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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 19:29:13 GMT -5
Cheeky she might be; but nor was she an fool. "Good to know you think I will win." Amused Viktor grinned at her words; not speaking of if her father killed him instead. She was thinking ahead; and he liked that. He had not cared what came of her or her mother after this. Her father had to die or any claim he made to Summer Land was just that; a claim. Nothing would be last; for he would turn to another kingdom or noble; raise an army and it was nothing but working and fighting for the rest of his life.
"Tis said your mother is a Mage; go live with her gypsy people. Find a husband. Raise little fat Mage babies; and thank whatever stars or animal they choose to adore that you never have to see me again." Though even as he said it; he was rethinking his plan. She was smart; seemed bold enough to be brave so far. Would she seek to claim her father's kingdom?
What did he do with her?
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 20:02:38 GMT -5
She didn't ask what would happen if her father won, because she knew what would happen in that eventuality. They would kill him and anyone foolish enough to fight for him, and she would be rescued and she'd go home with her father. The uncertainty was in if the thug king's plan worked out the way he wanted it to; then she didn't know what would happen to her. She didn't even know if he would tell her the truth, in fact, she doubted he would.
"You'll just...let me go?" She repeated, although she didn't believe it. She was the only heir of Summer Land. If he let her go, she knew nobles, royals, people with armies of their own. She had friends of her own who would help her take back her kingdom. She might be a woman, but that could work in her favor. She could agree to marry the Mountain King's son, unite half the land, and use that army to reclaim her kingdom. The people of Summer Land loved her; a number of them might support her over the Winter King. He had to have realized this; would he still let her live to do as she pleased so easily?
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 20:34:34 GMT -5
There went that plan. There would be no letting her go; he would have to make sure that her and her mother stayed tucked away somewhere so that he knew for sure that no trouble would come from her. "That had been the plan; but I should thank you for correcting it. I see now that you would would make a poor wife. You see; a good wife would know to let a man think he won; and have her own agenda working along side his; and keeping him pleased with her enough to make it happen her way."
"Clearly; you cannot be trusted." He took a few steps toward the desk and bent forward to rest his hands on the top; "You have left me with three choices; to kill you; to keep you locked away out of sight and out of mind where I know you will not get underfoot; or keep my enemies closer then my friends and forever at my side. Just tuck you into my bed." He was going to leave her here; with only trusted men who favored the hunting to guard her. Her mother could join her.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 20:49:07 GMT -5
Syren listened to him criticize her abilities as a wife; but he was making the very same mistake. He should've just told her that he would let her go, and then maybe she'd have some incentive to behave herself. But when her options were death, being locked in a cell, or becoming his wife --the thought that he might try to force her into his bed without marrying her didn't even occur to the young princess-- she didn't think that behaving herself was really in her best interest.
She wasn't going to make the same mistake again, she could thank him for pointing it out, but that would probably be counter-productive. "Those aren't exactly appealing options." She answered simply, taking another piece of bread and chewing it slowly. "So if I behave myself, I can remain your prisoner, 'comfortably,' for the rest of my life?" She repeated his offer, since he said he didn't want her stay to be uncomfortable, with the most palatable of the three options. Imprisonment had to be better than being his wife. Not that she intended to do either.
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 21:30:32 GMT -5
Viktor had not made the same mistake; he had just not given her the whole plan. He could tell by her question that she was not going to make her mistake a second time; and it was fine with him. The game could be more fun if she didn't give away all her moves. "If you behave yourself yes; you can live in comfort and style." Whatever a summer princess was used too; just without the power.
"Your mother too." He added on; standing back up again so he looked down at her. "For she will be joining you." Here. "Or; will be as long as you are behaving yourself. For if you do then; then you get the punishment for each others actions." That was the other part of his plan with her. Make her behave because she believed he hurt her mother. "So behave yourself; and your mother will remain comfortable and by your side as well." If she did not then he would send her mother else where; and let her wonder what was happening to her.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 21:45:47 GMT -5
Let him think that being comfortable and stylish was the most important thing to a Summer Princess; it would make him more likely to let his guard down. Syren wasn't interested in living out her life as a prisoner, nor did she intend to let the people of her kingdom suffer under his rule. Because if this was any indication of how he would rule... she would not condemn the people she loved to this.
