[M/IC] Class That Divides (Fanatasia and Naming)

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu stood alone on the outer edges of the room, staring vacantly at the wall that was placed opposite.

The servant was dressed in full uniform, his clothes pristine and perfectly arranged. His buttons and shoes were all polished to a dull shine, unmarked and unmarred by his work. Even the man’s hair sat flat atop his head, with the aid of some level of care and product, which was quite an accomplishment considering how unruly it often proved naturally.

Both of his hands were covered with flawless white gloves, and atop one of these he balanced an ornate silver platter. The platter was, in turn, stacked high with treats and delicacies, should any of the nobles decide to indulge. A pitcher and several glasses rested on a small bench nearby, tucked unobtrusively against a section of wall that would have otherwise remained vacant. Between the two, Sennu possessed most everything that would be necessary to conduct his regular duties.

Had he taken the opportunity to glance about, Sennu would have seen that he was accompanied by several other men and women of varying ages, all dressed in similar uniforms. They stood about the perimeter of the room like sentries, watching the meeting’s participants, whilst trying to look as if they were not paying any mind to the discussion itself. Other master-servants, spread out just enough to avoid dissuade chit-chat, or any other sort of fraternization.

Even if they hadn’t been, none of them would have indulged. They were supposed to be the best of their field – the sort of people who would be appointed the title of ‘Master’, had their work constituted an actual craft.

As it was, Sennu did not bother to so much as glance at them. He knew that Mara – one of his coworkers who he was particular good friends with – was present, but he did not search her out. She would be busy tending her own section of the table, just as he himself did. They would likely gossip and chat about it later, but until then, the only ones to speak within the lavish room were the members of the meeting themselves.

The king, first and foremost, sat at one end of the table. The rest of the guests were seated outwards from there, positioned by rank. Other members of the nobility – the bluebloods- were seated closest, flanking the crown ruler on both sides of the table. Further down would be the crown’s choice of workers – the guild masters or other public servants who attended to the needs of the royal family.

Sennu did his best to watch without watching, and listen without listening. He remained alert, keeping an eye on his appointed section of the table – that pertaining to the bluebloods seated immediately to the king’s left – without drawing any attention to himself. Such was the mark of a good servant, after all. He was to be a ghost, moving amongst them to refill glasses or remove plates, without disrupting the flow of conversation. Sennu was there to do a job, and the nobility were to completely forget his presence at all times they were not actively calling upon him. It wouldn’t do to have the bluebloods holding their tongue, weary about what they might say, due to the presence of a few lingering servers.

As the meeting dragged on, those he was attending called upon him several times. One of the men raised a hand casually, and Sennu immediately stepped forward, offering him the platter of treats. The noble selected one without so much as glancing at Sennu, and did not deign to dismiss him formally. The man withdrew without receiving so much as a word of thanks, and did not object to that fact in the slightest. Whenever a guest drained his glass, Sennu would be there, appearing at his side almost silently. The servant would be forced to lean about the nobles and pour at awkward angles, to avoid jostling the king’s guests, and did so without spilling a single drop.

Flurries of motion caught out of the corner of his eye told him that his companions were doing the same, but again, Sennu paid them no mind. So long as none of them made a mistake, there was no reason to interfere, and they would all work away from today’s task without incident. There seemed to be a good bit of shouting, and anger coloured the voices of those who were contributing most fervently to the discussion, but that was none of Sennu’s concern.

Just another day at work for the castle’s personal staff.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende was always quiet, her father's staple belief was that the princess should be seen; but should not be heard. As such, Aryende spent most of her time trying to be perfect. However, she had shifted her hand carelessly, and her wine glass had toppled over. She was the diamond of the kingdom–which meant she was seated the most closest to her father.

"So, when are you marrying her off, m'lord?" One of the guests asked, and the king began to answer.

The king, a man with greying brown hair, a speckled, well-cut beard, and a very viking-like way of dress, had just ended a heated discussion to answer the possible-suitor, a noble from another family. He never truly injured his daughter, not any further than a firm slap, but his anger was already high. When the wine spread across the table, and the girl had stood, bowing deeply and apologizing, the king almost let it go. And then, she reached instinctively to clean her mess.

The king snapped, and reached to slap her, though he only caused her hand to slam into the glass shards she was trying to clean. He ordered her quietly, "Leave the table, Aryende. You're an embarassment." As she got up to leave, bowing her head, she curtsied in deep apology to the table. Then, she was gone.

One of her brother's had excused himself, and followed close behind of her, shoving her into a utilities closet. Artemis never appreciated when she upset their father, and he never appreciated the fact that their father would not force her to mind. He was the one who typically beat her with enough force that there were bruises. Artemis wanted his sister; and he knew that was wrong–which meant her took his frustration at himself out on her, for being the object that caused the frustration.

Aryende had learned to be quiet. He didn't hit as hard if she was quiet. She curled into herself, sobbing as her eldest brother's foot connected firmly with her ribs, once again. She was wheezing, unable to stay quiet when she could not breathe easily, and this earned her a solid kick to the side of her head, and then Artemis had jerked her upright, snarling in her ear, "Surely, you won't think to tell anyone about what I've done, will you, little sister?" He shoved her against the wall, and gave one more solid kick to the backs of her legs, which caused her to buckle, and sob. The man glanced over his shoulder briefly, before he had shut the door behind himself and returned to the dinner.

His father was speaking of marrying Aryende, now. "Honestly, she's not the heir and she holds no power, so I'll marry her to either the highest bidder in coin, or in services. If your alliance proves worthy once the court lawyers look at the contract, she's yours, Lord Preston." Artemis found that this made his temper flare, and almost had to let himself out once again.

Instead, he managed to speak: "She's not well-trained as a wife, Father... Before she's married, she should learn to take care of a household. It would be worth nothing if she was unable to uphold her duties, and ended the alliance or the service."

The regent and his father would get into a quickly-heating argument, and many of the brother's joined in. Some defended their sister, saying she was as obedient as she could be, but worthless, while others thought she was worthless through and through. If one of the servants slipped away, nobody would notice.

[Namingtoohard]

Had this been some small lordling's court, the servants might have shuffled and looked away at the king's sudden outburst. They might have tried to slip from the room, or hurried to find other tasks that would prove a suitable distraction. Those who were chosen to serve the king himself were made of sterner stuff, however. Not a single one of the servants who stood around the perimeter of the room so much as batted an eye when the man reached over to slap his daughter. They all continued to watch with that same blank-faced stare that was so often employed in their line of work, unflinching and uncomprehending, even as the princess excused herself from the table.

The words the king spoke were quiet, but carried plenty of weight, and portrayed his anger nonetheless. Not a one of them dared to stir, lest they draw his notice and become an outlet for his ire. The man could dismiss any of them without so much as a second thought, and that would be the best-case scenario. The king could easily whip or jail a servant who displeased him, and nobody would think twice about it. Nobody but the unfortunate soul who ended up losing their livelihood, of course.

All of them watched on, but nobody made a move to intervene. They would likely discuss it later, of course, but only in secret, once they were safe from prying ears. In hidden corners, with low voices.

The first one to move was the servant who had been positioned closest to Aryende's seat. Mara - the one servant with whom Sennu was the most familiar - would step forward and set about the task of cleaning up both the shattered glass and spilled wine. Her expression was one of total disinterest, as if this was just another part of the job. In a strange way it was. That seemed to break the tension, and activity slowly returned to normal in the room. The conversation continued, and the servants continued about their work. Within moments, everything in the room had gone back to normal, save for the two chairs that remained empty.

Despite his training, Sennu couldn't help but throw a subtle glance across at Artemis as the prince returned to the room. If anyone took notice of the servant's misstep, however, they didn't point it out. After a few moments of silent contemplation, he would turn and take a few steps towards the servant located closest to him. He informed her that he was going to get more snacks from the kitchen, given the rate that one particular blueblood seemed to be going through them. She responded with a barely perceptible nod. At that, Sennu would turn and slip from the room. Since he had made his intentions clear, she would cover his section of the table for him briefly. Nobody would think his departure odd - the master servants were trusted enough for most anyone to think he was simply doing some task related to his duties. Such was the trust placed in those skilled enough to serve in the king himself.

Sennu would emerge from the meeting room, and quietly close the door behind him. After a brief glance down the hallway, he would set off. The servant would stroll through the halls. He moved with purpose, looking as if he knew exactly what he was doing, so that none of the others might question him. True to his word, the man headed in the rough direction of the kitchens, but that was hardly his sole purpose.

Just where was the princess?

He knew the chances of finding her were somewhat low, especially considering the size of the castle. For all he knew, the princess had returned to her rooms, and locked herself inside. If that was the case, then no amount of searching on his part would do any good. Still, he felt compelled to try. He and the other servants were sworn to serve the royal family, after all. Every member of the royal family, princess included.

That was what Sennu told himself, at the very least.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende sobbed quietly as she tried to find her feet, and find enough strength to push the large, wooden door of the closet she had been left in open. Eventually using all of her weight, the door budged, but she was not prepared for that. Out from the utility closet spilled the princess, a few brooms, and a mop.

Gasping, she struggled to her feet, arms curling around herself as she stumbled forward, bruised face toward the ground. She'd never been beaten quite this badly, but she highly doubted her father would do anything unless he thought she was going to die and he'd lose out on a treaty.

She shuffled forward, slowly, swaying and stumbling as she went until she bumped into someone. This sent her off-balance, more than she was already, and she hit the ground with a quiet sob. The princess stared up at the servant – and she recognized him. Sennu, she thought was his name.

Quietly she murmured, "You shouldn't be out here." You shouldn't see me like this. Nobody should. She moved to get to her feet again, wiping her eyes with one bruised hand, fingers curled against her will; possibly fractured. Every breath she took was rattled with wheezing, as if her chest was unable to comprehend the amount of air she required. She was getting lightheaded, and was determined to get back to her room before she fainted.

After all, she was in enough trouble for being beaten black and blue. It'd just get worse if she lost consciousness in the hallway. "I've got... got to..." That was all she could get out; all the words that she could manage before she hit the ground again, and unless she was caught, her head would hit the ground quite hard.

The dinner was winding up, rather than down. A heated debate had started about the upcoming wars, and the sanctioned fights among the peasants of the kingdom, for the royals amusement during the spring festival of Muiy, Goddess of Fertility.

Nobody would come looking for her for hours, and would not notice a servant missing.

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu would continue his search of the extensive castle interior with grim determination, marching ever onwards in his search to find the missing princess. The master-servant did everything in his power to look as if he were out on official business, keeping his posture correct and maintaining a leisurely speed as he strolled through the winding hallways. Any officials he passed merely saw one of the rabble going about their appointed duties, running errands for one member of the nobility or another. His eyes, however, betrayed the truth of the matter. The man's gaze flickered back and forth, checking every nook and cranny for the king's daughter, hinting at his internal worry.

His task seemed pointless at first, given the total lack of direction and information that he had to work with. On more than one occasion Sennu started to berate himself for wasting his time on such a hopeless endeavour, only to harden his resolve and forge on regardless. It would weigh heavily on his shoulders if he gave up now, only to hear that something had happened to the princess after all.

His break came from a rather unexpected source. As the princess forced her way out of the supply closet, the sound of the falling brooms was just loud enough to reach his ears. Heading in the direction of the disturbance, he turned a corner, only to run face-first into the very person that he had been searching for.

"Lady Aryende!" he exclaimed rather simply, even as the lady righted herself. His eyes quickly drifted to the bruise on her hand, which was drawn to his attention by its movement. His mouth quickly pressed into a small frown, and concern danced behind his eyes as he appraised the injured royal. His suspicions had been well-founded, it appeared.

He opened his mouth to apologise, to respond to her claims that he was currently not doing his duty, only to be caught off-guard as the princess fainted again. Sennu quickly reached out to grab her, more on reflex than anything, and was partially successful. He managed to get a bit of an awkward grip on her arms and torso, arresting her fall just enough to stop her head from hitting the ground, but it wasn't enough to stop the princess from slumping over entirely. Once he was certain that he could do so safely, the master-servant would lower her to the ground gently.

Stepping around her prone form, Sennu would kneel down beside the fallen princess. He quickly leaned across to both check her pulse and make sure she was still breathing, and was relieved to find that the girl was only unconscious. He would move to appraise the rest of her injuries quickly, before stopping himself up short. This was hardly the place for such things - if the two of them were caught like this out here, it would be disastrous. At the very worst, Sennu would be blamed for attacking the princess, and promptly executed for raising a hand against a member of the royal family. The king had an image to maintain, after all, even if Aryende was his least-favourite child.

He made his decision quickly, eager to avoid lingering, lest they be caught. Unbothered by the improperness of what he was doing, he would gather the fallen princess up in his arms, picking her up bridal-style. Straightening to his full height, the man would stumble a little, before catching his balance and righting himself. Satisfied that Aryende was secure, he would quickly start heading for the princess' own room. They needed to get out of the open, and that seemed the most logical place for him to take her.

Please, holy lords, don't let any of the bluebloods see us he would pray silently, beginning the steady march towards the princess' room. He was less worried about the other servants seeing them - even if they would gossip between themselves, he doubted any of them would tattle to the king or the rest of the royal family.

Aware that most of the nobles residing in the castle kept their doors unlocked so that the servants might enter and clean, Sennu was far from disheartened when they reached the princess' rooms. Turning to the side, he would force the door open with his shoulder. Stepping carefully to avoid hitting the comatose princess against anything, or jostling her needlessly, he would quickly move across to Aryende's bed, where he would lay her down tenderly.

After detouring briefly to lock the door behind them, Sennu would return to the princess' side. He felt the need to check over her injuries next - the readily visible ones, at least - so that he might better judge what to do next.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende's ribs were fractured, her fingers fractured and one ankle sprained. Should Sennu look further, he would find quickly spreading bruises across her abdomen, and her back. Her face was the most obvious, and most concerning matter that was visible offhand, though.

One eye swollen shut, a deep purple bruise surrounding it, her nose and mouth were both puffy, and various shades of purple and red. Her breathing came haltingly slow, each breath earned a quiet whimper from the woman, as she fought with her own consciousness, or lack thereof.

She was hot, and she hurt, and as she swam through the haze that kept trying to pull her back down, she was startled. Where... was she? Wide eyes stared up at the servant, and she whimpered quietly. She was scared; she remembered running into the man, but that was outside in the hall.

Where was she now? Her voice was quiet, hoarse, as she forced her mouth to form the words she wanted. "Where... did you... take me... Sennu." She had to pause to breathe; and that was hard in and of itself. "I... Don't tell... Father."

Her father would find out that she was injured, of course. But they needed to ensure whatever he found out did not implicate her brother. Her father would simply hang whoever chose to dare implicate his heir.

"Sennu... leave." She was quiet as she pushed herself into a seated position, gasping for air as she did. This prompted her to lay back down, and close her eyes, "...trouble," she mumbled. She made it a point to know the servants by name, most of the time, but Sennu? She had begged for her mother to request him as a servant.

She inhaled and exhaled slowly, wincing with each breath, and eventually she was staring up at the servant again, murmuring, "...you can... leave." It wasn't an order; in fact underneath those words was a plea for him to stay.

[Namingtoohard]

Concern danced behind Sennu's eyes as he slowly went about the task of cataloguing the princess' various injuries, mouth pressed into a hard line. The master servant did his best to be gentle as he sought to discover the full extent of her wounds, gently probing for broken bones along any exposed flesh he could see, and anywhere else that he dared place his hands. He was careful to avoid touching anywhere that might cause the princess to take offense, fully aware of what would happen to him should she take issue with his actions. There was the possibility that he would miss some injury or another because of this, but that was an issue all its own.

The one who did this clearly didn't have much of a taste for subtlety he thought idly to himself as he worked. Anyone with even the most basic understanding of medical practices knew that the bruises were far from the worst thing that could happen, however, despite the fact that they were most visible. He would throw a brief glance at Aryende's face when she spoke, before turning his attention back to the task at hand.

He would open his mouth to reply, only to be caught thoroughly off-guard when the princess suddenly decided to try and sit up, despite the fact that such an action would likely cause her considerable pain. Had he been prepared, Sennu would have certainly tried to stop her, or otherwise dissuade her from such action. As it was, he could only wince, and move back to his work when she laid back down again.

"You can relax, princess Aryende. We're in your rooms. Safe" he cooed softly, doing his best to sound somewhat calming, or reassuring. Once he had finished his work, the man would straighten, rising to his full height once more. He would pause briefly to consider what the best course of action would likely be, considering what he knew of her injuries so far, only for a wry smile to flicker across his features

"I'm afraid I must refuse, my lady. It would be irresponsible of me to leave you alone in your current state, especially untreated" he would start rather simply, meeting her gaze this time.

"I should really send for a physician, but his majesty the king would doubtless find out about your injuries were that to happen. Even if you could convince them to avoid reporting to your father directly, the castle’s attendants have a tendency to talk” he would offer, tone becoming thoughtful if he tried to walk himself through their options. He chose not to question why she wished to hide her injuries from her father…for the time being, at the very least.

As he spoke, Sennu would turn and step away from the bed, setting about the task of gathering up a few useful amenities, such as the pitcher of water that had been left waiting on the princess’ table. He went about the work quickly and efficiently, without so much as a pause in conversation.

“It’s hardly my area of expertise, but I have some basic working knowledge of medicine. If you do not wish to speak to a professional, then I will tend to you the best I can myself” he would offer rather simply, turning and moving back towards the bed. The statement was a tad presumptuous, admittedly, but it was part of his job to assist the royal family however he could. Beyond that, Sennu couldn’t help but feel some small sense of pity when he caught sight of the bruises on Aryende’s face, alongside a desire to relieve her suffering by assisting however he could.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende closed her eyes, murmuring, "No physician." She shifted in the bed, whispering, "Papa will want... to know who." She couldn't say 'who'. She'd get beaten even worse if she was honest. Her gaze followed Sennu as he set about gathering things, and she had to fight back a wry smile; mostly because her face hurt too much to smile.

"I have no... qualms." She had to think of the word, for a moment, and then she was reaching to try and grab the man's hand, with her uninjured hand, "You can't... can't say you found me. Nobody..." she shook her head, "...can know." She was nervous, and once she had reassured herself that the man wasn't going to tell anyone how they had ended up here, she settled her hand against her stomach, murmuring, "I'm hot."

