeting today?"<br><br>The chambermaid laid out a warm wool embroidered dress on the bed, smoothing the wrinkles out as she answered. "I hope so, Your Highness." She glanced at Miriana with honest brown eyes. "Like you said, trade needs to be fixed if we would like to last in this war."<br><br>Miriana nodded. "But sadly, we live in a man's world where the woman's only duty to bear children." She pressed her lips together unhappily, turning away from the chilly window to make her way to the large looking glass that stood on next to the hearth. Carefully, she took off her nightgown so that Elsa could come and help her dress. She was a small woman with soft, slender curves. Her limbs and hands smooth and slender from not having to work a day in her life. The cold of the north gave her pale skin that flushed red in the chill and fair white blond hair that hung in heavy waves down her back, setting off the small, delicate features of her face. <br><br>Despite being physically weak, Miriana made it up with her intellect and stubbornness. She had come from a royal family where, fortunately, the women were schooled and tutored their letters, history and mathematics.&nbsp; Her father even had the foresight that one day she would become the Queen so she was learned in politics and trade. Even though her resume was impressive, the advisors always pass off her opinions as if they belonged to a common woman.<br><br>It has never stopped Queen Miriana from trying though.<br><br>Elsa was lacing up the last of the ribbons on the back of her dress when the familiar knock came from her door. Miriana couldn't help but smile when Elsa faltered and flushed. She imagined Reynick standing outside of her chamber door dressed neatly in his armor. He always arrived on time, just like clockwork. <br><br>Miriana watched Elsa fidget with her hair before she moved to open the door, flustered red. She couldn't blame her. Everyone liked Reynick. He was kind, quiet but brave and strong. She listened to their muffled exchange of words, braiding her own hair as she knew the sun was climbing higher in the sky. The first meeting of the day was about to start. <br><br>"You should just tell him you like him, Elsa." She laughed softly when her chambermaid flitted back to her, taking the long braid of hair to finish. <br><br>"Forgive me for saying, Your Highness." Elsa looked at her through the mirror. "But you like him too."<br><br>Miriana sighed dramatically as if it pained her. "I do but I have the King, so I'm only allowed to look." Her chambermaid gave her a look, making a disbelieving noise before tying the end of her hair neatly.<br><br>"Come in, Reynick." The queen called out, turning so that she could examine herself in the looking glass.
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				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ace Flyer</strong> on <strong>14-10-2010, 15:28:13</strong>
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				The knight stood patiently outside the door, waiting as she did every morning for the queen to finish her preparations and leave her room. So when she hard the call to come inside, the raven-haired woman hesitated for a moment. She had been called into the queen's chambers in the morning before, of course, but for some reason passing through the doors just put Reynick on edge. Despite her service with the king, and now with his queen, she still had a hard time shaking mentality of a peasant. How did she possibly deserve to be in the bedroom of the Royal Family? <br><br>Of course, the catch was that <em>she</em> wasn't deserving. Reynick, her twin brother, was quite deserving. After all, he had saved the king's life in battle.<br><br>Opening the door she stepped into the room, giving Queen Miriana a respectful bow when she saw the lady examining herself in the mirror. She was formal to a fault, insisting on respecting the formalities of Miri's station despite the small bit of closeness the two of them had from spending almost every day from dawn to dusk together.<br><br>"Good morning, Your Majesty. I trust you had a peaceful night?" she asked. Reynick took up her position beside the door, the light coming through the windows reflecting off of the ebon colored, ceremonial armor that she wore. Black gilded with gold, it was armor fancier than anything one would wear on the battlefield, aside from perhaps the king and his personal guard. It certainly made one look important, however, and much to Reynick's appreciation, made it impossible to really tell the shape of the body underneath of it. Her feminine curves, while tones and strong from how long she had been living in a man's world, were hidden away from preying eyes, keeping her safe from the fate that would fall on her should anyone discover that she was a woman. Best case scenario, she spent a few years in the dungeons, where likely she would become a favored plaything of the deprived and disgusting guards down there. Worst case scenario, she was tortured for such a breach in the so-called natural order of the world, before ultimately being executed. Neither one quite an option the woman wanted to meet...<br><br>"The cooks are ready and waiting to serve you your breakfast, should you choose to eat before the meeting this morning." he added after a moment. Aside from that, though, she could say little more until she knew just what the queen's plans for the day were.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>15-10-2010, 01:54:23</strong>
