Post by pandora on Dec 5, 2010 20:25:51 GMT 10
Title: Reunion
Rating: G
Card: 1
Bingo: The Capital + Snow + Winter + Ball + Frivolity
Summary: The war is over and Midwinter is here, young lovers are reunited.
Lady Jessamine was nervous, more so than she had been for quite some time. She ripped out her jewelled hair comb out and shook out her hair for the third time, preparing to start over once more.
"Goddess!" She cried, throwing herself into a chair. "You'd think this was my first ball!"
She slouched as much as she could in the corset she wore, and closed her eyes trying to calm down.
"Everything will be fine. It will all be just fine..."
Scenarios started running through her head. I'm in the ball room, surrounded by people, yet all alone, and suddenly the crowds part, and I see him! He walks over and sweeps me up in his arms and kisses... Hmm, maybe not.
Alright, lets be realistic about this. It's not like anyone knows about us, so there will be no sweeping (unfortunately). He'll probably just come over and say 'hello', and he'll ask me to dance... And we will dance the entire night together despite the impropriety and everyone will be quite shocked... Gods, what if he doesn't ask me to dance? What if he doesn't even come over to me! What if he's fallen in love with someone else? One of those Rider girls! What if he's all broken and empty like papa talks about? Or worse, disfigured-
"Oh wonderful! So now I'm crazy and shallow!" She stood up and went back to the mirror.
It was almost time to go down to the banquet hall and she wasn't even close to being ready. Why did she send her maid away! Why did life have to be so hard!
"Ack! I sound like my brother! Focus Jess, focus." And with that she got to work.
Just under an hour later when her parents knocked on the door Jessamine was trying (and failing) do lace up the back of her own gown, twisting around and yelling in frustration.
"Dear, you had better wait in the hall." The Duchess told her husband going in to assist her daughter.
"Relax darling, you look beautiful. And I'm sure this Knight of your will think so too."
Jessamine's eyes widened. "Knight? What knight? Mama I have no idea-"
"Now, don't be coy my love, we both know you've been pining over someone these last fours years, longer if I'm not mistaken."
"But how did you know?"
Her mother just smiled.
The ballroom was crowded and noisy, the dancing had not yet begun, and everybody seemed to want to take advantage to talk to (and over) one another as the could not do in the banquet hall.
Jessamine searched desperately for a sign of Sir Balduin, she had not seen him at supper and was panicked to think he might not be there. The music would be starting soon and she had been determined to be his partner for the first dance.
A hand rested on her shoulder. "Looking for someone my Lady?"
Jessamine gasped and spun around to glare up at Sir Yancen of Irenroha.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's rude to sneak up on people!"
"She may have, but you don't really count." Yancen gave what he believed was a charming smile.
"Hmph!" Jessamine turned away and continued scanning the room.
"He is here you know." Yancen said, taking two glasses of wine from a passing squire and giving one to the Lady.
Jessamine gave her best disdainful look. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't." Yancen finished his glass of wine. "Well if I see him I shall be sure to tell him you aren't looking for him," and with that he bowed and walked away.
Jessamine glared after him, just because he was Balduin's best friend did not give him a right to be cheeky to her.
Just then the music started and Jessamine resumed her search of the ballroom.
You would think someone a big as him would be easier to find!
Just then she reached the edge of the dance floor and saw him... with a beautiful young lady in his arms. He spun her around on the dance floor, smiling down at her as she chattered away.
She couldn't move, she just stared.
The dance ended but Sir Balduin kept hold of the ladies hands, talking animatedly.
The music started again and they didn't even seem to notice as the other couples had to work around them in the dance.
After the third couple bumped into them they realised it was time to move and made their way cross the room, heading straight for Lady Jessamine.
Balduin and Jessamine's eyes met, but it was in no way like the fantasy she had envisioned just hours ago. She could not keep the hurt and betrayal from her eyes, and quickly turned away before the tears that filled her eyes began to fall.
She barely heard Balduin call out after her as she fled the room, racing outside, down into the winter rose garden, swirls of snowflakes dancing around her as she ran.
She ran until she could barely breath before stopping, and sitting on the edge of a fountain, its surface long frozen over, and let her tears overflow and mingled with the snow melting on her heated face.
She wasn't there long when she heard the crunch of footsteps in the snow.
"My Lady?" Sir Balduin stopped a few metres away.
"Go away, I don't want to see you." She looked up to see a look of pain flash across his face. She didn't care. "Go back to your Lady."
"Jess, let me explain." He stepped forward, only a few feet away, close enough to touch.
"You don't have to explain, Sir Balduin." She turned her face away. "It's been so long since I have seen you, I should not have been so foolish as to expect you to keep faith with me. My feelings, being what they were, have given me an unrealistic expectation of your honour and sense of chivalry and of your affection for me. You could not have been expected to wait so long under such circumstances. It was own mistake and you do not have to explain yourself or apologise for that."
