A talk with the Paladin King

~After his meeting with Amarra, Jared held huge concern for Amarra's welfare and the way she was acting. In his mind, it simply wasn't normal. Walking down the corridors he dwelled on this with much pain, until he was finally out into the courtyard where upon he hoped to find Jaric himself~

{{ Jaric stands in the courtyard, clad in full plate save for his helmet. In his hand is a common steel blade, barely discernable as it moves in and out among the sheilds and swords of a half dozen Dragon Knights. His own sheild catching their blows as easily as a child catches a ball. His face is locked in its perpeually blank state as if he were sitting in a shop listening to a woman prattle on about a dress rather than sparring with some of the best trained troops in the known realm.}}

~Jared stood patiently to the side, watching the Dark King with nothing short of admiration and awe. There had always been talk of Jaric's skill, but to see it was an entirely different matter. Crossing his arms and leaning against a post, it would be some time whilst he waited patiently for the practice to end. Then, as he approached, he smiled. ~

"Excellent form, Uncle"

~It was a bold move, and too late to take anything back, so he stared up at the steel knight and continued, forcing his will power not to buckle.~

"I understand you're busy, yet this is important so please forgive me. My Lord, I am concerned for Amarra. She is not well..I have talked with her and talked with her, and I am beginning to think she has gone quite mad. She babbles, she's paranoid and scared. She doesn't belong here, this is not good for her. I respect you do not wish for anyone to leave, so all I can do is request the attention of a physician who knows of the mind. I don't know whats wrong with her anymore, I'm beginning to dispair."

{{ makes no overt show of any reaction to Jared's manner of adressing him, he waves off the Knights and sheaths his swortd, turning to Jared.}}

The Lady suffers from no small amount of paranoia and delusional dreams that have recently endangerred both our peoples. If you truly wish I can send someone to her this evening for evaluation, perhaps something can be done. If it is proven that her time here has caused the imbalance then I will have her removed to another locale until she has been deemed stable.

*The Queen herself and her entourage appeared out into the open of the corridors, trailing Amarra behind her. As she continued to walk slowly with her hands clasped infront of her Angels' sharp eyes cast about, but Jaric was hardly difficult to find due to his 6"6' tall frame.

She noted Jared standing beside him and inwardly sighed at the inconvience of it. Regardless, this matter had to be dealt with.*

"Husband, I understand you have much to do this day, but if this matter is not resolved in a timely fashion then I'll be quite upset."

*She hated pestering him during his training, especially with something such as this. She stepped forward away from everyone else to talk to him on one side. There, standing next to him she looked small in comparisson, yet her eyes and tone were unwavering.*

"A judgement must be made on the fate of the Aegis nobles. They are wondering about my halls lost and confused. If they are to be punished, such needs to be made and conducted. I've never known you to be indecisive, whats the meaning of all this?"

~follows the queen closely until she sees the king. She curtsies deeply with a bowed head, then rises and moves to Jared's side when Angel and the king start to talk. She speaks softly to Jared, keeping one eye on Angel and Jaric~

I went to find the King and found Queen Angel instead. I told her... I told her I wanted to accept the marriage. That is, if you still... want to be married to me. I don't know what will happen after, and I'm still afraid, but it was what we wanted, even if it's not how we wanted it to happen.

~takes a deep breath and turns all her attention to him~

If you'll have me, I'd be honored to be your wife.

I have just been discussing the matter with Prince Jared of Aegis. He has brought concersn to me of the lady's failing mental health, indicating that she has become delusional with a fear of my brother coming to kill her. I can not in good conscience turn her out now without her being properly treated, unless of course the prince still wishes to assert his claim to her as his wife adn asks to leave the realm. Then there will remain only the matter of her wanton endangerment of my realm.

As for punishment, her indiscretiopn carries a penalty of death, shoiuld she wish to deny her mental infirmity then I will opf course have no choice but to procede as you wish and execute her punishment in a swift and judiscious manner.

