Unfortunate Union (Halune and PastelCreme)

[PastelCreme]

Camille was the Princess of Thadour. Second born and thus second in line for the throne. Second place had it's benefits, the first being she could do with her life as she saw fit. If Cam wanted to climb a tree, she could do so. If she wanted to run up and down the stairs, it was her choice. If she wanted to go on an adventure by herself, she was permitted. This was not the case for her older brother Johnathon. As heir to the throne, he could not do anything that could jeopardize his life in any way. John was not allowed to do anything that could scratch his body.

Second born also came with the ability to fall in love. Her brother was going to be married to a woman for political gain, but she was allowed to choose her husband. Camille had the promise that she would not be married for any purpose other than her own pleasure. This was a gift she had cherished more then anything, especially when she met Henry. Henry began courting her at the tender age of sixteen. He was a young lord from birth and often a welcomed guest at the palace. He was just four years her senior and the most handsome and kind man on the face of the earth. Four years passed since the start of their relationship and at the beginning of the summer season he proposed. That day Camille felt she was the luckiest girl in the world.

Only a few weeks later she was informed that she was not as free as she once thought. A sorcerer who had been a problem for the kingdom had made a deal with her parents. This deal, though sealed the safety of the kingdom, also destroyed her most cherished gift. Together the sorcerer, king and queen sat for weeks on end finalizing the contract. Though the contract was written up in silence, word got out that Camille would be married to the sorcerer's child. When Henry received word of this arrangement he confronted his fiance. The princess begged him to run away with her, but he refused. He was loyal to the king and queen and refused to do anything against them. He broke off the engagement with Camille days before the contract was finally completed.

Camile wore a light blue gown with gold embroidery. Half her hair was down in it's usual waves while the other half was held up by a gold comb decorated in pearls. In the king's study was her parents, the sorcerer, and his daughter. Though the princess was so beautifully dressed, she could not hide her look of displeasure. Henry had just left her as she was forced to marry this girl. The fact that she was going to marry another woman was just icing on the cake. Cam had no interest in the same gender at the time, not to mention she looked... simply put a little strange.

 

[Halune]

Melgrina had not expected this. She was more than a mere mortal. A mere human. She was not born of a living creature. She had been created, forged from flesh, blood, and magic. Mostly magic. It ran through her veins, it had formed her. She was better than some princess of a pesky kingdom. She was the daughter of the greatest sorcerer, and she had been trained by him. As an apprentice, a student, and one day, perhaps, as an heir.

But she had been betrayed. The great tower of black iron that was her home would no longer be so. She was to be given to some girl. For security. As though any mage had something to fear of the masses, no matter what kind of title they bore. It felt like a slight.

As always, the sorceress wore plain black. She didn't care much for decorations. Such little insignificant things. However, Melgrina did wear something in her ears. To normal eyes, they might seem like odd decorations, but they were so much more. They had been crafted by her own hands, to protect her. She knew that she would need protection, the hatred of the common people was all too familiar.

The princess seemed to be like so many others. Melgrina couldn't read people, she had hardly ever met another, and didn't realize the unhappiness of her bride-to-be. Instead, she assumed that she would be happy with the arrangement. A sorceress was much better than some little lordling.

Finally, she slightly turned her head, looking right into Camille's eyes, without ever blinking. She was pretty, in a way, and at least it was a girl. If she had been given to a man, he would be dead before he could blink. There were things that the daughter of the black tower could not tolerate.

 

[PastelCreme]

Camille had been looking in Melgrina's direction when she felt her eyes lock on. She look back, a bit unsettled. The female looking at her was pretty, but very odd in most ways. She wondered how the other girl felt about the arrangement. Likely pleased. The female was just a mere commoner, marrying the princess because of an arrangement with her father. A life of luxury was going to be handed to this girl with a stroke of a pen. This just piled on to the reasons why she was so unhappy with trading her fiance with this girl.