"Jess, I-"
"Balduin?" The clear high voice called across the gardens.
Jessamine looked up to see the Lady walking towards them, her tumbled golden curls falling over her shoulder, her violet gown almost glowing in the moonlight. Even Jessamine could appreciate her beauty at such a moment.
At least, if he must leave me, it is for someone so beautiful. I could never have compared to such a woman.
"There you are" she linked her arm through his, smiling up at him indulgently. "I had no idea where you ran off to, what's a girl to think when men run from her in such a manner! You'd think me a monster! Now, who is your friend?"
Sir Balduin's eyes flicked from one lady to the other, hesitating a moment. "Lady Jessamine of Queenscove, may I introduce Lady Andrina of-"
"Just call me Rin, everyone does."
Jessamine stood and curtseyed.
"Lady Jessamine!" Lady Andrina exclaimed, moving forward. "Are you crying! Whatever is the matter! Please do tell me. Is there anything I can do?"
"Thank you Lady Andrina, but I am quite well-"
"But you are crying!" Andrina took Jessamine's hand in an entreaty to make her talk. "Please, my dear Jessamine, if there is anything I can do I must know!"
Jessamine shook her head, slightly taken back by the familiarity with which the Lady was addressing her.
"Rin, leave her be." Balduin's voice was almost amused, which confused Jessamine even further.
Was he enjoying her suffering? Making her live through such a moment of complete mortification?
"But you must speak to me!" Andrina continued, her voice almost pleading. "My brother has told me so much about you I feel I love you already, and I cannot bear to see you who I already think of as a sister-"
Jessamine's head snapped up. "Your brother?!"
Balduin stepped forward again, cupping her cheek in his hand. "Yes, Jess, this is my sister, Rin."
"Your sister?"
"I did try and explain..."
And then he smiled at her so sweetly, with so much love that all she could do was throw her arms around his neck and kiss him.
"Well I think I'll only be in the way here. I'll see you both later!" Andrina called as she made her way back to the ball.
Balduin sat down on the edge of fountain and pulled Jessamine onto his lap. "So you aren't mad at me any more then?"
Horror crossed Jessamine's face. "Oh Balduin! The things I said! I'm so-"
"Lets forget it ever happened my love," he said softly wiping the tears from her face.
"Well, if you insist." She replied, burying her face in his neck.
"Come on," Balduin replied standing them both up and taking her hand. "It's cold out here and I believe I owe you a dance."
Rating: G
Card: 1
Bingo: The Capital + Snow + Winter + Ball + Frivolity
Summary: The war is over and Midwinter is here, young lovers are reunited.
Lady Jessamine was nervous, more so than she had been for quite some time. She ripped out her jewelled hair comb out and shook out her hair for the third time, preparing to start over once more.
"Goddess!" She cried, throwing herself into a chair. "You'd think this was my first ball!"
She slouched as much as she could in the corset she wore, and closed her eyes trying to calm down.
"Everything will be fine. It will all be just fine..."
Scenarios started running through her head. I'm in the ball room, surrounded by people, yet all alone, and suddenly the crowds part, and I see him! He walks over and sweeps me up in his arms and kisses... Hmm, maybe not.
Alright, lets be realistic about this. It's not like anyone knows about us, so there will be no sweeping (unfortunately). He'll probably just come over and say 'hello', and he'll ask me to dance... And we will dance the entire night together despite the impropriety and everyone will be quite shocked... Gods, what if he doesn't ask me to dance? What if he doesn't even come over to me! What if he's fallen in love with someone else? One of those Rider girls! What if he's all broken and empty like papa talks about? Or worse, disfigured-
"Oh wonderful! So now I'm crazy and shallow!" She stood up and went back to the mirror.
It was almost time to go down to the banquet hall and she wasn't even close to being ready. Why did she send her maid away! Why did life have to be so hard!
"Ack! I sound like my brother! Focus Jess, focus." And with that she got to work.
Just under an hour later when her parents knocked on the door Jessamine was trying (and failing) do lace up the back of her own gown, twisting around and yelling in frustration.
"Dear, you had better wait in the hall." The Duchess told her husband going in to assist her daughter.
"Relax darling, you look beautiful. And I'm sure this Knight of your will think so too."
Jessamine's eyes widened. "Knight? What knight? Mama I have no idea-"
"Now, don't be coy my love, we both know you've been pining over someone these last fours years, longer if I'm not mistaken."
"But how did you know?"
Her mother just smiled.
The ballroom was crowded and noisy, the dancing had not yet begun, and everybody seemed to want to take advantage to talk to (and over) one another as the could not do in the banquet hall.
Jessamine searched desperately for a sign of Sir Balduin, she had not seen him at supper and was panicked to think he might not be there. The music would be starting soon and she had been determined to be his partner for the first dance.
