Post by Alexandria Eveleigh- Demarais on Mar 26, 2020 16:50:56 GMT -5
[HENRY]
Gray eyes watched the dancing fire in the hearth, listening to it crackle and pop as the warmth consumed him. He rested there in a seat, a blanket pulled tightly over his shoulders while he quietly waited for Her Majesty to find some time in her day to see him. Henry would never have asked a queen to meet him in his chambers, but he also knew that she was more compassionate and would understand that he wasn't easily mobile currently. He also had a gift that he did not want any other eyes to see. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She had received word that Henry wished to see her, and her curiosity had gotten the best of her, honestly. She understood he wasn't very mobile these days, so she did not mind going to see him.
A light knock was placed on the door. She wasn't sure why, but she actually felt a bit nervous as she waited a moment before carefully cracking the door open. "Hello? Your grace?" [d]
[HENRY]
His man servant was rushing over to the door to finish opening it for the queen, bowing to her immediately. "Thank you, Charles...that'll be all," Henry dismissed him kindly. Once the young man left, the old Duke rose up from his chair with a little bit of a struggle, but he managed. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for seeing me here. I know it is not customary to..." He mustered up the best bow he could without risking fall before gesturing her forward. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She stepped into the room and as Henry was rising and bowing to her, she was instantly at his side, taking his hand and helping him sit back down. "You do not need to get up for me." She smiled, squeezing his hand gently before she took a step back once he was settled again. "You wished to see me? Is there anything you need that I could get or do for you?" [d]
[HENRY]
"Oh...oh thank you," he muttered as she helped him sit back down. His knees were beginning to shake, but he had had too much pride to say so. Those weathered eyes regarded the queen in kindness, a smile curling up one corner of his mouth. "I did. I have a gift for you...a wedding gift, perhaps." Which was probably strange because it was custom to do so at the wedding, but they were still a couple days prior. There was now a glint in those grays as he gestured towards a sizable chest upon the table near her. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She smiled to him, her eyes shifting over to the chest that he gestured towards. There was a hint of curiosity in her eyes as she looked back at him. "Oh, your grace... you did not need to do this." She offered him a warm smile. "But thank you?" She moved towards the chest, "May I?" [d]
[HENRY]
He simply smiled at her. It wasn't just some ordinary trinket or jewels; nothing of the usual sort. But it was something he wanted her to have, specifically Aralore. A nod, "Yes, please do." Henry would wait patiently for her to open the medium-sized chest, where she would find it nearly full of gold coins. "I believe in what you are doing," he began. "This is what I have set aside...because not every coin must go to the crown." It was part of his marriage contract to Cassandra. With his tie to the royal family, Henry would provide Tresteria with money for further ships, to form a sufficient army, and anything necessary. "What His Majesty doesn't know, won't hurt him." Was that a glint of mischief in his eyes? [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She stepped up to the chest and carefully opened it. The last thing she expected to see were those gold coins. She gasped slightly, quickly turning to face Edward, her eyes widened. "Oh your grace.... This is too much." She shook her head. "What about Cassandra?" She did not feel right taking this, especially since Edward was so against helping Aralore any further. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She stepped up to the chest and carefully opened it. The last thing she expected to see were those gold coins. She gasped slightly, quickly turning to face Edward, her eyes widened. "Oh your grace.... This is too much." She shook her head. "What about Cassandra?" She did not feel right taking this, especially since Edward was so against helping Aralore any further. [d]
[HENRY]
He pulled himself back up to his feet and carefully made his way to her side. "It is not too much," he told her. "I want you to use it...to help rebuild your home." As the queen asked about his wife, his face softened. He may have been old, but he was no fool. Henry knew how much better Cassandra was doing here. He didn't know why, but she lit up more, smiled more, told him of her day around the castle when she came to see him. "All I ask is that some of it is given to her, whether it is to buy land here to solidify a claim or to help her get by. Anything. Just don't let her go back with him." It was wrong to speak of his king in such a way, but Alexandria knew what Edward was like, and Henry knew he was slowly dying. With him gone, she would be widowed and free to be passed along to whomever was deemed worthy. "I know Aric would have done something if he could, but with him as king..." He trailed off. She would understand. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
Sapphire eyes watched Henry as he stood again and moved to her side. She smiled softly to him and took his hand in her own, placing a soft kiss to his knuckles as she listened to him. At his instructions about his wife, Alexandria nodded. "Of course. I told her just this afternoon that I would not allow her to return back to the king. .. Not after he hit her the other night..." She frowned. "I will do everything in my power, your grace. I promise..." She let go of his hand and embraced him gently. "Thank you..." [d]
[HENRY]
