princess-ingrid

[princess-ingrid]

"Elisabeth is well. She seems to like it more here than in Prussia, which is a relief." It was more relaxed in England. While Elisabeth played prim and proper much better than Ingrid, it seemed to be more fun for her here. 

Sometimes it felt more like Ingrid had raised Gyda than grown up as her sister. Mathilde wanted nothing to do with either of them, much preferring to spend time with the adults and pretend she was as grown up as they. It was Ingrid that Gyda turned to when she had questions about personal matters she couldn't ask the wet nurses. 

"I'm adjusting. You know I can handle change." She wasn't sure where that trait came from, seeing as how both their parents were extremely rigid, but Ingrid had the ability to bounce back after hard times and bend when necessary. 

The servants brought a fine red wine and vanilla cakes and Ingrid leaned back and took a bite, then a sip. "How are things with you here? I know we can't exactly speak freely in letters." 

family values | ingrid

[princess-ingrid]

"Then forgive me for jumping to conclusions, Lady...?"

     ”Perhaps I was admiring in silence.”

[princess-ingrid]

"Spar with me." It wasn't a question. The two of them used to spar in the yard all the time, when Ingrid was supposed to be sewing or practicing the violin. She was the only one in their family who could match him. 

Henrik was sparring with one of he knights, and actually Henrik was winning, he was actually very good with a sword. If he wasn’t a prince, he knew that he would become a knight, a solider for Sweden. After he won for the second time, he noticed that someone was looking at him. “Hang on for a moment.” He told the knight before walking over to who it was.

"You need me for something?"

[princess-ingrid]

"I've taken to wandering the castle at night." Ingrid shrugged. "In any case, I'd be happy to take you to see the advisor of the Queen, who will know more about the arrangements than I." 

"Unless you'd like to walk with me? It must have been a long journey, you must want to stretch your legs." 

  " I am Princess Sarita of the Karnata Empire." Sarita stumbled through the title. Her sister was so much better at introductions,why couldn’t they have taken her instead?  "It is nice to meet you Princess Ingrid. I am sure I will find them soon..I-I arrived  so late I thought it was everyone would be asleep."

[princess-ingrid]

"I was not disturbed. What's your name?" Most guests would have been formally received and shown around the castle as soon as they arrived. "I'm afraid I may not be the best person to ask about where you'll be staying- I am Ingrid, princess of Sweden." 

Sarita looked up as she heard a gentleness in the voice of the stranger who spoke to her.”N-No I..” She was trying to escape. “I just arrived and was looking for my chambers. I hope I didn’t disturb you.”

[princess-ingrid]

The girl- she may have been around Gyda's age, but the look of fear and confusion made her look more childlike- spoke with an unfamiliar accent. Ingrid couldn't place it, but even so she felt a camaraderie- both of them were foreigners. "It's alright. Do you know where you're going now?"

"Please you don’t understand, I need to go home! There’s been a mistake!" Sarita cried out. She banged on the doors of carriage and was ignored once more.Twice, she had gotten sick on the journey but they would not send her back. She tried to pay someone for passage back,but was returned and taken back.Sarita was her father’s surprise gift to Europe, a guest of French Court, but that wasn’t entirely true in her father’s eyes. Whatever empire in this strange world could forge a strong alliance with the princess, got the princess.  Whatever land got Sarita, got the Empire.She was nothing but a human contract with no family to protect her,or friends to guide her.Sarita was completely alone in a new world and that sent her into a panic. As soon as the carriage stopped at her new lodgings in the dark of night,Sarita bolted.

Sarita could hear guards yelling her name but she kept running through the castle like a child away from their mother. She wasn’t exactly sure where she was running too as she slammed into someone,hitting the floor. Not daring to look up out of fear and embarrassment, Sarita pushed herself from her position sprawled on the floor and bowed to whomever was standing before her. Could she killed in this land for such a display? She did not know.

"I-I’m so sorry…I didn’t look where I was going." She said,her voice,shaking with fear. 

[princess-ingrid]

"Ah yes, how could I forget your indulgences?" 

  "I suppose you are right, and there are many beautiful women here, if I’m going to be in England I’m going to indulge myself in everything.”

[princess-ingrid]

"If you look out towards the west it looks a bit more like home. Especially considering the winter chill." 

"I’m very happy my sisters are here." He said before continuing, "If only we could’ve had this family reunion in Sweden rather then England, not that England isn’t great I just wish I was home."

[princess-ingrid]

Ingrid sat weaving, waiting for the arrival of her sister. Elisabeth was with the princesses, giving the two women some necessary alone time to catch up and speak frankly.

