Beyond Time (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I dunno... Work mostly," John shrugged, reinforcing her thoughts. "But I'd be glad t'come if I do stay... Always been interested in medieval London."

And John did stay. In the morning, Dylan found him out with Kiva, clearly intimidated by the beast man and feeling a little out of his league, but Ashien had introduced them and they became fast friends over riding the horses. John had a little bit of experience, his uncle having been a breeder of horses, but he was a long way off from the experts that Kiva or Ashien were.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dressed in a warm blue gown and a new cloak Ashien had given to her just last week, Dylan stepped into the stable yard. She saw Kiva working with John and she smiled. He looked terrified, but she knew that he would do well here in this time. He had always been looking for his place in the world. Perhaps he could find that here.

Leaning against the wooden paddock, she watched the two of them work, gasping when an arm wrapped around her waist. She turned her head and smiled at Ashien, leaning through the small space to kiss his cheek sweetly.

"Thank you for letting John stay here, Ash." She murmured softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's a fine man, I'm glad to have him," he kissed her cheek in return. "Who knows, he might catch the Princess' eye tonight and she'll leave me to you finally." He chuckled at that, until John's horse, turning in circles, approached. Ashien climbed over the gate and caught the horse's lead, stopping him. He he began speaking quietly in a language Dylan had never heard except from Van when he was muttering to himself. It sounded like nothing she'd ever heard. The horse finally calmed down and began to behave when Ashien let him go. As the horse trotted away, Ashien chuckled. "He's a troublemaker... Kiva gave him to John just to laugh at him, I imagine." He pulled his own horse out, climbing on without saddle or bridle, trotting him out and around easily. Really he was showing off for Dylan, but he pretended he was really working with the horse.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Show off." Dylan called after Ashien as he easily mounted his steed and rode him through the arena.

She was at peace here with Ashien at Darkwood Manor. She would have never guessed that she would find her place in life hundreds of years in the past. He made her smile and laugh, gave her the greatest passion that she'd ever known, and he encouraged her art and indulged her a little too much sometimes.

 

[KieranSoares]

That night, John borrowed a fine suit from Ashien and they made their way to the palace where the princess herself was awaiting them. She was glad to see Ashien, and though she was kind to Dylan, she was also a little bit forlorn that Ashien had indeed lost his heart to her. She was not bitter, and she nearly forgot it when she saw John.

"Uh... good evening your majesty," John greeted her as formally as he could with a bow.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan stayed on Ashien's arm, cutting a fine figure in a new gown of dove grey. Her hair had been pulled from her face and secured with a bronze comb, another present from her generous lover. She looked up at him with a grin, pressing a kiss to his cheek as the princess's eyes turned towards John.

The red haired Princess Elizabeth was a beauty on her own. Her eyes were dark brown, her skin creamy porcelain, and her face delicate and soft. Looking at John, she took in his fine figure and finally offered him a friendly smile.

"Good evening....to you all." She added as an after thought.

 

[KieranSoares]

John smiled brightly, "My name is John Davies, your majesty. I'm a friend of Ashien and Dylandra. They invited me to come along with them, if that's alright with you." She'd never encountered his way of speaking, nor the odd way his English accent seemed to have a bit of a commoner's twang alongside a nobleman's smoothness.

"John is from Canterbury, your ladyship," Ashien told her. "A carpenter. Or at least, he's making his way into the trade. He's going to be staying at Darkwood a while."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Canterbury? Father and I just returned from a trip to Canterbury." Elizabeth said with an engaging smile. "Speaking of Father, he is waiting for us in his private study."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Allow me," John offered her his arm, as Ashien had suggested he do earlier. They made their way in where King Henry the First was waiting, and he got a very peculiar look on his face at the sight of John. But he rose as John and Ashien bowed before him.

"Your Grace," Ashien said softly.

"Now none of that, Ashien, I told you that when we're away from the council, you can leave the formalities."

"And you know I never listen, sire," Ashien gave him a soft smile and the great man laughed. He was large, both in stature and belly, but he seemed kind and jovial.

"Then this must be the beautiful lady you spoke of," King Henry stepped forward to kiss Dylandra's hand. "Welcome, dear miss. And who is this?" He looked to John.