The fingers of her good hand began to tug at her fur-lined gown, and she whispered, "It's too hot." She was burning up, though not because the room was too hot. She was simply feverish. Aryende had a maid who dressed her; and as they lived in a very cool climate, an island nation, everything was fur-lined. She exhaled quietly, as she felt her cheeks flush with color. She needed help, and she couldn't let him get her maid.

"Sennu – you have to help me out of my... my dress. The buttons are down... down the back." She was so thankful that her father did not believe in corsets; he profusely referred to corsets and other binds as 'western idiocies' and had informed the designer, who made Aryende's clothes, that she was a princess, not a western whore. All she had under her dress was a slip. They didn't wear much; it was just how things were done.

"Please." She didn't try to sit up, even though she had to sit upright for him to get to the buttons. Instead, she just stared up at him silently, biting her lip. Quietly, she murmured, "I'm certain you have tasks you should be doing. If you get in trouble because you were here, helping me..." She averted her gaze, worriedly. Worrying about him took her mind off of the pain that her ribs were causing, her hand; the various bruises.

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu would simply nod in acceptance of her refusal to see a professional, having expected as much after her earlier admonishments. He would simply continue about his work in silence for the time being, moving around with both ease and grace. Still, he would pause briefly as the princess suddenly reached out to grab his hand, pausing his work briefly to turn his full attention back to the wounded princess. A calm smile flickered across his features as she quickly impressed on him that he would have to keep things secret himself, were he to remain himself - more so than any of the physicians would have done, at the very least.

"You need not worry about that, my lady. I might not be able to offer the same level of care as a proper physician, but you can count on my discretion" he would reassure her gently, before frowning briefly as she complained of being overly hot. Such a thing was somewhat understandable, given her current state, but by no means encouraging.

Still, the man would hesitate briefly as she insisted that he help her remove her dress, just to alleviate said problem. His composure slipped for the first time that evening, just for a fraction of a moment, before he would calm himself and get control once more. The female nobles frequently used handmaids to help them dress and undress, and all of them were supposed to be as unobtrusive and unnoticeable as possible. There was one major difference between himself and a handmaiden, of course, but if the princess had chosen not to be bothered by it, then neither would he.

"I daresay that none of my other tasks are quite as important as this, princess. Now, will you be able to sit up with my help?" he would question rather simply, setting his small collection of materials down on Aryende's bedside table, before once again moving to her side. He would offer the princess his arm, content to assist her however she best deemed it necessary. Even if she needed to rely on it for support, he was relatively certain that he could undo the buttons with one hand. It would be slightly more awkward and time-consuming, but it would be doable nonetheless.

"Just let me know if it starts to hurt too much, and we can stop immediately" he would offer in consolation, just in case. From there, his actions would depend on how the princess chose to go about this. He would be quick to set about his task as soon as they had found a way to do so that was
bearable for Aryende, determined to cause her as little discomfort as possible throughout.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende was stubborn, and she would not let him know it hurt. Because, as she pulled herself upright with her one good hand, using his arm, the fingers of that hand curled tightly against his wrist, and her breathing faltered, quickening for a moment. It hurt, but she didn't want the dress to stay on.

She closed her eyes and tried to fight back her tears, burying her face against the man's arm, as she whimpered softly. She could feel each button being undone, he worked quickly for a man with only one hand. She found herself wondering how often he had undone a dress with just one hand.

The princess felt herself being lowered, and she opened her eyes to watch the man, slowly remove her arms from the tight sleeves of her dress. And then, to remove it the rest of the way, he had to lift her legs for a moment, before the dress could pool at the floor in a pile of fur. The slip she wore was see-through, but she did not particularly care right now; it felt better to lay here in next to nothing, than to suffocate in that dress. Aryende's cheeks would have flushed, though, if they were not already flush with fever and covered with bruises. She was a very proper woman, typically, and had never let a man see her body, even remotely.

"Thank you..." She sighed, content to leave the man to his earlier tasks, now. She was still hot, but no longer that suffocating, foreboding heat. She offered him half a smile, before she realized by the shock of pain that it hurt to smile. She'd forgotten.

"Mama," a younger Aryende had whispered, seated on her mother's bedside. "This servant of father's would be a great asset to you, mama. His name is Sennu." Her mother had smiled, and ran her fingers through her hair, studying her injured arm with care. "Please, you'll get him, right, mama?"

"I'll get him, dear. If he aids you once, he may aid you again. And as a mother..." She trailed her fingers slowly through Aryende's hair, "...that's what I want. Someone who can look after you, stop your father and brother's from being too harsh." The queen shifted in bed, stating gently, "Now, your father loves you, Aryende... But you have to understand. Men don't see women as... having rights. Women are for one thing, and one thing only, and that is to form alliances, lock that alliance with babies."

The young Aryende had nodded slowly. "So you have to remember, your father always has the best interest of the kingdom, no matter what he does to you."

As she watched the memory play out in her head, she had closed her eyes and almost appeared to be sleeping. Quietly, she murmured, "Sennu? How often do you personally carry out tasks for my mother?" Her mother could no longer get out of bed on her own; and she weighed too much for a handmaiden to help her with most things, that required going far. Aryende had always assumed Sennu seen her mother to help her out to the gardens, but then, her mother had recently acquired a wheelchair – large, wooden and rickety. She was not sure how she felt about that. What else does he do for her?

[Namingtoohard]

It took a little bit of fumbling on his part, but Sennu ended up dealing with the buttons much easier than he had been expecting. It took only a few moments for their combined efforts to remove the dress entirely, leaving the princess clad in nothing but an extremely thin shift. The servant felt his cheeks quickly begin to heat up, and after a few moments he realised that he had been staring - not just at her body itself, but at the smattering of bruises across her torso that had been hidden up until a few moments ago. Apparently her injuries were much more extensive than he had originally assumed, though that was no excuse.

Praying that the princess had not noticed his unintentional transgression, the prince would accept her thanks with a simple nod of acknowledgement, quickly turning away. He would crouch down and quickly retrieve Aryende's discarded dress, busying himself with the simple task of folding it properly and setting it aside. The staff who attended the princess' rooms would take it to be cleaned later, when the princess was away and they could safely go about their housekeeping duties. He wouldn't pause in the slightest as Aryende questioned him on the matter of his work for the queen, though he did take a moment to consider the question.

"More often than most. I don't know what I did to win her approval, but at one point I had the pleasure of attending her several times a week " he would offer rather simply, moving back towards the princess' bedside as he spoke. After a brief moment spent glancing around, Sennu would reach up and pluck his handkerchief from the breast pocket of his coat, before folding the thing over in his hands a few times in quick succession. A part of him wished to question the princess on why she felt the need to ask, but Sennu knew it was not his place.

"Truth be told, I worry for her grace's health. I can only hope that she sees some measure of improvement soon, as unlikely as it may be" he would hastily add, before reaching for the water jug that he had collected earlier. The servant would unceremoniously dunk his handkerchief in the cool water within, before quickly wringing it out - leaving the cloth damp, but not dripping wet. Satisfied with its state, he would lean across and gently lay the thing across Aryende's forehead. Hopefully it would ease her discomfort somewhat, if not help her cool off. A proper compress would have been better for the bruises on her face, to help reduce the swelling, but the cold would be better than nothing.

"Better?"

Diverting from their current topic of conversation briefly, Sennu would watch the princess' face closely for a moment. He wanted to make sure that his actions were having the intended effect, and not causing Aryende any extra discomfort instead. That seemed unlikely, considering her earlier complaints, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

The knowledge that those damaged fingers still needed tending lingered in the back of Sennu's mind. That particular injury was the one he was least confident in his ability to deal with using just the materials he had on hand, and trying would likely prove the most uncomfortable part for the princess. Knowing that, he didn't see any harm in allowing the princess a brief moment of respite before he attempted to splint them, so long as she was mindful to not cause them any further harm. The damage to her ribs and ankle was equally concerning, but there was little he could do there, aside from suggesting that Aryende keep pressure off them and give her body time to mend.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende breathed easier once her gown was removed, and she studied the servant, noting the way he was staring – but she saw very little reason to call him out on it. He may just be noticing the bruises to her torso, Gods knew they hurt enough that they must look ugly as could be.

Instead, she stopped staring and closed her eyes, listening as Sennu answered her question. "Would you like to know?" She inquired, her voice quiet. She didn't wait for an answer, before she spoke up, "I was sixteen, and Artemis had thrown me into a glass case, broke all of mother's best dishes..." She raised her left arm, displaying the raised scar, "...he didn't even stop to make sure I was okay. But," a brief smile found her lips, "You did. You'd just begun to work for us, so you didn't know that any other servant would have fled, left me by myself..."

She sighed as the cool handkerchief met her forehead, murmuring, "...So I asked Mother if she could find use for you." Her breathing trembled lightly, "She had been looking for a new servant, anyway, and..." Aryende's eyes closed, as she lost herself for a moment in the cooling notion of the compress across her forehead, "...she said, 'anyone who's brave enough to help you, before your brother is even out of sight, is the kind of person I want tending to me.'" No, her mother had not only said this – Aryende had been very open with her mother about her crush on the man, by the time she had made her way to ask her mother to request him. The Queen had told her it was hopeless, but that there was a possibility she could have the man one day, on the side.

As the years had passed, Aryende had realized she didn't want anyone else. It was ridiculous, to believe she loved someone for something they had done over ten years ago, but... It was her reality, and she couldn't fix that.

"Mother's strong," she murmured. Then, quietly, "Sennu? I want you to start fixing mother's meals yourself. I... Artemis isn't a good person. Father's too invested in mother, if she dies, Father will abdicate..." She adjusted her hand against her stomach, the fingers ached and she knew that eventually, Sennu would need to splint them. "...Please? Nobody will question you," Because he was one of the few master servants in the castle. The man had become her confidant the moment he had helped her, ten years ago. She'd trust him with her life.

[Namingtoohard]

Caught slightly off-guard by the princess' sudden offer, Sennu didn't deign to answer at first. He couldn't help but wonder over the familiar question, one last time. The very fact that Aryende had offered to tell him meant that she already knew the answer, which gave the master-servant some inkling. Regardless, by the time he had made up his mind, the princess had already began to speak. He made no move to interrupt the royal as she began her story, largely since he had been just a few moments away from accepting her offer regardless.

For the first time since their return, Sennu would fall still, ceasing the endless barrage of small tasks that he had been busying himself with since they had arrived at Aryende's room. He chose to settle down beside the queen's bed instead, watching the princess' face as she closed her eyes and began her retelling. His attention would drift down to the scar on her arm as she drew attention to it, before settling back on her features. There was beauty there, beneath the bruises and the swelling, but that was hardly the only thing that drew the man's attention. For once, the princess' expression seemed truly relaxed. More honest. As if she had been wearing a mask every other time he had seen her at court, and it had just fallen away, giving him a glimpse of her true self.

“I remember” Sennu would offer simply, a hint of a smile flickering across his features. Recognition danced in his eyes, accompanied by…something else. Tenderness, perhaps? Some strange sense of care, beyond the duties of a servant, and the sense of loyalty that all the castle’s staff were supposed to feel. A glimmer of genuine affection, fleeting, but very much there. It was written plain across his features for a few brief moments, if the princess would just open her eyes and look. As the discussion moved on, though, it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.

"It was Artemis who did this to you, then"

It was less of a question, and more of a statement. A rather presumptuous statement, at that. Still, Sennu was fairly certain that Aryende would correct him if he was wrong. Regardless, he avoided pressing the issue. Artemis towered so far above him that there was nothing Sennu could do - any move he could conceivably make against the crown prince would result in a swift and decisive execution. His anger was tempered by the cold, hard reality of the situation.

"I'll do all I can to help your mother. The last thing I want is to see either of you come to harm" Sennu would answer, punctuating his words with a not-so-subtle glance at the bruises on her midriff. Regardless, it seemed that the time for reflection had passed, and he still had work to do. If Aryende's words were true, he owed her a much bigger debt than that of a servant to their master.

"Now, lets deal with those damaged fingers, shall we?" he would offer rather simply, holding out his hand. He knew better than to just grab the princess, instead waiting for her to acquiesce. With his other hand, he would produce a scrap of cloth that normally would have been used by the cleaning staff - a poor substitute for some proper bandages, but it was the best he could do, considering the circumstances.

"I should really go fetch some proper dressings, and maybe make up some sort of compress for those bruises, but I'd have to get it past the physicians somehow. Besides, I'm loathe to leave you alone in such a state" he confessed rather simply while he waited. The man was unsure what the princess would make of the idea - whether she would accept the idea of better care for her injuries, under the preface that there was some risk of discovery involved in his attempting to retrieve said supplies.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende's breathing faltered when the servant spoke her eldest brother's name, and she spoke quietly, "I... He's been so anxious about father, who he's going to allow to marry me... He's called father out on every suitor," she shook her head, "I don't think he wants me to marry, but it's my duty." That was all. Her duty.

She studied the man, and murmured, "Mother was feeling well, today. Father brought her fruits, from the orchards, so she didn't eat what was prepared in the kitchens." The princess' uninjured hand reached out to catch the man's offered hand, and her fingers curled against his palm. She almost seemed startled with herself, before she composed herself and began to speak: "It's going to hurt?" She knew the answer.

Her uninjured hand released his, and she murmured, "Don't leave me alone – can you bring my mother? Will you get her?" The Queen would listen to him. "Please? She... She might have bandages and compresses." Her mother often fell, and broke bones, or had a fever or new bruises. "Will you bring her?" The Queen trusted Sennu, and would gather anything she had without question, and if she had nothing, she would give the man an order to retrieve them, for her.

Aryende didn't want to be left alone, much less risk the servant being caught by a physician who would get nosey. That would just end badly for everyone involved, including the Queen, Aryende, and most likely Sennu. Then some poor commoner would cut the rap for harming her; and be executed in the town's square...

She knew how this went. She'd seen it all before, after all.

[Namingtoohard]

"It will, but a little bit of pain is better than the alternative. If the fingers don't heal properly, you might lose the ability to bend them altogether"

Sennu's voice was gentle as the princess reached out to take his hand, but his expression remained firm. Any short-term discomfort that the act of tending to her injuries might cause now would be nothing compared to the consequences of leaving them untreated, as Aryende would hopefully come to understand. True, he might have been exaggerating a little in regards to the severity of such a choice, but it seemed a better alternative than allowing a little squeamishness to cause the princess permanent harm.

Truth be told, the idea of bringing the queen here was not one that Sennu would have considered. Aryende was hardly in any sort of state to be entertaining company, and there was always the possibility that the queen would insist on more open action being taken. If neither of these facts bothered Aryende, though...well, the servant was content to trust her judgement on the matter. He might have served them both in the past, but they were family, and both knew and trusted each other as only family could.

Family who didn't beat each other, at least.

"...very well. I'll go see if her grace feels up to a visit. I'll be back as soon as I can" he promised, withdrawing his hand and rising to his full height once more. The servant would move towards the door then, throwing a brief glance back at the princess over his shoulder before slipping out into the hallway.

It was a relatively short walk from the princess' rooms to those the queen resided in, but the hallways were usually full of servants and maids, scurrying back and forth as they went about their business. Today, however, seemed to be an exception. Most of the master-servants would still be attending the king's meeting - the same one where Sennu himself was supposed to be. AS a result, he passed only a few minor members of the castle's serving staff on the short journey, before he finally arrived at the door that led to the queen's room.

As was only proper, the servant would knock on the large door several times, before reaching for the doorknob. Having announced his presence, he would push the door open just a fraction - enough for his voice to be heard within, but without allowing him to see into the room, just in case the queen was currently occupied. All very proper and formal, as was to be expected of a master-servant waiting on a member of the royal family.

"Your grace, may I come in? I carry a message from your daughter, princess Aryende" he would offer rather simply, waiting for the queen's permission before he entered the room good and proper.

[Fanatasia]

Aryend released the man's hand, as he exited her room. He was hesitant, and she wondered what was going through his mind... She curled into her blankets, and she waited, patiently.

While waiting her thoughts wandered to Sennu--and she found herself upset. The first time he sees her body, and he can't help but stare in disgust at the bruises that mark her. Definitely not how she had always imagined it. It was twisted, to be thinking about this when she was still so injured, but...

..what could she do?

The Queen spoke softly, "Enter." She recognized the voice--her beloved servant; rather, her daughter's beloved servant. She was doing better today, as Aryende had not let her eat what the kitchen staff delivered for her. "Sennu, what a pleasure," she was still tired, but she stood slowly, hands clasping.

"Aryende? Has her father hit her again?" Her eyes narrowed briefly at the mere thought of her husband touching the girl. "Is she all right?" And briefly, she found herself asking: Why did Sennu end up tending to the princess, rather than a physician?

[Namingtoohard]

Once the queen had bid him welcome, Sennu quickly pushed the door open the rest of the way and stepped inside, before gently closing it again. When he turned to face her, a genuine smile flickered across the man's face, and he gave her a formal half-bow by the way of greetings. Sennu had not been lying when he told Aryende that serving her mother was a privilege; she was a much kinder task master than most, and her company often proved enjoyable beyond what one in his profession could expect. Of course, while working under her was one of the few facets of his job that he enjoyed, that was no excuse for Sennu to eschew formality.

"The pleasure is all mine, your grace"

Of course, the tone of the conversation quickly turned sour as discussion turned to Aryende's current situation. Truth be told, Sennu was somewhat surprised by the queen's decision to address the matter so directly. Hearing the darker side of the royal family discussed so openly was something of a shock, though that would not stop the man from performing his duty.

"Not his grace the king, no. It was her brother, Prince Artemis. Aryende...the princess insisted that he was not to be implicated, however. That his involvement were to be kept secret" the man would answer simply. Aryende had asked him to keep her brother's involvement a secret, but if the queen was already privy to such knowledge, then there was little harm in it, right? Besides, surely the girl's mother deserved to know the truth of matters. He doubted the queen would take any direct action that would spark a larger problem, considering.

"She has requested that you pay her a visit, if you are able. The princess seemed to be under the impression that you might have something in the way of medical supplies. Bandages or compresses that she could make use of" the man offered simply, before falling silent as he awaited the queen's reply. He would gladly push her to the princess' rooms in her wheelchair, but only once her grace had approved. Aside from that, he seemed rather unaware of the scrutiny he was under, and the way the queen was silently questioning his involvement in the matter.

