[M] In Search of Honour {Naraness X Juni} IC

[Froggy]

Rated M for the following: Violence, language, alcohol consumption, romantic encounters, and just about everything else under the mature rating description.

Life at the palace was...difficult to say the least. Every day there was a routine to be followed, a procedure for this and for that, something new added to appease the comforts of nobility and royalty. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays- changing sheets and doing laundry. Tuesdays and Thursdays- house keeping for every room in the palace, save for those of which only the supervisors were allowed to visit. Every day was generic cleaning, making sure that every inch of the palace was spotless and reflected perfection. Genevera, unlike most of the servants, was fortunate enough to have Saturdays and Sundays off every week.

It came from nearly a lifetime of service within the palace, one by choice and not from some criminal act or debt. Compared to the life she had lived before entering the palace...well, it was easy to see which one she preferred. It was Friday evening at about six o'clock, and she was due off over the next hour. She was finishing the last of the dining room, preparing it for the royal dinner that evening. She would also be helping to serve the food, something that she did not do that often but excelled at when she did. Whenever there was a grand occasion or ball of some sorts being held at the palace, her supervisors had her work extra and on her days off to ensure that everything went smoothly.

Tonight there would be a variety of proteins, roasted, broiled, baked...just about any form or fashion of protein imaginable. There would also be the freshest of fruits and vegetables within the kingdom, all prepared by the chefs within the kitchens beneath them. It was quite the task bringing up all of the dinner items one flight of stairs and down the halls, but somehow or another it was done every night to ensure the comfort of the royal family. At that very moment, however, she was setting the table in a manner that was appropriate for the occasion, using the proper utensils and placing things where they belonged on the tables. She also worked to set the center pieces, clear glass vases filled with the most beautiful flowers. Genevera smiled at the work she had done, even she had to admit that it looked rather gorgeous and hoped that the family liked it. It was now six forty in the evening and the family would begin trickling in within a few minutes, so loyal to her duty she made her way to the kitchens below and began to gather the fruits and vegetables, using serving trays to carry more than she could with her own two hands alone.

Together, along with a few of the other servants, she made her way up the stairs and they began to place the plates in their appropriate spaces, making sure that the table was pleasant to look at. Once that had been done, they quickly left and hurried back to the kitchens, knowing that the royal family would be there soon. The protein came next, and the royal family began to trickle in just as she was setting down the last of the protein. Herself, along with the rest of the servants in the room stepped back and bowed their heads gracefully, hands clasped behind their backs, waiting for the rest of the family to enter the room in order to see if they should require anything else.

[Naraness]

The smell of dinner wafted through the hallways, reaching Castiel even from his private chambers. It was hard not to admire his life, really. Every day was spent in pleasant company, within the borders of a beautiful kingdom. Three meals were served every day, each one a work of art in itself. Sometimes it was a wonder that he didn't know more people who were struggling to manage their weight, for even he had trouble restraining himself from second and third helpings. Of course, the prince's true weakness was for dessert. Sweet puddings, delicate souffles, nutty pecan breads... He had an undeniable sweet tooth.

Castiel smiled at himself in his mirror, making sure that he was presentable for the evening. His shoulder-length white hair had been taken back in thin braids, entwined at the back of his head in a net-like fashion. A thin silver circlet was laid over his head; a modest but elegant symbol of his status. He briefly straightened out his pristine white clothing, wishing that he could change into something more comfortable. Though he understood the need for formalities, he was fairly annoyed with them at times. For one, it was immensely difficult to hide stains on white garments. Thus, he had to be extremely careful while eating... Which, was painstaking, to be honest. However, Castiel knew that even if he did have the opportunity to eat without risk of spills being seen, his manners were too deeply engrained to allow for such things.

A tiny silver bell rang next to his door, telling him that dinner was about to be served. With a smile that lit up his earthy eyes, he left his room, greeting his family warmly. While the other elves began to make light conversation, he remained quiet, just walking with them as they began towards the dining hall. They passed grand marble hallways, and arched windows. Through the glassless portals he could see towering elm trees which spun into the sky like dancers frozen in time. Castiel smiled, admiring the bright emerald canopy far above the castle.

