Xanaphia
Evil Midweek Cutie
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2013
“We don’t have to figure it out right now,” Astrid offered, hating how weak the suggestion sounded coming out of her mouth. Still, she came up behind Ellistair and rubbed his shoulders with both hands.
“It’s not so bad here,” she offered, knowing it probably wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “We’d be welcome, of course. But…” She leaned in craving that warmth of his skin against her, and wrapped her arms around his chest.
“Well, you have as much right to Landis as your father does. If he thinks he has the authority to banish you, perhaps you just need to assert your claim. Challenge him, and prove that you belong there. It isn’t enough to be his heir, my love. Show him you are more than worthy of it.”
For a few days, Hilda moped, weighed down by the knowledge that, not only could she not return home again, but she’d gotten Ellistair banished as well. Because she couldn’t suck it up and accept her marriage. But, dammit, he hadn’t either, instead running off to the mountain to marry a woman of his choosing. Ellistair didn’t hold it against her, but she still knew it was her fault.
Regardless, she fell into a daily rhythm, tending to the chores she’d been assigned and engaging in weapons training when she had free time. More and more people from throughout the ten kingdoms poured into the mountain, and it was easier to get lost in the crowd. But sometimes, she still wanted to see a familiar face.
She was still mad at Ostred, even if he may have been right. Her father still would have tracked her down to the mountain, and instead of merely banishing her brother, he might have executed him. But he was one of the few familiar faces here, and her brother had enough on his mind without having to comfort her as well. So, pushing aside the lingering resentment, she fell in stride with him, looking for a bit of company and distraction.
“Are you still a royal bodyguard if your charge has been exiled?
“It’s not so bad here,” she offered, knowing it probably wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “We’d be welcome, of course. But…” She leaned in craving that warmth of his skin against her, and wrapped her arms around his chest.
“Well, you have as much right to Landis as your father does. If he thinks he has the authority to banish you, perhaps you just need to assert your claim. Challenge him, and prove that you belong there. It isn’t enough to be his heir, my love. Show him you are more than worthy of it.”
***
For a few days, Hilda moped, weighed down by the knowledge that, not only could she not return home again, but she’d gotten Ellistair banished as well. Because she couldn’t suck it up and accept her marriage. But, dammit, he hadn’t either, instead running off to the mountain to marry a woman of his choosing. Ellistair didn’t hold it against her, but she still knew it was her fault.
Regardless, she fell into a daily rhythm, tending to the chores she’d been assigned and engaging in weapons training when she had free time. More and more people from throughout the ten kingdoms poured into the mountain, and it was easier to get lost in the crowd. But sometimes, she still wanted to see a familiar face.
She was still mad at Ostred, even if he may have been right. Her father still would have tracked her down to the mountain, and instead of merely banishing her brother, he might have executed him. But he was one of the few familiar faces here, and her brother had enough on his mind without having to comfort her as well. So, pushing aside the lingering resentment, she fell in stride with him, looking for a bit of company and distraction.
“Are you still a royal bodyguard if your charge has been exiled?