#[edward; verse eight] ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀɴᴅ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴀ ᴡᴀʟᴛᴢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍɪsᴄʜɪᴇғ [royalty au]

[strtravels]

The crisp air of an afternoon in autumn filled his lungs and – he had to admit, he enjoyed this more than he would have admitted at first. Just a short trip. Just Howie and him, as well as the horses. They had left this morning to attend some business at the outskirts of the dukedom and now were returning to his residence; taking the direct route through the small forest, that soon would open up to wide land overlooking the sea. Perhaps he missed this sometimes – the simplicity of travelling by horseback, and how much it reminded him of the days when he had been young and carried less weight on his shoulders. Oh, he was thinking about the old days so much lately, wasn’t he?

“ – It shouldn’t be long now.” He turned his attention to his nephew, with a hint of a smile on his lips. As he had never been blessed with children of his own, he quite enjoyed having his family over. His nieces and nephews. Howie, in contrast to the others, had taken up somewhat permanent residence now, too. He couldn’t complain. It was nice to have more life willing the stone walls – And there really wasn’t a boring day with Howie, was there?

“ – perhaps then you can tell me about your newest idea over some dinner.” | @earthdcfended

[strtravels]

“I knew you would come.” Coins were clinking as he raised the small velvet pouch and threw it at the hooded figure. A small price paid, knowing the sum would be used for good. There were certain things one would assume about a mysterious figure in the forest, but he had found the – at least for him still nameless – figure, to be anything but a greedy thief. In contrast! She had fought against the bandits more than once – more than a dozen time if you believed the people in the village close to here. And she had helped Howie before. His gratitude couldn’t be paid in golden coins, but it had felt right to bring them as a thank you for this meeting he had arranged.

“ – There’s something I need your help with.” A reason he had come alone; his horse tied to a nearby tree, he was aware that he was risking his own safety. But with the sun still up (even if the light was struggling to fall through the dense canopy of leaves), he hoped there wouldn’t be any UNWANTED GUESTS listening. | @ventureheart

[strtravels]

RAISED BROWS AT HER WORDS – sounding familiar to him, and he knew he had heard them before. Hadn’t they had this whole conversation at some point already? Only that then she had sent him alone to the neighbouring kingdom. Now he wasn’t alone; standing next to her, while her luggage was packed onto the carriage, so that their journey could begin. It wouldn’t take too long, but – perhaps that was also what made him feel so nervous, when everything else he simply couldn’t admit. Not just that it wasn’t proper, appropriate or – true even!

He sighed and shook his head softly, while his brows were lowered again. He was aware that he would lose this argument, just as he had done last time. No point in fighting. However, that didn’t mean he could leave this without a comment made. “ – you’ve always been stubborn, though I remember at least one of your tutors preferring the term STRONG-WILLED…” | @chloevlinder

[strtravels]

The sun had set, and the moon was shining onto the lands – he could see it from his seat through the window; white and full. Perhaps that was a reason he didn’t feel particularly tired and found himself struggling to just lay his head on the pillow to rest as well as sleep. His feet had carried him to the library, that was so familiar that it could have been his own. So many hours spent here, giving advice to the current queen’s late father – and now to her, even if those hours weren’t nearly as often spent in the library as they had been years ago. There was still comfort amongst the leather-bound sources of knowledge – and distraction, as he had picked one from a shelf and sat down in the comfortable armchair, he was still sitting in, even if he had given up reading some time ago; the book resting next to the lit candelabra, which, beside the moon, was the only light source in the room.

Until there was a shadow thrown onto the wall; another set of flickering candles carried into the room. He knew the soft footsteps accompanying the light – and turned on his seat to find her. Had always thought she was also a source of light, when she entered the room. Had done so, years and years ago, when she came running into the library, wanting to show her father, and him, something new she had found or learned.

He smiled at her. “ – shouldn’t you be asleep? If I remember correctly, you’ve been invited to a ball tomorrow.” | @chloevlinder

[strtravels]

As long as he could remember, he always had a light sleep – the issues with finding sleep had come later, but were now a familiar part of his night, too. He was awake, while darkness reigned outside the window, with only a few stars breaking through the clouds sporadically. A light was burning in his room; the candleholder – elegant, expensive, suitable for the Queen’s castle – taken from the bedside table, as he decided it was a good idea to just move a little. Walking surely would make him find some sleep eventually, and just pacing up and down in his room made him always feel like a madman locked away.

