Sweetp4u
Mischief Maker
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2001
- Posts
- 14,767
Winter of 1750, England
It is said that the Lord of our lands is a dark and sinister creature, non-human and frighteningly a beast. That those who had gone to his castle never emerged quite right in the mind after serving him. I grew up, tales always told to me of the ‘Beast’ that would get me if I was not too careful. Maids in the village dreaded being summoned but were helpless to resist. For if you did not go to the Lord when summoned, your whole family was made to pay. Not with gold but with their lives. Time and time again in the recent years I have watched many friends and distant relatives go to the castle and return a shell of what they were before leaving. None would repeat their experiences in that castle, too afraid of the ‘Beasts’ retribution. I grew up as children tend to do, but something was different with me than any other in the village. By the time I was sixteen I had more marriage proposals than any other in the village. And as each year passed, up to my eighteenth birthday, the men far and wide came to ask for my hand in marriage. Too worried about leaving my ailing father, I refused all who came, but it did not deter them from arriving every few weeks to ask once again. This begins our story… A tale so dark, so forbidden, something I wondered how I ever managed to make it through alive…
”You are here by summoned Isabelle Thorn…” The manservant to the Lord stood on the podium, his voice ringing out loud and clear as his eyes met mine. He knew who I was, so why did he announce to the whole village my summons? I felt the ice run through my veins as I gazed up into his cold hard eyes. My head lowering quickly as I nodded and turned. An audible gasp went up through the crowd and many men glared in hatred at the servant before them. I had been summoned for an undeterminable amount of time to serve the land Lord, the horror stories came back to me full force. The visions of the frightful young women that had eventually been carted off to the church, and their faces danced in my head. I felt ill, terrified as well that I had been called upon.
I ran home as fast as I could, forgotten was my trip to the market as I raced inside the house and slammed the door behind me. My father jumped and gazed up at me, his eyes seemed to know something was more then merely wrong, but horribly wrong. He said nothing as his face paled, my words sounded hallow in my own mind as I spoke softly, “I have been summoned to the Lord, Father…” A tear ran down my face as I fought back the fear that crept up into my throat.
“He has heard of your beauty or seen you for himself… I had a fear this would happen and made precautions my child… Do not worry so Bella.” He rose from the chair, coming over and enveloping me into his warm embrace, comforting me as best he could.
“We will send you off to some relative, or some…..” I interrupted, “No father! He would have you killed and our land seized for daring such a thing… You know as well as I do I have no choice but to go!” I had to be brave, if for none other than my father.
“I will be alright and I will visit you soon Father.. I must pack before the coach arrives.” I knew as did many after the reading of the summons the coach would arrive at their home within the hour, taking them to Hawthorn Castle… I shivered again, I seen it once from a distance. And even in the broad of daylight it looked frightening, cold and heartless almost. It did not resemble a home but a prison… A prison I would soon be encased in.
I heard the unmistakable sound of crunching gravel, the rattle of a harness and the “whoa!” as well.
“The coach is here Father…” He gripped me tighter, his words whispering into my ear, “Please Bella, reconsider! I am old, do not sacrifice yourself for me! I can not bear the thought!” I hugged him to me hard, another tear slipping down my pale cheek. “I will be alright Father.. Be well..” I kissed his cheek and stepped away as the driver rapped on the door.
“I must gather some of my things before going, stall him Father..” He nodded, his old weary eyes tearing as badly as mine had. I had to be strong and return home whole, I would not return as the others had before me! I was determined to be of good service and make it back the same as I was when I left. None had stayed longer than a week, perhaps that was the standard service? I could only hope.
I ran up to my small corner of a room, packed what few clothes I owned and walked back down the small flight of stairs.
“I am ready.” I met the cold gray eyes of the driver before diverting my attention to the floor.
“Come Miss… He awaits. Good evening to you Sir.” He dismissed my father, took my elbow and promptly escorted me out to the awaiting carriage… Pushed inside, the shades drawn I sat back and tried hard not to cry. I had hopes, so many high hopes of marriage to someone soon, it seemed as if I was in danger of losing my sanity as the others had done… I knew I had to be strong, face whatever was coming with a chin up and the Thorn legendary bravery…
The carriage stopped and I was quickly pulled out, the courtyard was dark, dreary looking. Very few living things grew around the outter walls. It looked as if no one of titled birth lived here, but I knew only too well that to be false. So lost in my own thoughts, I did not realize how far and how quickly we had traveled to this castle and my imprisonment.
“This way Madam.” The driver motioned with his hand towards the front double doors. I nodded, too choked up to speak and followed his lead. Into the lion’s den is what it felt like, no beautiful castle could disguise the barren state it held. These walls weren’t comforting, only stifling and I longed to turn and leave. As if sensing my thoughts, the driver put a hand on my lower back and ushered me into the darkness.. I paid no attention to my surroundings, expecting to be delivered into the servants quarts, I was stunned when he took me into a dark den.
“Sit there.” The servant motioned to a high-backed chair. I nodded my head, feeling a chill run through me as I glanced around the dark chambers. The only light within was the glow of the fire place, it did not make it feel homey, but eerie. I thought I was alone in here, waiting for the Lord to arrive, I was wrong. In back of the room sat someone in a chair, behind a large oak desk. I could make out his steepled fingers, resting against his chin, his profile slightly lit from the fire. He said nothing, he did not turn to look at me, I tried to see him clearer through the darkness, but was unable to make out his features. What now? My only thought, my hands gripping the arms of the chair, refusing to let me relax in his presence.
