Disclaimer: I do not own Tortall, or any of the Tamora Pierce characters- obviously. Only characters a hard core fan doesn't recognize are mine- IE Aaurie, Branic and Illean.
AN: Okay, a kind of busy chapter just to get it all out there rather than spreading it over several chapters like I originally planned! You guys get a pretty heavy dose of Aaurie's history and the beginnings of another little plot turn. If it seems like things got a little too sped up- sorry, just needed to jump start my writing and get it posted. I promise the next chapters will even out and feel less crammed.
*Formatting note: So, I pretty regularly break up the story, when it switches around, with dashes. And I've only just noticed they don't appear in the published chapters. So I apologize for the awkward read when it jumps from Aaurie and Neal having a moment, to like Dom and Kel in another room...going to try and throw in the line breaks so that it's less obnoxious to figure out that I've jumped to another conversation etc...*
It seemed to take only moments for Aaurien and the others to be introduced to every notable lord and lady in the room, many of whom seemed to approach with a deep respect and sense of awe for the apparently well spoken and feisty young Scanran. Aaurie however, had slipped back into her own shell the moment the doors closed behind Aiden; mortified that she'd said such a thing to a nobleman.
"Was that so terrible?" Dom whispered to Aaurie as he offered his arm to escort her to her seat at the large dining table. Aaurie took his arm, looking around the room, her cheeks slightly flushed from the whispered gossip she could hear circulating already.
"Did you not hear me? I made a complete fool of myself!" Aaurie groaned, ducking her head in embarrassment.
"You very clearly and politely told off a man who was obviously enjoying toying with you. Without being outwardly rude, you managed to get the point across that his advances weren't welcome- well done Aaurie," Dom chuckled.
"I hope I'm there the day someone gets the point across to you, Master Flirt that you are," Aaurie snorted. Dom gave her one of his trademark dashing grins, making himself look purposely foolish by adding a wobbly bow.
"I'm hoping to be giving up that title soon- there are much more…appealing titles," Dom said dreamily as he glanced across the table at Kel who was chatting with someone who was hidden from view by an oversized vase.
"You are a disgustingly romantic person aren't you? Under all the sickly sweet flirting," Aaurie observed, happy to have her mind occupied by the sweetness of Dom and Kel's blossoming romance.
"If you tell anyone, I'll deny it and accuse you instead," Dom grinned. Aaurie laughed and nodded in understanding.
"So call me a flirt, and I'll call you a rather brave young woman for standing up to another shameless flirt," Dom decided. Aaurie smiled up at him as she took her seat at the table.
"Just stop being so wise alright? It's unnerving to have a conversation with you that doesn't include a twinkle in your eyes or one of those too-charming smiles," Aaurie replied. Dom bowed, kissing Aaurie fingertips before moving around the table to sit beside Raoul.
Kel watched out of the corner of her eye as Dom escorted Aaurie to her seat. She couldn't be happier in the time she'd been spending with Dom, but she still wasn't sure she didn't feel threatened by the beautiful younger woman. Aaurie meant well, but she was a rather distinct distraction where young men were concerned. Kel wondered if Dom was really above the temptation.
"He's not interested in her," Kel whirled around and frowned when she met face to face with Lord Denroe.
"Excuse me?" Kel said through gritted teeth, trying to maintain a calm face. Kel didn't like what she'd seen of the man, and she liked even less his apparent ability to read her.
"Your dear boy over there. He flirts with the little one because he knows she doesn't see him that way, it's his way of keeping up the pretense of being a flirt without having to stray from the person he's clearly in love with," Denny grinned, taking a long drink from his goblet and then smacking his lips noisily.
"You pay too much attention to the business of others," Kel ground out, finding it pointless to contradict the drunk man. Denny grinned cheekily.
"Watching others is much more fun I think. She bothers you though doesn't she? The red head. She distracts him away from you; it makes you nervous."
"Do you just sit and think up ways to be rude?" Kel snapped, not liking the level of attention the man was paying her situation.
"She could probably have any man here- rather easily. You think that if she offered herself to your dashing man, he'd say no? Do you really think he could turn her away?"
"She doesn't think of him that way, nor he her," Kel replied a little too quickly.
"Just saying," Denny shrugged, reaching past Kel and snatching up a fresh cup of wine. "Enjoy the meal."