The closer they got, the stronger the scents of food grew. Castiel was fairly certain that he could smell lime and cilantro, some of his favorite seasonings. I do wonder at times if the chefs have a soft spot for me. He thought, for there was never a lack of things he enjoyed at the table. The chefs had, after all, known him since before he could even walk. How quickly the decades pass... He thought, feeling a small nostalgic pang.

Upon entering the dinner hall (Which was definitely his favorite place in the castle, save for the library) he couldn't help but smile, nodding with appreciation to the servants. Castiel found his chair, only a few seats away from his father, but remained standing. It was custom to wait for the king to take his place at the head of the table before sitting, and so he waited, looking around. The prince marveled at the work that the servants and chefs put into dinner every day. Breakfast and lunch were excellent, yes, but supper was always something marvelous.

[Froggy]

As the royal family began to trickle into the dining room, Genevera stayed quiet and respectful. When the Prince nodded to them all in appreciation, the servants nodded back and offered smiles in return. The majority of the family had arrived and the King was the last to enter. A few of the servants glanced at each other, though Genevera remained stiff and motionless as he took his seat. The royal family followed, and they began to pour drinks for the royal family. Teas, milks, whatever beverages each member requested of them was served, even alcoholic. She was due to be off any moment and found herself smiling at the thought as she made her way over to the Prince.

"And for you, your majesty?" she asked, her voice soft, melodic, and quiet as she waited on a response from him. In front of him was a variety of pitchers, filled with milk, water, ale, green, black, and jasmine teas and even one with coffee in the event he wished to drink it this late. She remained at a respectful distance, not to close and not far away enough that he would have to wait for her to reach over when he decided. It was customary for them to pour the beverages and to depart, and many of the servants were already filtering out of the room.

'No...don't leave me in here alone...' she thought nervously to herself. She was unaccustomed to being around royalty much, especially by herself.

[Naraness]

A sweet voice, almost like silk, reached Castiel's ears. He looked up from his seat to see the face of a shining young maiden, and for a moment he doubted that her beauty could grace someone who was less than royalty. His bright eyes softened, and he almost felt ashamed to ask anything of her. The prince had to force his eyes away, lest he be caught staring. Castiel took a look at the drinks there were to offer, making sure that his favorites were among them. He didn't want to request something that wasn't on the table, that would simply be rude.

"Ah, thank you." He said with a charming smile. "A light glass of strawberry juice if you would, Miss." He didn't prefer the proper teas or even fine wines crafted by his people. The natural sweetness of fresh fruit was usually all he craved on a normal day.

Not too far away the delicate sound of a harp floated in the air. A few moments later a serene flute accompanied it, and only a pair of seconds later the strumming of a lute joined in as well. The sound felt as light as air, and Castiel thought that perhaps the song was meant to describe the clouds. Elven melodies were often so complicated that they could convey words and meanings without a single voice singing.

Castiel's eyes trailed to a large window, paned with blue glass. Outside, the forest could be seen rolling away. In the distance, ridged mountains cut through the horizon. Those mountain ranges separated the elven kingdom from the rest of the world. They were completely surrounded by treacherous passes on all sides, save for the ocean in front of the kingdom, which was their one true outlet to the rest of the world. Turning his head to the opposite side of the room, an identical window showed that very same sea, glistening in the evening light.

[Froggy]

Genevera smiled kindly when he requested a glass of strawberry juice. "Of course, your majesty," Genevera said, her voice still soft and quiet. She poured him a glass as requested and placed the pitcher back on the table, standing up straight and moving aside towards the wall again. The sound of music began to reach her ears and she couldn't help but to be instantaneously more relaxed by it. She looked around the table, checking to make sure that the royal family didn't need anything else. She bowed her head in respect and politely excused herself, making her way to the door to leave the family in peace.