"John Davies of Canterbury, sir. A dear new friend of mine, and a longtime friend of Lady Dylandra Jennings."

"Welcome, young man," King Henry extended a hand to him. John was entirely overwhelmed with the honor and nerves that all he could do was half-whisper a 'thank you, is' and shake the king's hand slowly. Henry laughed before stroking his bushy beard. "Shy one, aren't you?"

"He's never been in the presence of royalty, sir. Where he comes from, few have."

"And that's just fine. Come, sit." He brought them all to a small rectangular table where John and Elizabth sat on one side, Dylandra and Ashien on the other, and Henry at the end.

 

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth actually blushed as John offered her his arm. She gave him a smile and nodded, looping her arm through his as they made their way to where her father was waiting. She was pleased that her father was in a good mood and greeted everyone with a simple and jovial greeting.

As they all took a seat, Elizabeth couldn't help looking at John from time to time. "I was just telling them that we recently returned from Canterbury, Papa."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Indeed, we spent about a week there visiting the Duke and his family, as well as laying out the new streets that'll be built there on the east side. Whereabouts do you live, John?"

"Oh, I'm from Earlshire Street on the west side, sir."

"Earlshire...? Oh, you mean Westmarket. I understand the locals call it Earlshire."

"Yes sir."

"And your profession?" The King seemed rather curious about this odd man.

"I'm making my way into carpentry."

"Making your way? Have you not apprenticed with anyone?"

"Well, yes, in a way, but it was a long time ago when I was in school."

"An educated man? Well, my dear boy, such a profession as carpentry is not for educated men, that's more a hobby. What you should turn your sights to are such things as becoming an officer, a knight, even a lord of an estate or an explorer. You would do quite well if you are indeed educated."

"I might... but I want to find something I love to do, sir, even if it means I barely scrape by. And... I think carpentry is the way to go."

The king sat back in his chair with a clear look of surprise, but then a smile came across his warm features. "You certainly do pick friends well, Ashien... He's quite like you, choosing what he loves over what will make him rich. Well... I wish you all the best, John. If you should require any help, I have in my employ many master carpenters who would be glad to teach you."

"You're too kind sir," John bowed his head to the gracious monarch. It hadn't been since Ashien that Elizabeth and King Henry had met a person willing to forgo money and status to be happy with their lives. Most would choose material wealth, and therefore almost never be satisfied with their lives. It was one of the many things Elizabeth had admired about Ashien.

 

[heartofcourage]

"John had just recently discovered that life is too short to do something that you dislike." Dylan said softly, looking over at her dear friend with a smile as she looked at King Henry. "It took him a long time, but I dare say that he's finally figured things out."

"Da." Elizabeth said a little harshly, her eyes wide with excitement. "Perhaps John could work on some pieces for your private chapel. You were just saying that you wanted someone skilled to carve the screens and pews."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not that skilled, it's been years since I really put my time and energy into this," John chuckled, though it was clear to Dylanda who knew him well that Elizabeth's suggestion made him nervous that the King would accept.

"I'd like to see what you can do, John. And hopefully in time I will be commissioning from you. You are welcome here to the castle to seek my carpenters any time you wish."

"Thank you, sir..." John bowed his head, truly humbled.

 

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth was a little disappointed when John told them that he wasn't ready for that kind of assignment yet. She wanted to get to know this mysterious man that had suddenly stepped into her life.

Dylan smiled as John seemed to relax as the king gave him an amazing offer. "Your highness, if you are working on a chapel, I would love to offer my services as a painter. It's my one true passion in life."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I was going to ask Ashien about that as well. I'd be glad to have the both of you, Ashien did mention that he considered you the finest painter he'd ever seen," Henry nodded and sat back comfortably.

The night was lovely and later on, with Henry's permission, John went to see the half-finished chapel with Elizabeth as his guide. Ashien and Dylan would remain with Henry for a couple drinks and whatnot.

As they stepped in, John's eyes widened as he looked down the long hall with the great columns in the center aisle and the vaulted roof with stained glass windows on all sides. There were no pews yet nor a confessional box, but there was a stone altar at the front draped with a fine silken cloth that had a deep purple cross dyed into the fabric.

