Knights of Anathaeum Not Far From the Tree

[Roki]

A bump and press. He was braced up. His head dizzy some.

Heavy.

He definitely felt heavy. Felt like he wanted nothing more than to fall to the ground. Melt into a puddle. Turn into a soot print across the floor.

His hands hung, low, but Lou helped him out. Stumble-step and clumsy as he was, she got them out from the crowd. Out from the knoll, into some fresh air.

He plopped his back against the wall with an oof. His head hung, and lulled some. "Do with me, huh?" he asked himself, deeper in the haze of the wine. He giggled. "Set me out to the green, of course," he grinned at his own nonsense. Looked up at the world that stretched beyond them.

The Monastery, carved from stone. Oergrown with greens, wyld and tended by hands like hers. Strong. Careful. Steady and sure. He frowned.

"How you do it?" he asked, missing a letter or two, as fingers articulated a wobble of thought. "Be so... good?" His brow knit with a hot frustration, his head swung toward her, lips circled with question. He paused, and blinked.

Alouette

 

[Alouette]

The brown sugar brunette balked with Roki’s suggestion of taking him out to the green. By Tsoai-talee, why would anyone suggest sending them to the everlasting spring when they were so young? Eyes that matched all the different shades that leaves of grass often carried unannounced to the rest of the world regarded Roki. His bright eyes and hair that reminded her of dawn and dusk, circling around each other, the land below.

“You think I’m good?” Lou asked, not realizing she had sloshed her wine over her hand so many times now while carrying Roki that it was only half full. Oh well, it was still good. She set Roki against a wall of the Knoll, the festivities easily heard outside. She looked down into her wine. There was no reflection. She took a long drink. “Thanks, Roki, but I don’t think I am.” Her shoulders slumped forward and her arms were tight against her chest as she held up her cup to her lips once more.

“I think I’m only nice because it’s easier that way. Lots of people prefer someone who’s agreeable.” Her mother had said it as well, once or twice. With her cleanest hand, she went back to her pocket, where the charm was beginning to burn a hole through her breeches. “When we went to the clover field, there were so many shamrock drakes and clover pixies about. They were frustrated with us, coming in to steal their clovers. Or really, they were upset with me.” Lou had the awful tendency to sometimes take more than she needed, so engrossed in her learning that she could forget key measurements.

“But last month, I nursed a shamrock drake back to health, brought them back to the clover patch, and the pixies were kind enough to show me a trick with four leaf clovers.” She brought out the bracelet then, simple-looking until one noticed the colors of the thread. The green thread made little four leaf clovers and was the exact green of a clover. Not too light that it looked washed out, not too dark that it looked more black than green. “They showed me how to harness luck.”

A tentative, timid smile as Alouette held out the bracelet for Roki to take.

“Good luck on your mission with Syr Noa, Roki.”

Roki

 

[Roki]

Roki stared wide eyed a moment at Lou. Almost in wonder as he watched her. The play of light through her hair, how the sun kissed her cheeks, while the shade darkened half her strands. He saw the dark redness across her hands, felt his tongue move heavy in his mouth as he gasped, half reached out- thought twice.

Heard her doubt. His eyes flit back up to her. Words jumbled on his lips- and he found himself quiet as she spoke. Listened as he wobbled and wavered. Looked down at his own cup.

"I... I don't think that's it at all," he said to the empty vessel. A spark struck in his chest, and he turned to her- quick. "Lou!" but she started to talk again. Doused the fire for just a moment. Made him listen.

The clovers. The drakes, and the pixies that were their guardians. In the haze of the wine, he remembered it still. How she'd guided him through the forest. How he'd found her staring at brambling eggs.

Out came the bracelet. Each clover, delicately tatted together. The threads so fine, they looked as if they'd been spun with gold silk.

Roki's breath caught in his throat as he stared at the delicate treasure.

"Lou, I-" he said, a moment, reached out, and placed one hand under the bracelet. Felt his skin tingle beneath it. His breath welled up in his lungs.

He cupped her hand between both of his.

