Private Tales En Route

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

Seeing Esme deal with her first bandit would put him at ease as he moved forward now, swinging the crossguard of his sword low to hook an ankle and pull the leg outward, forcing the bandit into the splits.

As he cried out in a pain that could only insinuate a sudden and unexpected gender change, his compatriot darted for Valdr, only for the young Knight to side step and club the bandit in the back of the head with the crossguard, sending him stumbling into the grass.

Swinging back to the other bandit, this time Valdr drove the crossguard through the mans jugular, just above his gorget. Blood would spray across Valdr's armor, the flow redoubled as he yanked the crossguard free and tore the front of the mans throat with it.

Valdr roared as he pulled the crossguard free and twisted his body, guiding the blade of the newly freed sword into the chest cavity of the other bandit as he turned. Twisting the blade, he would pull it free, allowing the fresh corpse to drop.

As his gaze shifted to Esme, he saw the blood along her waist and hurried over. Instead of pestering her about her health, he would support her efforts. "Answer her every question, brigand." He would grab the man by his coif and drag him two feet over to where the stream was. "Or you'll experience drowning in a puddle."

Somewhere behind them, the crippled bandit would cry out as Valdr's horse made its way back over to him, reered, and landed atop his skull with a sickening crunch.

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

Rayden and the four other guards arrived just as Valdr was about to give his swimming lesson.

"What in the seven hells..." he muttered under his breath, looking at the bloody scene before him.

Then he spotted Esmerelda and Valdr.

"Search the woods, their may be more of them hiding out somewhere," he instructed three of the four guards.

He dismounted his own mare and himself and Wesley walked over to the pair.

The color left Raydens face when he saw the color red seeping through the queens dress but held his composure, he would speak with her later.

Esmerelda and Wesley stood to one side and began applying pressure to her wound.

Now the bandit were left to Rayden and Valdr.
"Well?" The man still lay half on the ground. "Has he said anything Lord?"


The other warriors rejoined, confirming no living bandits were left in the forest. They did however retrieve the queens dagger, one if them rinsed it off in the water and then the three began gathering wood, they would burn the bodies of the deceased.

Not long after the rest if the group arrived, Beth leading Esmereldas stallion that the queen had sent off earlier.

It was mid day but they would not be traveling any further, there were bodies to burn and wounds to tend to.

A tent had been set up along the stream for Esme to undress in so that she could tend her wounds.
Their prisoner had still not said a word and was now tied securly to a wheel of one of the wagons.

From the outside of the tent Esmerelda could clearly be heard shouting a few unladylike words as she dabbed her wounds with alchohol, followed by her angrily stating to Beth that she infact, does not need bloody stitches.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

Rayden was one of those who wore their heart on their sleeves.. it would be something that could eventually become a problem, whether he succeed in courting Esme or not.

The bandit would go for a swim to encourage his next words to be true. "Are there more of you? Where is your base?" He would plunge the mans head under the water for several long seconds. Pulling the mans head free. Gasping for but a second before his head was resubmerged in the water.

When Valdr finally pulled his head from the water he would spew to the side in deep and ragged breaths. "W-we have a small base along the coast.. y-you'll never see us again if you let me go, Ser!"

"Why did you attack us?" Before he could get a chance to answer, Valdr gave him a quick dunk, then after a slight pause pulled him free of the water.

"We were hired! Given a r-route! N-never got a name!" He squealed.

Valdr growled at the man before tugging him up and onto his feet to shove him towards Rayden and his men. "Said he was hired. We should either cut him loose or execute him. Bringing him along will only cause more trouble then good."

He would then head for the camp, pausing before the men piling the dead. It was odd they would honor these men with a pyre. "Wesley.. string up one or two as an example for banditry. If anything, it will either cause the rest of their camp to dissolve or scare them into inaction for a time." He would smile at the guard then clap him on the shoulder before continuing on.

He had seen the tent get erected and would go to sit near it, he smiled as he heard the slew of curses emerging from tent shortly afterwards as she was given medical attention. As he sat and waited he would clean his blade and his armor. It was as if he were praying to the gods while he did so and he remained silent all throughout.

Nearby, the bandit was tied to the wheel of one of the wagons and under a close eye of Wesley and Rayden.

When Esme finally did emerge from her tent, she would find Valdr keeping vigil just outside. His armor drying in the remaining light of the day, and clad only in his greaves and his fitted gray tunic.

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

Wesley got one of the guards to do as Valdr instructed, hesitant at first but then again - this man might be his new king so he did as commanded.

