Unhappily Ever After?
<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: Trieste on 11-05-2008, 00:59:42</h2>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>11-05-2008, 00:59:42</strong>
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				"No, Highness, your <em>right</em> hand!"<br><br>Standing in the music room with the afternoon light slanting through the windows, Ella sighs and glances out at the courtyard. It would be wonderful to be out walking in the warm sunshine, enjoying the day. Instead, she's caught inside with her dance instructor, preparing for yet another reception. While she enjoys learning about how the state is run and whatnot, the various protocols are dizzying at best.<br><br>With a good-natured, if strained, smile at the instructor, she turns back toward him and raises her hands once more. "What's the purpose of this one, then?" She raises an eyebrow at the stately man, wondering how many people he has taught. Did he teach the Queen - <em>No</em>, she corrects herself, <em>the former Queen, soon.</em> - when she was a girl? <br><br>He smiles at her and gestures vaguely in the direction of the grand ballroom. "For beauty, like all other forms of art." With a wry grin, he leads her once more through the steps of the intricate dance.<br><br>Slowly, step by step, Ella manages to pick it up, but the process makes her feel like a dunce. A few of the things she's been learning the past months make her feel that way, and while it's not a completely unfamiliar feeling, it's also not very pleasant. Step, pause, step, pause, hand up, turn, pause. A dozen times, a hundred, until she gets it right.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>11-05-2008, 01:13:29</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Prince Eric Charming sits, watching his beautiful slightly younger wife-to-be, take dance lessons.&nbsp; He mentally corrects himself, he's the King now, isn't he?&nbsp; He covers a sigh, lest he portray the wrong impression.&nbsp; She's a pretty thing, slender, blond and with a great figure.&nbsp; At least from what he sees by her slim shoulders and firm appearing chest.<br><br>But is it enough?&nbsp; With the castle maids, there was never any sort of implied expectation of loyalty.&nbsp; And at least half of them are married now, anyway.&nbsp; But this?&nbsp; He always expected to have to marry a princess from another kingdom...&nbsp; And having met some of them, that thought had never been all that appealing.<br><br>The grand ballroom, which was separate from the actual throne room, has been taken over for this.&nbsp; The handsome gray eyes watch as the poor girl stumbles through her steps.&nbsp; A twinge of pity on her strikes him, he knew this man was a beast to learn under.&nbsp; Polite to a fault, but utterly merciless.<br><br>Was it love that struck him?&nbsp; Or was it that his quest was over?&nbsp; And does he want another?&nbsp; Is he afraid of being locked in here forever?<br><br>Suddenly standing, he walks to the doors, giving these two a bow before leaving.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>11-05-2008, 05:21:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Hearing the rustle of clothing from the other room, Ella looks up and smiles at Eric as he stands and bows. She grins at his bow, then watches him walk away with brow furrowed. The pause earns her a light slap on the arm from her instructor, and she turns back to him reluctantly.<br><br>Once she's able to escape from the merciless instructor, she heads out and down one of the hallways, poking around for her fiance. He's strong, handsome, warm. She would much rather have been learning to dance with him, truth be told, but the actual instructor is the best person from whom to learn. Or so she's told. <br><br>Seeing one of the minor duchesses whose name escapes her in the hallway, Ella inclines her head and pauses to curtsey, then frowns once the Duchess is past. She'll have to find out the woman's name later. It's probably something she should learn, for crying out loud. For now, she heads up to one of the soaring spires that grace the palace, climbing the several flights of stairs until she reaches the top. There, she leans on the stone ledge and looks out through one of the crenels, staring out across the courtyard of the castle and looking for her Prince.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>11-05-2008, 17:06:18</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Down in the courtyard, the handsome young prince sighs and takes a practice blade.&nbsp; Two handed piece of wood feels heavy, and comfortable.&nbsp; He takes a few swings at the padded pole, reassured by the sound he makes when he connects with it.&nbsp; The leather boots scuff on the packed and dried dirt while he continues to think on this new change in his life...<br><br>So what's she going to be like in bed?&nbsp; A very real concern here, as he's not going to have her sleep in a separate room, like some of the other nobles.&nbsp; He never understood that practice, especially seeing some of the local duchesses and baronesses.&nbsp; Of course, he hasn't had time to have Ella to himself either.<br><br>A back handed spinning strike nearly removes the target's 'head', which he follows up with downward slash.&nbsp; Most of the off-duty guards training watch him with some trepidation, he is after all the King and an accident would be unseemly.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>13-05-2008, 06:59:45</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				There he is. Ella smiles as she leans against the cool stone, watching the Prince - her Prince - as he handles the wooden sword. She smiles as he turns and spins, admiring the way he moves in the sunlight. Such a handsome man. She moves away from the edge after several minutes, turning to head back down the stairs.<br><br>She already lives in the palace, but what will it be like after the wedding? She can't even imagine. It's all very overwhelming even now, without everyone calling her Queen and all of that. She frowns as she walks. She hadn't really thought too much about what would happen when she had stepped forward and shown herself to be That Woman at the ball... sure, she dreamed about the palace - what girl doesn't? - but there'd been no actual <em>thought</em>. This might be a problem. <br><br>Crossing the great hall toward the yard where she saw the Prince, she pokes her head out the door, looking for him. He is, after all, the only one she knows in this place... or close to it.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>13-05-2008, 19:19:32</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Having finished his training for the day, despite not needing it, Eric replaces the weapon back on the rack, he grins at his guardsmen and turns to find her.&nbsp; Well, her head at any rate, the pretty blond is leaning out of the door in a rather cute way.&nbsp; No self-respecting noblewoman would even bother trying that, and yet with her it's unaffected, open, honest.&nbsp; Something the newly crowned King of the Highlands finds refreshing.<br><br>"Hello, dear, what can I help you with?"&nbsp; The dark haired male asks as he approaches Ella.&nbsp; His smile is genuine if somewhat mysterious, like he's smiling at something she did or is doing that he approves of.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>14-05-2008, 09:16:57</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Watching him move in that sure and strong way sends another wash of affection through her. Seeing him up close at what he does well only reminds her of how attracted she is to him in a way that watching from afar doesn't quite bring home. She smiles at he turns toward her, her smile widening to a happy grin as he comes over. He's so handsome.<br><br>"Oh, I was just going to head to dinn... um..." She notices his smile and blushes, glancing around her self-consciously. "... what? What is it?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>14-05-2008, 21:54:56</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"You're beautiful," He answers truthfully, watching her reaction.&nbsp; And then blinks, "Is it dinner already?&nbsp; My, how the time flies."<br><br>The tall hero walks up and presents his arm for her slighter frame to pick up on.&nbsp; At the very least, this is pleasant, "Shall we go to the Hall, then?"<br><br>Of course, he probably should change, but he's never been one to tight on the decorum.&nbsp; One of the younger maids decides to pass by and favours him with a bright smile, and the Queen with a small, very polite curtsy before moving on.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>19-05-2008, 04:49:16</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Thank you, my Prince." She grins at him and takes his arm, linking her arm with his and leaning into him a little as she walks alongside him. "It's been a bust day for both of us." She nods to the maid who acknowledges them, then adds softly as the woman walks away, "I feel like I should know everyone's name by now, but I can't remember anything. It's embarrassing."<br><br>She smiles at him again as they head into the hall, letting him hold her seat for her and all that. "What exactly will you be doing all day as King, anyway?" She tilts her head at him, curiously.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>19-05-2008, 07:42:01</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The pair cross into the Great Hall, located just 'behind' the Ballroom, the servants bowing and letting them pass.&nbsp; Eric smiles, "What do I do all day?&nbsp; Same as always really, I watch the goings on of the palace, spend time watching my wife-to-be being absolutely adorable, and if I'm lucky I can sit and watch as a pair of peasants squabble over who owns what chicken and how to make it fair for both parties."<br><br>A shrugs, "And then there's our party, the one for the wedding.&nbsp; All the preparations that need to be done, all the approvals.&nbsp; Which includes a list of guests.&nbsp; Some of which should not be let out of their homes, much less invited here."