The Curse and the Traveler's

[only_more_so]

Maximillian watched Serena stand by the window. She was clearly uneasy, as her usual non-stop talking was more rambling than normal and contained a number of fretful silences.

Max dropped the spoon into the empty bowl and set the bowl on the tray. "Serena, thanks for putting up with me hogging your room, and leaving you in such an awkward position. I know all you've done for me, and I appreciate it."

He paused to collect his thoughts, then sighed and said, "As for my brother and Skye... I'm sure they are too busy fighting and making up to worry about me."

He gestured Serena over to the bed, and patted the bed next to him encouraging her to sit. Eventually, timidly she did.

"Did you know he spent all his time in her world mooning over her like a lost puppy? When we were twelve he actually beat up a kid who had made her cry. That must have been a sight, a kid dressed in hose and velvet with curled hair beating up an oversized bully, who didn't even know why he was getting beaten. But for all of the stalk..., er secret courting, he never understood her world. They are incredibly strange people, so it is no wonder she isn't happy."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

"No she isn't happy, and I only hope she can be." Serena picked at the invisible specks of lint on the bed. "I don't know how to help her either, I wish I did."

She pushed her hair from her face, and looked over to him. "My parents will be returning with my betrothed, and as soon as he arrives I'm to be married. I guess I now know how Skye feels. She's to marry someone she doesn't know, and so am I."

Her shoulders slumped and she looked utterly lost for a moment, then looked up into his eyes, "I'm such a screw-up. I have no real talent, I have done nothing but cause trouble, and now I'm to marry some man. Max, I don't even know how to flirt, or be a woman, I've just been little Serene the underfoot."

She thought of all the things in her life she had messed up, most recently the man in the bed that she had put there. "Oh dear, Max, I never got to tell you thank you for saving me. I am sorry you were put in such a terrible position, it was wrong of me to get into trouble, and I am so very sorry you were dragged into it."

 

[only_more_so]

"Serena, you are not a screw-up, and you are not without talent. The one thing you are is too hard on yourself."

Max could tell that he was having a hard time getting through to Serena. He put his hand over hers which were clutched in her lap and said, "Just think, of all of the people in the entire kingdom, David and I trusted you to be the one to welcome Skye to our world. Do you know why that is?"

Max waited for a mumbled "Why?" to come out of Serena's mouth before continuing, "Because you are the best flirt in the kingdom, you just don't know it. Flirting is being friendly, making someone feel special, even if you don't mean it. But you mean it. Flirting with 'men' is no different than what you do when you welcome a new girl to the castle, or how you make all the pages drill holes in the carpet with their toes when you rub their heads and compliment them."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena smiled at him, and squeezed his hand. "Max, thank you." She didn't really believe him, but she wasn't going to fish for him to compliment her. She was beyond thinking she was something she wasn't.

Standing up, she headed over to her trunk, and opened it. "Max, I found a book. Well... there is a story surrounding how I got it, but that isn't important now. I found the book, and have been reading it to you."

She scooted back to his side, and shifted on the bed to get comfortable. Laying beside him, her back to the headboard, and cushioned by pillows, she looked over at him, "You've been so very ill. Would you like me to continue the story?"

Serena shifted through the pages, searching for where she had left off. "I'm very excited to see if anything wicked happens in this book? Will the Princess be kidnapped? or not?" The ruffle of the papers in her pocket distracted her, so she slipped her hand in her pocket and pushed them deeper. She would be sure to put them in her trunk after Max went to sleep.

 

[only_more_so]

Max wanted to tell Serena he knew exactly where the book came from, but she was so unstable right now that he was sure it would crush her. So he kept his silence on the matter saying, "I would love to hear the story Serena, but if I fall asleep it is because I am still recovering."

Knowing the nature of the sort of book Serena had picked up, Max was hoping that sleep would take him soon.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Duncan just looked at the beautiful Princess and kept a finger pressed to his lips. He moved stealthly toward her, and she knew she should have screamed, but she was unable to. Something pulled her to him. Was it the adventure of the moment? The fact that her life in the castle was boring and this man, this figure was offering her a chance to live somewhere besides her protective home? She said nothing as he moved closer to her, his fingers running over her fair skin. Her eyes looked into his, and she felt her pulse quicken. Why was she not afraid? Why wasn't she running?

The man in front of her was asking himself those same questions. She could have raised the roof on them, yet she did nothing. She stood there, as if he were her best friend. He had the sudden urge to touch her and he did. His fingers ran over her skin, and he felt himself leaning closer to her. His breath caressed her, then his lips touched hers in soft, exploring kiss. One that seemed to rob the very air they breathed.