Now he was thankful for having grabbed the heavy candlestick. While the silence in the castle was nearly eerie, it was worse to hear steps coming from the throne room, he had passed on his mindless wanders. Heard someone muttering, too. Guards? The bandits that were terrorising the kingdoms and one reason why he found himself here in the first place? There were always rumours that they were planning something bigger than the usual highway robbery, he had once been part of, too.

Opening the heavy door further (they were already slightly ajar), just enough to slip into the room, he had let his curiosity win. Foolish. Idiotic. – At least it would have been if he had actually found bandits in the room, and not the Queen herself; pacing up and down as if something was on her mind. He knew the look on her face from so many years ago.

The grip on the candlestick loosened again, and he gently cleared his throat to attract her attention, without startling her too much. Still lowering his gaze, he couldn’t completely hide the smile on his lips. Wasn’t it strange how much she still resembled the girl he used to know?

“ – I didn’t want to disturb you. I just heard something…” | @unitlead

[strtravels]

“I have to keep telling everyone I’m FINE…” Stubborn, he had always been, and while he had mastered the art of worrying about everyone and everything, he had never been one to accept someone worrying about him. The look on Kat’s face was still burned into his memory – and it hadn’t left her features, even when the words had come over his lips, again and again, that he had just uttered towards the court’s physician. He felt fine! But they knew too well, that it hadn’t been this way a few weeks ago, did they not? Robbed. Left in the cold, rainy night, until royal guards had found him and brought him to the castle.

He had returned to Chloe’s castle now – invited to stay for a few nights, so that her court physician (and a friend of Edward’s, if he was allowed to call them this) could keep an eye on him. Soothing Chloe’s worries, as well as Queen Katherine’s.

A SIGH and he took the offered bottle in his hand. “ – at least your remedies taste better than your colleagues.” | @strgazers [XANDRA].

[strtravels]

“ – of course the stables at my own residence aren’t even half of this size, but they’ve always offered enough room for our horses as well as to hide on the hayloft, if one wasn’t quite feeling being tutored that day.” A soft chuckle followed his words; the look of fond memories passing through his mind. He remembered hiding there with Kat one day, too. The smell of fresh hay tickling their noses, but they had needed some time to talk and catch up on all the months they hadn’t seen each other – and that without the stiff atmosphere that had always reigned, when her father had visited his own.

His eyes wandered back to Gordon; seeing a resemblance to his mother in his features. He wasn’t much like his father either, was he? All he had heard of him�� It was better not to think about it, or his thoughts would continue to wander into the past. They already did this too much, while he was staying at the castle. But it seemed impossible not to think of the past.

Turned his gaze back to the horses now; his own standing close to him. He had come to visit, just to find the young prince here, having just returned from a small ride himself. “ – I remember you seemed quite scared of the horses when you were younger. Much younger.” | @leschanceux [GORDY].

[strtravels]

“ – I tell you, Kat, it’s still a long time until the sun sets!” A smile on his lips, head thrown back as he tried to relax again, after Katherine’s words had required his full attention. Had sounded worried about time flying away. – And he had to admit, he hated how fast time seemed to pass, whenever they were together. Couldn’t it last an eternity, just as it seemed to take until she would return for the next summer at the king’s, her father’s, castle, bordering his father’s own lands? The months seemed to stretch longer and longer, until he would see the smile on her lips again and hear her wonderful laugh echoing.

“And if you are so worried we will return late – I will race you to the castle right now, just to show you it takes no time at all by horse!” Overconfident smile on the young face; sitting back up after having lied back on his arms in the warm sand at the beach, they had found themselves at today. The summer months turned even the usually rough seaside into what could have been paradise. Or was it her company? He blushed even at the thought and turned his gaze away to the horses, tied to a pole, grazing lazily. | @unitlead

[strtravels]

“– you know I understand very little of the work you do.” He had never had an issue with admitting such things – his education had had a different focus, because his own path had been definite from the moment he had been born. The eldest son. The heir to his father’s title. He had learned manners, politics, history – anything that would be important to follow footsteps, he still, sometimes, felt like he couldn’t fill. But – the work his nephew had chosen, too – the craft and talent behind it, had never been of much interest in his education or life, until his nephew had stepped into his life and taken permanent residence.