[Fanatasia]

“Mhm… Artemis has always picked on her.” The woman pursed her lips as she moved to gather bandages, and some unused compresses. “Please, will you take me to her room? I’m assuming she’s refusing to see a servant because of who hurt her…” It was wise. Artemis scared even his mother.

The queen would settle into her wheelchair with the requested provisions on her lap, frail hands clutching the soft bandages and firmer compresses tightly. Once Sennu had begun to wheel her to the princess’ room, she was quiet.

At least, quiet up until she saw her daughter, curled into a fetal position, sniffling. Her face swollen, various shades of bruising. She whispered quietly, “Dear, Aryende… I’m telling your father.” Her voice was firm, even as the younger woman began to protest softly.

Aryende’s protesting was met by the firm voice of her mother, “This is the fourth time he has done this—and I have heard, from the servants, that he has been stone-walling your betrothal agreements.” She snorted. “Every single betrothal, your father has refused because of Artemis. And dear, that simply will not stand. It isn’t safe here for you.”

Aryende groaned and closed her eyes, as her mother held the compresses up to Sennu. “I can manage, dear boy. Tend to her.” She was watching her daughter quietly, thoughtful of how she responded to the servant. He held such a high ranking amongst the other servants; she’d been considering having her husband bestow some low title to him… Perhaps, if she orchestrated it right, he could be the one to take Aryende away from the palace. Away from harm.

[Namingtoohard]

"Yes, your grace"

Aside from that one simple response, Sennu was largely silent as the queen readied herself, and the two of them set off for Aryende's rooms. He walked the halls with all the calm confidence he had tried to display earlier, now that any risk of retribution was nullified by the queen's presence. The journey itself went rather quickly, and before long they had returned. Praying that Aryende hadn't worsened during his absence, the servant quickly moved to hurry the both of them inside.

The servant pursed his lips briefly as the queen announced that this was the final straw, and he quickly threw a glance at Aryende to try and gauge her reaction. Her protest was more or less expected, though Sennu remained quiet for the vast majority of their exchange, despite his wishes to have a say. He was nothing more than a humble servant - what could he really do? Both of the women were well and truly above his station, and discussed family matters in which he had no right to an opinion. Still, they were the two he had spent the most time working with. Perhaps, if he phrased it properly, he could have some small measure of input.

At the queen's bidding, he took the bandages and compress' she had brought, and once again moved to Aryende's side. He kneeled down beside her bed once more, taking a few moments to get everything in order, before turning his attention to the princess where she lay.

"We'll deal with those fingers first, I think" he would utter; a mirror of the concerns he had voiced earlier. With the bandages at the ready, he would take her injured fingers to hand. With a gentle touch, he would probe at them in search of breaks. As soon as he had a somewhat clear idea as to what he was dealing with, he would bind the fingers together, bandaging those that were damaged to the few that seemed whole. Hopefully the limitations in movement, combined with the support keeping them straight, would be enough to have the breaks heal without any complications.

"There, that's the worst of it done with. It all gets better from here" he would offer simply, hoping that would help ease the princess' nerves somewhat. Taking the compress to hand, he would lean across and press it to bruises on Aryende's face. If they were watching closely, one might perceive something of a tenderness in the servant's gaze as he worked. A touch of compassion, or affection, hidden just behind his eyes. After a few moments of silence, however, he would speak up. His words were directed not at the princess herself, but at the queen seated opposite.

"With all due respect, your grace..." he started simply, trying to sound as polite and unobtrusive as possible. After all, he was coming close to overstepping his bounds here. "Isn't there a chance that dragging his Highness' actions to light will only put her Highness further at risk? If he believes she has spoken out against him, he might seek...retribution"

[Fanatasia]

Sennu began with her fingers. It took everything in her not to scream, instead she whimpered against her free hand, nails pressed against her cheeks in pain. Then, it was over. They were bound; throbbing and definitely irritated but no longer easy to move.

He promised her that it would all get better from this point, and she groaned softly at the soft press of the compress, her eyes closed. He was gentle, and for that, she was thankful. It was the most relaxed she had been since he had found her. Then he was speaking. Not to her, and that was all she needed to know to let her mind wander off.

The queen nodded thoughtful, "And that is why, Sennu, I'll be arranging to have Artemis sent off. Most likely my husband will go with him, and the rest of her brother's as well. The war on the border is worsening, but my health had declined so terribly that none of them would leave." She adjusted her chair, and rolled forward so that she could caress her daughter's hair. "Perhaps, with the men gone, I can work out a betrothal agreement." She murmured, softly. "Get you away from here."

Aryende seemed to have succumbed to sleep, as her breathing had eased out. Her mother rested her hands in her lap, and studied the girl for a moment. "Take me to my chambers, and send for my husband, please. Then you are to return here--nobody else tends to her, or enters this room until she is well. I do not care if the crown prince himself tried to order it unlocked."

"For the bruises on her stomach, get tea leaves. If those don't help with the swelling, there is a healer--Deidrae who I trust. She lives in the swamps, and you will have to leave Aryende to find her, but she's the best." The queen fully trusted the man to handle her daughter's care. "I will be fine, one of the lower servants can tend to me."

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu remained silent as the queen declared her plan in full, seemingly content with her explanation. To send the king and his sons away together...could it really be so easy to solve all of Aryende's problems at once? Sennu remained somewhat sceptical, but he was willing to defer to the queen, trusting her judgement on the point. She had much more experience playing at court than he, to say nothing of her authority. If anyone would be able to manage such a thing, it would be her.

Once he had finished applying the compress to the bruises on Aryende's face, Sennu would withdraw his hand. The other bruises on her body would likely benefit from such a treatment, but they were hardly as severe as those he had already seen to, and it appeared the queen had other work for him. He would turn his full attention to her as she gave him an explanation of the steps he was to take from now, nodding in simple acceptance. The knowledge that she wished to be attended by minor servants conflicted with what Aryende had requested he do earlier, but this hardly seemed the time for an objection. He would figure out a pretence under which to take the queen's food to her personally later.

"Deidrae, within the swamp. As you wish, your Grace" the servant would mutter softly to himself, in an attempt to commit it to memory. Once he was certain, he would rise and step away from the princess' bed, moving to seize the queen's wheelchair once more. From there, he would escort the queen back to her own rooms, retracing the same path he had taken earlier that day. Once he was content the woman was comfortable and needed nothing more from him, the servant would leave her there, heading back out into the castle. He would make good time, for the most part, until he came across Mara - his co-worker from the meeting before. Without missing a beat, she grabbed his arm, bringing him up short.

"Sennu! Just where the hell did you go? Lirael said that you went off to restock, and just never came back. She's not happy about having to cover your position for the rest of the meeting" she would point out. Her voice was soft, but her tone was anything but. Sennu winced briefly at the mention of his co-worker's wrath, but it was unavoidable now.

"Sorry, sorry. I got waylaid by the queen" he offered rather simply by the way of explanation, choosing not to elaborate. Mara's expression seemed to soften a little at that; she knew well the perils and pitfalls of their work.

"Well, I'd suggest you go and apologise to Lirael when you get a chance. That, or avoid her until she cools off a little" she answered, to which he nodded.

"Might have to be the latter. I'm on messenger duty now, so I can't delay" he started. Mara released his arm then, and the two said their farewells.

From there it was a brief walk to the king's chambers, where the servant announced himself as bearing a message from the queen to the guards on duty. Once admitted, he would certainly greet the man formally and promptly deliver the queen's request for a meeting, driven by the need to return to the princess' side as promptly as possible.

[Fanatasia]

King Artemis allowed the servant in, hardly glancing up from his paperwork as he listened. His queen was enough of a reason to stop working, after all. He stood, shutting his tome, and dismissed the man; his wife's pet servant. If he'd been insecure, he would have worried she was sleeping with the younger man, but honestly? She was too sickly for things like that. Though, recently she had gotten better.

He made his way to his wife's chambers, entering with a gentle knock. "Hello, dear." He allowed his gaze to wander over her form, prone form her chair for once. She'd settled into bed for the night. She looked well, better than she had in a long while.

"Artemis, sit down, please. We need to talk." She had moved herself to her bed, and patted the space next to her. Her nightdress was silken, reaching to her knees, as she settled under her blankets, against her pillows. "About our daughter. She was brutally beaten, found in a closet by a servant." Her voice lowered as she murmured, "She said it was Artemis. He's done this before, but never in this magnitude."

Her husband's face reddened, and she could not help but study him in silence for a moment, wondering if he was going to blow his top or not. "Artemis, she did not want me to tell you who hurt her. She's afraid of her brother. He's always been so mean to her, then the rest of them. And every single betrothal you try to push for her, he finds a way to get it declined." She sat upright, and leaned into her husband's side. "I think he wants her as his own wife, and is simply waiting for you to pass away to do such a thing." It was not uncommon, but the girl was the only female princess, and as tradition stated, would be married--typically to another kingdom's king.

The king stared at his wife, nodding slowly. "Okay. I'll take the boys with me to the front lines." He squeezed her hand gently. "We'll leave tomorrow." He pressed a kiss to his wife's forehead, murmuring, "Artemis will learn to act like a king, and a soldier. If he lays another hand on her, darling, we'll have to disown him." The king may resent his daughter, because he thought she was weak, and had wanted more son's, but he never beat her hard enough to even bruise. His choice in attack was words--and words did not break bones. "I believe I'll stay the night with you, though, if you're up for it." He grinned wryly, for the moment assuming his daughter was being tended to by physicians, not a simple servant. The queen had not suggested otherwise.

Back in Aryende's bedroom, Sennu would find her asleep again. Her fingers were curled into her hair, her injured hand pressed to her chest. She slept deeply, and would do so until the next morning--whereupon she would awake in pain, whimpering and sobbing as she adjusted herself on the bed. She had forgotten about her injuries during her sleep.

It took her a moment to calm down, her breathing hitched and filled with pain. Sennu would have been summoned to take the queen to see her family off, the king had done as promised, and was taking all of the princes with him to the front lines, so that they could learn to serve the people.

Aryende pushed herself to sit up, ignoring the pain. She could hear cheering and clapping, the people were excited about... something. Slowly, every step causing her to flinch, she made her way to the window to watch down below. All those horses--they were leaving... she counted quietly, counting the brother's, counting their father.

It was just her and mother left behind. She clutched the windowsill for dear life, as her vision blurred and she almost blacked out. She shouldn't be up and about just yet, but she had to watch them go. Her mother had gotten what she'd said she wanted. She wondered how long they would be gone.

As the procession left, Aryende tried to make it back to her bed, only to trip over the carpet. She hit the ground and curled inwards on herself, gasping around the pain that reverberated through her body.

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu’s audience with the king turned out to be both quick and painless. Logically he knew that the man would treat him no differently than any other servant sent to carry a message, but he couldn’t help but feel some sort of trepidation as he approached the door. The meeting passed without incident, however, and Sennu quickly found himself dismissed, with his task completed. He would slip out of the room quickly and quietly, before exhaling a breath he hadn’t even realised he was holding.