Aaurie fiddled with her place setting, listening to the casual conversations happening around the table. Dom kept giving her reassuring glances across the table, apparently the only person aware of how embarrassed and insecure she was feeling at the moment.
"So how is it you came to be part of a Tortallan party such as this?" Aaurie looked up, jumping slightly as she realized she was being addressed by a rather scholarly looking young lord.
The man was tall and lanky, silvery spectacles placed precariously at the tip of a rather long, but not unappealing, nose. Green eyes caught the light and twinkled as he leaned in slightly to hear her response. Aaurie noticed that several others had turned to hear her answer as well.
"I lived with my family just off the river- small village, nothing special. But Maggur decided to attack it nevertheless. For a while he'd scared all the villagers into submission, independent craftsmen suddenly became Maggur's personal staff…" Aaurie trailed off slightly, a frown etched on her face.
"We have refugee's here with similar stories, if it's not too difficult…go on," the young man urged.
"My father was a blacksmith- probably one of the best, and it didn't take long for Maggur to figure that out. My father had initially refused to make weapons for Maggur's army, but Maggur threatened to have my eldest brother killed, so my father consented. For the first year it wasn't so bad. It was almost like Maggur was taking care of us- he was so pleased with my father's work he'd bring gifts, food; anything we needed. But then one day I heard my father fighting with him, they were yelling at one another and I was sure Maggur would kill him on the spot- he didn't, he just walked away and promised to return the next evening.
"He returned in the morning with an army to back him. They argued again…and then Maggur ran him through." Aaurie stopped, shocked into silence at the detachment in her voice. Ignoring the piteous glances being cast her way she shrugged and began again. "Maggur had my two eldest brothers thrown into his dungeons, kept us younger children under thumb to discourage us from growing up and retaliating. We didn't even know Tortall was at war with Maggur until soldiers appeared in our village.
"Most of us were battling illness, starvation- when milord Wyldon appeared we thought for sure he was the Black God come to take us away from it all. And I suppose he did in a way. The soldiers were under orders to scout the area and nothing more, but Wyldon wouldn't leave us all behind- at great peril to himself and his position, he helped us get to a refugee camp. We owe him our lives- Maggur had ordered our village be burned to the ground- his men arrived only days after Wyldon had gotten us out."
"I see then why you feel such a loyalty to Tortall," a woman declared, sounding horrified and impressed.
"How did you go then from the refugee camp to here?" The man pressed forward. Aaurie flinched.
"Getting to the refugee camp was not easy. Several of my siblings…they didn't make it. It was a long way and Wyldon's men had to work in shifts getting us there- when milord was not present, some of his men were…unkind. My baby brother was colicky- he cried so much and it made the soldier agitated; I couldn't quiet him no matter what I tried," Aaurie stared down at the table, trying to bite back tears. "The soldier kept threatening to 'toss the little Scanran brat' if he didn't shut up, and I feared he really would, so when we camped for the night, my brother and I ran away with the little one- figuring we'd get to the camp ourselves; meet the rest of our family there," Aaurie grew quiet again, her eyes glittering with unshed tears.
"The little brother did not make it." Aaurie nodded at the inquisitive lord who had guessed correctly.
"When we reached the camp, we learned that many of our village had died from some illness- the same as my brother. The soldiers had been afraid and wanted to leave those who remained, for fear of spreading the sickness, but Wyldon wouldn't allow it. He got them to the fort and found a healer to treat those still living. My elder sisters died, four brothers. We were the only children left from our village- and Wyldon, when it was time for him to leave and return to his fort- Mithros, I cried like a babe. I was old enough to know better, but I clung to him and begged him to let us go with him. I'm still not sure why, but he agreed. The eldest two of us stayed behind with my baby sister, not wanting to leave Scanra completely, but my twin brothers and I went with Wyldon."
"The four brothers- the two Maggur imprisoned and the two who stayed at the refugee camp- do you know of them?" The lord asked, Aaurie's face changed and she closed her eyes.
"Maggur…Maggur's men had tracked us from the village- you see, they'd been ordered to burn a village to the ground, people and all. And they weren't about to go back and tell Maggur there'd been no people. They found the refugee camp…and they gutted it."
"Your family was at Boulder Camp?" Liam asked suddenly, mortified. He'd heard his mother and father discussing the horror that had unfolded there. Maggur's men had spared none- attacking a refugee camp was perhaps the most awful thing a leader could do in war. His father had kept news hushed, so that the refugees of other camps would not feel unsafe, but Liam knew his father had also doubled the protective spells.