"Thank you," he said. Earnest and clear eyed. Grounded there with her, if only for that moment.

Alouette

 

[Arbok]

"Hey, where's the man of the hour?"
Arbok gave Gruki a friendly nudge to alert her after looking up to get a muffin.
"Hmm, must have gotten overwhelmed again."
She bit into the muffin and pulled a face before reaching for the butter and marmalade but even her size left it just out of reach.
"Hey Lou can you... huh!"
Another squire passed the precious orange curd and she dressed the muffin briefly thinking about wondering where Lou might have gone, but she often lost track of her, especially in crowds.
"So what are you gonna do while your brother's away?"
She asked Gruki.

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

Gruki watched her brother stagger-step his way out of the knoll, unable to keep the worry from her face. Lou went with him. To show him her gift away from prying eyes, away from all the discourse and delirium.

Roki was a brave boy, but she knew he felt the weight of his actions more keenly than most. The façade he put on had a tendency to crumble when put under close scrutiny. He-

Arbok's voice drew her attention back to the room.

Turning, twisting her lips into a smile, Gruki nudged her fellow squire back. 'He's stepped out for some fresh air,' she said, sprinkling truth on the lie. He had been hitting the cups hard, after all. We all have. Picking hers up, Gruki studied the earthenware cup, as if it bore the answer to all of life's secrets.

Humming, she glanced at Arbok, her brow furrowing as the bear-squire's comment sank in. 'You say that like he should be ashamed.' An observation. Nothing more. 'I for one feel... humbled, that he would share his vulnerabilities with us so op... op... hic! Openly~!'

Making to rise, Gruki fell back down with a huff. Walking, much like talking, felt like too much hard work.

'Hmm? What do I intend to do?' Pinching a bread roll from a nearby basket, Gruki cracked its flaky crust open to get at the softness inside. 'What we usually do, I suppose!' Butter, cheese, a dull knife for a not-so-dangerous task. 'Training, chores, more training.'

Accompany a knight, keep a knight safe. The usual!

Applying the butter, Gruki's knife paused mid-draw. 'I'll... miss having him around,' she confessed, eyes glazed, distant. Her heart ached for her little brother, in more ways than one. More, it yearned for the youth they had shared together. As family.

How long ago those days seemed.

Arbok

 

[Alouette]

Roki’s hand was warm. That earnest warmth matched the glow in his eyes which were still glazed from the wine. Lou saw her smile reflected in his pupils— her lips had spread wide enough to show teeth. Relief settled through her body, her stomach no longer feeling twisted and low.

“Do you like it?” She asked softly, not yet taking her hand from his, relishing in the sweet heat even if it felt a little clammy. Ketyl’s hands had never felt this warm, not even on the hottest day of summer. It was like he was always cool and indifferent, impervious to the world and even its temperatures. Not Roki though, Lou was certain that he felt the world much like how she did. “I can help you put it on. It might be a little hard to tighten it.”

Roki

 

[Arbok]

"Oh, mo itsh gooob!"
Arbok's mouth was full of muffin and marmalade by now. She swallowed the mash of pulped food with a gasp to get her words out.
"I only mean that, he lets himself feel, everything. It must be refreshing. I wish I could open up like that sometimes."
She did genuinely envy Roki's ability to be 100% Roki at all time.
"There, that's what I'm talking about." She pointed her finger at Gruki as her friend got wistful.
"You two are tighter than a knot. You aren't separated all that much. Are you ready for that?"
Arbok spoke from some experience she had to cope with separation from her whole kith and kin. That was a clean break though and this was not.

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

'I mean, of course I am!' Gruki started, Arbok's indicating finger making her flinch backwards. 'Aren't I?' Sinking into her seat, the half-orc put some thought into it as the festivities continued to spiral 'ever more out of control. Vis and Len were arguing over a ham, wine-wet fists curled around cups of vibrant red.

Sen had found a new tune to play, one that had Rory and Ulrika up and dancing on the table, careless of where their feet landed.

Mallick was over by the fireplace, prodding and poking away with an iron poker. He didn't seem to realise no fire burned there. Perhaps he didn't care?

