Stormswept Heights

[Zircon]

George Lampsere

“Ready…?”

George smiled his acknowledgement. For once in a long while, he showed his white teeth, his heart racing for the ride with Miss Lara. Willow did not need the crop to nudge her into a steady gait. Neither will the Countess.

The sun was well past its zenith, when they passed through the combs of sparse rows of oaks and ashes that lined both sides of the gravel path. The day was cool, a very nice day to be out riding. George was envious of Miss Annabelle, being able to ride freely without a care in the world. This was one of the rare occasions when he saw that another Lady having the selfsame feeling as Miss Lara was having now.

Through the boughs that parts the fields of the estates, George and Lara rode. Passing nary a farmer in sight, but the fields of barley and rye dancing in the wind to a slow magical music. There were farmhouses scattered about, but only the silvery wisps of smoke from chimneys announced their far apart locations. Through the long path through the wood of Cornish elms, Willow confidently cantered.

Throughout the ride, George had a large smile crossing his face. It had been a long time that he had felt that a ride would be so engrossing and wonderful. He looked back constantly at Miss Lara, who was revelling in the ride that the dear Countess was giving her. The Countess’ surefootedness was very reassuring, for both George and Lara. George had personally trained her, and it would have been his head if the Countess did not perform. But the dear filly was his favourite and strived to please him.

Soon, they were passed over a stone bridge over a small stream. The stone bridge had been here for as long as George remembered. He used to run to this bridge and fish from its sides when he was younger, almost as soon as he could walk. The silvery scales of the fishes swimming in the clear waters had always beheld his full attention.

He wished he could stop and relive his childhood again. But this time this was not where he wanted to lead himself and Miss Lara. Underneath the bridge on either bank was a path. From afar that was not noticeably, unless only to the locals who grew up here. The small path was overgrown with weeds, and meandered almost aimlessly, led to a small pond, which fed the stream. The pond was hidden from by a small copse of woods. Around the pond, grew willows, their long tendrils hanging over the water. The water lilies abound, as did the multitude of wildflowers all along the embankment.

This was a special place, for both Miss Annabelle and George. It was here that they, when they were very much younger, had spent long lazy afternoons accosting the various fishes that called this pond home. When tired of it, they would lounge lazily, falling asleep watching the willows sway and dance like in a ball, stately and beautifully.

This was the first place that George would look. If she were not there, then he would have to ride out further into the moors. That would be a much more difficult and of course, less interesting ride.

George tied Willow to a low hanging branch and beckoned Miss Lara to do the same.

“Come Miss Lara. Please watch your step, for some places are slippery.” George held out his hand to assist Miss Lara.

 

[MissVictoria]

Anne Martyn

Eternity wandered idly about the familiar pondside, nibbling on burdock and swishing his tail at dragonflies. Anne was not afraid to let him roam free, for the horse knew the area well, and was trained to make his way home should he find himself without a rider. Annabelle herself was lazing underneath a favorite willow, where she had often in the past, come to think, escape, or cry. She imagined that the thousands of tears she had shed here had nourished the willow, and that part of her existed inside.

Whether by nature or by desire, Anne found that it did.

She closed her eyes, and listened to the breeze stir through the whiplike branches overhead. The small leaves scraped together, making music as sure as any windchime, and a slight smile rose to her lips, and soon she was deep in thought.

George. He was foremost on her mind, for she was confused as to her jealous reaction earlier. After all, he was just George. Like her brother, and her childhood friend. Wasn't it George who had thrown a shovel of manure at her? Shoved a fish down the front of her shirt? Half of the time, hadn't it been George's ideas that got her in trouble? She had even been in several fistfights with the boy during her youth.

She sighed. She couldn't deny the fact that his smile made her spine tingle, and that he was certainly a boy no longer. But she could never tell George about her feelings- it would betray the friendship they had had for so long. Besides... she had known George long enough to know his taste in a female... and Lara was everything that he desired, while she...

