Sev/Rael with Ryuu
Blod/Bruce with Ceallach
Jas/Tia with Arvin
Gann/Antius with Asmara and Merle
Valen/Lisa with Cash
Zephora with Blysse
If I missed anyone, I am SO SO sorry! D: I blame being scatterbrained on my 7 hours plane ride. >_o
I wrote this monstrous post on a plane, so I am sorry for any typos. <3
---Blodwyn Akritas---
She was not sure if she should be frightened or amused. She was both. At first Blodwyn had clutched harder unto Ceallach’s arm, glad that he had taken a step backwards and gotten closer to her. It felt safer this way, having people in front of her. She may have had her magic to fight with, but she was also just one woman.
But, as the Templar continued to rage, her desire to giggle overwhelmed her. Blodwyn burst out into laughter, unable to prevent herself from reacting in the manner. She clutched at her lower stomach, the muscles of her abdomen spasming with each peal of laughter that escaped her lips. She sucked in a breath, doing her best to bite back laugher. Soon enough, she forced herself to straighten up again and calm herself.
“Ah, forgive me, that was out of line” Blodwyn shook her head as she began to regain her composure. “Maker, I know not what came over me, but that was most amusing.”
She looked at the Templar with pity in her eyes, shaking her head as if he was some silly child who did not understand a thing. She made a clucking noise in the back of her throat and turned to look at Ser Sev, smiling apologetically. “Forgive me for my outburst, Ser Sev, normally I am able to keep my composure, and I thank you for your kind words towards me.” She smiled at the Lady Knight, glad to not have been impaled upon the blade of some insane man.
Blodwyn gave Ceallach’s arm a squeeze as a non-verbal thank you and moved out from around him to go and stand by her brother’s side, “I could lecture for hours upon the topic of how magic is a gift and not a curse, yet I have no intention of doing so at the very moment.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose with her fingers, feeling the beginnings of a headache coming on.
“You mentioned a Blight – I take it there are Grey Wardens present – and that you, Ser Sev, are one of them.” Blodwyn lowered her voice as she spoke, making sure that non overheard but the group, in case this was confidential. She looked over at Ser Sev and raised a questioning eyebrow, following that gesture up with a nod of her head. She was quick to make the connections in her mind. That would explain more as to why Ser Sev had wished to get into that ball, and that would explain why her company was so large.
“That changes things,” Blodwyn gave them all a look of appraisal, “but I can now see this is much more important than my brother and I have first thought.”
---Valen Akritas---
His sisters’ hysterical giggling (amused, yet a tinge frightened) had catalyzed a wave of the very same with Valen. He found himself laughing alongside her, spurred on by the way her breath hitched with every ‘ha’. He had always enjoyed the sound of his sister’s laughter. But then she soon forced herself to composure again, and he did as well.
When they heard mention of a Blight, Valen exchanged looks with his sister. She took him by the arm and pulled him to the side. “Let us discuss this briefly, brother.”
“Nemo me impune lacessit,” Valen told her, shooting the Templar a dirty look. He was still not feeling as if he should just back down, even though his sister had relented and been placated by Severia’s words.
“A Blight, Valen,” she said, in Common this time, but continued in Imperial, “dulce periculum! Natura nihil frustra facit!”
It was clear that she wished to help, excited by the prospect – eager to be a part of something so vastly important. She looked up at him, pleading, and he could not help but relax by a fraction.
“Si vales valeo, oderint dum metuant.” she said, looking at him with eyes full of warmth, something which she usually reserved for more private times. He reached out an armored hand and trailed his fingertip down her cheekbone, unable to suppress a smile. He would have leaned in to kiss her, but they were in too public a place.
“I have been swayed by my sister, luck seems to be in your favor today, as normally I would not let such a slight to my family pass by,” Valen said, his tone becoming dry when he addressed the lot of them. “The prospect of a Blight spurs her and she wishes to aid your efforts. Also, the Templar is amusing and she is sure to obtain much pleasure from listening to his tongue flap about.”
“Valen, be polite,” Blodwyn said lightly, patting his arm, “I will be back after changing my robes.”
TIME SKIP STARTS HERE.
---Blodwyn Akritas---
The elves had been told that the only manner in which they would be able to get into the ball was if they played the role of slaves. Of course, not a one of them was thrilled at the prospect, but that was the only manner in which things could have been accomplished. She and her brother had provided suitable clothing for all the humans, so as to have them all look the part of nobility.
Blodwyn stood before the group much like a general before an army, observing the lot of them and piecing things together in her mind. They would not be able to get into the ball as an unruly herd, and so they would each have to be grouped: man to woman for a couple and a slave or two for each pair.
“When you step foot into the ball, all humans will be expected to act as though they were high-standing members of society. That means that all women should be properly addresses as ‘milady’ and all men as ‘milord’.” She frowned at the group and tilted her head to one side, attempting to figure out who would look better with whom.