Haelyn was... well, being Haelyn. Quiet, thoughtful, endearingly cute!

Gruki saw it all unfold, and yet she didn't. Arbok's question had taken her away, to a place far, far quieter. 'I guess... I s'pose I'll... have to be, won't I?' Turning on the bench so her body faced Arbok's, the big squire looked up at her even bigger friend. Her eyes felt damp, and when she rubbed at them with the back of her hand, she was surprised to find it came away covered in tears.

Oh, she thought, oh dear!

Arbok Haelyn

 

[Arbok]

Arms, strong and slow reached around Gruki and brought her close to Arbok's chest.
"Yep, I know. It comes on you fast."
She had been no different at the end of the first day after she left home, she had cried right through till morning.
She rubbed Gruki's back in nice slow circles.
"You'll be okay and you can tell him now, before he goes. Get it out in the open yeah?"
Over Gruki's head she saw Haelyn and invited her over with a nod and a smile.

Gruki
Haelyn

 

[Haelyn]

A scowl did not seem to lift from her lips, but her furrowed brows seemed to soften as the tall ones regarded her warmly. Even as the one called Arbok seemingly asked the young squire to join them, the reclusive girl slowly dragged herself away from her seat and awkwardly made her way over.

Haelyn began to fidget with the hem of her shirt that was loose from being tucked into her trousers, face softening more and more as she read the kindness in both their faces. Disarming that, and much easier to deal with than the likes of Roki.

Poor Lou, she must want to be away from his presence right about now.

Gruki Arbok

 

[Roki]

A swell of feeling. Their hands still bound together by the want to hold on. To the moment. To the memory. The support. That she gave him , and that he tried to give back.

The what and the how, he couldn't quite piece. His feet, near rootless. Pads and heels felt like they carried no weight. Giddy? Scared? He felt all babble and brook. Rain swept by the wind.

"You'd?" his mouth dared ask. "Yeah, I mean," he felt his balance shift, but, he held himself still. Nod. "If, if you don't mind?" he smiled, sheepish. "I mean, I'd hate to have it fall off," he laughed. A little too hard. A little too loud. Caught himself, sucked in his breath. "Gods, that would be awful," he could see it now. As he flit across trees. Branch to branch. Flames licking behind him.

But there through it all. The shamrock green thread. Luck spun into bracelet.

Alouette

 

[Alouette]

“I’d hate for it to fall off, too.” Lou said with a nod, thinking about how all her hard work could disappear with just a bit of carelessness. She had even gone as far as to making it fire-resistant— she hadn’t quite mastered imbuing multiple traits in small items that would have allowed the bracelet to be fire proof. “Here,” Lou said, separating her from him to only touch once again. She lifted his wrist up with one hand, using her other to dangle the bracelet around his fingertips.

“When you come back maybe you can help me with a project I’m working on?” Her voice had dropped to a whisper and she looked over her shoulder for a moment. “I want to try growing creeping cykaeda at the Monastery.” She was slightly disappointed that there was none already growing, Syr Cymbeline had informed her of it just as quickly as Alouette had asked about it. The seeds themselves cost more than Lou could fathom, and even then, it took decades for the plant to show. Elbion touted their little garden, but to get access would be impossible.

The squire would have to take it into her own hands. She’d need a little help, though. She tightened the bracelet around Roki’s wrist, admiring her handiwork once more before looking up at him.

“It suits you.” She said with a wide grin. She fingered the loose strands of thread, felt the smoothness of the two green beads the color of jade. “So, do you feel lucky?”

Roki

 

[Roki]

Odd little chuckles bubbled up from behind his quirked smile as the small touch and goes of her hand played against the pads of his fingertips.

"Oh?" he asked in regard to helping. "C-creeping cykaeda?" he parroted. Thought on what he had learned in Master Brambleshell's hortimancy lectures. Which... wasn't all that much, if he were being honest. But he did remember something about it. "Doesn't that need a strong blaze to help it show?"

