Private Tales To Have and to Hold..

A private roleplay only for those invited by the first writer
"I don't think there's anything silly about it." he commented quietly, bending one knee to prop an elbow on. "Anywhere has to be better than here.." he added with a tight smile. He'd failed so many times that he'd stopped trying to run away from it many years ago. His smile softened as she laughed, smoothing out some of the tired lines on his face a little.

He nodded in understanding, but frowned at her apology and assured that there was no need to.

"Will you show me?" he asked curiously after a quiet moment. "A little of your magic?" Magic both frightened and intrigued him. "You don't do.. any sort of mind tricks, do you?" he asked, straightening up a little.
 
Amelia lifted her right hand and placed two fingers on her temple. She only stayed that way for a second before she lowered her hand and laughed.

"No, I do not do any mind tricks," she said with a smile.

Her hazel eyes traveled around his room until she found an unlit candle. It was the most basic and the easiest spell she could do. She was not gifted like others who could do many things and some did not even have to speak the spells.

Her lips moved like she was whispering something but no sound came from her. A moment later the candle on his side table sprang to life. A small flame that could have been produced in the traditional manner. Nothing grandiose.

"My most useful spell," Amelia joked. Her eyes left the small flame and moved back over to Lynus' handsome face. There was something about him that made her want to stay even as she wanted to run away and not see him again until their wedding.

"Will you tell me about the cross shaped burn that you have?" Her own question was more hesitant than his. She did not want to upset him again.
 
The Prince’s lips twitched. He hadn’t had much reason to smile this past year, nor had he found amusement in many things, but there was something about her easy humour and lack of formality with him that eased his tension enough to allow a quiet laugh. Arryn had a sense of humour, but other than that, most people he knew took themselves far too seriously and didn’t appreciate such things. He did.

His brow quirked as he watched her, his gaze drifting between her face and the candle she seemed to be focusing on. He nodded slowly, impressed, watching the flame wink into existence as he scratched idly at his stubbled cheek..

“Very useful.” He agreed. “Where were you when I couldn’t get my damned fires lit?” He commented with a wry grin.

Her question caused his gaze to drop to his arm and he gave another breathy laugh. It was covered by the loose cuff of his sleeve, so he supposed she’d been looking a little harder than he’d realised when he’d been shirtless. He smirked at that as he tugged up the sleeve a little to show the mark to her.

“I did this a very long time ago.. Well, Arryn assisted me.” He smirked and lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Slaves bear the marks of their owners, some are a little more dignified, others are just a simple shape. Arryn bears the same mark, from the life he was born into. He escaped that life to live on the streets of Vel’Anir. He was lower than peasantry with a mark like this, but none dared ever speak a word about it again after we did this.” He smiled fondly, his eyes creasing at the corners.

“He’s my brother, regardless of what blood he has in his veins or marks he has on his skin. I’ve offered him far more than what he has right now. But he insists he likes his old room and that the only job he wants is..” he chuckled out a laugh.

“Is watching my sweet backside.” His head shook.
 
Amelia watched the Prince as he told her about the burn...the brand. When he let down his gruff and prickly exterior he was actually quite pleasant. She thought back to their time together in the garden and a soft smile formed on her lips. That had been pleasant too. Before she had decided to be a cunt and all to the Prince earlier.

It was clear that Lynus loved Arryn as much as Arryn loved him. That meant that everything Arryn had said was true and he was not just placating her as the Prince's personal guard. They were brothers. Truly as she and Kristen were sisters.

"I think it is a nice backs..." Amelia stopped speaking and looked mortified that the thought had left her mouth...outloud...in front of the Prince...with the nice backside.

"I am soooo sorry," she stammered out as her cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson.

Amelia touched her too hot cheeks and looked down again before she just started to giggle. The eldest Pirian daughter had a bad habit of giggling when she is nervous or embarrassed.
 
Lynus arched a brow at her, his lips twisting with the urge to laugh. He rubbed at the back of his neck and let his gaze fall from her face. "Oh.. Well, thank you.." he cleared his throat, but her giggling called forward his own laugh and his cheeks dimpled in a grin.

"Don't apologise for saying what's on your mind.." he smirked at her, finding her fluster and blushing cheeks more than a little adorable. He caught himself smiling at her and he sighed, rubbing at his face. His perpetual fatigue ran deep, and it showed on his face as he frowned.