Rayden paced up and down the stream, anger burning inside of him. Hired...the damn men were hired and is Rayden had not let Esmerelda go galavanting off with that lord she never would have gotten hurt, Valdr should not have encouraged either, he thought to himself. He knew his queen had a wild streak in her, it was clear as day -but she was the bloody  queen now, the fate of the Routien people lay in her hands.



Eventually, Esmerelda emerged from the tent. Her bloody riding gown now swapped out for a clean, looser fitting garments and her wound adequately dressed.
"A new scar to add to the collection," she teased when seeing Valdr.

Esmes eyes wondered to the bandit, "anything?" She nodded in the mans direction, slowly walking towards him, on the way taking her recovered dagger.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

Valdr would push himself to his feet when Esme emerged from the tent, offering her a smile. "A new scar.." he mused closing the distance between them. "It doesn't seem to have slow you down. Next time, let's find you some light and durable armor, yeah?"

When she started to head for the bandit, Valdr would catch her hand. "He was paid, doesn't know by who. You doing that is unnecessary, if you want him dead, ill do it."

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

Esme stopped in her tracks as she felt Valdrs touch, she looked over her shoulder at him.

"I do not fear getting my hands dirty." She softly pulled her hand free.

She grabbed the mans hair and pulled his head back, forcing him to look up at her. "Tell my uncles i'll see them in hell."

With that statement, Esmerelda slit the bandits throat.

"Rayden," she looked to the guard. "pour the ale."

Esme let go of the mans hair and went to wash her dagger in the stream. Once it was clean she approached the horses and the guard tending them, inspection her stallion for any injuries.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

"I know, this has nothing to do with that, Esme." He would say gently. "This will set the tone for what you believe punishments to be." When she pulled her hand free, he would try to hold on, he would just let go and walk at her side.

When she departed to clean the dagger, he would follow her, maintaining some paces of distance, his intent only to keep vigil on their surroundings.

While she went to her horse, Valdr would return to his dried armor and for now, store it in their wagon. He would pull it all on the next day. It would be a few days until the coast and it would likely be fairly smooth sailing from there.

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

The camp was made, horses watered and the group settled. They would not be traveling any further until the sun had set.

Rayden brought Esmerelda a cup of ale and joined her where she sat.

"Esme, are you certain you are alright?" A worried expression plauged his face.

"Yes Rayden, I shall be fine. Some rest is all I am in need of." She took a sip of her drink. "Did Beth get it right to put stitched in you?"
Esmerelda gave him a knowing look, "over my dead body would I give up a good scar." She winked and the pair began to laugh, their conversation drifting off to other topics.



Beth had just finished packing the queens ruined garments when Valdr joined her to put away items of his own.

"I hope you aren't injured my Lord," her voice filled with sympathy.
The sound of laughter drifted through they air and almost immediately hurt could be seen in Beths eyes.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

It wasnt lost on Valdr that Rayden was hovering on Esme. The man was in love, he couldn't fault him. But.. at some point it was a matter that would need settling.

His thoughts would get interrupted by a woman's voice. "Beth, is it?" Valdr would ask as he turned to smile at her. At her query he would shake his head. "Not at all. Though I count it a great shame that I allowed Esme to get injured."

At the sound of laughter, Valdr followed her gaze. "You love him.." he would muse. ".. and he has eyes for her.. This is dangerous, and fuel for Quinton."

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

"Yes lord," she replied on his inquiry of her name.

Blood rushed to her cheeks at the mention of her affections for Valdr. "He is blind to my affections, yes." Beth started unnecessatirly folding coats that were lying loose. "You are correct about the Duke. He is hungry for power, been that way since he was a boy. He also seems to hold affection for the Queen, but his love for the throne runs much deeper."

Beth cleared her throat, "I apologize Lord, I speak out of place. My affections aside, the relationship between her majesty and Rayden has always been a danger to her rule..." her eyes widned, she had said more then she should. "Excuse me Lord Rangvaldr." With that Beth scurried away to join one of the guards tending to the horses.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

"Then a fool he is, to be so blind." Valdr said with a smile. "If you can see it then, any other can see it." He would say.

As she scurried away, he would make his way to where Rayden and Esme were. "My Queen, may I steal you for a moment?" He would gesture for her to join him on a stroll. "We won't travel too far."

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

Rayden got to his feet and extended a hand for Esmerelda.

"Of course Valdr," she offered him a smile.
Once a meter or two away from Rayden Esme would speak, "I hope all is well. Does something trouble you?"