Isabelle Thorn
18
5’4” 100 lbs. Blonde hair, deep blue eyes. (Beauty)
(Beast) Lord of Hawthorn
Tibvo
OOC P.M. with other possible roles, please do not post here without permission. Enjoy the rendition of Beauty and the Beast, our way
It is said that the Lord of our lands is a dark and sinister creature, non-human and frighteningly a beast. That those who had gone to his castle never emerged quite right in the mind after serving him. I grew up, tales always told to me of the ‘Beast’ that would get me if I was not too careful. Maids in the village dreaded being summoned but were helpless to resist. For if you did not go to the Lord when summoned, your whole family was made to pay. Not with gold but with their lives. Time and time again in the recent years I have watched many friends and distant relatives go to the castle and return a shell of what they were before leaving. None would repeat their experiences in that castle, too afraid of the ‘Beasts’ retribution. I grew up as children tend to do, but something was different with me than any other in the village. By the time I was sixteen I had more marriage proposals than any other in the village. And as each year passed, up to my eighteenth birthday, the men far and wide came to ask for my hand in marriage. Too worried about leaving my ailing father, I refused all who came, but it did not deter them from arriving every few weeks to ask once again. This begins our story… A tale so dark, so forbidden, something I wondered how I ever managed to make it through alive…
”You are here by summoned Isabelle Thorn…” The manservant to the Lord stood on the podium, his voice ringing out loud and clear as his eyes met mine. He knew who I was, so why did he announce to the whole village my summons? I felt the ice run through my veins as I gazed up into his cold hard eyes. My head lowering quickly as I nodded and turned. An audible gasp went up through the crowd and many men glared in hatred at the servant before them. I had been summoned for an undeterminable amount of time to serve the land Lord, the horror stories came back to me full force. The visions of the frightful young women that had eventually been carted off to the church, and their faces danced in my head. I felt ill, terrified as well that I had been called upon.
I ran home as fast as I could, forgotten was my trip to the market as I raced inside the house and slammed the door behind me. My father jumped and gazed up at me, his eyes seemed to know something was more then merely wrong, but horribly wrong. He said nothing as his face paled, my words sounded hallow in my own mind as I spoke softly, “I have been summoned to the Lord, Father…” A tear ran down my face as I fought back the fear that crept up into my throat.
“He has heard of your beauty or seen you for himself… I had a fear this would happen and made precautions my child… Do not worry so Bella.” He rose from the chair, coming over and enveloping me into his warm embrace, comforting me as best he could.
“We will send you off to some relative, or some…..” I interrupted, “No father! He would have you killed and our land seized for daring such a thing… You know as well as I do I have no choice but to go!” I had to be brave, if for none other than my father.
“I will be alright and I will visit you soon Father.. I must pack before the coach arrives.” I knew as did many after the reading of the summons the coach would arrive at their home within the hour, taking them to Hawthorn Castle… I shivered again, I seen it once from a distance. And even in the broad of daylight it looked frightening, cold and heartless almost. It did not resemble a home but a prison… A prison I would soon be encased in.
I heard the unmistakable sound of crunching gravel, the rattle of a harness and the “whoa!” as well.
“The coach is here Father…” He gripped me tighter, his words whispering into my ear, “Please Bella, reconsider! I am old, do not sacrifice yourself for me! I can not bear the thought!” I hugged him to me hard, another tear slipping down my pale cheek. “I will be alright Father.. Be well..” I kissed his cheek and stepped away as the driver rapped on the door.
“I must gather some of my things before going, stall him Father..” He nodded, his old weary eyes tearing as badly as mine had. I had to be strong and return home whole, I would not return as the others had before me! I was determined to be of good service and make it back the same as I was when I left. None had stayed longer than a week, perhaps that was the standard service? I could only hope.
I ran up to my small corner of a room, packed what few clothes I owned and walked back down the small flight of stairs.
“I am ready.” I met the cold gray eyes of the driver before diverting my attention to the floor.
“Come Miss… He awaits. Good evening to you Sir.” He dismissed my father, took my elbow and promptly escorted me out to the awaiting carriage… Pushed inside, the shades drawn I sat back and tried hard not to cry. I had hopes, so many high hopes of marriage to someone soon, it seemed as if I was in danger of losing my sanity as the others had done… I knew I had to be strong, face whatever was coming with a chin up and the Thorn legendary bravery…
The carriage stopped and I was quickly pulled out, the courtyard was dark, dreary looking. Very few living things grew around the outter walls. It looked as if no one of titled birth lived here, but I knew only too well that to be false. So lost in my own thoughts, I did not realize how far and how quickly we had traveled to this castle and my imprisonment.
“This way Madam.” The driver motioned with his hand towards the front double doors. I nodded, too choked up to speak and followed his lead. Into the lion’s den is what it felt like, no beautiful castle could disguise the barren state it held. These walls weren’t comforting, only stifling and I longed to turn and leave. As if sensing my thoughts, the driver put a hand on my lower back and ushered me into the darkness.. I paid no attention to my surroundings, expecting to be delivered into the servants quarts, I was stunned when he took me into a dark den.
“Sit there.” The servant motioned to a high-backed chair. I nodded my head, feeling a chill run through me as I glanced around the dark chambers. The only light within was the glow of the fire place, it did not make it feel homey, but eerie. I thought I was alone in here, waiting for the Lord to arrive, I was wrong. In back of the room sat someone in a chair, behind a large oak desk. I could make out his steepled fingers, resting against his chin, his profile slightly lit from the fire. He said nothing, he did not turn to look at me, I tried to see him clearer through the darkness, but was unable to make out his features. What now? My only thought, my hands gripping the arms of the chair, refusing to let me relax in his presence.
Isabelle Thorn
18
5’4” 100 lbs. Blonde hair, deep blue eyes. (Beauty)
(Beast) Lord of Hawthorn
Tibvo
OOC P.M. with other possible roles, please do not post here without permission. Enjoy the rendition of Beauty and the Beast, our way