histxries

[histxries]

[histxries]

"Oh, thank you," Rivka replied, taking the offered hand and stepping down. "Rivka Ghazi, it is nice to meet you. France is beautiful, is it not? Are you well traveled? I am not, but this trip will change that. Though I did not realize how bored I would get sitting in the carriage...as I am now talking incessantly to you," she said, nodding and looking down. "My apologizes."

CLOSED STARTER - rivka & aksel. @histxries

aksel was stood by his horse when he saw the mughal carriage pull up at the camp site. at first he stood by and watched but as the princess emerged from the carriage, aksel stepped forward and made his way over. they hadn't yet met and now felt like a good time to introduce himself. the more he friends he had the further his name spread. " your highness, could i help you with your luggage? " he held his hand out to her in case she was in need of assistance, a warm smile settling on his lips then. " i'm aksel, the blacksmith. we haven't met so i thought i would introduce myself and offer some help. "

[histxries]

Elisabet smiled at Bea. The governess' presence felt warm to her, so her title was a good fit as far as she was concerned. "I will. I fear Amara will get bored, as she does quite easily now that she's up and about," Elisabet replied, a cheeky grin on her face. "She would swat me upon the head for saying so, but she knows it's true."

She watched advisors gather, telling each section of the traveling party the news. An illness had been discovered among the ranks, and a few were sick. With what, no one knows, but whispers immediately began circulating of the plague that had ravished so much.

Memories flashed-assisting guards with the body carts, always full and ready to burn the dead. A child she nannied watching his mother cough up blood and screaming when Elisabet pulled him away, her own face covered as directed to avoid illness, only to see him die days later. Children were always quicker to die, and she had comforted many a mother after they lost their children. Her eyes turned glassy, and her breathing picked up. She clutched the sides of the carriage, and when her eyes finally met Bea's, there were tears in her eyes, and her expression was a mix of terror and sadness.

Closed starter for @ofrulcrs

Elisabet assisted with loading the last of her things into the carriage, sighing and leaning on the wheel. She used to pack lighter, but thanks to the generosity of Amara, she now had more dresses and jewelry than she ever had before, and fine ones too. The only thing she constantly kept out was the yellow diamond brooch, the first gift from the princess. She had it pinned to her bodice, always.

She heard the Danish carriage, and sighed. She wished she could say goodbye to Anneliese and Dagmar, but she knew that would not be a good idea. Instead, she smiled at the English princess, tickling her belly gently. "She is growing so beautiful already," Elisabet commented softly, stroking her small cheek with a finger.

"Are you settled for the ride? If you should need anything, please ask. I'm a bit nervous myself, traveling such a long way."

[histxries]

Before Lotte could respond, the announcement of a new illness came-or maybe the old one, no one knew quite yet. She felt her heart leap just slightly-she had lost both her parents to the accursed plague, and now surely more would fall. No one had the faintest idea before how to quell the spread, and she was sure no one had figured it out since. This only cemented the idea in her mind that she was somehow broken-she felt nothing. Only contempt for what they could not control.

"I see something might have resurfaced, my lord. Hopefully this time around no lives are claimed. Surely the doctors have learned better."

Having said that, it occurred to her-no one from the court of the Netherlands was ill. Good, her plan could continue uninterrupted.

Closed starter for @todestr0y

Lotte despised travel. She was not someone who sought out bigger skies, or new experiences. New things meant potential danger. Not to mention, her plans to kill the queen had been fully uprooted when the king announced that the summit will be moving. Now Lotte needed to hope that her basic botany skills translated to Portugal.

She walked around the grounds near where the carriages lined up, glancing at the gardens again. She could pick a few and hide them, but the potency would be off. Lost in her thoughts, she dodged nearly stepping on the foot of the Duke. Ah, the one who nearly ruined the sanctity of the library. "Pardon me, my lord. I was deep in thought."