He would make his way towards the princess' room almost immediately, driven by both the queen's personal instruction and his own concern for her physical state. Letting himself into the room as soon as he arrived, Sennu was greeted by the sight of Aryende fast asleep. A small smile flickered across his features as he gazed over her for a moment, but that would be that. She would need the rest, and he didn't want to risk disturbing her.


~~~~

The next morning, Sennu would find himself in assembly with all the other servants. The castle's entire staff had been called upon to attend the king's farewell, with the exclusion of a small skeleton crew that would keep the building running in the meantime. Rather predictably, his position as the queen's personal attendant had led to him being positioned rather close to her, and together they would watch the royal family's procession as they left the capital.

Honestly, he was amazed - true to her word, the queen had gotten her husband and sons to leave in one fell swoop, with no immediate consequences for Aryende. Sennu had known that she was a woman of means, but the suddenness of their departure shocked him. One night to prepare an entire trip? It almost seemed absurd. Of course, he held his tongue over the matter in the queen's presence, not wanting to risk offending her with his doubts. She had managed to secure a brief respite for her daughter, and for now that was enough.

As the procession slipped from sight the crowd would slowly begin to thin. All the servants, guards, and townspeople began to depart, moving off to resume their normal duties. Sennu would move to attend the queen, but she quickly rebuffed him. True to form, she insisted that some of the other servants would be sufficient. Whilst she didn't state it outright, Sennu understood the hidden message; his duty was to see to Aryende, as she had stated the previous night.

Sennu would separate from the rest of the crowd and head back towards the castle, fully intending to do as the queen had suggested. During the walk he would mull over what the queen had said last night about getting tea leaves, planning ahead for the day to come. He would knock on the princess' door promptly once he had arrived, before once again letting himself in.

"Good morning, princ-" he would start, before cutting himself short as he caught sight of the fallen princess. Other thoughts pushed from his mind, Sennu would immediately rush to her side, kneeling down alongside her. He didn't bother wasting time trying to ask what had happened; Sennu could guess, and Aryende's wellbeing was undoubtedly more important. When he spoke, there was no hint of anger or reproach in his voice; the princess was undoubtedly in enough pain as it was, and she didn't need his scolding adding to her suffering.

"It's alright, my lady. Help is here. The pain should pass momentarily" he cooed softly, trying to calm the wounded princess. He would reach out and rest a hand on her nearest shoulder gently in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture, before glancing over her figure quickly in search of any new injuries. He stood out as immediately obvious, but that was hardly conclusive.

"What were you trying to do, getting up on your own like that? You're hardly fit enough to be up and about on your own" he would continue softly, even as he continued checking her over. Truth be told, the servant felt a little silly, speaking to a member of the nobility in such a manner. He had no idea if what he was saying was technically true, or if his words would even help. Regardless, he would continue in his attempts to soothe her until she had visibly calmed somewhat.

"Come, lets get you somewhere more comfortable. Can you stand?" he would ask rather simply, lending Aryende his arm for support. If so, then he'd willingly let her lean on him to make sure that she avoided another fall. If not, then he'd just have to resort to carrying her, like the previous day.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende couldn't help but cry as her legs threatened once more to buckle beneath her. She couldn't help but to cry, even as he lifted her into his arms, and she felt the familiar elation at being near him. "Wanted to... watch... them leave." She whispered, drawing a pained breath between each word. But it was overshadowed by the pain falling had caused, and now moving her was causing it. Eventually, he settled with her, to lay her back into her bed and the fingers of her uninjured hand grasped his shirt, mumbling, "N-- No." No order, no request. Just 'no'.

Should he continue to hold her, she would curl into him, and eventually her breathing evened out and she was fast asleep, her face buried against his chest. If he tried to lay her down, she would cry out--and her grasp would tighten in his shirt. She slept for hours, and at some point it had to be assumed he got her to settle into her bed rather than his arms, so when she awoke and was laying in bed, panic immediately flooded her gaze. She rolled onto her side, reaching across the bed for something, she wasn't even sure what she wanted, and her fingers curled into the blankets, as her eyes adjusted.

She wanted to find Sennu; where was he? Her good hand curled into the blanket, she rolled and pushed herself upright--there he was. He was sitting by a cart with food; when had he put her into bed? She remembered telling him to hold her... Well, she had actually said no. She hadn't given him any proper orders. Perhaps she should have, though.

Carefully pushing herself upright, she would accept a tray across her lap, and glance to her uninjured hand, quite glad that it was her dominant hand. Otherwise he would have to help her eat. She wasn't sure she'd like that kind of help... Nevertheless, she began to eat her meal slowly, speaking up: "Did mother say how long they're gone?" She only wanted to know because it would tell her how much freedom she had--and how long she had it.

As she finished her meal, she murmured, "Sennu? Will you take me to the baths? Please?" She wanted to bathe, it'd been a few days after all, and she was certain she smelled terrible. The royals baths were private, closed off, and nobody ever entered without permission--and the only two royals were the princess and her mother, currently, so nobody would dare cross foot into the baths.

[Namingtoohard]

Quickly relenting in the face of Aryende's pleas, Sennu would relax and forget about trying to disturb her any further. The servant would simply continue to hold her gently, content to try and comfort the princess in what little way he could. Sennu had no idea how much time passed whilst the two of them were sitting there - even once she had fallen asleep he dared not move, out of fear of waking Aryende prematurely. Stuck there as he was, Sennu did his best to enjoy the opportunity. The princess looked oddly peaceful whilst she was sleeping, even with her fingers curled into his shirt and her head resting against his chest. He was struck with the urge to reach out and stroke her hair gently, but caught himself - such a thing was hardly appropriate, considering.

The passage of time quickly lost all meaning. The light streaming in through the window was the only means by which he could judge, but the early morning light made it somewhat difficult to distinguish. All he could be certain of was that it had been a few hours, at least. Eventually, once she seemed well and truly settled, Sennu would finally try and extradite himself from the princess' grip. He moved slowly and carefully, and thankfully managed to slip away without disturbing Aryende too much. After settling her into bed good and proper, he would finally make his exit.

Sennu would take advantage of these few brief moments of freedom to attend to the princess' other request. He would travel to the kitchen and collect the meals that the chefs had prepared for mother and daughter both, before promptly delivering the first to the queen. After that he would return to the princess' rooms with her own meal, only to find her still sleeping. It wasn't to last, though; she quickly stirred even while he was getting things ready. Had the noise disturbed her, or had she woken of her own volition? He wasn't sure. Either way, the princess didn't seem too irate.

"She did not. They'll likely be gone until matters on the border are settled, however long that may be. Regardless, we'll undoubtedly hear of their return a few days in advance, so that appropriate preparations can be made" the man would answer simply, even as he busied himself with other small tasks around the princess' rooms. Of course, he stayed close enough to stay within earshot...and close enough to keep an eye on her, lest she try and walk off on her own again. He would return to her bedside when she finished her meal, quickly gathering up both plate and cutlery, before pausing briefly as she requested a bath. After a brief hesitation, the servant would nod.

"Certainly, princess. Whatever you wish" he would respond, recalling the queen's instructions. As soon as she proved ready, Sennu would pick her up once more. Just as he had the previous day, the servant settled for getting one arm behind her knees, and the other around the back of her torso. With her head resting against his shoulder and the rest of her body curled up against his chest, it proved extremely similar to the way a husband might carry his wife across the threshold. Sennu quickly pushed such thoughts from his mind as the two of them began the journey, though.

Getting out the door proved the trickiest part, but before long the two of them were on their way. Whilst traversing the halls, he silently wondered what they might look like to any of the castle's other residents. As if in response to his thoughts, the two of them had the misfortune to pass two of the other servants, who were currently engrossed in conversation. His old friend Mara, and Lirael - the servant he had managed to offend with his vanishing act yesterday. She wouldn't confront him here, with royalty in attendance, but that was the least of his concerns. They feigned ignorance and continued their conversation as Aryende and Sennu passed, but he met their eyes briefly at one point, and that was enough.

He could only imagine what sort of gossip was going to pop up amongst the servants when this got out.

When the two of them arrived at the baths, Sennu would quickly slip inside, Aryende still in his arms. Once the door was shut behind them, though, he would pause briefly. This was the first time he had seen the royal baths in person, and their extravagance was enough to draw his attention. A master-class in masonry and tiling, they seemed to rival the throne room itself with their majesty - at least to his untrained eye. Ornate carvings and water features were the least of the luxuries, with carved women holding stone jugs pouring streams of hot water into the pools below.

Remembering himself, Sennu would direct his gaze back down to the princess in his arms, relying on her for guidance. He had no clue just how she wanted to proceed, and just what sort of assistance she might require. Better to avoid being presumptuous and let her guide him on such matters, openly requesting whatever it was she actually deemed necessary.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende closed her eyes as he carried her. She didn't notice that he was staring around the baths. She should have known, or expected, but she was still enjoying having his arms around her. It was comforting, not to be in arms that would hurt her. What's more, it was giving the princess ideas. She enjoyed when he tended to her, carried her around... She buried her face against his chest, and took another moment to enjoy his proximity, before she murmured, "Will you help me?"

Carefully, she'd set herself onto her feet, her uninjured hand gripping his wrist to hold herself steady. "I... I need you to help me bathe," her voice broke a bit at that request, as she averted her gaze. "Please." She wasn't thinking about the fact he would see her naked, that did not bother her--what bothered her was that she couldn't do the simplest of tasks, just yet. It hurt to lift her arms, it hurt to move. She was hoping that soaking in the heated waters would help her.

"You've never been in here before, have you?" She murmured, studying him thoughtfully for a moment. His brilliant green eyes were so nice to look into, and his dark, well-kept hair... She flushed as she averted her gaze. "If you can help me get into the baths, you can look around a bit... I just want to soak for a while," there was no sense in actually washing when she'd just sweat from the heat of the bath. So she'd wash towards the end of her time. "And if you would like, you can bathe as well." It was posed as a suggestion, with a hint of begging. She did not, under any circumstances, want the man to leave her alone.

Aryende would not admit that she wanted him to stay because he was kind, and the object of everything she desired. No, oh no. She would not admit that she wanted to gaze at him, have him look at her. She was almost certain he saw it as his duty to help her, and that was the only reason he had stayed--well, that and her mother ordered him too.

Once Sennu helped her undress, a feat which Aryende took far too much pleasure in, despite the pain that his soft touches caused, and then helped her into the baths, she closed her eyes and settled into the heat. It was welcomed, new... and it felt good against her abused form. "Feel free... to join me." She murmured, lazily.

The heat relaxed her muscles, and she almost wanted to go to sleep.

[Namingtoohard]

As always, Sennu remained steadfast when it came to doing his duty. At the princess' request he would slowly lower her to the ground, feet first. Taking extra care to make sure that she was stable, he would gladly support as much of Aryende's weight as she required, until she was standing upright and more or less stable. Even once she was standing, he would maintain his grip, wary after her first fall earlier that day. Sennu didn't want to take any further risks when it came to her wellbeing, especially avoidable ones like this.

His composure would crack a little at Aryende's next request, when she announced that she would need help bathing. He immediately felt his cheeks begin to heat, coalescing in a tangible blush that would've been immediately obvious had the princess actually been looking his way. He had to firmly remind himself of how the nobility saw servants - they were just a part of the background, like a piece of furniture that existed to be used. Did she just think the same, paying no respect to their genders? She seemed shy about something, but perhaps that was more related to their injuries.

"Whatever you require, princess." His answer was much the same as always, though a hint of nervousness had crept into his voice unbidden.

Regardless, when the time came, he would set about the task of undressing the wounded Aryende. Sennu moved slowly then, taking great care to avoid causing her any undue discomfort. His touch was soft and gentle, every little movement deliberate and considered. When her clothes had fallen away and she was submerged in the water, he would take it upon himself to turn away. He busied himself gathering up her clothing from where they had been unceremoniously dropped, trying to buy himself a few precious moments to recover his composure.

The offer to join her, when it came, caught Sennu totally off-guard. The idea was extremely tempting - so much so that he couldn't deny that, even to himself. Perhaps for the first time, he genuinely considered breaking protocol to take her up on that offer.

"A-are you sure that would be proper, my lady?" he would question in an equally soft tone, nervousness showing through clearly in his voice this time.

Once Aryende had responded in the affirmative, Sennu would slowly move to join her. He felt somewhat shy and sheepish as he undressed, but the princess seemed otherwise preoccupied. Relaxing in the bath as she was, Aryende didn't seem to be watching, which was some small reassurance. Once his clothes were neatly folded and stowed safely out of splashing range, he would move towards the bath, feeling naked in more ways than just the absence of clothes could explain.

Picking a spot that seemed a respectful enough distance away from the princess, but still close enough for them to converse or for him to assist her quickly, Sennu would slowly ease himself into the water. A content sigh escaped his lips unbidden, and his eyes flickered closed briefly. He tilted his head back as he lowered himself into the steaming hot water up to his chest - where he came from, baths were a luxury, especially ones with hot water. He was used to bathing being a cold and unpleasant affair, usually involving big tubs of standing water, and smaller buckets that were dumped over oneself. This was an altogether different experience, and a much more enjoyable one.

Doing his best to relax, Sennu would sink a fraction deeper into the water. After a few moments spent in blissful silence, however, the man found he was still a little tense. Unable to help himself, he threw a cautious glance at the door - what would happen if someone came in and caught them like this? It was unlikely, given that this was the royal baths, but who knew? Perhaps the queen would decide to use them today, or a staff member charged with their cleaning and maintenance would walk in at an untimely moment.

The soft sloshing of water could be heard briefly as he adjusted his position a little, before settling back again. Subtly, the man would throw a glance at Aryende. Should he say something, or just let her relax in silence for the time being? She certainly looked at peace, laying there as she was, and he was loathe to disturb her. That said, having her fall asleep here wasn't exactly advisable either, even with his presence.

Even as he thought to himself, Sennu once again found himself staring. He would start a little at the realisation, hastily turning his eyes away. Unlike the last time, today his focus had not been on her bruises or injuries. Rather, her figure had caught his attention. Not the parts of her body that were obscured by the water, but more simple things. The curve of her jaw, and the lines of her collarbones.

She really is beautiful, beneath all those bruises

The thought popped into his head almost unbidden, and only served to fluster the servant further, despite the fact he had just been trying to relax. Almost immediately, he would speak up, having unconsciously made his decision. An attempt at distracting himself, if not both of them, and quickly shifting his thoughts into safer territory.

"Just let me know when you would like me to begin" he would offer softly, not wanting to interrupt any more than necessary. Even something as simple as a nod or hum would satisfy him by the way of a response, at which point he would again sit back and try to calm himself. The princess had requested this, after all.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende was used to servants viewing her naked, but even still, she felt his eyes on her and her cheeks flushed. It was a light enough flush that it could be blamed on the heat. She shifted in the water, staring at the ceiling. She glanced towards Sennu in time to see the man glance hesitantly towards the door, and she spoke up: "Nobody comes in if they're in use. Besides, the only person who does enter here is my mother." She hitched one shoulder, watching the ripples her movement caused in the water. Her eyes flitted back to Sennu, in time to see him, taking notice that he seemed to be struggling to relax.

"I'm ready, when you are." She replied, quietly, adjusting herself on the bench she was seated on. "There should be oils and soaps..." Scattered, around the side of the baths. "You should really try some of the oils, they might help you relax. It is not healthy to be tense." She murmured, averting her gaze for a moment. For him to truly feel the affects of the oil, she would need to massage it onto points that he could not reach, and while some part of her relished the idea, another part of her did not.

She moved to stand, weight shifting in the water as she moved towards another bench. She was slowly and effectively making her way to Sennu, taking careful precaution to grasp the side of the baths. Once she had reached him, she would settle beside of him, hardly thinking about the impropriety of being so close. "Get me the purple oil," she murmured. Once he had, she would squirt it onto her palm, and gesture for him to kneel in front of her, back to her. "Have you ever had this done?" She inquired, as she worked the oil over every surface of her uninjured hand.

Petite fingers found his left shoulder. She would have to work slower, due to lacking a hand, but her ministrations would be just as firm and even. She worked his left shoulder for a bit until she felt the tension there release, and then her hand went lower, running along his shoulder blade, his spine, before she rested her palm against the back of his neck. "Why are you so tense, Sennu? Do you carry this much tension with you all the time?" She might be hurting, but she was genuinely worried about her servant--perhaps for more selfish reasons than just 'can he perform to the best of his ability with this much tension?'

It amused her, a bit, that she was the one working over Sennu's back to ease his tension when he was supposed to be helping her wash. Nevertheless, she kept her amusement to herself--most likely able to sense that he was a bit... uneasy, to have her hands on him, even in such an innocent way. "You should get a proper massage from someone with both their hands free, one day. It's glorious," she murmured. For a moment she was overcome with the urge to press her lips to the back of his neck, to nip at the skin there as it glistened with the lavender oil she was applying. She shook her head to clear it of her thoughts, and a little sigh parted her lips.

She could probably order Sennu to make her feel loved. Honestly, he probably would feel obligated to do as she ordered. But only because she was his superior. She didn't enjoy that, though. She wanted... love, not something out of necessity, need, requirement. And the fact it was forbidden was all the better. But it was also a death sentence for him, and heartbreak for her. At least...

...If anyone found out. Her heart beat quicker as she closed her eyes, envisioning a life with him; something she had done ever since that first time he had been stupid enough to help her. And now, now he was here to help her. The man was a knight in not-so-shining armor.

"Sennu?" Her hand had moved to his other shoulder, now. "Do you..." She had to pause here, and prepare herself in case he answered 'yes', "...have somebody that you care for?" Probably another servant. The thought almost broke her heart, shattered it. In whatever reality Aryende escaped too, Sennu and she had a happy life together, away from the politics, the sheer illogicality of it all...

Yet, here she was, asking for him to destroy her sense of reality. Or perhaps he would only confirm it.

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu nodded in simple acceptance when the princess announced that it was finally time, straightening up and opening his eyes as he accepted that his brief period of relaxation was coming to an end. He quickly retrieved the bottle of purple oils, just as Aryende had requested, and handed it over to her promptly. The servant would freeze when the princess suddenly gestured for him to kneel, however - that was a far cry from what he had been expecting, and somewhat improper besides. Of course, he could hardly deny Aryende when the princess was specifically requesting he do so, and ended up kneeling before her just as she had intended.

Sennu would instinctively shy away a little when Aryende's fingers first brushed against his left shoulder, before silently reprimanding himself. He would take a deep breath, trying to calm himself, before settling back as the princess had already intended. The servant would close his eyes and lean his head back, exhaling softly. Even once he had forced himself to relax and endure the princess' ministrations, the muscles in his shoulders were still incredibly tense. Her gentle touch and oil-covered fingers quickly worked to change that, however, coaxing any extra tension from them. Her efforts were surprisingly effective, despite her maimed and injured hand, and a soft groan slipped from his lips involuntarily.

"Not professionally, no" he mumbled softly in response to her first question, before pausing as he considered the second. Was it really appropriate to complain about the amount of work he did to one of the very nobles that he worked under? That said, this whole situation was unthinkable to begin with, and she had asked, so he would continue. "Working beneath the king can be worrying at times, considering the consequences of failure. My mother relies on me to support her, so.." he would start, before he would trail off, puzzled. Why had he suddenly felt the need to speak of her? Apparently the princess was coaxing more out of him than just the tension in his shoulders.

"Certainly. There are a great many people I care for" he answered her next question almost immediately, without a hint of hesitation. Despite his intentions to the contrary, Sennu was beginning to relax around the princess, forgetting the formalities of his role in favour of simple honesty and openness. "My mother, the queen, a few of the other servants...even you yourself, my lady"

