Post by Liliana Daysworn on Jan 12, 2014 11:29:36 GMT -5
Liliana could not help but snicker, a rather unladylike sound but it was genuine. Sir Stonewatch was an amusing man, expressive and light-hearted. A refreshing change from the ones who preferred to woo her during dance and song whilst attempting to put their hands where they shouldn't be. Still, she supposed it was because he was a knight and, well, knights weren't really noblemen. "My lips are sealed," she replied, though she could not help but look to see who had been staring. Quite obviously, in fact, as those that were quickly turned away.
When the music slowly dwindled away and the expected applause from the crowd came, she curtsied politely as the knight bowed. Liliana was beginning to see why Tianna may have fancied this man, but she highly doubted her sister knew of his nature before actually knowing him. She shook herself free of such thoughts however as another song was introduced and Sir Stonewatch looked at her in expectation. Liliana didn't mind. "Of course," she said, this time extending her hand properly, ""It would be my pleasure, dear knight."
The notes were slow and drawn out, emphasizing the smooth velvet of the oncoming night. From the corner of her eye, she could feel her sister's gaze on her and for a moment, Liliana considered snatching her hand away. But as quickly as the feeling came, it was gone. If she wanted to dance with this man, then she should be able to. Another smile was offered to Sir Stonewatch, "Perhaps you will know this one a little better?" Small steps and gentle movements, that's all it was.
Tianna breathed out an inaudible sigh of relief as the Prince accepted her suggestion with what seemed like his own brand of mollification. The awkwardness that permeated the air previously was beginning to dissipate as she followed Prince Jarvan towards the ring of people. This time the crowd parted like smooth butter, giving ample room for the pair to pass through. No doubt this would be gossiped about later, but Tianna's eyes had caught her younger sister and the knight together.
Before she could do something silly like gnash her teeth in silent jealousy, Tianna quickly turned to face the Prince. As if he could read her thoughts, she smiled brightly to desist any suspicion that may arise. Surely she hadn't made it too obvious, though her father definitely had that thought pass. And speaking of Lord Daysworn, she was too frightened to turn and scan the crowd for him, knowing that he would be there whether she did or didn't.
The song was a slow one to contrast the fast-paced waltz of the previous dance. Perfect, Tianna thought to herself. Though the Prince was taller than her by a fair amount, she moved closer anyway. She allowed a little blush to grace her face as she looked up at him. "Please excuse me," she murmured. Even if the Prince had accepted her company, he was still the King's son.
Post by Exemplar of Demacia on Jan 12, 2014 22:22:31 GMT -5
Her laughter put him at ease, and he suppressed a wild grin. He was clapping along with the crowd when the dance ended. An officer flashed him a stern look, reminding him to bow deeply to his dance partner.
"I think I can manage it."
Eric led her by the hand toward where the dancers were gathering. His head bobbed as noble eyes caught his own. It was easy to feel out of place, but with a grace earned through years of practice he took no notice of the few condescending looks. They found their place in the line between a smiling Marquis couple and a Captain looking aggravated at his wife to have been coerced onto the floor. He noticed The Prince standing with Tianna, but said nothing. Tianna was certainly the kind of beauty reserved for high halls and pleasant dreams. Jarvan IV deserves someone like her, that was his first thought at seeing them together. His eyes lingered for only a moment, so he was caught off guard when she turned and looked back at him. It was only a look through the crowd, but something in the light and the distance made her seem greater than before. He looked away uncomfortable.
The string ensemble reached their warning pause, saying with silence that the dance was about to begin in earnest. They started the dance together as the song called Eric's attention back to his partner's striking family resemblance.
Dancing is a chore. That would have been the Jarvan's response if one of his friends had asked him why he seldom did. The truth of it was the pressure it put on him and on any woman he danced with. Eyes, words, and then there were was the not-so-subtle assembly of female attention every time he did. It was uncomfortable and embarrassing even for him when a line formed of those looking to ask him for a dance, so he had grown tired of obliging them, and then tired of turning them away.
The familiar faces, their veiled remarks towards his future, it grew intolerable. Yet, here was a woman who seemed happy in his company, but still somehow distant. She wasn't enamored by his presence, and it was refreshing. No doubt many would be surprised, and maybe his avoidance only aggravated the problem, but he was too busy to notice. He watched Tianna look around the room, saw her expression go dark at some unspoken thought. What it nervousness? disappointment? He had a sense of self consciousness that felt out of place. What did she think of him?
