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The Trouble with Treaties

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"Thank you, your highness. Please, call me Honorè." After all, it'd be silly after this day of games to have him call her comtesse, which was a title she shared with her sister. "Your sister is a delight. She seemed to enjoy her gifts very much." she smiled, and took his arm.

"I think I would like that walk. I love birds and I've found that at night, you get to witness their true majesty. Even the simplest of jewels can be brilliant if polished correctly." It was true, she adored birds, her own Gawain a crowning jewel that she'd received long ago from a suitor. Luckily the majestic birds had a long life.

"Have the Loidites been terribly troubling? I know we are their advocates, but there is a lot of bad blood between you. I only hope that I...that is the Goldspar delegates can help ease that tension somewhat." a small slip of the tongue.
 
Gavin walked with her to the atrium. "They have been slightly troubling. No more so then your own Baroness," he admited. "Prince Tansen seems to think he knows something about me, but I'm not quite sure what. Since he's not currently bothering you, I guess it's not my interest in you that's his big secret."

He opened the cage door and led her inside. Being night, most of the birds were asleep, but it was still a private area. Gavin gently pulled Honore closer to him, bringing her to one of the benches. "This place was made for some past queen. She had an allergy to the sun, I believe. This was for her to enjoy nature and not worry about it." He looked up at the trees and perches. "My sister and I used to come here at times. It was our favorite secret hiding place."
 
"Well, if he's wise, it won't have anything to do with magic." She chuckled then, the husky sound echoing through the night air. "So tell me about this interest you have in me." She smiled even though it would be difficult to see. "After all, a woman does like to have her ego flattered as well." That and it would put it out in the open between them; Honorè was not known for mincing words, although she often choose them wisely as she was able. She knew she was a novelty for the prince, but it wouldn't hurt to see how well he played the courtier's game.

She sat down on the bench, reposing in a way that she knew was attractive, the long lines of her body that showed off every curve and hinted at what was beneath. This was one of the things she would teach Diane upon the morrow.

"Hiding places are a necessity, your highness. One must always have a place to retreat, regroup and prepare for the next advance. Even a prince."
 
Eloran nodded, "My Lord". He stalked off after Prince Tansen, with the least amount of stealth one man has ever mustered. It was pointless to try to remain subtle.

"Prince Tansen" he calls out loudly after the man, his helmet under an arm casually, so that his dark eyes and long hair were visible. "Scheming is over for the evening. You have the distinct pleasure of being my charge. Now, if you would, Prince, please accompany me?"
 
Gavin sat next to her, slowly trailing a finger over her skirts. "I am very interested in knowing you, Honore," he said softly. "I want to know everything about you. What are your dreams, your hopes? What brought you to politics?" He leaned in closer, his breath tickling her neck. "What are your secret desires?" He planted a small kis on her neck, breathing in her perfume.

"When I saw you, I knew you weren't like the other women," he said softly. "You and your sister are intelligent, a quality that I find rare in Anstaria." He gently stroked her cheek. "You can be so bold, yet you're never vulgar. I find that intoxicating." He leaned closer, his lips barely touching hers. "Just say stop, and I will." It was an offer he would never have thought to make to any other woman. He was the prince, the man, the one meant to be in charge. However, he knew that if she said stop, he'd obey that wish.
 
Her perfume of choice was much like the garden they were in, her natural musk mixing with the compresses of orchid and lilies. She found the prince charming although so very young. However, she did not refuse the kiss off her neck, and instead savored the sensation against the softness of her skin.

"A woman, whether intelligent or not has many desires, your highness. It is still a man's world. A woman desires security." She looked at his eyes then, "I will not lead you a whore's game, but I reserve the right to rescind my permission." No matter that he was not used to being told no, most likely, Honorè had more than a few tricks up her sleeve if he got out of hand. With that, she moved that incremental amount of space, and pressed her lips softly to his, bringing her left hand up, to caress his jawline, much like she had his sister, the nerves at the taut stretch of skin highly sensitized; perfect for her purposes. Drawing it upwards, she cupped his ear with her hand, and caressed the sensitive curve of his ear even as she deepened the kiss.
 
the kiss sent a shock through Gavin's body. A pleasent thrill that surrounded him and pulled him closer to Honore. His hands moved down to clutch at her hips, his fingers curling around the soft material of her dress. One hand moved behind her back, playing with the stays of her corset. He pulled back from the kiss slightly, moving his lips down her neck. He eagerly bathed the skin of her neck and along the neckline of her dress.