A simple admission, and one that would likely impact the princess more than he seemed to realise. Sennu would continue to recline peacefully even as his words faded. He found himself wondering just how thorough the princess would expect him to be when she wanted the two of them to swap places; what it would be like to run his hands down her sides, or feel out the curve of her thigh. Dangerous thoughts, and a rare moment of indulgence for the normally stalwart servant. After a few moments longer, though, he conceded that it was probably time to move on.

"We should probably swap over. I don't want you to overexert yourself on my behalf" he would add after a few moments. Pending the princess' acceptance, Sennu would reluctantly move away from her questing fingers. The servant would rise to his full height, before taking a moment to stretch. He would extend both of his arms up above his head, revelling in the feeling of his loosened muscles stretching out. When he was done the servant would half-turn back towards the princess, a genuine -if not slightly bashful - smile turned up the edges of his mouth.

"I thank you for the assistance, my lady. I don't think I realised just how much I needed that. Now, please, allow me to return the favour" he offered, quickly moving to retrieve a washcloth from the available bathroom supplies. Collecting it from the same place he had gotten the oil just a few moments earlier, he would move back towards the princess, wetting the cloth on the way. After pouring a generous amount of oil onto it, he would settle in alongside the princess, before finally beginning his work. Working slowly, he would start with her arms, running the cloth over them slowly whilst remaining mindful of her injuries. Even as he worked, another question popped into his mind unbidden. After a brief hesitation, he would speak up again.

"If you don't mind me asking, princess...why the sudden interest in my personal life?"

[Fanatasia]

Aryende listened quietly, appreciating his honesty. When he brought up his mother, she tipped her head, and inquired softly: "Does your mother not work?" The question was not asked in a condescending manner, though it would no doubt sound condescending coming from a princess of all people.

She listened as he answered her question, biting her lip gently. Why wasn't she first of that list? She shook her head gently and smiled, "It is dear that you care so for my mother, Sennu. It pleases me to know she is in such capable hands." She squeezed his shoulder, and then he was asking to tend to her.

Aryende allowed him to move, to gather the things he needed, and she watched him. As he stretched, her gaze wandered--the planes of his back, his arms... and lower, where the water obscured her visage. Her lips parted, as she took in his bashful smile, gaze skirting across his chest. Oh, she wished she could stare, unabashedly at him for centuries to come. It took her a moment to realize he had spoken to her; thanked her, nonetheless.

"You are most welcome, Sennu." It made the jealousy in her heart, at not being the first name he uttered as to who he cared for, fade just a bit.When he began to work the cloth and oil along the skin of her arms, she closed her eyes and leaned into her seat. She had allowed her mind to wander; wondering after what his touch, without the cloth, along her curves would feel like. What his fingers dipping into the skin of her inner thigh would feel like. She sighed, softly, when he spoke again and brought her from her stupor.

"Please, Aryende is fine." She had opened her eyes to look at him, now, chewing her lip. "I take interest in your personal life, because I take interest in you... You are the kindest person I have ever met." She leaned forward, studying his face, and with her uninjured hand she reached to trail her fingertips against his jaw, murmuring, "I wish I could know all of my servants as well as I know you. I've not got the briefest idea of most of their names."

That, of course, was not what made him so special. What made him so special was how quickly her heart fluttered, he may even notice as his hands moved across her chest. How he could make her smile, or soothe any hurt just by taking her into his arms. She moved to stand, her uninjured hand resting on his shoulder to ensure she would not fall. "Thank you for helping me," she whispered, allowing her gaze to wander across his form absently.

[Namingtoohard]

The servant hesitated briefly as the princess suddenly insisted on him using her real name, despite the formal grounds on which they stood. Such a thing was entirely inappropriate, considering their stations, but...well, virtually everything about their current situation was already inappropriate. If the princess - Aryende - insisted, then who was he to refuse?

That line of thought was quickly cut short when Aryende leaned forward, whispered compliments slipping from her lips even as her fingers traced a line along his jaw. Almost immediately, he felt his face heating up - and not from the warm water that surrounded them. The gentle brushing of her fingertips seemed to send an electric current dancing across his skin, and the servant was overwhelmed with the sudden urge to kiss her. For a moment he teetered on the edge, before finally wresting back control of himself and glancing away.

"Most of the nobles we serve don't even take notice of us. We're supposed to be a part of the castle, a tool to be used without consideration. That you would even consider getting to know us is much more then we would expect from any of the other nobles...Aryende"

When his task was complete and the princess moved to rise, Sennu was quick to accommodate. Almost on reflex, he wrapped a hand around her waist gently, helping support her even as she placed a hand on his shoulder. His touch was light, and he tried to refrain from being too forward. His grip would only tighten if it seemed that the princess was about to fall, allowing him to maintain some semblance of propriety. Still, he was quickly becoming less and less convinced that his intentions were solely subservient, and not more personal in nature.

"Its been my pleasure, Aryende. Its rare for one of us to get a chance to relax like this, and even more so the opportunity to speak with one of the royal family so. Its been a very enjoyable experience, all things considered" he answered honestly, a genuine smile flickering across his features as their gazes met. Then the moment passed, and he would continue.

"Come, let me get you a towel" he offered, stepping away once he was sure the princess had managed to find her balance. The servant returned just a few brief moments later, two folded towels held in his arms. He set the both of them down nearby, before taking one to hand and approaching Aryende. After what was only a brief hesitation he quickly set about the task of drying her off, rubbing the towel along her body in a quick yet efficient manner. His touch was less discriminating than before, but he did his work quickly and efficiently, despite temptations to the contrary. When he was done the servant finally withdrew, quickly moving to retrieve his own.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende lowered her hand and settled upright as he spoke about the manner of most nobles. She tipped her head slightly, and spoke up, "I assure you, I'm nothing like most nobles." She offered a slight smile, "I enjoy taking the time to get to know the people that run this castle," she leaned into his embrace of her waist, "Without servants, where would the pampered royalty rest?" She inquired, sighing as her feet touched the dry floor beside of the baths.

"It is rare for one of you to take me up on my wish to know you better," She commented in return. She didn't want his touch to leave, and still leaned against him, savoring the fact his arm around her waist was leaving a burning trail of heat. She wondered if his touch would burn everywhere... Or just there. He offered her a smile, and she smiled in return, despite the fact it hurt to do so. It didn't hurt her heart; which was thrumming against her rib cage.

The little girl who had been helped by the older boy, was screaming inside of her--begging for her to go against everything she had been taught about propriety of her role... However, the woman that girl had grown into, was begging to be touched. He released her, to go get a towel. Sennu only let Aryende go once he was positive she was not going to fall over. She felt lost, without the heat of his touch, and with his back turned a pout claimed her mouth.

By the time he had returned, though, the pout was gone. He rubbed her with the towel quickly, never lingering. She pouted softly, before reaching to claim the towel from him, "Let me." She could manage this, after all, even with just one good hand... That would be enough. Should he protest, she would level a steady stare, before moving to run the towel down his arms slowly, taking her time whereas he had gone quickly. The towel ran across his torso in slow motions, as she watched him for a reaction.

Eventually, Aryende had settled onto her knees, to run the towel along his legs, having done his back, and her hand lingered; hesitation in her eyes, before the two sides of proper and rebel fought and one side won. Her fingers would curl around him, gentle. Her eyes raised to his face, watching him as she continued to minister soft movements, her cheeks flush with color. Sennu might have been able to control himself; to stop from kissing her... But Aryende did not know that control.

In her mind, she was giddy. On the outside, she was neutral, watching him--studying for a reaction. If she received any sort of negative reaction, she would release him and draw away. Otherwise, she would continue at a steady, slow pace. If he made any noises in reaction, her lips would curve into a quiet smile. For such a timid girl, there was no timidity here.

[Namingtoohard]

True to form, Sennu did try to protest when the princess insisted on drying him off in turn. While the massage Aryende gave him had turned out to be wonderful, something as simple as this hardly boasted the same sort of mutual benefit. Furthermore, he was hardly injured, and thus didn't require any assistance to do so. He opened his mouth to speak, only to be silenced by a glare from Aryende. He surrendered the towel relatively quickly then, inwardly resigning himself to the fact that he was never going to win against a determined noblewoman, no matter how insistent he tried to be.

The servant endured Aryende's ministrations in silence for the first few moments, quietly allowing her to do as she wished. He avoided eye contact for the most part, unsure where to look or what to do with his hands. On the one instance where their gazes did in fact meet he responded with a small, slightly awkward smile. There was no denying that he found some small satisfaction in feeling her hands work their way over his body, but that wasn't a fact that he was planning on making public.

Sennu started a little when he felt her fingers brush up against him, a blush immediately suffusing his cheeks. This time he glanced down at the princess almost immediately, surprise written all over his face. Despite the clear question in his eyes, though, the servant made no move to pull away. Even as his mind struggled to catch up, his body responded to Aryende's touch, giving her one clear sign that he was enjoying it, and that she should continue.

"Ary, are you sure that-" Sennu started, before cutting himself off mid-sentence. A soft groan slipped from his lips unbidden; a subtle sign that the princess was doing her work very well indeed. He reached down with one hand to cup her face, thumb stroking one cheek gently in a gesture that was tender, almost affectionate...or would have been, if not for the carnal situation they had found themselves in.

Just how had the princess - a member of royalty, and someone who was supposed to remain pure until her political marriage - gotten so good at something like this?

When she was done with him, both Sennu's breathing and legs felt shaky. It took him a few moments to regain even a small modicum of his composure, which Aryende had well and truly broken in the last few moments. It was only after he had managed to catch his breath that he would finally speak, an equally shaky smile flickering across his features.

"Where did that come from? Not that I'm complaining, of course" he offered, the rather direct question feeling strange on his tongue. They felt oddly informal, considering their respective positions, but...well, propriety didn't seem to matter all that much at the moment, after what had just happened. After Aryende had responded, the servant spoke up again, voice much quieter this time.

"Would...do you need me to return the favour?"

Had he not already been red in the face before speaking, he certainly would have been after it.

[Fanatasia]

She found his attempts at protest adorable, and she tilted her head as he avoided eye contact, furrowing her brow thoughtfully. When he gave a little start, she hesitated but only for a second. He was blushing, and that...

...it was like a wave of color had washed over them both, his blush triggered her own. This time, they met gazes and she watched him. Then, he spoke--called her Ary; didn't even use her full name. Oh, she didn't mind. Aryende was such a long name anyway. He didn't finish his question, so she didn't answer, if anything, the groan was all she needed to hear. She leaned into his roaming hand, her injured hand rested on her knees.

When she was done, she wiped her hands on the towel she had used to dry him, and rested her head against his hip, listening to his breathing as he struggled to even it out. When he finally spoke, she withdrew to study him, biting her lip as she shrugged. "You were not relaxing enough." Lies. She'd wanted that moment since she had first been helped by him. Since he'd first started rescuing her.

"I..." Aryende averted her gaze, staring at the ground for a moment as she tried to decide. The answer was no, because she was so used to be used--to being hurt. But Sennu was not Artemis. She brought her gaze up, and nodded slowly. In truth, she might not like it, she might back out. But she should at least try. Who knew where it could lead?

"We should probably... the bed would be much more comfortable." She raised her hand for him to take, so that she could stand. Then, releasing him, she claimed the clean nightgown that had been laid out, holding it out without so much as asking for help; he'd helped undress her, and she was not planning on wearing it for long, if she had her way.

And she was almost certain that she'd have her way.

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu hesitated briefly as the princess did, suddenly feeling extremely nervous. Had he overstepped his bounds? The man was all too aware that a single word from the princess was more than enough to render his life forfeit, even without any sort of proof or a trial to determine his guilt. He knew, logically, that she was the one who had started them down this path. Nothing about this situation seemed logical, however, and it was totally possible that she had come to regret the act only after the fact.

Her reply, when it did come, quickly waylaid any fears that the servant had for his own well-being. In fact, the sultry suggestion seemed to imply that she wanted more than Sennu had intended with his offer. Such a response should have soothed away his concerns, even excited him a fraction.

Why, then, did he still feel so nervous?

The servant was quick to help Aryende to her feet, and to take the nightgown when it was offered. Stepping around behind her, Sennu quickly held it open, and assisted her to slide both of her arms into the sleeves. After making sure that it was tied and secured modestly, he turned his attention to his own state of dress. Without a resupplied change, the servant settled for redressing in the same work pants and white undershirt he had been wearing earlier. He opted not to wear his vest this time, instead folding it and draping it over one of his arms formally. Such a thing was generally accepted amongst the serving staff, provided the situation wasn't particularly formal.

Just like the first time, Sennu offered the princess his assistance with getting back to their rooms. He was happy to carry her again if required, or simply provide support should Aryende wish to walk but still prove somewhat unsteady on her feet.

He felt a strange sort of anticipation as they finally approached the princess’ room, despite his lingering nervousness. This was the sort of thing that happened in fairy tales and romance stories, not real life. Even beyond that, there was a strange sort of exhilaration that came from the knowledge that this was happening behind closed doors. That it was happening so close to the rest of the castle’s inhabitants, who had no idea…even the inherent danger of what would happen should they be caught gave him a strange sort of thrill.

As soon as the two of them had slipped back into Aryende’s room, Sennu immediately moved the princess over towards her bed. Once she was settled and he was free to move again, the servant quickly returned to the door, making certain to lock it behind them. Taking a deep breath to try and calm himself, he slowly turned back towards her again.

“Is…do you need anything else, Aryende?”

He wanted – needed – her to give him some sort of indication that she really wanted this, that it was okay. As soon as she did, there would be no more hesitation, no more holding back.

[Fanatasia]

Of course Aryende opted to be carried. She liked his arms underneath her, fingers pressing against her flesh as he kept a hold on her. She was comfortable in his arms, now. When they reached her room, she adjusted herself on the edge of her bed and watched as he locked the doors. Her head tilted slowly, studying him thoughtfully, as he asked her a question.

He wanted to make sure she had not decided to back out. She spoke up, "Of course I want something, Sennu." She had adjusted her dress, but now her fingers trailed against the buttons, undoing them slowly. "I gave you something." She didn't admit she'd wanted him since she was sixteen. No, she wanted to see if he was as good as she imagined him to be.

Once she had undone the last button, she pushed herself upright, swaying for a moment. "Come here," she murmured, settling against the headboard, her legs crossed as she got comfortable on the bed. "Come over here." She watched him thoughtfully. He was so nervous--was he afraid to be caught? A valid concern, but not one the princess had to really worry about.

After all, if she was caught... it'd be a slap on the wrist. Him, however, was another story. If he was caught, he'd surely face great consequences, if not death. But she'd not let anyone catch him--nobody could take him away from her, so long as they were careful.

The next morning, Aryende woke up with her face pressed against a well-built chest. She squinted towards the door as another knock sounded, and the doorknob jiggled gently. She continued to ignore the knocking, content to just trail a finger along Sennu's jawline gently. Whoever it was could come back later.

Or they could just go away forever. She was fine with that too. Her eyes closed as she thought back on last night, and the soreness of her body was explained as images flashed across her mind's eye. So gentle, but at the same time... anything but. She groaned under her breath, as she stretched her arms above herself. "Mhm... You are... exceptional." She mused, studying the man, unsure of if he was awake or not.

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu had been forged into an early riser by the necessities of his work. Years spent getting up first thing in the morning and immediately working to tend to the needs of the castle and its inhabitants had given him the skill to wake early and quickly without major complaint.

The morning after his first night spent with the princess, however, proved to be a rather different story. Perhaps it was simply because he was exhausted after the evening they had shared together, or feeling a tad more relaxed after the bath and massage she had blessed him with. Regardless of the cause, Sennu stirred a few moments after Aryende had spoken, and the doorknob had rattled. It was unclear which of the two had woken him, and if the servant had heard her praise, he gave no immediate sign of it.

Blinking rapidly as memories of the night before came rushing back, a satisfied and almost cheeky smile flickered across his features. He glanced down at the princess, shifting slightly as he tightened his arm around her naked form. For a few moments he seemed not the servant he had been the most of their time together. At the moment he was just a regular person, himself, much as he had been during those few shared moments last night.

"Morning" he said rather simply, voice deep and scratchy; a lingering aftereffect of the fact that he had just woken up. He wanted to kiss her, then - to lean in and press his lips to hers. To pull her close, hold her tight, and roll over for more of the same. She had proven absolutely exquisite last night, both before bed and after, and the memory alone was enough to tempt him towards more of the same. He couldn't help but wonder if that was pushing things a little or not, though. He couldn't help but wonder just what these few brief moments of respite meant to Aryende. Had this simply been a moment of idle pleasure, either premeditated or in the spur of the moment, or was it indicative of something greater? A lasting dalliance, or possibly even genuine feelings? The possibility excited him more than he cared to admit.

"Ary..." the servant started, intending to voice his thoughts and pose her that very same question, before trailing off. For a few brief moments, he considered using his abilities on her; concentrating hard to focus his power, use his ability as an empath to try and glimpse some sort of understanding.

At that rough moment, the servant's train of thought was interrupted by a loud and definitive click from the room's locked door. The same servant who had tried to get in before had, assuming the princess was either out or still asleep, gone to retrieve the key so that she might clean the room without disturbing her. Sennu jolted slightly at the unexpected sound, half pushing his upper body up off the mattress. Not enough for him to be sitting properly upright, but enough to disturb the resting princess. He was just in time for the door to swing open and reveal Lirael - the same servant he had managed to annoy with his disappearing act some two days ago. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of Sennu and Ary both, and she quickly mumbled something that sounded vaguely like an embarrassed apology before pulling the door closed again.

"Lirael" Sennu called, even as the door snapped closed. His call came too late to stop his fellow servant, unfortunately, who vanished as suddenly as she had appeared.

"Ah, shit" he swore, seemingly forgetting that he was in the presence of royalty for the moment. He brought a hand up and ran it through his hair idly, which was uncharacteristically messy, before finally turning his gaze back to the princess.

Their first night together and the two of them had already been caught. It almost felt like fate was playing some sort of cruel joke.Questions of what it might have meant seemed redundant now, compared to what he could very well end up facing in the next few hours. Even if he did manage to catch up to Lirael before she said anything, what would he do? Beg her not to tell? Try and explain something that he himself didn't exactly understand? Sennu wasn't quite sure. He'd have to deal with that issue when he came to it.

"I...I should probably go after her" he offered, quickly glancing about in search of his clothes. Provided Aryende didn't stop him, the servant would rise when he spotted them, and quickly set about the task of getting dressed.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende caught sight of the cheeky smile, and offered her own grin back toward him. "Morning." He had begun to ask a question of her when the door to her room opened, and he'd jolted upright. She huffed and pushed herself onto her hands and knees, glaring after the retreating servant. Lirael, huh. Aryende was not sure that she appreciated Lirael's intrusion, now her favorite play-thing would rush off after the other woman...

She clicked her tongue, as Sennu cursed. "Naughty, naughty." She purred, reaching out to trail her fingers against his bare chest, only to have him pull away and gather his clothing to dress.

"Mhm... You should," she commented, moving to get out of bed and rest against his back, "but you could stay here, with me. Deal with her later." Her arms would encircle his middle, fingers splayed against his chest as she inhaled deeply, murmuring, "Don't ruin my morning. It'll just be gossip." Her injured hand was still bandaged, and where her face rested against his bare back, he'd feel heat in areas where she was healing. "Don't you dare leave this room. Drop those." She reached with her uninjured hand to try and unhook his fingers from his pants.

"Come on. We were so happy before her interruption. Let's find that happiness again." She coaxed, as she released his middle to try and claim his hand, so that she might guide him back to bed. This was a surefire indication that Aryende had enjoyed her late-night romp with the master servant.

