Thread: Burned and Blackened Blood (G23 & loneiysong)

Hodgkiss blushed. he could not help it. To hear such wonderful dreams but to know she feared them. his heart wanted to break for the Princess. Rowena would have none of it. Nonsense child. The only thing stupid about your dreams is that you attempt to disregard them. She cupped the girl's chin softly, but her eyes flashed. You listen to me dear one. No one has any right to make you feel less than you are. And no one has a right to dismiss or dishonor your dreams. if you wish to dream of flying do so my love. Would that i could help you fly. She sighed softly and nodded toward Hodgkiss. But even that one has not seen a Dragon in his lifetime. But the time may yet come my darling. You have faith. Furad will not abandon you. She smiled and wiped the girl's tears away, and whispered. i pray to her too. She kissed the girl's forehead then touched the crown softly. An excellent job Hodgkiss. Thank you Your Grace. She nodded then looked down at her granddaughter. And I put the books away for you not to worry. After i deliver a beating to your brothers for damaging those shelves. Even Tirana's father did not cross Rowena, but she kept to her station in all things. Save the protection and preservation of her family, and of the palace. She had been born her, lived here all her life, and had she been willing could be the Queen Ruler. But she had forgone the honor for reasons she had never shared, and had taken it upon herself to see to the Palace's upkeep and improvement. And none could deny her results. She sighed softly. Tell me something Tirana. Her voice had lost it's gentle touch as more footsteps could be heard, and the old woman leaned heavily on the girl, giving them both an excuse to stay together, and to prevent the boys from tormenting Tirana, though they wouldn't dare before the gaze of their grandmother. As they began to file in she drew Tirana aside and pointed up at Furad's skull with her cane. Do you see that gleam just behind her last upper fang? She began to deliver an oratory on the sliver of blade that was there was storied to be the poisoned blade that had lead to the great Dragon's death. No one knew for sure, but it was an interesting story. Rowena continued to chatter aimlessly, not minding if the girl's mind wandered, just trying to give her some time and privacy in their family where such things were nigh impossible. As evidenced when Rowena five younger children entered with their own families. Her twin uncles Hiram and Namath, handsome, regal, and frustratingly superior, but very tender in their own way. And gay. Rowena sniffed as they arrived with their latest boy toys. She truly could not care less who her children slept with, but she knew her sons to be better than these sycophantic fools they allowed to attach themselves to. Hiram of course insisted on the Coral Crown, bright pink, because it irritated Tirana's father, while Namath took the Violet Crown, a crown made of a lovely violet stone called kunzite, for the same reason. Their paramours were barely noble let alone royal, so they stayed back but simpered and oohed at the sight. Rowena rolled her eyes but endured the greetings from her sons, but refused to be touched by the boytoys. Tirana's two aunts were less...pleasant. They were usually very kind, and even now respectful in the Throne Room and before their mother, but they had gotten into a dreadful row over their children and were not speaking to each other. Agatha and Aretha were lovely ladies, young versions of their mother, though Agatha had gained platinum blonde hair, while somehow Aretha had come out a strawberry blonde, whose hair grew redder every day. Agatha swept to Hodgkiss and was silent as he placed her Pearl Crown upon her head, then she watched as her children were given their crowns. She had four children, three girls and her youngest a son and she doted on them, but also kept them strictly in line. She had learned much from her mother. Their father was away from the city on business for the Throne, but that seemed only to make them more polite. Especially when once they had their soft red, green, blue, and yellow crowns she lead them to their grandmother. She gave a stately curtsy, then kissed her mother's cheek, and bowed to the Crown Princess politely, then kissed Tirana's cheek as well. You both look lovely. The children curtsied, and bowed, to their grandmother and their cousin, but it was clear they were afraid of the latter. The boy, Thomas, hesitated but a sharp look from his mother made him give the proper respect quickly. Aretha meanwhile was fighting with her only current child. The girl, Bethenar, was only 2 and truly very sweet, but today she was cranky. And Aretha's husband was not helping. He kept bumping into his bride as he tried to hide from Rowena's cold gaze, and thus