Just as she was turning to leave the Prince's side, she heard the unmistakable sound of coughing coming from the table. "Kekeani?" the Queen asked, her voice soft as the coughing grew louder, forcing Genevera to turn and look in fright. "Princess?" she asked, unable to control her concern. The princess was nonresponsive, her cheeks flushing a light, red color that was much unnatural for their race. The king rose from his seat and came to his daughter's side at once, asking her what was wrong but getting no answer. "I can heal..." Genevera said, rushing over to the princess's side at once and looking for permission to touch her. The princess was beginning to turn a shade of blue and the coughing was turning to gasping, gasping for breath. "Do whatever you can!" the queen shouted in fright, and Genevera placed her hands upon the princess's chest, a soft, green glowing emanated from her hands and began to pour into the Princess's body, and she was looking into the woman's eyes as the healing took place, trying to get her to focus on something other than her discomfort. The king sniffed the princess's glass and Genevera couldn't help but to notice the venomous glare on his face. "This glass has been poisoned," he declared, looking instantly to Genevera.

"I can't heal poison!" Genevera gasped in fright, though the queen wouldn't have it. "Heal her now!" she shouted at Genevera, standing from her chair and looking at Genevera angrily. Genevera sighed and tried to focus, she'd never healed a poison case before. "Do. Whatever. It. Takes," the king commanded of her, and Genevera could see the Princess losing focus, causing her hands to shake nervously. Her own vibrant green eyes began to dull dramatically, turning into that of a mossy color as she began to release further healing magic into the woman, and suddenly a gasp could be heard. The princess began breathing again, and her face seemed to reclaim the natural beauty of the elven race. Genevera was shaking to her very core from the strain, her legs shaking so much that she stumbled into the nearest wall, bumping her elbow into it with a harsh thud.

"Guards!" the King shouted, and Genevera was too busy focusing on regaining her own breath. Princess Kekeiana and the Queen were holding each other, sobbing into each other's arms. "Find the servants who set the table tonight, and bring them to the interrogation rooms at once. Interrogate without restraint!" the King ordered, turning to look at Genevera as a guard grabbed her arm and held her firmly. "What are you-" she began, struggling in fright. "I didn't do it! Why would I use poison and then heal her?!" Genevera begged, looking at the King pleadingly. "You had no choice but to heal," the King said stubbornly, looking at Genevera with cold eyes.

"I didn't even serve her drink though!" Genevera pleaded as the guard began to drag her away, and she looked at the King with tears coming down her eyes. "D...daddy...pl...please not her...she...didn't serve me..." the Princess said shakily, and the King sighed, rubbing his temples. "Castiel... interrogate her for information as you see fit," the King said, looking to his daughter. "You're going to the infirmary, daughter," the King said, his voice soft and caring. The princess just looked to her father and stood up wearily, holding onto her mother for support. "Thank you..." was all Genevera heard as the princess was rushed off toward the infirmary. Genevera was crying as she looked to the Prince, tears running down her face as she looked at him with fear. "I didn't do it..." she repeated, her voice sad and quiet as the tears continued to run down her face.

[Naraness]

Castiel stood up, panic flashing through his eyes. His sister was choking, her face turning pale... "Kekeani!" He shouted, immediately rushing to her side. A million thoughts ran through his mind as his heart pounded in fear. Seeing his beloved sister in such peril made his stomach twist in terribly painful ways. He heard someone shout that they had healing abilities, and relief filled him. However, the chaos did not end as he expected it to. His parents were shouting, and the poor girl who was trying her best to save his sister was struggling with her abilities.

Castiel stumbled back, horror filling him as tears lit in his eyes. He wasn't extremely close to any of his family members but his sister... They had grown up together. They had been as close as two people could ever be. "Kekeani..." The word came out in a weak whisper. He looked at the servant trying her best to save the elven princess. "Please... Save her." He whispered, stepping closer. The seconds felt like years, dragging on painstakingly.

When Kekeani started to breathe again, Castiel had never felt such relief in his century of life. Needless to say he pushed and shoved to reach his sister's side. Gently he held her hand, cupping her face to ensure that she was alright. He watched the princess smile weakly, and whispered thanks to the gods for her life. Castiel barely realized what was going on around him, but knew that his father was shouting orders. He wished that the yelling could cease for just one moment so that they could celebrate Kekeani's life.

He heard the king speak his name, telling him to interrogate the servant who had healed his sister. "Why, father? She saved Kekeani, she should be proclaimed a hero!" Castiel heard his sister weakly agreeing. It was not a good day to challenge his father. The frustrated prince just shook his head, sighing softly. He kissed his sister's temple, and stood slowly. He knew that Kekeani would be in good hands, and would recover fully within a few hours.