He might just be more of a master than she was letting on, too. She closed her eyes as she settled on the edge of the bed, humming as she waited for him to decide: would he defy her in an attempt to do damage control? Across her mind's eye floated various visions of their night together, entangled limbs...

Beautiful feelings, a soreness she most definitely could ignore. Noises of pleasure from her lips--from his. She recalled clawing his back, and vaguely wondered if she'd left marks. The thought of marking him left her perpetually pleased, just a bit. She thought she may make it a point to mark him the next time--whether that time was now, or later--just to show everyone he was taken.

"Who is she, to you?" She inquired, suddenly. "Most men in your station are engaged, if not married. Is she in that position with you?" She tutted at the thought, and a rage willed itself to life within her core, even before he had a chance to answer.

[Namingtoohard]

The princess' touch was enough to make Sennu hesitate, even when he was already half-dressed, and had the consequences of being exposed dancing at the forefront of his mind. His hurried movements slowed at first, before eventually stopping altogether. His pulse continued to race, but for reasons altogether different than the panic that Lirael's interruption and the potential consequences had caused him.

Even beyond the physical distraction that her interruption offered, the logical part of his mind acknowledged that Aryende spoke sense. There was every chance that the servant would hold her tongue, for a handful of different reasons. Even if she did speak about what she had seen straight away, stories of the princess in bed with one of her servants would simply become another rumour, and of a type not uncommon amongst the serving staff. The only person to verify them was someone who was publicly known to be annoyed with Sennu at the present moment, so there would be little to credit the rumours, and the chances that someone in power would overhear and decide to act on them was low indeed - especially with Aryende's immediate family gone.

Desire and concern warred within him, before desire finally won out.

"...you're right, of course. If worse comes to worse then you can always summon her later, and she'll be required to seek you out" Sennu finally conceded. The servant gave in to the princess' orders then, letting her draw his hands away as she so desired, and finally obeying her order to 'drop those'.

When Aryende questioned him, the master servant moved. Far from drawing away, he simply turned on the spot, spinning about so that he was facing her once more. He reached out with both of his hands, resting them on both of her shoulders gently as she looked down at her.

"Do you think I would have spent the night here with you were I engaged? "She's just a coworker. Nothing more. " he answered, his smile fading just a fraction. Just what did she think of him, to consider the possibility that he was being unfaithful? After a moment spent to calm himself, however, Sennu spoke again. "I...may have done her wrong the other day, when I found you injured. I asked her to cover my section of the table at your father's meeting when I went to look for you, and never got the chance to go back." A wry smile flickered across his features at the memory.

Despite his words, however, Sennu couldn't help but wonder why Aryende had felt the need to ask. Her enticing pleas to stay made it feel as if she intended this to be more than a single night's fling, but just how much more? In the silence that followed his final words, the master-servant began to focus on the princess, calling forth his powers as an empath. It took him a few moments to drum up the necessary concentration before he quested out with his mind, trying to brush up against Aryende's thoughts, get a glimpse of what she was feeling. Despite all his focus, however, the servant came up with...well, nothing. A twinge of pain and the onset of a headache, betrayed by a brief wince that flickered across his features, totally ignorant of his attempts to stifle it. For whatever reason, his abilities had failed him. Such a thing was not unheard of - perhaps he was simply still a little out of it, after both the previous night and the shock of being caught that morning.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende stared up at him, murmuring, "It isn't beyond engaged or married men to sleep with another woman. And I'm not one to share with others." He had to understand. If he had been engaged or married, she would have forced his hand--forced him to divorce or leave the other woman for her. But luckily, he wasn't. He was all hers.

Hers.

When he spoke about how he had done the girl wrong, she scoffed, reaching to trail her hands against his hips, murmuring, "That's a terrible, terrible thing to do to someone. Subject them to Father..." She shook her head, as she felt something brush against her mind. Seeking something more--questing. She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, as he winced. Hm. Unlike the rest of her people, she was a strange outlier; presented with no psychic abilities of any sort. Once, as a small girl, her father had become frustrated, trying to teach her, and brought a physician. The physician was one of the rare few, skilled in both physical and mental psychic skills, in various areas of each field. However, only his physical abilities affected the girl. She was declared to 'be shielded', protected...

Useful for when it came to infiltrating other nations. Which was what her father had hoped to accomplish with the various betrothals he'd attempted to stick her with. She reached up to rest her hands on either side of Sennu's face, murmuring quietly, "Come here," she'd lean upwards a bit to press a kiss to his mouth, murmuring, "Are you really worried about Lirael?" Her voice was level, as she stared up at him, thoughtfully. Her injured hand was a bit awkward, but her uninjured one was tracing along his jawline, carefully.

"If she worries you, I'll let you go tend to her." She'd manage without him for a bit, she was doing better; as she had shown him last night.

***SKIP ONE MONTH***

Aryende was flourishing without her father and brother's. Her injuries had healed without an issue, thankfully, so Sennu could not regret his decision to listen to her and forego a healer. Aryende was hardly interested in keeping her relationship on the down-low, either.

She'd come across him working and tease him quietly, or she was the one he was working with. She knew the servants talked--but who was going to care? Certainly not her. She had yet to hear about her father and brother's returns home, so for now?

For now she was free. There were no more betrothal meetings, there was nothing to tend too as her mother was also much better--no longer confined entirely to a wheelchair. Lucinda was eating more, and doing more. Sennu, of course, still delivered and prepared her meals. Aryende was convinced someone had been poisoning the older woman.

Today, Aryende sat across from her mother in the gardens, her long tresses were free of ties today, and she wore a gentle, flowing dress to suit the heat. Lucinda was discussing the way the kingdom was flourishing under the two of them, where it had suffered under the men. "Mother?"

"Mhm?"

"Must we relinquish control when Father returns?"

"...Sadly."

"The people could revolt."

"They wouldn't."

Aryende's gaze was caught by a bird, and she studied it as it cleaned its feathers, "Mother?"

"Yes?"

"You did remember to send for our breakfast, didn't you?"

"Of course."

She was expecting Sennu; he was usually the one who served her mother, and herself, if she could get away with it. She wondered vaguely where the man was at.

[Namingtoohard]

"...So?"

'So what?"

"Are you going to tell me whether the rumours are true or not?"

Both dressed for work, Sennu and Mara stood together within the castle's kitchens, surrounded by several head chefs and their assistants. A few of the less experienced staff threw a few glances at the servants as they worked, stacking a nearby trolley with the plates of expertly cooked and carefully plated food that had been prepared for Queen and Princess both. With a dish in hand, Sennu would glare across the counter at his companion, who grinned at him mischievously.

"A few of the cleaning staff swear that they saw you escorting her to and from the baths, and word is that Lirael caught the two of you in bed together" Mara pushed, eyes dancing with both amusement, and...something else. Curiosity, perhaps?

"Lirael was pissed off because of the way I ditched her at the king's last meeting" Sennu pointed out rather simply, stepping around the trolley to grab it by the handles, even as his companion set out the last of the cutlery and the likes.

"I don't think so. We both know what a story like that could do if it reached the wrong ears. No matter how pissed off she was, she wouldn't try and get you punished that severely"

"Nothing's come of it yet" Sennu offered as the final plates were stacked. Pushing the cart along ahead of him, Sennu headed for the door. Mara followed, moving ahead to push the door open for him.

"Nothing's come of it yet"

"No, and you'd better hope that it doesn't. More to the point, you'd better hope that the rumours die out before the king and his sons announce their return, regardless of whether they are true or not"

"Now that's something we can agree on"

"Mm"

The two of them cut a path towards the gardens then, both thoughtful and silent as they traversed the castle's corridors. Sennu's own thoughts were focused on his relationship with Aryende, such as it was. She had hardly been the most secretive concerning their coupling, and he found himself wondering what would happen when that eventually did occur.

When the two of them reached the garden Mara once again cleared the way for Sennu, who approached the royals with their meals. As soon as he approached them with the trolley he immediately began the task of unpacking, setting everything out for their meal.

"My apologies for the delay, your royal highnesses. Hopefully we didn't keep you waiting too long" he greeted them both.

The servant might have been on good terms with both nobles, and well and truly familiar with the princess. He could hardly forgo Aryende's title when the queen was around, however. He wasn't totally sure how much the woman knew of their relations, and whether or not she would approve, despite her supposedly high opinion of him.

"A wonderful day for a meal outdoors, if I do say so myself" he offered a little more forwardly, even as he went about his work. That, at least, was both a concession and a privilege he allowed himself.

Even as he worked, however, the servant found himself throwing subtle glances towards the relaxing princess. There was no denying that she still lingered at the forefront of his thoughts, and for reasons totally unrelated to his earlier discussion with Mara. Of course, he promptly stopped himself and focused on his work again, hoping that the queen hadn't noticed. He had been such a model servant once - what had happened? Or rather, just what had Aryende done to him?

[Fanatasia]

"Aryende?"

"Hmm...?"

"There's rumors."

"I know."

"Just rumors?" Lucinda's eyes had found her daughter's face, her lips pursing just enough that the younger would catch it.

"Just rumors."

"You sure?"

"Why?"

"Just..." The woman leaned forward, murmuring, "...I understand. You know, before your father and I enjoyed one another, I too had a servant." Lucinda allowed a fluid smile to claim her lips.

"What?"

"Mhm. His name was Lyett."

"What happened?"

Lucinda's amusement faded. "Ah, I got pregnant, and not by your father..." The Queen watched her daughter's eyes narrow, and answered the unasked question: "The other Queen's did the same. Artemis has your father's name, because he thought that the people would question his legitimacy less. With Darling, the twins--Warren and Yusa--were the bastards. For me, the bastard... mhm, was Octavian."

"What happened to Lyett?"

Lucinda waved a hand, "He was killed, beheaded. Your father claimed he'd forced himself upon me just so he could do it publicly."

"Were you there?"

"Mhm, no. I was locked in a room, until Octavian was born."

Aryende was obviously uncomfortable, as she shifted in her seat, and glanced askew.

"Aryende," the woman murmured, "Just be smart. You're unwed. If you become pregnant it will be obvious; and with rumors in the air, it'll be even more obvious who to behead."

The princess stared at her lap, in an uncomfortable silence, even as she heard the jingling of glassware on the cart as breakfast finally arrived.

Then, just before Sennu could apologize, she spoke up to her mother: "Is that why he wants me? We're not related? Can he do that?"

"He does know--but he's still your father's heir."

The younger fell silent again, flexing her hands as their breakfast was sat out. She didn't glance to Sennu.

The Queen spoke kindly, "No worries about being late. Thank you." If she had noticed his look, she said nothing.

"Aryende."

"No."

"Eat."

"Tell me--why was he so against a betrothal for me? Does he want me?"

"Your father thinks so."

"But he's not my brother."

"But he will be your king."

"No. I could leave."

"Aryende."

"Mother."

The princess had stopped looking at her lap now, biting her lip. "The King of Nerova still writes." The King of Nerova was a young king, about her age--he'd met her when she was just a girl; they'd played together. She had fond memories for him, and he was safe.

"All that, to run?"

Aryende murmured, "Better than him. He hurts me, you know?"

Lucinda's face fell, and Aryende took a breath. "I've had two miscarriages since I was sixteen, mother."

"His?"

"His."

Lucinda pursed her lips, and murmured: "I see. Eat." She focused her gaze on the garden around her, humming thoughtfully. "I'll begin talks with Nerova. If that's what you want." A simple nod was all that she got in response, Aryende's face was hot with tears.

Run, little rabbit.

Run from the hound that hunts you.

Slowly the princess began to eat, taking her time. She wiped her eyes gently, and continued her refusal to see her most favored servant. She'd just asked to run away--to flee it all--the assumption would be that he'd stay behind; here. With her mother. She sipped her juice and murmured,

"I'm sorry, mama."

Lucinda shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reassured your father that it was just his mind being silly." She chewed her lip and requested parchment and a quill, and upon receiving that she would begin to pen a letter to the King of Nerova.

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu continued his work in relative silence as the two nobles discussed the topic at hand - namely, that of his ongoing dalliances with Aryende herself. The dishes were set out quickly and efficiently, and the cutlery were laid in perfect form. Drinks were poured and presented without so much as a single drop being spilled, leaving all cloth in the vicinity completely unmarked. Each task was performed with precision and care, despite Sennu's thoughts about how he had slipped in recent times. When he finished his work he retreated to stand alongside the cart promptly, staying close just in case the two royals needed any further assistance.

That wasn't to say that he was completely unaffected by the things that they discussed, however. Any small signs of his good mood, brought about by the prospect of another day spent working in the presence of Aryende, were quickly stomped out by the topic at hand. His smile faded into a more neutral expression, and he refrained from any further passing remarks, let alone any direct input into the topic at hand.

A small part of his mind couldn't help but wonder if her majesty knew that he, specifically, was the servant in question. It seemed likely, considering most of the rumours he had heard mentioned him by name. Was she disregarding him by discussing this topic now, or had she willingly chosen to have this discussion with the princess whilst he was around?

"As you wish, your Grace"

His response to the queen's request for both parchment and quill was met with a rather stiff and formal reply, and Sennu immediately withdrew to comply. He headed back for the same door through which he had entered, eyes flickering briefly towards Mara, who stood in attendance alongside it. Was she close enough to be within earshot?

As soon as he slipped through the doorway, she moved to follow him, which was more than enough to confirm his suspicions. He paid her no heed at first, but Mara - pushy as ever - quickly caught up to him.

"See what I mean, Sennu? Even the queen has...are you alright?"

She cut herself short when she caught sight of Sennu's expression. More or less defeated, he let out a soft sigh, slowing to a stop and turning to face her good and proper.

"I'm...not sure, honestly" he offered, voice soft.

"You really do care for her"

Sennu nodded.

"You heard the things they were saying, right? Its...proving very hard to stay calm"

Mara pursed her lips, an expression akin to concern flickering across her features.

"Do you want to trade places? I can go get the parchment, attend to them"

"No, no. Its alright. I just need a few moments to compose myself" he answered softly, running a hand through his hair quickly.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'll speak to Aryende about it later" he offered. At his words, Mara's eyes went wide.

"So it is true, then?"

"You'd better get back before they realise that we're both missing. Wouldn't want to get yourself in trouble"

Giving his companion something akin to a mischievous grin despite the grim reality of his situation, Sennu would turn away then, strolling off before Mara could say anything more.

It was only after that he had taken a few moments to compose himself and collect the things the queen had requested that Sennu would return to the garden, quickly presenting the queen with the writing implements that she had requested, and throwing another subtle glance towards the stricken princess.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende watched her mother write, glancing briefly towards Sennu, before away again. She listened to the scratch of the quill against the parchment, and settled her fingers against her temples, closing her eyes.

The princess sat this way for a while, before she reached out a hand for Sennu, whispering as she rose to her feet, "I'm sorry, Sennu." Her voice was quiet, and she ignored the imperceptible glance her mother sent their way, even as she buried her face against the man's shoulder.

"Running is... the safest and the easiest and..." She shook her head slightly. Aryende could not think of any other way, really. She pressed against him, murmuring, "Promise you'll forgive me, if I run?" She tipped her head slightly, leaning onto her toes as she curled her arms around his neck.

Her mother was blatantly ignoring them, writing quicker and quicker. Even as Aryende pulled herself upwards, and curled her legs around the servant's hips, the queen said nothing. "I can delay leaving but... Nerova's the best choice. At least he's nice." Her hands had trailed through his hair, briefly, and she murmured, "Perhaps I could arrange so you could come with me..."

Aryende's feet touched the ground again, and she stood on her tiptoes, nuzzling into him and breathing otu a shaky breath. "Won't you stay with me as we are? Not as my servant. Mother doesn't care." She waved a hand, dismissing her mother. "I don't care if those rumors spread."

She was unaware of the other servant, almost as if she had completely avoided the other woman. There was just her, her mother, and Sennu. She pressed her face against his chest, a new torrent of tears coming to front, murmuring: "Never, ever leave me? Please? Stay with me forever. We can... we can find a way to make it work."

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu threw an uncertain glance across at the queen when Aryende embraced him, resting her head against his chest in a manner most endearing. After a few moments, though, he finally relented and wrapped his arms around the princess' slender form in return. One hand slid into the small of her back, to hold her close, whilst the other came up to rest on the back of her head in what he hoped was a comforting gesture.

"I'll forgive you. Do whatever you must to keep yourself safe"

His tone was gentle as his touch, despite the concerning implications of what she was saying. Sennu didn't much like the idea of having to watch on as a servant while Aryende married someone else, even though he knew logically that it was the only likely outcome. That hardly seemed like the sort of thing she needed to hear at the moment, though, so he refrained.

Still, the servant found himself hesitating when Aryende asked him to stay with her. Part of him wanted to commit himself to her, as she asked. To set her mind at ease. Things weren't quite so simple as to depend solely on what the two of them wanted, however.

'I'll...it'll be hard to leave my family behind. But we'll figure something out" he offered finally. His expression now was something akin to a frown, and he was immensely glad that Aryende couldn't see his face in that particular moment. Even as he comforted the daughter, though, the servant turned his attention back to the mother, directing his gaze across towards the queen.

"How long do we have, if everything goes well?"

The whole time, Sennu was sure that he could feel Mara's gaze boring into his back. He didn't let the thought disturb him, however. No, he had other priorities at the moment.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende's fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, as he stated his forgiveness, or rather... anticipation of forgiveness. That was enough, for now. It didn't make much sense for her to apologize and seek forgiveness for things that were out of her control--because she was not seeking it for the act of running, but truly seeking it for all of the things he had heard come to light just now. She was scared he no longer wanted to touch her; though his hand against her head, and her back, were quite reassuring.

"I... Why do you have to leave your family?" She frowned, shifting her weight slightly. "I'm..." Slowly, she began to push away from the man, slight hints of betrayal in her gaze. "You don't want to come." The words dropped past her lips like anvils from the sky, the weight of them settled into the air and she straightened her dress and fixed her gaze on the ground. "Why? Am I not enough?" The betrayal truly shone through here, lacing every single word she said.

Then he addressed her mother, and the woman calculated time in her head, "Two weeks to reach Nerova, three weeks travel time..." She tutted softly, "About two and a half months." She finally stated, with a slight smile. Lucinda's smile faded as she took in her daughter, however, and she refrained from speaking, even when Aryende started out of the gardens. The slight tremble of the princess' shoulder suggested she was crying.

[Namingtoohard]

The queen’s answer in regards to time was met with an appreciative nod, but the information was quickly pushed from Sennu’s mind by matters much more pressing. The servant resisted at first when Aryende tried to pull away from him, releasing her only with a great deal of reluctance. The harsh words that followed stung more than any physical rejection, however, and Sennu flinched away from them as if he had been slapped. When the princess withdrew and started to cry, he observed her in silence for a moment, torn by indecision. His mind whirled with contingencies and plans and ways that he could possibly make this work, battling with the need to comfort his lover. To wipe away her tears and reassure her that everything was going to be okay, even if he didn’t know that for sure.

“You know that isn’t true” Sennu offered, only to be surprised by how shaky his own voice sounded. The servant took a few steps towards Aryende then, reaching out for her once more. Sennu would lay a hand on her shoulder, every bit as gentle and tender as his intentions. Provided that the princess didn’t pull away, he’d try to wrap her up in another embrace, bringing a hand up to wipe her tears away with a gentle caress of the cheek. “I want to go with you. More than anything. It’ll take a little bit of time to get my personal affairs in order, but two and a half months should be plenty” he whispered, speaking only to her.

After a few seconds the servant would remember himself, and throw a glance back towards the queen. After a few moments he cleared his throat loudly, drawing her attention

“Perhaps the two of us could use a moment alone to discuss this” he started simply. It seemed that in the heat of the moment he had forgotten just who he was with, and the power that the queen had over the both of them. He didn’t expect the infirm ruler to move, of course; he and Ary could simply move away, and leave Mara to attend to the queen, should she prove willing. At some point during their conversation Sennu had decided to share exactly why he was so reluctant to part with his family, if only to provide Aryende some sort of explanation or reassurance, but such was a conversation he’d prefer to have without any unnecessary witnesses.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende, in the end, had forgiven Sennu for his hesitation, had come to understand. She spent that night, and every night thereafter, in his arms. The mere thought that she may be separated from him, even for a little while, garnered much thought and affection from the princess. There were times, entire days actually, where Sennu hardly worked because she'd pull him away--into a closet, or her bedroom; or his. And they were not exactly safe, they hadn't been this entire time.