He was also the reason Edward found himself here; standing next to Howie’s tutor (if this was the right term) in a workshop, he would rather call a laboratory as his gaze fell on many strange things, he didn’t even have words for. “ – but I cannot hide my curiosity about how my nephew is doing. Especially not after his invention saved us and our possessions from highwaymen.” | @mattellaneous [OSGOOD].

[strtravels]

A hint of amusement on his features as he stepped into the great hall and spotted their involuntary visitor. This wasn’t the castle he had wanted to visit, Edward assumed, and yet his guide had led him here. A stranger of the lands – offering perhaps a little too much gold to be taken to the queen’s castle, to find a trustworthy guide? At least he hadn’t found himself robbed of more than the gold coins he surely had offered to some soul, asking for direction. And he was safe from the night here; involuntary, perhaps, but not unwelcome.

“ – I remember you from the ball.” His words warm; the amusement still glittering in his eyes as he stepped closer to the young prince and bowed his head a little. “Of course I’m honoured to offer you shelter for the night, your highness. I’ve had some chambers prepared for you. You can spend the night and I can take you to the queen’s castle myself in the morning. I’ve got some business to attend there as well.” | @mattellaneous [JOSH].

[strtravels]

“Trust, perhaps – perhaps it’s also my helplessness to find any way of doing what I’ve sworn to Queen and country.” Still managed to give the hooded figure a smile at his own words; this time it wasn’t filled with amusement, but rather honesty, that also spoke out of his words. Weren’t they all just trying their best? Chloe surely was. Katherine surely was. They were still finding an opponent sitting at the other end of the table, outsmarting them in any move they made as if this was a very complex game of chess.

It couldn’t hurt to introduce a new player to it. The least it could do was to surprise the bandits and with that, they would have a small win on their side. A battle won, even if the war continued.

HE NODDED SHORTLY at her words. He trusted her. After she had helped Howie, he owed her this much, since she had not accepted the golden coin, that were clinking against each other again, when he finally turned to leave, too. A GOOD DAY TO HER, TOO. And he would send her another message in the same way he had done before. No matter how long he had to wait for a reply, there was at least a spark of hope burning again. His plan had, perhaps, not been doomed from the start.

SURPRISE AFTER SURPRISE. She didn't really think that he would be as honest, nor quite as humble as he was being. Not someone of his status. He could so easily be threatening to her, could have approached it all with menaces. Well then. She still couldn't completely trust him, but his words were food for thought anyway even if she knew even without him saying it that no promises could be made. But even the idea he would try was something she supposed.

"You are putting a lot of trust in my knowledge, Duke." Who was to say she had any to share with them at all? He was even putting so much trust in her. Who wasn't to say that she was working with the bandits, even though she wasn't? She nodded regardless. "All right. If you send me another message in the same manner, I will receive it and send word back. It may take some time, depending on when I am in your lands again. Good day, Duke Southgate."

[strtravels]

Silence had never been a foe, but he often preferred conversations if company was available. Loved hearing about people and the stories they had to tell, and he liked to tell his own stories, too. Not all of them, of course. While he had told Chloe many of them over the years, he had never been able to say it all. And he still couldn’t. Not only would admitting the foolishness of his own heart make it real, it would also – Wouldn’t it be a risk? Someone could overhear them. Chloe’s silence was obvious to him – she would never say anything about it! – but he couldn’t be sure it was the same for every pair of ears who might be listening even now.

A small nod at her question followed as he tore himself out of the net of his own thoughts. “ – pigeons, yes. If it’s just the rain and not a herald of a storm brewing, then we can surely send one of them with a message. Any of them should be faster than a man on a horse when the roads have turned to nothing but mud.”

He managed to push the rest of his own thoughts aside; the smile returning fully to his lips and even a little chuckle to his words. “ – to think you used to spend so much time at my castle, when you were younger, one would think it was your own home… I’ll have your old chambers prepared for you, too. If that’s what you wish.”

Their friendship had been built on so many things. Trust, a love for the world and a gentle, companionable silence. Chloe had the feeling that the silence today wouldn't necessarily be that sort of quiet today. Instead, she knew that either the silence would be a little bit strained with the things left UNSAID between them, or they will talk about everything but. Everything but the one thing he may well want to say but didn't dare to, just in case it would make it all real. She wouldn't refuse him if he did, and yet he didn't.