***************

In her room, Diane slowly took off her clothes. Standing in front of her mirror in her chemise, she took a good look at herself. She wasn't an ugly woman, she just never thought to put her beauty to any use. Her dark red hair tumbled over her shoulders and she liked the look. Maybe, tomorrow, she'll keep her hair down. She smiled, thinking that sounded like a plan.
 
Tansen looked at the Ritter Hex as if he was a crazy man hanging from the sealing singing some bar song. "I'm sorry to say that I can not comply to your request good sir. I have been meaning to meet the the good Lord Martinez, tonight and I'm on my way there now. If it is your wish then you can accompany me. I have to schemes as you believe." He would be damned before he was ordered around by a Ritter Hex. The war had inspired a hate upon their kind that burned with such anger and hate that could only be equaled to blood lust. "And as I see it you still remain under me, no matter how you look at it. If the good prince wanted me under custody then he should have said so himself."
 
A soft sigh slipped through Honorè's lips as Gavin moved away only to move to her neck. She was modestly dressed compared to her sister, but she still had a bit of skin at the neckline to give him access too. It amused her; his ardor was quite lustful, and she'd have to keep a tight rein on things. But she had handled these before.

"Your highness." Her voice was breathless as she spoke. "Please. I am a Lady of noble family, not a wench to be tumbled upon the ground." There was regret in her tone, but she was indeed a lady, and only so much could be permitted.
 
Deston sat in his room bored out of his mind pacing back and forth. He was done wondering how his brother had handled the situation deciding it was over by now. The thought of what he would do tomorrow in such a boring place seemed to become rather old as well. His mind was just starting to finish with the conversation the two princes had with the princess, when he thought about how she came in without anyone knowing. The thought came to his head that the entire time he had been in his room he could be out around the castle.

Jumping for the chance to leave, he quickly opened the door to leave when he stopped. He turned back grabbing from the draw a black rain cloak that would conceal his face if need be. He made his way out. He decided to head to the right deciding that the left had no coverage, in the case he needed to hide. He began making his way into the garden, looking for something to quench his boredom.
 
Gavin sighed, dropping his head against her as he tried to control himself. He had promised that if she said to stop, he would stop. It was hard, so very hard. When he finally got himself calmed down, he sat back. "Of course," he said. "I have been crude. A lady of your caliber should not be tupped in the middle of the garden. You deserve wooing and fine gifts."

He smiled, "Forgive my rudeness, Honore. I let my own desires cloud my manners." He moved slightly so that he wasn't rubbing up against her, but was still sitting close. He still wanted to be with her, but he would do her justice by taking it slower and being a gentleman. It was what she deserved.
 
"Thank you..."she paused, "Your highness." It was awkward, calling someone by their formal title after such a passionate interlude, but he was royalty and he'd not given her leave to call him anything else, and she would not be presumptuous. "Although, my taste is eclectic, you'd be hard pressed for gifts that would actually serve a purpose in wooing me." She laughed then, her voice still a little husky from their endeavors.

"But speaking of hopes and dreams, what are yours? Not just as a prince of the blood. But as a man. Perhaps we can start there. Learning of each other." She leaned over then, and kissed him softly. "Lighter kisses would not be amiss either." And smiled as she leaned back to await their discussion.
 
Gavin reached down, entwining his fingers with hers. "I never thought of my hopes or dreams. Everything about me is for my kingdom and my people. All my dreams revolve around them," he said. "All I want is for Anstaria to be safe and my people to be happy. I want to find a good husband for my sister so she'll be taken care of. I want to find a good wife to stay by my side."

He looked down, trying to think of any of his dreams that didn't put his kingdom first. His happiness seemed to rest on Anstaria. At this moment, what he wanted for himself was Honore, but he'd hold back for her sake. Other then a few moments of bliss, he couldn't think of anything that didn't mean he'd have to sacrifice for his kingdom.
 