{{ drops his hand to the hilt of the sword at his side, the cold steel blade dulled by the recent sparring with the Knights.}}

"Jared's claims are unfounded. He is just as confused as she is. During her time here Lady Amarra has been keeping close company with me, and although she had expressed concern with your brother and his wife, she has not presented any signs of madness in the least. How typical of Jared to assume as such. She is, however, very naive and uneducated in the ways of the Auroran religious practices and politics in general. Whilst she made a grave mistake, the only person eternally paying for it is Amarra, and she accepts full responsibility. Believe it or not Jaric, she has been loyal to our lands despite not knowing much about us. It was ignorance, 'tis all. She swore loyalty to you, and I like to think it was sincere."

*Angel remained poised, watching Jaric carefully.*

"Perhaps mercy is in order on this occassion?"

*It simply unsettled her on how easy it was for him to reach for Angelfire. Such a weapon held a high power that could never be used so lightly*

~He stepped back with a flourished bow as Angel arrived, and then turned to Amarra as she addressed him. Occassionally his eyes averting across back to Jaric and Angel as they speak.~

"I wanted to hear you say that, but why you couldn't do it when we were talking alone earlier I do not know. Honestly Amarra, the whole thing has been very confusing..."

~Placing his hands in his pockets he shrugged, but his tone was serious.~

"In my mind, we are already married. I didn't need the ceremony, or any of the pomp. It was just the legalities of it all. Really, Vladamir is to blame for this mess, but its too late now. I just came to get you because I wanted you home with me, I won't force you though, especially since you have been so afraid of..something.."

~Pausing for a brief second, his grin wide.~

"Of course I'll accept you as my wife, I already had, but I'd be honored to do so again."

~glances back at Angel and Jaric with a concerned frown, not sure she's comforted by their apparent posture, before speaking softly to Jared again~

I needed to think. You left before I could gather my thoughts. Jared, if we... if we're allowed to leave, whenever that is, I want you to come somewhere with me. I want you to see where I came from. Not the city itself, I was exiled, but I could take you close enough. I think if you could see that, you might understand me a little better, why I think the way I do, and then you could help me understand you, too. It would only be a few days. As long as no one there sees us, anyway.

{{ His tone is cold and flat}}

Wonderful, you both accept the judgement of your King. Now, there is the matter of her crimes against my realm. As I said, I am more than willing to allow you to take her into your custody Prince, provided she never utters another word to our gods, nor enters my lands, without a proper escort or invitation.

{{ ML Angel: " I have offerred mercy, and the boy refused to let me execute her, so I am afradi he has brought the sufferring on himself"}}

~drops quickly to her knees as the king speaks, not having realized he'd been listening. She squeezes her eyes closed and bows her head, her body trembling with the effort of holding back tears at his words. Part of her wants to speak and beg his forgiveness, but she holds her tongue, fearing to make things any worse yet again~

~He had been keeping his head low, but once adressed, he stood up. Jaric was all too imposing, but Jared maintained himself formally in posture. Hardly daring to breathe or think, he simply answered.~

"I can only offer an appology for the inconviences already caused, Your Highness, and I shall take my wife Lady Amarra, also Duke Ralean, and leave your lands prompty. If we could have food and supplies that will aid us to the boarder, it would be appreciated. "

{{ nods, motioning two men forward}}

We will have a carriage made up and prepared for your journey, the Thunderlands are no place for a lady to ride uncoverred. An escort will take you as far as the Grorr pass.

I am certain that your wife will think carefully when next she wishes to offer prayers to foreign gods she does not understand, lest her fate be worse than the nightly visions.

"I can't thank you enough, Your Highness."

~Once again, he took to a sweeping bow and began to back away, eager to get started and just leave.~

~rises from her knees, drops another quick curtsy, and follows Jared without a word~

((New thread already started))