"I will try to make these few days as easy for you as possible, Amelia. It's the least you deserve, I know I am not the easiest man to put up with, but I will try not to make this any harder than it has to be. Two more days and we will be married, three more and you can be on your way back home." he offered a small smile in reassurance.
 
After a quiet knock, Arryn waited a few careful moments, listening to the muffled voices from inside the room before cracking the door open and clearing his throat as he stepped inside. Things looked... settled? Some reparations appeared to have been made, or at least were in the process of being made, and the conversation seemed placid enough that he felt it safe enough to interrupt.

"My Lady, i've brought what you asked for.." he spoke, his voice the low rumble of distant thunder as he tried not to cut through the calm. He left the tray on the chest at the foot of the Prince's bed, his gaze shifting between the two and lingering on Lynus for a moment, a slight quirk in his brow that silently asked 'We good?'

"If there's anything else you need..." he said, straightening and clearing his throat as he waited he was not needed.
 
Amelia was still mortified even as Lynus laughed himself. She looked up at him and smiled sheepishly. She noted that his dimples were adorable and she wanted to see more of them even if it was just for a few more days.

She was on the verge of tears from laughing. He told her not to apologize and while she appreciated that it did not ease the embarrassment. Unfortunately, he ruined their perfectly nice moment by growing serious. This finally brought Amelia back to the situation at hand and she deflated at the reminder that they were not friends or lovers and she would be leaving soon.

"Yes, of course," she said softly right before Arryn pushed the door open.

Amelia looked over and smiled sweetly at the guard. Arryn was an angel and he did not even know it. "Thank you, Arryn. Hopefully it will help," she threw a look at Lynus that said drink it now and left no room for argument. It was the look she would use on Kristen when she was a child and refused to eat her vegetables.

"I do not need anything else right now unless Lynus is tired of my company..." She let the words linger in the air.
 
His lips pressed thinly as he dampened her laughter. That was what she wanted, wasn't it?...

He had been about to speak when the knock at the door turned his attention toward it, a deep breath drawn in and tumbled out as he watched Arryn approach with whatever Amelia had asked for. He nodded firmly. There was little the man could do to lose his favour, he had put up with the worst of him and he owed him his life several times over.

"Tired, yes. Of your company?.. No.." he answered quietly, as though such a thing was a crime to admit. She was pleasant company, she'd made him smile several times, even laugh. She was interesting, she had aspirations and spoke her mind, and so she was precisely the sort of company that he'd once enjoyed. "You can stay as long as you wish." he offered a small smile, and reached to the drink that Arryn had brought.

"Thanks.." he said flatly as he studied the concoction. Drinking it was the least he could do, he supposed, but the grimace on his face betrayed what he thought of the smell of it. He didn't let himself overthink, and threw the tonic back, his eyes squeezing tight shut the moment the liquid hit his tongue. He'd thrown up vomit that had tasted better.

"Fuck me." he coughed, pressing the back of his hand to his mouth in case his stomach revolted. He cleared his throat, his gaze shifting between them both as Arryn stared at him. "Sorry." he added quickly to Amelia, reaching for his cup of water.
 
Amelia was pleased that the Prince wanted her to stay...or at least he did not want her leave. There was a difference and she was well aware of that. Small steps, she reminded herself once more.

She watched the Prince pick up the cup that held her hangover cure and she just shook her head at his reaction and then his apology.

"First off, my Prince, it is ginger, lemon, and honey. Those three flavors together do not deserve such a heinous reaction," she sounded stern but there was a smile on her face.

"Second, if you hate it that much then perhaps it will work to help you drink less. You know what will be waiting for you," the smile turned a tad evil.

"And third, I think your drama there could give the theatre players of Vel Anir a run for their coin!"

Now Amelia laughed out a genuinely entertained laugh.
 
Lynus winced, stifling another quiet cough.. "Then it needs more honey, more lemon..and much less ginger.." he complained with a grumble and sipped more water to cool the burn in his gullet. His eyes creased slightly over the rim of his cup as he watched her laughing. Gods, the sound was a tonic in itself.

He caught Arryn watching him with a half smirk on his face and he cleared his throat, setting the cup back down and shifting to settle back against the mountain of pillows. "Thanks Arryn. You should go get some rest." he nodded.