With that, the prince turned to Genevera. He knew her name vaguely, simply because he made a point of knowing the names of those who served him. He frowned deeply, the corners of his mouth creasing in concern. "Please, come with me. I don't believe you did this, but I must obey the king. It will make things look better for you if you don't resist." He touched her elbow, looking around as guards took other servants to interrogation. "Come." With that, he guided her out of the dining hall.

Castiel had lived in the castle for years upon years, and still he got lost at times. Somehow though, he found his way to a small, quiet room. It was pleasant looking, with a small jade table and two simple white chairs on each side. A large window let light shine into the room, and showed a beautiful sunset shining over the mountains. Despite the beautiful decor, it was still an interrogation room- something that was rarely used in the kingdom. Crimes were few, since elves were such a peaceful and prosperous race. Most of their kind knew better than to cause trouble, seeing the gains in working together.

"Please have a seat." Castiel said simply. He walked and stood by the window, putting a hand on his head. It had all been a little bit too much to take in at once.

[Froggy]

Genevera was barely breathing as the Prince questioned the King, stating that she should have been proclaimed a hero instead. She was numb on the inside, unable to believe what had just occurred. Despite the numbness that she felt radiating throughout her body, she felt a sharp pain in her elbow where she had hit it against the wall and felt it with her other hand, wincing from the sting. There was blood, a small amount, she had successfully managed to scrape it against the wall resulting in a few cuts and probably some amount of bruising given how fragile her skin was. She gasped in pain and did her best to breathe normally, still frightened over what was happening around her...so much chaos and distress for one room!

She then noticed the Prince turning to her after the King had ordered him to interrogate her and looked at him fearfully, her body tensing up from it. He requested her to come with him and she looked down in defeat, wincing and pulling back briefly as he touched her elbow. A guard moved and she looked at him in fear. "I'm not resisting....I won't...my elbow hurts is all..." she said, and the guard gave her a look before stepping back again. She sighed in relief and closed her eyes, a tear running down her flushed cheeks. Her eyes had returned to their normal, vibrant hue but she was still exhausted and felt as though she had spent much of her energy.

With that being said, the Prince commanded her to come and guided her out of the room. She was quiet, looking down at the ground and walking with her body tensed up as she awaited what was to come. She was positively frightened, never having been in this situation before, and her body language reflected her emotions. Soon enough they reached a room within the palace, one that she had never been to before, and all she saw was a table with two chairs and a window. An interrogation room. The Prince requested that she have a seat and she did so, holding her arms to her stomach and appearing as though she wanted nothing more than to disappear. She couldn't even look at him, she didn't even notice him hold his hand to his head. She knew to keep quiet though, she would not speak anymore than necessary and she doubted that she could properly answer his questions without crying again at some point. She was not use to this in the slightest bit and it showed, along with her fear and sorrow.

[Naraness]

Castiel ran a hand over his head, breathing deeply. Only ten minutes ago he'd been concerned about dinner. Now, he'd come within inches of losing his precious sister. It took a few moments to calm down enough to speak to the servant. He slowly stepped away from the window, and rounded the table to take his seat across from her. Only at that moment did he realize that she had been the same woman who served him at dinner; the same one who so surprisingly had stolen his breath.

Castiel cleared his throat, "I'll try not to take up much of your time." He said, his voice gentle. "My father, I mean... The King, he may want to keep you here for some time just to be safe." The prince sighed. "Your name is... Genevera, correct? I can see that you're hurt." The blood was very apparent on her white clothing. Castiel reached under the table, retrieving a small wooden box of bandages and ointments. He opened it and handed it to her. "If you feel able, you may tend to yourself." The prince paused, and then looked in the servants eyes. "Thank you for saving my sister." He said gently. "She's my whole world. I can't even begin to say how appreciative I am. When this is over, I'll see to it that you're rewarded."

"Still though, I need to ask you a few questions. Please take your time with them. To start, have there been any new faces or strange activities going on among the other servants?" Castiel highly doubted that this woman was guilty. He knew though that many wrongdoers were good at turning around to make themselves appear innocent, so he didn't dismiss the possibility that she could be responsible. "Did you serve Princess Kekeani in any way this evening?"

