Post by Rosie on Apr 7, 2011 18:27:30 GMT 10
Title: A Twist in Time
Rating: PG
Word Count: 456 words
Pairing: Delia/Josiane
Round/Fight: 1/H
Summary: Maybe not everything in Tortall was how it appeared. For Mandi, because it’s much nicer to have something dedicated to you when you’re not on the opposite team.
Warning for mild implied violence.
“Tortall doesn’t seem like this from abroad,” Josiane whispered, her large blue eyes full of apprehension.
Delia nodded, a sad smile curling her lips. “It started when Roger’s father died,” she said, keeping her voice equally hushed. “King Roald said that the country didn’t need a regent, it needed a leader. Well, the borders were so fractious, and people were so afraid, they were crying out for somebody to take command.”
“At the expense of a four-year-old,” Josiane filled in bitterly. Tortall had barely been on her radar before her mother had suggested Prince Jonathan as a potential husband. Ever the indulgent mother, she had sent Josiane by herself to see how she felt about him.
Now she was here, that Scanran alliance was beginning to look evermore appealing.
“Do you think the prince would be better?”
Delia shook her head vehemently. “He’s an idle playboy at best. Once I - I thought I loved him. I didn’t realise how many other women he had tricked into feeling the same way. At the same time.”
Josiane reached out to squeeze Delia’s arm comfortingly. Delia covered the princess’s hand with one of her own, and smiled. “And at his worst?” Josiane asked, wondering if she wanted to know.
“You’d have to ask Alex,” answered Delia, looking uncomfortable. “He’s got horror stories from their page days, things like how the prince would corner pages he didn’t like with a group of his friends, and beat them. One squire had to leave the palace because of it.”
“And that man will be king,” Josiane murmured incredulously, rubbing her forehead.
A resigned look took over her friend’s features. “Unless we can bring Roger back, yes, but they did such a thorough job of discrediting him, and even pretended to kill him, so I don’t know if that’s possible. I have hope, though.”
“Come back to the Isles with me,” Josiane entreated, clasping Delia’s hands in hers. “I can keep you safe. It is a good country, we will withstand whatever Tortall throws at us.”
Delia freed one of her hands to cup Josiane’s face. “And when you need to marry, what would happen to me?” she asked. “Would I go with you to your marriage bed?” Seeing Josiane falter at that, she repented. “I’m sorry. There was no need for me to be so crude. Thank you, but I think I had better stay here. Roger might have need of me if - when he returns to claim his throne.”
Josiane would have to be satisfied with that. “I don’t know if it’s of much comfort or use, but whilst I’m here, you have my support.”
“It is of all the comfort in the world.”
QC by PeroxidePirate
Rating: PG
Word Count: 456 words
Pairing: Delia/Josiane
Round/Fight: 1/H
Summary: Maybe not everything in Tortall was how it appeared. For Mandi, because it’s much nicer to have something dedicated to you when you’re not on the opposite team.
Warning for mild implied violence.
“Tortall doesn’t seem like this from abroad,” Josiane whispered, her large blue eyes full of apprehension.
Delia nodded, a sad smile curling her lips. “It started when Roger’s father died,” she said, keeping her voice equally hushed. “King Roald said that the country didn’t need a regent, it needed a leader. Well, the borders were so fractious, and people were so afraid, they were crying out for somebody to take command.”
“At the expense of a four-year-old,” Josiane filled in bitterly. Tortall had barely been on her radar before her mother had suggested Prince Jonathan as a potential husband. Ever the indulgent mother, she had sent Josiane by herself to see how she felt about him.
Now she was here, that Scanran alliance was beginning to look evermore appealing.
“Do you think the prince would be better?”
Delia shook her head vehemently. “He’s an idle playboy at best. Once I - I thought I loved him. I didn’t realise how many other women he had tricked into feeling the same way. At the same time.”
Josiane reached out to squeeze Delia’s arm comfortingly. Delia covered the princess’s hand with one of her own, and smiled. “And at his worst?” Josiane asked, wondering if she wanted to know.
“You’d have to ask Alex,” answered Delia, looking uncomfortable. “He’s got horror stories from their page days, things like how the prince would corner pages he didn’t like with a group of his friends, and beat them. One squire had to leave the palace because of it.”
“And that man will be king,” Josiane murmured incredulously, rubbing her forehead.
A resigned look took over her friend’s features. “Unless we can bring Roger back, yes, but they did such a thorough job of discrediting him, and even pretended to kill him, so I don’t know if that’s possible. I have hope, though.”
“Come back to the Isles with me,” Josiane entreated, clasping Delia’s hands in hers. “I can keep you safe. It is a good country, we will withstand whatever Tortall throws at us.”
Delia freed one of her hands to cup Josiane’s face. “And when you need to marry, what would happen to me?” she asked. “Would I go with you to your marriage bed?” Seeing Josiane falter at that, she repented. “I’m sorry. There was no need for me to be so crude. Thank you, but I think I had better stay here. Roger might have need of me if - when he returns to claim his throne.”
Josiane would have to be satisfied with that. “I don’t know if it’s of much comfort or use, but whilst I’m here, you have my support.”
“It is of all the comfort in the world.”
QC by PeroxidePirate