Spoils of War (closed)

[kircanos]

The war had gone on for four weeks, neither side won or lost any ground. The only thing that changed was the number of dead on either side. The two Kings had elected to have the outcome decided by single combat. The younger King had eagerly agreed to the proposal, he knew his speed and strength would help him best the experience brought by his opponent.

The morning came and the appointed hour was set, King Peter stood in his silver polished armor, it sparkled in the light that filtered through the openings in the cloudy sky. His short brown hair waved in the light breeze, a smile on his face. He wasn't afraid of death, he had grown up with it, he had ascended the throne at the age of thirteen after his father had died of an illness. Since then other relatives, older relatives thought they would be better suited to sitting on the throne that the young boy. The first assassination attempt came a few months after he had taken the crown. He was out riding and a hidden archer had attempted to hit him, the shot struck him in the shoulder, and knocked him out of the saddle. The horse drug him most of the way back to the stable, he recovered quickly from his injuries and used everything at his disposal to find the culprit and exact his revenge.

Peter stood tall as his opponent rode towards him, he held his helmet in the crook of his arm, his sword was slung at his side. He tood a deep breath of the afternoon air, it wasn't to hot and it smelled like rain was coming.

The pleasantries were dispensed and the two locked in battle, the elder King gave Peter all he could handle, he was very skilled and cunning in the art of sword fighting. Peter was no slouch with the blade either and let the older man wear himself out attacking the younger man. When the moment was right Peter smashed his forearm into his opponents helmet, stunning the man, Peter placed a kick to the man's hip spinning him and sending him to the ground. The killing blow came swiftly, placed at the base of the neck, the part that the helmet had left exposed.

Peter looked up at the surrounding armies, he had won control over both of them. His word was now law in this newly conquered land. He had the generals and captains of the defeated army brougt to him, he had them disperse and sent the men back to their farms.

His men rode with him, they crested a hill and got their first sight of the capital. The body of the dead king was on a cart that was being pulled behind Peter. The rest of the column followed, the clopping of horse hoofs and the clank of armor preceded their arrival to the city.

Peter stopped at the gate "Open this gate in the name of your King" he ordered, this was all part of the ritual.

"We have no King, he is dead" came the reply.

Peter nodded "Yes now accept his body, mourn, and bury your dead" he said as he nodded to cart driver to take the body up to the gate. "In three days you will have a new king" he said, his voice booming against the city walls.

Peter turned and looked to one of his generals "Make camp" he ordered.

They spent a chilly night as the wind howled through the camp, it brought with it the mourning crys of the inhabitants of the city. Rumor had started the spread that Peter would take the princess as his wife to solidify his hold on this land.

Peter walked the land early the next morning, the fog was thick and the air was crisp as he walked through the wet grass. Knowing that this was his land now gave him satisfaction, he had succeed on the conquest he had sought. He looked up at the walls of the city, that was his city, he would soon sit on its throne. He reached out to touch the wall and winced, his forearm was still badly bruised from the fight.

[Sexual_Muse]

Shaylyn knelt in the castle's royal family prayer room clutching her hands till they were white knuckled. She was told that her Father was riding against Peter in a single maned combat. She was confident in her Father's skill but the fear that he was going against a younger opponent scared her.

She had lost her older brother just the year before and her Mother was gone at her birth. Her Father was all she had left.

Shaylyn bowed her eyes and squeezed her eyes shut against the coming tears. There was quickened steps headed to the closed doors of her own little sanctuary.

"My Lady. My Lady." Emma her handmaiden pushed open the doors gently bowing her the princess. "The King..." Emma's voice cracked and in the single breath Shaylyn's world shattered. "The King is dead."

Shaylyn's knees had gone numb hours ago, her hands shaking from the strength of her grasped hands, heart broken. The body of her Father was delivered at the cities gates and since that time and now her Father had been buried, the people left and Shaylyn had not moved in near half a day.

"My Lady you must eat." Emma knelt by her Lady. "A drink perhaps. Can I draw you a hot bath?" Emma sighed resting her hand on Shaylyn's shoulder. "My Lady you must be strong."

"I am strong." Shaylyn said without moving. "I am strong." She said to herself more then to Emma. Slowly Shaylyn stood, there was pain in her body but not a sound escaped her lips. "Bring me my horse."

"But my Lady." Emma pleaded with a horrified look at Shaylyn's dress.

Just as she had with her brother's death she wore the dark stained huntsman's leathers that she wore when hunting with her Father and brother. "My horse please Emma." If Shaylyn's heart wasn't torn in pieces she would have smiled but it was and she didn't.