There was no doubt in his mind that she would let him down. Alexandria possessed a kindness and grace that not many had anymore. The money wasn't just a plead for Cassandra's life- he truly believed in the queen and her desperate desire to rebuild Aralore. It was hard work and could not be done without help. He could only pray that Edward came to his senses and truly realized this. "So he did..." he said quietly. His wife had skirted around the topic when he had asked her, but he knew. When Alexandria hugged him, he laughed from deep within his chest, a full hearted laughed of contentment. "You are most welcome, my dear." Drawing back, his weathered hands gripped her shoulders gently. "Don't ever let someone tell you you can't do something. You have the strength in you to rebuild and run this land ten times over." In other words...don't listen to Edward because he was full of shit. But, he didn't exactly say it that way; the suggestion was there, however. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She wasn't sure if Henry knew about what happened with Cassandra, so when he commented, she frowned and nodded. "Yes... I am afraid it was my fault... She was trying to help us convince Edward... And he became angry and struck her... I am so sorry for that." Her eyes looked into his as he placed his hands on her shoulders. As he spoke to her, her eyes began to well up with tears and she offered him another smile. "Thank you for your kind words, and for all of this. I cannot thank you enough." She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Can Aric know of this?" She asked him, not wanting to do something he did not want. [d]
[HENRY]
He gently waved off her apology. Cassandra hadn't been terribly harmed, even if it hadn't been a good situation. Her mouth tended to get her into trouble with the king, but there were many other reasons why he asked for Alexandria's help to keep her in Aralore. He was loving and devoted to his wife, but he hadn't been much of a husband, nor could he give her much of a life outside stone walls. Perhaps, this would be her chance if she wanted it. He chuckled and blushed with the kiss to his cheek before he had to slowly make his way back to his seat. He was terribly exhausted. "Oh, yes, yes," he answered. "I know he can keep a secret. I just didn't give it to him first because he can be such a stubborn mule." He meant that lovingly, of course. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She laughed gently and shook her head. "I can be horrible stubborn, too, your grace. But I will accept your gift to make sure if gets put to good use. And I appreciate it more than I could ever express..." She helped him back to his seat, and crouched down next to him. "Is there anything I can do for you? Get for you?" [d]
[HENRY]
His smile widened at her words. "No doubt." But she was also too kind to turn a poor old man down. It was why he quickly came to adore and respect her. Patting her hand, he shook his head, "No, thank you, Your Majesty. Have Charles carry the chest to a safe place." He clapped a couple of times which alerted the young man outside the door to come in. "If you would, Charles, thank you..." he simply said, gesturing towards the chest. Then his gray eyes regarded the queen with a gentle smile. "You be well, my dear." [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She laughed softly and nodded, squeezing his hand once again before she slowly stood. Her eyes followed Charles as he entered. "Please bring it to my room." She looked back to Edward. "And you as well. Thank you." She really could not thank him enough. And with that, she slowly moved towards the door and quietly left. [d]
Gray eyes watched the dancing fire in the hearth, listening to it crackle and pop as the warmth consumed him. He rested there in a seat, a blanket pulled tightly over his shoulders while he quietly waited for Her Majesty to find some time in her day to see him. Henry would never have asked a queen to meet him in his chambers, but he also knew that she was more compassionate and would understand that he wasn't easily mobile currently. He also had a gift that he did not want any other eyes to see. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She had received word that Henry wished to see her, and her curiosity had gotten the best of her, honestly. She understood he wasn't very mobile these days, so she did not mind going to see him.
A light knock was placed on the door. She wasn't sure why, but she actually felt a bit nervous as she waited a moment before carefully cracking the door open. "Hello? Your grace?" [d]
[HENRY]
His man servant was rushing over to the door to finish opening it for the queen, bowing to her immediately. "Thank you, Charles...that'll be all," Henry dismissed him kindly. Once the young man left, the old Duke rose up from his chair with a little bit of a struggle, but he managed. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for seeing me here. I know it is not customary to..." He mustered up the best bow he could without risking fall before gesturing her forward. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She stepped into the room and as Henry was rising and bowing to her, she was instantly at his side, taking his hand and helping him sit back down. "You do not need to get up for me." She smiled, squeezing his hand gently before she took a step back once he was settled again. "You wished to see me? Is there anything you need that I could get or do for you?" [d]
[HENRY]
"Oh...oh thank you," he muttered as she helped him sit back down. His knees were beginning to shake, but he had had too much pride to say so. Those weathered eyes regarded the queen in kindness, a smile curling up one corner of his mouth. "I did. I have a gift for you...a wedding gift, perhaps." Which was probably strange because it was custom to do so at the wedding, but they were still a couple days prior. There was now a glint in those grays as he gestured towards a sizable chest upon the table near her. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She smiled to him, her eyes shifting over to the chest that he gestured towards. There was a hint of curiosity in her eyes as she looked back at him. "Oh, your grace... you did not need to do this." She offered him a warm smile. "But thank you?" She moved towards the chest, "May I?" [d]
[HENRY]