"That's only assuming you win this war." She reminded him sharply when he spoke of bringing her mother to this frozen hell. Syren liked the idea of her mother being his prisoner even less than she liked the idea of having to be his prisoner; it gave her even more incentive to get away. "You shouldn't use threats that aren't relevant yet. Save it for when and if it matters." She told him, this was all hypothetical anyway. She didn't believe he'd win; she just had to plan in case he did.
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 22:39:09 GMT -5
"If I were you; Lady Summer; I would be worried a little more about when and a little less about if." Even his own army was hard pressed to fight long in this weather. They hunted yes; and were more used to it then any other army that would come but the weather was cold and the human body could only take so much. If they came; his men could wait them out in the warmth of the castle while her father's men slowly faded away in the cold.
"Until then; we return to our original plans. Your behavior will decide if you await your father here or in the fire-less cells underground." And he because he wanted to annoy the pretty little princess; "Unless you find it more comfortable in my bed."
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 19, 2013 23:54:22 GMT -5
She grimaced at him when he suggested she should worry about the 'when.' "We shall see." She answered impertinently, eating another bite of the plain bread. She might be used to much finer fare, but this would do to stave off her hunger. She was still not convinced that he would succeed, her father's army was vast, and he was a clever man. He would not simply try to storm the castle as the Winter King supposed; he would find a way to rescue her without getting himself killed in the process. She was sure of it.
She gave him a look of disgust when he suggested --not for the first time-- that she might join him in bed. He couldn't honestly believe that was going to happen, so he must be saying it just to make her squirm. How very common of him; once a peasant, always a peasant, it seemed. No matter how puffed up your ego was. "Will that be all?" She asked, tired of having to deal with his ego and his impudence, tired of listening to his threats and plots to end her and her family. She just wanted to be left alone.
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 21, 2013 23:47:08 GMT -5
Viktor grinned at her dismissal; hiding the annoyance he felt at her treating him; A KING; as if he was still the hired man a princess could dismiss at her whim. "Tired of my company already?" He asked; knowing the answer already; so he did not wait for her answer and continued on with how these next weeks would be for her. "While you are a guest in my home; you can go where you like. We have markets; and kitchens; and an armory very well stocked." Thanks to who the hell ever built this place; and prepared it for war. He had more armor and swords then he had men.
"However; you will remain with a guard at all times." To keep her in check. "For the safety of my people; and yourself. There are many here whom might enjoy having a princess around." Many of which her father had sent here to die; and would see a pretty little princess like her something they were owed for their trouble. Hell even he had the thought for a moment when he first looked at her; but Viktor had self control; where as some of these men were sent here for good reason. "Are able to understand what I suggest; or do I need to explain what would happen to a little girl when an angry man her father sent tot he ice to die; finds her in a darkened hall all alone?" He had no wish to see her harmed; nor even a grand wish to kill her father. He just wanted the land; and if he could do it without being the villain he would.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 22, 2013 0:50:12 GMT -5
"Is it so obvious?" She replied with a sigh when he asked if she was already tired of him. Of course she was. She listened indifferently as he explained all that his 'home' had to offer her during her stay, although she blinked when he mentioned the well-stocked armory. "...Are you suggesting I arm myself?" She asked, turning her head toward him curiously. Syren had no skill with weaponry, so there was little actual danger there, but the suggestion was certainly an odd one.
She managed to keep herself from smiling when he informed her she would be with a guard at all times; that was what she was supposed to do back home, too. She understood what he meant when he said his men might enjoy her presence; and she rolled her eyes when he offered to explain it. "That won't be necessary." She answered in what she hoped was a properly scathing tone, even though she had no intention of staying with his guards. If she could slip away from the men meant to protect her --which she was sure she could-- she was also certain she could get away from men who meant to hurt her. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 22, 2013 20:20:16 GMT -5
"No; well pity. If you require a demonstration I will be available. Until then; I will leave you to your meal." He had said his rules; and now would leave her locked in here alone without valuables; or extra clothing to sale or trade for freedom. Moving to where she had dumped her old dress; he took it and tossed it into the fire. "If you want more wood; knock on the door and the guard on the other side will get you whatever you want or need."
