Not So Happily Ever After

[Britwitch]

<<Closed to DoubleL9781 and myself>>

The Lady Elayne had known all her life she would marry the Lord of the neighbouring lands when she came of age. It was an arrangement that had been made by her parents and his when she was in her cradle and he was still a young boy. It would bring the two lands closer together and increase the prosperity of them both. The happiness of Elayne and her future husband, Robert, were given very little consideration.

Elayne had grown in a more than charming young woman, she had followed the instructions of her tutors and her intellect and mind had developed as fully as her body. She was delicately framed with an ample bosom and enticingly rounded hips, her hair was the colour of the sunrise, a soft auburn, and it fell in thick, lustrous waves down to her waist. Her skin was fair and her eyes a warm shade of honey. She was told that she caught the eye of many a man and were it not for her parent’s arrangement with Robert’s parents, there would be many vying for her hand.

However, Elayne did not let any of this go to her head and she remained sensible and grounded, she was generous and fair but she had her mother’s spirit and was often reminded that a young Lady ought not to be so wild. She had been taught alongside the more academic subjects and the art of defence (a subject she loved and through which she had become more than comfortable with a blade and a bow), the facts of life, knowing that her role as wife was to produce an heir and, while the knowledge did made her feel slightly nervous, the romantic stories she had read on the subject eased her mind.

Lord Robert however had never read a romantic novel in his life. He had been raised as his father’s son. A fighter. An unquestioned ruler. A man to whom all others showed deference and paid homage. Taught that women were objects, to be used when required and set aside as quickly. He had taken his fair share of pleasure from maids and peasant girls and knew more of ‘the ways of the world’ than most men twice his age.

And so, the day came when the sun rose on Elayne’s 18th birthday. Her wedding day. She washed and dressed in her bridal gown, a shimmering ivory creation that hugged her figure and made her appear almost ethereal. She was escorted down the aisle by her father and her hand given to that of her future husband.
“Take care of her…” Had been her father’s words.
“Oh I’m sure I shall…” Had been Robert’s response. And with those words, Elayne had felt a stab of concern that her romantic notion of wedded bliss might be far from the truth. That her dreamlike ideal of 'happily ever after' might require some work on both her part and his to become a reality. She had no intention of sacrificing her character and desires to become the wife Lord Robert was expecting her to be.

 

[DoubleL9781]

"...And that's why I think it is a good idea to take the majority of our border guards away from Xenotopia and focus more on stopping any more refugees from coming through the forest, my lord."

The advisor glanced up from the map he and lord Robert had been poring over. Though only 25 years old, he was still the sole ruler of this country. The final decision of their defences, as well as all others, rested with him. Robert's eyes met the advisor's, then looked back down at the map. He rubbed a hand through a neatly-trimmed black beard.

"So you propose we take our eyes off of our logest-standing enemy, all to stop a few fleeing peasants from cluttering up the streets?"

"Your lord, the aristocracy are complaining..."

"The aristocracy," Robert cut him off. "And pray tell, what is it that they do that I should pay heed to their belly-aching?"

There was a collective grumble from the assembled advisors (who were all aristocrats) and if he hadn't been the ruler, no doubt they would be throwing some nasty looks his way. Instead, they just looked at the floor while his defence advisor tried to convince him to change his mind.

"Any more peasants and there is a real chance of an uprising!"

"There will be no uprising if certain parts of this country started obeying my orders. How many of you in this room has adopted my reccomendation of a minimum wage of two gold pieces a week?" When there was no response, he snorted. "As I thought...The troops stay where they are, and take heed of this: My reccomendation is now an edict - send out the word, that if 100% of all land-owners have not adopted it, the dungeon will be waiting for them. No exceptions."

Ignoring the now-audible and obvious mutinous buzzing, Lord Robert left in a swirl of cloak and slammed the heacy oak doors shut behind them. Now out in the quiet corridor, he set off down the hallway, sunlight from the large windows playing across his face. A handsome man, in a rough way - almost like God had knocked a vague shape from granite - his dark blue eyes held a piercing stare that would see through any lies or facade put in front of him, and in the rare cases they softened, the person they were held on felt warm and protected. Dark brown, near-black hair spilled over his forehead in a messy tumble, covering his ears and curling in the nape of his neck. His body was hard and muscled, the product of combat training that he had been put through since birth.