He simply smiled at her. It wasn't just some ordinary trinket or jewels; nothing of the usual sort. But it was something he wanted her to have, specifically Aralore. A nod, "Yes, please do." Henry would wait patiently for her to open the medium-sized chest, where she would find it nearly full of gold coins. "I believe in what you are doing," he began. "This is what I have set aside...because not every coin must go to the crown." It was part of his marriage contract to Cassandra. With his tie to the royal family, Henry would provide Tresteria with money for further ships, to form a sufficient army, and anything necessary. "What His Majesty doesn't know, won't hurt him." Was that a glint of mischief in his eyes? [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She stepped up to the chest and carefully opened it. The last thing she expected to see were those gold coins. She gasped slightly, quickly turning to face Edward, her eyes widened. "Oh your grace.... This is too much." She shook her head. "What about Cassandra?" She did not feel right taking this, especially since Edward was so against helping Aralore any further. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She stepped up to the chest and carefully opened it. The last thing she expected to see were those gold coins. She gasped slightly, quickly turning to face Edward, her eyes widened. "Oh your grace.... This is too much." She shook her head. "What about Cassandra?" She did not feel right taking this, especially since Edward was so against helping Aralore any further. [d]
[HENRY]
He pulled himself back up to his feet and carefully made his way to her side. "It is not too much," he told her. "I want you to use it...to help rebuild your home." As the queen asked about his wife, his face softened. He may have been old, but he was no fool. Henry knew how much better Cassandra was doing here. He didn't know why, but she lit up more, smiled more, told him of her day around the castle when she came to see him. "All I ask is that some of it is given to her, whether it is to buy land here to solidify a claim or to help her get by. Anything. Just don't let her go back with him." It was wrong to speak of his king in such a way, but Alexandria knew what Edward was like, and Henry knew he was slowly dying. With him gone, she would be widowed and free to be passed along to whomever was deemed worthy. "I know Aric would have done something if he could, but with him as king..." He trailed off. She would understand. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
Sapphire eyes watched Henry as he stood again and moved to her side. She smiled softly to him and took his hand in her own, placing a soft kiss to his knuckles as she listened to him. At his instructions about his wife, Alexandria nodded. "Of course. I told her just this afternoon that I would not allow her to return back to the king. .. Not after he hit her the other night..." She frowned. "I will do everything in my power, your grace. I promise..." She let go of his hand and embraced him gently. "Thank you..." [d]
[HENRY]
There was no doubt in his mind that she would let him down. Alexandria possessed a kindness and grace that not many had anymore. The money wasn't just a plead for Cassandra's life- he truly believed in the queen and her desperate desire to rebuild Aralore. It was hard work and could not be done without help. He could only pray that Edward came to his senses and truly realized this. "So he did..." he said quietly. His wife had skirted around the topic when he had asked her, but he knew. When Alexandria hugged him, he laughed from deep within his chest, a full hearted laughed of contentment. "You are most welcome, my dear." Drawing back, his weathered hands gripped her shoulders gently. "Don't ever let someone tell you you can't do something. You have the strength in you to rebuild and run this land ten times over." In other words...don't listen to Edward because he was full of shit. But, he didn't exactly say it that way; the suggestion was there, however. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She wasn't sure if Henry knew about what happened with Cassandra, so when he commented, she frowned and nodded. "Yes... I am afraid it was my fault... She was trying to help us convince Edward... And he became angry and struck her... I am so sorry for that." Her eyes looked into his as he placed his hands on her shoulders. As he spoke to her, her eyes began to well up with tears and she offered him another smile. "Thank you for your kind words, and for all of this. I cannot thank you enough." She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Can Aric know of this?" She asked him, not wanting to do something he did not want. [d]
[HENRY]
He gently waved off her apology. Cassandra hadn't been terribly harmed, even if it hadn't been a good situation. Her mouth tended to get her into trouble with the king, but there were many other reasons why he asked for Alexandria's help to keep her in Aralore. He was loving and devoted to his wife, but he hadn't been much of a husband, nor could he give her much of a life outside stone walls. Perhaps, this would be her chance if she wanted it. He chuckled and blushed with the kiss to his cheek before he had to slowly make his way back to his seat. He was terribly exhausted. "Oh, yes, yes," he answered. "I know he can keep a secret. I just didn't give it to him first because he can be such a stubborn mule." He meant that lovingly, of course. [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She laughed gently and shook her head. "I can be horrible stubborn, too, your grace. But I will accept your gift to make sure if gets put to good use. And I appreciate it more than I could ever express..." She helped him back to his seat, and crouched down next to him. "Is there anything I can do for you? Get for you?" [d]
[HENRY]
His smile widened at her words. "No doubt." But she was also too kind to turn a poor old man down. It was why he quickly came to adore and respect her. Patting her hand, he shook his head, "No, thank you, Your Majesty. Have Charles carry the chest to a safe place." He clapped a couple of times which alerted the young man outside the door to come in. "If you would, Charles, thank you..." he simply said, gesturing towards the chest. Then his gray eyes regarded the queen with a gentle smile. "You be well, my dear." [d]
[ALEXANDRIA]
She laughed softly and nodded, squeezing his hand once again before she slowly stood. Her eyes followed Charles as he entered. "Please bring it to my room." She looked back to Edward. "And you as well. Thank you." She really could not thank him enough. And with that, she slowly moved towards the door and quietly left. [d]