<br><br>The tall, dark haired King sighs, "Why can't it be a small affair?&nbsp; Something quiet and private?"<br><br>His lament is broken by another of his smiles.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>20-05-2008, 03:16:18</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella rolls her eyes good-naturedly, shaking her head. "That's not what I meant." She looks confused as he mentions a small, private wedding, then returns his smile. "Did you think about what we were talking about before? Having it outside so we don't have to pack everyone into the hall?" She leans forward, propping her chin on her palm.<br><br>"There won't be anyone <em>too</em> terrible there, will there?" A worried look crosses her face for a second, and her brow knits just slightly.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>20-05-2008, 19:37:07</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Yes, I have discussed it with the Châtelaine and he's debating it at the moment.&nbsp; Apparently, it would require a lot of yard work to make the front courts presentable for the King and Queen," A slight sardonic grin crosses his face, as they enter the side door leading back inside to the Throne Room, "I told him not to go too far."<br><br>His features gets a look of distaste when he sees the high backed wooden chair that marks his passage from boy to man, from Crown Prince to King.&nbsp; Such an uncomfortable piece of furniture, he debates hauling some pillows around for his backside next time he has to sit in it.&nbsp; He doesn't envy his pretty fiancé, her own seat doesn't look all that much better, "As for the guests...&nbsp; Define 'too terrible'."<br><br>He helps her, as is proper, into her own seat as all the tables have been put into their proper positions with the benches all lined up with them.&nbsp; The rulers of the Kingdom are the only ones being separate from the rest of noble rabble, as befits their station.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>24-05-2008, 07:06:20</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Seeing him shift around in his chair quite a bit before he settles in, she smiles sympathetically. Her chair is very beautiful, and the first time she saw it, she spent several minutes admiring the carved scrollwork along the back. She still caresses it every time she sits down, appreciating it for the art it is. But it certainly isn't comfortable art. <br><br>"Too terrible as in ..." She frowns. She'd assumed he would know what she meant, but perhaps not. She may be being too judgemental, and the thought gives her a slightly guilty twinge that's reflected in her expression. "I don't know... tell me about who will be there? I'm not sure I'll know anyone but you." She smiles at him at this last, reaching out across the table to brush his hand lightly. "Not that there's anyone else I'd prefer there, but I <em>am</em> curious."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>24-05-2008, 19:25:36</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Not that there's someone else she'd prefer?&nbsp; Oh dear, this may be trouble, as there are some smooth rogues in the kingdom's nobility who'd consider her a challenge, because she's married to the King.&nbsp; And frankly, death duels were outlawed two decades ago.&nbsp; Shifting his athletic frame on the hard seat, and mentally sifts through the known guest list, "Well, let's see, there'll be my Father and Step-Mother, the former King and Queen, my two baby sisters, one step, one half, Cecilia and Andromeda.&nbsp; There'll be Lord Chapholme and his ever so lovely sea snake of a wife...&nbsp; Giselle."<br><br>The room is still somewhat empty so he takes the opportunity to be as honest in his opinion of some of the nobility, "The dread old Duke Edward Gaines, not sure if he'll have another female 'guest' of his own.&nbsp; I hope not.&nbsp; There's the widow Lady Edlemire, the Kingdom's best source for gossip and odd bits of news, just make sure YOU aren't that bit of news.&nbsp; Let's who else was there..."<br><br>He ponders as more people file in.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>09-06-2008, 06:15:28</strong>
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				She blinks at him, her eyes slowly widening at his descriptions. "Oh..." She chews her lower lip and sits back in her chair, though she's careful not to slouch. Someone always seems to notice and remind her, when she does. Her expression is thoughtful; she'd always pictured most nobility as... above things like gossip and backstabbing. Isn't that something that normal people do, people who have something (they think) to gain from such things? What in the world could a noble have to gain from gossipmongering?<br><br>She watches him as he thinks and smiles a little. He looks so intent... she hadn't meant to ask such a seemingly difficult question. "You'll... be able to help me through all this, I hope?" Her fingers brush the back of his hand once more.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>09-06-2008, 17:56:02</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Then there's Sir Hubert Englemoor, the recent Jousting tournament champion, which he'll never let anyone forget.&nbsp; And only because no one lets me enter..." Eric says the last with a bit of a smile, then he looks up at his betrothed, "Of course, Ella, just follow my lead when the time comes."<br><br>Soon, he quietens as the local nobility continues to fill in the room in anticipation for dinner.&nbsp; Amiable chatter starts to get louder as it always does, while manservants and maids easily dodge uncaring masters and mistresses as the benches and small outer tables are claimed and occupied.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>15-06-2008, 01:11:49</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				She smiles at his quip about jousing, her fingers still moving lightly over the back of his hand. It's comforting, even as small as the contact is. She follows his gaze toward the rest of the nobility, then says, "Surely no one can actually stop the King from doing anything... once you're fully crowned..." She glances over at him.<br><br>"What would they do, respectully lock you in your room?" Her eyes are alight with amusement as she smiles at him again, though she pulls her hands from his as attendants begin to move around the table, setting out plates and whatnot.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>15-06-2008, 06:09:58</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Yet another sigh escapes him, and nods to a tall, almost lanky fellow being 'harassed' by a very sexy raven haired beauty every time she walks by him to the kitchen and back, "See him?&nbsp; The one that Gwendolyn is almost ready to strip in front of?&nbsp; That's Simon.&nbsp; The Captain of the Guard, and yes, he WILL lock me in my room, sadly saying it's for my own good."<br><br>A scowl at the unseeing 6 foot plus male, "He has before."<br><br>He takes a pull of wine from the ornate pewter goblet set in front of him.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>16-06-2008, 00:46:28</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella glances over at the indicated gentleman, then laughs, ducking her head so that said gentleman won't catch her staring. "Has he really? That would have been a sight to see." She smiles at Eric, getting a sudden picture of him as a boy being dragged around by the ear... It makes her grin wider, and she aims that grin right at him, though she doesn't share her thoughts. <br><br>"And Simon will be there as well, I presume?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>16-06-2008, 06:58:11</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Of course he will be.&nbsp; He's like my shadow.&nbsp; It's rare I get away from him long enough to do anything on my own," The young King sighs, also avoiding the slightly older fellow's eye.&nbsp; He fidgets with a fork and sighs, feeling 10 again, under a minder a mere 5 years his elder.<br><br>He straightens, "But, he can't coddle me forever, I am a grown man now.&nbsp; Or so I'd hope to believe."<br><br>"Still, I have to admit to a certain...&nbsp; Nervousness, most of these guests, I don't particularly," Eric searches for a polite word to describe the fact that he LOATHES most of them, "Know them very well, and so I'm not sure I have anything in common to discuss."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>16-06-2008, 20:30:40</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella smiles at him, but doesn't say anything right away, since one of the servants comes over to set her plate in front of her. Nodding her thanks at the woman, Ella turns her attention back to her handsome fiance, lifting the cover from her plate and picking up a fork. "I guess that makes two of us." She pauses to inhale the wonderful scent wafting up from her dinner, glancing down to find herself served with poached fish and steaming rice.<br><br>"Are you excited?" She pauses, reviewing the wording of her question, then blushes. "I mean, excited to see people you do know well? I mean, surely some of your visitors will be friends..." She smiles, still a little chagrined, then looks down at her plate, picking up a forkfull of rice.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>16-06-2008, 21:02:06</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Excited?&nbsp; He wonders what she's excited about.&nbsp; Is she marrying 'The Prince' or him?&nbsp; Eric sighs mentally, he's about two steps away from gibbering like a fool.&nbsp; He didn't think that finding the girl who fit the shoe was such a big deal, but everyone else simply went mad over it.&nbsp; The young man was mostly curious about her, and he has to admit that he didn't really think it through.<br><br>A glance around the rooms, looking at each tapestry in turn, all of them great deeds from the past kings.&nbsp; Then answers Ella's question, "Well, I get to see most of them during the Tournament season, which is late spring to early fall, we all gather there and meet, while our champions run the fields for us."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>17-06-2008, 06:36:40</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Ah..." She toys with her fork a moment, not entirely sure what more to say. It seems sometimes that she doesn't have much to talk about with her husband-to-be. But they did spend one magical, glorious night unable to stop chatting with each other, right? That can't be the end of it... right...? Biting her lip for a moment, she looks over at him, giving him another tentative smile. <br><br>"What got you so interested in jousting in the first place?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>17-06-2008, 20:01:41</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric smiles, "Well, I like to be active, to do something.&nbsp; And frankly, jousting takes a lot of skill.&nbsp; I admit to being a fair hand at it."<br><br>The six footer shrugs, "I enjoy it, but no one wants to give me a chance to prove it. So I stay at home and race my horses.&nbsp; Or draw.&nbsp; Or read."<br><br>A pause, "Do you know how to ride?&nbsp; If not, I can teach you."<br><br>Which would give him something to do, really.&nbsp; And also give him a chance to learn more about her, he knows about her home situation, but she still had to have hobbies she'd have wanted to have tried.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>18-06-2008, 01:38:53</strong>
