Chronicles of an Elven Bed-warmer
Chapter the Nineteenth
Another Cordial Invitation
Really if you haven't got it by now….
Shianni was reluctantly headed toward the Royal Chambers. She had spent the last few weeks hiding from Anora. Well, hiding was a slight exaggeration but she had been keeping her head well down, trying not to draw attention to herself in case the Queen decided she wasn't contrite enough after the incident with Elissa.
Ser Mahiri had been assigned extra duties so she hadn't seen her around as much. She was a bit worried that the lady guard would hold it against her. Though not as worried as she was about the summons she had received from the Queen. Arriving at her destination she gave the door a tentative knock.
At the precise moment that Shianni had decided that no one was going to answer and she could leave a voice called out.
"Come in."
She cautiously entered the room. "Y-you wanted to see me Your Majesty?"
"Yes, I did." Anora smiled warmly at her and indicated the seat across from her.
Shianni did as indicated and sat down. It was a very comfortable chair but the Queen noticed how tense she was.
"Relax, I'm not mad at you anymore."
The redheaded elf visibly relaxed. "So, what did you want with me then?"
"Well the Landsmeet is coming up soon and I wanted to go over the girls testimonies."
"And I get to go first? Lucky me."
"Well, yes and no."
Shianni raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Yes, I wanted to hear you first. But I also wanted you to sit in with the rest of the girls. I thought they might be more comfortable with 'Bis Sister Shianni' than they would be with just myself."
"Do they really call me that?"
"Indeed," she confirmed with a nod.
"W-well I guess I could hang around after..."
"Lovely," she paused. "Then let's begin. I believe there was a wedding?"
0-0
Lady Cousland was unhappy. Not that it would be evident to any outside observer, but there were subtle cues, a particular expression, the corners of her mouth very discreetly turned down, a slight wrinkle of the forehead. Not that any of her current companions noticed.
Well, that wasn't necessarily true; one of them may have noticed, but seeing as how he was a cat it was rather unlikely that he cared very much. Bryce, staying true to character was oblivious.
"Quite a good breakfast from Mrs. Russel this morning," he stated idly.
"Hmm," she automatically agreed. Her mood had nothing to do with the food. What troubled her was the absence of a certain someone – two someones, if she was to be honest with herself. Her son Aedan and his paramour Ms. Tabri- Inri.
Her conversation with Elissa the previous evening had convinced Lady Eleanor to give the girl a chance, but only that, a chance. If that harlot did anything the least bit suspicious she was out the door faster than...a very fast thing.
She had hoped to explain her position to the girl in a discreet aside following the morning meal, but the elf's absence made that unfeasible.
Eleanor sighed. She would have to go up to Aedan's suite then.
0-0
When she arrived at Aeden's door, Lady Elenor found the door was locked and...descriptive noises were emanating from the interior. She briefly considered knocking but quickly dismissed the idea. It would be...uncomfortable at best. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud exhalation:
"MakermakermakermakerAAAAH, Aedan!"
She went still for a bit before 'That's my boy!' drifted across her consciousness. Flushing slightly she retreated back to her chambers.
She could come back later.
0-0
Later at the Castle Shianni and the Queen were finishing up the interviews
"Thank you Melody, I know that wasn't easy for you." Anora said sympathetically.
"Yes Your Majesty," the uncharacteristically subdued elf wiped a sleeve across her tear stained visage. "I hope it helps." she said with firm resolve.
Shianni put an arm around the diminutive girl before pulling her into a reassuring hug and escorted her back to where Tasha was waiting outside the room. The redhead slumped against the closed door and let loose an exhausted sigh.
"Maker, that was brutal."
"Yes," agreed the visibly shaken Queen. "More so than I expected. It's one thing to read the reports, but to hear it from the victims themselves..." Anora took a moment to compose herself. "But these testimonies will go a long way in convincing the Landsmeet."
Shianni gave a cynical grunt. "You have a lot more faith in the nobles than I do Your Majesty."
Anora responded with a worried look and nervously chewed her lower lip.
0-0
The Lady Cousland once again approached her son's suite. This was altogether too vexing. Here she was wife of the second highest noble in the land and she was nervous about meeting with some nobody elf, who was quite definitely sleeping with her son! What was she to him? How serious was this relationship? Aedan had introduced her as his 'mistress', but what did that mean? Were they committed to one another or was Aedan just indulging in a bit of fluff on the side? She immediately dismissed that notion; her son wasn't that type of man.
After hearing the story of how they met from Elissa she had decided to at least give the girl an even chance. What was her name again? Something that started with K? Kathrine? Kullagan? Ah. Kallian. That was it. Eleanor paused to listen at the door. She didn't hear anything so she gave it a sharp knock.
0-0
The young Lord and his elven paramour were at a resting point in their planned activities. Aedan had his arm around Kallian as she cuddled into his side, head resting on his shoulder as she fluffled idly with his chest hair. Finding his lovers ministrations quite soothing Aedan was dozing lightly.
The idyllic scene was interrupted be a sharp knock at the door. Aedan started to stir.
"No," she whispered in his ear. "I'll get it. You've earned a rest."
"Mmm." he agreed.
There was another knock as the elven rogue made her way through the sitting room to the hall entrance of the suite.
"Hold on." she mumbled to herself. With a pained grunt she tried to shove aside the massive sofa Aedan had taken upon himself to shove in front of the door. It was much heavier than she expected and only with great effort was she able to move it enough to crack the door open and peer out into the hall.
"L-lady Cousland!" she gasped in surprise, attempting a curtsy and very nearly concussing herself on the doorknob. "C-can I do anything for milady?" she stuttered while attempting to shift her garments into a more modest arrangement.
"Is my son available?"
"Um, not, um, not at the moment, Milady." she blushed and developed an intense interest in her own toes. "H-he's...resting?"
Eleanor raised one supercilious eyebrow. "Wearing him out, are you?"
Kallian flushed a positively alarming shade of red and attempted another curtsy, unconsciously huddling down and attempting to make herself smaller. "Y-yes, Milady," she squeaked.
She looked so adorably pathetic that the older woman decided to take pity on her. "Well, if you should find yourselves free in about an hour I should like for you both to join me for brunch?" she invited. "As you seem to be an important part of Aedan's life I feel we should get better acquainted, Miss Inri."
"Ah, yes milady, I'll pass that on to his lordship milady." Kallian wasn't sure what to do to end the conversation. She bobbed into another curtsy.
There was an awkward pause.
"Well?" said Lady Cousland.
"Huh?" was Kallian's sparkling response.
"Go!"
"R-right, milady!" Kallian shut the door and scampered into the other room.
0-0
"Aedan! Aedan!"
The young Lord became aware he was being jostled awake.
"What?" he answered testily.
"Your Mother wants to invite us to brunch?! What do I tell her? What's 'Brunch'?" questioned his panicking lover.
Aedan blinked owlishly. He considered the question carefully. He wasn't really angry anymore-several rounds of rather intense lovemaking did wonders for one's temperament.
"I guess I've made my point. And at least she's being civil about it" he mused, a rumbling from his stomach made the decision final. He rose from the bed with a grunt of effort. "I'll let her in, you go make yourself presentable."
Kallian dashed off to her room in a mild panic wondering what he meant by 'presentable'.
Aedan threw on some pants and went to go talk to his mother.
Not really finished yet put it's been so long since I posted anything I thought I should put something up to reassure everyone that I hadn't been hit by a bus or something. Started playing Dark Souls as well, which didn't help my already lackluster productivity. I probably should have gotten the PC version, at least then I'd be near my notes. Currently preparing to go into Blight town, oh and School, but mostly Dark Souls.