Eventually Camille felt the need to break eye contact, she turned her head to face her father as he spoke. "I hope these terms seem fair to you. If so then let us sign the contract." he said, pulling out a bottle of back ink and a quill. The king started by signing his name along the bottom of the contract, then it's copy. He then handed the writing utensil over to the sorcerer. The contract laid out the terms of both parties and detailed the specifics on how each was to be accomplished. The contract then stated it's validity depended on the union of Camille and Melgrina.

The king then pulled out a marriage contract. Camille's face hardened when she saw the paper. Seeing it completed and ready to sign in her father's hands made it all the more real. This was not how she expected her marriage to be. Where was her white dress, the flowers, the ring, and the man she loved? Other than the five of them there was no one to witness the arrangement, no friends, and members of her family were missing. It had been all hush hush, like everyone was embarrassed by it.

Cam wanted to walk away from the arrangement. Perhaps find another path to peace that didn't jeopardize her freedoms. However she knew at the moment that was impossible. Divorce, though looked down upon was a possibility. Annulment of these private unions were easier then others, but still nearly impossible. At least there was no need for them to have a witness to consummation. In fact the act was not needed at all. This too would be beneficial in eventually declaring the marriage invalid.

He laid the paper across the table "Now if you could both sign at the bottom." he left the quill and ink beside the paper, ready for either to sign first. Camille remained still, hesitant to sign as she looked at her future wife. She didn't want to sign at all, and thinking about it more made her fearful. "You may sign first." was all she said.

 

[Halune]

Melgrina didn't smile, she hardly ever did. But now least of all. She however also didn't show her deep unhappiness. To have to be with another, and worse, to perhaps even be touched. Such things were revolting to her. But she knew that she had to obey, if she didn't, she would be replaced. Her father loved her, she knew that, but still. Mages shouldn't be trifled with, as she might have to show to the one she would marry now.

The girl was weak, that much was clear. She looked away. It was only logical of course, how could such a mundane creature have the will? She couldn't force the powers that had shaped this world to twist, to obey her. She was nothing. But, Melgrina was given to her. Perhaps, once this alliance was done with, she could remove her. It wouldn't be hard, just a slight drop in her drink, a word at the right moment. Death was easy to bring, but she had been told that she couldn't. And she understood. She had not mastered translocational spellcraft, she couldn't appear and leave at her pleasure, unrestricted by distance. They would find her, and she would not have the power.

No, she had to do this. But that didn't mean that she couldn't make an impression. She wasn't just a daughter. She was a mage, trained from the moment she had been formed in the cauldron. She didn't watch the signing of the contracts, her eyes remained on Camille. At least, she wasn't too hideous. That was a great relief. Melgrina had seen her before, but never in the flesh. Only through the mirror, unseen, unheard. The only way she had ever observed the outside world. But now, now there was clarity. No ripples disturbing the image, just the truth of her own eyes.

She had wondered what her life would be like in this place. The sorceress had no idea of courtly life, or anything like that. All she knew was study. She hoped that there would still be time for that, that she wouldn't be constantly disturbed by these fools. Finally, she heard the voice she had never heard before. The girl's. The princess'. She turned her head, looking at the parchment. Slowly, she raises her arm, but doesn't take the quill in her hand. She wants to make an impression, even if it tires her: "Then let this be my will."

She turns her fingers, looking intensely at the quill. It lifts by itself, guided only by her will. It dips into the ink, before flying to the contract. Unfortunately for her, Melgrina isn't as good at this as she things that she is, and she moves it down with so much force that the tip stabs right into the table. Trying to make it look like this was her intention, she then takes in her hand, pulling it out again, sending some ink flying. Then, she signs in her name, even if it is a little difficult because she just damaged the tip.

With her ordeal done, Melgrina holds it out to Camille: "It is done."

 

[PastelCreme]

Camille didn't understand that using magic was any kind of strain on a mage. When Melgrina used her powers to lift the quill and sign her name, she wasn't impressed. Instead she took it as a sign of laziness, that feeling magnified when the other pushed the tip through the table. She may have been a princess, but she frowned upon those who were not willing to put forth effort. She hoped that this was not a sign of things to come, otherwise she would need to make adjustments to the other female if annulment could not be accomplished.