Seated upon her steel gray stallion at the top of King's Hill she watched her city wake and beyond the walls the army, now armies of her enemy.

"What are my choices?" Shaylyn asked the winds. Already word had gotten to her that Peter planned to take her as his wife. "These are my people. I will not be ruled." With that she kicked her stallion into a gallop to the gates of her city walls.

[Sexual_Muse]

Seated upon a steel gray stallion sat a woman in huntsmen leather. Copper bronzed hair tighten into a braid. Her chocolate brown eyes held high towards the horizon. Scouts told that King Peter walked the morning for King's Hill. She stood ready to face him.

"Argento be still." A raven haired beauty with hazel gray eyes cooed. She was dressed in a plain handmaiden's dress eyes casted down with a hand on the neck of the stallion. "Calm those hooves of steel. War and death is not in the fates of today." Her hand traced a pattern over Argento's glossy coat.

Emma quickly caught the eyes of Shaylyn. "He don't like me." She whispered turning her sight back on the land.

"He doesn't like anyone." Shaylyn smiled. "But he dislikes you less." she comforted. "Why are we doing this?"

Emma this time looked down at Shaylyn with annoyance. "He knows you not. Since your Father died these are you're people."

Shaylyn sighed. They had talk about this before Emma agreed to call for her horse. The plan was Emma would stand in her place while Shaylyn gathered an army to fight for her people. And if it came to a one on one battle Shaylyn may be a girl but she was trained by her Father and fought along side of her brother. Plus she was four years Peter's minor.

"Yeah, yeah." Muttered Shaylyn caving once again. Emma was lucky she saw her as a sister instead of a handmaiden.

[kircanos]

Peter sat in his tent and flipped through some of his supply lists, he wanted to see how long he would be able to keep his army camped there. He looked up as one of his pages came into his tent breathlessly “Sire” he said.

Peter looked up calmly “Yes” he said softly trying to calm the young man down.

“Sire a scout reports a figure similar to the princess leaving the city” he said as he tried to catch his breath.

Peter smiled, he wasn't sure what she was up to, but she was trying something, either running or trying to raise support. Either way he liked the spirit that she had to act, he stood up “Fetch my horse and two from the guard” he said as he dressed in some of his hunting gear. He quickly pulled on a tunic and leather boots as he made his way out of his tent.

He looked in the direction of the stables and saw the page running towards him with his horse, two of his personal guards are dressed in full armor and are trotting behind.

Peter smiles, he has always enjoyed the chase, he mounts the horse, and takes the rains from the page. The page points in the direction “the scout said to ride in that direction” he said pointing.

Peter spurred his horse, it lept and galloped off in the direction that was indicated, he could hear his guards close behind him, their armor clanking with the jostling of the horses.

They rode hard, they were all good riders and made good time across the open plains near the city. As they crested a hill Peter could see another spot on the horizon, he grinned as he saw her, she was far off but he knew he could run her down.

He pointed at the dot on the horizon and led his horse in that direction, it wouldn't be long before he had her.

[Sexual_Muse]

Emma sat at the front of Shaylyn's riding party acting as the princess. Behind her was Shaylyn's personal guards. Olaf, a grizzled bear of a man with the speed of a falcon took point behind Emma leading the guards with them having been the King's own handpicked protector and once captain of arms. "Surely we would have seen him by now." Huffed the graying man. "I would love to tell that Kit Peter my mind." Olaf's deep voice rumbled with anger.

"Words are not what I want to share." Spoke the man to Olaf's right. Lowell had been the late Prince Cyrus' sword arm and friend. He was there when Cyrus took his last breath. Since that time his eyes had grown hard and he was too often quite. If Lowell had not been the man always at Cyrus' side Shaylyn would not have picked as her own for his savage strength an raged fighting style scared her.

Last the three the formed the semi circle behind Emma was Keon. "We will not be sharing anything of ours." Keon said in a tone of voice that left nothing more to be said. True as it was that Olaf lead this party, Keon was the current captain of arms, recommended by Olaf's appointed by the late King. "We have much more to defend then is wise." Keon was the only one not in agreement with this plan but a order given is a order obeyed.

There was silence as all three men fought not to look at Shaylyn. There stood there ready to guard Emma's life as if she were Shaylyn, all equally aware of the two women standing behind them only two guards for each. Keon had fought to bring more guards but as it was there was already more here then Shaylyn would have taken had this not been the day after her Father was killed by the same man they were riding to met.

