#♕▐┆❝ tw: bruises

[verreprincesse]

@farspirit​ dreamed: [  bruise  ]  sender  finds  receiver  with  a  bruise  /  tries  to  help  receiver  cover  up  a  bruise

The country home was a favorite of hers. Quiet and away from prying eyes. She didn’t remember the journey, if she was honest with herself, she didn’t remember anything after the pain of her stepmother’s cane. Opening her eyes to the room she always had in the country home and a maid coming in with a tray of food had been the next memory. Her stepmother hated the country home, so she never had to worry about it being tainted with fear. At some point she had been told she would be bedridden for a few days, that a doctor would come to check on her, but she felt too tired to even question anything. Instead, she slept.

At some point she did read the letter her stepmother had sent with her, during a day she stayed awake for longer than an hour, and it all came crashing into her. How her stepmother had found out Charles had spending so much time with her, the kisses they shared, how she had poured her heart out to him. She had been so furious, far more than she had ever seen her. She forbade Ella from seeing him again and in every swing of her polished cane she reminded Ella who was in charge of the family and that Ella had no say of who she married.

So she didn’t contact Charles. Every day she lay in bed without being near him or his family, oh she missed his family too, her heart broke to pieces. She missed tea with Maribelle, missed gossiping with his sisters and mother, missed magic lessons with his father, and even the teasing from his brothers.

After her fifth day in the country she had been asked to be taken to one of the rooms that overlooked the back garden. It had been her mother’s pride and joy, besides Ella, and still it flourished as if she were still here. She had been staying in her nightgown, anything more caused too much pain and a blanket over her legs. A tray sat to her right while she stared out the window when the butler entered the room. “You have a visitor, Lady Ella.”

She blinked, too shocked. “Who-” A figure stood behind her maid, twinkling eyes as blue as the Brunnera in the garden below. “Ch-Charles?” Her voice cracked when she spoke, she hardly had the last few days as her voice had been strained during her screams. Sometimes she’d wake from nightmares screaming though no voice would come out. “How did you know where I was?”

“Your maid.” Her head jerked to her butler. “She went to the castle the night you disappeared.” After a moment he excused himself and shut the door to give her and Charles privacy. 

When Charles stepped towards her, she leaned away, eyes wide. Her nightgown had capped sleeves and every bruise on her arms were visible. Every bit of pain she endured showed in the marks on her face.

She turned away from him, as far as the chair would allow her to. “You should go back, Charles. I- I-” she couldn’t say it, no matter how many times she had promised her stepmother she would say it just to end the beating she couldn’t tell Charles she didn’t love him. It would kill her. “Please leave.” Her voice cracked again as her vision blurred with tears. “I’m soiled goods and you would be better off with a princess, someone just as perfect as you.”

[subtletruamadumping]

Random Bits; A Game of Chess (5)

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"A Game of Chess" was actually the first one I wrote in the series that was based on board games but is supposed to come last in the timeline. It was very technical and pretty boring to write, at points. I played a game of chess against a computer, copied down all the moves, then used each move as a chapter. The brothers are inspired by Thor and Loki, the world mostly from Lord of the Rings, but the story I can't remember.

It started out as throw-away smut from my fanfiction days...

TW: Fantasy Violence

Written at some point in middle/high school.

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♔♟♕♞♖♝Middle Game 1♗♜♘♛♙♚

♞ Black takes a Pawn ♙

Kean was not happy when he was told the news. One might have even said he was furious. Arwen was sure the servants did after they fled the room when he threw the goblet he had been drinking out of against the wall. Poor Oddr turned white as a sheet while the king stormed about, shouting angrily and venting his concerns unintelligibly. Arwen waited patiently for the first bout of fire to calm, standing with her hands folded at the back of the room. It was no use trying to talk to him when he was having one of his fits. If he couldn’t even form a proper sentence, he wasn't in the mood to listen to one. Eventually, he sat back down in his chair with a huff, muttering under his breath.

“Let’s not be rash.” She said now that he would actually hear anything she said “There might be an excuse.”

“No excuse is good enough.” Kean said sharply, hitting his fist against the arm of his chair. She sighed and walked over to him.

“Come now, Kean,” Arwen said gently, resting a hand on his arm “Oddr has already explained it all to you. Our man was the first to strike, so we are really the ones who should come up with the excuse. Or, an apology.”

“I will not apologize to that sniveling coward.” Kean growled, pulling his arm away from her.

“There is no reason--”

“No reason? We send men in on a mission of peace and Cian has them slaughtered!”

“Now, you’re being overly dramatic.” She said, crossing her arms “Things have been tense for as long as I can remember. Harsh words were tossed and egos were bruised. It is not unlikely that this would happen.”

“That is why I suggested not to take the boy in the first place.” Oddr pointed out. He quickly shut his mouth when he received a harsh glare from Kean.

“I doesn’t have to go any further than this.” Arwen said “We don’t have to go into war. Kean, just forgive and forget.”