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				"Uh ... no, I actually don't know how to ride." She blushes a little, looking down at her dinner. "I never saw the need, I guess." She glances sidelong at him. "I would like it if you taught me, I think. Do you think you would have time?" <br><br>She pauses, then adds, "I draw a little, too, but I'm not that good at it. What sort of things do you sketch out?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>18-06-2008, 02:12:16</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				'Never saw the need?'&nbsp; More like never allowed to, her step family were wenches and whores all disguised as nobility.&nbsp; He sighs to himself, eating his own fish with less grace than is proper for a nobleman.&nbsp; Well, this is where things change, this was the proper daughter of the Duke, and frankly is a much nicer person than they are.&nbsp; He drinks more of the wine, not that they aren't considered 'prizes' themselves, they all had good bodies, even the matron.&nbsp; But that's where his interest stops, and frankly he wants more out of his wife.<br><br>Another glance at the pure maiden who fit the glass slipper, and at least with her, he can teach her all sorts of things, like riding to start with.&nbsp; Eric answers the second question, "I draw anything I have the time to, people, landscapes, sunsets...&nbsp; I'm not all that good either, but it's fun."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>18-06-2008, 02:31:40</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Watching him for a moment, she finds herself wondering what it is he thinks about during the pauses before he answers. It's a habit that both annoys and entrances her, and something she can't picture getting tired of. <br><br>She grins widely at his answer. "If you're not that good, either, then perhaps I won't mind showing you... eventually." She grins at him over her glass, then takes a sip of water; she never developed much of a taste for wine, and though she'll drink it if someone takes note, she sticks to water for the most part. Really, it just tastes better.<br><br>"Do you want to take a walk after dinner?" The suggestion is fairly sudden, surprising her a little bit. Not that she's opposed, but hopefully he won't find her ... clingy, or something.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>18-06-2008, 02:59:44</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				"Somewhere outside the palace walls?&nbsp; Where we can walk in peace and in the green fields behind the keep?"&nbsp; He grins suddenly, "That would be wonderful, Ella my dear!&nbsp; Wonderful indeed!"<br><br>And with that he starts to eat with a little more gusto, not only will he be able to spend some time with her, he gets to go outside for once in a week!&nbsp; The dark haired King approves greatly, and after all, who'll stop him?&nbsp; A glance to Simon, but the older man doesn't seem to be paying much attention to him this time, too busy fending off Gwendolyn's not quite subtle advances.&nbsp; That girl is a shark, but apparently has only been aiming for the Captain, thankfully.<br><br>The large chamber is brightly lit as merriment, wine and chatter fills it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>19-06-2008, 01:49:06</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella smiles widely as he takes to her idea so well. Fantastic. She looks to her own meal for a few minutes, not interrupting for a while. <br><br>Glancing up after a somewhat lengthy but happy silence, she ventures, "Do you have a favourite place to walk? Someplace you can show me?" She smiles at him again, then adds, "We could make a point of exploring around the walls pretty often, if not ..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>19-06-2008, 07:00:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I have a few spots I like to wander about at night, when I'm allowed," He replies happily.&nbsp; This is looking up, he was afraid he'd end up stuck in the castle all the time.&nbsp; Finishing off his supper, he waves somewhat imperiously at Simon, who raises an eyebrow and says something apologetic to the dark haired girl.<br><br>Looking somewhat relieved that he's no longer the center of coy attentions, the lighter coloured male approaches, "Aye, my liege?"<br><br>"You really should take her up on her offer, Simon," Eric grins.<br><br>"Ach, the tales I've heard about her...."<br><br>"Are all fabrications.&nbsp; Made up by jealous girls, because she's the only one bold enough to seek you out, my friend,"&nbsp; And for all his grousing the man really is the King's best friend.&nbsp; Although half a decade his elder, Simon was and is very much an older brother to the only child that was the Prince, "That, and she has a natural beauty unmatched by any woman, save one.&nbsp; I happen to be dining with her."<br><br>He flashes a charming, and yet very honest, grin to his betrothed.&nbsp; The tall fellow turns back to the blond man, "Simon, I would like to take a walk along the beach this eve, and I would also like to have some privacy, may I count on you to make sure that we are not interrupted."<br><br>"Well..."&nbsp; He starts.<br><br>"I know where the maids keep the keys, my friend.&nbsp; I know a certain young lass would love to be able to visit you..."<br><br>"That will not be unnecessary, my King, I will make sure you are undisturbed tonight," The answer is far too quick.&nbsp; Then some silence between them, although the rest of the room seems unaware of the discussion.<br><br>"You do realize that she will win?" Eric says after the moment passes.<br><br>"Oh, indeed, my King, indeed," A sardonic look crosses the strong and noble featured man-at-arms, "I just wish to delay it as long as possible."<br><br>"A week, then," Comes the dry response.<br><br>A sigh escapes Simon as he moves away, "Most likely."<br><br>Turning back to Ella, Eric smiles once again, "And now, we have the entire night to see the ocean."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>21-06-2008, 09:43:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella can't help but smile to see him so happy. It's nice to know, every once in a while, that her soon-to-be husband can take pleasure in something not encrusted with jewels or covered in gold leaf. Not that he seems the sort, anyway, but the confirmation is definitely comforting.<br><br>She continues to smile as she listens to the conversation between the two men. They really do seem close, and she grins at the banter, enjoying every moment of it. Flicking her eyes back and forth from one speaker to the other, she returns Eric's grin, flushing a touch at the complement. <br><br>Finishing her water, Ella sets her glass aside and stands, reaching out to slip her hand into his. "That sounds wonderful." She grins at him, then shifts her hand upward, taking his arm and strolling with him out of the dining room. "I enjoyed dinner, but it'll be nice to move around a bit afterward. I would hate to spend the rest of the night trying to stay awake from all of it." She chuckles.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>22-06-2008, 06:23:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Taking his wife-to-be's hand and rising himself, he gives a jaunty salute to everyone in the massive dining room and almost skips out of there!&nbsp; He seems quite pleased to be free of the confines of the castle.&nbsp; And Eric leads her through the city streets, brightly lit by torches in low evening light.&nbsp; A fresh wind slides through and he takes a deep breath, thankful it's coming from the bakery this time, not the tannery.<br><br>"Well, my Dear, like I said," The tall heroic looking figure says as they approach the outer gate, "As you know, the beach is a fair ways out, but I think you'll like the view from there."<br><br>Another nod, and the guardsman opens the door leading to the road.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>22-06-2008, 23:50:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I think I will." She nods to the guards by the gate as they open it, then smiles at Eric as she walks with him out toward the road. "So..." She glances up at him. "I'm not sure I'm cut out to be a dancer." She laughs. "The instructions aren't going at all well, if you listen to my teacher."<br><br>Sliding her hand back down to lace her fingers through his, she adds, "I have no idea how you can be so graceful. I had <em>thought</em> I was doing all right, but apparently not." She laughs again.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>23-06-2008, 05:19:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Practice, my dear, years of practice," He grins proudly and then shifts to a rueful look, "That man is a beast!