"Are you going to plan your own wedding like your sisters? For the best alliance possible." If he showed any surprise, she'd smile at him and reply with an arched eyebrow that asked if he really thought she was stupid enough not to realize what this whole thing was, at least in part. She lifted a hand, cradling it against his chest as she turned her head to look at him, the looped braids of her hair falling in a way that made her seem slightly otherworldly.

"I understand that you have to marry for alliance, we all do unless we're lucky...but you have more freedom..and time if truth be told. You don't have to marry immediately unless your father was dying. Is there not anything you'd do for yourself before tying yourself to a lonely throne. Alliances may protect a kingdom, but they can also keep a cold bed."
 
Gavin put an arm around her, leaning back to look up at the tree tops. "My father is dieing. We can't do anything to help him. He was healthy just last month, and now he's wasting away. I may not marry right away, but I have to find someone for Diane. She has to be taken care of. I owe it to her."

He leaned down, kissing her softly on the top of her head. "And, yes, my marriage will be solely to better Anstaria. It's all I can do. What kind of king would I be if I didn't put my kingdom first?" What he needed in a wife was a woman who understood politics who would be a helpmate for him. That meant looking outside of Anstaria.
 
Deston walked through the garden flipping the coins in his pocket doing various tricks, apparently learning nothing from his past experiences. He made sure they were low profile tricks in the least, not to catch anyone's attention if they were to see him from a far. He made sure not to go to deep into the gardens, such places were for couples at night back home and he did not wish to see if such traditions still held up in this country.

Rather he moved around the outskirts of the garden until making his way back to the courtyard. He knew he could not renter the castle from there and decided to back track a little heading back to the place he had first seen the princess looking through the window. Finding the room familiar from where she stood he decided to enter this way. The meeting room was empty, and now it was pitch black. He donned his hood, as he prepared to make his way to his room once again.
 
"Your best advantage is to marry her to the Loidite prince, but you can't bring yourself to do it, can you?" She knew her own twin would never accept anything less than what she considered the best for her sister, and Honorè was the same way, except that Honorè knew that Valère had no inclination to marry. She'd seen how he'd reacted to the Loidites. She leaned her head on his shoulder. In some ways, he seemed so young to be taking on such a large responsibility, but it had happened before.

"You would need a wife who is politically smart in a time when there is such turmoil in your country, yet at the same time, she has to be impeccable in behavior. No offense, but your Anstarian women do not seem the type that most would be capable of being a partner to you. Will you look to other kingdoms? Not Loidite, perhaps, but there are many noble families in the world. Not all of whom are friendly towards magic. At the same time, if you fear magic as much as your Ritter Hex, it is a weak point for you. You can not learn the weaknesses of something if you fear it." She sighed, it always ended up as politics. But it was what she was here for, after all. She felt bad for the girl though.
 
"I can't marry her to the Loidites," Gavin said. He didn't want to admit that his father wanted Diane to be married to the Loidite prince. However, the paperwork was signed out to Martinez, and that was all that mattered. "Lord Martinez would be a better match. Our kingdoms are allies after all."

He pulled Honore closer to him. "You'd make a good wife," he said softly. "You're politically savvy. You can blend into Anstarian culture easily, but still be yourself. You'd be perfect." He blushed, looking away. For all he knew, she wanted someone else.
 
"Lord Martinez." she smiled, she couldn't let Diane know that her guess had been right, but it pleased a small inner part of her to know it was so. "He seems stable, and intelligent enough." she agreed with him, it sounded like a reasonable offer, assuming that Martinez agreed.

At his comment about her, she tilted her head up from his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "You flatter me, your highness. I am but a comtesse, a shared title at that. You are destined for a princess, duchess or marquise. We're a both a little out of each other's range, I'm afraid." A small laugh then. "Although I'm fairly sure even my sister would not be able to argue against me marrying a prince, soon to be king. She thinks that none of my suitors are worthy of me. You, she could not argue."
 
"I don't care about titles," Gavin said. "I doubt I'd find anyone more perfect then you." He smiled, meaning every word. It could just be his lust talking, but at that moment, he believed it.