Nicole had no clue what was transpiring, she felt as if she had been placed here on this planet just form this man. Her body began a soft hum, and her se.....
​

Serena stopped and shut the book, she leaped from the bed, and shoved it back into her trunk. One of the maps fell from her pocket going unnoticed by the red faced woman. "Well enough of that Max," she said. "You rest, and I'll go ummmm... do some reading about the... ummmmm... harvest. Yes that's it!" She spun quickly and headed out of the room, anxious to get away from the embarrassing book, but just as anxious to go back and read more.

 

[poohlive]

"I can't believe you are all naked," David tried to swm up beside her, peeking inside the water. A devilish grain refused to leave him

"I got a princess of the land to come out here and strip naked, come swimming with some boy she barely knows."

The funnest part wasn't his own laughter, which was becoming rather loud and insatiable, but the look on her own face. It was priceless, he could see that look for the rest of his life and just die laughing.

"And people walk by here all the time," David swam beside her, glancing off at the sides of the hedges, "Oh my god... if they caught us together. IF they saw you naked... alone, with me?"

 

[caela]

"And people walk by here all the time," David swam beside her, glancing off at the sides of the hedges, "Oh my god... if they caught us together. IF they saw you naked... alone, with me?"

Skye was mortified. She could feel her face flushing a deeper shade of red than she thought it ever had before and her jaw just hung open for a moment as she tried to think of something to say. With a low shriek she finally just dove at him and shoved him under the water before swimmign back toward the bank of the pond.

"IF anyone should see me I'll make sure they know what a scoundral they have for a Prince."

With a small smirk she climbed out of the pond and wrapped her robe around her before grabbing his clothes as well and giving him a little grin.

"I hope you're truly as easy about your body as you seem David. I think I'll go get dressed and see how Max and Serena are doing."

With that she turned - his clothes bundled in her arms - and headed slowly back toward the castle.

 

[only_more_so]

Maximillian was amused by Serena's reaction to the story. He was also grateful that her embarrassment meant that reading time was over. "You are probably right, I should get some rest. I am sure the rest of the story will keep for later."

Much later he thought.

He watched her leave and forgot to mention the paper he saw fall from her pocket to the floor in her haste to leave. Oh well, it is her room, she will find it later. No need to rip out my stitches fumbling on the floor for it now. Maybe when the nurse comes by...

 

[poohlive]

It took David a moment before he caught on that Skye had taken his clothes with her. He gave a shout, and then looked around at the empty pond. She had been good, here he was with nothing but a smile, and would have to go all the way back into the castle.

How embarassing.

For her.

David grinned, getting up, and walking behind Skye. He had to run to catch up, as she passed through the garden. Maids and servants could see now, the princess with all her clothes, and a very naked prince following her.

"Skye!!! Why would you take my clothes?" He yelled, loud enough for her to hear... loud enough for half the castle to hear. He was still grinning, following her quiet calmly, walking as if he were not naked, and dozens of men and women were not staring at the two.

"Princess!!! You can't not just get me naked and leave me in the garden by myself. What will my mother and father think? Oh, the intrigue. How awful. Please!!! My clothing, young one. I know you can't help your attraction for me, but you must control yourself in front of all these people."

David was laughing at this point, unable to contain himself. The situation was just too funny, and Skye was so beautiful, priceless. He could not help himself, mischevious grin and everything.

"I will follow you all day, all night, naked as a jaybird. I swear I will..."

 

[caela]

"Princess!!! You can't not just get me naked and leave me in the garden by myself. What will my mother and father think? Oh, the intrigue. How awful. Please!!! My clothing, young one. I know you can't help your attraction for me, but you must control yourself in front of all these people."

Skye arched one eyebrow and spun around to face David for just a moment. She could see a few maids and various other servants watching and laughing softly. Smirking at David she made sure her voice was pitched to carry while she shook her head gently, "Poor poor princeling. So deliusion. You should know that when a woman run away and takes a mans clothes with her it means that she doesn't like the dirty trick he played on her not that she's attracted to him."

Glancing around she winked at one of the maids before letting her eyes roam slowly and deliberatly over David, "Besides it takes more to catch my interest than a naked man trying to embarass me."

Spinning around she continued walking toward the castle with his clothes in her arms. She wasn't sure what she was going to do with them until he spoke again, "I will follow you all day, all night, naked as a jaybird. I swear I will..."

