Beyond Time (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"He's been telling me about his life, Papa." Elizabeth said as Henry entered the room, surprised to see John there with her. "And we've been talking about the nobles that act as if they are better than everyone else. He has had a run in with a few of them since he has been living with Ashien and Dylandra."

Elizabeth gave her father a wide smile. "And he brings news that Ashien married the Lady Dylandra this morning in secret."

 

[KieranSoares]

"So I heard. That's what I came in here for. We're going to have a little celebration for our dear friends tomorrow evening, dear. So make sure you get out that new dress. And John, we hope you'll come as well."

"Yes sir, thank you," John smiled, shaking Henry's offered hand.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course John will have to sit next to us, Papa. He doesn't know anyone else besides us and the Ghis. Perhaps we can introduce you to a few close allies as well." Elizabeth said with a smile towards him, laughing softly at the look on his features.

 

[KieranSoares]

Seeing John's nervous expression, Henry chuckled brightly and clapped the younger man on the shoulder. "Don't worry, son. There are a good few men among my close allies. I ought to introduce you to Sir Caradoc of Wales. He's been long discharged from military service, but he became a carpenter and trained my own master carpenter years back. He's a gentle fellow."

"Thank you," John said rather breathlessly. He knew the huge opportunities he was being given, being Dylandra and Ashien's friend and now becoming friends with the Princess and the King of England. Henry smiled at his star-struck look.

"Now, I won't have you riding home so late in the evening. So when Elizabeth tires you out, there'll be a room for you, first on the east wing." Henry stepped over to kiss Elizabeth's cheek. "I'll be in my study, darling." He turned and went on his way, leaving John standing there looking entirely overwhelmed.

"Why is he so nice to me?" John thought aloud.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because he likes you." Elizabeth said with a smile as she took another sip from her cup of tea. "He sees you as a good man with a solid head on your shoulders. He is an excellent judge of character. Would you really turn up your nose to the king of England?"

She was teasing him, of course, but she could also see that the situation had him completely overwhelmed. It was probably startling to be a member of the public who only saw royalty from a distance instead of being with them in a casual setting.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course I wouldn't, regardless of his title." John returned to sit down across from her. "He's a good man. Even if he weren't a King, he'd be a fantastic guy. He doesn't act like a King... not really. He's always so welcoming, and he seems so grateful for everything he has. All the kings in fairytales and stories are always... the opposite. But you, on the other hand, you're just like a fairytale princess. Fair and kind and happy, minus being locked away in a tall tower."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, that's because I'm a real princess and not a fairy tale one." Elizabeth said with a small laugh and a smile. "And I can assure you that I've never been locked in a tall tower."

She enjoyed John's sense of humor very much. He made her laugh effortlessly and he didn't seem scared of her status or title. It was a breath of fresh air in a world where courtly rules usually make people meek and afraid to talk to her.

"So, tell me about how you and Dylandra know each other. It's pretty clear that you care about one another."

 

[KieranSoares]

John smiled at her question and sat back a bit, no longer feeling any kind of loss or pain about ending his former relationship. He was a better friend than boyfriend or fiancee for Dylandra. "We were engaged for a long while, set to be married this winter. I met her when I was working in a... well, I guess you could call it a bakery. I thought she was pretty so I showed off and bought her a meal. I didn't really get the whole 'artist' thing, but I was glad to meet someone passionate about their work and their life, so we spent a lot of time together and I got a better job in time. But after we decided to live together, I lost my job and got another that was going to absolutely destroy me. When we had such a strain on our relationship, we realized we were better as friends than husband and wife... so we ended it and she found Ashien. And they were kind enough to bring me here. I'd just arrived the night you first met me. I still love Dylandra to death, but it's not the sort of love she shares with Ashien."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ashien and I were much the same. I think my father wanted Ash to be his son and he pushed us together. We realized that we were much better friends." Elizabeth admitted as John explained his relationship with Dylandra. "I've never seen him look at someone the way he looks at her. It's like they were made just for one another."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yeah... I really envy them, to be honest. What Dylandra and I had was great, but Ashien... well, he can offer a lot more than I can, and I don't mean in money or title. He understands her a lot better. And I guess it doesn't hurt that he's much more willing to get up at three in the morning and let her paint him. I never put much stock into that kind of fairy tale love until now."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, my friend, we just have to hope that there is someone just as good out there waiting for the both of us." Elizabeth said with a smile as she placed her teacup aside and stood. "Let me show you to your room and then we can go to the kitchens. Our cook is the best in all of the isles. He makes the most delicious desserts."

