#[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]

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]

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]

Still had a smile on his lips, while he listened to Howie’s worries – the reassurance that surely nobody would have entered his workshop while he had been away, was already on his tongue. AND THEN CAME THE WARNING. The words echoing in his ears, while his eyes saw the arrow, now stuck in a tree trunk, way too late. Highway men! There had been some cases he had heard about, but those had been in the dark of night, not during daylight! They still should have a few hours of it left!

Gaze flew to the first shadow he saw before them in the trees. No doubt, that this had to be the archer. One of them? There should be more than one armed with bow and arrows. Quick, he turned on the back of his horse, noticing that there were shadows behind them too. Surrounded. Of course!

Slipping off the saddle, he let go of his horse’s reigns, knowing that it could bolt any moment, but he had once learned his lessons, he wasn’t going to repeat his mistake – and one stood no change in a fight with a broken arm! While he sure wasn’t as trained as the men of his own guard, he had learned a few things over the years. Would have been foolish not to want to learn.

Pulling the sword from the leathern scabbard, a look of determination planted itself back on his features. “ – Get behind me, Howie!”

One of these days, Howie was going to get used to these frequent trips. He had to, sooner or later, if he was to be his uncle's successor when the time came, and preparing for that possibility meant accompanying Edward on his trips attend these frivolous outings. He missed the days of his apprenticeship, learning his trade and honing his skills of artifice. But Edward needed an heir, and it meant Howie had better prospects. He could still continue to learn, as long as it didn't interfere with his newfound expectations.

Their horses continues through the woods, saddlebags secured and both men trusting their steeds to get them home. The route was becoming more familiar now that they were approaching the last five mile stretch.

"I'd be delighted to. I just hope that nobody has been in my workshop while we've been away - I can't remember if I left something volatile in there. It should be fi--" Their amicable conversation was cut short by an arrow flying between them, just narrowly missing Howie's neck. He gripped on to his horse's reigns, desperately trying to stop her from throwing him in the panic. "Get down, Uncle!"

[strtravels]

It was certainly inappropriate to see her like this – at least it was improper, and while he still held his gaze lowered a little, the smile remained stubbornly on his lips. Reminded him of so many years ago; her long hair down as they were riding through the forest that bordered his own lands. Years and years ago, when she still had come to the summer castle her family had there; overlooking the sea, just as his own residence did. She had returned every year with her family, and so they had met for weeks filled with their own adventures. Still remembered the trouble he had got them into. The pain of his broken arm, when he had been too stubborn to listen to Katherine’s warning and his horse had bolted.

She still looked like she had done then – to him there was barely a sign of age on her features, while he feared time hadn’t been quite that kind to him. Surely a reason why it had taken her a moment to recognise him on the balcony, when they both had needed some air, they couldn’t find in the overcrowded ballroom.

Finding some boyish boldness in his heart, he lifted his gaze at her explanation; a hint of worry painted on his own features again, before he gave a small nod. “I’m afraid, that’s why I find myself here as well. I couldn’t sleep and thought it would be a good idea to – wander.” Couldn’t help but laugh now, hearing his own words and how truly laughable his explanation was. There just always had been too much on his mind. Even when he had been younger and his father’s health had been declining… And now there was quite a lot on his mind, too. Looking at her. Remembering too much. Being reminded that they had tried to keep in contact and yet the distance had won this battle against them. The distance and perhaps life itself, too.

Another step taken towards her as the boldness grew with the thought that he simply couldn’t accept this distance between them any more. “ – If you allow me to say this – you look as though there’s something on your mind, keeping you from sleeping. You always used to pace up and down, when you were thinking. Looking for an explanation why my horse ran away and how it came that I injured myself… Though I suppose today you’re thinking about more important matters than excuses for boyish stupidity.”

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown - She'd paced the length and breadth of the room over so many hours, so many years, that the carpet beneath her feet had been reduced to nothing more than a threadbare rag. A shadow of it's former self... weren't we all in the end? Katherine had asked herself that question too many a time of late. With age came wisdom certainly and experience. But it also brought with it an understanding of one's own limits.

For a woman who had refused to bend to anyone's will but her own, time was a formidable opponent indeed. There was never enough of it, not when trade negotiations, alliances and now highway men were all vying for the chance to preoccupy her mind. Everything demanded her attention immediately, everyone needed to be placated now.

Her skirts rustled against the carpet as she turned, sweeping them out of the way so that she may continue with her one woman procession. Lost in her thoughts amongst the glittering opulence of the throne room. The brass fixtures glinted in the candlelight, throwing shadows against the floors and for a brief moment, she imagined them an audience. Perhaps the various aristocrats at court, her friends and rivals alike. She had just the as many of the former as she did the latter....her head whipped around at the sound of the door opening, silently cursing herself for not noticing their approach. Had she been so lost in her thoughts she had failed to hear them? Or was it just another of her senses time had thought to dull?

Bristled at the darkness, about to ask the person to name themselves. But from the moment she heard those words, she knew she needn't ask. Knew that voice, as good as she did her own. After all these years. Her lips curled at the corners, taking a quiet step towards him, drinking in the sight of him in the half-light.

❝ Edward. ❞ The name fell from her lips easily, as if there had never been time she had gone without saying it, without seeing that face. Still the boy she remembered from her youth. ❝ No, no, you haven't. I couldn't sleep... ❞ When could she?

[strtravels]

Nothing he could do to hide the chuckle coming over his lips at her words, even if he had tried – and failed – to look serious before, while he had arguing why he didn’t need to accompany her and why he really didn’t want to. Of course, he hadn’t said it like this. Of course, he COULDN’T say it like this but… it was simply too complex, and he had no idea how to deal with old feelings bubbling up at the sight of Queen Katherine. Had known her when she was just a princess, and when he had never called her by her title. Always just Kat. Too many memories clinging to the nickname echoing to through his mind, as the chuckle had died already.

“I believe it does.” He agreed with the queen beside him. Her parents had been just as stubborn as she had been – and so had their parents. A trade inherited from which he also couldn’t acquit himself. Wasn’t he just being stubborn in his attempt not to travel to the neighbouring lands? – A silenced sigh and HE NODDED IN AGREEMENT. No point in arguing. He had understood this already.

“ – It looks like it’s going to rain soon...”

CHLOE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING. Of course she did She had seen the look between her trusty advisor and the queen of one of the neighbouring kingdoms from across the ballroom. She knew he hadn't had an easy time, all the more reason for him to find some happiness. She knew that encouraging him personally wouldn't do much she could practically hear the excuses flying out of his mouth already. But he couldn't disagree with her arranging some official matters in a certain way that just happened to include meetings with Queen Katherine, could he? She could and would pull rank on him with that if she had to.

She would be happy to act as though she knew nothing of it though so that there was enough plausible deniability that he couldn't really protest. Too much. "Yes, I am aware of that. I believe it runs in the family." Chloe smiled. "I would like you in the carriage with me, thank you. I would appreciate the company and the security of having someone in the carriage with me. Are you agreed?"