Aaurie just nodded, playing with her place settings.
"My eldest brothers- well, when I last heard, Maggur was keeping them alive as an example. Turned them into his own personal slaves; Jareq was almost as skilled in blacksmithing as my father- Maggur is likely putting that to use. But, well, I don't know."
"Forgive lord Latner- he's the court historian, he finds it his business to pry painful stories from all visitors and refugees here," Aiden apologized, seeing how Aaurie's face had grown solemn.
"I am sorry if I put you off your dinner- I didn't realize…I mean, my apologies my lady," Latner said sincerely.
"Our past's are what make us, I do not let it sadden me much- when we came to the fort with Wyldon, my brothers soon decided they wanted to be knights so that one day they could fight their way to Maggur and rescue our brothers, rescue all of Scanra if they could. They, they would have been simple farmers, sons of a blacksmith- but now instead they've got the chance to be knights of Tortall. I do not trade that for the family we've lost, but they, they'd be proud of my brothers if they could see."
Aaurie shrugged, feeling suddenly embarrassed for sharing so much without meaning to. Only Wyldon and her brothers knew the whole story, and she'd just shared it with a whole room of strangers. She frowned starring down at her plate; without meaning to be rude she quickly sniffed at her cup suspiciously.
"You're smarter than I gave you credit for," Latner chuckled, watching her. Aaurie looked up confused.
"Beg pardon milord?" Aaurie asked, noting that people had moved on to their own conversations.
"I didn't put anything in the drink, but I am a mage- I can't force the truth out of you, but part of my gift allows me to encourage you to speak…then just see what falls out. Are you terribly mad?"
"I suppose not. Feel I was a bit made a fool of- I don't generally like sharing with people my past history," Aaurie admitted.
"I live and breathe people's histories- I find it fascinating. Anytime Aiden allows visitors to court- well, it's like Midwinter for memories. I could never leave this room but have lived a thousand lives through the stories I hear," Latner sighed. Aaurie smiled, deciding she couldn't be mad at someone so passionate.
"Don't let Latner talk your ear off my lady, he'll likely never shut up once you get him going," a young woman laughed from a few seats down. Latner bowed his head to Aaurie before engaging the young woman in a rather animated conversation.
"I doubt I've ever heard you talk so much," Neal whispered kindly to his squire. Aaurie shrugged.
"Was it rude? I just thought…he asked…I did not want to lie and seem suspicious," Aaurie mumbled. Neal just chuckled.
"It was fine. Being here has already seemed to open you up a bit- first Lord Denny and then a story even I'd never heard, you're getting comfortable. That's a good thing for you," Neal decided.
"I suppose," Aaurie shrugged.
"You said your brothers wanted to be knights to save Scanra- what about you?" Liam asked quietly, wondering at the answer since she'd made the comment. Aaurie tilted her head, unsure how best to answer.
"I was so awkward and awful at all the girlish things I was taught. I could care for my siblings- feed or change a babe, get him to sleep…but dancing, embroidery- I had no talent for anything remotely lady like. When Wyldon agreed to speak to his Majesty about letting them try for their shield, he also announced that I'd have to go- to a convent perhaps since it was improper for me to stay on at a fort filled entirely with men. I knew I could learn to act proper in a convent, it might even have grown to suit me, but I couldn't imagine my brothers one day leaving to fight for Scanra without me. And I wanted to make Wyldon proud- never regretting taking us on. So I started watching the men train, begging them to practice with me, and then I asked to go with my brothers."
"So you just wanted not to be separated from your family," Liam repeated. Aaurie nodded.
"Branic, Illean and Wyldon- they're all I have. In a convent, well, they'd have expected me to be a proper lady, probably get married and start a family…but that would have pulled me further from the family I already had. My father told us to take care of each other, not to forget who we were- a convent would have wanted me to forget, my brothers and a shield, they'll help me remember."
Aaurie looked up to realize that most of the Tortallan party was starring at her, including Aiden and Denny. Alanna grinned wide.
"I understand now why Wyldon speaks so fondly of you little one, you're going to grow up into quite a woman," Alanna announced proudly. Aaurie flushed.
"A woman who hopefully learns to talk less," Aaurie murmured, earning a chuckle from Neal.