"Go ahead," she said with a smirk and dumped his clothes in a trash pile she passed that was swarming with flies and various other insects. Flashing him a smirk she simply headed into the castle and up toward the one room she knew she could find.

Serena's chamber.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena headed to David's room. Her intention was to find the little bead that David had used to rescue her. The maps still rested in her pocket deep in her gown, though she still had not realized that one of them had fallen out.

Her fist rapped lightly on the door, and not hearing an answer she peeked in. Seeing that it was deserted she pushed open the door, and closed it quietly behind her. The room was infact free of maids as well as David.

She scanned the room, and went over to the table that served as his desk, she sat down in the chair, and began to pull open drawers and rifle through papers and various other writing utensils. She knew of these things, David himself had given her the sticks called ink pens as well as the yellow ones called pencils. Her favorite things had once been the rods of polished was known as crayons, but when he introduced her to the paint in tubes called markers, she was in heaven.

Now she sifted through his desk looking for a tiny bead, or something that would hold one. Not finding them with in the desk, or the dresser, she moved to the closet. The closet was very large, so she opened one of its doors and walked inside. If one of the maids came in she could easily hide in the corner of the closet and remain quiet until she left. Even if she were to put clothing inside it was almost with certainty she wouldn't see Serena, unless she needed something clear in the back, which the only thing Serena could see were a few robes and longer sleeved shirts, one wore if cold from winter, and it wasn't winter, so she felt very safe, as she pulled a box from the high shelf, and began to look in it.

 

[poohlive]

It wasn't so bad at first. A few women stopped to giggle, some of the men, merchants and nobles passing by the castle either stared in awe and horror, or just fell on their asses, howling with laughter. One maiden, very young, perhaps even untouched by man, stood silently, dropped her jaw, and then ran as fast as she could as her face turned beat red.

All the while, David just followed Serena up the hallways. The kitchen was the most fun. Several dishes for the evening dropped to the floor, food splattering everywhere. Most either were silent, or very loud, and no one seemed to understand why princess Skye was being followed by naked Prince David.

"It's a cultural thing," He said, as he passed by a noble, "They have a ritual I must do in order to marry her. I have to follow her around naked."

The noble only nodded in agreement, hurrying his pace away from the king. David watched him go, and then howled in laughter.

By the time they reached Serena's room, a small crowd had joined them, most all women... chatting and gossiping. Whispered giggles. David waved at them, before looking into the empty room.

"Serena's not there," One of the braver girls said, "I think she was going to your room, Prince."

David nodded, thanking the young maiden. She just giggled and disappeared among the other giggling maidens.

"I can show you where my room is, princess. If you still want to go see Serena. If not we can take a stroll around the castle... maybe see some of the sights. I've never shown you my father's trophy room, or his collection of tapestries. They are wonderful, located all over the castle. It'll take us hours to go see them all."

 

[caela]

Skye rolled her eyes at David's antics as he tried to explain his naked state but she otherwise ignored him until they were informed that Serena had headed toward his room. Now she had no choice but to follow his directions which didn't thrill her but she figured he wouldn't steer her too wrong, after all it was drafty in the castle and he had to be getting chilly.

"I can show you where my room is, princess. If you still want to go see Serena. If not we can take a stroll around the castle... maybe see some of the sights. I've never shown you my father's trophy room, or his collection of tapestries. They are wonderful, located all over the castle. It'll take us hours to go see them all."

"Your room please David, I need to speak to Serena and you need a change of clothes since you were foolish and lost yours," she said in a sweet voice and smiled innocently before turning to follow him.

She had to admit he was taking what she'd done with much better grace than she would have but she was still waiting for the other shoe to drop as well and for him to try and seek his revenge.

OOC: My apologies for taking so long to respond here. I thought I already had and when I looked again was shocked to find I hadn't! Talk about being blonde!

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena found the little pouch of beads and she scooted three of them into her pocket then returned the pouch to the box, and the box to the high shelf. She peeked out of the closet and hurried out of it, then opened David's chamber door. Her eyes took in David's form, and then Skye's following behind him.

For a moment all she thought of was the fact that she was going to be caught in David's room, but then she took a double take, and her eyes widened in shock. She had seen more then her fair share of naked men today, and she didn't have the desire to see more. She opened the door fully and stood in the hallway, her hands on her hips.

There were several women looking at the bare ass and bare front of David, and she shot them all a glare that would burn a hole in their clothing if she were able to do such a thing. She looked at Skye, her expression unreadable. With her hands on her hips, she blew her hair from her eyes, "You Sir, and your brother are just way to high in the step."

