Chapter 7)
They were halfway through the scene for the third time and Ned was nearly satisfied with their movements if not how they were speaking the lines when there was a knock and then the creaking of the doors. "Hello the House!" A merry voice called and Asrai gasped and wished as hard as she could that she wasn't there.
Before the eyes of her fellow actors the girl vanished and thankfully they were too stunned to speak for a moment. The young man entering the playhouse assumed wrongly that they were in shock at his intrusion, while Asrai whispered desperately to Ned. "Please, you've never heard of me, I'm not here, I was never here." She moved off the stage and hid as silently as she could.
Nicholas stared dumbly at the others and then at Ned who cast a hard glance at Sam and then strode forward. "Welcome Sir." He swept an elegant bow. "I am Ned Alleyn, and these are The Admiral's Men."
Sebastian grinned. "I am honored and delighted. Sebastian Valmont Drakkar Obarskyr at your service." He looked about. "I was hoping to call upon Tredorian but I can see you are working. My apologies." He looked about for a moment as if he hoped to be invited to stay and when no one spoke bowed his head and began to back out the door.
"Oh no!" Henslowe hurried forward. "Forgive us your Highness, we don't usually have royalty calling upon us and we're all a bit taken aback I think." He ushered the prince in calling for Tredorian as he did so.
The writer came on the stage and looked around in confusion. He seemed about to speak when Ned took hold of his arm and gave a magnificent bow. "Allow me to elaborate on my earlier introduction." He smiled and hissed out of the side of his mouth at Tredorian. "Asrai's hiding, don't tell." Tredorian blinked but bore up well under the required subterfuge and bowed his hello to Sebastian.
"This is the hero of our piece, Nicholas Tooley, our Romeo." Ned gestured towards Nicholas. "Our boy player, the Lady Juliet, Sam Grosse." He moved about introducing the rest of the cast all of whom bowed but for Ralph who in the Nurse's skirts gave the prince a humble curtsey to which the young Obarskyr grinned.
"It is an honor to meet you all." He offered a smile. "I hope to enjoy a performance soon?"
"In a few weeks your Highness." Henslowe was wringing his cap in his hands nervously. "We're hoping for a comedy." He shot a glare at Tredorian who shrugged. "At least that's what it started as."
Tredorian jumped down from the stage. "What brings you here Sebastian?" He inquired casually. "I wouldn't think the Dockside theatres an area you normally enjoy?"
Sebastian grinned and took the seat Tredorian offered watching with half an eye while Nicholas and Sam began to run the scene with Ned supervising. "I offended my mother, and was informed that if I was so bored as to commit actions that would offend her, I could find better uses for my time. I couldn't think of one that was not just as boring as those I was trying to avoid, so I hoped to call on you and enjoy some intelligent conversation."
Tredorian shook his head. "You really do spend a lot of time at Court don't you?" The playwright remarked. "It would take me a week to think up that speech and write it down half as well."
His sly grin prompted a shout of laughter from Sebastian who hurriedly stifled himself and apologized for the noise as Fenneyman gave him an annoyed shush and then nearly fell all over himself for taking such liberties. With a smile and a shake of his head Sebastian rose. "I can see that I am more of a distraction than your players need at this time." He caught a glimpse of Nicholas gingerly kissing Sam and shook his head. "Somehow two men kissing isn't the same as two women." He made a face.
Tredorian rolled his eyes. "Until women wish to become actresses we are doomed to stage love that cannot hope to imitate true love except but palely." He said calmly. "And where in the world have you seen two women embracing?" He asked abruptly.
Sebastian smiled. "Come to Court again, and I'll introduce you to a pair of them." He invited with a roguish wink. "My apologies again for the interruption." With a respectful bow to the rest of the players he took his leave.
Asrai watched tensely as Sebastian left and sighed. She hadn't realized until she saw him how much she missed her brother. He might be doing his best to act like a fool, but he also had been doing his best to be her big brother. With Andreas all but ignoring her, Sebastian's gentle teasing and adoring hugs were appreciated more than ever and sorely missed.
Ned strode behind the curtain and said in a rather annoyed tone. "All right, now what was all that about?" The rest of the cast lined up behind him curiously. "You disappeared in the middle of the scene. Don't you think it might help our cause a bit if the prince saw how wonderful our leading lady is? His family is known to support the arts."
Asrai sighed. "I didn't mean to disappear. I just didn't want Sebastian to see me." She explained futilely.
"You can do magic Asrai," Tredorian said gently, coming up beside her. "How?"
"I don't know." She shrugged, "I never wanted to. My oldest sister is brilliant at it, I mean its effortless. I don't even know how I'm doing this."
"But why did you hide?" Ned's dark eyes bored into her. "You are doing brilliantly."
Asrai stared right back at him. "Ned did it ever occur to you that maybe I'm not supposed to be here?" She snapped. "Sebastian knows me, he knows my family. If he had seen me that would have been the last time any of you would ever have seen me."
"I beg your pardon?" Ned asked. "Why would the prince care if you are on stage?"