"I'll escort the Lady Pirian back to her chambers when she is ready." he assured him. The last thing he needed was the scandal of anyone thinking she had shared his bed before marriage. He waited for Arryn to leave before letting out a quiet sigh and looking back to her with a tired smile.

"So.. Has my mother bombarded you with various styles of wedding dress yet?.." he asked with a dry smirk. "She gets a little, over excited.. Fair warning." he told her, recalling how overwhelmed Selena had been. "Tomorrow you'll no doubt spend the day tasting different cakes, picking your bouquets and drowning in frills and lace."
 
“Well on the bright side, you have now forgotten about your hangover,” this caused Amelia to erupt into another fit of giggles. Someone in the kitchen must not like you very much, my Prince, or Arryn is trying to poison you.”

She was still laughing when Lynus gave Arryn his thanks and she definitely caught the smirk on the guards face.

Once Arryn left, Lynus turned his attention back to her. His words caused an audible groan to escape from her.

“It’s a small, private ceremony though. Why do I have to do all that? Shouldn’t that be saved for the big wedding?”
 
Lynus cast her a grin.. "Perhaps." he agreed, letting out a brief and husky laugh of his own.

He sighed and nodded.. "It should, but they intend to hold the 'big' wedding soon after we are joined. I will try to convince her not to overwhelm you with it until after.." he offered a small smile and a quiet sigh tumbled from his lips as he stretched and folded his arms behind his head, and crossed his ankles.

"For whatever it's worth. Some day I'm certain that you'll be a wonderful wife for someone far more worthy of you than I, Amelia." he frowned gently..

"And, I decided that after we are married, I will accompany you, wherever you wish to go. My parents will accept it as a honeymoon of sorts, and it will allow you time to find a home and settle there without fear of anyone looking for you. I can spin any story I wish when I return alone.."

"I hope that's alright."
 
Every time Lynus laughed or smiled, Amelia felt something weird in her stomach. The way his face changed and she glimpsed what he was before grief took over his life. Handsome, charming, and mischievous.

His sigh pulled her back to reality. "I would appreciate that, thank you. I am not very," she paused as she looked for the correct word. "Princessly?" She was sure that was not the correct word but it worked.

His reassurance that she would make a good wife for someone else made her heart ache a little. She was unsure how she felt about that. She was sad? Upset? Disappointed? She was leaving so why did her heart care what he said?

When Lynus mentioned accompanying her, she looked at him with a smile. "Yes, of course, that is alright," she said softly. Her heart was beating a little faster now.

She was one hundred percent sure that her mind and heart needed to get their shit together.
 
"Well. You certainly look the part." Lynus commented without thinking and turned his gaze from her. He wasn't blind. She was exceedingly pleasing to look at and she had a way of brightening the room with her presence alone..Warming it with the mirth in her delicate laugh, despite the life she'd been so suddenly shoved into.

Was this okay? Arryn had assured him it was, but his brother respected him enough not to push him. His parents had been insisting that he move on with his life for the past nine months, but he wasn't ready to leave them behind. This marriage was political, neither of them had to commit to real love. He would escort her to wherever she chose to settle, and he would return alone. His parents would be furious, but they couldn't marry him off to another whilst still married to Amelia, and he would continue to insist that she would return, soon.

What harm would a truthful compliment do, what harm would some conversation have? He hadn't really spoken to anyone other than Arryn for the better part of a year. The others were just meaningless small talk and one or two regretful evenings.

"Good.. I haven't left the city in quite some time." he smiled, the slightest lilt of anticipation in his voice. The tonic she'd arranged for him had already settled his queasy stomach, but the exhaustion that came hand in hand with drinking all night wrapped itself around him like a blanket of chainmail. His eyes closed and he drew in a deep breath, a new smile burned into his mind's eye as sleep claimed him.
 
His compliment caught Amelia off guard and caused a blush to rise in her cheeks. He had dropped some here and there causing her feelings to jumble every single time. She did not want to like him but every conversation they had led her a little further down that path. She needed to leave before she did something stupid like fall for her husband.

"I appreciate you escorting me," Amelia said with a smile as she watched Lynus.

There was nothing else said before he was asleep and she just shook her head with a soft chuckle. She supposed the conversation was over now. She walked over to the bed and pulled a blanket over the Prince.