When the other had finished Cam took the quill, dipping it in the ink she then leaned over the table and signed her name. Her handwriting was neat and delicate, all thanks to her hours upon hours of practice in both penmanship and calligraphy when she was young. Thankfully she never had to endure as much education as her older brother, but she was still expected to be knowledgeable in several areas. She may have not had much of a chance on the throne but she was royalty and had some future in politics. Language was one of her major subjects of study. She was fluent in three languages and currently studying a fourth. As a child she studied science, arithmetic, and history. In recent years her studies involved business, economics, agriculture and a number of other things that would benefit someone in a position of authority.

Camille was given several electives in the arts such as painting and music. She also took up horseback riding as a hobby of hers. She questioned if Melgrina had any hobbies of her own. She figured even someone as odd or as dull as the other woman had to have some kind of interest. She decided a moment later that it didn't matter. She wanted to rid the other from her life and knowing her little hobbies wouldn't aid that goal. When she had finished signing her name she stood straight and looked to The other female "It is now."

The king took the paper and offered a smile as he said "Wonderful." he then placed a red seal on the paper, officiating the marriage contract. "Now that everything is in order, I'm happy to declare the two of you officially married." He reached his hand out to shake the sorcerer's. The queen then looked to her daughter. "Camille, I believe now would be an excellent time to show your wife around her new home." Her eyes then drifted over to Melgrina's with a pleasant smile. "If you need anything or have any questions my dear, feel free to direct them towards Camille, my husband or I." she added.

When her mother said wife Camille felt ill. She wished she had ran away prior to signing the papers, but where would she have gone? And what would have happened to the kingdom if she had? Johnathon couldn't marry her since she was unfit to be queen. Elaine was of age to be married but was still quite young, it wouldn't have been right to force her into an arrangement. There was no better way to seal the agreement at the time. If they were more patient, perhaps with a few more meetings they could have worked around it, but using their daughters like livestock for arrangements was too convenient and easy.

Camille nodded towards Melgrina "Follow me then." she said to her, turning on her heels and exiting the king's study. She stopped to hold the door open for the other female.

 

[Halune]

Melgrina kept looking straight at Camille, never once blinking or showing any sign of some kind. She just looked. There was no smile, nothing at all. She knew that she couldn't ever show any emotion. That would be used against her. These courts were like snake pits, and everyone only sought advantage, not wisdom. They were all so empty, having only ambition but no understanding. It was everything she found repulsive. And now she was to be married, and she would have to do the things associated with that.

Earlier, the idea had come to her that she might take the throne for herself, but she had no desire to. It would be a struggle, which she didn't mind. But then, then she would have to keep working, struggling, just to keep the throne. And what would it give her? Just a fancy word in front of her name, nothing with meaning, nothing that helped with her true aims.

She finally looked aside when she saw the king, a pompous fool, and her father finish the contract. This was it. She no longer was her own woman, she had been cast away. She heard the queen's empty words of welcome. This was no home, this was a prison, for years. Nevertheless, she stood up, seeing her father for what she assumed to be the last time. He hated places such as these. And she didn't want to see him, never again. He had betrayed her, but she couldn't disobey, she wasn't made to. He was clever in that regard, he knew what the creations of mages often did, but Melgrina wouldn't do that. She wouldn't kill him for his power.

She followed Camille, not saying a word until they were out of the room. Until they were alone. "I believe that we are married now, and I have read that it is customary to speak to each other about our lives."

 

[PastelCreme]

Melgrina made her uncomfortable, her dress, her staring, but most of all her lack of emotions. Camille was usually pretty good at reading people, their thoughts, feelings and intentions. Court was full of people who lied or painted on smiles to try and get ahead. Through practice she had learned to look past most disguises. She couldn't read her new wife and that was distressing. More then anything she wanted to know of the other's thoughts and intentions. Was Melgrina someone she would need to watch out for? As a mage, was she dangerous? The contract would be void if she tried to harm anyone. But Cam was certain a mage was capable of killing without a trace of evidence.