"Whoa..." John whispered. By torchlight, it was immaculate. "I can't imagine what this'll look like with the sun coming through the windows..." He had some odd speech habits that Elizabeth had never encountered before, and his accent was obviously English, but not like any she'd ever heard.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're a very strange man, John. Even being from Canterbury, I've never met someone who talks the way that you do." Elizabeth said as the man looked around her father's chapel with awe on his features.

 

[KieranSoares]

John chuckled, almost embarrassed at the realization that his 2000's accent didn't fit at all into the medieval world. "Well, I'm not really from Canterbury. I was born in Tyre, Ireland, but my mom came from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and my dad came from Detroit, Michigan-" Then he realized that America didn't exist yet in the knowledge of Europe, so he went silent. Elizabeth had never heard such words before.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Detroit?" Elizabeth asked, tilting her head to one side. "That sounds French, but I don't know what Michigan is."

The two stood there staring at one another for a moment before Elizabeth moved forward and took his hand, pulling him to look out the windows to the garden below. She wanted to break the odd moment that was happening between them.

"I planned the garden out here. It was the first project that my father allowed me to undertake on my own."

 

[KieranSoares]

John's eyes searched down over the garden and he smiled softly, "It's a beautiful setup. It'd even be lovely in winter, I'd bet." He looked over to her, their hands still linked. "Why don't we go down there?" Of course, Henry had never allowed Elizabeth outside past dusk without at least two armed guards.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I cannot leave on my own after dark." Elizabeth said softly, looking up at John. "My father is very protective of me...especially since my mother and brother died last summer from the sweating sickness."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You won't be on your own," John smiled softly. "I don't want to get you in trouble, but I promise I would never let anything happen to you. If it'll make you feel better, we can ask a guard or two to come with us."

 

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth thought about his offer for a moment. It had been so long since she'd been able to enjoy a moment out and about without a guard hanging over her shoulder. A walk through her garden wouldn't harm anything.

"No. I trust you." She said softly, squeezing his hand with a smile as she pulled him away from the window and towards the entrance to the garden.

 

[KieranSoares]

John chuckled at that. Usually he'd joke about being the last person anyone should trust, but he didn't this time, knowing that Elizabeth's trust was genuine and she was willing to overstep her father because of it. As they stepped out, John took a deep breath of the night air. He noticed how much cleaner it seemed, and how bright the moon and stars were without all the smog and electric lights. He was beginning to prefer the medieval age.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan found herself laughing at the king's charm as she and Ashien took a drink after dinner. He was a kind man, one that certainly knew how to make his guests feel at ease.

"Your kindness knows no bounds, your highness." Dylan said softly as she raised her glass to him, pausing when she saw John and Elizabeth walk past the window and into the garden.

She squeezed Ashien's hand quickly, knowing that there might be trouble if the king saw his darling daughter stealing away with John.

"You mentioned something about a portrait room? I would love to see your collection. Ashien can tell you that my specialty is portraits." Dylan said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I told Ashien to call me Henry and I expect the same from you, young lass," Henry chuckled and rose. "I'll show you." But he caught a glimpse of the two passing the window and his smile faded. "What is that blasted girl doing?" He stepped to the window and gazed out to see Elizabeth showing John all the different flowers.

"I can assure you that Lady Elizabeth is in safe hands with John, sir," Ashien spoke gently. "I know you worry for her, but John is an honorable man."

Henry sighed quietly, "Hm... I do smother her sometimes... Oh, who am I fooling? I always smother her. I get nervous every time she steps out of my sight..." He sighed and turned to a guard near the door. "Keep an eye on her... but don't disturb them."

"Yes, sir," the man bowed his head and went down to take up watch at a window beside the door to the garden. Henry welcomed Ashien and Dylandra to follow him, taking them to a room beside the ballroom where he kept a collection of portraits not only from his family, but good friends and heroes of England.

"My favorite here is of my grandfather, William the Conqueror, but there's also one here of Harald Hardrada and Harold Godwinson, the two that my grandfather defeated to take the Isles for the Norman people."