Bound by Honor,Innocent to Love

angelkissez

Really Experienced
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284
The waves crashed along the sandy shore,the sun sank slowly into the horizon. The wind blew the salty spray around the small figure standing on an outcrop of rocks,staring out into nothing. Her small form dressed in a loose gown of tan,her shoulder length black hair dancing around her pixie face. Her deep brown eyes unblinking as she watched the horizon,watching for the arrival of a Promise made by her Uncle.

A oath of her hand for the safety of two lands and their people. An oath she knew she would fullfill but yet one that had her heart heavy. Siobahn MacIntyre stood still her mind racing as she knew what the coming dawn would bring. Her betrothed was close,her family lands would be secure. Yet she had hoped she would have found love like her mother and father had not a binding that her uncle wanted. An uncle who was cruel and heartess to anyones feelings but his own. His words were as hard and cruel as his hand was.

After a supposed accident that had claimed both her parents lives she had been intrusted into his care,he played the greiving brother to her father like a charm. She knew otherwise,she had refused his advances. He was her kin and it turned her stomach at the thought. He had lashed out and she had hidden in her rooms until the bruises had healed. He used every chance he got to humiliate her,strike her or anything else he could do since she would not submit to his sexual urges.

Now with her upcoming marriage he was the overbearing,loving uncle others thought he to be. Making others think he had her best interests at hand. yet as long as she lived,or any children she had he would not get the title of Lord of the Keep. She knew he meant to marry her off to anyone and once she left for her new home he would be overseer to the Keep. The next closest thing to Lord. Her eyes misted as she watched the final flames of the sun sink out of sight,the footsteps she heard told her her maid had come for her.

"MiLady,it's time to return to the Keep. Your Uncle is waiting for you to arrive for the evening meal."The maid spoke quietly knowing the pain her Mistress was feeling and nothing she could do could help her.

Siobahn turned and wiped her eyes as she gave Lillie a small smile,one that didnt meet her eyes as she stepped down off the rocks. her bare feet sinking in the sand. "My Uncle will wait until I feel like arriving,but yes It is time to return and dress."She said her voice filled with hate as she said her Uncles name. She took Lillie's arm and together they walked back to the Keep,the halls busy with the coming arrival of her betrothed. She used the servant hallways to return to her room and sat down on her bed as Lillie moved about laying out her gown.

She remianed quiet as Lillie dressed her in a floor length black and silver gown,the bodice cut modest yet hugged her breasts tightly. then Lillie added the silver and black tunic of her familys colors and crest. She left her hair hanging loose but added a small tiara atop her head. From the sounds of the servants her betrothed had arrived earlier than expected,her uncle would not like this and she smiled truly for the first time in many months.

******************

"They are not supposed to be here until morning...they are messing everything up!"Her Uncle Bryon MacIntyre bellowed at the snag in his plans. He was supposed to have one more night to try and rid himself of his neice in an accident. Now those plans were ruined and he was irate.

He lifted his mug and hurled it across the dining hall.Pieces shattered everywhere,servants ducked and ran. his rage was tangible to everyone as eyes looked everywhere but at him as the large hall doors slid open. Siobahn walked in,her head held high and the smirk she had on her face sent him into a deeper rage.

"Your betrothed is lax in his manners,arriving sooner than planned. We are not ready for his party.He sneered at her as she moved to sit next to his chair at the dining table. Siobahn knew his rage was great yet couldnt help herself at her next words.

"I guess this really puts a snag in your plans for me...I guess I will actually live to see my betrothed."She said loud enough for just her Uncle to hear,the quick movement of his hand and the laoud smack as it connected with her cheek brought all eyes to them.

Her Uncle stopped form a second slap as he turned and looked around them,his cheeks flushed from anger. He breathed heavily as he grabbed another mug and down the ale. SWiobahn resisted the urge to touch the flaming spot on her cheek that would bear yet another bruise in the morning,how would her Uncle answer that from her betrothed. She stood,her eyes glared up at her Uncle,her words heavy and low.

"You will never hit me again..I will put my dagger between your ribs next time. I am done with being your punching bag when things dont go your way. Maybe my betrothed would love to hear of the things you have done."She hissed as she turned and began to walk from the dining hall,her mind occupied when her body hit a solid wall of muscle.

She lifted her eyes upward,the man standing before her dwarfed her 5 foot 5 body,his smoldering dark eyes told her he saw more than her Uncle would have liked. His shoulder length blonde hair was tied at the nape of his neck yet she could still see the pulse twitching there. "Milord,forgive me...I was not paying attention."She whispered as she stepped back at the same moment she felt her Uncles hand grasp her elbow tighter than needed.