Lowell who had been sitting in his saddle as if he were asleep snapped to attention as if he were hit. "Horses." He pointed to the far away hill where the slightest reflection of sun could be seen. "Armour." Lowell answered the unasked question.

Taking a deep breath Emma lifted her head high and brushed Argento's side into a lope. Risking a backwards glance Emma caught Shaylyn's eyes and nodded, receiving a small smile and nod back.

Shaylyn looked to the skies as kicked her bay mare into a choppy lope. "Gods grant me this, keep Emma safe. Keep all my people safe." She whispered. She didn't know what kind of man this Peter was but stories that her brother came home with is not something that she was going to subjugate her people to.

When they were near enough to Peter that they could hear the clanging of his metal covered guards they stopped and waited for him. All the guards were on full alert keeping their eyes open for traps or a possible ambush. But all they could see was that Peter came with only two men and he himself was dressed in only leathers.

Not a full out war party so maybe he's willing to be reasonable and leave. Wishful thinking Shaylyn knew but there was always room for hope.

[kircanos]

Peter slowed his horse as he saw that the group was riding towards them, he sat up straight and scanned the horizon for any other movement that might indicate that there was more danger than these. He dark brown eyes found nothing that gave him pause, they rode on, his guards close behind him, he could hear their armor clanking as they were on full alert.

The two groups reached each other, Peter pulled gently on his reigns bringing his horse to a stop. He looked at the group in front of him, two woman and three men. The men looked the sort that shouldn't be trifled with lightly, the woman at the head of the party was dressed in finery and appeared to be the princess. Peter flashed her an easy smile as he gently urged his horse forward, he raised a hand “I got word that you were trying to leave” he said with a chuckle, “we haven't discussed the terms of transition” he said as he looked at the leading woman and then back to the hand maiden.

“I wouldn't think it prudent to leave your people all alone with out any one to lead them” he said as he scanned the group of men behind her. He had let their army go home with the promise that they would lay down their arms against his force, and serve him if called upon. Looking at the men, he wasn't sure how good these ones would be at keeping their word.

“I hope that this isn't an indication of how our talks will go” Peter said as he nudged his horse forward, he slowly walked it towards the lead woman. He stopped it when he was next to her “I promise that things will be kept short and we will make things as easy as I can” he said as he looked at her. “I have no desire to drag things out” he said “I find a quick transition is easier on everyone” he finished as he reached out and touched her hand.

“But if you choose to make things difficult” he grinned as he gave her hand a squeeze “I promise that things will be very unpleasant for all of you” he said as he quickly glanced around the group making eye contact with everyone there.

[Sexual_Muse]

OOC: There is more then just 'two woman and three men'. There is...
Emma
Olaf, Lowell and Keon
Shaylyn and another handmaiden
And two guards for the each of them.

"Terms of transition." Emma mused out the group as if what Peter just said was an inside joke that everyone but him was in on. "I have no plans on leaving. Who ever told you that information was sorely wrong." Meeting Peter's eyes Emma smiled. "The reason for me being out here should be of no matter to you but I'll kindly indulge you in privy matters." The way Emma said it was as if she were giving Peter a gift. "My plans for being out here were to find out when you were going leave."

Shaylyn looked up the group at Emma and grinned. She was doing better then she ever thought that she could. Gone was the shy and quite Emma that she grew up with all her life and in that absent was an Emma much like Shaylyn herself.

Besides Shaylyn the other handmaiden Jenna shifted in her saddle uncomfortable with what was going on. She kept her head down but the quick movements of her eyes flying between Emma and Shaylyn was an act that could expose the truth if Peter were to see it and read into it more then he should.

Shaylyn turned her head and eyed Jenna with a cautious look. And out of pure habit Jenna stopped and gave Shaylyn a head nod. Not quite a bow but being seated on a horse all but canceled that movement. Turning away quickly Shaylyn rolled her eyes and bit off the sigh that threatened to escape.

Emma all the while continued to tell Peter her mind all unaware of the little slip up behind her.

Emma's eyes went wide as Peter's hand touched hers. A flicker of fear and panic flew across Emma's face as she quickly tried to regain her composer and don the mask that she had played so well before Peter touched her. "I..." Emma bowed her head as she cleared her throat. Emma stayed like that for a while and the silence of Peter's threat lingered in the air.

