Union

[Lovely]

November 27, 2009
1am
Devhano Palace
follows: The Offering and Missed


After meeting with Tasa and Gregor in the forest and the initial misunderstanding of the seeming compromised position he and Azure were found in, they all returned to Devhano. Markas 'allowed' himself to be taken prisoner as it was the only way to keep them all together. With gregor badly wounded, Tasa was off to tend him, possibly turn him if it's what he wished to keep him with her.. may even if he didn't.. The Devhano King was feeling oddly compassionate, and allowed Markas an audience with him after seeing the way young Azure reacted to any suggestion of a dire outcome for the Onmadian Prince. The king asked of Markas' intent with the beautiful princess, of how he feels about the wars.. peace.. and then offered him three choices: life as a prisoner there, death, or life with a beautiful young girl. Azure was meant to be an offering of peace.. perhaps that arrangement might be altered.. and the offering changed, Markas could accept her if he so wished.

"Assuming that I am permitted to speak freely, your grace," Markas rose slowly to stand as much as he was permitted, his palms offered openly, free of weapons and empty of any threat. His gaze did not raise to meet that of the king unless bidden, but there was no mistaking that his eyes held the cold determination of his position as a chosen soldier for army of this man's enemy. "It is my father your quarrel remains with. I am loyal to my people, I am not so loyal to their crown, not when that crown is filled with madness." He turned to the faces that twisted with smiles and confusion as they heard his words in disbelief. "It is no secret, your majesty. Do not, however, believe that I betray my king with my honesty. Instead I offer this. It is union you seek to find peace between our lands is it not? You offer your fairest daughter, your greatest sacrifice with that hope?"

The room had been mostly emptied, though some remained to bear witness to this.. his young daughter sent away to pace the floor of her rooms and await news of her and this prince's fate. The king, though ill still had a formidable but compassionate pressence. He leaned heavily on his cane as he regarded the prince. "I would lose respect for you if you would so easily betray your king or your people. That is not my wish.. my wish is for peace.. and yes my intent was to offer a union with my daughter."

Markas nodded his understanding. "But to the now-king of Onmadia... a sick and dying man," he said gently. Though he hated what had become of Alos, the man still held some measure of respect in his heart, the eternal thanks for his continued life he couldn't deny. "What becomes of such a queen when a king whose crown is tipped so far from reason loses his life before his own heart stops beating, your grace? What future do you choose for your daughter, a princess of your kingdom? I offer you instead, an eternal son of Onmadia.." He bowed gently, awaiting the king's reply and review.

His head bowed and his voice was low, speaking the truth of what he'd 'sealed' his precious daughter to. "Then she is at the mercy of those who would succeed that king.. her life would most likely end moments after his. It was not the best of fates, but a duty and sacrafice for her kingdom and people.. the greater good." He seemed to be trying to convince himself as he spoke softly. "Would you take the place of that ill king? Would you claim the princess as yours and unite one small fraction of our houses? You offer me an eternal prince.. would you honor and protect her for all of that long life?"

His eyes rose slowly to meet the man, his answer as strong in his silent resolve as any words he could speak. In her rooms in the palace, Azure would no doubt feel her veins quake and rush with the heat of his admission to her father. "I would, sire."

The weary king nodded feeling his spirit lift for the first time in Months since he'd first considered this offer. "So it is agreed so it shall be. You shall be given every respect and priviledge our kingdom offers for the time you remain. You are our guest, soon to be family. So you have given your bond, you shall be bonded to Azure."

[Lovely]

"Might I speak further, your majesty? There is something I would know before it is done."

The king nodded. "Please.. speak." He motioned the man to be as open as he wished to be.

"As my queen, she would belong to Onmadia as is your intent in this union, but would it not also be said that as wed to your daughter, you gain a son to Devhano? It is not as rhetorical as you might believe and I do not jest in my query. Does not a son of Devhano hold a place of confidence to your majesty?"

"You are correct.. she would be your queen.. belonging as much to Onmadia as she now does to Devhano and I could only hope for the same in your heart. It would be the first and much needed step towards a lasting peace."

"As a son of Devhano, would you respect his concerns and doubts as your own, your grace?"

The aging man sighed but a slight grin showed as his head nodded. "I would.. respect you as much as I would any other of this house and as much as you earn beyond that given grace. There are those of my own who do not hold much beyond the given. I will give you no less respect than you deserve."

"Therein lies the problem, I suppose," he muttered, searching for a means to ask about his concern. What was to be done about the lord in the very halls he would now inhabit and how to ensure Azure's safety without shaming her or bringing further harm on her from Agosti with his exposure. And what of her brothers with an Onmadian charge in their midst? "Of course, your grace," he smiled softly, a crooked tooth appearing enough to be known as he nodded. "I would ask no more and appreciate your generosity of no less."

"Then it appears we understand each other.. Do we have an accord? We have a cleric within our walls this eve.. if you are true then by the morning moonrise you shall be a son of Devhano and Azure's fate shall be settled and bound with yours."