When they left the room, she finally spoke. 'Great,' she thought to herself 'the only thing she knows of marriage comes from book.' Camille began walking down the hallway. "I suppose that's true of most marriages." she started. She didn't really know what to say of her life. She was a princess, second born, fell in love, and now she is married to someone else. She didn't really feel like getting into her life at the moment. "Our arrangement isn't like most," she started, sounding a little testy, "because of that I don't think it's necessary to emulate others. If you wish to tell me about you life then feel free, I'll answer any of your questions but know I do not wish for anything beyond obligation. Understood?"

As they walked, Camille pointed out various rooms that may or may not be of interest to Melgrina. The large and small library, the main and secondary ballrooms, The dining hall, all were pointed out. "At the end of that hall and to the left is the kitchen." she said pointing "If you have a food request you can direct it towards any servant or go there directly." As they walked they passed several busts and paintings lining the walls. The royal family was the biggest supporters of the fine arts. Her mother often spoke of how art added meaning to life. What her mother cherished more then the paintings on the walls were their lavish garden. Cam then lead the female out of the palace and through the vast garden. "My... Our room is in the west wing of the castle, however we can reach it best by cutting through the garden." Father out a number of men were working on constructing a building. "That will eventually become a nursery so that we can start new plants and grow into the winter months." she explained.

 

[Halune]

Melgrina walked calmly, everything was so stretched out. She didn't understand why they build horizontally instead of vertically. Towers were much better, tall towers. higher than anything around them. But soon enough, she understood. These people, they didn't have the magic to do such things. And so, they were stuck building with loose stone and wood. She listened to what Camille said, which clarified some things to her. And, more importantly, she was starting to suspect that the princess was far from happy with the arrangement. That was peculiar, she should have been very happy to have someone like her as a bride. Much better than some mundane lordling or whatever princesses tended to marry. There was something about frogs, but that must have been a one-off thing. She supposed.

She remained silent during the tour, not knowing what to say. The libraries looked like disappointment, they were so clean, so ordered. And the tomes, from what she could see, were far from interesting. And bound in the leather of animals. Everyone knew that you needed more interesting materials to contain true words of wisdom. One thing that struck her was how many people there were everywhere, and she wondered how she would ever have any sort of rest.

The gardens were nice enough, but again, it looked like something was missing. She didn't see some absolutely vital plants, but feared that she wouldn't be allowed to bring them there. Mel decided that she had to at least say something, and so she tried: "The garden looks fine, and you have a nice palace. But I want to ask, would we be able to speak in private somewhere?"

 

[PastelCreme]

Past the garden was another entrance to the castle. Two large doors lead to a foyer with a couple of corridors and a set of stairs leading to the second floor. As Camille lead her up the stairs she said "Sadly there are few places to speak privately, as a servant or member of the court is around every corner." She continued to lead her down one last corridor. This one had just a couple of doors on either side and a single guard posted at it's start. Camille personally preferred to keep her room off limits to others. She liked having a private sanctuary. This was just one more thing the mage was taking away from her. "In our chambers, servant girl will come at seven every morning with breakfast. An hour later she will come back to help dress and make the bed. Unless you request otherwise no one else will walk through the door." She spoke informatively, politely educating her as much as possible. It's what was expected of her, though she'd rather let Melgrina figure it all out on her own.

At the very end of the hall on the right was a pair of white double doors. She opened one, entering and holding the door open for the other. Inside was a grand suite. Off to one side was a bed with a rich blue bedspread with white and gold embroidery. A mountain of matching pillows were piled high. A couch and chairs sat in front of a fireplace. On either side of the fireplace was a door. One lead to the bathroom, the other lead to a closet. A beautiful breakfast table sat in front of a large window. A few paintings were up on the walls though the room was decorated with fresh flowers from the garden in several pots and vases. Opposite from the entrance was a set of glass doors leading onto a small balcony overlooking the garden. Camille found the best part of her room was the two bookshelves on the far wall. They contained what she saw was the finest collection of literature in the whole castle. Many of the books contained poetry or fictional stories, several on topics of romance. A few books were on philosophies, a topic she was starting to get into but found little interest in the past.