The red haired princess was completely charmed by the man that was quickly become a fast friend. He was a good man, honest and hardworking. Perhaps in time that mutual respect for one another would grow into something more.

Back at Darkwood Manor, the fire in the bedroom crackled merrily as Dylandra slumbered on Ashien's wide bed. Ballas was beside her, purring contently after having been allowed back into the master bedroom. Her blonde hair was fanned around her on the pillow, a smile on her lips as the sheets threatened to dip lower on her naked body. In the back of her mind, she heard the familiar scratching of a pencil against paper and she let out a soft sigh.

"Are you drawing me?" She asked softly, never once opening her eyes or moving from her spot.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I said I wanted to make a painting of you when you were sleeping," he reminded her. She practically already knew what it was going to look like, having seen it in that museum with Dr. Elm. After a few more lines, Ashien laid aside his sketching and knelt down at her side, still entirely naked himself. There was no reason to get dressed that he could see.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan smiled as he said that, kneeling at her side as she finally opened her eyes and turned to look at her husband. She leaned in and kissed him gently, letting out a sigh of contentment. He had made love to her for hours, showing her how afraid he was of losing her and how happy she was back. She couldn't say that she didn't feel the same thing.

"Don't get too excited. Ballas is here and we have to protect his young eyes." Dylan murmured with a smile as the kiss parted, a laugh leaving her lips. "I don't think he likes being locked outside the room. You spoiled him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's seen me do much worse, trust me," Ashien smiled. "Haven't you, furball?" He looked to his great white tiger, but Ballas ignored him and laid his head on Dylandra's back with a loud purr. It was safe to say he was on Dylandra's side now and he was her great beast.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He loves me so much more. I don't call him names." Dylan said as the great tiger placed his broad head against her back, purring as his paws kneaded the sheets. "Our tiger is not going to watch us make love, Ashien. That's final."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't say he had to, I just said he's seen worse things," Ashien grinned before standing. Ballas rolled over onto Ashien's side before he could join Dylandra, and Ashien sighed at him. "This is why I call you names. Move." When Ballas wouldn't move, Ashien had to summon a tremendous amount of effort to push him down to the foot of the bed before he could crawl in beside Dylandra. "He used to be so well-behaved..." he grumbled as he wrapped his arms around her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylandra laughed softly as he had to push Ballas to the foot of the bed. "Well, it's not his fault that you brought home a pretty girl to warm his bed."

She kissed her husband as he wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her tightly. "However, I have to say that I like you warming my bed a whole lot better than him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're lucky he can't understand you. He'd be heartbroken," Ashien chuckled quietly and kissed her once more. "Now I don't know about you... but I'm exhausted. You can wear a man out whether you're here or not."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're the one that rode me for hours like a prize filly." Dylan teased as Ashien admitted that he was exhausted. "I suppose that I could let you sleep for a while though. Then we can get up, get dressed, and get some food before coming back and starting all over again."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll see," he murmured, beginning to drift off with his head against her shoulder. They wouldn't get the chance to start all over again thanks to a messenger who arrived during breakfast to tell them that Henry was requesting them for a celebration in their honor, with a side note saying John was still at the palace working with the carpenters and would meet them there.

 

[heartofcourage]

"News travels fast in these times." Dylan said as she took a bite of her scone, looking at the note that had arrived. "What kind of clothing does someone wear to an official celebration at the royal palace? Jewels? Silks? I don't think I have anything like that in the clothing that you've bought for me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That light green dress with the darker bodice would be just about right," he told her with a shrug. "Henry likes his guests to be fairly comfortable. You'll find he only really expects the height of finery at ceremonies, not celebrations. Now if he'd hosted our wedding... that'd be another story. But I'll probably be wearing my best uniform."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You mean I missed my chance to wear a tiara as the Lady of Darkwood?" Dylandra teased her husband, stealing a kiss from him before she took another bite of her scone. "I don't think I could have had a better wedding to the love of my life. Just you and me. It was lovely."

 

[KieranSoares]

"My Ma's still going to kill me anyway," he smiled. "But we'll see a big wedding before long if John can get over his nerves to ask Henry about courting Elizabeth." Ashien and Kayla had been the two to get their mother's love of matchmaking, and Ashien knew Elizabeth and John were just about right for each other.

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, you really think that Elizabeth and John are meant to be with one another?" Dylan asked him, know that she had seen the graves in the future and that they had certainly taken a relationship to another level. "Because John might not ever make that move. You might have to prod him along with the point of your sword."