“No!” Kean roared, suddenly jumping out of his chair and making the other two jump “Cian has made me a fool for the last time! My men’s blood has been spilt and I will not sit idle! He will have to pay back this audacity!”

“He has, Kean.” Arwen put in “He has suffered, too. Two of his own perished. You know a death in his kingdom is a much greater loss than in our own.”

“It matters not.” Kean snapped “I will do anything in my power to make him pay for this strike against me.” Arwen tried to speak again, but Kean stormed out of the room before she could get a word out.

“I certainly hope he doesn’t give out any orders before he calms down a little.” She said to herself.

“One can always pray.” Oddr said flatly, then bowed and took his leave. 

♔♟♕♞♖♝♗♜♘♛♙♚

“A raid, Kean?” Arwen groaned, putting her face in her hands. 

“We must squelch him before he comes for us.” Kean said firmly.

“You don’t even know if he’s planning on attacking.”

“He has attacked.”

“He has retaliated against our attack. Sending a second would not bode well for any peace that we try to make.”

“And why should we make peace?” Kean snapped, rising from his throne to look over a map on the long table in front of him “It’s not as if Cian has asked for it or acted as if he was repentant.”

“Repentant for what?”

“For anything, Arwen!” Kean replied “He doesn’t care what he does or who his actions affect. He is selfish and someone needs to put him in his place.”

“He might be your little brother, but you two are not children, anymore.” She said, crossing her arms “It’s not your job to discipline him. He is grown and living his own life.”

“Brother or not, he is a threat to the kingdom. He will be dealt with as such. You would not be so hesitant if your sister was causing the trouble.”

“If Cian is, then she is, too.” Arwen said with a frown “She is a part of this just as much as he is.”

“And you believe the two of them should be left to their own devices?” Arwen was silent. Kean turned away from her and continued looking over the map.

“Then, there is nothing more for us to discuss.” He said coolly “Now, we must begin arranging an appropriate party.”

“I’ll go find Oddr.” She said, then spread her large, white wings and quickly flew to the one of the windows that lined the towering walls. She had to pull them in a little to fit through, but, once outside, she was able to spread out and sore among the clouds. She didn’t forget her mission, however, and scanned the people below her. Where would Oddr be? She could fly around the entire kingdom before Kean could get a horse through the front gate, but flying at such speeds made it hard for her to find specific people. The sooner she found Oddr, the better. She might even be able to get him to dissuade Kean from making the raid he was planning.

She swooped down low over the stables, looking carefully. No sign of him. She moved on to the market place. Nothing. She started for the practice field, when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned sharply, changing her direction towards the object. Soon, she found the thing coming out of the woods between the market and the castle. It was Oddr on horseback, making his way to the castle already. She slowed down to a glide and came to fly above him. 

“Oddr!” She called out, making him jump. He reined his horse in and brought it to a halt as she dropped lightly to the ground.

“Yes, your highness?” He asked.

“The king requests your presence.”

“Has he decided what he is going to do?”

“Unfortunately,” She replied “he plans to raid Cian’s kingdom.”

“To what end?”

“I don’t think he’s thought that far ahead.” Oddr shook his head and frowned.

“I don’t see any good coming of this.” He muttered.

“Neither do I.” Arwen said “He won’t listen to me, though. Perhaps you can help him see reason?”

“If you can’t, I doubt anyone can.” Oddr replied.

“You will try, though, won’t you?” She pleaded.

“Yes, I will try.” He sighed “Though, I doubt it will make much of a difference.”

“Get to the castle as quickly as you can.” She said, then took off again. She heard the hoofbeats of his horse fade as she mounted higher and higher into the sky. She shot up so high that she flew higher than even the great spires of the castle, enjoying her few moments of freedom. She breathed in deep, taking in the cool air. In the back of her mind she knew that Oddr wouldn’t be able to keep Kean from doing what he thought was necessary. He was too strong willed for that. 

Besides, he was right. Cian and Kry probably didn’t have anything good in store for them. A war might be necessary to rein them back into thier control. She sighed and began her descent to the castle. She pulled her wings in, hurling towards the castle and aiming perfectly for the same window she had exited. Once through, she thrust her wings open again and fluttered gently to the ground.

“Oddr is on his way.” She announced as she walked over to where Kean was standing.

“Good, good.” Kean muttered, still looking down at his map “He could help me with this. Most of Cian’s borders are surrounded by thick trees that my men wouldn’t be able to see very well through.”

“That does sound like a problem.” She said unenthusiastically. 

“The only side open enough is the side opposite of where the kingdoms meet.” Kean continued.

“How diabolical of Cian to put such a barrier in your way.”

“We’ll have to figure out a way to get across the border to attack. We want to keep the element of surprise, so we can’t have the border patrol warning anyone.”

“Of course.”

“And that’s the sort of thing I need Oddr’s strategic mind for. He can figure these types of things out.”

“Yes, you’re much more of the brute force type.”

“Once inside, I’d be able to orchestrate the fighting.”

“Yes, that’s my point.”