&nbsp; He has a level of 'perfection' that he believes everyone should be able to achieve, but no one to date ever has,"<br><br>The path to the beach is unmarked, but easily found among the trees lining the main road, and he leads the slim girl down it, as the moon crests over the slow waves.&nbsp; The beach isn't all that large, with a pair of cliffs enclosing it, while the Castle Charming sits on the lower on, a light house on the other.<br><br>A pause as he overlooks a sight he never gets tired off, "You know, I've never seen the man truly dance.&nbsp; Not once, it's always with a student, or he's back there barking orders at them."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>26-06-2008, 03:31:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No?" She frowns thoughtfully. "Neither have I, I don't think." <br><br>With that, she pauses beside him at the mouth of the beach, taking a few quiet moments to enjoy the beauty of the scene. Truly, he's found a wonderful place to take her. "Oh, my..." Hardly aware of having breathed the soft words, she smiles up at him, though it's difficult to tear her gaze from the beach in front of her, silvery with the moonlight.<br><br>"This is... amazing." She tips her head back, looking at the brilliant flame pouring light fromt he tp of the lighthouse. "... do ships hit here often? Or is that just a precaution?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>26-06-2008, 21:43:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Actually, there's a small fishing village about a mile away from the lighthouse, so they decided why take chances," Her Prince smiles, "A sensible belief, really."<br><br>He resists the urge to strip down and take a late evening swim, simply letting the cool air waft over his frame.&nbsp; The water is calm, and the summer air feels oh so good however.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>07-07-2008, 03:41:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Why take chances indeed..." Ella heads out over the sand, then pauses halfway. She glances back at him and grins. "It's so beautiful out here," she marvels, kneeling down int he sand and pulling off shoes and stockings. "It's <em>wonderful</em>."<br><br>Barefoot, she jogs down the beach toward the water, setting her things out of reach of the waves before gathering her skirt in her hands. "Come on," she laughs, wading ankle-deep into the chilly moonlit waves.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>12-07-2008, 04:41:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric smiles as he watches his betrothed take off the lower bits of cloth, his eyes flashing to her slender legs, before making up his own mind.&nbsp; Bending down and unlatching the clasps of his leather boots, he pulls and tosses them before stepping out of them.<br><br>The cooling summer breeze that washes off the ocean side and he closes his eyes, stretching out his arms letting it slide around him before taking a step into the water.&nbsp; The slightly warm water swirls around his lower legs and he grins back at Ella.<br><br>"Feels good, doesn't it?"<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>12-07-2008, 05:02:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Yes... it really does." She turns to look at him over her shoulder, and gives him a wide smile, clearly delighted. "I haven't done this before, though... I feel as if I'm going to lose my balance." She grins and wades over to him, the hem of her skirt already wet despite her efforts to hold it up out of the waves. <br><br>Reaching him, she takes his arm again, stumbling a little as a wave hits her. Even though it's a smaller wave, she really doesn't appear to be used to navigating them. "I love the smell of the sea," she comments to him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>15-07-2008, 21:14:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The King let's his hand slide around the young woman's hip and pulls her close, to both steady and feel her press against him.&nbsp; She's going to be his wife, dammit, he may as well get some fun for himself.<br><br>"Me too, pity I never went sailing when I was younger," A wistful sigh as another breeze plays with their hair pushing the strands to the left of them.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>17-07-2008, 08:47:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She leans into him as he slides his arm around her waist, smiling up at him. "You didn't? That's a shame... one would think you'd get ample opportunity." She grins. "We could, if you wanted to. I've never been sailing, either." <br><br>Leaning her head against his shoulder, she murmurs, "I think it would be very romantic." She starts to shiver a little as the waves lap at her calves, and she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, not quite ready to go back yet, but not particularly liking the chill from the water, either.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>18-07-2008, 20:05:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Smiling the taller man helps the young lady out of the water back onto the sand as water recedes slowly from the beach, and then looks sad, "Unfortunately travelling will be curtailed significantly, as there's a lot of work ahead of me in the near future.&nbsp; And probably yourself as well."<br><br>A slight sardonic chuckle, "Also, Simon would have a fit if we got on something as dangerous as a boat.&nbsp; He really needs to loosen up."<br><br>Suddenly an idea hits him, "I wonder if a certain young miss should show up anyway tonight..."<br><br>A wicked grin lights his features.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>19-07-2008, 01:35:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I don't know what you could mean," Ella replies softly, though the sly tilt of her head and the knowing cast of her smile might perhaps say otherwise. Standing there in the sand, she turns to hug him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "What sort of work do you have in mind?" This question is handed off in a more serious tone, and she looks up at his face inquiringly. <br><br>"Did your parents leave some projects for you, or do you have personal ones...?" She smiles up at him, enjoying the scent, the warmth of being so close to him, apparently content to spend the entire night on the beach with him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>22-07-2008, 21:44:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"The work of running a kingdom, my Dear," He sighs ruefully, "It's quite a bit of work, I'm the judge and executioner of any crimes commited, although most of the worst types of stuff stopped decades ago, but people take their chicken stealing very seriously around here."<br><br>He kicks some of the water back to an encroahing wave, "And then there are the tournaments, festivals and games, to keep the people happy, and those take a lot of negotiating as to see who gets to host.&nbsp; A huge honour and thus an important affair that must be decided months in advance..."<br><br>A glance at the rising moon, "I'm not sure, but I think the Queen has some responsibilities in that regard as well, my Mother always handled the various Balls and Dances that occur.&nbsp; So you probably have a lot to look forward to."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>24-07-2008, 07:29:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella wrinkles her nose a little bit, still hugging him close. "You make it sound like I'm never going to get to see you," she says softly, then smiles up at him. "You must promise to make some time for me, no matter how busy you get." She grins, admiring his face, handsome in the moonlight. <br><br>Reaching up, she strokes his cheek, then runs her fingers through his hair, ignoring how the sand itches for the moment as it sticks to her wet feet. "I would be very sad if you found yourself too busy for me in the future," she says very quietly, resting her chin against his chest as she gazes up at him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>24-07-2008, 22:05:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Actually, it's likely to be the opposite.&nbsp; We'll see too much of each other and when we get to be alone, we'll be too tired to do anything about," He sighs, remembering his father's oft repeated complaint.&nbsp; Before the Queen would kiss him to silence it.<br><br>"Of course, it might not even happen that way," He shrugs and steps out of the water finally, "There's a cove under the light house, I hear it's pretty cozy, and above the seawater, want to see if it's true?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>28-07-2008, 04:32:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A slow grin crosses her face, and she nods eagerly. "Absolutely. That would be fun." She grins and takes his hand as she starts walking toward the lighthouse, glancing up at him.<br><br>"Do you really think you'll get tired of seeing me?" Her tone is teasing, and the question is meant to be light. "I think I would enjoy helping you however you needed me to," she says a bit more seriously. "It's... what I plan to do, anyhow. Hopefully I'll be able to take some of the weight from your shoulders." She smiles, squeezing his hand lightly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>29-07-2008, 22:59:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Smiling down at the slim girl, Eric leads her along the sandy beach, avoiding the rolling waves as they creep slowly back and forth.&nbsp; The warm wind blowing from the water plays with their hair as he reaches the not quite hidden path.<br><br>"Alright, this may be a bit tricky as this is the only way up, but it's also about a foot across at it's widest," He grins down, "Ready to try?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>05-08-2008, 07:04:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Definitely." She grins back at him, keeping her hand tight in his as she picks her way up along the path. As it gets rockier, she gets slower, treading carefully along the outcropping. The sharp stones that would hurt the dainty feet of most noblewomen don't seem to phase her, and she slowly releases his hand once she figures out that she needs it for balance.