Sharp brown eyes watched him like a hawk. Keenly waiting to see what Ed would prefer. She could talk about everything and nothing, but she wanted him to set the tone of their ride. It would take some time anyway. She returned the smile he offered her and listened carefully.

"We can always send a bird instead of someone, and we can always hope, can't we? It has been some time since I have visited your castle." She chuckled softly. "We shall see indeed. Ah, you do still have the birds, don't you? Pigeons, weren't they?"

[strtravels]

As soon as he had opened the satchel, he had straightened back up – sword raised just in time to stop another blade from slicing through his robes; the loud CLANK of metal colliding. He had known that opening the satchel was just what they were waiting for. A sign to attack, because now they saw them as no treat at all; after all, they were apparently doing what they had been told under threat. APPARENTLY. Edward trusted his nephew and while he had done his part only with his jaw tight and his fist clenched around the handle of his sword, he had hoped and known that Howie had at least the ghost of a plan.

Of course, he could never have seen this coming. The sound of swords colliding was still ringing in his ears – and then there was what sounded like thunder roaring through the clearing, as if the heavens had broken in two. It wasn’t uncommon in these parts of the lands to be faced with storms of any kind, but the sky above them was still light, with only the first stars slowly starting to shine.

– It came from the glove on Howie’s hand; grabbing onto the sword that had been turned against him. Before he could do anything – before he could even say anything, there was a blood-curdling SCREAM that caused them all – nobles and highwaymen alike – to freeze.

The faceoff of nobles and highwaymen stands at a stalemate, the two nobles standing their ground, and their assailants all but ready to attack. All the await is the word of their leader. Blades stand ready but, as much as these men are waiting for their leader's command, so is Howie.

"Oh, Uncle." The bandit leader smirks, mockingly, with what was once a term of endearment from a young lad to his guardian being twisted into an insult. "We already have. Lads!"

Timing is everything.

The two men charge, with another two charging on Edward as their leader stands back to watch, and Howie immediately drops to the ground in what the uneducated would see as a coward's gesture - the automatic response of a man untrained in combat. But while he is untrained in that respect, this seeming act of cowardice disguises his true intention. To get to his satchel and retrieve the glove inside.

A sword descends. It meets a hand gloved in reinforced leather and metal.

And then the skies themselves erupt from Howie's glove.

[strtravels]

“You could even call it STUPID and FOOLISH.” Self-aware and a hint of amusement to his words. He knew, and he wasn’t blinded enough by his own idea, to not see the flaws in both the plan and the execution so far. But he was an optimist and someone still trying to ease the tension of the situation. OF COURSE, SHE DIDN’T JUST TRUST HIM. She had no reason to do so. People usually trusted him, but that was only when they knew his reputation well and heard from a friend of a friend of something he had done. He tried his best, didn’t he? Always had. Continued to do so, while he stood here, with the sun slowly setting above them. – It was getting darker, and he knew his chances were slimming with every moment passing.

“I’ve thought a lot about this. Hours over hours, while I laid awake, wondering what I can do for my people. I am just but one man and even if I have means, I don’t have the knowledge you seem to have. All I know are rumours about these bandits. Organised groups that terrorise not just this kingdom but the neighbouring ones as well. My offer is not just for this kingdom – I cannot promise you anonymity or even protection in the other countries YET, but I… I’m sure we can come to an agreement. Another meeting would give me time to discuss this with the Queen as well as the monarchs of the neighbouring kingdoms. Together we could find a solution to your predicament.”

She didn't seem too reassured. Couldn't, not really. You could trust mistrust, could feel safe with every wall up that was possible especially if you didn't have any physical ones. Who was to say that if she were to refuse or accept that she would be put in chains? She'd already said enough to land her in hot water, even though he seemed kind enough. It could all be a trick, and all she could think about was to run. But she couldn't help the questions. Even in her cynicism, his approach DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

"Dangerous would be my preferred word, and perhaps careless." Couldn't help herself correcting him even though her voice was a little softer, more hesitant now. It was a STUPID idea that she couldn't make head nor tails of. What he was asking of her was too big of a request for someone like her. "Have you thought of the consequences of this? For yourself and me even if I accepted your offer? My safety relies heavily on my anonymity, Duke Southgate. What you are asking of me is to compromise that for one kingdom when the bandits are not bound to this land, nor am I. What would another meeting do but bring more risk to both of us?"