[Froggy]

Genevera was anxious as the Prince took time to gather his thoughts, her own mind constantly running over what she imagined would happen next. Finally though, after what seemed like hours, the Prince turned from the window and moved slowly to sit across from her. Her hands were shaking and she did her best to stop them, but her nerves were far too out of control for such a thing.

She finally looked directly at him as he began speaking, stating that he would try not to take up much of her time, but that the King might want to keep her there for safety precautions. He sighed and she nodded her head weakly, but otherwise said nothing. She did look surprised when he knew her name and swallowed before answering. "Y...yes. I am...Genevera," she answer shakily as she looked to him. He then noticed that she was hurt and reached under the table for something, pulling out a small wooden box and opening it. He slid it over to her and she looked from it to her with confusion, though her look softened a bit when he said she could heal herself. He paused briefly, then looked into her eyes and thanked her for saving his sister. "You are...welcome," she said, not wanting to display her own doubt about even being able to heal her. It had taken so much out of her that she did not feel herself. "N..no reward... just...let me go..." was all she could say, looking away from him sadly. She hadn't even reached for the supply box yet, her hands far too shaky to make much use of them anyway.

Genevera sighed as he began asking her questions, staring at one particular spot on the table rather than focusing her attention on him. "There's always...strange behaviors amongst servants. Bickering, gossiping, the occasional fight... but nothing exceedingly strange lately, no. There are...three new servants. Started duty about two weeks ago..." she answered, doing her best to remember their names. One of them had helped serve the dinner that night, they were hired for meal servings. "One of them...served dinner tonight. Lorich...I think is his name. The other two weren't there," Genevera said, feeling her stomach twist into knots. She knew that he was likewise being questioned and would be questioned even more due to this information.

Genevera looked up when he asked if she had served the princess in any way that evening. "Not...directly. I was responsible for...setting up the table and helping to deliver food and drinks to the table...but that was it. I only served you..." was her answer, doing her best to keep herself from crying. She inhaled a deep breath and looked back down to the table, closing her eyes. "I am...sorry. I am not used to this..." she said, still not looking up at him for fear of seeing the look on his face. She didn't want to look up and ever see an angry look on his face.

[Naraness]

Castiel realized that the interrogations were almost completely useless. Any one of the servants could have slipped the poison in Kekeani's glass before anything was poured in it. It could have been poisoned even before it left the kitchens, perhaps by someone who didn't even work for the royal family. They would have needed access into the kitchens, but that gave them little to work with. There were few restrictions given to those who were trusted in the kingdom, and the kitchen was not one of them. Anyone could have poisoned Kekeani's personal glass. No one would have been the wiser.

Frowning, the prince nodded and made notes of the things Genevera told him. He made sure to remember the name of the new servant, Lorich. He knew that his father would want him to give a full report on the interrogation, but Castiel was doubtful that he would have anything to offer. With how busy each of the servants were, he didn't think any of them would have been paying attention to something that didn't include their current task at hand.

Castiel could see that Genevera was close to tears, and couldn't bring himself to take the interrogation any farther. She'd been through a traumatizing evening, and had been drained by her efforts. He couldn't believe that she had refused reward... Anyone he'd ever met would have accepted in a heart beat. Perhaps he could return the favor by easing the situation.

Castiel could see that she was too shaky to wrap her wound, so he stood quietly. "Here, let me help you with that." He knew that she would be apprehensive, but hoped to win enough of her trust to bind the injury. Gently and slowly, so he wouldn't startle her, the prince lifted her arm so he could see the scrape. It pained him to see such fair skin broken. He tenderly dabbed away the blood, glad to see that the scrape wasn't as large as it had appeared. With a steady, skilled hand, he wrapped her elbow in bandaging. The pattern he used kept the cloth tight enough to help stop the bleeding, but also allowed her enough flexibility to bend her elbow. Castiel tied the binding in a neat knot, smiling a bit as he surveyed his work. "There we are. Not so bad, yes?"

He paused thoughtfully. "I think you need to go home and get some rest. You can come back and talk to me tomorrow." He nodded politely. "If anyone questions you, you can tell them that you're under my responsibility and that I gave you permission to leave the castle."