She pushed past him, and grabbed Skye's hand. "I'm sorry you have been embarrassed by this, " she rolled her eyes, "Man?" she used the term loosely. "Would you like to come and see Max, he is awake. David if you get dressed I'll permit you to come to my room, other wise forget it." She turned to look back at Skye, and await her decision. Serena had no idea she had lost another precious map from her pocket, where the three beads rested deep.

 

[caela]

"You Sir, and your brother are just way to high in the step."

Skye giggled softly, she had no idea what on earth Serena's words meant but she recognized a chastizement when she heard it. She was obviously putting down David's lack of clothing and Skye found it highly amusing. She didn't feel sorry for him in the least, if he hadn't tricked her at the pond he'd still have his clothes.

Giving him a little smirk she happily took Serena's hand. "I'd love to check on Max. We actually stopped by your room first but were told we'd find you here. I didn't want to just barge in in case he was sleeping."

Turning her gaze to David she playfully stuck her tongue out at him before turning with Serena to go check on his brohter.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

While they walked toward Serena's room, Serena's face was flushed and she was curious as to how David lost his clothes. She looked back at him, then paused, and looked to Skye. "You're not going another step until you tell me how you managed to get the hier to the thrown to walk naked through the halls of the castle?"

She giggled, and placed her hand to her lips. Her fingers went into her pocket and she discovered the missing maps. She kept her face free of any worry or concern, but in her mind she wracked over where she could have misplaced the maps. David's closet screamed at her in her mind, and she knew she'd have to go back to his rooms later tonight while he slept.

"So... while we walk, please explain. I haven't seen David naked in years, and Skye... he didn't look like that!" She chuckled, and her face heated red at the image she now had of both brothers. "He looks like he'll make a decent husband," she smirked.

 

[caela]

Skye laughed outright when Serena demanded an explanation. Deciding to be just a little bit of a tease she simply shrugged, "I threw his clothes in the trash heap. A rather nasty one too, very smelly, lots of flies. I don't think he'll want those particular garments back."

She said it all very innocently and with a straight face but the look of shock on Serena's face made her burst out laughing before linking her arm through Serena's once more. Walking toward her rooms Skye explained the whole story. David walking in on her in the bath, their talk, his suggestion to go swimming and telling her the pond was private, then his exclamations once she was in the water that anyone could come along and her revenge for his joke.

"By the end of today the whole place is going to be buzzing. Anytime we passed a noble he told them it was a courting ritual from my world! Truly Serena it was priceless."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

"He told you... that it was okay to watch you bathe?" Serena's eyes almost popped out. "Oh good grief! You believed him, I see, by the expression on your face." Serena opened her door and noticed Max resting. "He's asleep, I think? His eyes or closed, he could be faking it, we'll talk quietly. He'll probably wake in a bit. He'll be happy to see you, I'm sure."

She offered Skye a chair, and settled down in one opposite of her. "First, sorry if I sounded irked, but David is full of something I'd rather not say. But we do not take communial baths, nor do we all just lounge around conversing in our bathtubs with everyone gathering and discussing the topics of the day." She rolled her eyes, "He's tried that with many maids, so please don't let him try it with you. Usually he is met with a sponge full of soapy water, and a shirt soaked with liquid."

Her head shook in disbelief, before continuing. "We have swam nude, yes. But you knew of that. I haven't swam with the Princes in years, and now after seeing David and Max... " she stopped her face red in embarrassment. "After helping Max with his injuries, I can see why I don't need to be swimming with them nude." She felt the heat of her blush rising and she looked over to Max. Her eyes hit upon the folded map that was almost under the bed. Without a word, she went and picked up the paper and slipped it into the drawer beside the bed; took her seat back across from Skye.

 

[only_more_so]

Max had been drifting in and out of sleep when he heard the ladies come in. He was indeed faking sleep for a little while. Well, he was also so tired that opening his eyes or speaking seems like more effort than it was worth.

He listened for a while, until he heard Serena picking up the paper she had dropped earlier. He then heard the wood on wood sound of a drawer opening. Was she hiding it or just straightening up.

He waited until she settled back in her chair to "wake up" so she wouldn't be worried that the noise of the drawer triggered his awakening.

"Pardon me if I don't get up ladies, but some scoundrel drained my manners out through a hole in my side."

Turning to Skye, Max said, "Hello Skye, it is a good thing you sent me after Serena, I haven't seen you since to thank you."

 

[caela]

"Pardon me if I don't get up ladies, but some scoundrel drained my manners out through a hole in my side."