"I'm supposed to be in the palace, not playing at actress. I'm supposed to be working." She told him, trying to keep to the truth. "Remember? 'Nice' girls don't go onstage. If my mother found out where I am, before the play, before we proved that I can do this, I'd never get the chance."
"You mean your parents don't know you're here?" Tredorian asked slowly. "Asrai they must be worried sick."
"I know." She muttered, "And I miss them. I miss my family. But it's only for a few weeks, and they know I'm all right. I don't know how to explain it, but I know they can tell I'm in no danger."
"Wonderful!" Ned said sarcastically, "So now our leading lady, as well as being mysterious in her background is a runaway pretending to be an actress."
"Don't you dare start that with me Ned Alleyn!" Asrai's head snapped up and she glared at Ned. "You're a man. When has anyone told you that you aren't allowed to act because of your gender?" She moved closer eyes sparkling in annoyance. "No one, because no one cares if a man is promiscuous or not. But women are 'bad' if they sleep with a man besides their husband. Well I'm not a whore, but I will be an actress. I'm not pretending at this anymore than you are! This is everything to me. If this play fails, my entire life will go with it!"
"I apologize." Ned inclined his head formally. "You are right, your talent is no pretense and you are just as serious as the rest of us."
"Apology accepted." Asrai shook her hair back, "And I still don't think I have my blocking entirely correct in this scene." She said with frown of concern. "I don't think it shows Nicholas to advantage and this scene is more about him discovering Juliet."
Nicholas blinked at this but gamely joined in the conversation that followed as the three went back onstage.
"Tredorian, a word if you would." The writer looked up to see Ned Alleyn standing at the foot of the stairs.
"Certainly." Tredorian nodded and gestured for the actor to come up to the loft where they would be more private. In the evening hours before he hurried to meet Julia the playwright spent much of his time perfecting the older scenes and writing new ones. He took his seat at the little table and regarded Ned as the actor took the other stool. "What is the cause for such a look of concern?"
Ned's expressive face was serious with worry. "It's about our Asrai." He began slowly. "Am I the only one who wonders about who she is?"
Tredorian smiled. "No, but you are the only one so worried about it." He pointed out. "I don't get the impression that she's a danger to us."
"You didn't see the resemblance in coloring between she and the Prince Sebastian?" Ned inquired. "Their hair is nearly identical for all his is short and her's is long, both have curls as well."
Tredorian smiled. "And both are half elves." He pointed out. "And both love the arts. What of it?"
Ned leaned forward his voice low in its intensity. "Tredorian, you've got to see that she's of noble blood."
Tredorian nodded. "I suspect as much yes." He shook his head. "But I don't think she's the Princess Asrai Aelaitha, do you?"
"Part of me would believe that to be the truth if she said so." Ned admitted. "Her manner is positively regal at times. But the more logical half says a royal princess would be guarded well enough that she couldn't run away and join the theatre troupe. Besides, the guard and Purple Dragons would all be on the rampage searching if the princess had disappeared."
"You may be half right though." Tredorian said slowly and the expression on his face made Ned blink.
"You think maybe she's a love child?" Ned confirmed the writer's thought. "I thought it was the queen who had elven blood."
"Perhaps Asrai's mother is a full elf." Tredorian shrugged. "I don't know, I haven't asked."
"If her father got her on an elven lady it would explain her hair and her coloring." Ned said slowly. "Maybe she's lived as a minor lady in the palace with her mother." He shook his head. "The King wouldn't be the first to take an elven mistress and get her with several children. Asrai has spoken of siblings."
The writer shrugged. "One way or another we'll know after the play is done." He pointed out. "She said her family would discover her then."
"If they don't discover her here and throw us all in jail." Ned uttered the pessimistic sentiments as he rose.
"She's too good at hiding to let that happen." Tredorian grinned and shook his head.
Tredorian entered the Royal Court as he had the past few nights, by the back gate, under the eyes of the guards. Lady Julia was not in her room when he arrived however, and in spite of his search of her shelves, possessed nothing worth reading. With a shrug of his shoulders he left her suite and entered the Court.
It took a little while to remember which way the Hall was, but soon the playwright found a balcony overlooking the marble floors with purple velvet curtains that would easily conceal his tall slim form. Eagerly his eyes sought out Lady Julia, only to find her dancing in the arms of a tall, muscular young man with auburn hair. "She must dance out of courtesy certainly." He murmured to himself, trying to stifle his rush of jealousy at how the nobleman's hands were placed. Then Lady Julia was lifting her face with an adorable smile and the nobleman bent and kissed her. Tredorian's hands clenched into fists.
Before he could act, rashly or with consideration, he felt a slim cold steel blade under his chin, pressing slightly to his throat. "And who is this, who skulks about my Hall, concealing himself to spy on My Court?" A throaty cool voice asked. "Turn and face me, young man."
Helpless to do otherwise Tredorian turned to his right and found himself looking down at a slim, regal figure of alabaster skin, pale gold hair and shimmering violet eyes. "Christopher Marlowe, at your service my lady." He offered the lie in the desperate hope that she would believe it.