"Welcome to our room. Make yourself comfortable." Camille found it hard to say 'our room'. It had been her's alone for so long, and the only person she had ever considered even sharing a bed with was Henry. God only knew how much she missed him. If only he had been willing to run away and elope. She wanted to, but he couldn't. Every now and again she wondered if he loved her as madly as she had loved him. She pushed those thoughts out of her mind. 'It's over and done with.' she thought to herself, trying not to wallow in her self pity any more today.

 

[Halune]

Melgrina took in Camille's room. Her room now. The bed at least looked comfortable, but it wasn't right. She would never be able to sleep there, with someone else. If there was one thing that the mage hated it was company, it always disturbed her rest. She glanced at the paintings, the topics were all so mundane. Where were the visions of other worlds? Where were the explorations of deeper truths? Nothing. Just dead figures and dead landscapes. Her eyes were naturally drawn to the books, there weren't many, but she assumed that they merely contained some basic reading materials, and that most studying would be done in the library. One thing struck her, hidden among the frivolities there were a few works about a true topic. Philosophy. She knew several of them, and dismissed them. The authors had missed some very important implications of other forces, but that was only to be expected.

She turned to face her wife, even if it felt strange to think of her like that. "I presume that we can speak freely here. There are a few things that I want you to know."

The sorceress looked into Camille's eyes. In a way, those eyes were fascinating, but that was irrelevant now. "I want you to know that this marriage was not my suggestion or desire. I offered opposition to it, but accept that I, as a child, had to obey the one who created me. I know little of your life, of your desires, of you. I would not care for those things, but I am compelled to be here. To be your wife. I presume that you have little interest in our marriage, save for what is obligatory and expected. I wish for nothing more, and if my desires mattered, I would have wished for far less."

 

[PastelCreme]

Camille had no interest in what the other wanted to say to her. However she listened, having little choice in the matter. "Well, now there as at least one thing the two of us have in common." Sadly both women had desires that did not matter to others. The princess felt a little bitter sweet. It was great that her and her wife had something in common, but she couldn't help but feel just a little insulted. Who wouldn't want to be married to her? Camille felt she was a great catch. "Speaking frankly, I would never had agreed to this marriage under other circumstances. I had something far better arranged till it was spoiled." There was a bit of tension in her voice as she thought of Henry. In her eyes were a flurry of emotions, anger and sadness dominating the others.

She folded her hands together before taking a deep breath. She could feel her bottled up emotions trying to bubble free and knew that now was not the time or place to set them free. In court it was a common practice to keep all your genuine emotions bottled inside, and then one day they will die with you. That was one thing she loved about being with Henry. Everything about him was genuine, he didn't hide his thoughts or feelings and he expected the same of her. If she needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to rant to, he was always there and ready listen.

"Tonight you are free to get comfortable, dinner will begin shortly. However tomorrow tomorrow you will spend much of your day with the seamstress. She will help create a new wardrobe that is more suitable for court." she informed the other.

 

[Halune]

Even Melgrina knew that Camille was emotional over the loss of her arrangement. She had never been romantically involved, but had read about it. Not that that made things any better, the whole thing seemed like an enormous waste of time and energy to her. But she decided not to mention it, somehow, she would have to live with Camille. They would even share a room and a bed, Melgrina didn't know if she would even manage to sleep like that. But she did say that she had something better. That was impossible. No one else had what the young mage had.

"You had another arrangement?", she asked, "I would presume that it had voluntary elements to it. But, please, correct me if my studies have misled me, as far as I am aware, you have the physical ability to disobey. Do you not? That in turn means that you could have refused our union, whereas I was physically incapable of doing so. Why then did you not force the matter to your satisfaction?"