Until then; she was on her own here. "I will have someone come bring you down to the dinning hall in a few hours for a real meal. We dine in formal wear." He said with a grin; knowing her idea of formal and their idea of mockingly formal were far from the same. "Until then; enjoy your day Lady Summer." It was a name he hoped annoyed her; for she was no princess here. Walking over to the door he knocked on it firmly and it unlocked from the outside allowing him to exit and re-lock it.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 22, 2013 23:33:18 GMT -5
She made a face at his lewd suggestion, even though it was hardly the first time. She hoped this wasn't an indication of what she'd have to look forward to over the next few days, and sighed as she realized it probably was. At least he was leaving now, she could finish eating without him lurking about, staring at her indecently. She didn't turn towards him until she heard the rustle of tulle, and then a mournful look crossed her face, just for a moment, while he tossed her dress into the fire, watching the fire crackle and swell as it consumed the delicate layers of fabric and thread.
And now he was inviting her to dinner? She looked back at the pitiful meal of bread he had given her, and took another bite of bread. She didn't watch him leave or say anything to his farewell, letting her silence speak to what she thought of him. After he left, she continued to eat numbly, slowing chewing and swallowing, until she found her breath hitching in her throat, eyes stinging with tears. The weight of her situation pressed down on her, and now that she didn't need to be strong for anyone else's benefit, she let the emotions wash over her. It didn't take long before she was sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face miserably.
Leaving most of the bread untouched, she returned to the bed, slipping off her boots. She was cold, despite the fire, and after a moment's consideration, she picked up the cup she'd left on the nightstand, and choked the remainder down. It burned in her throat and her belly, and she supposed that was the idea, before she curled up under the layers of fur and blankets and cried herself to sleep, the alcohol clouding her mind and making sleep come easier. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 23, 2013 18:58:16 GMT -5
Viktor went about his day; as if nothing was different; though his mind was very much on the little princess that was in the towers. So far his plan was working; and now all he had to do was wait for the king to come and claim her. She wasn't what he thought a spoiled princess would be like; but then he had never met a princess. What did he know.
Nearing the dinning hall he sent an stout older woman to go and bring the girl down. She would dine beside him tonight; surrounded by his men. Viktor didn't care if she refused; tonight everyone's moods were high because they had managed to steal a princess; and soon they would be free of the bloody ice and damned dragons.
The dragons did not often come this far south of the mountains; but the hunting was better up there. If you dared to risk the danger the game you could bring home would feed more. That was were Artemis came in. Viktor had trained her to give warning.
The bird rested on his arm now; and would often spend this time on the perched behind his chair; as he slipped her bits of meat.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 23, 2013 22:10:51 GMT -5
The older woman grumbled to herself as she mounted the steps to the tower where the King had stashed his pretty little prize, huffing and puffing as she reached the room and gruffly order the guard to let her through. She didn't knock before she entered, unafraid of catching the princess in any state of undress; she might be a princess, but she didn't have anything the woman hadn't seen before. And yet, the princess did manage to startle the stout old woman, as she peered around the room and did not see her anywhere.
Once she'd confirmed that the Summer Land girl was no where to be found, she yelled at the guard, who seemed quite flabbergasted as to where she might have gone, before he obeyed the older woman's orders and began searching for her. Twisting the hem of her apron in her hands, she descended the stairs herself to return to the dining room, where she dreaded having to tell the king that the princess he'd gone to so much trouble to get... was gone.
Syren had woken up a little over an hour before, and feeling quite awake and bored in her chilly room, her rebellious side had taken over and she'd put her years of experience escaping from under the eyes of her watchful attendants to use, and she'd slipped out of her room unnoticed to explore --and possibly escape?-- the Winter castle. She poked around the upper levels curiously, ducking back behind corners to dodge anyone who might get her into trouble.
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 25, 2013 21:53:37 GMT -5
Viktor was feeding Artemis a bit of meat; when one of the women who had lived in this frozen hell her whole live came in and told him that 'she had gone'. It took a few questions to drag out the rest of the details from her; but he gathered that the idiot guard had not noticed a human sized anything leaving the chambers.
The fortress was huge; and even now with all the men and women living in it rather then in homes; they did not fill the half of it. She could be anywhere. Anything could happen to her. Shaking his head slowly; his good mood didn't fall. He's warned her. Let her see he was not jesting. He looked to one of the men he had claimed to be a knight. "Tell the men on the wall to watch for her; make sure she does not leave. Send a few groups out to search for her in the lower floor and unused sections."
"If she is not found by the end of supper; send her to her chambers and feed her nothing. If she will not dine with the family; she will not dine at all." No one was to feed her. She would get hungry eventually. As for the man who let her escape; he gave the order that he would head the search personally; and any harm that befell on the princess would be repaid to the guard as well.