The bracelet sinched tighter about his wrist. Came snug. So that he could feel the cool press of the jade beads and... Lou's fingers about her work.

He was gawking. Eyes full of dreams. "Luckier than a rabbit, clear across the moon," he said, breathy, and half aloft from the butterflies in his stomach.

Alouette

 

[Alouette]

She nodded eagerly, eyes lighting up at the simple acknowledgment of needing fire to find the root she would bring back to the Monastery. She'd find a way to grow it here, harvest it in less than a decade, and share its arcane and runic seeds that would allow those in the forge to further enhance their weapons. Ketyl had complained a week ago about not getting his ice staff to its full output. But if she had creeping cykaeda, he needn't worry about channeling enough magic from himself, let the runes do more of the heavy work. She could prevent his heavy fatigue and those awful migraines he seemed to get when he tried freezing something solid.

Lou looked into Roki's eyes. Two giant golden orbs, the whites of his eyes a little pink from the wine, a glassy glaze over the twin suns.

"Roki, your eyes kind of look like--"

"Lou, there you are!" Alouette jumped in her skin, face becoming pale for a second before she turned to look behind. Ulrika and her big red cheeks were making their way to the two squires. "I thought you had already snuck off to Ketyl, but here you are, with Roki!" She clapped Lou harder than she intended on the back, but like an old oak, Lou remained firm and upright. "C'mon, you two, we're playing truth and dare inside, the party isn't over yet!"

Roki Haelyn Arbok Gruki

 

[Roki]

Roki blinked. "My eyes?" he said through the feint warm haze of the wine.

One hand rubbed at the wrist where the verdant bracelet hung about. How he felt the fibers kiss his skin. Half a smile on his face as he felt a thing he rarely felt. Eyes almost trying to get away, but daring to stay.

Till the voice of another came clear as day. Had his eyes grow wide as eggs, and his spine turn bolt straight. Legs weak under him, he felt almost like he'd fall.

Till Ulrika ushered them in. All shove and excitement.

Roki pushed a wide smile across his lips and laughed. "Truth or dare?!" he said brightly. Chest puffed up with fresh breath, he thumped himself with a hard fist. "Count me in!" he announced, and squint as he shook his hand when he thought no one was looking.

Haelyn Arbok Gruki Alouette

 

[Gruki]

The tears flowed freely, staining Arbok's top and making a mess of her complexion. 'Sorry!' Gruki apologised between sobs, her voice hoarse, rubbed raw by the depth of the emotions that had overwhelmed her. To think, someone so big and strong could appear so weak. How pathetic I must seem, here, in this moment.

Guilty, ashamed of herself and the tears streaking her face, Gruki pulled away from Arbok, and the comforting embrace of her arms.

I do not deserve comfort, she thought, sniffing, her chin held high despite the shame she felt. 'Y-yeah,' she promised, 'I'll let him know. Later.' The lie came easily enough. Arbok was a sweet girl. Brave, and sharp of mind. 'T-thank you. I-... thank you.' Nodding, Gruki turned to look at Haelyn. Her expression was one full of pity, and again Gruki felt the guilt weighing her soul down.

'Thank you both!' She said, smiling, taking their hands in her own and squeezing. Gently.

There was a commotion by the entrance as Roki returned with Lou and Rika. Wiping at her eyes with a miraculously clean handkerchief, Gruki smiled at her brother as he wandered on back. The bracelet around his wrist caught her attention; green like the forests of her youth, as vibrant as the light in her sibling's eyes.

'What a lovely gift!' The she-orc grinned, genuine affection making her face flush hot. 'Where's mine?'

Arbok Haelyn Roki Alouette

 

[Arbok]

Her heart went out to Gruki as she let her have her tears.
The Nordenfir way was about feeling it all and it was considered I'll mannered to try to get someone to stop feeling, even if it was a bad one or a sad one.
The only way out is through.
As Gruki thanked her and Haelyn she smiled at the other girl, her big face welcoming.
"Hey sit here."
She patted the seat between her and Gruki.
"You haven't eaten enough, yes I've noticed."