Annabelle simply was not. Frowning, she opened her eyes, watching the silvery glint of sunlight on the surface of the pond. When she heard footsteps approaching, she was not suprised. She was suprised, however, to hear a second set. Glowering, she stared angrily ahead at the water.

 

[Lady Pendragon]

Elizabeth

Today was the day I came to my new employers. They were a family that was well established, but that was all that I knew. No one is ever prepared for working for someone, and I was least to know what to look forward to.

I knocked on the entrance for the servants with weak hands. Nervousness ran through my body, causing me to shake slightly. I hoped that I would do this employer proud.

I had often daydreamed of being with an employer who would hold me in high esteem and treat me well, but often times reality isn't far from my daydreams.

So, here I am waiting for an answer, perhaps from someone with a gentle hand.

 

[papillon24]

Natasha

I watched as his fingers danced in his locks sweeping it out of his face.

"Well then, Clay. You may call me Natasha is you need anything." I smiled and nodded in response. I looked around to see if all was in order for this room to be used, realizing the towels we not set out. "Let me find you a towel or two while the water heats itself."

I walked to the cabinits at the other end of the room, stooping low to pull a few fluffy towels out from the bottom drawer. I brought them back over hanging them on the chair against the wall. "If you need there are a few soaps and bath things in the babinate where I got the towels. Anything else you need I could find. Just call me if you do need anything."

 

[Conquestia]

<B>Lara</B>

I rode happily along with George, it was beautiful out and I was quite delighted with the ride. I was even more so delighted, however, with my company. I hadn't felt this relaxed in years. I dismounted, tying the filly, and following George. I smiled, laughing slightly. "You know George, im not glass.I promise, i won't break on you." I winked at him "What exactly is this place? Its quite beautiful.." I asked, peering around trees.

 

[Zircon]

George

George’s smile widened as he heard Miss Lara’s question.

“This, my Lady, is a very special place. When I was younger, and Miss Annabelle was younger still, we used to run, seeking places to hide, and to play. There weren’t many others of our age then, for we were very much an isolated community. But the freedom of childhood was fully realised in this place. The secret woods, where we built, no attempted to build, a tree house. It couldn’t hold my weight of course,” he laughed out loud at the thought of the fall from the tree house so many years ago.

George could have gone on with his long strides, but he slowed to let his memories flood back of this place. And to let Miss Lara peer at the slowly emerging place, lit by the long streams of golden light filtering through the sparse leaves. There was a slight breeze, and it was cool, not cold. A very nice day indeed. His footsteps got slower and softer. As if he was entering a magical realm. The realm of his childhood, when the days were free, and spirits soared like the swallows seeking warmer climates. The days of youth without a care in the world, having the love of a mother, and a full age to look forward to.

Now, his voice grew quieter. But surer still.

“Miss Lara, I would ask a boon of you. The place, which I’m about to show you, is special. Very special to me. Even more special to your new sister, Miss Annabelle. Please do not be angry or be slighted if Miss Annabelle accosts you of being in this place. Merely I would ask you, kind Lady to withdraw, and let me bear the brunt of her anger. Let me be the focus of her anger and frustrations. Please, this is small boon, which I ask of you, although I have no such right to ask. Please.”

George stopped short of the full view of the pond. There were many dragonflies flying around the water lilies, attracted by a magical scent and purpose. The neighing of Eternity could be heard in the distance, and George was sure of that Miss Annabelle was here.

“Miss Lara, I love Miss Annabelle very much. So much that it will break my heart if she even pricks her dainty fingers. Her pain is mine, my Lady. As such, if she is pained by your presence, please do not feel slighted, but merely think of it as her directing her anger towards me, and not yourself, kind Lady.”

George breathed a deep breath before striding to face the lion in the lion’s den.

 

[Conquestia]

Lara

I smiled at him. "Do not worry, I would not hold it against her, I cannot say I blame her, if this place held the memories for me that it did for you, i would be quite protective of it as well." Sitting on a large boulder I waved him on. "I do not wish to upset her, I will wait her, or go back to the horses if you'd like. I don't want to cause her anymore trouble than i have already.