[histxries]

They had ridden a while now, just passing through France, and Elisabet smiled. "Oh, my lady, I'm sure they will not keep us there long. The summit has gone on what feels like ages now, I'm sure it will end-"

The announcement came-a few people in the traveling party had fallen ill from an unknown illness. Elisabet's eyes almost seemed hollow, and her expression shifted from confusion, to utter terror. Not again. The screams, the cries from adults and children alike, the bodies piling up on carts despite her and the other women's best efforts...it came rushing back, and it felt like a boulder had crashed into her chest. "No," she whispered. "N...no, I cannot do this again." She shook off the panic momentarily, enough to look at Amara and the rest of their party. "Quickly, into the carriage. We must isolate you and everyone in the immediate family as soon as possible, Amara."

Elisabet's voice was shaky as she opened the carriage door. "Please, I cannot lose you." She was too anxiety stricken to mince words now.

closed starter for @tcmpestas [amara & elisabet]

"The servants have packed the last of your trunks into the luggage cart, Amara. The baby is quite settled with Beatrice, and the rest of our bags are packed. It's time to leave." Elisabet walked up to Amara, putting a hand on her shoulder. Amara was closed off, she knew that, so Elisabet wasn't sure how she was feeling. Her first thought would have been homesick already, because they were leaving her home. She was a mystery, though, so for all Elisabet knew, she wasn't feeling that at all.

"Amara?" The probe was quieter this time, a moment between the two. "Are you ready?"

[histxries]

closed starter for @pr0mis [elisabet & taisiya]

Elisabet wandered the carriages again, waiting for the rest of the bags to be packed up. She knew it would be a while before she was in other company, so she continued walking, but let out a yelp when she tripped over a raised root, collapsing into a woman in front of her. She really should pay more attention to where she was going.

"Please forgive me, I am an absolute clutz," she blurted out, righting herself. She looked up at the...rather striking woman, blinking her brown eyes at her. "I'm...Elisabet, the lady in waiting to the English princess. Again, please forgive my clumsiness."

[histxries]

closed starter for @tcmpestas [amara & elisabet]

"The servants have packed the last of your trunks into the luggage cart, Amara. The baby is quite settled with Beatrice, and the rest of our bags are packed. It's time to leave." Elisabet walked up to Amara, putting a hand on her shoulder. Amara was closed off, she knew that, so Elisabet wasn't sure how she was feeling. Her first thought would have been homesick already, because they were leaving her home. She was a mystery, though, so for all Elisabet knew, she wasn't feeling that at all.

"Amara?" The probe was quieter this time, a moment between the two. "Are you ready?"

[histxries]

closed starter for @tcmpestas [rivka & divya]

Princess Rivka Ghazi, in all her wonder and readiness to travel, was not fond of the bland countryside they were currently traveling in. Green hills aside, she leaned on the window, looking out. "This is...not what I imagined when traveling, Divya," she comments dryly, looking at her half sister. Rivka never cared which of their parents were her blood, she embraced all of her slibilngs, half or whole.

"What do you think? Do you think we'll see something interesting soon?" She knew she was being annoying, but she didn't care. She only wondered what her betrothed was doing in his carriage, if he was thinking what she was or not.

[histxries]

Closed starter for @todestr0y

Lotte despised travel. She was not someone who sought out bigger skies, or new experiences. New things meant potential danger. Not to mention, her plans to kill the queen had been fully uprooted when the king announced that the summit will be moving. Now Lotte needed to hope that her basic botany skills translated to Portugal.

She walked around the grounds near where the carriages lined up, glancing at the gardens again. She could pick a few and hide them, but the potency would be off. Lost in her thoughts, she dodged nearly stepping on the foot of the Duke. Ah, the one who nearly ruined the sanctity of the library. "Pardon me, my lord. I was deep in thought."

[histxries]

Closed starter for @ofrulcrs

Elisabet assisted with loading the last of her things into the carriage, sighing and leaning on the wheel. She used to pack lighter, but thanks to the generosity of Amara, she now had more dresses and jewelry than she ever had before, and fine ones too. The only thing she constantly kept out was the yellow diamond brooch, the first gift from the princess. She had it pinned to her bodice, always.