Robert passed several servants, neither greeting them nor acknowledging their bows. Finally, he saw someone that did draw his attention coming down the corridor, his wife...

OOC: Sorry it took so long to reply, Brit.

 

[Britwitch]

Elayne had spent the morning in the castle gardens, reading and passing the hours until she would be able to retire to her rooms. She was on her way to the library to see what other books might catch her eye when her path crossed that of her husband. She bit her tongue and stopped walking, lowering her head and curtseying briefly as he reached her.
"Good day, my Lord, I trust the day passing well for you..." She spoke politely and calmly although all she wanted was to get out of his sight as soon as she could. They had been married for a little over a week and she already doubted that their's was a match forged in the heavens above. She had flatly refused to share his bedchamber, requesting her own suite and in a different wing of the castle to his own.

It wasn't that he wasn't handsome or that he was necessarily an evil man. But she was certain he did not love her, not as a husband should love his wife. She had no intention of living her life with someone who would not attempt to make her happy but insist she did all she could to make her role of 'wife' complete. He had made his intentions towards marriage abundantly clear upon their wedding night, he wanted an heir and someone to please and pleasure him when he saw fit. Effectively destroying any romantic notions Elayne might have had about the act of love between men and women. She had 'defended her honour' as it were, brandishing a candleabra like a sword and warning him if he got any closer she would use it to remove him of his crown jewels.

"I shall not keep you from what I am sure are the more pressing matters of running the kingdom, my Lord..." She curtseyed again, noticing the attendants and guards seemed to have deserted the corridor as soon as the King had stopped before her, and made to step around him but his hand rose, not touching her but stopping her all the same. Forcing a smile back onto her lips she met his eyes boldly. "Was there something you wanted, my Lord?"

OOC: Sorry it took me so l-o-n-g too...

 

[DoubleL9781]

It seemed she was still having some bad recollections of the night he had attempted to consummate their marriage. Robert did not need his shrewed skill at reading expressions to see it - any man with half a mind could see it from her body language. It was strange...The mouth would articulate the lie, but the bodt would amost desperately attempt to give it away. He wasn't upset by what had happened. Annoyed, yes, but not angered...And after the annoyance passed, he had to admit to himself, he enjoyed the spirit she had shown. Even her threatening to castrate him with the candleabra was intensely amusing after the fact.

He saw Elayne not just as a vassal for his child any more. No, it was almost like he had found an almost-equal in spirit to himself. A spicy challenge, like when his most trusted and wizened advisor (a man of almost 80 but whose mind had not dimmed any) asked him to play chess.

A small smile of affection managed to break through his stony face. "Lady Elayne, could we not please drop the formalities? I only refer to you by your title because you insist on doing it to me. Please, Robert, if you will," An almost silent sigh passed his lips, only evident by the slight tensing and then slumping of his broad shoulders. "The pressing matters of kingdom have become just that...Too pressing. I was going to take a walk in the gardens, and I was wondering if you would do me the honour of your gracious company."

OOC: Don't worry, Brit. If anyone understands real life being a bitch, and a busy one at that, it's me

 

[Britwitch]

"Lady Elayne, could we not please drop the formalities? I only refer to you by your title because you insist on doing it to me. Please, Robert, if you will...The pressing matters of kingdom have become just that...Too pressing. I was going to take a walk in the gardens, and I was wondering if you would do me the honour of your gracious company."
"Who am I to refuse the desires of my King..." Elayne smiled briefly, inclining her head towards him for a moment before taking the arm he offered and accompanying him out into the lush gardens. The delicate perfumes of the many blossoms and flowers danced around them upon a light, warm breeze.