He also told them that if they found her; they had his permission to frighten her. Not harm; but give her a reason to be wary of the dark halls.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 0:01:33 GMT -5
They must be looking for her, she reasoned, judging by the sudden appearance of actual patrols moving around the castle hurriedly, while she pressed her slight body behind statues, leaned around corners, and hid in the shadows as they rushed by. It was clear they weren't exactly used to this game of hide and seek, nor of watching out for something smaller than a bear. She supposed they didn't often have to worry about intruders in the castle, nor keeping prisoners where they ought to be.
She was just musing over how long she could keep up this game of cat and mouse as she searched for a way out, when she caught the eye of one of the guards, and she knew the game was up. If she ran she couldn't reason that she'd just been looking around and had lost track of time. He yelled for the others, and she put on her best sweet and innocent face, and walked right up to the man whose eyes she'd met, looking confused and relieved. "Oh, thank goodness... I was lost."
A few teary flutters of her eyelashes and one well-practiced pout later, the men seemed to have completely forgotten their directive to frighten the already distressed girl. They escorted her to the dining room where the king was already eating, tears still wet in her eyes in case she had to show him just how 'sorry' she was.
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 19:05:16 GMT -5
Viktor had his legs propped up on the table; with Artemis perched on his knee. It both hurt like hell was was fun to watch as he fed his favored pet. Looking up when the doors opened; he used his padded forearm to lift the bird back to it's stand beside his chair and rise to his feet. 'She was lost.' the guard explained; the very one who had lost her. "Go dine with the children." Viktor told him; "When you learn to do the job of men; you can dine with the men." There was a long pause; as the man decided if he would follow orders; but then he turned and left without another word.
Viktor's power here was still new; and it was the he and the men close to him that kept everyone in check; both by his plans to free them from the ice; and by fear of the followers he had gained. In the world of criminals; he had learned to deal with them swiftly and with things other then real punishment. Such as dining with the children rather then forcing them to go outside. Looking toward the princess he questioned her; his tone less harsh but still not soft. "You got lost? You looked as if it scared you."
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 19:52:30 GMT -5
Playing the innocent lost princess would probably get her out of trouble, even if defying him might be more fun. She wasn't sure how serious he was, with all his threats to lock her up, so she'd have to keep pushing boundaries to find out. Not now, though. Men were least forgiving when you tested them in front of other men, made them look the fool. "I remembered what you said," she answered quietly, blinking back her tears but still looking carefully distraught.
She looked around at the other men gathered there slowly, but her attention caught on the large bird of prey perched behind his chair. Curious, she reached out with her mind to see what the creature thought of her master, if she thought him a cruel man, if she obeyed him out of fear. What she found instead startled her, and when she lowered her gaze back to his eyes, she found herself wondering at her first impression of the man. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 20:42:15 GMT -5
She remembered what he said. "Good; lets hope next time you heed my words." He didn't sound sorry; but nor did he sound angry. Moving to sit back in his chair; and gestured to the one not far from him. The table was long and rectangle shaped with him sitting at the head. It meant no one sat beside him; but her chair to his right would keep her close enough. "Sit; eat." Had she been defiant; he might have put her in the cells; if only for a few hours to prove a point.
However her tears; and reaction had eased that into just settling for letting whatever the men had done to her; to be her lesson. When he sat Artemis flew the few feet to come rest on the arm of the chair; clearing wanting more food. Reaching from the near by plate he held up one of the scraps and then stroked her feathers while watching the princess. To him; the bird was a sign of his power. While he favored the animal above most men; he knew there was no loyalty there. "Next time you seek to explain; you will take guard with you. Are we understood?"
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 26, 2013 21:38:04 GMT -5
His reaction surprised her. No yelling, no threats, just a few words and a wave of his hand to join him for supper. After a few second's hesitation, she took his invitation and moved to the seat adjacent to him as he indicated. Looking at the food, she wondered for a moment if it was poisoned, but then she decided she was hungry enough to risk it. There were easier ways to kill her if he were so inclined. She started eating, watching how he interacted with the bird, and listening to how the bird preened in his presence. It was oddly heartwarming.
She met his gaze when he warned her to take a guard with her the next time she decided to explore, and since she was playing the meek, repentant princess, she nodded quickly, her eyes all innocence as she looked at him. She had no intention of actually doing as she was told, but she had a feeling it would get much more difficult to escape if she were locked in a cell. "Yes my lord," she answered sweetly, figuring that for a man who had declared himself king, being called a lord would win him over. [/color]
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