She heard the Danish carriage, and sighed. She wished she could say goodbye to Anneliese and Dagmar, and speak to Prince Tyr about her abrupt leave, but she knew that would not be a good idea at the moment. Instead, she smiled at the English princess, tickling her belly gently. "She is growing so beautiful already," Elisabet commented softly, stroking her small cheek with a finger.

"Are you settled for the ride? If you should need anything, please ask. I'm a bit nervous myself, traveling such a long way."

[histxries]

Closed starter for @anxhoredheart (rivka & Chala)

Rivka knew she would be riding with her family, of course. Her sister would insist on it, as would her father. Still, she wanted to see her future family off for a safe trip, so she approached the Ethiopian carriage, smiling softly. "Chala!" She smiled and nodded to him. "I came to see you all off." She glanced around, blushing when she did not see her betrothed. "it must be nerve wrenching to travel with the queen carrying," she frowned. The news of the move had everyone surprised, and some worried, she assumed. Rivka, however, was itching to travel, go new places, and see new things before she settled down for marriage.

"Should you need anything when we stop, please seek out our carriage and ask, yes?"

[histxries]

Lotte looked at the butler, still holding a finger to the maid. "You are clearly not used to making proper tea, so let me explain something to both of you." It had been drilled into her for hours, by her former husband, how he made his tea, and in turn, how she made it now. "If you pour boiling water over loose leaf tea, as it is prepared here, it will scald the tea and not only burn it and make it taste bitter, but it will not release all of the flavors and make the tea taste rancid. The water should be exactly 70 degrees, otherwise you should be able to hold you hand to it for no more than five seconds."

She could not do anything to the butler-he was not of her house and therefore could cause trouble. The maid, however...she looked at the girl, and for a moment a flash of being a scared twenty something came into her memory. Being told she wouldn't eat if the maids did not properly made the master's food first, being slapped for not managing her household. She toughened up, so would the girl. "Do I need to hold you hand here to see if lasts at least five seconds?" The maid shakingly picked up the tray and ran, and Lotte looked at Adam. "Now maybe I will have a decent one."

@1642hqzstarters (capped at 0/4)

Location: parlor in the Netherlands wing

"For the last time, this water is blisteringly hot. Do you think the queen wishes to scald herself before being able to taste the tea brought from her home country?!" Lotte barked at the maid, making the girl flinch. Lotte was used to running a home, and the staff within it, to the letter. This included making sure everything was perfect for her demanding husband, and some habits were hard to break. Besides, after all her planning, she was not going to have the queen hurt by hot tea.

"If I must, I will speak to King Tanvir about adequate help myself. Do not move!" She pointed to the maid, who made to pick up the tray. Lotte looked up as someone entered. "You there, if I may. Is it a difficult concept to make tea? Could a child not do this task as well? It seems as if this young lady possesses less wit than a child."

[histxries]

"It is alright, your majesty. As I said, you have been busy." She paused at his last question. Did she? She had no home to speak of. She had her husband's home that she sold, the small flat she had been looking at on the outskirts of the city before she was approached by the man representing Luca...

"No," she finally said. "I do not have a home to miss. My long passed husband's home was my only home, and I sold it to avoid the memories. I am sorry that you do, my king. I understand you have much to go back to, and I'm sure the queen agrees."

histxries​:

Lotte hesitated to put her book down, lest her eyes give away how utterly little she thought of this mock of the royal crown. How Prince Luca thought this man was a better choice was beyond her, not that she payed attention to any of their politics. It frankly bored her, and it seemed as if it bored their king too.

When he butchered her name, she did lower her book, looking at him. “Ah, your majesty. I am afraid it is Visser, but you were very close. You have a lot on your mind, it is understandable. the summit has gone on for a while, after all.” Truly, there were probably just pieces of lint in there, but again, the queen loved him, so she must act as if she did not think him a dolt.

.

“Lady Visser- I am sorry.” He had never been skilled at keeping names straight. He did feel bad about it, a quick flash of guilt. Perhaps he ought to focus on remembering the names of people from his court more. The ones he interacted with often he tended to remember, but he did not have reason to speak regularly with many of his wife’s ladies.