It astounded her that he could look so peaceful. Amelia slowly raised a hand to run the back of her hand down his cheek slowly. He was gorgeous. This was a problem. If she was engaged to someone ugly, it would be much easier to not like him.

The soon to be Princess walked over to the door and opened it to find Arryn. A smile curved her lips when she saw the guard. "He fell asleep," she chuckled out as she shut the Prince's door behind her.
 
The guard flinched from his thoughts as the door opened and he straightened to see Amelia. He couldn't help but smirk.. "Ah.. I'm sure he'll offer his own apologies for that when he wakes, My Lady.. He hasn't had much in the way of sleep for quite some time. It catches up." he sighed and offered his arm as he stepped toward her.

"The path to the end of the hallway might be treacherous, I bid you allow me to escort you lest I hold myself responsible for anything untoward happening to you.." he said, but the half-grin on his face made it clear that she was in no danger what-so-ever. Still, it would be ungentlemanly to allow her to go unescorted, and so he held up his arm insistently.

"You must be tired too." he commented gently.
 
Amelia waved off Arryn's talk of apologies. She was not worried about Lynus falling asleep because it meant that he was at peace for once in a long time.

"I am weirdly honored that he did fall asleep," she said as she slipped her arm around his. "And his smile, Arryn. He has the most radiant smile." There was a wistfulness to her voice for the first time since she had been here.

She squatted him lightly with her free hand at his joking. "I am afraid that I would not make it back to my rooms without your escort, good sir," she smiled back at the Guard.

Amelia had not thought she was tired until he said something and she nodded slowly. She was tired. It had been a long day...one day...two days...she had completely lost track of time already.

"Yes, I am exhausted," she commented back to Arryn.
 
Arryn's brows shot up in surprise at Amelia's shift in opinion of their Prince, and by fuck if that didn't give him mixed emotions. The guilt at such a thing crashed into him harder, however, and as he laughed he rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Well that is encouraging to hear, my Lady. I am often telling him that he has the most radiant smile.." he winked at her in jest. Truthfully, he hadn't seen a whole lot of Lynus' smile this past year, and quite clearly the woman now on his arm had had a similar effect on the Prince, as she'd had on him.

"I must thank you, Amelia, for making him smile at all.." he dipped his chin sincerely, and cleared his throat.
A pretty young maid rounded the corner up ahead and now walked toward them, her head bowed.

"Margareta. This is Lady Amelia Pirian, would you mind please bringing a hot drink to her chambers?"

"Of course. My Lady." she curtsied, and gave a shy smile to Arryn as she curtsied to him too. "Arryn."

Arryn smiled, and she hurried off along the hallway and down some steps. "If there's anything else we can do to make your stay more comfortable..It will be done." he assured as he gestured toward her door. "Here we are.."
 
Amelia laughed at Arryn's joke. "I have no doubt he questions your taste when you tell him about his radiant smile," she teased him back.

Everything was so easy with Arryn. She wondered if Lynus had once been happy and carefree and lovable like his best friend. She had always hoped for easy banter with the person she loved. Alas...she was not marrying someone she loved.

Her attention was drawn back to Arryn when he thanked her. She nodded back with a small smile. Her thoughts were still on the what if's of the past, present, and future. So many of them.

Amelia found herself thanking Margareta before she caught the smile she threw in Arryn's direction. "Can you find me a new fiance?" She asked half teasing, half pleading. She wanted to be happy. That was all she wanted. The moments were so fleeting that she cherished what she got but would it get better?

She looked at her door and then back to Arryn. She was unsure why she did what she did next but she threw her arms around the Guard in a hug. "Thank you for being here for me, Arryn," she spoke softly. Amelia did not stay in the hug long though. Palace gossips would talk about anything.

"Oh, Arryn," she started as she reached to open her door. "Margareta likes you," she raised her brows in that suggestive way and laughed before disappearing with one more smile at the Guard.
 
Arryn's easy smile faltered as Amelia asked for a new fiancé, his dark eyes narrowing in a slight wince. His heart ached for his friend, and he didn't feel particularly comfortable engaging in that conversation, and so he visibly struggled to find an answer. Then she hugged him..

His brows shot up and his form went rigid for the briefest of moments before he let a hand rest on her back. Well now his heart just ached for all three of them, and he swallowed audibly. "For as long as you are here, My Lady, I will be." he frowned and cleared his throat as she stepped back.