I shifted into the sunlight, letting it warm me, leaning down to gaze at some of the small flowers. "Ill be quite alright." I reassured George. I do not wish for either of us to have to bear the weight of her anger.

 

[Xantham]

The Baron

Edward felt miserable. What a turn his life has taken in the past couple of years. His daughter was of marriageable age, yet she constantly fended off suitor after suitor. Meetings called by the Baron to discuss the situation with his daughter were not taken seriously and often skipped entirely followed by lengthy excuses when Anne finally showed up, usually dusty from riding.
Oh, to be sure, Edward always accepted the excuses when he really should have put down his foot, but Anne was all he had left of his wife, so he allowed her too much latitude. There were times when out of the corner of his eye, or when he was tired and his eyes drooped, that he could swear it was Miranda standing there, with her pale skin and raven hair. But then he would notice the eyes. Those were his genes. Though his eyes were dark, he remembered his mother's flashing eyes. The same ones that his daughter now wore.
Since arriving home, the Baron had been reticent in speech. Even he could feel the tension in the air. And worse than that, he didn't know what to do about it. Ask him how to wring the most profit from late-season shipping or how to be certain that a bank was financially secure and he could give you hours of instruction. But in the matters of social grace and custom he was sadly inept.
Perhaps, it was this, most of all, that drove him to re-marry. Anne needed a feminine role-model and the maids were not the kind he was looking for. She needed someone not just to teach her the proper way to do things, but why they were important. A woman who would be understanding to his daughter.
So he had re-married. A woman of good character and poor financial situation. He hoped they could grow to like each other. He had been without a wife for many years, though he often kept his sheets warm with a servant or two. He wondered how easily it would be to go back to ways of a married man.
“Our chambers my lady,” he announced. Throwing open the doors. The room had a distinctly masculine feel, for no woman had resided there for many years now. "I do hope you like it. Feel free to redecorate somewhat, as long as I can recognize the place when you're done. I want you to feel as though we are equals here."
Edward strode over to sit on the canopy bed. "Well, my Baroness, what do you think?"

 

[MissVictoria]

Anne Martyn

Anabelle was still glowering as George arrived, stepping through the tall reeds near the pond, and into her immediate vicinity. Without looking at him, she spoke.

"You brought her here, didn't you?" She still did not look at him, but his silence was more than enough to confirm such. "George, how could you? This is our secret place..."

She didn't want to look at him. She couldn't. She was afraid to. Afraid of his eyes, and afraid of the way she reacted to him. Even moreso, she knew, she was afraid to know directly that she was only a friend, and that that was all that she would ever be.

She bent forward, burying her face in her hands, and issuing forth a heavy sigh. Turning her face the opposite direction from his figure, she ripped at a blade of grass near her, tossing it angrily away.

At last, she turned her face up to the sky, closing her eyes as a beam of light escaped through the willow branches, seeming to focus on her face. "Everything will be so different from now on..." she muttered aloud, but she was uncertain if it was a statement or a plea.

 

[DeityMun]

Clay

Smiling his thanks to Natasha, Clay disappeared into the washroom, closing the door behind him. Kicking off his shoes, his fingers began to go to work, opening the buttons on the front of his shirt. At the grumble of his stomach, he paused and realized he didn't know just what time it was... and when did that guy say dinner was? He couldn't remember. Frowning, he crossed the room to the door and yanked it open, hoping to catch Natasha before she was off, lost to him in some other part of the house. Once open, he stepped out, calling out to her as he did, in the hopes she'd hear him before she got too far away.

"Natasha!"

 

[Zircon]

George

“Thank you for understanding, Miss Lara. Thank you, my Lady.”

George strode into the vicinity with resoluteness in heart. The words, “George, how could you? This is our secret place…”, were loud in the silence of the pond.

