Setting
When you mess with the
You get the horns.
Two powers, loyal to separate rulers, surprisingly meet to discuss their positions in the war. Days after the declarations of their stances, the Princess Aries travels to meet the Prince Capricorn in order to work out what will happen then. Will they be forced to fight? Will there be threats? How does the Capricorn kingdom expect to protect itself let alone fight the Aries military? These are the questions, the challenges, that the Princess Aries brings with her to the Capricorn kingdom.
Two powers, loyal to separate rulers, surprisingly meet to discuss their positions in the war. Days after the declarations of their stances, the Princess Aries travels to meet the Prince Capricorn in order to work out what will happen then. Will they be forced to fight? Will there be threats? How does the Capricorn kingdom expect to protect itself let alone fight the Aries military? These are the questions, the challenges, that the Princess Aries brings with her to the Capricorn kingdom.
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
Get the Horns: Aries and Capricorn event is a part of 
Cosmos.
0.00 INK
Princess Alexis Conall Aries
She coaxed the horses onward, hearing its whinnies of complaint but pressing it to continue. The travel up the mountains was different than from in the desert: the altitude higher, the air thinner, and the land steeper. Her hair had made the difference more prominent, having expanded to impossible volume. She had attempted to tame it via braiding but even then her mess of hair was slipping out. Alexis pulled the reigns of the horse, causing it to come to a halt. Jumping off, Alexis looked up at the road ahead of them. A few more hours if she went on foot… Her eyes went to the horse who seemed in pain from the long ride. She sighed, turning and leading the horse on. “For god’s sake, you’re a horse, not a donkey.”
Hours later, an hour or two after the time they had set for the meeting, Alexis came up to the wide doors. She received stares and whispers from the guards there. They knew very well who she was. No one could forget that bright red hair. “You’re late.”
“I am well aware of that. Have your Prince meet me in the throne room.”
His lip curved in a sneer at the tone the other was directing him with. “Shall we take your horse?”
Alexis examined the guard before handing him the horse with a smile. The guard took the reigns, nodding at the gates to open. She went inside, following by memory her way to the throne room. ‘Oh, Capricorn, oh, Capricorn. You better still be in there.’
She coaxed the horses onward, hearing its whinnies of complaint but pressing it to continue. The travel up the mountains was different than from in the desert: the altitude higher, the air thinner, and the land steeper. Her hair had made the difference more prominent, having expanded to impossible volume. She had attempted to tame it via braiding but even then her mess of hair was slipping out. Alexis pulled the reigns of the horse, causing it to come to a halt. Jumping off, Alexis looked up at the road ahead of them. A few more hours if she went on foot… Her eyes went to the horse who seemed in pain from the long ride. She sighed, turning and leading the horse on. “For god’s sake, you’re a horse, not a donkey.”
Hours later, an hour or two after the time they had set for the meeting, Alexis came up to the wide doors. She received stares and whispers from the guards there. They knew very well who she was. No one could forget that bright red hair. “You’re late.”
“I am well aware of that. Have your Prince meet me in the throne room.”
His lip curved in a sneer at the tone the other was directing him with. “Shall we take your horse?”
Alexis examined the guard before handing him the horse with a smile. The guard took the reigns, nodding at the gates to open. She went inside, following by memory her way to the throne room. ‘Oh, Capricorn, oh, Capricorn. You better still be in there.’
0.00 INK
Prince Darcy Montel Capricorn
The copper-haired prince sat at his desk, focused on the paperwork in front of him. For the past hour, he had been planning out the estimated costs of the war, and he had been consulting with Orea about what would be the best thing to do. He realized there's a lot to think about, considering the stance he's chosen, and he would take any opportunity available to prepare his people to fullest. It, by far, beat waiting around for a Princess on tardy.
The doors to the office opened. Judging from the lack of knocking, Darcy muttered through his teeth, "What is it, Keenan?" It was apparent that the prince wasn't in the best mood, having seemingly been stood up. Orea inaudible sighed at the sight. "Have you done the work on your end?"
"Must you always ask?" Keenan walked toward his siblings, "Her Arian Highness has arrived." At this, Darcy stood immediately from his desk. "She demand that you meet her in the throne room."
"Finally," Darcy remarked. He headed toward the door while speaking, "Orea, take a break. We'll continue afterward. Keenan—"
"'Back to your duties', I got it, I got it," the younger brother scoffed.
Darcy stopped and turned to see him. "Come with me."
---
Darcy and Keenan arrived at the throne room, the latter seemingly disgruntled. Grandiose and made of stone, it was a rather traditional room, carpeted with deep maroons and decorated with tapestries and precious stones. The two emerged from the hall to the left, and the guards all bowed in his presence. The older prince, at the sight of the princess, which wasn't at all hard to miss, being the sole one in the room with hair being a beast of its own, greeted aloud.