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				The queen watched Reynick come in to the room through her mirror, turning to him as she gave a nod of her head to acknowledge the formal bow. She had told him many times in the past that such formalities weren't needed when they were alone, but the man had always insisted so Miriana had stopped asking altogether. She considered him to be one of the few friends she had in the castle and it pained her a bit that Reynick wouldn't be anymore than a bodyguard.<br><br>"It was as peaceful as it could be." She replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she looked over Reynick's armored body. It was true when Elsa said that she liked the knight. It wasn't a surprise though, because everyone in the castle liked the charming man.<br><br>Miriana smoothed the front of her dress and walked towards the door as the knight asked her if she would like some food, her carriage graceful but strong. "I'm afraid that breakfast will have to wait." She nodded her head at Elsa, dismissing her for the morning. "The council meeting is about to begin."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ace Flyer</strong> on <strong>16-10-2010, 15:06:04</strong>
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				All the knight could do was nod when the queen answered that she had slept as peaceful as she could have. She knew of Miriana's trouble with the king, the distance between them because of his feeling for his former wife...And it must be hard to sleep in a bed so large all alone. But it wasn't her place to speak on any of those matters. As close as they were, there were simply some things that a commoner couldn't talk about around nobility. Of course, Reynick just made an effort to never talk about relationships and matter of love in the first place, not with the jumbled mess that her head was in, thanks to the lie that had made up her life all these years.<br><br>With all the time she had spent around men, forcing herself to act like one of them, Reynick had realized that she was...different. Women were catching her eye more and more, as ashamed as she was to admit it, and men less and less. She didn't want the feelings she was getting, wanting to stay true to at least some part of who she had once been, but...Reynick would be lying if a part of her didn't like fact that nearly every woman in the castle liked her.<br><br>And the queen...As Miriana walked towards the door, moving with that strong grace only she seemed able to pull of, Reynick would be lying to say she didn't see her as the most beautiful woman that lived. Especially when compared to someone like herself...<br><br>"True, the meeting is about to begin...But you know they can not start without you present. They may liked, beg my pardon, ignoring you in these meetings, but none are so foolish as to conduct state business without the regent present." It was just a thought, a chance for Miri to start the day off on a good note with some good food and a full stomach, instead of diving right into politics. Either way, Reynick would follow the queen where ever she went, whatever she decided. That was her duty, after all.
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				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>18-10-2010, 05:38:01</strong>
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				Miriana just shook her head. "I do not want to keep the council waiting." She said as she passed through the doors. The queen knew that if she took her time to break fast, they would think of her as someone who did not care so much for the politics. The council aren't fond of women, much less women who are late. <br><br>The queen didn't wait for Reynick, knowing that he would catch up to her in a heartbeat, her walk quick paced in a graceful, elegant manner. Her steps and the clatter of Reynick's armor echoed in the large stone hallways, the sound bouncing back and forth over the arched ceilings. "I forgot to ask." She turned her head slightly to him, a small smile on her lips. "Tell me Reynick, how was your night's sleep?" 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ace Flyer</strong> on <strong>19-10-2010, 12:30:01</strong>
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				"Of course, Your Majesty." Reynick said with a short bow as the queen passed, right on her heels as she left the room and headed out into the halls. This was just a perfect reason why Reynick preferred being a soldier, as opposed to a politician. She had no mind for politics. If she were in the queen's place, she would have made the council wait. After all, they already weren't going to listen to her, and they already believed women didn't have a place in the politically system anyway. Well, outside of giving birth to new heirs, anyway.<br><br>But, that was why Miriana was the queen, and she was just a simple knight.<br><br>Walking just a few steps behind the queen and off to the side a bit, the knight simply shrugged when asked how her knight had been. "It was nothing special. Close your eyes in the dark and open them in the light." she said. The queen didn't need to know of her the nightmares from the battlefield that plagued her. Many of the castle guards and knights that were here laughed about war, making jokes and bets on how many barbarians they would kill in a single day...They would never be able to imagine the horrors they would see should the king ever summon them to the front line...<br><br>Feeling her mood start to darken and her thoughts shift in a way that it was simply too early to allow, Reynick sighed and shook her head. She had to focus...Focus on Miri, not the past...