"As for Diane, she is betrothed to Lord Martinez. I signed the papers tonight and sent an order to have a spare signet ring made, as per his traditions. We will announce the engagement later, after I can trade rings with him. He'll take good care of Diane, I know it."

He sighed, thinking about his future. "I just want to be a good king. That's all I ever wanted."
 
"Signet ring.." It rang a bell somehow, and then she remembered. Yes, Danbarian tradition. "He'd be stupid not to, your highness."

But she turned and looked at him. "Likely, your lust is speaking, and not your head. But remember, to your people, a Goldspar woman is little better than a whore. If you still think you wish to ask for my hand in the light of day, we'll speak of it again. " A compromise.

"As for being a good king, I think as long as you don't think your self a god, then few can fault for trying your best. No man is a mountain, able to withstand the slings and arrows of life alone."
 
Gavin smiled. "So, if I press for your hand by the light of day, you'll take me seriously," he asked softly. Smiling, he leaned back. "We may not have a great view of Goldsparite women, but it's not all whores. We do admit you have a great capasity for politics."

"Tell me your dreams," he said softly. "What do you enjoy doing? How can I make this visit more then just boring meetings and awkward advances by a young soon-to-be king?"
 
"We have no choice in the matter. We never know from day to day who our ruler will be. You either live and breathe politics or you lose everything." There was a bit of bitterness in there. She still blamed their father for losing their fortunes. First the cargo ship that he'd invested in heavily that had been lost at sea along with her fiancee. And then secluding himself in the country when their mother died. He'd all but committed political suicide. So far, he'd maintained his title, and if he did die, she'd be a Marquise since she would share the title with her sister. It would be nice to have a title of her own, even if it was one far grander than she'd ever expected.

"Yes, if you ask for my hand in the light of day, I will consider it honestly. Here.." Turning slightly in his grasp, she lifted her hands and took a lock of his hair, braiding it down. "This is a promise lock, if you wear this, I will know your intentions are honest. It is sacred in my mother's clan." For a moment, there was a flash of doing this for someone else. Thinking once again of her lost fiancee, she let herself savor the bitter moment, before moving on to the present. As she braided, she thought about her dreams.

"I love hunting, I'm an excellent horsewoman and Austringer. Like any woman, I seek security in the world. I think it is one reason I have refused to become a mistress. No matter how good a contract, in the end, you are still left." She let him have a peek at her inner workings. Give a little, get a bit back. "I have a decent hand with sewing and accounts, but I have little taste for lies. I think perhaps that is why my political career does not grow as fast as I would like." she was speaking of herself as a singular. Something she did rarely. Truly, he was being treated. "There...finished." The braid framed his face, much like some of the more barbarian cultures, but it was a warriors mark, and normally only a woman to whom he'd promised himself had the right to braid it for him. It was a bold move, but one that would let Honorè know he was serious about his intentions.

((Austringer is a word for a hunter who uses Hawks, or more properly Falcons))
 
Gavin closed his eyes as Honore braided his hair. The way her fingers artfully twisted his hair was erotic. He could let her do this every day. There was just something so intimate about it.

"You enjoy hunting," he said, opening his eyes. "I can arrange a hunt while you're here. I normally hunt in the woods outside the palace, and I fear that once I'm king, I won't have the time to go anymore." He could get a hunt together in the next day or so, it would be a nice distraction. Surely the men in the talks would enjoy getting out as well, and he had a feeling that hte baroness would also enjoy hunting.

He touched the braid. "I won't ever take this out," he promised.
 
She laughed then, a laugh that seemed to make her young and girlish again. "Hunts can also be diplomatic...Gavin..." she decided to be bold then, and use his given name. After all, in her mind, she'd just given him his promise braid. That meant she was allowed certain intimacies. "When people are in the middle of a hunt, something that holds sway over life and death, that rush can be used to manipulate them. Several of Goldspar's previous kings have used to them to great advantage."

She laughed again at his comment about his braid. "It'll fall out on its own without some unguent. I have some in my room, if you'd like, I can apply it tomorrow." she smiled. It was nice to be so easy and free with someone else. Most likely Valèree would be simmering in a rage in their rooms, but she would not dare to upset her in this.
 
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