Beyond Time (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Ashien rode side-by-side with her back to the manor, and Van let them be. He also kept John away for their sake so they could have time together. The moment they were inside, Ashien kissed Dylandra like never before, holding her tightly and unable to say a word.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan gasped as Ashien kissed her with such an incredibly passion as soon as the door to the manor closed behind them. Her arms wrapped around his chest, pulling him close as he showed her just how much he had missed her since she had disappeared. It was a wonderful homecoming, but they still had one last thing to do before they were truly at peace.

"Let's take care of the piano first. Then you can welcome me back all night if you wish." Dylan whispered as the kiss ended and she was left looking into his expressive dark eyes.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien smiled, keeping her hand in his own as they made their way up to the ballroom. Opening up the top of the piano to reveal its complicated inner workings, he motioned to a clear space beside the highest string. "I shouldn't doubt the werefolks' talk of magic by now... but I can't help but feel nervous that this might not work," he admitted softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We can at least try it. If it doesn't work, we'll figure something else out." Dylan said softly as she placed the talisman where he motioned. "I hope that I never go back though. It was all different and Darkwood was in ruins. I saw where you were buried with Ballas. It broke my heart."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien hugged her tighter as she mentioned she saw his grave, but he was silent as the white talisman began to slowly sink into the wood until it was only a white mark on the inside, and the wooden parts of the piano turned from deep brown to solid black, as if falling dormant. Ashien touched the keys, feeling as if the piano was truly asleep. It would no longer play on its own or trouble those who touched it. But that meant also that Dylandra and John and Van could never again return to the future. Having the talisman had probably changed it all again, but hopefully for the better.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylandra watched as the talisman seemed to do its job, sinking into the wood in a matter of moments before the piano changed colors and everything fell silent. She was there in the past now, with no way to go home. Glancing at Ashien, she squeezed his hand tightly in her own and pressed her lips against his cheek.

"It's for the best." She said softly. "I know that we all belong here with one another."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well... If it ever turns out John wants to return, I'm sure there's a way to reverse this. But I'd rather not risk it." He kept Dylandra close, walking out of the ballroom with her.

During this time, John had decided to go to the palace of the king to deliver a piece to one of the master carpenters to look at and give him advice on. But after that, he went to visit Elizabeth, which was what he'd really gone for even though he didn't want to admit it to himself. A serving man showed him into the parlor where Elizabeth was reading one of her French books for her lessons. "Milady, John Davies has come to visit," the serving man spoke softly before letting John in.

"Hi," he smiled to her, but quickly caught himself. "Uh, I mean, good evening your Majesty." He bowed before her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth glanced up from her book as John walked in and casually greeted her before remembering where he was. She laughed softly and placed her book aside, looking at him with a warm and welcoming smile.

"Good evening, Mister Davies." She said softly as a servant soon brought in tea and refreshments. "What brings you all the way to the palace this evening? Surely you could have waited for tomorrow to come."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know it's pretty weird to come out here so late in the day, but I've been wandering a lot today. Dylandra and Ashien ran off to the church this morning and got married, so I've been giving them time alone. I brought an end table out for one of the carpenters to give me some pointers on design." He thanked the serving man for the tea, but of course remembered his manners and poured for Elizabeth first and let her take what she liked before he did.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Dylandra and Ashien got married?" Elizabeth said with a smile as John let that little news slip. "I'm surprised that they waited so long to be honest. They look completely and totally in love. I hope that they have a long and happy marriage."

Elizabeth made her tea that way that she like it and then looked at John as he finished up his own. "It's sweet of you to give them time together. Perhaps in time you can get established in your own home and not have to give them time alone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ashien offered to build me a home on the estate like Kiva and Van, but I won't let him just give it to me. I'm going to pay rent and save up and then pay for it myself. He's been so kind to me, but he's done way too much for me already. I can't freeload like a bum, I have to be my own man and make my own way." He then smiled to her then. "Besides, my mom would've killed me if she ever saw me living off someone else's hard work without working hard myself. She always told me I either had to work myself, or be a home maker while my wife worked." Such a switch of roles was unheard of for Elizabeth's time. Usually the husband worked and the wife kept the family and a garden and might even work as well, but never the other way around.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You would let your wife work while you tended the house?" Elizabeth asked, looking at him as if he were an odd man. "You come from a very strange place, John."

 

[KieranSoares]

"No, I just think it's stupid that men think they're better just because they're men," he sighed, taking a drink of his tea. "If there's anything I learned from watching my mom while I was growing up, it was that she should've been running the place at every job she had, but she always got fired because a 'more qualified person' could fill the position. It was always some teenage boy." He shook his head and chuckled, "Sorry, I always go off on a tangent about that stuff."

 

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth cocked her head slightly as John rambled on about his mother trying to get jobs but being passed over in favor of younger men. That was strange, she thought to herself. There were very few people out there that would have passed by a woman with experience in favor of a young boy.

"Whoever passed by your mother was sorely mistaken then and must not be able to run their business well." Elizabeth said with deep concern for her friend. "Perhaps I can find her a place to work. I have many friends who are always looking for a reliable person."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She, uh... she passed away a few years back. But it's okay. By then... I'd gotten a good job and I took care of her so she could enjoy life for a while." It was clear in the slight stutter of his speech that he still missed her, but he seemed at peace with having lost her. "She meant a lot to me, you know? I never knew my dad, he was some bum who ran off the moment he heard mom was going to have me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I never knew my mother." Elizabeth said, knowing how he felt about feeling a loss that never quite went away. "She died when I was born, but my father makes sure that I know as much about her as I can. It was unusual for a king to never remarry, especially when he has no male heir, but he carried such love for her that he could never consider finding someone else."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think we get along because we understand each other, your father included. I never knew royalty could be... down to earth, or open to common visitors like this." John gave her a smile. "But I'm glad you are, even if it's for my own selfish reason of wanting someone fun to talk to."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We've never been people for the trappings of royalty. Without the support of the common man, who are we?" She asked John as he smiled at her warmly. "It is important to treat everyone equally well whether they be prince or pauper."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Woman after my own heart," he chuckled, but then caught himself. "Uh, sorry, that was probably way out of line."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps, but no one else has to know." Elizabeth said with a wide smile as she took a sip of her drink from the fine cup in her hands. "I like your style, John. You're so different from everyone else that I've ever met."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I try not to be honestly. One of these days being so casual all the time is gonna get me killed." He set his cup down. "Already got in a fight with some windbag noble in the market, nearly got arrested just for saying good morning to him."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You say good morning to everyone?" Elizabeth asked, knowing that John was the kind of man that would have greeted anyone no matter their rank. "Like I said, you are very strange, John Davies."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well not everyone, but I made eye contact with him and I figured I'd be pleasant. Apparently that's a crime." He sat back, obviously not afraid to show her he was comfortable with her. "Most people seem alright with it, but I guess that's just the usual people."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Some nobles see themselves as far above the people that are around them. There's not a whole lot that can be done to chance that perspective." Elizabeth said as he tried to explain to her what he had done. "But perhaps, in time, that can start to change. There's no need for a fight to occur just because you were nice to someone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If they start thinking more like their princess, maybe," he smiled over at her. Then Henry entered, coming to see his daughter.

"John?" He asked in surprise. John quickly rose to bow before him.

"Your Majesty."

"What brings you here?" Henry smiled, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Honestly, sir... Just looking for the princess for conversation."

"What a very strange man..." Henry shook his head with a smile. A less friendly ruler might jail John for insisting familiarity with royalty.