<br><br>"Oh... this is going to look so silly," she laughs as she reaches a fairly wide gap, then leans forward across it, holding onto the next rock as she eases first one foot, then the other over, blushing as she ends up for a few moments with her backside in the air. Once she reaches the next rock, she stands, turning to grin at him. "Not as easy without your long legs," she teases.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>08-08-2008, 22:19:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Oh, you have long legs, the rest of you just happens to be short," Eric teases, reaching out to help steady her, as the tall King in training takes the lead.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her hand in his larger grasp, the young man leads her over the stones, points out the most stable path, all the while the night wind picking up and playing with their clothes.<br><br>It doesn't take long, really, to find the opening in the rock face, a round entrance, neatly hidden in the darkness.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Entering it, with his wife-to-be in tow, he grabs the slender girl into a hug and releases, "Give me a moment to find the candles.&nbsp; They should be close by."<br><br>And with that, he vanishes into the dark, humming a soft tune.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>13-08-2008, 01:46:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She grins at his commentary, then squeaks in surprise as he grabs her up in a hug. "Ack! Eric!" She laughs and squeezes him back, grinning. For a while, he'd seemed almost distant after he found her, and she'd wondered if the attraction from the ball itself was ... an illusion. A flight of fancy that she'd conjured to get out from under her stepfamily's thumb, and dragged him into.<br><br>But perhaps it was just nerves... she sees none of that now, and it's a relief. It would have been painful to realise that it had all, indeed, been a dream. She chews her lip and hugs herself in the darkness, pondering this. Then she shakes herself from her reverie, realising she can't hear him any longer. Her eyes widening, she calls softly, "Eric? Eric, where are you?" The moonlight that slants in and illuminates just one corner of the cave is not enough to see even an edge of him, so she reaches out her hands, groping for him as she searches.<br><br>Laughing a little, trying to shake off the unease at being left all but alone in the cave, she scuffs her feet along the stone floor, shuffling around for him. "Eric, you're not playing a joke on me, are you?" Her voice echoes back at her from the darker innards of the cave, and she lets out another nervous laugh.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>13-08-2008, 03:25:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Stay there, Ella," Comes the commanding voice, "I don't want you stumbling about and trip over something."<br><br>A curse as Erik does exactly as he warns her about, "Like that.&nbsp; Aha!&nbsp; There it is."<br><br>The sound of flint on steel with a few flashes that illuminate him, and then there's light.&nbsp; And a blanket or two, and a fire pit, some wood for it, a small stack of tallow candles and some rope for climbing perhaps.&nbsp; Placing the light source into a natural sconce that's encrusted with wax after years of use, the young man nods and steps back, "There."<br><br>He strides back to the entrance, "Now then, my love, ready to spend the night in a cave?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>19-08-2008, 08:51:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella grins in the darkness as she hears Eric stumbling about. She stays still, where she is, however. "I'm over here," she says softly, in case he needs to know. <br><br>The dull flare of the candle makes her squint her eyes, now that they've become accustomed to only moonlight. She looks slowly around the sparsely decorated cavern and smiles, reaching for his hand as he crosses back toward her. "I think I am." She slides an arm around his waist and moves toward the blankets.<br><br>"Won't we be missed, though?" She pauses and peers up at his face. "I wouldn't want to waste the staff's time looking for us, thinking we weren't all right..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>23-08-2008, 22:52:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Bah, Simon will keep them from searching," A mischevious glint in his eye, "Otherwise a certain raven haired beauty will be in his chambers when he leasts expects her."<br><br>He lays the big red square cloth onto the floor, close to the entrance to allow them to see the sunrise, but not so close to be detected from the shore.&nbsp; Eric kisses the blond's cheek, his fingers tracing along her neck as he coaxes his pretty young girl to sit with him.<br><br>"Now then, we have all night to ourselves," The tall Prince kisses Ella on the mouth, "Whatever shall we do to pass the time?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>26-08-2008, 09:30:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Grinning at him, she moves to sit on the blanket, sliding her arm around his waist and raising the other hand to stroke his cheek. Running her fingertips along the bottom of his chin, then back up to his cheek, she enjoys the kiss he gives her thoroughly, clearly having nowhere else to be. SMiling against his lips, she rather enjoys how warm they feel against hers, contrasting nicely with the cooling night.<br><br>Brushing her pale hair away from her face, she pulls back to admire him for a second, then murmurs, "I don't know. Count the stars, maybe." Eyes sparkling with mischief, she leans in to kiss him again, then rests her head on his shoulder.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>01-09-2008, 08:04:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Taking Ella's face in his fingers and turning it to face his, he kisses the pretty blond, "Hmmm, that sounds like it could get awfully boring awfully quickly, my dear."<br><br>The strong arm pulls her smaller frame to his, "Besides, here we are, alone, for the entire night.&nbsp; I don't know about you, but I'd like to get to know my lovely wife-to-be much better."<br><br>His hands delicately play along her spine as he speaks.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>05-09-2008, 06:16:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella laughs softly. "I would hate to force you into a boring idea, my charming King." She reaches back, catching his hand and pulling it more around her waist. "What did you have in mind, pray tell?" She admires the way that the breeze stirs his hair, the strands caressing his temples. Taking it as a suggestion, she reaches up and does so herself, brushing her fingertips over his temple and along his hairline, down his cheek, to caress his chin.<br><br>"You know," she murmurs conspiratorily, "I think any actual getting-to-know would be something along the lines of scandalous, wouldn't it?" She smiles, not particularly seeming to mind. Scandal is for nobles who have been raised as such.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>08-09-2008, 07:06:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				King Eric smirks, "And why should it be 'scandalous'?&nbsp; Why should spending some time with my betrothed be objectionable, no matter how I wish to spend it with her?"<br><br>He looks about conspirationally, "Unless, of course, you're planning on marrying someone else?"<br><br>The tone is light and teasing, as his fingers suddenly splay across Ella's soft, smooth and flat stomach.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>13-09-2008, 22:46:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No," she whispers to him, grinning. "I am not planning on marrying anyone else. I did, after all, tell you yes." She tucks one hand over the back of his hand, pressing it to her front. "Were you?"<br><br>She doesn't wait for an answer before she leans forward to kiss him again, licking her lips a little just before her mouth touches his. She scoots closer to him on the blanket, enjoying the scent of him and the feel of his warm skin pressed against her. She lingers over the kiss for several seconds, gently stroking his hair the entire time with her free hand.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>24-09-2008, 00:25:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Not unless they were hiding something on me again, they do that sometimes," He smiles back and a finger starts to roam across the bare skin of Ella's cheeks and chin.&nbsp; The young man starts to look as to how to undo her dress.&nbsp; What is it with nobility and complicated designs?&nbsp; It does however allow him to explore the soft body without shame, not that he had any at the moment.<br><br>His mouth on the other hand gets to play with her bare throat, lips, cheek and back to her neck.&nbsp; He trails down the side of the soft column and down across her collarbones.&nbsp; His grip on her body cups a breasts playfully...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>14-11-2008, 05:45:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"How could they ..." Her head tilts back and her voice trails off as his mouth starts to meander. "... possibly ..." Her hand presses his more firmly against her breast, and then the train of thought is gone, leaving only a delighted little smile in its wake. Her fingers slide from the back of his hand, up his arm, and she drapes both arms over his shoulders, pulling him closer to her.<br><br>"Eric," she murmurs. "Are you happy to be marrying me?" It's probably the worst <em>possible</em> time for such a question, but Ella really doesn't know that. All she knows is that at the moment, doubts are trying to sneak in through the back door of her brain, and it really seems that the best thing to do is ask about them. <br><br>It seems reasonable, anyway.