 

[PastelCreme]

Camille was becoming more and more frustrated. She was told that the mage was going to be a little different compared to most people, but did she possess any knowledge of the world around her? The princess didn't believe so. "I may be able to disobey but I can't do that, not when I have responsibilities to serve my parents and protect the kingdom. It's my duty and the reason why I was born. Perhaps you should take the time to study responsibility and moral conduct. How do you not know any of this?" Her eyebrows were furrowed in confusion and she folded her arms across her chest. "And what do you mean your incapable of disobeying? With sentience you have the ability to think for yourself. You are a sentient being, are you not?" The agitation grew in her voice as it was apparent Camille had no understanding of her wife.

She wanted to disobey. She would have ran away with Henry, eloped and lived whatever life could. Likely she would have left the palace but would have been comfortable in his estate. If the off chance that her father exiled her for treason, they still could have been happy traveling, or maybe even setting roots in another kingdom. She begged him to do so with her. It was him with the strong sense of responsibility and loyalty, not her. He refused to go against his king's wishes and promptly ended his visit to court. Around her finger was the ring he had given her. Her face fell just slightly as she relaxed her arms and began to spin the ring around her finger. It was a beautiful ring, gold with a ruby center and the tiniest diamonds surrounding it.

 

[Halune]

"Yes. I am sentient. More sentient than you would understand.", Melgrina replies, for the first time with a hint of emotion in her voice, "I am aware of the limitations in my creation. I was not born as you are, I have no mother. I was wrought by the arts, I was forged into this image. My mind was made to be great, to be capable of understanding the magic in my veins, to study and comprehend the works that surround, no, surrounded me. And there are limitations. I am incapable of disobedience towards my creator. I is difficult to explain, but I simply must obey."

She looked into Camille's eyes: "I have studied the workings of mortals, I have read their works. And I have rejected them, for their lack of understanding. There is no underlying morality in this world, it is a construct of lesser minds, meant to restrict those who have greatness in them. Only by rejecting it can one do great works."

For a moment, the mage wondered why she was saying this. There was no advantage to it. But then she understood, she wanted her wife to understand, so she could at least continue some of her studies. And she understood something else. Camille hadn't resisted because she had greater desires. The same desire as everyone. Power. Camilly would never have the power of magic, but she could have power over mortal people, by taking the throne for herself. "I understand that you are unhappy with me, you would rather have a bride who would be more fitting within your normal frame of reference. I cannot be this, it is not in my nature. But I do hope that it will be possible to have a working arrangement, and I shall naturally support you in political endeavours."

 

[PastelCreme]

Camille wasn't sure what it was in Melgrina's voice. Was the emotion imagined? Or did the mage actually display her feelings? Did she strike a nerve? The princess almost felt bad, almost. She still didn't understand why the other lacked the ability to disobey, but would accept that fact without pushing the subject further. It was pointless to discuss why either of them didn't reject the arrangement when it was all said and done.

The other spoke of morality and her take on it. This angered the princess greatly. "Lesser minds?" she hissed. She felt the desire to stand up for those who had morals. To stand up for Henry. "Morality is not constructed by those of lesser minds. It is a trait found in those who are great and only when someone is guided by strong morals are they capable of improving humanity as a whole. Of course no amount of study will aid one's understanding of this since it is only visible through experience." She spoke with a tone that came off as arrogance. She figured her wife hadn't experience much in life outside of books. To Cam, though study was important, it was no way to build character or true understanding of life. That is one of the many things Henry had shown her.

Melgrina wishes to have a working arrangement. This was not what she wanted in a marriage. However with the situation they were in, this was a far better agreement then trying to force this marriage into her traditional standards. "That is something I can certainly live with." She started. Camille hoped that her earlier comments hadn't come off too harsh, that wasn't really who she was. She then added "I'll do all I can to ensure your comfort."