Hello again! Well, as I'm sure you've painfully noted this chapter came really slowly. But now that I actually have some free time (haven't heard the word since spring break) I'll be back on track trying to complete this fic. Thanks for having the patience of Gods and or Goddesses. ;)
Disclaimer: See chapter's one and two!
Chapter 7: La Longue Discussion Attendue et RedoutéeGeorge had once believed that the King of Neo-France had held no faults. He would have laughed at his own irony if it had not been at the anger that coursed through his heated veins at present.
After his fight with Monsieur Domon at the 13th tournament he had had previous thoughts that an understanding was reached between the King and himself concerning secrets and the like.
The already crumpled note in his hands made a soft crackling sound as George's hand enclosed itself with a suffocating grip on it.
It was apparent that quite a few things needed a talking about.
George's mind was still a violent storm, and so when he reached the large and well-glossed doors of the King's private study, he stopped to collect his thoughts. It was one thing to and bare down on Chibodee, but the King of Neo-France needed a certain numbing flame. He hoped he would think of a plan in time.
So quietly, carefully, George raised his hand with control to neatly rap on the door. He took a step back---his mind still brewing---and waited for the King's personal vassal to answer.
A mousy looking girl, no more then five feet answered with a polite smile behind the creak of the large door.
"Oh, Monsieur De Sand, it's a pleasure…" She paused to push up the large steel frames upon her small nose, "How may I be of service to the King's Rose Knight?"
George bit back the urge to lose his temper when she mentioned him as the King's Rose Knight.
"Mademoiselle Madeleine, Please announce…to his…Royal Majesty…that George De Sand requests an audience with him concerning a matter of… importance."
Noticing George's apprehension concerning his "matter", Mademoiselle Madeleine answered with a polite curtsy---as was custom in training---and only paused to leave the door slightly ajar such that George could follow.
He didn't wait for her to reemerge as he normally would, and instead followed her into the King's large and rather lavish study. His eyes studied the King of Neo France as he appeared to signing some documents. George vaguely wondered whether there were more letters in that pile just like the one whose corners—he was sure---were leaving imprints in his clutched hand.
Mademoiselle Madeleine gave a quick cursory glance to George before letting her skirts grace the floor in curtsy again before the King. She liked her chapped lips---preparing for the long announcement speech of old.
"Your majesty, King of Neo-France, the Rose Knight under your service, George De Sand, requests an audience with you, under a matter of importance…" She paused to lick her lips again, "Such that your Grace would be implored to…"
The King of Neo-France stopped her at the beginning of what he considered to be a stuffy practice, "My Dear Mademoiselle Madeleine, I think that's quite good enough. Thank you, you may take leave for the rest of the day." He smiled kindly at her.
The short girl beamed, "Thank You, Your Grace." She quickly gave another short curtsy before exiting with a bounce in her step.
As soon as the door had shut the King, placed his pen in the ink well, and intertwined his old hands he gave a brief smile to George. "So then, if my most trusted Rose Knight can not state his objective in front of a mere door maiden...its troubling news indeed."
He paused and looked at George quizzically, his unkempt eyebrows furrowing, "What ails you?"'
George paused choosing his words carefully, picturing the unseen dark ice on the French bridges at night, he choose his plan accordingly. Be seen but unseen, pleasant, but not without hidden frost beneath his breath.
Masked Chivalry came back to aid, not hinder as it did with Marie Louise, this time around. George would make sure of it.
"It's not a matter of ailment, Sire, but rather a misjudgment of trust. Someone whom I believed to be the bumble, turned wasp." In saying this, George fingered the letter in him palm, his eyes becoming as cold as his implication.
His majesty was a veteran of many a negotiation gone sour, and knew that distinct feeling that had just crawled into his study. It was such a feeling that one such as him could not even put it into words. The warmth of the study was gone, the rich reds drained by darkness like ink on a page and teh kIng's gut slightly sunk.
He suddenly spotted a familiar letter in the Knight's hand, his face was wiped clean of the smile he wore, and George could have sworn he was pale.
The King of Neo-France sighed shakily, but looked up at George with a knowing and determined look. He would hold his ground.
George's own hard eyes stared right back, trying to push ice into the King's veins---there was no way he would lose his ground.This was going to be a long conversation.
With neither George, nor the King of Neo-France greeting the dust at their feet any time soon.
While this conflict runs on, a dark shadow crawls over Neo-France---ready to pounce whether it's resolved or not. Mireabeu waited for no one.
Whew…. Really sorry for the delay everyone…this story was kinda thrown to the wayside while school devoured me whole. Hang in there though…I will finish it!
Though originally I planned to have the whole conversation between the King and George written out…I will use creative license and just omit that part and speed time up a little.
Expect the rest of the Shuffle gang to make an appearance soon as well! In the next chapter I'll have Chibodee Crockett insert some humor back into this fic again for sure! (If there was any to begin with…)
French Translation:
Well not a lot of French words incorporated into this chapter because I wanted to get this out as soon as possible, however the title's always a perk!
La Longue Discussion Attendue et Redoutée: The Long Awaited and Dreaded Discussion
I was actually quite proud of my work on that long…long… title. Hope you like it too.
Thanks for your patience and support!
Sincerely,
Emerald-Velvet-Touch