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>15-11-2008, 04:10:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Ig...&nbsp; Blah...&nbsp; Gwah?"&nbsp; He sputters, the entire momentum of his caresses halted by that simple question.&nbsp; A sigh, as the hair fans over her breast, forehead on her collarbone, "You really know how to kill a mood, Love."<br><br>And just when I found the right catches on her bodice too, he mentally grumbles.&nbsp; Sitting up the tall, heroic looking figure settles on the cloth again and looks out of the mouth of the cave, the silence inside giving way to the crashing of the waves.&nbsp; He watches the round spot of white that circles across the water, warning ships of a coast and dangers near by.&nbsp; Why, oh why, did she have to pick the most difficult of questions.<br><br>"Ella..." He sighs, then runs his fingers through his hair, "That's a difficult question.&nbsp; It's a sort of yes and no.&nbsp; Yes, because you're beautiful, in all senses of the word.&nbsp; Both inside and out, you glow when you smile, you know that?&nbsp; But the other side is that, well, I'm the King now, and I can't be as carefree or leave on an adventure any more...&nbsp; It's difficult for me to no longer have the freedom to say, 'Now, where shall I go, today?'"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>16-12-2008, 01:09:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His dumbfounded response rather surprises her. Is it that difficult a question to answer? She raises her eyebrows and proceeds to look quite hurt by his statement. "Well, I mean, I certainly didn't mean to kill any kind of mood, Eric." In her flabbergasted state, her tone perhaps cuts more than she means it to.<br><br>"Oh. Well..." She stares at him for a second, blinking. "Well." She sits up as well, pulling her knees to her chest and draping her arms over them. "I mean. I certainly don't want to cut down on your freedom..." Her brow furrows more, and though she tries not to look hurt, she certainly feels it. She visibly makes the choice to try not to be hurt, though, her jaw tightening and her chin tilting upwards just slightly. "I'm very happy you asked me, Eric." She reaches again for his hand. "I'm a very lucky woman."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>20-12-2008, 20:52:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric suddenly glares at his betrothed, and finishes off undoing her dress.&nbsp; Taking her head in one hand, he kisses her mouth while her fingers slip into his free hand.&nbsp; It's a long session of lip contact, with the only the sea being heard.&nbsp; Another stern look as he pulls away from her mouth, "Still, asking that question...&nbsp; It would have been better to do it before I started, you know."<br><br>His touch strokes along Ella's ribs as he debates something in his head.&nbsp; A nod, "Well, what this calls for is a punishment.&nbsp; Like a spanking."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>20-12-2008, 21:45:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Smiling against his lips, she makes no move to break that contact, her eyes drifting half closed as the warmth of his mouth seeps into her lips and makes them tingle. Shivering a little once the last few hooks of her dress are unbuttoned, she slides closer to him, then blinks in surprise as he offers ... a spanking?<br><br>"Um..." She laughs at first, because he clearly must be joking. But he isn't laughing. Isn't he joking? Her laugh gets hollow, and then stops as she studies his face. Could he be serious? "I ... beg your pardon?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>27-12-2008, 23:46:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You heard me, wife-to-be, get on my lap, face down, please,"&nbsp; His grip is around her waist, her body mostly naked, with her dress on the cave floor before him.&nbsp; Eric's warm hands run along her spine and waits to be obeyed, although his lips press against her bare shoulder and neck.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>29-12-2008, 06:05:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"... I ... <em>Eric</em>..." Ella turns her cheek toward him, nuzzling at his ear a moment. Her cheeks are flaming, the red stain spreading down past her neck and nearly to her collarbones. She slides into his lap, though, bit by small bit, until she's sitting across his thighs. She tilts her head to peer into his eyes, those lovely eyes that she just loves, and then bites her lip and starts to turn around.<br><br>Ella swallows hard, feeling like she should say something, but what can she possibly say? She rests on her arms on one of his thighs, then hesitantly settles her cotton-clad hips on his other thigh, turning her head to gaze out of the cave across the moonlit night. Well, she might as well enjoy the scenery.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>11-01-2009, 23:42:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The round ball of light that splashes on to the water, circles at regular intervals, while the Prince pulls down her cotton braies to her knees.&nbsp; She can't see his face, but Eric grins down at the perfect heart-shaped bottom that is being presented to him.&nbsp; Fingers squeeze and bite into a cheek, and he's actually pleased that she listened to him.&nbsp; But still, she does need to be punished in his mind.<br><br>"I believe, wife-to-be, that five should be sufficient, this should teach you to ask these sorts of questions before, or after, but not during,"&nbsp; The handsome young man tries to keep the smile out of his voice.&nbsp; He IS enjoying this immensely.<br><br>The first is delivered with a stinging sensation to her left cheek.&nbsp; The second, the right!&nbsp; The next two crack loudly into the cave's air and bouncing off the walls in an echo, while the last one is across both and adds to the reddening flesh.&nbsp; A caress is placed on the soft curves, "Now then, Ella, do you understand?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>02-02-2009, 00:07:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The way he caresses and squeezes her backside makes Ella blush deeply, and she buries her face in the side of his thigh. It's as if that firm touch makes her even more aware of the eyes that are watching her bared skin. It makes her feel dreadfully exposed. And his scolding ... she tries to think of something to say to him. Something to mitigate the - "Ah!"<br><br>The first slap surprises her and makes her cry out. The second one brings out a squeak and a squirm, and so on. Wriggling around in his lap as he finishes, she answers, "Yes! Yes, but it was never meant for any harm!" She wriggles until she can see him over her shoulder. "Please, no more!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>09-02-2009, 03:42:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He lifts her up and places the slender woman onto his lap, kissing her cheek lightly, "Good.&nbsp; Mood is a delicate thing, Ella, and it needs to be maintained."<br><br>His fingers are still under her skirts and touch her thighs, making no motions to pull up or down her undergarments as Eric kisses her neck again, nipping lightly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>11-04-2009, 20:36:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Furrowing her brow a little as he lectures her, Ella says nothing for several moments, sitting up straight and looking down at her lap. She frowns as she turns what just happened over in her mind. Is she overreacting? No, she really doesn't think so. <br><br>So after a few moments, she murmurs, "Yes, and you just ruined mine. I'm not a child, Eric."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>12-04-2009, 01:23:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Suddenly he let's go and flops onto his back.&nbsp; This wasn't going to work.&nbsp; It's too fast, it's too soon.&nbsp; His legs flex and splay out in front of him, bouncing Ella on his lap, but doesn't displace her.&nbsp; One hand goes up to cover his eyes and groans, "All right, I am sorry.&nbsp; Won't do it again."<br><br>Maybe it's the type of girls he's used to?&nbsp; Most of them were relatively earthy, and if not physically experienced, knew enough to not be shocked by it.&nbsp; But Ella must have been incredibly sheltered, which means she'll have no idea what's right or wrong for her in bedplay.&nbsp; And ass that he is, Eric finds that he doesn't have the patience to play it slow.&nbsp; And yet, that's exactly what he's going to have to do.<br><br>The wind carries the soothing sound of water crashing against the cave's side.&nbsp; And that tell him that they are trapped until the tide rolls out the next morning, so if he wanted to, he can't take her back to the castle.&nbsp; Laying there, his long, athletic frame stretched out on the blanket, he ponders how to spend the rest of the night.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>12-04-2009, 15:19:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella's eyes widen in surprise as he abruptly releases her and flops out. She hadn't expected for him to randomly sort of ... withdraw. She watches with a puzzled expression on her face while he apologizes, and she finds herself more confused than anything. "... Eric..."<br><br>With a pained wince, she gets up off of him and pads over to the mouth of the cave. It looks like they are caught in here until morning, she thinks. Watching the waves wash up against the mouth of the cave, she frowns and brushes strands of hair back from her face. "I do love you," she affirms quietly. That's supposed to make them happy, isn't it?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>16-04-2009, 06:00:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Sliding up to his knees, Prince Eric looks at Ella's back and sighs before getting up fully and finding a second blanket for him to sleep on.&nbsp; Putting it reasonably far away he sits down on it, and ponders his next step.&nbsp; If he had a book, he could pass the time without bothering her, but as it stands, not only is it rude, it's not what she'll be expecting.