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

"Something does. Though I need to preface it with regarding our discussion from earlier, you still have my trust." Once they were out of earshot and line of sight of any of the guards, he would turn to her and take her hand, lift it to his lips and place a kiss on her fingertips.

"I'm glad that it only became a new scar." He would say with a glance to where the arrow at struck her. He looked away briefly and cursed.

"Esme.. at some point, you need to send Rayden away. You don't have to banish him, but the way he looks at you, speaks to you.. it undermines any union you make, whether it's me or someone else. And it isn't just me being self-conscious about it, servants notice it, other guards notice it. A man who loves you, is dangerous as a chief of your security.. and Quinton will use that against you." He would release her hand, and she could see the struggle in his eyes.

"I'm sure, hes a good man.. but I don't trust his intentions. And right now.." he would gesture between the two of them. "I want this to work.. and I could take his looks as a challenge to us.. and duel him, but I would rather not kill your friend. I don't want that sort of bad blood between us."

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

A wierd feeling filled Esmes chest as Valdr kissed her hand. Her heart was stirring, something she had not felt in a long time.

When he mentioned Raydens name, she knew the conversation to follow would not be the most pleasant.

Esmerelda listed carefully, her expression remaining stoic but her eyes spoke volumes. She knew what had to be done, and she knew it would hurt.

Esme took Valdrs hand and squeezed it, "you speak only the truth. Thank you. I know what must be done and I just ask that you trust me enough to allow me to handle it myself."

She took a deep breath, the reality setting in. "You are a man of honor Lord Rangvaldr and I cannot thank you enough for announcing your feelings and concerns regarding my friendship with Rayden in such a dignified and gentlemanly way."

Esmerelda excused herself and for the next few hours until the sunset and they packed up camp to begin their journey once again she would sit alone in silance, mulling things over.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

The concern he had over such a heavy topic had washed away as he watched her reaction and further still after she spoke. "I.. I know this isn't easy and for that I'm sorry, Esme." He would say softly as she squeezed his hand.

He would bow his head to her as she spoke, nodding. "I would never send him away and undermine you. You should be the one to do so.. and may I suggest sending Beth with for a bit to help him get settled? I think it might be beneficial, for her. At least for a time."

As she finished speaking with her having taken his hand again, he would give it another kiss. "I just hope you know that I only bring things up that will benefit you... and potentially our people.."

"My Queen." He would say gently and with a bow of his head as she excused herself. His gaze shifted to their perimeter and weight lifted. He knew this would be a sacrifice for her and he would do all he could to make it worthwhile.

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

The sun began to set and everything had been packed once again.
Esmerelda and Valdr would continue the evenings journey in their carriage, getting some well needed rest after the eventfull day they had.
Before departing Beth would check Esme's wounds once again inside the carraige, them being alone Esme thought time to bring up Raydens planned departure.

"Beth," Esme winced as her wound was dabbed with alchohol by the maid.

"Yes my queen?"

"Rayden and the others are not yet aware, but I shall be sending him to the borders to join Commander Ran'rorik. He is short on men and he needs only the best."

Beths head shot up...Rayden being sent to the Borders... it felt as if her heart was just ripped clean out if her chest.
Beth gulped, trying to regain her composure.

"Your Majesty, I do not understand what this has to do with me." Beth began wrapping the wound


"I wish to know if you want to join him, I know you have not trained in many years but it is not necessary for you to accompany him as a warrior, you can go and offer yourself as a healer." Esme searched Beths eyes for an answer, she would not force the women, who she had also known since childhood to go. The borders were no place for those who do not constantly practise combat.

"I wish to give it some thought your Highness, if that is alright?"

Esmerelda nodded, "Yes Beth, you have until we reach the harbour to make your decision."

Beth bowed her head, with the Queens wound cleaned and closed she left and got into her own carriage.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

Having known the talk was coming, Valdr would be riding his horse alongside the wagon. Once the carriage stopped and Beth exited, Valdr would swing down from his saddle

Climbing into the carriage and sitting besides Esme, instead of across from her, Valdr would brave putting his arm over her shoulder.

"I appreciate you supporting us this much.. " Valdr would say lowly to Esme, his eyes slowly searching hers for that which came sense.

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

Almost as if it was instinct, Esme melted into his semi embrace.
"I needed to do what was right and I had not realized the danger my friendship with Rayden had put me in. Thank you for helping me realize that."

She offered him a smile.

"I rider met the others on the road whilst you and I raced ahead to the stream."

She took a piece of folded parchment from her coat and handed it to Valdr.
"Two of my council members will be meeting us at Val Enir."