It was hardly a surprise when Aryende announced to her maid that she was feeling ill one morning. She'd begun to feel tired throughout the day, and had stopped pulling Sennu away from his duties as much. When she actually began to experience morning sickness though, was when she summoned for a physician. The physician gave a tentative confirmation, and prescribed some herbal remedies for the fatigue and morning sickness, which Aryende took gratefully. Her wedding was looming close, only a few weeks away, and that was the topic of todays discussion.

Having taken her medicine, she felt much better and able-bodied. She slipped into lunch with her mother, eyeing Sennu appreciatively, as she settled into her seat. She didn't much care what her mother thought of her slumming with a peasant, and made very little effort to keep the relationship secret. She angled her head back and smiled, as he moved to pour her drink. "Hi, you." She leaned for a quick kiss, before he resumed his duties.

She turned her focus to her mother, smiling pleasantly as she watched the woman work through her dish slowly. Aryende's dish was brought out, and was much more bland than she typically preferred--but she'd only just started to take her medicines, and the nausea had not lessened all of the way.

[Namingtoohard]

For Sennu, the day in question had started off just like any other. He had spent the vast majority of the morning looking after the queen, as had become standard at this point. He hadn't been dragged away by Aryende at any point, which was a little bit unusual, but not totally uncommon. They both had their respective schedules to keep after all, despite their budding relationship, and how much either one of them might have wished otherwise. Regardless, that very fact had him looking forward to their inevitable meeting for lunch, and left him totally ignorant of the news that she had just received.

When Aryende arrived the servant was once again dressed in uniform, and positioned appropriately by the queen's side. When his lover approached, though, Sennu was quick to oblige her. He was much less worried about displays of affection in front of the queen after their previous discussion together, and indeed, the plans that she had helped them make. As always, the kiss seemed much too short, but it would have to do for now.

"Morning, dear"

His reply was equally casual. Not for the first time, he found himself wondering how he had slipped so much in such a short time. The answer, of course, was Ary.

It was always Ary.

After the meals were set and he had completed the most pressing of his duties, the servant would clear his throat. After a few seconds, he would speak up.

"If you don't mind me asking, your grace, have you heard anything from your husband recently?"

The servant didn't voice the thought, but he was thinking of their plans to leave together. Hopefully everything would run smoothly.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende smiled up at her servant, biting her lower lip thoughtfully. She turned her gaze to her mother, arching a brow. It had now been three months since her father had taken her brothers to war.

Her mother spoke, "Not from my husband, no. Artemis, however, sent ahead." Aryende's gaze narrowed and her fingers curled around her knife, as she held her breath. Waiting. "He sent ahead to say the war is almost over... They will be home soon."
Aryende leaned back in her chair, murmuring, "How soon?"

Lucinda chuckled wryly, "Long after you've gone. Nerovia's king arrives tomorrow, so if you've gone by tonight..." The elder woman leaned forward, glancing between the two of them. "...I can say you've died. There is a plague sweeping through the lower vallies," she made a gesture with her hand.

Aryende fixed her mother with a stare. She was to be dead? She tapped her fork against the table with a frown. "Where will I go if I'm dead, mother?"

"To the North. The Icelands don't know your face. Just your name."

Aryende mumbled something, before she spoke a bit louder, "Maybe I should just go through with Nerovia... At least then I'd be alive..." She glanced to Sennu, before shaking her head. "No--I want to leave tonight." Her mind was made up.

[Namingtoohard]

Despite his curiosity, Sennu's expression hardened at the mention of Artemis. The servant had never liked him much, quickly marking the prince as stubborn and entitled when they had first met. His displeasure had deepened on the day he had discovered Artemis beat his sister, before curdling and turning to hate when he had heard the real truth of the matter. The truth revealed last time he had waited on the royal family like this, and Aryende had admitted to the real extent as to which her brother had abused her. He threw a subtle glance the princess' way, but otherwise refrained from interrupting.

Pursing his lips briefly, he considered the queen's words carefully, before considering those of his lover. He bit on his lip gently as he mulled over their options, and how things would play out if they decided to leave tonight. He no longer had concerns over what would become of his mother, having extracted promises from the queen concerning her support and wellbeing, but still would've liked the chance to say goodbye. Packing was another thing that needed to be considered, but that could certainly be managed. Travel and the rest had been sorted out well in advance, so there were no issues there.

"I don't think it matters if the stories say you're alive or dead. You won't be here, and that's all that matters" he offered rather simply, though whether or not that would sway the princess' opinion he knew not. "If you want to leave, though, we'd best start preparing immediately. The sooner the better, really"

Truth be told, Sennu was not a man of the world. He had lived the vast majority of his life within the city walls, and never travelled more than a city away. For the opportunity to give Aryende a new life, free from this hardship, he would take the risk. All the more so if he got to share it with her, and without some foreign monarch getting involved.

"If we may, your grace. I'll send someone else to attend you on the way back to my quarters"

Just like that, their plan was put into motion. Pending the queen's dismissal, the two of them would be able to leave the garden behind, and go about the final preparations for the travel ahead.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende shrugged slightly, moving to stand as her mother dismissed them both. She moved to curl against Sennu's side, murmuring, "Maybe it'll be better if I'm dead. At least he won't come looking." She also knew her mother had already ordered a coffin made, and a funeral to be set up--her death was to be faked tonight, along with Sennu's. After all, if she died and then an esteemed servant simply disappeared... Well, people might want to know more.

She squeezed his hand, and murmured, "I'll meet you in front of my chambers." She kissed his cheek, and moved to her mother. The elder woman smiled thoughtfully, as she watched the servant disappear from the garden.

"You'll be happier."

"I know..." She chewed her lip thoughtfully. "Mother? This will work, right?" Aryende's blue gaze flickered to her mother's face as she kneeled next to her. "They'll never... suspect?"

"It'll work. Now go, the palace is set to burn in your wing in a few hours. Take only what is necessary. If too much is missing, they may suspect."

"Mother..."

"Hm?"

"...who's body will it be?"

"A maid died just the other morn, heart problems. She's about your height."

Silently, Aryende gathered herself and moved through the gardens, to her chambers. She'd offer Sennu a quiet smile, as she passed him, moving to claim a few of her simpler dresses. These were often used so she could blend in with the peasants.

"Mother said that she's going to have this part of the palace catch fire." She murmured, softly. Her gaze wandered her chambers, and she trembled for a moment. Inhaling sharply, she whispered, "And that there's a maid who died the other morn, who they're going to dress in my clothes."

As she spoke, she slowly began to shed her clothing, to change into one of her simpler gowns. Then, she disappeared into the washroom, to stand in front of the piece of glass that created the only mirror in her rooms. Carefully she drew a knife through her golden tresses, cutting jaggedly and carelessly, until her knee-length hair was only to her chin.

She shoved a hand furiously through her now-short locks, and moved away from the washroom, shaking hair from her clothes. She flashed Sennu a nervous smile, as she claimed a small coin pouch from her vanity.

"It's probably best to travel light..." She breathed out, claiming the small pouch of herbs to tuck into her dress as well.

She clasped her hands and turned slowly, studying the room she was about to leave, before she turned back to Sennu, and offered a wide smile. "It'll be a new adventure."

Aryende never told him the news she'd learned, instead she kept herself busy with preperation, and then, when night had fallen they were led out by one of the queen's trusted guards, through an underground tunnel. They were given a single horse, and some more gold.

"The Queen wishes you both well," the man whispered, as he turned to watch the smoke fill the air. The royal palace was aflame.

"You need to go, Princ--" He paused, studying her for a moment.

Aryende answered quietly, "Jura."

The guard simply nodded, and started back the way he had come. The princess eyed the horse, before she turned to study her lover, hands clasped tightly behind of her back.

"So... where are we going?"

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu nodded in simple acceptance when the princess asked him to go along ahead. Fully aware that Aryende probably wanted a few final moments alone with her mother, the servant withdrew quickly and quietly.

Instead of going directly to the princess' chambers, Sennu first headed off towards his own. Moving with clear purpose, he quickly slipped from the ornate rooms and hallways seen by royalty and visitors, into the gritty and functional back hallways and service rooms used by the staff that kept the castle running. There was no gold inlay here, no fancy carpets or hanging portraits. Whilst the rooms were infinitely darker and colder here, however, they were possessed of a warmth that the main castle was lacking. Workers stopped to chat to each other in polite tones, sparing as much time as they could afford without being seen as shirking their duties. There was an easy atmosphere, a sense of companionship, shared only by those who worked under the same demanding conditions. His time with Aryende was a pleasure, but for the most part, that was an anomaly. This was where the servants bonded, and worked together to get through the day. A far cry from the cold and formal relationship most of the workers here had with their employers.

Nodding and waving hello to a few of the faces that he passed, Sennu avoided getting caught up in conversation. He slipped into the servant's sleeping quarters, heading for the room where his own assigned bunk was located. A moderately sized room stuffed with several single beds, each accompanied by a trunk. The servant quickly moved towards his own, looking every bit like a normal servant between jobs as he began to go through his personal possessions.

Whilst he set about the simple task of gathering up his personal affects, Sennu allowed his mind to wander. A part of him really wanted to go see some of his closer friends for what was potentially the last time. To say his goodbyes, to explain to them what was about to happen. He quickly squashed the thought, however. The loss that his 'death' would cause them was regrettable, but belaying it wasn't worth the risk of compromising his future with Aryende. Now that he thought about it, taking too much of his stuff would be suspicious, too, if someone were to go looking once he 'died'.

With just the necessities and a few handfuls of sentimental personal affects tucked into a single bag, the servant quickly returned to Aryende's rooms. He arrived just a few moments before her, and quickly followed her inside, intending to help her pack.

The news that her mother intended to set the castle on fire made him wince, but he couldn't help but admire her dedication to their cause. To hiding her daughter, and his lover. The loss of her hair was another saddening loss, but that would regrow, given the chance. As would their future, with the opportunity the queen had given them. In that instant, nothing he had done or said felt like enough thanks. Maybe some day, in the distant future, when they were safe and settled, and Aryende's name had been forgotten, they could send her a subtle word somehow.

The walk down the castle's hidden tunnel felt like it was both an eternity and an instant. With just a few curt words, the guard wished them the best and then left them behind, disappearing back into the darkness, whilst the palace above crackled with flame. He stood in silence for a moment, taking in the awe-inspiring sight, committing it to memory. Then, finally, he turned his attention to Aryende.

"Lets just put as much distance between us and the city as possible for now." he offered, tone soft, almost mournful. This marked the end of their old lives, after all, and the beginning of a new one. Regardless, he quickly tried to recall the maps that the queen had showed him.

"After that, we'll follow your mother's plan and head north. We'll stop in Jotuun briefly to pick up any necessities that we didn't bring with us, and then head for the border" he answered. The words felt funny in his mouth, and he felt something like a refugee saying them. In a way, Sennu supposed that he was, even if he was only leaving for Ary.

"We can probably ride for a bit at first, whilst the horse is still fresh. After that we'll probably be better off walking, though, and just letting it carry our bags"

With that, he turned away from their old home and took a few steps towards the horse. Sennu was hardly a confident rider, but that was far from his only intention as he eyed their equipment and gear. As one would expect, the queen had done a good job at outfitting them for the journey....and as promised, there was a lot of hidden value to their gear. Money carried not as coin, but as high quality practical goods. Gear that would both aid them in their travels, and set them up nicely when resold at the end of their long journey.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende could not help but gaze back at her home, one last time. She nodded slowly and moved towards the horse, running a hand along his mane. Her mother had sent her favorite horse; the one she did tricks while standing upon his back. He was a trusted beast. “Hello, Ruuo.” She murmured, nuzzling against his face.

“Are you ready for an adventure, boy?” She curled her arms around the creatures neck, for a second, before she moved to pull herself onto his back. Normally a servant helped her up, but she was not under the impression that she was still a princess. She had to do things on her own, after all. Once she was settled, she turned to study some of the packs, claiming a bow and arrow with a fully stocked quiver.

Aryende had never hunted with her arrows before, but it was a hobby she enjoyed; the simply act of shooting. Needless to say, she was a good shot. “Sennu? Does she expect us to hunt when we are out of supplies?” She held the bow up, frowning. “I’ve never shot something that’s alive...”

Shaking her head she returned the weapon to its place and shoved a hand through her hair, which she already missed sorely. The woman leaned into the horse, and whispered, “I...” She was talking to Sennu, and abruptly stopped herself. No. She shouldn’t tell him. After all, travel and not always getting proper meals might affect her little secret. She’s tell him once they were safely tucked away in another land.

If her world was changing, she had to learn to change too. After all, she was the one who didn’t want to marry a king and play pretend. She was the one who had wante a free life with Sennu. “I’m worried for your mother. Does she know you’re not really dead?” If she knew, their plan was at risk. If she didn’t, well...

Once Sennu had settled into the saddle in front of her, Aryende curled her arms around his middle and rested against his back, closing her eyes to try and hide her tears. She knew he’d feel the slight wetness to his shirt, but she couldn’t help that. Slowly, Ruuo was given the command to walk, and eventually Aryende was lulled to sleep by the gentle motion of the moving horse. It was awkward sleeping upright, but she was emotionally drained and physically fatigued (though the fatigue was becoming more and more common, she suspected it would get worse as time went).

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu continued to watch the burning palace for a moment longer, before finally turning away, instead directing his attention towards the princess. He was less surprised to discover that she had mounted up, and more surprised by the bow she held in one hand. He eyed the weapon tentatively, a small frown plastered across his features as he stepped up alongside the horse.

"I'd certainly hope not. I've never so much as held a bow in my life. I imagine that its merely a precaution, just in case we end up without a choice"

He quickly moved alongside the horse, before throwing another glance at the princess as she began to speak. He also contemplated pushing the issue when she brought herself up short, but quickly decided against it. Instead he simply pulled himself into the saddle, taking the reigns in a rather loose grip, before urging the horse into motion. He was silent for a few moments as he tried to settle into its rhythm, before he would finally answer the question that followed.

"She knows that I'm leaving, but not who I'm going with, or where. Thankfully your mother agreed to make sure her needs were seen to" he offered.

If he felt the wet patches that her tears left on his back, Sennu decided not to comment. He simply assumed that they were Aryende's way of grieving for the loss of her old home, her old life. In the face of such suffering, it felt like there was very little he could do or say to comfort her.

Even when Aryende fell asleep, the servant continued his task of guiding the horse in silence. He took great care to avoid disturbing the princess, and even greater care to ensure that she did not fall. For the most part he simply allowed her to sleep whilst focusing on the task at hand.

It was only part of the way through the next day, when both servant and princess were stiff and sore from an extended ride and their first night spent sleeping in the wilds, that they came across their first town. A small forest village still well and truly within the borders of Aryende's kingdom, it was an unimpressive sight compared to the grandeur of the capital. Still, when they arrived, Sennu quickly drew Ruuo to a stop, before dismounting. He groaned softly as the muscles in his legs protested, but aside from a slight stumble, he managed to remain upright.

"Alright, time for a pit stop. We need to stock up on supplies before we go any further north, or we'll risk running out partway to the next town" he offered rather simply, turning his gaze to Aryende good and proper. "Your mother gave us more than enough money to get everything we need, so there shouldn't be any issues on that front. If there's any chance of us being recognised, though, then this is the most likely place. So lets hope that disguise of yours holds up, hm?"

[Fanatasia]

Aryende was stiff, and groaned softly in pain as she was helped from the horse. She closed her eyes, exhaling sharply, before she steadied herself. She offered a smile to Sennu, tipping her head slightly.

Her short hair tumbled against her head, and she chewed her lip softly. "I mean..." She shifted to tug a dull brown cloak from the horses back, tugging it securely around herself. She jerked the hood up and adjusted it gently. "...if it doesn't, I'm doing something wrong." She turned for a moment to claim a roll of fabric, humming thoughtfully.

The woman held the fabric bundle out, absently, as she began to pull her skirts, leaning against the horse. Once she had her dress out of the way, she reclaimed the fabric roll, humming to herself as she carefully tied it around herself. She yanked her dress back into place, and scrunched her nose a bit critically, as she adjusted the fabric.

Turning to Sennu, she absently asked, "How's it look? Real?" If she was worried about a villager noticing her actions, she didn't show it. In fact, they were still pretty secluded--she'd not seen a single person yet. "It'd have been best if it were real but... I'm not showing yet, so." The words came naturally, the truth, and then she cleared her throat and glanced away.

"You wouldn't have let me ride all night if you knew." She glanced up at him. "And we'd have been going too slow. Or you would have refused to leave with me at all," she commented sourly. She gentled her voice, and murmured, "I love you." It was spoken almost like an apology.

[Namingtoohard]

A wry smile turned up the corners of Sennu's mouth at his lover's reply, amused by her strong sense of accountability. The way she insisted on shouldering the consequences of her own actions, despite the hard facts of their current circumstances. Gone was the meek girl that Aryende had seemed whilst in the presence of her brothers, and it was undoubtedly a change for the better. In his humble opinion, at the very least. Given that the two of them had just eloped together, though, that was no small thing.

He held the roll of fabric agreeably for Aryende whilst she went about readying herself, before waiting patiently as she prepared her disguise. After a few moments of contemplation, he nodded, more or less convinced that her disguise would suffice. With any luck it would only need to hold up to scrutiny briefly, and for that it seemed sufficient. He didn't bother with one himself - Sennu's face was hardly as well known as that of the princess, and without his uniform he was inconspicuous enough.

When she spoke next, it took a few seconds for the true meaning behind her words to sink in. After a brief delay, the implications of her statement seemed to click into place. His eyes widened slightly, before his gaze flickered down to her faked belly and back up again. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out at first. It seemed that she had finally managed to break his composure good and proper. Well, aside from that one time in the bath, at the very least, but that had been cheating.

"Y-you're pregnant?" he finally stuttered, as if his shock weren't already obvious enough. If it was still so new that she wasn't yet showing, then there was no need to confirm if the child was his or not. "How long?" he quickly added. He didn't clarify whether he meant how far along she was, or how long she had known.

Unable to help himself, Sennu exhaled loudly, bringing a hand up to run it through his hair idly. Honestly, it was a struggle to wrap his mind around the enormity of this latest confession, and equally difficult to try and push it to the back of his mind. One unavoidable fact remained, though.

"I love you too"

There was truth in the princess' words. He would never have agreed to running away with her if he had known in advance, had to factor the pregnancy into their plans. Given that the castle had already been burned, however, and their deaths were likely already announced, there was no going back. They would just need to forge onward and hope that they were able to find themselves a new home and settle down before the pregnancy became too burdensome on Aryende. Whilst he hardly felt ready to be a father, he wouldn't tolerate any sort of avoidable risk to the child.

“What’s done is done, I suppose. There’s nothing for it now. Well just have to push through and hope everything works out for the best” he finally admitted. Finally, he stepped towards Aryende and leaned down to plant a quick kiss on her lips.

“Congratulations, dear”

[Fanatasia]

Aryende tilted her head when her lover stuttered his understanding, her lips curving slowly. "Oh, uhm, a few months. I only just confirmed." She shoved a hand through her choppy hair anxiously, watching him. She was almost afraid--though he knew about her ordeals with Artemis, and would hopefully understand the anxiety and fear she was feeling, at least in some way.

When he affirmed his love for her, she softened, and leaned into the kiss that followed. She grinned upwards, murmuring, "I'm sorry. But it's safer out here than it was in there... This little one can take the throne, tear it from my brother's hands, and you know he'd rather kill a child than let them grow up with that power." She leaned into Sennu, humming softly.