<br><br>The wind blows into the cave, and wistfully, he realizes he never went sailing.&nbsp; And for some reason, that saddens him.&nbsp; He's ridden across the fields, seen new kingdoms, but he never had a chance to actually had a chance to actually sail across the oceans.&nbsp; But now, he has responsibilities, and those come first.<br><br>"Now then, my Dear, what shall we talk about?"&nbsp; He lays down on his side of the natural chamber and turns his head towards her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>21-05-2009, 19:35:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I don't know." She turns back toward him and watches the graceful way he moves. His grace, and the gentleness with which he comports himself, was one of the first things that attracted her to him. Well, other than his looks. He's a <em>very</em> handsome man.<br><br>Drifting back toward him, she sits down on the blanket he's not occupying and tries to smile at him. "How did you first find this place? It seems like it's a little remote, kind of tucked away and out of sight." She tilts her head at him, and silently hopes that he's not about to tell her that some other woman showed it to him, for a tryst. <em>God, that would be just awful</em>, she thinks with a stab of jealousy.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>21-05-2009, 21:25:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Swimming, actually," He smiles, "That day the tide was especially high after a storm and being ten, I wanted to feel the rush of water."<br><br>He remembers that day well, fear never entered his mind, not even after the experience, "One particularly powerful swell swept me up and left me, unhurt on the stones right before the mouth here.&nbsp; You can't see them now, but they're pretty flat, and about ten feet away, and three feet lower than here.&nbsp; And it was a very hot day, so I dried off completely in a matter of minutes.&nbsp; Once inside, I decided to claim it for myself.&nbsp; Not that hard, not even the village knows of it, and what ever raiders we may have had in our history usually use the cove about 50 miles north of here.&nbsp; Much better for beaching ships and hiding loot.&nbsp; This is big enough for only two people."<br><br>He stretches out his long legs and toes, "Of course, when I was interested in girls, I wanted to show them this, but none ever wanted to come.&nbsp; You're the first whose ever come here to my little hiding spot.&nbsp; &nbsp;And this is probably the last time I'll ever get to come here...&nbsp; Pity really.&nbsp; But I suppose all things come to an end some time."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>22-05-2009, 04:58:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella tilts her head as she listens to Eric's story, a small smile touching the corners of her lips while he tells it. It seems so like him, to find himself washed up right in front of an adventure. Her jealousy forgotten, she eases closer to him, reaching out to stroke the back of his hand. <br><br>"I don't see why it has to be the last time. Surely we can get you some free time for a stroll..." She frowns a little. "At least, you'd think so."<br><br>Brushing a strand of hair out of her face, she stretches out on the blanket beside him and rests her cheek in her palm, propping her arm up on her elbow. It's not quite time to sleep yet, but she's somewhere close to tired, and she's enjoying the night air anyway. It's odd to be sleeping in her dress, but what can she do?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>25-05-2009, 21:42:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Sorry, Ella, but our duties will require us to either stay in the castle or keep us close to the people," He sighes and shifts on the blanket, seeming to not notice her approach, "Besides, how would it look if the king disappears every couple of days into a small cave he found as a child."<br><br>No matter how much he'd like to.&nbsp; The sheer thought and weight of everything to do, and having little to no time for himself is rather frightening.&nbsp; He's not a fearless man, but physical and personal dangers he can surmount, but when the lives of an entire kingdom count on him to be impartial and fair?&nbsp; He'd rather be facing a dragon.&nbsp; He continues to stare unseeing into the rough stone cieling, shirt half open.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>29-05-2009, 05:26:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				That bare little patch of skin calls to her, and his seeming despair makes touching him nigh-on irresistible. Reaching out, she strokes her fingers lightly along the little bit of chest available to her, sighing softly. "Eric..." What can she say? A frown mars her pretty features.<br><br>"Eric, while you have responsibilities ... you will be King. I had family that had power over me enough to try and condemn me to a life of misery and pain. You have no such relatives, no such people with that much power over you. Don't let your position tell you that you will have no joy. It's simply not true. I refuse to believe it."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>07-06-2009, 23:08:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No joy?"&nbsp; He sits up ignoring the touch, "Of course there'll be joy, just..."<br><br>How can explain to a girl who was held prisoner in her own home?&nbsp; She had no freedoms until now, so can't possibly understand what it was like to be able to go anywhere he wanted, see what he wanted, but now, he can't.&nbsp; Eric has responsibilities.&nbsp; Duties that he spent most of his life escaping, and now, he can no longer.&nbsp; He's pretty sure he'll have some enjoyment, just not the kind he's used to or wants.<br><br>Laying back down, the slender Prince sighs again, "My father used to lament that he never got to do what he truly wanted when growing up.&nbsp; Probably because he had no idea what he wanted, so he coaxed me to do everything I could, to live and experience, because once time came I would no longer have the time to do any of them."<br><br>"Unlike my mother.&nbsp; She always wanted to be a Queen.&nbsp; She loves the power that comes with the role," He wiggles his toes, "I think she spent more time being the Queen than being a Wife or a Mother, really.&nbsp; I don't remember having as much fun when the Ladies of court would dither about their husbands or their chilldren.&nbsp; But once she could be in the spotlight and hosting?&nbsp; She was on top of the world."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>16-07-2009, 08:55:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella just doesn't seem to get it. By the look on her face, she cannot wrap her mind around being King and yet being unable to do exactly as one pleases. She studies the bit of chest that she's stroking for some moments, quietly wondering what could possibly be wrong with her, that she can't understand what he's worried about.<br><br>Without really comprehending, she simply says, "Oh," and ponders for a moment. "At least your father was wise enough to tell you that." She smiles at him. "I'm glad you have been raised to do as you please, and I'm sorry that you're losing that." Hopefully that's sort of the right thing to say, but maybe not. <br><br>She rests her head on his shoulder. She feels like she should sleep ... but she's not remotely tired. Not even a little.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>22-07-2009, 04:43:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric just smiles at Ella and pulls her on top of his chest and cuddles in, the earlier spanking incident forgotten.&nbsp; However, he doesn't do more than just hold her on top of him as he listens to the shore getting lightly washed by the night waves.&nbsp; A glance outside tells him that there's rain coming, and the Prince turned King isn't sure about how good a thing that would be.&nbsp; Still, the floor slopes towards the water, which means there's no chance of flooding.&nbsp; Unless of course the tide rises for some reason.<br><br>His strong fingers caress the sides of the young woman's head, brushing her hair over a delicately shaped ear, as he closes his eyes and just listens to the sounds around him, the wind and water, the birds that still haven't found their homes yet and lastly, Ella's breathing.&nbsp; He could easily fall asleep like this, truth be told.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>13-09-2009, 02:29:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ella lay there for a while, staying quiet and seemingly content to just lay close. It takes her a long time to fall asleep, but she eventually does. Morning - and low tide - takes a long time to come, though from long habit, she's awake before the sun quite crests the horizon. <br><br>Slipping from his arms, she looks down at her sleeping Prince for a little while, then kisses his cheek and heads back to the castle. She recalls the way easily enough, and probably no one will care that she returns without Eric. Still, she avoids most of the staff until she can steal down to the kitchen for a quick bit of breakfast. <br><br>It's not long before her taskmasters are at her again, doing their best to mold her into what a princess should be. In the meantime, Eric's people hunt for him as well, trying to figure out where he went ...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>19-10-2009, 01:02:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It wasn't hard for the Captain of the Guard to find Eric.&nbsp; The Prince was walking along the shore staring out into the distance.&nbsp; The escort to the rest of the guardsmen is silent as the young dark haired man is allowed to have his thoughts.&nbsp; Once they get into the castle the rest of them disperse leaving him and Simon in the central courtyard.&nbsp; Moving almost by habit, the new King picks up a practice shield and sword, while the sandy coloured King's Soldier does the same.<br><br>The exchange is fast and to the untrained eye deadly, but they've been doing this for almost a full decade, and although there is no set routine, no set series of strikes, they know the other well enough to be able to counter each and every strike.