"Princess Aries." He approached her and bowed. "Pleasure to finally be in your presence," he said, in a neutral tone. Keenan bowed behind him. Not wanting to waste any time, Darcy soon dropped the courtesies. "State your business. I understand we both have other places to be."
0.00 INK
Princess Alexis Conall Aries
Alexis nodded to him. “Glad we can skip the courtesies this time, Capricorn,” she addressed, not using her usual nickname of ‘Cap’. “I have become aware that you have decided to side with the King during the course of this war. I am also sure you are aware I have sided with the Queen during this course of the war.” Her face did not seem tensed but at the same time it did not seem loose. Her expression was running along that middle line.
“You should be aware we cannot continue our business as usual, Capricorn. I have retracted my troops and if they return it will be to invade, not to protect. And there will be no mercy due to prior history.” Her voice was steady as she said this, not as a threat but as a matter of fact. There would be no avoiding having her troops invade his kingdom in some point during the war. She also suspected he would not dare to invade her own country while his military were only built for defense. “This is the result of which side you chose. However… I can’t help finding it absurd that you decided to side against me.” She smiled. “Your choice, your consequences, Capricorn. This is the end of our business together.”
Alexis nodded to him. “Glad we can skip the courtesies this time, Capricorn,” she addressed, not using her usual nickname of ‘Cap’. “I have become aware that you have decided to side with the King during the course of this war. I am also sure you are aware I have sided with the Queen during this course of the war.” Her face did not seem tensed but at the same time it did not seem loose. Her expression was running along that middle line.
“You should be aware we cannot continue our business as usual, Capricorn. I have retracted my troops and if they return it will be to invade, not to protect. And there will be no mercy due to prior history.” Her voice was steady as she said this, not as a threat but as a matter of fact. There would be no avoiding having her troops invade his kingdom in some point during the war. She also suspected he would not dare to invade her own country while his military were only built for defense. “This is the result of which side you chose. However… I can’t help finding it absurd that you decided to side against me.” She smiled. “Your choice, your consequences, Capricorn. This is the end of our business together.”
0.00 INK
Prince Darcy Montel Capricorn
Darcy frowned as he looked upon the princess. "If this was all you wish to tell me, you've wasted your time. You must take me a fool for not understanding my circumstance. I assure you, I'm well aware of my choice." He looked at Keenan then turned back to Alexis. "In return, I'll be halting all trade with your kingdom, and if we're going to state the obvious, it will affect your people to quite an extent."
Keenan interjected, "And why would you concern yourself with our kingdom in the first place? Wouldn't you, of all people, be absolutely overjoyed by the thought of our people's heads, your enemies, severed by your blade?" Darcy held up a hand to stop him, and Keenan pulled back, grinding his teeth.
"At first glance, it seems as if I've made the wrong decision," Darcy folded his arms. "But I have my own reasons, Princess Aries. And while you have reason to be confident in your people, I have reason to be confident in mine." Damn him if he didn't. His older brother would shake his head in shame if he couldn't even find the obvious advantages his kingdom had. He paused and sighed. "I don't disdain you. But I've made my choice. If all you wanted from me was a justification for choosing the side that seems more likely to lose, then this would end our business, as you said."
Keenan tapped his foot impatiently. While Darcy was sincere in his words, Keenan wanted nothing more than the Arian woman to leave. He regret cutting his brother off, but he found her presence here ridiculous. Did she really look down on them that much, that she would call for a meeting, come in an hour late, then goad them on how mighty her people are? The younger prince ground his teeth. He really hated her guts.
0.00 INK
Princess Alexis Conall Aries
She regarded him quietly, as if concentrating on his words and the ones she’d respond with. Alexis smiled, as if a seed of respect was sown. There was something more… Yet not. “Glad we have that cleared up, Capricorn. I wish you luck with the war.” With that she turned on her heel to go. She paused, looking over her shoulder. “Oh. One more thing.” Her eyes shifted to Kenan, examining him. “I am doing what is best for my kingdom, just as your brother is. It is nothing personal to your kingdom. It is nothing personal to my kingdom. It is for the best of our kingdoms. There is a difference.” She turned her attention to the door. “See ya, Caps. Just letting you know you bought yourself a couple weeks.”
Out Alexis went, walking out of the castle in the way she knew how. The front doors opened and the guard who had gone to her before approached her, leading her horse. She walked past him. The man, surprised, called out to her. “Hey, your horse!”
“Nah, I can walk,” she answered.