She was glad it was Gyda and not Mathilde who had married into the English royal family and thus given her an opportunity to leave Prussia with minimal suspicion. The state visit couldn't have been more perfectly timed, with the threats escalating more and more each week. 

She wondered briefly how much Gyda would ask about that- she was always so curious- and how much she'd tell her. Then she put the thought aside. If she couldn't trust her youngest sister, who had snuck into her room to sleep when the lightning broke the sky into pieces and Thor boomed overhead, with the truth, she shouldn't be here. 

The truth about the queen, however, was not something that she would share. If she absolutely had to give an excuse for why the English were letting her stay, it would be that the kind queen was sympathetic and thought the influence of another young woman at court would be beneficial to the twins. 

When Gyda's arrival was announced Ingrid stood from her stool. "It has." The Swedish felt better on her tongue than Prussian and English combined. 

family values | ingrid

Gyda wrapped her cloak around her tightly as she walked from the corridor to the outside pavilion. The wind was blowing icy kisses at her that stung her cheeks. It was a short walk from the dining hall to her sister’s apartments. Her niece would probably be with the other young ladies of court dancing and making merry for the rest of the night and Gyda was hopeful for the time alone to spend with her sister.

When they were little Gyda could remember sitting on her sister’s bed while she told her stories of the Old North - fairytale stories that were once considered real. Both her sisters would tell her such stories with Mathilde mostly picking on her and calling her a baby for crying at the terrors of the old world. 

Even though Ingrid was much older, she was lucky she wasn’t as cold and harsh as Mathilde. She was lucky to have her guide her through the world of the court intrigues Gyda was so obviously not made to tolerate. While she walked towards the other side of the building - passing through the pavilion was much faster than taking a thousand corridors - she noticed clusters of courtiers baring the cold with her. She smiled and nodded to them but recieved only cold stares back. 

The warmth of the building was welcome as she tore her cloak off and wrapped it across her arm. It was a few paces to her sisters room and when she made it to the door she handed the cloak to the guard who announced her arrival. Walking through the door the guard so graciously opened for her, Gyda smiled, rubbing her cold hands. “Sister, it’s been long overdue.” 

[princess-ingrid]

"Of course, please make yourself at home your Majesty." Ingrid may not be one for manners and playing nice, but Clara seemed sweet and thus deserved some kindness- she probably didn't get that elsewhere, the Swede knew that from experience. Palace life was not kind.

Ingrid wasn't exactly surprised to hear that Henry was not, after all, the son of Clara. It seemed that would have been mentioned before to her, part of the last proposition. The threats didn't bother her; she'd heard far, far worse, and these weren't made out of malicious intent. "I wouldn't dare speak to a soul about this, my lady, I assure you." The only one left to tell was Gyda, or maybe Henrik, but she wasn't foolish enough to involve anyone else in this. Not even her family. No threats necessary. 

"When the King requested my assistance before, he said I would be welcome to stay at court with my daughter as long as I'd like. Does that offer still stand, if I help you?" Best to get business out of the way, cross the 't's and dot the 'i's, then they could get down to the plan of action. 

Dust to Dust // Clara + Ingrid

[princess-ingrid]

"It's lovely, just as I expected it to be. Tell me, now that the festivities are over, what must I do? What's the most exciting thing here? 

"Of course, my door is always welcome to new friends. How are you enjoying court?"

[princess-ingrid]

"Most find they have something to say about a princess with a sword." 

     ”I have a tongue, madam. And will use it to bring words to fall from lips as necessary. I did not think it necessary before you spoke.”

[princess-ingrid]

current gcs/ paras (bolded are the ones that i replied to last/ am owed 

clara

sati 

gyda 

daniel 

bastian 

valeria 

[princess-ingrid]

"Never said I didn't like it, did I? Just wondered if you had words as well." 

  "You don’t like my gaze?"

[princess-ingrid]

"You're in luck then, sweet sister. The king and queen have invited me to stay here in England for the time being." 

  "Yes, you and Elisabeth are both welcome. To have you, my family, near me is a blessing." 

[princess-ingrid]

"Of course. I do hope it isn't too dull? I ought to come and visit you more, keep you company- I've just been out on the trails so often." 

  "I have been busy. Edward needs a representative in the castle while he’s away at the estates." 

[princess-ingrid]

"It's truly been too long, Gyda. I scarcely recognized you. We haven't spent nearly enough time together due to the recent festivities. 

  "I don’t have much to say, sister. I just miss your company."