<br><br>At the first pause, Simon asks, "Want to talk about it?"<br><br>"No," Is the response before launching into a three slash manoeuvre, which is parried and countered.&nbsp; Then he replies, "I will anyway.&nbsp; I screwed up."<br><br>Simon says nothing, and none of the other guards are close by to bother either of them.&nbsp; Eric continues, "I'm just too used to the earthy ways of the castle maids, I guess."<br><br>"And you...?"<br><br>"Aye," Another exchange of clashing wood.<br><br>"Didn't go well?<br><br>"No, it went terribly, and I think I've damaged my relationship with her.&nbsp; Perhaps permanently," The Crown Prince suddenly lowers his weapons.&nbsp; Simon looks sympathetic, and then grimaces.&nbsp; Without turning around, Eric asks, "Was there something required, Gwen?"<br><br>The petite brunette with black and white maids outfit comes into view from behind and curtsies politely, "Hello, my Liege, my Lord."<br><br>The way she lingers on the second title says volumes about her interest and then the 19 year old turns to Simon, "I was wondering when I could come and clean your chamber, Sir.&nbsp; It's been a week, and it's causing problems with the Head Maid..."<br><br>She trails off as she notes the blue eyes scrutinizing her delicately and naturally wicked features.&nbsp; Taking a glance at Eric who raises his hands in surrender, not willing to put a stake in this fight.&nbsp; An explosive sigh escapes him, a habit he picked up from his charge, the Knight-Captain suddenly says, "Very well, we'll discuss it after dinner in my quarters.&nbsp; I assume you know where they are?"<br><br>"Yes, my Lord, would you like me with or without my clothes?" Is the coy retort, obviously one she's comfortable in using.<br><br>"Gwendolynn, I will not have you traipsing around in the halls, nude!&nbsp; It might give the other men ideas," Is the shocked reply, one which causes her hazel eyes to widen in shock, and her cheeks to pinken.<br><br>"Th-that's not what I..." The tiny doll starts, but Simon is not done.&nbsp; And the King is completely forgotten that he's there.&nbsp; Unfortunately he can't really leave without making his presence known, and frankly this is amusing.<br><br>"If you're so keen on stripping, you can do it after you're in my room, not before," The stern tone continues, and Eric, poor Eric is trying very hard not to laugh.&nbsp; He's seen this tactic before, and it keeps the other off guard, especially when one isn't expecting it, "And then we can discuss what to do with your clothes.&nbsp; Understand?"<br><br>"A-aye, Sir," A little wild eyed as if not knowing what to expect the Castle Chambermaid replies almost meekly.<br><br>"As to the other matter, one which you brought up last night..." Simon starts once more and approaches her, the weapons in his grasp falling to the pounded earth.<br><br>Now completely confused, "Other matter, my Lord?&nbsp; I don't..."<br><br>Sweeping her into his arms and cutting her off, Simon lifts the younger woman off her feet literally as he kisses her hard, passionately and deeply.&nbsp; Much to the joy of the soldiers coming off the early morning shift.&nbsp; Finally letting her down he turns the dark haired and stunned beauty by the shoulders and pats her bottom on the way, "Now off with you, and I'll see you tonight."<br><br>"Aye, my Lord, as you wish..."&nbsp; Is the breathless reply.&nbsp; She practically floats back to the side entrance of the main keep.<br><br>Unable to keep quiet any longer, Eric asks, "And what may I ask brought that on?"<br><br>"Oh, just something you said last night, and the thought that I should really start taking care of my own affairs.&nbsp; Also, she's been taking charge too long, and I'd rather be the one in the lead."<br><br>"About damn time, too..." Comes from her direction, and she seems a little woozy on her feet.&nbsp; If incredibly happy.<br><br>Eric blinks at the small female as she finally disappears, "I think you might have over done it..."<br><br>"I should have done it years ago," Simon retorts.<br><br>"She'd have waited for you," The Prince shrugs.<br><br>"I know and she has, which makes it worse, I should have done earlier.&nbsp; It wasn't fair to her.&nbsp; We're a perfect match, it's just...&nbsp; I don't like the idea of being fated.&nbsp; But we were, that old woman was right, she and I are for the other.&nbsp; I'm almost 25, Eric," He drops the formality, "There's no other grand adventure for me, I'm just a Knight, really.&nbsp; And it's time I stood up and took control of my life rather than wait and hope someone else will."<br><br>"This coming from the man who locked me in my room when I was 12 because I wanted to escape.&nbsp; You always seemed more responsible to me,"&nbsp; The chestnut haired fellow doesn't even note the breech in etiquette.<br><br>"It's easier to be responsible for someone else, my friend, than to be for yourself.&nbsp; It's time that stopped," Simon picks up the sword and shield, "Shall we continue, my Liege, or shall we get to your lessons?"<br><br>"Don't remind me,"&nbsp; Eric returns his weapons to the stands and they both walk back into the castle together, old friends and smiles the entire way. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>05-12-2009, 04:32:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				While the Prince and his head guard nettle one another good-naturedly, Ella finds herself once more dressed in palace finery and driven through a series of dance steps.<br><br>"... two, three, four. Stop! What are you doing?" The dance instructor comes over and nudges at Ella in various spots. "Arms up! Feet apart! Not that far apart! Goodness, girl, weren't you paying attention?"<br><br>The woman has a natural grace about her that should have made dancing easy, but she finds herself nearly in tears by the time an hour has passed. She finally sends the dance instructor away, upset, and flees to the palace gardens. There are always little parties, soirees, and tete-a-tetes happening in the garden, but Ella manages to avoid them, instead losing herself deep in the section with the lilies. It's a nice section, one that few venture to, it seems. <br><br>One of the maids finds Ella there much later, sitting in a gazebo and fidgeting with a flower. "My Lady, are you well?" Ella looks up and raises her eyebrows. <br><br>"Oh... yes, thank you." The young woman smiles at the maid and stands. "Don't let me chase you out. I'm finished here."<br><br>"Well... actually, I came to fetch you for lunch," the maid corrects somewhat shyly. "Would you like to take it here instead, though?"<br><br>Ella would like nothing better, to tell the truth. "I .... no, thank you. I'll go and join them." She feels a pang of homesickness wash over her, though she tries not to show it too much. "Thank you."<br><br>The maid does nothing but curtsy as she watches Ella go off to find her Prince again for lunch. Ella herself goes to the solarium where they normally have lunch first, looking for Eric.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>06-03-2010, 23:31:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Today Prince Eric is already there with a book, there's no title visible but the cover has been dyed a bright crimson.&nbsp; The moment he hears his wife-to-be come into the small building in the middle of the massive garden, he smiles and waves to the young maid, "You can start now."<br><br>"Of course, your Highness," She curtsies and smiles at both of them, a sincere sort of curving of the lips.<br><br>There doesn't seem to be anyone else here today, and the handsome man looks up from his seat, "Hello, Ella, I hope you're feeling good today?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Trieste</strong> on <strong>07-03-2010, 05:10:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Finding her Prince all alone in the solarium, Ella tilts her head. She glances around the room as she approaches the table, then pauses at his elbow. "Good enough. The dance lessons were annoying, so I quit them early today. I'm sure I'll pay for them tomorrow." She smiles at him. Despite the awkwardness, she does adore him.<br><br>"Isn't anyone else joining us today?" She considers sitting in a chair opposite him, then smiles a little mischievously and slides onto the arm of the Prince's chair instead, insinuating herself into his lap. If no one is here by now, it's unlikely that anyone is going to join them. "If so, I hope they don't mind if I take my meal like this. I've missed your company today." She strokes his cheek and adds in a whisper, "I'm sorry about last night."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Unhappily Ever After?</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chris Brady</strong> on <strong>09-03-2010, 06:20:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Smiling up at Ella, Eric's mind races.&nbsp; He'll never understand women, they can flip emotions so easily.&nbsp; And here he was worried about what happened.&nbsp; Although he puts his hands around her waist, the King-in-Waiting makes sure they aren't too high or too low.&nbsp; Not that he was worried that someone would see, more like not trying to annoy his betrothed.<br><br>"No, I chased them off for the meal, I wanted to apologize for last night.&nbsp; I have...&nbsp; Habits, that get the better of me, and so I think I may have gone too far," He looks sincere and contrite, trying to be as honest as possible, "It's hard sometimes to remember that my life is well, my life.&nbsp; Not everyone lived like I did."<br><br>He hugs her close, "I don't think you'd scandalize anyone other than the maids, and no one really cares about them.&nbsp; At least in the nobility."<br><br>Kissing the girl's neck, "I missed you too, been terrified what you thought of me.&nbsp; And you don't have to apologize, I do.&nbsp; At least this time."<br><br>A mischievous grin and tone fill the last of his words.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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