"And, maybe someday, if pieces fall where they may, the throne will find its place with us. But until then, I'm... much happier to live a life with you, and this child, wherever we end up." She smiled, a wide smile upwards when he congratulated her, and shook her head. "Thank you."

She slipped her hand in his, and reached for the horses reins. Guiding both man and beast, the small woman moved through the crowds easily, stopping at vendors as she went. She released Sennu to gather fruits, testing the surface of each before placing it into a basket. She did not speak, nor look directly at anyone.

While they were at one of the butcher stalls, waiting on dried meat, Aryende pulled the horse closer to them and curled against Sennu, as she heard people exclaim. "It's the Prince! But where are the rest of them? The King?" Thunderous hoofbeats slammed into the ground behind them, taking up the entire expanse of the soft ground. The people were confused, some shouting 'Is the war over?!' as the horses passed.

Aryende glanced over her shoulder, just in time to see the small gaggle of horses disappear into the woods. She did not speak, simply resumed collecting the items she thought they'd need for their journey. She eventually tied the horses reins around her waist, and released Sennu to move to an herbalist. She feigned being mute, gesturing to her stomach--and the apothecarist was quick to pick up that the woman wanted herbs for her pregnancy.

Aryende's basket was becoming heavy now, filled with various items, but most of the foodstuff had been left with Sennu. She paid once again, and turned to start packing the horses saddle bags, watching Sennu out the corner of her eye.

[Namingtoohard]

Sennu was relatively silent as the princess led them into the town good and proper, consumed by his thoughts. The idea that he was potentially going to be a father was overwhelming, and the servant wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it. He was open to the idea of having children, at the very least, but hadn’t expected the day to come so soon. To say he didn’t feel ready was a massive understatement. Similarly, he harboured a few secret concerns about Aryende’s own well-being. She had admitted to having several miscarriages before, during that garden lunch, after all. Most of them had seemingly been caused by Artemis, but...well, that didn’t make the knowledge any easier to bare.

When the two of them began their shopping, Sennu stayed relatively close at first, content to work through things methodically. He ran through lists of what they might possibly need in his mind, and kept their purse of coin close to hand as Aryende tested different fruits and the likes, content to pay for her choices himself. He himself had settled on some salt-cured meat that would keep for an extended period of time when people began calling out about the prince’s return.

Unlike Aryende, Sennu quickly turned to watch the procession of horses as they passed through the town, hooves making a sound to put most storms to shame. The horses themselves were massive destriders - beasts purse bred for war - that put their own mount to shame. The men themselves were all dressed for war, laden with arms and armour both, and moved through the town at speed, with none of the regular heraldry and pomp that normally accompanied a royal procession. Whatever the cause for their early return, they were in a hurry.

One of Sennu’s arms curled possessively around his lover’s waist as Aryende moved closer to him, and the prince was assailed by a mix of anger and fear. Hatred for the spoiled prince who had forced them into this situation, and fear that they would be recognised. That as soon as Artemis found his sister was missing, he would lead his men back out here to capture them and drag them back to the palace to face retribution. He knew it to be foolish, but that offered little respite from the cold hand of fear clawing at his insides. Only when the riders had passed through the town and well out of sight did he finally turn his attention back to Aryende.

“Maybe we should get moving again. The market will probably be closing before too much longer” he offered, trying to disguise the hint of concern that had crept into his voice. With a few reassuring words, the servant left Aryende behind for a moment, moving off to look at a stall full of furs and other warmer articles that would help comfort them during the journey north. He returned whilst Aryende was packing the horse’s saddlebags, and was quick to take the reigns when she was done.

He let their little party towards the far side of the town at a leisurely pace, and could hear the other villagers chatting about what had just happened the entire way. It was only when they seemed to have a reached the city’s outskirts, when it seemed that they had a modicum of space and privacy that he finally spoke up.

“That was unexpected. From the sounds of things, nobody had expected the prince to return so soon, and without the king or any of his other heirs” he offered, maintaining a degree of their facade, just in case he had misjudged and someone overheard. “They must’ve spent the whole journey riding hard to arrive here before word of their impending arrival reached the town. Something must have happened”

He let the implications of that hang in the air for a moment, thinking about what it might mean without saying anything. Were the rest of Aryende’s family okay? They had no idea, and didn’t have the luxury of staying around to listen for news. Only when the two of them had well and truly left the city behind, and were ensconced good and proper by the forest, did he finally mention the thought that had really worried him.

“I didn’t disguise myself because I didn’t think the public would know me by sight, but your brother is a different story. If he remembers seeing me, puts two and two together...hopefully I’m just worrying over nothing, and that your mother’s story is convincing. All the same, I’d like to get a bit more distance between us and the town before nightfall. Just in case”

[Fanatasia]

Could the world end so quickly, after it had just begun? Aryende hid her face against her lover, letting him lead her where he felt was best. She was quiet, and when he left her to gather furs, she resumed packing the horse in silence.

The villagers chatted excitedly, but all she felt was dread. When Sennu led her and the horse to the outskirts of the village, she was quiet, following numbly. Something must have happened. She pulled herself up onto the horse, fingers curling into the beasts mane, as she listened to her lover.

Had Artemis abandoned the war? When Sennu mentioned the thought that had worried him; a thought they had yet to cross her mind, she shook her head softly. "I... We should ride through the night. I think it'd be good to pull an all-nighter." She wanted as much space between her and that man as was humanly possible.

That was not the first night they rode through, though. They did it three more times; each time a royal procession was passing through. The first royal procession that made Aryende want to ride through the night came two weeks later. They'd arrived in the North, it was colder, and she had spotted a procession of mourners.

The King was dead.

Her father. Not the best father, but still, he'd been her father. She'd cried that night, while they rode. And again, a procession for her brothers, held by some returning soldiers. Artemis abandoning the war upon hearing of her death, had cost their brothers' their lives as well.

Aryende hadn't cried so hard about them, though.

Now, three months later, they'd settled on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Mera, a little kingdom where everything was ice and the sun hardly shone. Aryende's belly was growing, but she insisted on working. At least, until the day she heard rumors of a crusade. A crazed prince's hunt for a sister who had died.

There'd been rumors, of course there had been. Nobody had seen her body when the burial happened. Nobody believed she was dead. She'd been letting her hair grow out, but... the day that the news was delivered to the Kingdom, while she was serving tea to the Queen of Mera, she had excused herself.

To go cry.

It wasn't too long before the Queen, a woman named Adrienne, found her. "It's hard, with children." She'd offered, trying to be helpful. "It's even harder when you're a Princess." Aryende's silence only made Adrienne chuckle, "Come, now. Here in the Icelands, we may not know your face, but you're not a simple maid. You hold yourself like a royal. So who are you, hm? Who do you belong too?"

"Myself."

Adrienne sighed, and stood. "That's fine, Jura. I want to offer you a better position within the castle halls, but to do so, I need to know who you are."

Aryende chewed her lip, and shrugged lightly. "I'm me, that's all that matters. It wasn't safe where I lived for me or my child, or my child's father. So... we left." That was all.

She'd left early that day, without informing Sennu. She had gone home without him--typically they both walked home together--and he'd find her fast asleep on the small cot by the fire when he did arrive home.

[Namingtoohard]

The journey north had been harsh and trying at times, and even after a few months, Sennu was still yet to adjust to the cooler climate. When he and Aryende finally finished their trip and settled in the Icelands, however, he seemed to settle into the routine of their new life startlingly quickly.

Just like Aryende, Sennu had gotten a job amongst the castle staff, acting as a servant once more. He had never learned any other skills as a child, and most trademasters would refuse to take on an apprentice his age. Besides, why ignore the wealth of experience he already had? He didn’t serve the royal family directly here, and had no friends quite as close as those at his old job. The faces of those he served were different, as were a few minor rules and points of etiquette. This time, he wasn’t in a scandalous secret relationship with anyone from the royal family. His duties, however, were amazingly similar to what he had undertaken back home.

In some of his more sombre moments, he often thought that he had simply exchanged the sun for the snow, and his mother for a lover. He quickly dismissed any such thoughts, however. The two of them had a simple life, and living in the north was harder, but it was one filled with small pleasures. He treasured the fact that they were to spend time together openly now, without fear of being caught or discovered. The chance to sit around together and enjoy the small moments, without having to worry about Artemis causing his love any further harm, was both a relief and a joy.

On the day of Aryende’s encounter with the queen, Sennu had an agenda of his own. During the few brief moments between jobs, he sought out the tailor in charge of outfitting the servants with their uniforms and the likes. Their own variation of a quartermaster, such as it was.

Sennu found Elana within her own working quarters - a small room not unlike a tailor’s store, but located entirely within the castle. A small and plump woman with flowing brown hair, she was good at her job, quick with a joke, and not above jabbing her clients with her needles when she felt it necessary. When Sennu let himself into her office, she tsked at him softly.

“You should really knock first, you know. Someone could be changing in here” she started. Her tone was stern, but amusement danced behind her eyes. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to see you back here for another couple of months. Don’t tell me that you’ve damaged one of your uniforms already!” she offered in mock horror. Unable to help himself, Sennu chuckled.

“No, no. I’m afraid my business today is a tad more personal in nature” he answered, giving her a wry smile.

“Hm. You’d better have a seat then”

Only when the two of them were seated opposite each other, and she had forced a cup of tea into his hands - something to ward against the chill, as she put it - did she finally allow him to speak.

“I’m after...a ring” he finally offered, practically forcing the words out.

“Are you now?” Elana leaned forward across the table, her curiosity piqued. Sennu could practically see the jokes balancing on the tip of her tongue, searching for an opportunity.

“Jura is..

“What, pregnant?” she offered, finishing his sentence for him. Sennu gave her a pointed look, at which she grinned. “You forget, dear. I took her measurements, same as yours. If anyone here was bound to find out, it was me”

“...Right. The two of us have been together for a while now, so now that she’s with child, it seemed only fitting that it...well, propose”

“Are you certain? You don’t need to be married to raise a child together, or to prove that you love her”

“I’m certain”

She nodded, seemingly satisfied with the promptness of his answer.

“So, why come to me?”

“I’m not exactly familiar with any jewellers in town, but I figured that the royal family’s jewellery had to come from somewhere”

“Ah! Now I understand” she offered, the pieces finally clicking into place. “Well, I’m positively flattered. You’ve come to the right person, dear”

The two of them conversed amiably for a while longer, discussing a few of the specifics, and indulging themselves in some chatter besides. Eventually, Sennu excused himself, stating that he should probably return to work before he was missed. Elana let him go, but only after extracting promises of another visit soon, so that they could finish their business together.

When evening came around, Sennu went looking for Aryende, as he usually did, so that they could work home together. He spent several moments searching in vain, until one of the other staff members informed him that she had left early that day. Puzzled and perhaps slightly worried, Sennu set out for home himself, making the journey alone, and in thoughtful silence.

Once he got home and discovered his wife was asleep, Sennu moved softly, not wanting to wake her. He did kneel down beside the cot for a moment, a small smile plastered across his features. With a gentle touch, he reached out and brushed back a stray lock of hair, before leaning across to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead. Unaware of the stressful day she had had, Sennu couldn’t help but think she looked peaceful like that. That all was right with the world.

Yes. They had definitely made the right choice.

He turned his attention then to the fireplace, building it up a little more, so that it would hopefully keep them warm throughout the night. Then he busied himself about the house, doing what little he could whilst trying to avoid disturbing her, for more than one reason. Only once he was done would his thoughts finally turn towards bed.

[Fanatasia]

Sennu worked hard to keep her slumber uninterrupted. However, when he turned to bed, she was waking up, arms above her head. It took her a second to remember where she was, before she smiled pleasantly at the man, moving to vacate the cot and find his side. She was warm, the fire had done its job, and she buried her face against his chest, mumbling, "'m hungry, do we have any fruit?" It was such a late hour, and she did not outwardly want to admit she'd fallen asleep without eating.

Her eyes were less puffy than before, by tomorrow they'd be fine again. She released her lover and moved to their kitchen area, pulling the last apple out of a cabinet, biting into it. She studied him quietly as she ate, before piping up: "How was work? I'm sorry I left without you, I was... tired." She scrunched her nose, still a terrible liar. "Queen Adrienne received word, at tea, that King Artemis is offering a reward for any who bring forth his sister." Her words were clipped. "She told me that it's obvious--I hold myself like a royal." She dug her fingers into the apple.

"She wanted me to confirm it, but..." She shook her head. "She wants to offer me a better position than a maid, though." She bit back into her apple, before she was searching for the shears. She'd been so excited when her hair started to grow out again; but...

"Cut it off." She moved towards Sennu, shears out. "Cut it all off. And... teach me to be everything but a royal." She furrowed her brow, wondering if it was possible to learn something she'd learned over the course of her entire life.

[Namingtoohard]

Aryende's awakening was a pleasant surprise, despite how much care Sennu had put into trying to avoid it. He wrapped an arm around her in welcome when she approached, answered her questions- well, as much as he was able without ruining his newly planned surprise - and brushed off the apology that accompanied them. Despite his attempts at good cheer, however, Sennu pursed his lips when his lover told the tale of how the queen had confronted her, seeking the truth of her identity. News that word had spread so far was concerning, as was the possibility of someone knowing who they were. Even another queen.

Sennu took the shears when they were offered to him, but he held them gingerly, and gazed at them with something akin to a disapproving frown. After a few brief moments of thought, he glanced back across at Aryende, looking as if he might argue. After a few seconds, though, he let out a soft sigh. The servant grabbed one of the chairs that was sitting around their table, dragged it into an open space amongst their furniture, and gestured for the princess to sit. If he was going to do this, he might as well do it properly...or to the best of his abilities, at the very least.

"You're certain? It'd only take a few small changes. but trying to keep up the facade every moment of every day...it won't be an easy thing" he answered

Whilst he waited for her response, Sennu set about the task of cutting Aryende's hair short. Whilst one hand worked the shears, the other grazed her neck gently, gathering up manageable handfuls. He quickly settled on a length that he hoped would be short enough to disguise her, without going so far as to just remove it all. Strands of removed hair quickly began to pile around their feet, and whilst he was hardly a professional hairdresser, Sennnu at least did his best to keep it as even as possible. A better job than Aryende had done herself during their flight, to be sure.

"I'd say its mostly posture and speech, at a guess" Sennu mused, even as he continued to work. Posture could wait until he was done, so she could stand without interrupting him, but there was no reason to avoid starting now. "You speak too clearly for a commoner. Most regular folk tend to slur the end of their words a little, like they're dropping a letter here and there" he offered, before pausing temporarily. Another quick once over, and he was more or less satisfied that the job was done.

"I think that should about do it for the hair. What do you think?" he asked, giving Aryende a chance to voice her thoughts before he set the shears down, just in case she thought more adjustments necessary. They could continue any instruction in just a moment.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende sat quietly, fingers trailing along her stomach as she listened to the quiet snipping of the scissors through her hair. "I can pretend," she murmured, keeping herself still as possible, despite the instinct to nod her head. "But... we work for the royals. We should seem literate. You seem literate." She clarified, tilting her head back, as he was done cutting her hair.

After a moment of running her fingers through her hair, she nodded. "This is nice. Not too short," not as short and uneven as the last haircut she'd given herself, either. With a few adjustments she was certain her lover would make a nice barber. Once she was back on her feet, she turned to face the man, bright eyes curious.

"What do you slur, Sennu?" She inquired, taking a step forward. "Do... you think our child will fit in?" She scrunched her nose, murmuring, "What if they don't? What if they stand out?" It was a new, but currently reoccuring thing--constantly worrying about their unborn child. It'd started with preparing a space for the little creature, obtaining a crib, various other supplies. Much of what she had obtained would not fit into their small home. Which is most likely what made her bring up the higher-paying job... She was used to comforts they did not have here--things she wanted for their child.

Once nesting was done, it had briefly turned into mapping out their child's friends--acquaintances--life. Now? It was fretting over the fact their child might not fit in with this nation of people. She shook her head, and murmured, "Teach me how to walk."

[Namingtoohard]

Haircut complete, Sennu nodded in gracious acceptance of his wife's praise, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth. The servant stepped away from the chair, and spent a few moments busying himself with putting the scissors away now that he was done. He worked methodically, his hands performing the task with the same innate grace he seemed to carry when working at the palace. And of course, he talked throughout, doing his best to answer Aryende's questions and soothe her fears.

"The ends of words, mostly. That's usually the safest bet, and the easiest to imitate. Instead of saying Morning, try Mornin' instead. Try and really focus the next time you speak to one of the other serving women, and try to imitate what they do. It'll be easier for you to copy them than me" he answered as he worked. When his task was done, Sennu turned towards his wife again, his forehead wrinkling as she advised him of her newest fear. A thousand different thoughts about how all children were somewhat unique sprung to the front of his mind, but Sennu quickly bit them back. Such things would do little to soothe her fears.

"They will. As much as any child ever does. We'll make sure of it" he cooed softly, speaking in gentle tones. He leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her lips, before turning his attention to Aryende's posture, at her request. The servant spent a few moments in silence, his lips pursed as he tried to pick up on all the subtle things that made up her body language.

"Its in the shoulders, I think. You don't slouch enough" he offers, stepping around to the side of her. "You don't stand as straight-backed as you did when you were a princess, but that's probably just because of the baby. You might pass for a regular commoner, but its not exaggerated enough for a pregnant one" he offered. He reached out as if he intended to embrace her, using his hands to gently adjust her neck, shoulders, and back into a position that seemed slightly move convincing. When he was satisfied, the servant took a step back, before gesturing towards her.

"Okay, walk towards me now"

He'd get her to repeat the action a few times, first normally, then while she was holding a plate that served as an approximation of one of the trays she might carry whilst at work. Sennu spent the entire procedure trying to point out small things she might be able to adjust, accompanied by appreciative praise. He was still new to teaching this sort of thing himself, and a lot of his information was guesswork, but he kept that to himself. Aryende already had enough stress with the baby, and he didn't want to add to that any more.

[Fanatasia]

Aryende scrunched her nose at the man, huffing quietly. She made note of his statement, about slurring the ends of her words and being more careful when she spoke with the other serving staff. She still was not used to working, or doing the minute things she had once had the staff for. She blinked slowly as the man crooned promises, of how they would make sure their unborn child fit amongst the people, and she sighed into the kiss.

It was soft. Fleeting. Gentle. While he was studying her body language, she began to feel more uncomfortable--uneasy. She was already a bit put-off, due to the weight gain that came with pregnancy, though she'd never voiced such a thing to him. In her world, the world she'd known before: you did not voice your thoughts about yourself, for someone would surely take offense. You kept it to yourself and cried when nobody was watching. Royals had to be perfect. At ease with who they were. Public speakers, and so forth.

A fleeting bout of self-hatred courses through her, when he tells her that she does not stand as straight-backed as she once had; and that it was probably due to the baby--he meant due to the weight, she was certain. Illogical, but she wasn't exactly in the most logical and stable mindset. As he adjusted her posture, she squirmed against his touch before she stilled, and like putty, allowed herself to be molded.

It was uncomfortable. New. Different. She hated this. Aryende, however, moved forwards slowly, shuffling her feet a bit more than usual--she'd need to figure out this new posture thing. It'd probably hurt her back, but she'd get used to that. When he had her carrying small things, adjusting her, she paid attention. After all, he would not be around all the time to remind her--she'd need to remember.

"Mmm," she murmured, after a few repetitions. "'m sleepy again. Join us?" She offers, abruptly placing the plate onto the nearest surface. It was a wave of fatigue--and a wave of nausea--all at once. It was common; sometimes while working she'd move too fast and get a bit dizzy, but it always passed. Without waiting for his answer, she was moving back to the pallet by the fireplace, carefully lowering herself to the soft blankets once more.

"We need a bigger place to live," she murmurs. It seems as if she has more to say, but instead, she simply lays on her side and curls up, facing the fire. Conversation Ended. For now.