A smile of chilly amusement curved her pale lips and she shook her head. "An adequate attempt at deception, but not successful I'm afraid." She removed the dagger point from his throat and under his astonished gaze tucked it back into the bodice of her elegant court gown. "Tredorian, once of Silverymoon, now playwright of The Rose." She considered him thoughtfully. "And Lady Julia's lover."
Tredorian flushed slightly. "A lover who must watch his lady embrace another?" He questioned his tone slightly bitter. Realizing what he'd just confirmed to her he paled.
"He is her betrothed, so she cannot do otherwise." The lady tilted her head, a slender braid falling over her shoulder. "Noble ladies do not marry for love, Tredorian. Their families arrange matches that are advantageous." She offered her hand as a lady would. Somewhat automatically Tredorian bowed and kissed the back of it. "I am Sabine Obarskyr." She introduced herself finally.
"Your majesty!" Tredorian nearly fell as he bowed lower.
"Oh please." She waved off the title. "Stand and let me forget that I'm a queen for a moment." Tredorian rose and for a moment stared at her before a smile bloomed shyly upon his face. In spite of the fact that she'd born five children, the queen still appeared young and lovely. In response to his, a gentle smile curved Sabine's mouth and she asked more kindly. "You are in love with her?" Tredorian hesitated as if he was uncertain how his answer would be received and she shook her head. "I do not oppose my Ladies taking lovers, or loving, so long as they do not break hearts purposefully and cruelly. You may answer honestly Tredorian. Do you love her?"
"Like sun and snow…" He told her his voice hoarse with emotion. "Like a sickness and its cure together."
Sabine studied him a moment and then looked out onto the court. "Lady Julia is one of the most passionate of my ladies, but I fear she is not always the most kind hearted. Does she love you?"
"She has not said, and yet she has, for she came willingly to my arms." He replied and then blinked at what he had said. "Forgive me Lady."
Sabine's smile grew wry. "Tredorian, I have been married some years now, little can shock me, or offend me, so long as it is not meant so, and I can see you do not mean your words thus." She gestured minutely to Lady Julia. "You are certain you love her? This is not simply a light love of the moment?"
"I love her like—"
Sabine cut him off with a slashing movement of her hand. "Yes, yes Tredorian, I've heard enough poetry. Its lovely but not to the point." Her eyes seemed to bore into him. "Passion is not love Tredorian, and you may discover it to your detriment." She took a deep breath and looked at him in resignation. "But, if you love her, enough to propose the right true end to that love, which is marriage, then I will aid you in it."
"How my lady?" Tredorian asked quietly. "I am no longer of the Silver Marches nobility. I am a humble player."
"If you have the audacity to approach one of my ladies there is nothing humble about you." Sabine informed him dryly. "But, should you wish to marry Lady Julia, I will support you in it." Tredorian stared at her and she nodded her confirmation of her words. "I will see to it that an estate is put to your name, small but you will still be landed. With the crown's support of you, and royal favor, I daresay that her family can have no objection. With but one condition."
Tredorian was nearly reeling in amazement, scarce able to believe his good fortune. "And what is it my lady?"
Her smile was sad as she looked from the dancing Lady Julia to the playwright. "You may not inform Lady Julia of this." She raised her finger as he opened his mouth to protest. "You must propose to her, and she must accept you, for love, no other motive. After she accepts you, you may inform her of my conditional support."
"Why are you doing this lady? Why such a condition?" The young man questioned her in confusion.
Sabine looked at him and then down at the court. "I know something of love Tredorian, of passion and of the differences between the two. You may love her, but for love to endure, to be strong, it must be equal. She must love you, as you love her. My husband married me for love, and I knew it. I would have you know the same thing." She thought of all she'd endured since she'd met her love and her eyes darkened. Her gaze was still on her husband as she answered his first question. "As for why I would help you, the son of a nation I despise…I have a daughter who adores your plays and lives for the performing of them. I would not have her heart broken, when your heart breaks, for want of something so small as status."
"Thank you my lady." Tredorian would have said more but there was a shout from the floor below.
"Where is my queen?" A tall man with a powerful frame was heard saying. "Which of my sons has stolen their mother away for some intelligent conversation and deprived me of her?" His laughing voice was still the voice of the king.
Sabine smiled and beckoned for Tredorian to go. "Julia is leaving Court, go quickly." She leant forward over the balcony and called in a voice more quiet than her husbands but just as loving. "I am here husband, and I will be by your side, in but a moment."
Tredorian blinked and smiled in spite of his confusion. The queen was truly a lovely lady, and very obviously in love with the king. That she was kind and gentle was obviously something kept well hidden from her subjects. The common folk spoke with adoration and awe of the king, and of the queen, they said little but to express their contentment that the king loved her and of her loyalty to him. The fleeting thought occurred to him that Asrai could not be a love child of either the king or queen, they were so in love with each other, it didn't seem likely either would take a lover.