The guard offered a bow, unsure what else to say other than a quiet "Goodnight, Amelia.", but when she spoke his name again he felt his stomach leap. He blinked in confusion as she mentioned Margareta and he glanced in the direction the maid had gone in before looking back to her.. "Oh."

"Well, of course she does. I'm quite the catch." he smirked, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Had he expected her to invite him in?! And if she had.. Would he have gone? He cleared his throat and offered a short bow before staring at the closed door for a long moment.

Fucking leave, Arryn!

He did leave, his hands dragging up his face and into his hair as he drew a long breath that tumbled out in a quiet mutter... "Ohhh you fucking idiot."
 
"Well, of course she does. I'm quite the catch."

Amelia smiled at Arryn and just shook her head slowly. Yes, he was a catch. Perhaps there would have been something there if she was not engaged to his best friend and Prince. Different worlds, different lives.

"Goodnight," she said as she walked into her room.

It was not long before she was sipping the hot tea Margareta had brought to her. She had the maid draw her a bath too. Amalia sank down into the hot water that smelled of roses and closed her eyes. Her mind calmed down enough that she was actually able to relax. She did not fall asleep but she did stay in the tub until the water had turned cold.

The soon-to-be wife of the Prince wrapped a towel around her body before heading to bed. She should have gotten dressed but she was so tired. She was asleep within minutes of curling up under blankets.
 
"My Lady?... Lady Amelia?... My Laaadyyy.." Margareta had been knocking at the doors for a little while now, and after no answer had come she feared something was wrong and so she pushed open the door and wandered in with a tray of breakfast in her hands. She set the silver tray down and went about opening the thick drapes on the several large, arched windows, and opened the doors onto the balcony.

"Good morning My Lady.." she said again, her voice sweet and gentle. "I have brought breakfast for you."
 
Amelia was out!

She was so out that she did not wake up until Margareta was in her room opening windows. She groaned and crossed her arms over her eyes.

Amelia Pirian was not a morning person.

"Do you enjoy torturing me, Margareta?" Amelia asked with small smile showing from under her arms. "I cannot be too mad when you bring me food though," she said softly as she removed her arms from her face and squinted in the brightness.

"Can I sleep for two more days?"
 
The young maid chuckled quietly and her head shook.. "Of course not, My Lady.." she smiled brightly, but the smile faltered at the question. "I.. Should think you might need to see a doctor if you require two more days of sleep, My Lady. But, if you would like me to fetch one I would be more than happy to..?" she asked with a few blinks.

At a knock at the door, Margareta jolted and turned on her heels, shuffling quickly over to it and opening it to take a handful of boxes from another servant outside. She nudged the door closed with her hip and brought the boxes to the collection of sofas and armchairs to start opening them up.

"My Queen has sent some day dresses for you, My Lady. And there is a letter." she said as she hurried over with the scroll in hand.

~~~~​
'My Dear Amelia,

I hope you were able to rest well and that our guest wing is to your liking. I took the liberty of having some dresses made for you, I hope I guessed your measurements correctly. I had a busy day planned, however my son has convinced me to allow you some time to settle into your new home, and so I shall refrain from 'overwhelming' you.
My son will unfortunately be busy for the day, but if there is anything that you need at all, please inform your handmaiden, Margareta. In the meantime, please enjoy all that the palace has to offer.'

With love,
Elenora.'​
 
Amelia was about to explain that she was being facetious when the knock startled both of them. As the maid went to answer the door, Amelia slowly - very slowly - moved to the edge of the bed and set her bare feet on the cold floor.

Dresses and a letter? Oh dear, Amelia thought.

She took the scroll from Margareta and unrolled it. The Queen's penmanship was perfect and Amelia found herself wanting to go practice her own now. It would have been more of a suprise if it wasn't perfect really.

I had a busy day planned, however my son has convinced me to allow you some time to settle into your new home, and so I shall refrain from 'overwhelming' you.

She would kiss Lynus for this. Truly. She appreciated more than he would ever know. It was not that she did not want to spend time with the Queen but she was still settling into all this. It had only been a day. One of the reasons she wanted a small wedding was to avoid all of this mess.

"It seems that the Queen has sent some dresses for me," Amelia told Margareta with a smile. "I suppose I need to try them on posthaste since she has granted me a small reprieve from planning all day."
 
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