“Cian shouldn’t have much of a defense, seeming how he doesn’t know we’re coming.”

“I don’t think you can actually hear what I’m saying.” She sighed crossing her arms.

“We should be able to get pretty far before Cian begins a counterattack.”

“Nope. Completely ignoring me.”

“With a little luck, we would be able to do much damage. We might be able to greatly weaken him.” Kean continued to mutter to himself until the doors were throw open.

“You needed me, your highness?” Oddr panted as he hurried into the room.

“Yes, yes, come here.” Kean said, waving him over “I need your help with this.” Oddr glanced over at Arwen who just shrugged as he came forward. He looked down at the map with the king.

“The trees along the border are giving me trouble.” Kean said “I can’t figure out how we would be able to get a party through without Cian’s men finding them, first.”

“I see.” Oddr said carefully “Well, have you considered that a raid might not be in our best interest?”

“Who said anything about a raid?” Kean said, crossing his arm.

“Oh. The queen told me when she found me.”

“And she wanted you to convince me not to, hmm?” He asked, turning to Arwen.

“When you won’t listen to me, you might listen to your advisor.” She said flatly.

“I agree with her, anyway.” Oddr said “A raid is not a good idea.”

“Because of the trees, right?”

“Uh, no. This has nothing to do with trees. I just don’t believe this threat to be as great as you are making it out be.”

“Then, I don’t think I’ll be taking your advice on the matter, Oddr.” Kean said icily.

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” Arwen breathed.

“The raid is going to happen.” Kean said firmly “I wanted your help in planning it. However, if you won’t--”

“I’ll help.” Oddr sighed “Just know that I do not think this action to be wise.”

“I know it. Now, we need a group to go on the raid.”

~*~

The group had been hand picked by Kean and Oddr. They were the best in the kingdom; people Kean could trust to get the job done. He hadn’t been happy about it, but Arwen had again insisted that he stay behind. She convinced him that the group could do a fine job without him and that he was of more use in the castle. Oddr had volunteered to go in his place and keep an eye on everything. Kean finally gave in, making Oddr give his word that he’d do anything the king would. Oddr didn’t like this promise, but he made it.

So, the group was on their way to the border. Again, for three of them. It was no surprise that Kean had insisted Eoin and Cairbre go on the raid. What use was a raid without knights? Oddr had also insisted that the raid party be much bigger than the party that had taken the letter. He didn’t want to lose one fourth of the party when one man fell. The ranks had been beefed up, taking 10 well trained fighters, Oddr and the knights not included. Oddr had asked for a person of strategie, but he had been informed that we his role. He took it solemnly. 

The party was solemn, too. Unlike Drest, they all knew how serious this mission was. There was no laughter and hardly any words between them. There was nothing to talk about. They were all preparing themselves for what might happen. Cian was a force to be reckoned with. No one ever knew what to expect from him; not even Kean. A raid would certainly come as a surprise to him, but would he already have a counter attack ready? Would he be able to defeat the party? Would he be so taken aback they would have no trouble? Would they have to deal with Kry? These questions couldn’t be answered until they crossed the border. 

“How long until the border?” A man, Seachnall, breathed to another.

“Not long, now.” Aodhán replied.

“Lorcán, do you think we’ll be able to find any of them in the trees?” Seachnall asked to a different man.

“If we’re quiet enough and they don’t know we’re coming.” They all fell silent again. These men had seen many battles, many raids, and many deaths. However, they always knew that they could never truly know what to do until the time arrived. War was not something you could ever properly prepare for.

Aodhán had been correct. The border was coming up fast. The horses were quickly brought to a trot, making their hoofbeats infinitely more quiet. They looked into the deep, foreboding trees as the approached. The thickness of the trees was really the only way to tell Cian’s kingdom from Kean’s. The border had been a little river, but it had dried up. Kean had all the trees on his side moved further back from the border to prevent any dispute, while Cian’s continued to grow thick and tall. Though Oddr doubted that this was with war and raids in mind, it did come in handy for such things. The men couldn’t see more than a few gallops in front of them. They all came to a stop just before the line of trees.

“It’s too still.” Someone whispered “It’s not right.”

“There’s just no wind. You’re overthinking it.” Oddr quickly motioned to the men, then lead them quietly into the forest. The group was silent as the followed. The only thing to be heard was the leaves the horses scattered with each step they took. It was doubtful anyone would be close enough to hear that, though. The men made thier way through the trees, trying to keep as straight of a path as they could through the gnarled trunks and undergrowth. They would make a quick strike, then evacuate. It was just meant to cause chaos in Cian’s ranks. Just to weaken him before any real fighting began. In and out. They were all on high alert, ready to strike down anyone they came across.

They all jumped when they hear a swoosh through the air and a soft smack. There was a soft gasp and Oddr turned back to look at the men. Lorcán had a shocked expression on his face, along with an arrow. As Lorcán fell to the ground another arrow whizzed by, narrowly missing two other men. The party immediately spread out thin.

“Find me that archer,” Oddr growled.