Turning to Skye, Max said, "Hello Skye, it is a good thing you sent me after Serena, I haven't seen you since to thank you."

"Don't thank me. I sent you to make sure she wasn't sick or hadn't slipped and fallen. If I'd known how much danger she was in I'd have told you to take a few gaurds with you as well. I'm just glad you're on the men Max," she said with a warm smile and reached out to give his hand a squeeze.

"Sooooo, tell me, how long have you been laying there awake and not wanting to more? Did you hear the story about your brother running around the castle naked or do we have to tell it again?"

She gave Serena a wink and a small grin as she asked the last question, after all Serena had seen him and could verify that she wasn't just teasing. Besides it really was funny, a royal prince running around his own palace stark naked and following after a strange woman in a robe like a puppy. She knew it was something that would make her laugh for a long time. Even the parts where he tried to explain it away as a quirk from her world amused her.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena blushed, "I'd rather not, but if you'd like to go ahead." She looked to Max, her eyes running over him as she remember how she had to help him back into bed. Again her face heated and she let a soft groan of embarrassment escape her.

"Max," she looked at his eyes once more. "David tried to tell her we take community baths!" She rolled her eyes and smoothed down her skirts. Her fingers felt the small beads she had taken and she itched inside to see if they worked. Biting her lip, she looked toward the drawer, and knew that map was safe. There was still one in her pocket, but she had to get back to David's room tonight and grab the third. Once she had all three she would travel and look for her own mate.

"I've been reading a book to Max, but I don't believe he likes it, so I will have to read it by myself," she smiled at Skye and then over to Max. She noticed that once again there was something that shouldn't be and she wondered how to make Max not want the beautiful Skye. She remembered him telling her he loved the woman before he collapsed, and now she had to find a way to get David and Skye more relaxed with each other. For now, she couldn't let these two remain alone. With Max in love with David's intended, she didn't want troubles to begin if David found out.

 

[only_more_so]

While Max was surprised to hear about his brother traipsing through the castle naked, he couldn't say it was that surprising. There is no greater fool, than a fool in love.

"Perhaps I shouldn't thank you, but I am sure that Serena and my brother were unaware that it was your decision to send me that saved them. But to answer your question, while I wasn't asleep, I wasn't quite awake either. I caught some of the story, and I am sure I will be hearing the gossip about it for months and years to come."

Maximillian pushed himself up a bit, doing his best not to grimace, and turned to face Serena. "Just because you choose not to use the communal baths, actually most people in the castle don't, that doesn't mean they don't exist. In fact in the villages they are actually pretty common."

Max reached over to the bedside table where the romance novel was resting. He intentionally let his hand sag as if he was reaching for the drawer instead of the book. He carefully observed Serena's reaction. He saw something on her face as he picked up the book. "As for this... I think it is you who always turns red and rushes out of the room while reading it."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Her eyes watched as he reached for the book, grazing the drawer. His words forced a blush from her cheeks and she stood up. Serena eyed the drawer as she walked over toward him. Her hip slipped it firmly shut, and she took the book from Max's hands.

"I left because it was obviously a boring book and you didn't want to hear about what happened." She kept herself leaning against the drawer, as she twisted the paperback book in her hands. "It looks to be a better book then those Shakesparrow or Shakearrow you bring back to me."

Stepping from the bed, she laid the book on the desk where she kept her writing and drawing supplies. "The communal baths are not that popular, and I won't believe they are. If they were then we'd have alot more.... " she rolled her eyes. "Oh nevermind." She pulled a rope and soon another maid was in the room.

"Go see if David is dressed, and let him know we are here visiting Max," she told the girl, and then watched her leave. She had to have David with Skye as much as possible, and if Max was here and Skye was here, then David might as well be here too.

 

[poohlive]

David was aimlessly walking corridors, passing by certain people he knew. Every once in a while he would stop and talk with a group of people. Conversation tended to stay normal, how were things with him, how was the family. How was the princess doing, any news on a date for the wedding yet.

And then, the question came up, "David... why are you walking around naked?"

David only shrugged his shoulders, "Cause Skye stole my clothes and threw them away. Apparently she doesn't want me in anything. So, I will stay naked for her."

A maid came up, wondering if he was still naked. He only had to look down to answer that question, and then she informed him that everyone had gone to Max's room.

"Well, that's good. They need to see Max," He didn't think he should join them though. They had left him, and did not want to speak with him at the moment. So, he would stay and wander aimlessly around the halls.

The maid nodded, understood, and walked off.