"Lord Kerrigan,forgive my neice..she forgets her place at times."He uncle said with a painful squeeze to her elbow. Siobahn glared up at her Uncle but remained quiet as he directed her back to her seat and sat her down like a child.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk197/Sheena_00/ob20vp7.jpg

((need a male rper to play the role of Lord Kerrigan a man hard and cold,not liking this betrothal anymore than Siobahn but once he sees what her Uncle is like begins to feel sorry for her at first then fall in love with her. Must be able to write a good paragraph at least..be forceful when needed yet loving and caring when the time changes for it. send me a pm and a opening post and if I like it will go from there.))
 
** bumping...would love to see this thread take off please send me an IM with a sample of an opening post please.
 
Kerrigan glanced down at small, dark-haired woman before him. So this was to be his bride. He resisted the urge to derisively. Oh, her face was certainly pretty enough, but so short and petite. She seemed almost childlike next to his towering frame.

She at least seemed to have a pleasing figure, though its true extent was well-concealed by her dress. No doubt she had the better part of a dozen layers cloaking what he intuited to be some particularly luscious curves. He never could understand why the female nobility favored such fashion. He preferred the easy access permitted by the attire of barmaids; a man should not need to spend a quarter hour undressing a woman in order to hold a plump breast in his hand.

Ugh. If she favored such fashion, she also likely enjoyed social events that called for such ostentation. Kerrigan dreaded such things. Let his younger brother mingle with the royal court with his wife. Kerrigan vastly preferred his solitary bachelorhood.

But his great aunt Patricia would not be denied. As she was ever fond of telling him, "Jacob, a man without a family has no future." He must have heard a dozen times about the potential vulnerability of their house. The prior generation had a slew of daughters, leaving only he and his brother t to carry on the family name. Aunt Patricia was not prepared to see the Kerrigan legacy divided up amongst the other families should Jacob and Marcus fail to produce any legitimate heirs. Thus had he been dispatched to this land across the sea to collect his bride.

His gaze shifted to what had to be the uncle. Apparently the girl favored her mother; her uncle's features were coarse and heavy by comparison.

"Lord Kerrigan,forgive my niece..she forgets her place at times." The man's voice sounded thick and ponderous. Kerrigan envisioned a man-sized toad might croak like that. Particularly one whose breath smelt so heavily of ale.

"Overseer, I took no offense. I am told I am light on my feet and perhaps too quiet. My apologies, Lady MacIntyre, if I caught you unaware." He inclined his head ever so slightly towards her.

"We encountered the beginnings of a gale during the crossing," Kerrigan continued. Waiting it out in the lee of an island would have cost us at least two days, so I chose to skirt past its southern edge. The high winds made for a turbulent voyage, but we made good time. Hence our arrival ahead of schedule.
 
Siobahn glared at her Uncle as he ushered her to her chair like an obstinate child,she yanked her arm free as she dropped into the chair. Bryon turned and motioned for the others to sit,his eyes narrowed in his anger. This was not according to his plans,he had yet to have his cook prepare their special meal.

" Please forgive me for not having something prepared to chase away your hunger. I shall have something prepared at once." He clapped his hands and two serving girl hurried forward not meeting his gaze. " Go to the kitchens and tell Samuel to prepare a quick dish for our guests with the special spices we bought just for this occasion. " He said to them in a lowered voice as he ushered them towards the door.

Maybe he could still make this plan work and come morning his neice and her betrothed would no longer matter. Putting on a fake smile he turned and walked back to the table,motioning for the musicians to play. He sat down in the center chair between Siobahn and Lord Kerrigan,his gaze drifting around the room.

Siobahn hated the tightness of her gowns and tabbard,she pulled at her collar as the lively music picked up. She had always loved to dance,her father had taught her along with her mother when she was young. Giving her Uncle a quick glare she rose from her seat,pulled the tabbard from around her shoulders. She then quickly pulled her first layer of stuffy overlying gown until she had only one long gown of green that dropped to the tops of her feet. She tossed her hair causing the pins to fall loose and spill down past her hips . Her body began moving to the rythmn of the music and she moved quickly into the group of dancers.

Her body moving in slow circles as she let the music take her to a nicer place,a place away from her Uncle. Her feet moved lightly around the floor,her arms twisting and waving. Spinning her hair fanned out around her like a silken waterfall. Her clansmen clapped and cheered her on,except her Uncle. His rage at her behavior was apparent from his body language. Siobahn smiled as she danced faster,her eyes opening and meeting Lord Kerrigans. Her heart stammered quickly as she really got a full look at him. He was breathtaking but ominous at the same time.

The music slowed then finally died and she bowed to her clansmen before moving back to her chair. She had almost made it when she felt the cruel grip around her wrist as her Uncle grabbed her arm. He yanked her towards the door while looking back over his shoulder at Kerrigan's men. "Please continue your meal,My niece and I have some matters to attend to. I shall return soon." He spoke as he pulled her out of the hall.