The accusation had pained him deeply, and made him bit his lower lip. He knew that it was mistake for him to bring a stranger into their secret place. But an effort must be made to reconciliate differences. Miss Annabelle and Miss Lara were sisters, even not of blood, but at least in name. Perhaps this seemingly innocuous pond was a start in the right direction. As much as George hoped, when he asked Miss Lara to come along. Perhaps he was an incurable optimist in his abilities to turn her opinions toward more favourable to her new family.

Change was inevitable, as inevitable as the sun will rise tomorrow.

George looked at her, and his eyes softened. Despite the surface seething anger, she was hiding more. He knew her words were from her heart, “Everything will be so different from now on…”

George strode to her, with her back still facing him. He dropped down, to sit more comfortably behind her. Then he wrapped his arms around her. Back at the manor, he would never have been able to do this. But this was their magical place. He smelled first the fresh scent from her hair. She also smelled faintly of Eternity, a familiar and comforting smell. He rocked back and forth, with her in her arms.

He felt no small flush to his face. Things were so different when they were younger. Now that they both were older, George was ever more aware that Annabelle was no longer a small child with tangles in her hair. She has grown up to so much promise that lay ahead as a woman. A woman of estate and grace. A woman, just as he was a man. He felt a small tug in his heart. What bought that on he knew not, only that he had just begun to have such tugging. More so, whenever a new suitor would ride into the estate. He heart sang when they leave humiliated and broken by the failed promise of themselves.

“My little Princess. Yes, things will never be the same. But we’re still the same people. I’ve not changed. Neither have you.”

The sun was getting lower in the horizon, as told by the length of the shadows. The birds in the sky knew of this, as well as the rabbits that frequent this pond. He continued to rock back and forth, afraid of letting go, afraid that she will be hurt some more.

“Anne, I know things are difficult for you. It needn’t be so. Your new family is not your enemy. Neither do they wish to be. Now come home with me and your new sister, and see if we can at least try to be civil. There so much that we can to look forward to, my dearest Anne.”

A slight pause, for him to remember the scent of her skin.

“I know I’m not good in words, or expressing my feelings, or any of such things. You know that I’ll help, and you know too, that I’ll always be there for you. That has not changed and it never will. I so solemnly promise, on my mother’s grave if need be, that I’ll be there for you, whether you like it or not, or even when you tire of me and kick me out…” George ended his words with a slight chuckle.

George disengaged himself from Annabelle. He stood up and brought forth his hand as a supplicant to his plea for her to return and prepare for the first Supper with her new family additions.

 

[goddess_euphoria]

Serina Martyn

I took in the large room, it was certainly lacking a woman’s touch, definitely spacious enough, maybe too spacious, just like every room in this house, if you could call a place like this a house.

"I do hope you like it,” Edward spoke from beside me. “Feel free to redecorate somewhat, as long as I can recognize the place when you're done. I want you to feel as though we are equals here." I nodded slightly as I looked around, all ready making a few changes in my head. He moved over to sit on the canopy bed.

"Well, my Baroness, what do you think?" I reached behind me and pulled the door shut as I entered, not fully realizing what I had done until I heard the click of the latch. It was an old habit, closing doors when I entered a room with my husband, as Nathaniel never could keep his hands to himself when we were alone together. But it wasn’t Nathaniel sitting on the bed, and I hoped my new husband wouldn’t view the implications of me closing the door as too unlady like. I noticed a nearby window and walked over to it.

“It’s really quite lovely Edward,” I said, fussing with the curtains as a way to distract from the awkward situation I feared I had created. “Though I never imagined the manor to be so immense! I fear that I am quite sure to become lost in this place, and you will have to call up a search party to find your wife in your own home!” I let out a small laugh, though it didn’t sound quite natural, and I was sure it betrayed my true underlying fears. I paused and sighed, looking out over the endless expanse of ocean.

“All this space is something quite new to me,” I said, turning back to face Edward. I caught a sad look in his eye and quickly said, “it’s not that I’m unhappy, just trying to adjust to everything is all.” I walked over to him and sat down on the bed beside him. “I feel I should apologize for Clay’s behavior, he’s really a sweet boy.” I smiled to myself at that, Clay was certainly not a boy any more. “I’m sure he’ll come around in time.”