Shaylyn read the flicker of emotions that flashed across Emma's face and felt the fire of rage in her blood rekindle. So far Shaylyn would have said that her behavior was more then good but the protective nature in her tipped that scale in a direction that they couldn't afford. Griding her teeth Shaylyn breathed deep and clenched her hands till she felt the half moon crescent of her nails bite into her palm. The jolt of pain help curb back some of the hate and rage that Shaylyn was feeling right now towards Peter. Shaylyn kept her head down, breaking her sight on Emma completely for the first time wary that her face would show all the emotions that she felt right now.

"And what indication might that be, Peter." Emma lifted her head back to met Peter's eyes as she all but spat his name.

The venom in Emma's voice breathed relief through Shaylyn as she released the breath that she was holding.

"The indication that I will not take you as my husband and King consort, nor will I let you take me?" Emma's voice had risen with anger. "Because I will only tell you this once. You will not have me or my people." Bright eyed with hate Emma turned Argento and retreated into the protective shell of her small group.

[kircanos]

Peter smiled at her insolence, he liked the spirit with which she defied him, it would be so fun to break her late. He started back at her and smiled politely as she continued to insult him,

Peter listened to the start of the tirade and rolled his eyes, he had heard this drivel before. His gaze wondered as his interest waned in hearing another whiny princess. His eyes flitted around between the members of her riding party. He watched an interesting exchange between two of the hand maidens, something about it sparked something in him. It was something he hadn't expected to see, he continued to watch them to see if there was anything else that he might glean from their interactions.

He enjoyed how his touch had thrown her off, he enjoyed her unease and watched as it took her a few moments to compose herself and continue on in her anger. He let her go as she retreated after she had finished loosing her venom towards him. He kept his pleasant smile on his face all of the while, he kept all of his emotions in check, her insolence deserved a swift correction, one that he would surely deliver later when things were more to his advantage.

“Well my lady” he started off as he advanced his horse, closing the ground that she had just given to him “I had thought that for your peoples sake you would have jumped at the chance to be my queen, to have the ear of the man who will be ruling these lands.” he said as he continued his advance, his dark brown eyes locked on Emma's. He clucked his tongue “I wonder if that is out of selfish desire” he said teasingly “that you would put your people at such a disadvantage”.

He broke his gaze from Emma and turned it to one of the handmaidens, he moved his horse so that he could stroke the muzzle of the horse that Shaylyn rode on. His gloved hand stroked the animals head and touched its ears. He nodded towards Emma “I find that to be very disappointing” he said as he reached out and gripped the rains of the horse “ very well then, I will take this servant with me” he said as his eyes met Shaylyn's, his gaze was cold and harsh as he looked at her “once I had drawn up the terms of tribute, she will bring them to you” he said as his gaze shifted to Emma.

He smiled sweetly at Emma “Then my army will leave, once you have agreed to the terms of tribute” he said as he turned his horse and pulled Shaylyn's with him. “Oh” he said off handedly “I will be establishing a garrison here, just to keep watch on you” he said with a grin.

[Sexual_Muse]

Shaylyn was surprised when Peter approached her and even more shocked when he took her reins from her and lead her off.

As Shaylyn looked back at the moment it was as if it went by in slow motion.

Keon sat as ridged as stone as Peter had reached out to stroke her horse. Lowell amazingly appeared with a dagger in hand with no motion at all in his body and Olaf choked back a cry. Men. Shaylyn sighed shaking her head.

Yet as she turned back to Emma the look on her face was fear. Her eye's were wide, mouth partially open and her hands had lost the grip that she had on Argento's reins. In fact the rest of party had the stunned fear filled look that Emma had just in different degrees. Emma being the worst of the bunch.

When time came back to Shaylyn there was a roar of voices from everyone as they all fought, bartered and pleaded with Peter to return Shaylyn.

"You will return her, cretin." Growled a viciously pissed Olaf one he gained his voice again.

"Peter you will unhand my handmaiden!" Ordered Emma, voice shaky with uncertainty.

"For the love of our people keep the strength." Shaylyn shouted over everyone." She looked over to Peter and smiled. "Plus what is the loss of one maiden to the safety of the kingdom?"

Shaylyn wanted to say more but after Peter had his say of 'I'm watching you' he took off there wasn't much that there could be said galloping off the wrong way.

Keeping an eye on her group of friends Shaylyn watched until she couldn't see them anymore before she turned right and faced Peter.

"I could jump. It wouldn't hurt that much." Shaylyn told Peter watching his face, ignoring the loud clang of metal on metal of his two men. "Why did you take me? Why not Jenna?" She wondered out loud.