Once in the hallway Siobahn yanked her arm free,her eyes blazed at him. " You have grabbed me for the last time,Uncle. I refuse to be your little pawn any longer. I look forward to the day you have to descend the throne and let MY husband have your seat." She hissed at him her body shaking from her anger. She barely felt the sting the first slap made against her cheek. The next one came harder and made her stagger back slightly.

"You shall go to your rooms and remain there until you are summoned and not before." Bryon raged at her as he motioned for two guards to stand beside her. They looked at her with apologises as they flanked her on each side and up the stairs. Bryon watched her then turned his attentions back to Kerrigan and his men. Judging from the smell of food cook had done well.

***************************************************

Siobahn's personal maid had remained hidden in the shadows as she watched her MIstress mistreated once again,but even worse she had seen what Samuel had done to the food and drink. She shook as she knew what she must do,but she had to do it before anyone ate or drank. She looked down at the note in her hand before hurrying into the dining hall. It was a simple note that read.

Food and drink tainted,must not eat. Do not allow anyone to know you know. Please for the sake of your own lives and the safety of my Mistress not yet.

She moved around the hall,serving the men only the fruit before serving Kerrigan and letting the note slide beneath his plate. She quickly moved away and hurried out of the room to check on her Mistress. She did not see the shadow emerge from the corner until the glint of the sword caught her attention. Her eyes went wide as she had but a second to see her killers face before the blade sank into her stomach. Her last thought was of Siobahn and her fate.
 

Kerrigan restrained his grimace as his purported bride to be spun before the assembled crowd. His mood had been sour ever since he'd arrived, so he doubted any observer could discern that his displeasure had actually worsened.

"That is the woman I am betrothed to," he grumbled to himself. Oh, Siobahn certainly had grace and flair to her movements. At least he could console himself that she was not gyrating like some wench atop a table in some rowdy tavern. But her attire was clearly tailored for more genteel behavior. The fabric pulled taut against her full curves in a manner he found unseemly given the broad audience. That so many of their responses seemed similarly lowbrow only furthered his disdain.

Fortunately it ended quickly enough. His host also seemed equally displeased with Siobahn, so perhaps her uncle wasn't entirely the oaf Kerrigan initially presumed.

A serving girl set down a plate of food in front of him. Ye gods. The scent wafting from the plate was a slap to the face. Had their cook no sense of smell? The dish reeked of spices.

As he mulled how many bites propriety might demand of him, Kerrigan found a tiny scrap of paper hidden beneath the plate's edge. He tugged it free, noting the barely legible writing on it.

The edges of his slight frown dipped mildly lower as he glanced at the note. The food might be tainted? Curse this backwards land of unkempt fishmongers. He'd not wanted to come here in the first place and now he was caught up in their internal politics.

Kerrigan glanced around the room. He knew little of this land's political landscape, so there was no way to guess that true meaning of the note. A host might wish to insult his guest by providing a distasteful meal, but such a bold slander would not be timidly concealed by overpowering spices. But to serve a poisoned meal to a guest would violate the most ancient traditions of honor. This MacIntyre might be an oaf, but could he be devoid of all sense and reason?

The note might even be a lie. Perhaps some malcontent wished to provoke Kerrigan into unjustly accusing MacIntyre. No doubt someone might benefit from the ensuing turmoil.

Kerrigan crushed the paper in his palm. A pox upon these people. He'd not be a pawn in their petty machinations.

"Overseer," he announced as he rose to his feet. "Thank you for your hospitality, but your... fragrant feast is entirely unnecessary. After our rough crossing, I am sure none of us could handle such rich repast."

He glanced around at his company. Barnes, his captain of the guard, swiftly picked up on his intent. "Why yes, my Lord, I was just about to say as much. Me and the men could barely look at this fine meal after such tossing and turning on the seas. We are most grateful for the kindness, but our poor stomachs are best left empty till we've had a rest. Isn't that right, boys?"

A chorus of slightly confused "Yes sir" issued from the soldiers as they followed their superior's lead and pushed back their plates.

Satisfied, Kerrigan turned back to his host. "Furthermore, I do not wish to tarry while I have duties back at home. No doubt you have similar demands on your time here, Overseer. As such, my intention is to make sail with the morning tides.

"Gladys." A middle-aged woman from his retinue approached and curtseyed. "You and the other girls go to Lady Siobahn's quarters and prepare her for the voyage. Do what you can to observe her wishes, but we have only till dawn, so only the more important possessions need make the voyage. "

"Barnes, dispatch a contingent with Gladys. Lady Siobahn will need an escort to the ship. Also, send another half dozen of the younger guards. I'm sure the maids will find use for their strong backs when packing up my bride's quarters."

"Overseer, thank you for your kind assistance in these matters." Kerrigan turned on his heel and strode from the room. Dawn couldn't come soon enough. He already longed to quit himself of this pathetic land.
 
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