 

[Lady Pendragon]

Elizabeth

Soon an older man came to the door. Opening it I could see that he was much older than any butler I had worked under before.

"Hello, I am Elizabeth. Dressmaid for Lara." Was all I was accustomed to saying.

He motioned for me to follow him in. Taking me to a bunker, not quite a room at all, but more like the boarding rooms that I was accustomed to in the orphanage. I wondered how many others would share this room with me.

"This is your quarters. You should be ready to dress Lara for dinner at 7. Any other questions can be directed to the other dressmaids." With that he was off.

He was very direct which stirred a scary feeling in me. Would all the people that lived in this house be so direct as well? Did anyone laugh or hold hands and smile? Or would this be a hell in its own making like the orphanages and homes I worked in before.

I set about my upacking, which only really consisted of one straw bag. One dress, one apron, and then a doily that I had carried with me since I could remember. I guess it was a confort thing. No one had yet discovered it and taken it from me.

"It is only you an' me now." I told my doily as I began to leave the room looking for other servants.

 

[papillon24]

Natasha

I was half way down the hall back to towards the kitchen when I heard his sweet voice call .

"Yes Master Clay....I mean Clay? Did you need something?" I positioned my hands in front of me as my mother had instructed me to do when addressing an employer. I couldn't help but to notice his build with his shirt removed. My eyes lazily scanned his chest and shoulders as I waited for a reply.

 

[Subo97]

Wood Barkely

Wood lowered his wheelbarrow to the ground and paused to wipe his face with his bandana as he watched that fool George and the new young mistress ride down to the pond. Mistress Anabelle was already down there, having, apparentlly, nothing to do with her wasted life but spend it in self indulgent pouting. George the fool was riding into a hornet's nest he was too dumb to see.Not that he blamed George, mylady's skirts were worth getting under if one could ignore the inane prattle it took to get there. The new young mistress was worth looking at, too, but looking didn't get the job done, and the sooner the job got done the sooner Wood could get to the pub and wash the stink of the manor out of his throat.

He hadn't seen the new baroness yet, but gauging from the daughter, she must be a looker. The baron liked his lookers, true enough, Wood had seen him sneaking into the servant's quarters often enough to know that, but maybe her ladyship will keep him too busy to leave his own quarters at night. But there was a new servant, Wood had seen her knocking on the servant's door, and fetching she was. Who'd be first to undo her bodice? Anybody but that old fart butler, Wood laughed, and picking up the wheelbarrow, whistled his way back to the gardener's shed

 

[White Queen]

Marie

Natasha left the kitchen , guiding the young man ( probably the new Barons wife son, to the washroom ). marie stood up and made sure dinner was prepared to be served ina while... ater she was done she walked out of the kitchen and to he area where the servants rooms where... there she saw a new maid... she had not heard about new maid being hired...

" Hello, can I help you? Im Marie, Lady Annabelle´s personal maid... you are? "

 

[Lady Pendragon]

Elizabeth

I was soon confronted by a very nice looking woman. She addressed herelf as Marie, a maid like me.

I cast my eyes down, since she was of higher status that me for being there longer. "I am Elizabeth. I am to work for Lady Lara. I am sorry to intrude, but the butler left me on my own, and did not direct me where I should go."

I stood looking at my feet. "Please direct me to Lady Lara and I should be on my way and out of your hair."

 

[Xantham]

Baron

OOC: Switching to 1st person now that I have a bunch of background out of the way.

IC:
I looked up as Serina closed the door. A small feeling of dread grew in my chest: What was it that she needed to discuss in private? And I could have told her that though the door was closed, this manor was like a sieve when it came to sound - little was completely private.

“It’s really quite lovely Edward,” Serina said. “Though I never imagined the manor to be so immense! I fear that I am quite sure to become lost in this place, and you will have to call up a search party to find your wife in your own home!” The shallow laugh that followed gave away her nervous condition.