"It is agreed, your grace. Might I see her... a few moments, please. There are no tricks, I assure you. It is her health... something I have that she requires."

His eyes narrowed slightly, not in mistrust but in worry for his beautiful daughter. "Her health? Should I be concerned?"

"Not yet, but yes if I am not permitted. She paces her room this very moment with worry for the future of your kingdom sire. I believe it would allow her to rest and ease the strain on her heart and mind to know of her fate.. and best that I deliver that news... if she is to be a queen of Ohnmadia as well... do you not agree that message is delicate enough that I should be that messenger?"

His fingers gripped his cane, he did not answer quickly, but thought the matter over for a few moments. He finally nodded again, having decided and agreed. "Yes, I do suppose that would be best. I shall call for the cleric and send someone to fetch you both when we are ready." His eyes, wise and aged, swept over the prince, the king could tell there was already a deeper connection forming between his daughter and this man, for him to know how she paced and surely fretted. He hoped that this was to her benefit and would not prove to be to her disadvantage, he could only pray he was making the right choice and let her go..

"At your discretion, m'lord." Markas bowed and remained quiet. He felt he could take in a full pipe of the cleric's finest and still not have his nerves settle. Something was out of place beyond her father's illness. It was all too simple. And what of the man's own queen, their sons, Tasian... Agosti... ? Was that it? His guard was not let down yet. Perhaps most or all laid waiting in the hall to remove his head at her father's choice rather than bloody his own hand. He couldn't be sure, but the man did agree to allow him audience with Azure at least one remaining time. He would wait. Agosti would as well.

He motioned to the servant and commanded the timid waif to show the prince to Azure's chambers. His attention turned again to Markas before he was shown out, casting a glance which could be deemed as approval over the man and nodding in parting. "See that you both are prepared.. I shall send for you shortly."

[Lovely]

Markas turned with a dozen more questions pooling in his expression that would remain silent for now. His gaze narrowed slightly, though with no disrespect. He focused on the man and the room around him finding him to appear so seemingly alone in the room. Devhano was a creature entirely unlike his father, with patience and compassion that the Mighty Alos of Onmadia would never understand, he was sure of it. The soldier within him, the enemy of this man's people, pulled him straight with shallow pride. He hoped he would not lead his own people astray. A silent nod met the king before he turned and strode away with the servant who led him to Azure's rooms.

In her rooms the girl paced, worried, frantic.. Markas and her father together, she'd been sent away and worried for Tasa.. unaware of how Gregor was doing and what his fate might be. She heard the door latch and spun, shifting the few steps to the small table, her hand going to the dagger there, at the ready should it be unwelcomed company.

He expected that the servant would be required to report any inappropriate trespass and offered the frail guide the opportunity to enter the room first or beside him, but he wouldn't wait long for her to decide. The door swung further under his hand and he waited the moment to be recognized, more than aware she'd have reason to protect herself against any other intruder. "Your father has granted me a few moments, m'lady. May I come in?"

The blade dropped from her fingers and the words "Yes.. of course." had barely left her lips before she flew at him. She met him just beyond the door -'crashing' into him like he was her long time beau returned to her. Her arms wrapping around him in a tender embrace. "Markas!" His name was exclaimed in excited delight as she found herself relieved of the worry that her father had taken his head or cast him out.

"As you live and breathe," he teased her quietly, returning the embrace to settle her fears further. "I do not know how much time I am afforded, but I'm certain it is not long. There.. .is something I must give you before tomorrow."

"Not long.. why? What has father said? Are you to be sent away.. am I?" Her voice rose a slight pitch, her fingers curling into the shoulder of his garment. Her eye searched his face worried and afraid of what was to come for the two of them.

"Blast my tongue and riddles," he cursed, biting the very tongue that got the better of him, causing it to bleed a little as his sharp tooth caught. "No, to either, and quite the opposite as you are being delivered to me and I to you in the name of peace for our fathers and our people. I say only a short while because we are to rest and I am to be tested, but come the morning moon...," he paused, letting her figure the rest as he let the crimson pool and paint the corner of his lip. She would need his strength come morning, and moreso if the cleric's decision went against them.

"Delivered to you.." She echoed his words softly, her eyes widening as she shifted a step back, though still in his embrace and searched his eyes. "The cleric.. oh my.. He gave his approval.. agreed?" She smiled softly, some relief in that knowledge, though she was aware that their struggle would not simply end with her father's blessing. The look she cast at the servant had them scurrying from the room and the door closing with a gentle thud behind. "Markas.." She whispered softly, full of questions and too many things she wanted to say for any of them to really come out. As if called by the crimson that caught her eye at the corner of his mouth, her kiss took his lips suddenly. Her tongue darting to softly clean away the drops that painted his lip.