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				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>05-11-2010, 23:52:38</strong>
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				Miriana laughed softly as they rounded a corner that opened up into high vaulted ceilings. Reynick's frank honesty always amused her. She never took for granted how she could trust what he had to say. He was polite but she could count on him to tell her the truth . Their steps echoed and bounced among the walls and columns as they walked on. The floor was marble with veins of gray and gold and the walls where covered in lively tapestry that was woven with the kingdom's crest. A snow white griffin holding up a sword and a shield. <br><br>"No women to keep you warm, I see." She teased him softly with a smile. The old coy charm from her maiden day's surfacing. The queen glanced at Reynick sideways as they came upon a large door, arched and made of stone. The guards that stood by it bowed before her quickly in respect. Miri gave them a nod in return as they moved to open the door.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ace Flyer</strong> on <strong>10-11-2010, 11:39:18</strong>
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				Reynick's lips twitched just ever so slightly in amusement to the queen's teasing, but aside from that the only response she got was a shrug as they approached the door to the meeting chamber. After all, the other nobles and advisors insisted, only the king was permitted to hold conference and meetings in the throne room. They loved ignoring the fact that there were really two thrones, and the queen had every right to be in there. But...Well, once again, it just went to show why it was a good think that she was a knight and not a politician. If Reynick were in the queen's spot she would start making the old fools acknowledge her position. <br><br>Which would probably be, in some way, political suicide. Just as correcting or standing up to an officer in the military was just, well...suicide.<br><br>The knight looked at the two guards by the door, nodding to herself as she recognized the faces and the respect they had for the queen. Nothing to worry about there, then. She had heard some of the older castle guard talking once about how assassins had posed as ordinary grunts in the castle, who to nobility, simply blended into the background. They would never know that the man standing guard at the door was a bit shorter than yesterday, and the armor didn't fit right. A visiting dignitary from the empire had almost been killed that day, if not for the quick actions of the man that was the current Master of the Guard. He was the only commoner to ever be elevated to such a position, granted a minor title for her service and command over all soldiers in the castle. Mazrin Cintalen was one of the very few commanders Reynick had met that was an actual, honorable, trustworthy man...And still on of the few that manage to best her in training spars on a regular basis.<br><br>As the doors opened she glanced at the queen. Depending on the matters to be discussed, the nobles usually tried to keep her and her "common blood" out of the meeting room. Technically she had the ability to stay with the queen, but it all came done to Miriana's decision on what would happen.<br><br>"Shall I wait out here today, Your Highness, or accompany you through the meeting?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>10-11-2010, 23:02:13</strong>
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				The open doors revealed the council, fifty or so men all ranging from the young ripe age of their twenties to withering sixties. They only gave her a glance before they went about to their own whispers, ignoring the young queen. Miri ignored the strong urge to forget her manners and roll her eyes infront of the crowd. She could hear the bold ones talk amongst themselves of how she was persistent. How she would know her place as a woman. The older ones just shook their heads because they knew that she would try to interject and over turn their plans.<br><br>She raised her chin up a fraction higher as if the weight of the delicate crown on her head had gotten heavier.. "I'd like you to stay with me, Reynick." Her voice was low, just enough so that he could hear her. Miriana knew that if Reynick was there to watch it would be easier for her to stay strong. She did not want him to see her crumble under the pressure. She did not want to fail. <br><br>The queen strode in as if she owned the entire kingdom and sat on her thrown. It sat to the right of the king's, a great deal smaller compared to it but she still took it with dignity. The council slowly fell silent, the noise dying down to murmurs before the scribe announced the first concern in today's agenda. It wasn't long before the arguing started. Disapproval ran down along the room while she tried to convince them that importing the next shipment of goods is unnecessary when they had their own. <br><br>The first argument did not last long but disagreements were frequent, and soon, the sun was high in the sky.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: For Queen and Country (Edelweiss and AceFlyer)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ace Flyer</strong> on <strong>14-11-2010, 11:18:31</strong>
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				The knight just gave the queen a slight nod and followed her inside. The action wouldn't win her any points with the council, but, at this point that didn't really matter, not did it? As they walked to the throne, though, Reynick was simply amazed at the boldness of these old men, as she heard whispers all around them, voices filled with disrespect for their monarch. She knew that the king would never be treated this way, and from what she had heard, the former queen had been quite well loved and respected as well. So why was Miriana treated in such a way? After all, it hadn't been the king's explicit choice to remarry until after the council stepped in, demanding that an heir to the throne be produced.<br><br>But, once again, Reynick had to remind herself that politics were somethings far above her head, and as she settled into her place to the the side of and behind the queen's throne, she busied herself with her. Keep an eye on the alcoves, and shadowy places someone could be hiding. Were any of the councilors acting strangely? Were any of the royal guard who stayed inside the throne room missing, or acting strange as well?<br><br>She took the queen's safety seriously, not just because it was her duty, but also for a sense of respect and admiration she had for the woman now that they had spent time together. How Miriana could put up with this kind of thing day after day was beyond her...The meeting seemed to be one, long pointless argument after another, however, and it was a welcome break to the knight when she saw a servant from the kitchen slip in through one of the servant passage ways and just look at her and give a nod. Returning the gesture to dismiss the servant, she stepped up to the side of the queen's throne, bending slightly to whisper into her ear.<br><br>"The mid-day meal is ready, Your Majesty, if you desire to call a recess."
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