Esmerelda handed Valdr the letter, which stated what she had said as well as their own wishes to meet with the head of the Tal'deneshaar household.

"It must be a matter of importance if they cannot wait until I return to Route."

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

As she melted into him, his head would tilt towards and place a gentle kiss on her forehead, also instinct. "It wasn't your friendship, you're allowed to have those.. He just very openly wanted you, which was the problem."

The arm around her shoulder would pull her a tad closer. His free hand would take the note from her and he read over the message carefully.

All was as she had said, though it was definitely curious why they couldn't wait. "I'll have men direct them to Vel Ehn instead. Though something tells me it must be about Quinton trying to take advantage of your absence."

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

about Quinton trying to take advantage of your absence

" I was thinking exaclty the same."

Esme leaned forward from.where she was seates and scrounged through a small compartment in the carriage. "There is parchemnt, a quill and ink. When we make our next stop we can wrote back with instructions for the council."

The ride was peaceful and the path smooth for some time, eventually, Esmerelda surcmmed to the sleep - all the adrenaline finally wearing off, her eyes closed and a little drool puddle forming where her head rested.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

"As you wish, my dear. Should we send Rayden back with the message? Entrust Wesley with some more responsibility?"

Seated beside her, his shoulder was the obvious choice for pillow. If there was any notice to the drool, he sure didn't react to it. Instead, he just smiled and let out an eased exhale, pulling some blankets around the pair.

He would try to stay up for some time, keeping watch over her until finally, his head would rest against hers and he would fall asleep.

For the first time in a long time, he would dream. This time of the future, and the role he found him wanting this young woman beside him to play in it.

As usual, he would only sleep a small handful of hours, noticing that Esme was still asleep, with his arm, he would laugh to himself and wait for her to wake. Thankfully, he could taste the salt on the air. They were close to the coast.

 

[Esmeralda]

"When we reach the harbor I will send Rayden with word, from there I shall inform him on the decision we a have made regarding his departure." With that, Esme drifted off to sleep.

She awoke a few hours later, still nestled in Valdrs chest as she felt the carraige come to a stop.
"Just stopping to water the horses your majesty, we are only a few hours from the harbor but would rather not have the beasts dropping dead from exhaustion or dehydration." One of the guards announced from the outside of their carriage.

Esme silted her head, looking up at Valdr, "While we wait I am going to have Beth look at my little scatch once again," she placed her hand lightly over her wound which was much more then just a 'scratch' and opened the carraige door to climb out. "I can feel it starting to bleed through the bandage."

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

He would nod in affirmation to her words and do his best to make sure she knew nothing but comfort while she slept.

When they finally stopped and the guard gave them word, Valdr would speak up. "Have some of the men who have been up all night rest. I'll be taking a turn at watch to give them respite." As the guard departed, he fought an urge and instead straightened in his spot to help her sit up.

"You do that, Esme." He would take her hand and bring it to his lips to kiss her fingertips. "Good idea, it's best to make sure you're squared away."

He would open the carriage door and descend the steps, helping her down from the carriage to the waiting Beth. He then reached inside and grabbed ahold of his cuirass, bracers, and gauntlets and pulled them each on in turn. Reaching where the other guards were, he would take up a spot, his gaze surveying their surroundings.

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux

 

[Esmeralda]

Rayden saw Valdr aproach and gave him a small bow of the head, "Lord."
He to would be on watch now, his shifts coinciding with the Queens sleep schedule to ensure he was at her side at all times, preventing any further incidents like that which had happened at the stream. Weasley was also on guard now, he had basically become Raydens shadow, training under him for the past four years.
Weasleys realtionship with the Queen was that of a brother and sister, a very love hate relationship, him taking on the role of an irritating younger brother as far as their stations allowed the term to stretch. "Lord Rangvaldr." He too bowed his head, "can I offer you a drink?" He gave the man a small grin and offered him his flask.
"Put that away Weasley," Rayden grunted, the boy hurridly did so.
It was obvious that Rayden himself striked fear in many a mans heart with his large stature and stand-offish deminor.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

"Rayden." Valdr would reply curtly. At Weasley's question, Valdr would offer a grin. "Maybe on the boat." He would clap the man on the shoulder. "You two notice anything of note?" He would ask.

He stole a gaze back at where Esme was with Beth, a faint smile forming on his lips as he watched her. He wouldn't be concerned about her injury. She was a warrior queen.

"Have either of you traveled south? To the Vale." He would ask looking back at the pair of guards.

Esmeralda Sophia Le Roux