A hand rested on her shoulder. "Looking for someone my Lady?"
Jessamine gasped and spun around to glare up at Sir Yancen of Irenroha.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's rude to sneak up on people!"
"She may have, but you don't really count." Yancen gave what he believed was a charming smile.
"Hmph!" Jessamine turned away and continued scanning the room.
"He is here you know." Yancen said, taking two glasses of wine from a passing squire and giving one to the Lady.
Jessamine gave her best disdainful look. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't." Yancen finished his glass of wine. "Well if I see him I shall be sure to tell him you aren't looking for him," and with that he bowed and walked away.
Jessamine glared after him, just because he was Balduin's best friend did not give him a right to be cheeky to her.
Just then the music started and Jessamine resumed her search of the ballroom.
You would think someone a big as him would be easier to find!
Just then she reached the edge of the dance floor and saw him... with a beautiful young lady in his arms. He spun her around on the dance floor, smiling down at her as she chattered away.
She couldn't move, she just stared.
The dance ended but Sir Balduin kept hold of the ladies hands, talking animatedly.
The music started again and they didn't even seem to notice as the other couples had to work around them in the dance.
After the third couple bumped into them they realised it was time to move and made their way cross the room, heading straight for Lady Jessamine.
Balduin and Jessamine's eyes met, but it was in no way like the fantasy she had envisioned just hours ago. She could not keep the hurt and betrayal from her eyes, and quickly turned away before the tears that filled her eyes began to fall.
She barely heard Balduin call out after her as she fled the room, racing outside, down into the winter rose garden, swirls of snowflakes dancing around her as she ran.
She ran until she could barely breath before stopping, and sitting on the edge of a fountain, its surface long frozen over, and let her tears overflow and mingled with the snow melting on her heated face.
She wasn't there long when she heard the crunch of footsteps in the snow.
"My Lady?" Sir Balduin stopped a few metres away.
"Go away, I don't want to see you." She looked up to see a look of pain flash across his face. She didn't care. "Go back to your Lady."
"Jess, let me explain." He stepped forward, only a few feet away, close enough to touch.
"You don't have to explain, Sir Balduin." She turned her face away. "It's been so long since I have seen you, I should not have been so foolish as to expect you to keep faith with me. My feelings, being what they were, have given me an unrealistic expectation of your honour and sense of chivalry and of your affection for me. You could not have been expected to wait so long under such circumstances. It was own mistake and you do not have to explain yourself or apologise for that."
"Jess, I-"
"Balduin?" The clear high voice called across the gardens.
Jessamine looked up to see the Lady walking towards them, her tumbled golden curls falling over her shoulder, her violet gown almost glowing in the moonlight. Even Jessamine could appreciate her beauty at such a moment.
At least, if he must leave me, it is for someone so beautiful. I could never have compared to such a woman.
"There you are" she linked her arm through his, smiling up at him indulgently. "I had no idea where you ran off to, what's a girl to think when men run from her in such a manner! You'd think me a monster! Now, who is your friend?"
Sir Balduin's eyes flicked from one lady to the other, hesitating a moment. "Lady Jessamine of Queenscove, may I introduce Lady Andrina of-"
"Just call me Rin, everyone does."
Jessamine stood and curtseyed.
"Lady Jessamine!" Lady Andrina exclaimed, moving forward. "Are you crying! Whatever is the matter! Please do tell me. Is there anything I can do?"
"Thank you Lady Andrina, but I am quite well-"
"But you are crying!" Andrina took Jessamine's hand in an entreaty to make her talk. "Please, my dear Jessamine, if there is anything I can do I must know!"
Jessamine shook her head, slightly taken back by the familiarity with which the Lady was addressing her.
"Rin, leave her be." Balduin's voice was almost amused, which confused Jessamine even further.
Was he enjoying her suffering? Making her live through such a moment of complete mortification?
"But you must speak to me!" Andrina continued, her voice almost pleading. "My brother has told me so much about you I feel I love you already, and I cannot bear to see you who I already think of as a sister-"
Jessamine's head snapped up. "Your brother?!"
Balduin stepped forward again, cupping her cheek in his hand. "Yes, Jess, this is my sister, Rin."
"Your sister?"
"I did try and explain..."
And then he smiled at her so sweetly, with so much love that all she could do was throw her arms around his neck and kiss him.
"Well I think I'll only be in the way here. I'll see you both later!" Andrina called as she made her way back to the ball.
Balduin sat down on the edge of fountain and pulled Jessamine onto his lap. "So you aren't mad at me any more then?"
Horror crossed Jessamine's face. "Oh Balduin! The things I said! I'm so-"
"Lets forget it ever happened my love," he said softly wiping the tears from her face.
"Well, if you insist." She replied, burying her face in his neck.
"Come on," Balduin replied standing them both up and taking her hand. "It's cold out here and I believe I owe you a dance."