“But it’s-“
Alexis paused, turning back to him with a grin. “If it can’t keep up, I leave it behind.” She nudged to it. “Give it to your Prince. Parting gift.” She turned and waved. “Wish you well in the war.” Her hand dropped, that smile not wavering as she began her long trek back home.
‘You’ll need it.’
She regarded him quietly, as if concentrating on his words and the ones she’d respond with. Alexis smiled, as if a seed of respect was sown. There was something more… Yet not. “Glad we have that cleared up, Capricorn. I wish you luck with the war.” With that she turned on her heel to go. She paused, looking over her shoulder. “Oh. One more thing.” Her eyes shifted to Kenan, examining him. “I am doing what is best for my kingdom, just as your brother is. It is nothing personal to your kingdom. It is nothing personal to my kingdom. It is for the best of our kingdoms. There is a difference.” She turned her attention to the door. “See ya, Caps. Just letting you know you bought yourself a couple weeks.”
Out Alexis went, walking out of the castle in the way she knew how. The front doors opened and the guard who had gone to her before approached her, leading her horse. She walked past him. The man, surprised, called out to her. “Hey, your horse!”
“Nah, I can walk,” she answered.
“But it’s-“
Alexis paused, turning back to him with a grin. “If it can’t keep up, I leave it behind.” She nudged to it. “Give it to your Prince. Parting gift.” She turned and waved. “Wish you well in the war.” Her hand dropped, that smile not wavering as she began her long trek back home.
‘You’ll need it.’
0.00 INK
Prince Darcy Montel Capricorn
Darcy bowed as the Princess made her exit. "Likewise, Princess Aries." When she was out the door, Keenan let go a breath he didn't realize he was holding, absolutely exasperated. He raised his hands and curled his fingers in annoyance, grumbling and pacing back and forth.
"That nerve! If I weren't any smarter I would have strangled her with her own hair!" He grunted through gritted teeth, angrily scratching his head.
"Doubt it," Darcy simply stated before lifting his head and turning on his heel back to his office. Keenan stopped and gave an incredulous look, following after his brother.
"I'm serious! Was that all she came here for?" he huffed, trying to keep up with his brother's fast pace. "'See ya, Caps,'" he mocked with a nasally voice. "'Just letting you know you bought yourself a couple weeks.' Really? Really? She bought herself a seat on my number one hit list! How can you stand that woman? Couldn't you have just taken her prisoner and tie up that knot then and there? I'm sure she'd find our prisons to be much more hospitable than whatever gate of hell she had risen from—"
"Keenan."
"No, not even hell itself could bear such an irritable fiery personality such as hers, condemn me if she not be the Prince of darkness himself—"
"Keenan," Darcy said, more loudly, as they entered their office. Orea looked up from her book and watched her brothers come in.
"Princess of darkness, rather, or, nay! Lucifer would rather bathe in holy light than listen to her speak for ten grueling minutes—"
"Keenan!" Darcy bellowed, turning abruptly to face him. "For heaven's sake, do you hear yourself? You're spouting more nonsense than Aunt Estelle when you traveled to Deneb Algedi." Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose at the memory. He took his seat behind his desk as Keenan watched, the latter somewhat out of breath from his rambling. "I understand your frustrations. But you really need to calm down."
The younger prince slowed his breath and looked down in shame. "Sorry. I just, I don't understand either. Why did you choose the King? We don't have the Arian's ferocity nor the Cancerian's passion. Why did you make such a terrible mistake?" God forbid, if Alexis's thoughts on the Capricorn Kingdom were right, and they did end up losing, not only would it be disastrous for their people, but it would put a great wound in his pride. Of which he has much of.
Orea spoke, "It was not a mistake." Her brothers turned to her in slight surprise. "Have more faith in our brother, Keenan. Cool down your head— you've as much ferocity in your eyes as an Arian." She closed her book and spoke steadily. "We have plans, Keenan. And while it seems impossible now, we will have more allies. Even as we are currently, we have our connections, and our own resources. You don't even realize that you are underestimating your own people."
Keenan's face grew red. Orea sat still. Darcy watched their faces.
"Haha," Darcy let out. His chuckle grew into a hearty laugh. His siblings watched their older brother in confusion. "You're both going to kill me before anyone else does. Keenan, sit. We'll tell you why we're not going to lose. Listen well— I expect that after this you won't have any more of these childish tantrums."
Keenan did as he was told, and Darcy told their plans. Truth be told, the war's victor can be anyone, and the circumstances for the King seem truly dire. But Darcy didn't want to dwell on the what-ifs. If he wasted anymore time sulking, their chances would be that much more slim. Luck was unnecessary; he just needed to work hard. Let the other side think what they want to think. All the better to be underestimated.
- 6 posts here • Page 1 of 1