[strtravels]

It would be a long journey, and the problem he found there was – it gave him too much time to think. Especially in the carriage, where he didn’t even have to focus on directions or his horse’s moods. He would sit there and think. – Seeing Katherine at the ball had brought back memories he had thought forgotten as well as brought feeling to the surface, he had tried to drown in the ink he had written her letter after letter in. No response. Of course not. He was an old fool, who couldn’t stop his own heart from meddling in his life. Was it any surprise he couldn’t stop the young Queen sitting opposite of him now, either? SHE KNEW HIM TOO WELL.

His gaze had fallen out of the carriage’s window; the landscape passing by tinted grey. The weather was changing quickly, so maybe there would be some mercy granted and another day given to him, that he could spend thinking about how he wanted to face Katherine after everything. Or was this just another day of torture?

“ – It sounds like a compromise.” A small nod as he broke his uncharacteristic silence and turned back to meet her eyes. A small smile was easily returned to his lips. “You’re always a welcome guest. You know that, of course. – But we shall see. We’d have to send a poor man out into the rain to tell the queen anyway. – I wouldn’t want her to think we’ve fallen victim to highway men! And there’s no promise the weather will be better tomorrow. Not in this season.”

She could tell he was starting to find it irritating, and possibly was starting to find her MEDDLESOME but they worked on a friendship built on trust. And if he wasn't saying anything yet, then she was going to work on the possibility that maybe, just maybe, he was appreciating it. Or at the very least would appreciate it if anything came out of her gentle nudging. She couldn't quite remember him telling her about the Queen of the neighbouring kingdom, but he didn't need to. Not with the way they'd looked at each other. As though they had waited for each other their entire lives.

And she couldn't say she hadn't given him fair opportunity to tell her if it was too much. Another opportunity, rejected. She tilted her head up a little and sighed softly, ghost of a smile tugging at her lips. "The sooner we get there the better indeed, but I WOULD be willing to compromise. Your castle after all is nearly halfway there. Shall we say if the weather conditions have deteriorated enough by that time that we reach your grounds, we rest there for the night?"

[strtravels]

It had been an idea that could have been born from too much wine and a long night spent worrying about the world – at least he was aware of how hare-brained this whole notion had been. Yet, it had seemed reasonable to him, when he had written a message to the hooded figure, and part of him still thought it sensible. She had survived more attacks than anyone, and she had fought off more of the bandits than anyone. A legend. A mystery. And wasn’t he hoping for a miracle as well, that would protect his lands and the kingdom he has signed his life to, when he had become an advisor to the reigning monarch?

“It’s not an issue of funding.” He replied after a moment of considering the other’s words; hearing her concern dripping from every word she said. Of course. If just one of the many reasons he had come up with for why she was hiding her face, was true, she would be risking her own life in agreeing. It really had been a plan doomed to fail, right?

Another silent sigh, as he saw the figure stepping backwards; raising his own hands, the pouch still in his left. “I assure you haven’t come here to do anything but ask this of you. I know it’s – unconventional, perhaps you can even call it eccentric, but I thought your knowledge and capability might help us more than gold can do.” Lowered his hands again; the pouch finally vanishing in the pocket of his coat.

“ – Perhaps we can come to another agreement? Not today, if you don’t trust me, but we can arrange another meeting?”

Now that was a surprise. Partly because she was right and partly because here he was, still asking something that sounded fine on the surface but the longer you thought about it the more complex it got. The Southgate duchy wasn't the only one under threat from bandits. Their numbers seemed to keep growing no matter what, and yet here he was. Still asking. She couldn't quite tell if it was stupidity, arrogance, or just plain stubbornness. All three could be true.

"WHY?" A simple question full of confusion. "You are an experienced soldier yourself. You have the Queen's ear, who by the sounds of it is also concerned about these robberies. You could ask her just as easily to help you fund the training of every fit person in your villages, but you stand here asking me for help? Why do you need me?" She shook her head. "You are by all accounts an intelligent man. I know you will have realised why I hide my face. Do you understand that your guards would not take me seriously, whether I hide my face or I don't?" She took a step back, hand on the hilt of her sword first true sign of worry. This could at the end of the day all be a trap. "Do you understand that accepting your offer could bring MORTAL DANGER to my own life? If it were known..."