They walked in silence for a short while, gardeners making themselves scare as they saw the couple drawing near. Leaving them alone and in peace.
"So, Robert," She stressed his name ever so slightly as if to emphasise her acceptance of his request. "May I ask what troubles you so? It is perhaps a matter I can help with..." Part of what she said was true. She longed to be able to do something, anything. The role of Queen had thus far been thoroughly uneventful, apart from the excitement of her wedding night, and her previously active mind found it tedious beyond reason.

She paused to pick a temple tree flower from upon a nearby tree, the scent was one she had always loved and it's sweet perfume was calming, something she definitely felt would be beneficial in the situation. "I have studied much of our lands, the history and politics, and am sure I could help, if you would allow me...? Only if you think me capable of something more mentally taxing than embroidery of course..." She added, slightly bitterly.

OOC: You're such a sweetie...

 

[DoubleL9781]

Her bitterness was not lost on him, in fact, it brought a small smile to his face. Robert took her hand, not very gently but he didn't hurt her either, and led her over to one of the stone benches. Staying the stately gentleman to the core, Robert helped her sit before taking a seat beside her.

"I apologise for not giving you more to do, my dear, but after threatening to, how did you put it...'Chip the crown jewels from their resting place' on the night of our marriage, I gained the distinct impression that you did not wish to see me," His eyes glinted with amusement at the memory, but also held the air that he for a better or worse part was in control of her life, and so it was up to her whether it became easier or not. "So I left you to your own devices."

Robert stretched his long legs out in front of his, dropping the superiority as he relented slightly, not wanting her to think he was a total brigand. "You know our friends to the East, Xenotopia? The ones who for the past two generations have claimed my kingdom as their own? Well, my advisors think it would be a good idea to reduce our watch on them to prevent the refugees from our Northern neighbours fleeing in because they fear an uprising. Now, tell me, Elayne...Am I alone in thinking that if we paid the peasants a devent enough wage to feed themselves, that they would be slightly less reluctant to overthrow the ruling class?"

OOC: Says she with the silver tongue

 

[Britwitch]

Elayne had to fight against snatching her hand from his but somehow she managed to overcome the urge, besides which she was certain his hold was stronger than she'd be able to overcome easily.
"I apologise for not giving you more to do, my dear, but after threatening to, how did you put it...'Chip the crown jewels from their resting place' on the night of our marriage, I gained the distinct impression that you did not wish to see me...So I left you to your own devices."
"My own devices...?" She repeated, her tone full of disbelief. "You call being confined to your castle day and night with a guard never further than a few feet away being left to my own devices...believe me, if I thought I was free to do as I wished to occupy my mind I would have found at least something to do..." She was as much a prisoner as those who were forced to dwell within the castle's dungeon. Elayne had quickly discovered that she could not leave the castle without first consulting Robert, something she had avoided lest her visit brought about a repeat of their wedding night.

"You know our friends to the East, Xenotopia? The ones who for the past two generations have claimed my kingdom as their own? Well, my advisors think it would be a good idea to reduce our watch on them to prevent the refugees from our Northern neighbours fleeing in because they fear an uprising. Now, tell me, Elayne...Am I alone in thinking that if we paid the peasants a devent enough wage to feed themselves, that they would be slightly less reluctant to overthrow the ruling class?"
Elayne blinked a few times, unsure whether to believe her ears. Had he really just addressed her in the manner she thought he had, actually asking her opinion on a matter of great importance.
"I...I confess that a peasant who can feed his family and himself without worry is going to be a happier citizen than one who must beg, borrow and steal in order to put bread upon the table...and is likely to look more favourably upon the man responsible..." Elayne replied before adding after a pause.

"Although, offering him the opportunity to grow and sell his own produce independently, thus allowing him to feed his family and attempt to lift their station in life, would result in him being even happier...surely lowering the levy and taxes the peasants pay you from their small holdings would allow them to do so, and I doubt that the kingdom would suffer as a result..." Her voice tailed off slightly, eyes lowering to the temple tree flower still twirling idly between her fingertips. She had spoken more bluntly than she had intended and she was certain that others had received harsh punishments for speaking out of turn to the King. "...Or am I alone in thinking such things...?"