“Yes,” he sighed. “Quite a while. Do you miss home as well?” He felt more homesick by the day. He wished these matters would just find a solution- it could not be so hard for all to simply agree to peace, could it?

[histxries]

"Oh, well I'm just putting together a small picnic lunch. Bread, cheese, that sort of thing. I'm going to be gathering herbs and flowers today and I'd thought I'd bring something along. I did not meant to offend you, I apologize if I did so. I have not seen you around and thought maybe you'd just arrived. Many people arrive by the day, it would not be a surprise to anyone," she chuckled.

Elisabet knew how to cook...simple things. Porridge, bread, that sort of thing. Anything more complicated and she was likely to set the kitchen ablaze. "I will not take much space, I promise. I cannot use the stove."

Elisabet hummed to herself as she worked at the counter. Nothing fancy, just something light to take with her on the grounds. She heard footsteps and turned a little. "Oh, forgive me, I was told it was alright if I made myself a small midday meal? I am taking it to the gardens with me, and I'd feel dreadful having someone make it for me."

She cleaned her hands on her apron, walking over. "I'm Elisabet. You look...a little lost? Can I help you find something?"

[histxries]

"I think it's supposed to be a sign of livelihood, maybe? I'm honestly not sure. I've never been married, and this is my first time being betrothed, so I'm not quite sure what to expect, honestly. I've met my betrothed, and he is kind and considerate of my feelings, and wants to know me, which is something I did not expect to be honest, so anything more than that feels like too big a gift."

Rivka had been terrified that Hakim would not even want to see her, let alone talk to her, but he did, and he was wonderful. "I am still scared, though. I am old enough to be married, my mother married much younger than I, but...I worry that it will end up a dream, and I'll wake up and things will be different." She glanced over at the duke, sighing. "Have you felt that way before?"

"I do have one, but it is back home. It was a gift from my father, and I did not wish it broken. I will not say no to two, though," she replied, laughing. "I cannot imagine any other gifts here. Livestock, maybe, which is fine, but certainly not jewels or laces." She smiled, remembering seeing her mother's wedding jewelry and trying it on when she was little, thinking she would wear it one day.

"Yes, you should," she said, clearing her head. "It is rather soothing. You do not have to do what I am doing, obviously," she laughed. "It is quite taxing."

[histxries]

Rivka smiled softly. "Right...we." She forgot that depending on how long the summit lasted, she could leave here married and go to Ethiopia instead of India. "May I ask...what is it like, living in the palace? I've only visited, and I'm sure things are different when visitors are there verses living there on a daily basis. Is it crowded, is it lively?"

She wanted to learn what she could. She had already started researching the history of the country. "I want to make sure I am as accustomed as I can, so the prince does not have to worry about that."

Rivka smiled, opening the spyglass. "See those three stars, all in a row? That's Orion's Belt, a constant in the sky. They will always be side by side no matter where you look from." She angled the glass, prompting Yasmin to look.

"Seeing the three stars like that makes me think that I can always find something constant, no matter where I am."

[histxries]

"It is not pointless if it helps you sleep at night, Fran. Now, I think we need an entire pot of tea-probably earl grey with a touch of lavender buds, to help us calm and focus. We have may books to go through." Elisabet signaled for a maid to get the tea, and separated the books into piles, taking one. She would stay as long as Fran wanted her there, to help them get closure. She considered them one of her closest friends, and wanted to help them.

"I understand to an extent, wanting to know why something happened when it shouldn't have. Even if the outcome was good, in your case. It is not the same, but when my Mama died, I ask the heavens why for days, weeks after. Had I done something? If I had not done something, if I had..." she paused, watching Fran's expression over the books. This would not help them. Anecdotes about past trauma would not aid them in this moment.

Elisabet reached over, placing a hand over a book on the pile. "May I help? Even when you did nothing wrong, doing more research will not hurt. Might a friend help?" Elisabet knew that she could do little else to help them-she didn't know how it felt to almost lose a loved one. Even with her mother's passing, they weren't close like Fran and Amara were. Fran cared so much more about Amara than Elisabet ever remembered caring about her mother-she loved her, but not like this. "Please?"