When the she turned to him just as the dance was starting, he was puzzled again. She stood so close to him that he was almost looking over the top of her head. He didn't reply to her apology, in fact he was happy. Something told him the feeling wouldn't last long, and they danced slow and close.
Post by Liliana Daysworn on Jan 14, 2014 3:43:34 GMT -5
Tianna admitted that it was nice to dance with the Prince, but she couldn't help but wonder how the knight felt. She had always felt drawn to men like him, where the knight got the princess instead of the royal son. The warmth she felt was not Prince Jarvan's, and the thrum of his heart did not beat with hers.
She was a hopeless romantic and she knew it. Tianna craved something more, but she was careful to never let it show. She closed her eyes and breathed in quietly, letting the music flow through her and allowing her body to move in tune. But all she could see in her quaint darkness was that smile and her sister's hands all over the face that smile was on.
Blessedly unaware of Tianna's inner musing, Liliana was more than happy to laugh during the slow dance, despite the mood and the glares of the couples all around her. She pressed her lips together and managed to draw forth a sheepish expression right before allowing a smile to slip out when they went right back to nuzzling their faces into their spouse's neck or head.
"Tianna's pretty, right?" She said suddenly, whispering. Liliana hadn't seen Sir Stonewatch's glance towards her older sister, oh no. She was anxious to know the man's opinion. He was the Prince's friend, after all and who would know better than a close companion? She leaned forward, "Do you think he'll like her?" She knew that the way she was acting was completely unladylike but she couldn't help it. Liliana was under the firm impression that she had some leeway when it came to acting proper. All eyes were on the Prince and his current partner.
When the song came to a close, Tianna broke away from the Prince, careful to do it slowly and with a hint of sorrow. She looked up at him and smiled, "Thank you," she said. All the couples were wandering off to make way for new ones, and Tianna looked around. One could assume that she was looking to see if any women were lining up for the Prince's hand.
She spotted Liliana and the knight as a particularly large man moved out of the way. Tianna's eyes lit up, "This way," she said, taking the Prince's hand and moving almost excitedly. She was careful not to drag the Prince too fast (as if she could) and gave just enough room for him to pull his hand away. Once they were within earshot of the other two, she beckoned her sister forth, praying that her father was not glaring at them over a report.
Liliana raised an eyebrow, but otherwise complied. She curtsied, but not before shooting a confused look at the elder girl who was looking eerily like a starving cat. The younger sister almost sighed, but caught the breath just in time. The next song was starting, and she looked up at the Prince, careful not to stare too intensely. "It would be an honor if you would grant me this dance." Her father always said it was better to wait for the man to offer, but Liliana guessed that the Prince was an exception.
Tianna, on the other hand, was looking at Sir Stonewatch with a blush spread across her face.
Post by Exemplar of Demacia on Jan 14, 2014 16:08:50 GMT -5
Eric's felt his face flush. She was so close... His thoughts stumbled over his embarrassment. "She's stunning really, and she has The Princes eye. He never dances." The dance steps suddenly felt unfamiliar, and Eric's mouth ran ahead of him. "That is to say, she's almost as pretty as her younger sister." What was he saying? "I mean that both your beauties are beyond compare... I am, out of my depth Milady." At that he made the decision to cut his losses and shut his mouth. He danced well for the rest of the song, but it was a conscious effort.
When the dance was over, Jarvan took a step back with a modest bow. His manners were routine, giving due respect by title without thinking. The deep breath, and the excitement pulling at the corners of his mouth were anything but. Her smile was infectious, and he found himself led by the hand toward where his friend was standing with Liliana.
Taller that most of the gathered crowd, Jarvan IV saw them coming. Some women he recognized, some he didn't. There were likely some men who wanted to dance with Tianna now, seeing she had convinced the reluctant prince to take the floor, single-handed. He prepared himself for their requests, but Liliana's request saved him the trouble. Tianna seemed to encourage him, so why not? "It would be my pleasure", he replied quickly, reaching to take her hand. As he did, Jarvan gave Eric a look, drawing the mans attention to Tianna and the several men headed towards her. Keep the others away it said.