“Ser Sev with Ser Raelnor,” Blodwyn gestured at the two of them. She had taken it upon herself to learn and know the names of all the company she had travelled with. “Jasper with Tiaryn, Valen with Lisa, Zephora on her own as a single noble-woman, and Gann with Antius.[/b]”
“I object,” the tall man known as Gann intervened, not looking at all pleased by her pairing of him with another man.
“We are out of women, as you may or may not have noticed, and Zephora plays very well the part of an exotic single noble-woman,” she replied, gesturing at the clear lack of human women for either him or Antius.
“And what of you?” He asked, expression unchanging, “I had thought that you were a woman, or is there something different under those robes?”
“Ha, ha,” she said drily, “I will be accompanied by Ser Bruce, as someone must guide him away from lashing out at the present nobility.” Once at the ball, they would be surrounded by noble-born blood mage lords and ladies and none of them would take a slight to their person lightly. Plus, there was a high-ranking member of the Orlesian royalty, cousin to the Empress, who would be present, and an apostate at that…and offending her would not make the Empress look kindly down upon any of them.
“Now, for the assigned servants,” she abstained from using the term ‘slaves’, though that is what all would assume them to be, “Ryuu, with Ser Sev and Ser Raelnor. Asmara and Merle, with Antius and Gann. Ceallach, with me and Ser Bruce. Blysse, with Zephora. Cash, with Valen and Lisa. Arvin, with Jasper and Tiaryn.”
And now they should be ready. Maker help the lot.
---Valen Akritas---
“Names, if you please,” the guards said, one of them holding a list before him.
“I am Lord Valen Akritas, and this lovely woman is my sister, the Lady Blodwyn Akritas,” Valen said curtly as he gestured at his sister, who stood beside the Templar with her hand through his arm. “We are accompanied by miscellaneous Lords and Ladies, among which you may find the Lady Severia Cousland, as well as numerous slaves to tend to our needs as we please.”
“We are honored to have you here, milord,” the guards spoke and opened wide the gates to usher them all inside.
Valen looked over at his sister and she winked at him, looking pleased by his eloquent introduction.
They walked up a long terrace, through a garden which smelled sweetly of flowers, and up the steps of Lord Adea’s summer home. Another set of guards opened wide the doors for them there. Beyond the doors was an entrance hall, and beyond that the ballroom.
All around them were richly dressed nobles and merchants of various high status rankings. Elven slaves walked with delicately balanced platters, knowing full well that the Lord Adea would give them fifty lashes if they dared stumble once or drop something.
A bald man with a slender woman on his arm walked out of the ballroom, his booming voice resonating as he laughed at something the woman said to him. The man’s eyes swept over the newcomers and landed on Valen and Blodwyn. The smile on the man’s face spread and he approached, beaming with happiness.
“My son,” he gathered Valen in his arms in a warm squeeze and then moved on to Blodwyn, “my daughter”, taking her face in his hands and kissing her on both cheeks and then on the forehead.
His father stepped back and it was their mother’s turn to say her helloes. She approached Valen, but he stepped back, giving her only a curt nod, his expression easily betraying his dislike. The woman paled in the cheeks and immediately moved on to Blodwyn, doing her best to stifle whatever pain she may have felt at being publically spurned by her own son.
Valen watched as Blodwyn awkwardly embraced their mother, her movements hesitant and reserved, almost as though she was confused as to what to do. Their mother did not press her company, and stepped back after the meager introductions. She swept a lock of hair behind one badly-scarred ear, and focused her eyes on the rest of the company.
“Everyone, meet the Lord Caladrius Akritas and his wife, the Lady Lavinia Akritas, our father and mother,” Blodwyn made the introductions that time. “Pray, father, is the Lord Adea entertaining the guests within the ballroom?”
Their father nodded, his good humor gone after witnessing Valen’s greetings with Lavinia. “Yes, he is currently in the middle of a waltz with the Archduchess of Orlais. Lavinia and I were just about to go and take a walk out on the terrace.”
Caladrius opened his mouth to say something more, but his eyes fell upon someone in the crowd. Valen followed his father’s gaze and his expression soured when he saw that his father was looking at Severia.
“Milady Cousland, ever a pleasure,” Caladrius bowed as was appropriate, “I trust that you are well? I am ever pleased to see a familiar face. Ah, but I am keeping you all from enjoying the party. If any of you wish to converse, Lavinia and I will be out on the terrace.” He gave them all nods and left, his wife on his arm.
Valen watched as they left, unnerved by the sight of his mother. He felt shame for seeing the woman there, shame which only he and his family knew the reason for. Oh, how he hated that woman now, knowing what he knew about her.
Blodwyn’s hand was on his shoulder again, her hand warm through the fabric of his shirt. He took solace in the touch and, in turn, placed his hand over hers.
“Let us be off to the party then,” he said, loud enough for all their company to hear. “There is much dancing and drinking to be done, after all.”