As the others returned she watched until Gruki brought her attention to the amulet.
It was nice.
"You know, where I'm from, if someone gives you a gift like that it means something."
She said knowing that many would assume something romantic. She was going to let them think it before she told them it was about life long loyalty and trust.

Haelyn
Gruki
Roki
Alouette

 

[Haelyn]

Haelyn blinked and found herself following the direction of Arbok, sat between the two giants in comparison to her average height. She felt small, young again, and quietly sat and listened. She was only reading a book earlier, and now thrust into socialising with those she was not too familiar with. Names were the basic knowledge she bothered to learn, but anything else was unknown to her.

Nor would she ask the orc why she was crying.

Not even for a game of truth or dare.

Haelyn's expression soured, looking at Urika with such ire and disbelief that of all the party games, she chose to play that one. Of course, she could leave, but after Arbok and Gruki got comfortable either side of her, the squire was pressed into place. If she stayed... however, she could very well be in for some enlightening entertainment...

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Alouette]

Alouette couldn't refuse Ulrika, tall and spindly as she was, as she ushered her and Roki inside. She was as loud as Arbok at this moment, gathering all the squires around, ordering Len and Sen to move a stool here or to push a table back there. They would need space, Ulrika declared, lots and lots of space.

While this happened, Lou heard both Gruki's and Arbok's words. She went pale and sheepish at Gruki's question, guilt seeping into her green eyes as she regarded Roki's older sister. She only made one lucky bracelet. Why didn't she think of making two? Well, she knew why. It would be less special if there were only two, right? And her gift, the purpose of it, was different from what Arbok suggested. She shook her head.

"It's to inspire," Lou said quietly. "To keep living when a heart is heavy." There were no feathers, no birds, just clovers and a moment together before a bad twist of fate took hold of Roki. She found it unfortunate, and at first, she felt some anger at the news of what Roki had done. It had been before she heard the name Bellamy, before she learned of the people who took and took and took. Roki wasn't a taker; he wasn't a bad person. He had just made a mistake.

Some people have mistakes that define them. She didn't want that for Roki, with his big gold eyes and an even bigger smile.

"It's only as lucky as he thinks it is," she whispered to no one. It was a little secret for her to keep, and she hadn't lied. She did manage to harness luck, but the wearer mattered. And if Roki felt as lucky as a rabbit over the moon? She smiled, small and sweet.

"Lou, sit next to me! C'mon, everyone, let's play!" Ulrika plopped down and shoved Len over a couple of inches so that there would be room for Alouette. "So everyone remembers the rules, right? You pick a person, offer them a truth or a dare, and if they do neither, they have to chug a whole thing of wine!" She lifted the cup, twice as large as the others.

"Roki, since we're celebrating you, you must go first! Which of the Sworn do you fancy or...." Ulrika's grin grew, a mischievous look in her eye. "Do one push-up with any squire you want on your back." Someone giggled and said something about choosing Arbok.


Roki Gruki Arbok Haelyn

 

[Roki]

Roki found himself sitting down on the other side of Len, right next to Sen. He saw Haelyn across the way, next to Gruki and Arbok, and he smiled a big cheesy smile.

"Big, small, big," he said as his finger flicked up, dipped down, and went up again. Maybe it was the wine haze. Maybe it was just the butterflies in his stomach. But more than likely, he just found it funny. In an endearing way, of course. The sort of sight one keeps when far from home.

Ulrika mastered the game, and called for him to go first. His eyes squint tight, and his lips pursed as he thought on it a moment. Almost as if he'd sucked a lemon, too sour.

"The secrets of a man's heart are his own to keep," he thought aloud. Grinned, popped up from his seat like an acrobat out of a tumble. "Pushup!" he said, and picked Haelyn with a confident point of his flat hand. "Haels!" he fell to the ground, went one handed as he pointed to his back with little jabs. "Hop on!" Put his hand back down to the ground and kept flat as a plank.

Even if his head was still just a bit... swirly.

Haelyn Arbok Gruki Alouette

 

[Haelyn]

Something awful settled in the pit of her stomach.

