Beyond Time (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I'm a future emperor, my dear lady. Love is not a luxury I can afford," Lothair said with a bitter smile. "But I don't suppose I could change your mind. You'd be even better taken care of, you'd see the world. And you'd be the safest, best-cared for, most powerful woman in the west." His smile grew warm then, and he took her hands with a gentle touch. "But happiness matters so much more than title and power. If you can find it, catch it and hold on as tight as you can. The Emperor may be angry... But to hell with the old man. What does he know of love beyond gold? So, respectfully, milady... I retract my suit. And neither I nor any other Imperial noble will come calling for your hand."

The current Emperor was somewhat greedy, temperamental, and set in his ways. But it seemed his heir was quite different.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I insist that you stay as long as you had originally planned. Our hospitality is legendary and there are events planned to honor your arrival." Elizabeth said with a smile as Lothair told her that he would retract his suit. "Let us wine and dine you, my lord. It is the least that I can offer after you came all of this way."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's very kind of you, milady. This will be a diplomatic mission then, to forge a proper friendship. Then perhaps when you do marry this Sir John, I might be invited to the formal wedding." He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her hand before they left the study. John was still waiting for Elizabeth in the main hall, anxious to know what had transpired.

 

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth glanced towards where John was standing and gave him a smile as she continued walking with Lothiar. She had a part to play with this foreign prince but she would soon have a moment alone to sit down and talk with John. They had a lot to go through when they talked about the future.

 

[KieranSoares]

As they all sat down to a meal, Lothair couldn't have been more of a gentleman to his hosts and their friends. He entertained them with stories of the vast array of cultures in the Empire, spoke of how the Emperor had long hoped to make a friendship with England after William of Normandy conquered it, and offered plenty of intelligent conversation otherwise. Ashien got along with him right away and Henry seemed to be quite accepting as well, seeing Elizabeth relaxed. John pushed aside any wariness to get to know the man finally.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylandra noticed how Elizabeth seemed to be relaxed as she sat next to Lothair and her father. She wondered what had happened between the princess and the man that had come to try and win her heart. Perhaps she had been honest and told him all of what she felt for John. It wouldn't have surprised her in the least.

"Your highness, Ashien and I would love to entertain the court at Darkwood while you are visiting. We are long over due in hosting everyone after our wedding." Dylan said, giving Ashien a grin as she looked towards Lothair and Henry.

 

[KieranSoares]

"That sounds like a breath of fresh air to me," Henry agreed. "What say you, Lothair? Darkwood is a gem of London."

"Of course. I'd like to see as much of London as I can. I also understand you train England's greatest horses there, Lord Ashien."

"I certainly try, but I think Henry just flatters me most of the time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps you would like to go for a ride while you are here. I'm sure one ride and you'll be ready to buy the lot from Ashien." Dylan said, glancing towards her husband with a wink. "His horses rival any other in Europe. He is simply too modest for his own good."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If there's anyone whose word you should trust, Lord Ghis, it's your wife's," Lothair said with a chuckle. Ashien could only smile and kiss Dylandra's cheek. Lothair proved to be an absolute gentleman, apparently a far cry from the Emperor that Henry knew of, and it greatly soothed Henry's worries for the future relationship between the Empire and England. It soothed John as well, seeing Lothair being so respectful of Elizabeth.

 

[heartofcourage]

When the meal was finished and Lothiar had retired to rest, Elizabeth motioned John to follow her. Once they were alone in the garden, she turned towards him with a wide smile on her lips and wrapped her arms around his chest.

"He understands." She murmured as she pressed her cheek against his warmth. "He understands completely."

 

[KieranSoares]

John let out a sigh of relief at that. Even though he'd been more than ready to fight if needed, his hadn't ever wanted to. "That's pretty decent of him... I never expected that," John murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He knows what it means to be royal and to find love." Elizabeth said softly, looking at John with a smile. "Most of the time we are never given the chance. I invited him to stay and enjoy our hospitality, however. Just don't glare at him so much, alright?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll do my best, but no promises," John teased before kissing her for the second time in their relationship. His relief was definitelyevident as he relaxed and his usual playful demeanor returned.