kept upsetting his daughter and his very pregnant wife. Hodgkiss moved quickly and crowned Aretha with the Firestone Crown, while her husband was given a colorless Clear Crown. No one ever commented on that. Bethenar was given the small but very bright Star Crown, made from a single Star Ruby. Aretha waddled over, carrying the fidgeting Bethenar and flinching when her husband's need to hide resulting in him kicking her heels as they walked. She finally dug angry nails into his arm and forced him to present himself to Rowena. He bowed. Rowena did not nod or give any sign of respect, but she did speak. Sir Tarris. He gulped and bowed quickly to Tirana then scurried away. Aretha moved to her mother and sighed. I know mother. Please. Don't say anything. im embarrassed enough. Tarris had once been the apple of the kingdom's eye. The bravest knight and greatest warrior and all that. Until the first time he had had to fight a real opponent. He had shamed the whole kingdom by wetting himself and fleeing from a tournament. Aretha had already married him by this point and was already pregnant, so a divorce was out of the question. But his cowardice had only grown, as had the stories of his other flaws and failures. It was rumored that Aretha had begun sleeping with his brother because he could no longer perform in the bedroom, and whether true or not, no one blamed her. The fool was the family's shame and he was endured but little more. Rowena nodded, then leaned forward as Bethenar, or Beth, rubbed her eyes and scowled at Tirana. The girl actually liked her cousin, but even she didn't dare glare at Rowena. The Queen Mother raised an elegant white eyebrow. Feeling tempestous my dear Bethenar? Her inflection on the last syllable caught the girl's attention and she looked at her grandmother, then her mother and wriggled down. Shestraightened her dress as she delivered a perfect curtsy, then without delay hugger her grandmother's leg. She spoke softly. He got drunk last night. He threatened to hit Mommy. Aretha blanched and Rowena's eyes darkened. Aretha spoke quickly. He did not strike me Mother. Rowena nodded and patted the child's head. it will be alright dear one. Aretha moved in to kiss her mother, careful to do so sideway so her prodigious belly would not bump the old woman, while Beth moved to Tirana. She curtsied then hugged her cousin, glaring spitefully toward her father. You should beat him up Tirana. He's not a good Daddy. Aretha smiled apologetically at Tirana and ushered the child away, keeping well away from Agatha, and her husband, who seemed to be trying to find someone to hide behind. For good reason. Marcus, Rowena's youngest child, came lumbering in as always, seeming more like a great elephant than a man. And trailed by thirteen children. They marched in order, ranging in age from 15 to 2 and all of them were simply beautiful, both boys and girls. Marcus had wed an fae princess, and the two had produce a child a year until she had been killed during a visit to her parents the year before while yet again pregnant. The maelstrom had never been understood or sourced, and Marcus had been a different man since. Still a loving and loved father, he had lost much of the laughter and playfulness that had been his way and had so attracted his bride. His children were his world now, but he had grown ever so protective of his family. And he despised Tarris. He would do nothing here, but his grey eyes burned as he glared at the little man. The children each received their crowns, and Marcus submitted to his Sunstone Crown, and by special dispensation, his wife's deep lovely brown Jasper Crown, while his children had every color of the rainbow. They swarmed their grandmother, respectfully, but they could not help excitedly hugging and kissing her, and though they did fear Tirana, they were very polite and kissed her cheek as well, then marched off as Marcus gave a slight break in protcol by hugging his mother then kissing her. His eyes were bloodshot. The anniversary of his bride's death was oncoming. Rowena cupped his cheek, no mean feat considering his size. he stood nearly seven feet tall, and was built like an elephant. Marcus the Monster they had called him in his youth. But for all his strength and many skills and abilties, his gentleness was ever present. He kissed his mother's wrist, then bent to hug and kiss Tirana. He smiled at her as he stepped back. you are a vision dear one. His voice was quiet, nearly a whisper, but powerfully masculine. He was his brother's Commanding General and his calloused hands told stories of his many victories. He studied his neice's face for a long moment, but said nothing else, kissing her forehead before going over to his children who gathered about him for a hug. A trumpet blared and Rowena sighed rolling her eyes again. And here come your brothers.