[Lovely]

Markas encouraged her to take that drop and more, his concern that she might weaken, not hear him, or worse, that he would not be able to hear her come morning if the connection this small binding afforded him paled and faded. He could and would turn her to be an eternal princess, an eternal queen at his side, but there were still too many marks to heal on her first. Surely Agosti would know the instant of seeing her what Markas had done, but would the cleric as well? 'If you are true' was the kings concern... would it be wrong for him to discover how true he'd already become? "Did it work?" He smiled gently, only half asking the question of his doctoring her worry.

Azure chuckled softly and curled around him a little more. "Maybe.." She rested her head against his chest, wondering briefly how long they would have together before he was sent for. "This.. is helping.. come, sit with me while we wait.." A wave of her arm offered him the choice of couch, chairs, bed, floor.. wherever he would like within her chambers.

In the short time they had, his concentration was on clearing the marks he could manage and strengthening his voice within her. Damn Agosti to the fifth moon and further for his crimes, he thought. "Princess - look in my eyes now and tell me... what do you see within them?" In the dim of her room she would not have been able to see it before, but with his blood fresh and warm in her veins, his own feelings, his vision of the world in front of him would be shared along with his strengths and fears of seeing it. If only the effect would last long enough.

She did as he asked searching his eyes and finding the unexpected there. She trembled slightly not knowing what to make of what she saw, her head shook but she couldn't pull her gaze away from his. "I don' know.. it's.. I could not explain this.."

His eyes closed out the outer world, shuttering to what should be darkness, but she might still feel and know what lay in his vision, bright and stark as he focused on small, intense thoughts and moments. ~One heart beats for two vessels, Azure. You are close to death, walking beside it, becoming it, embracing it. It is your life and I hold it here. Do you understand?~

Her lips parted to speak, Agosi had been in her head before -uninvited.. invading and hurtful. This was not like that and she'd never tried to respond to Agosti within her mind. Azure licked her lips softly, her eyes closing to feel and see what Markas tried to show her. ~I believe I do..~

~I can do no more until the cleric blesses us. To continue, I would condemn you and your heart would break. There is only one creature I am bent on making endure such rupture and torment and he is here in these walls.~ She would share the unbridled leap of rage against the rogue prince of Devhano for the moment before he reined it in again.

She reached to grip at the edge of the bed, her knees buckling with the wave of rage that rippled through her before he reined it in. Her gasp was soft and her eyes fluttered open, her head nodding, she was slightly breathless. Her gaze lifted slowly to him. "Why did you show me this?"

"The power of a real life of royalty, princess, not the sheltering walls you've been kept within. It is danger, hate and cruelty as much as it is gentleness, compassion and honor. You possess all of these qualities and need to recognize them for what they are - and use them to best advantage. I am sorry for my anger. It will end soon enough."

"You think that I am not ready for this? That I have not experienced any of these things in my place? I was not born gifted as some of my siblings.. I am the youngest of my father's princesses.. but I have not been so protected or sheltered not to have felt the touch of cruelty."

[Lovely]

Markas chuckled, though not to tease her. It was sadly agreement that he understood. "Not the cruelty of others. The cruelty within you to bestow on others - when to decide that mercy is not earned or warranted. As I said, you possess all of these qualities. Each of them deserving of admiration in their abundance," he nodded regally, acknowledging her strengths that he himself had admired since their first meeting.

She smiled a little, looking up at him. "I showed you mercy.. didn't I?" She reminded him of her coming upon him with her daggers and sword.. though she knew he would have won that fight, unless she'd gotten lucky.

"What I was given as a gift then, I hope I have now earned," he grinned softly, pulling her closer to him. He was a little weakened from his gifts to her, but recouperating quickly as they rested.

"Much more than mercy.." She whispered, leting him pull her closer and following gently to rest against him. Her fingers brushed his cheek and she tilted her chin slightly. "Everything I am is yours."

"No, not everything, yet. Very soon, that will change. May the cleric bless us and make it so. It should nearly be time."

She'd seen him in the stars but had never known his face before tonight, she hoped to know it every night from now until eternity. She didn't argue though a piece of her wanted to insist that she was his. "Very well.. is there anything more that you need or desire before they come?"

"Only one answer," he offered after some consideration. He turned a strange smile toward her. "Would you have really tried to kill me?"

She chuckled softly and nodded her head. "I had every intention of doing so.. until I found out it was you."

His smile widened at her laugh and his arms folded under the shrug. "I would have thought that more reason to try to kill me right then. Were you expecting to find me, then?"

"I was not expecting to.. but I'm glad that I found you." Her own smile held a strange knowing sparkle as her eyes washed over him gently. "Do you believe that sometimes our dreams show us things that are to come?"

"I must," he nodded. "It is the only belief I have that has shown me its truth. I live and would die by that belief. It has shown me your majesty .. even before she knew her place in this world." Though she'd only known him or of him a short while, his time beneath the moons had shown him this daughter of Devhano since the day she was new.

Her smile was soft, her eyes holding a wonder as she gazed at him. "Then you do not think I am crazy for feeling like this. As if I have somehow always felt you near me.. it is why I trusted you in the clearing and lowered my guard."