 

[heartofcourage]

"All I ask is that you try." Elizabeth said before he leaned down to kiss her for the second time since they had been together.

She smiled as their lips parted. John gave her such joy and hope...and possibly love. The full feeling in her chest gave her hope for a beautiful future with the man currently holding her so tightly in his arms.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've got no reason to dislike him, Elizabeth. I'm sure it won't be too hard." He took her hand and they continued on their walk.

The next day, however, some troubling news arrived that some ill-meaning dignitaries were following Lothair. That threw off everything as Lothair was forced to plan to leave the next day. He came to Elizabeth and Henry to explain. "I'm sorry, but it's too dangerous to stay. I don't want to bring these people on you. They're killers in the employ of my rivals, all men who hope that if I die, they'll be chosen as the Emperor's heir instead."

"Lothair, it's even more dangerous for you to go back out on the open road. You need to stay here and we'll defend you," Henry insisted.

"But you'd be risking your own safety-"

"I know how to hold a castle from assassins, boy. I've been doing it all my life. Even if one did get in, my royal guard are the best fighters in England."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We insist that you stay." Elizabeth said as Lothair told them the situation that they were facing if he stayed there at the castle. "We can move you to Darkwood. Ashien is very discrete and an excellent host. It won't quite be like staying here at the palace, but it would be just as good."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not afraid to arrest you for your own safety, lad," Henry warned him. That made Lothair smile.

"I suppose I shouldn't argue then. You're very good to me, both of you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Darkwood, it is." Elizabeth said with a wide smile as she looked between her father and the foreign prince. "You'll come to love it there. It's very peaceful. It would give you time away from your worries and cares."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You of all people must know that a royal heir never stops worrying about something," Lothair chuckled, but he appreciated her genuine kindness more than she knew. So secretly as possible, Lothair was moved to Darkwood. Van had prepared a bedroom for the prince that was fairly difficult to reach from the outside thanks to an overhang and required anyone inside to get past Ashien's own room. With any luck, strange sounds would alert Ballas who didn't take kindly to the atmosphere of his manor being interrupted.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan tried her hardest to play hostess to her first important guest. She followed Van's lead, learning what she could to use in the future. Lothiar, to his credit, seemed content to entertain himself. Especially with the promise of riding the property on Ashien's highly trained steeds. Ballas would follow the two around, guarding his master and his master's guest.

One morning, Dylan was working in the dining hall alongside Van to get the table ready. It was quiet that day, just like always.

"Ashien wants children." She let slip, looking across the table to Van. "I'm not sure that I'm ready for that, especially after growing up with my own Mom and Dad so distant."

 

[KieranSoares]

Van paused to face her, concern crossing his features as she told him of her hesitation. "You know you don't have to be your parents, Miss Dylan. But you should bring this up to Ashien. He'll understand."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can't just tell him that, Van." Dylan said as she looked over at Van with a long sigh. "He has a large family. He wants children of his own. I just...I don't know if I can be a good mother. I never had a good mother in my own life."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Talk to him, dear," Van encouraged softly. "If anyone will understand, it's Ashien. And maybe you ought to meet his family too. No one's forcing you to have a family if you don't think you can handle it."

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan was quiet as Van encouraged her to talk to Ashien about her thoughts. It wasn't a topic that she wanted to brooch with her husband, but she knew that the sooner they talked about it, the sooner her fears would be solved.

When Ashien came back from his afternoon ride, she was sitting in the studio, staring at a blank canvas as he waited for inspiration to strike. Glancing towards the door, she gave him a small smile as he shut the door behind him.

"Hi. Did you have a good ride with Lothiar?" She asked him softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The man certainly knows how to control a stallion, that's for sure," Ashien said with a smile. But as he laid aside his jacket and came to kiss her, he paused. "You look w little down, love. Something wrong?"