Her eyes narrowed over the brown eyes that stared in contempt, her mouth set into a frown as she watched Roki proceed to get into the right position for such a stunning fantastic feat for one push up.

"What if I refuse?" Came her soft voice, her body not moving one bit to go join him in his challenge.

She did not know which of them she did not like the most then, Ulrika or Roki.

 

[Roki]

Roki's wide eyes stared at the younger squire, his head craned in such a way he almost looked an owl. All eyes and plumed hair.

"Well, if you refuse..." he thought aloud. Eyes bouncing across the faces of those around them. His grin spread wide, and with a little hop and clap of his hands, he made ready once more. "I'll need a volunteer!" he said cheerfully. Steady and sure all the same. A quick pump of knees to chest as he kept ready.


Arbok Gruki Alouette Haelyn

 

[Arbok]

There was a long pause after Roki asked for a volunteer.
Nobody was saying anything so... simply because nobody else seemed to want to and she hated silences like this, Arbok raised her hand.
"I'll eh I mean I can sit... on your back."
Her voice was uncharacteristically small as she recalled the joking comment made earlier. Her size was often spoken of, she knew this but she had a plan.
With long strides she soon stood before Roki and gave him a conspiratorial wink before stepping one foot over and straddling his back. Her breaches were loose and allowed for the deep squat onto his back.
Arms crossed she let her hind rest on the glad of his back but still held most of her weight on her own legs ready to help him with the push up.
"Ready?"

Roki
Gruki
Haelyn
Alouette

 

[Gruki]

'To inspire, huh? I like that.' Gruki had been joking when she had asked where her gift was. A little humour to lift her own heavy heart. 'I'm going to miss him,' she confessed, watching her brother caper about, ever the artist when it came to entertaining large groups. 'Did I say that already- I said that already.'

Knuckling her forehead, Gruki cursed herself for a fool.

I need... more wine, she thought, deciding oblivion was better than fresh air. Standing, she listened to Roki's observation with a keen ear. 'Oh, yeah!' Big, small, big. Laughing, Gruki took a moment to disentangle herself from the table. 'Funny, funny... Hey! What do y'mean you refuse?' Turning abruptly, the tall she-orc glowered down at Haelyn, her brow knit in mock fury. 'You can't-'

"I'll eh I mean I can sit... on your back."

Blinking, Gruki turned her gaze on Arbok. '... What?' She'll kill him! No, no she wouldn't. Everyone knew of Arbok's kindness and craftiness. Big, small, big. All that muscle had to be good for something, right?

Keeping a close eye on her, Gruki helped herself to more wine. 'No cheating, now!' Sen giggled. 'Or we'll know!' Len, never one to let his sister get the last word in. Smiling, Gruki met Roki's gaze. 'Go on,' she said, 'you've got this!'

Roki Alouette Haelyn Arbok

 

[Roki]

"I'll eh I mean I can sit... on your back."
Her voice was uncharacteristically small as she recalled the joking comment made earlier. Her size was often spoken of, she knew this but she had a plan.

Roki had trouble keeping the surprise from his face. His eyes flickered wide with the prospect. But his brow settled firm and sure as Arbok strode over.

A sharp nod, full of determination. "Got it!" he said as he got into proper position. Kept his arms strong, and his core rigid as a plank. Even if he didn't think of the rouse.

Arbok settled onto him, he blinked. Was she really that light? Or was he just that strong?

Ready?

No cheating now!

Or we'll know!

You've got this

A grin, wide as the moon. "Down we go," he said under his breath, and worked his body down towards the floor. Made a show of it because, well. While Arbok was light, on account of his orcish strength no doubt, well, he didn't want to be accused of cheating. So, he sold it.

Breath in sputters and grunts as he made his arms shake the more as he got closer to the ground. Locked into place. "One," he feigned a grunt, and held the low position. Took in deep breaths. Looked back at Arbok and smiled. "Up we go," he said with a wink. Then started to push back up, slow and steady.

He didn't want to scare her, after all.

Arbok