Inwardly I sighed as she looked out towards the ocean. This was not an auspicious beginning. Serina came towards the bed, "...it’s not that I’m unhappy, just trying to adjust to everything is all. I feel I should apologize for Clay’s behavior, he’s really a sweet boy. I’m sure he’ll come around in time.”

"I am sure of it, myself. Both Lara and he have been tossed around rather badly these last few months. It will take a little time for them to adjust fully. But, the servants are friendly and their time is their own, so they should run out of things to dislike fairly quickly. Excepting we are a bit detached from the rest of the world. To help matters, I shall allow you to do any of the disciplining of your own children at first. If Clay starts to become unruly, I expect you to take him firmly in your hand."

I realize that I am rambling, the situation being uncomfortable. "Well, my lady, uh, Serina. Sorry, still a little new to me. Supper will commence in a short while. I have forgotten to engage a maid for you, so I will send up Lara's dresser and the two of you will have to share her for now." I pulled a cord in the corner of the room. Shortly, Pickering arrived.

"Pickering, send up the new maid to help the Baroness ready herself for supper. And send someone out to collect our daughters. I believe I saw the gardner working outside."

"Yes, sir." Pickering left out the door, leaving it open.

"Serina, that wardrobe has been filled with clothes made to your specifications. I hope most are to your liking. The items you brought have been placed in that dresser and trunk. Please refresh yourself and I will see you at supper." I went out the door and breathed, not realizing until that moment how much I had been holding my breath. I had barely registered Serina's answers.

I could only hope things would ease with a little time. Certainly, at this rate, our first night together would be awkward at best, downright scary at worst. Slowly, I walked around the manor until I heard the bell that meant supper was imminent. I strode towards the dining room, worried about the first gathering of the new family. I prayed that things would go well.

 

[White Queen]

Marie

The girl lowers her head and apologizes to Marie.

" Oh please, sorry to intrude? " Marie smiles at Elizabeth " Im not a Lady of the family or mothing like that... just call me Marie, after all we are both servants... Did you had a room given to you already? "

 

[Slance]

I walked along the hallways muttering to my self. "I wish they were dead... I'd do it my self! Ah too feel there blood in my hands... though I'd probably rape the Barons wife she is quite-" I stopped dead hearing foot steps coming down the hall.

I knew that I'd be the first one to the gallows if anybody heard me mutttering like that. I flattend my suit out slightly lighting a charming smile up a bead of sweat hanging on a strand of hair. I bowed low looking up to see some thing that was not rare in this manor a highly attractive woman.

"How may I serve you Milady?"

 

[Conquestia]

Lara

As George dissappeared, I sat admiring the forest. After a while, I rose, peering into the clearing in which he had dissappeared. I could tell that my new sister was none too pleased with my presence, and from the scene I was veiwing, i figured it would be best to stay out of her way until she had seen I was no threat. Turning, I walked back towards the horses, un-tying Countess and remounting her, I headed back to the stables along the same path we had come. Hopefully George wouldn't be too worried, but I did want to get back in time for dinner. I let Countess have most of the rein, she seemed to know where she was going. Low and behold when i finally looked, the Manor loomed ahead.

At the stable doors I dismounted, leading Countess in. I found her halter and untacked her, then spounged her down to cool her off before replacing her in her stall. "You were a very good girl.." Patting her, I headed back to the manor, glancing around at the beautiful property. I entered through the front door, rolling up the sleeves of my dress. I had quite a bit of dirt on me, and leaves stuck to my hair. I turned to ascend the stairs, when I heard something behind me. "Hello.." I said, smiling.

 

[Slance]

OOC: I'm pretty stupid when it comes to these things lol but your refering me to the person you heard right?

 

[Conquestia]

OOC:Lol, well yes,but its an open thing, kinda lets whoever jump in, but if you want it to be you, than shore =)

 

[Slance]

OOC: Lol oh thanks but sorry I kinda left in my post an open thing also so...

 

[Conquestia]

ooc: Well its up to you whatever you want.