It only took Eric a moment to understand what The Prince was asking."Would you grace me with this dance Milady?" The knight gathered his thoughts, not sure if he would thank Jarvan IV after for the chance to dance with both noble daughters, or express The Princes debt to him that the enmity of several noble suitors earned. He tried not to look their way, keeping his eyes down as he waited for Tianna to reply.
Post by Liliana Daysworn on Jan 15, 2014 3:24:28 GMT -5
Liliana beamed with delight, "That's good to know! That the Prince is interested, of course. I don't think I'm prettier than my sister. Not that I'm flattered that you would say so." It was either the strange air or the fact that the knight suddenly seemed so much more endearing when flustered, Liliana almost felt the blush being mirrored. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She said, her eyes suddenly finding the knight's shoulder very interesting to stare at. Liliana knew she was prone to such emotional changes... she couldn't really help it. Sadness begets sadness, after all.
With Eric's internal promise to remain as quiet as possible, Liliana decided to do the same. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk. It was that she was rather afraid of saying something that may embarrass the poor knight further, and that would be no fun for the both of them. It was to her small relief when the dance ended on a relatively low note, both for the musicians and for her. Not that she didn't like dancing with Sir Stonewatch. She just...
In that moment, Tianna's voice cut like a knife straight through her haze of jumbled emotion. Liliana blinked, realizing that she was still gripping onto the knight as if for dear life and quickly apologized once again and released her hold. "Tianna!" She managed to call out without her voice betraying anything of what had just happened. Her older sister knew about this of course, but always made it a point to ignore it.
But the younger girl could not help the small smile that spread on her face when the Prince accepted her proposal. It was really always a girl's dream to dance with a Prince at least once, but she was careful not to let her excitement show too much. Tianna, on the other hand, seemed absolutely delighted when Sir Stonewatch took her away to dance to the next song.
Liliana didn't know where she should begin. On the one hand, she had spoken to Sir Stonewatch with a sense of familiarity, but she knew she couldn't possibly do the same with the Prince. Still, she didn't think it was necessary - he seemed nice, all things considering and he was still a person. Though the youngest Daysworn daughter thought it would be best if she watched her tongue.
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity," she said. That was a good start. A very good start. Keep going, Liliana told herself. "Is my sister a good dancer?" Okay, that wasn't the right thing to say. But you can fix it! "I-I mean, she doesn't... our instructor always told me to be more like my sister and to watch how she moved." Liliana squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that her father would just drag her away now.
But she knew that wasn't possible and so she simply sighed and murmured an apology. "You probably aren't interested in that... um, how has your knight... night! Night. How has your night been... Prince Jarvan?" Oh, she knew that there was no distinction between knight and night but Liliana had just spied her sister's face snuggled right up into Sir Stonewatch's shoulder and had found herself more than a little distracted.
Liliana was more than aware of the differences in poise compared to her sister (she had been compared for most of her life), but it never bothered her. Still, she smiled in hopes that it would be enough to placate the hopefully not unamused Prince.
Post by Exemplar of Demacia on Jan 16, 2014 0:58:41 GMT -5
That was that. A squad of disappointed noblewomen and several somewhat livid gentlemen were forced to dissolve into the group and find partners, or be forced to return to their seats. The Prince preferred the latter, but kept from counting them out. It would be foolish to try, and he knew better than to be so overt.
Jarvan IV groaned inwardly when she used the word opportunity, like he had hired her for a part time job, but when she stumbled over her words it was easy to forget it. He smiled and took her hand gently in his own. "Tonight my knight is in good hands. Tianna dances quite well. As for your instructor, he sounds like a tactless man." He kept the conversation going as they walked into harmony with he other dancers, and seemed to find their place beside a noble pair.
It was no doubt two remnants of the defeated suitors, but he paid them little mind, one of which he recognized. He was too pleased to be standing next to someone seemingly devoid of duplicity. Liliana had an innocent charm unexpected from a noblewoman from such a family. It was as if she didn't know how beautiful she was, and Tianna did. In few minutes he might have to outmaneuver the Duchess Meroux a second time, but it wasn't a battle worth planning for. "Tell me, my second Knight Wenly, is he in good hands? I'm not sure he and Lord Daysworn have much in common."
The dancers took their places, between twenty and thirty couples in all.
Eric and Tianna we joined the dance slightly after Jarvan and Liliana, and were forced to take a place farther down the line. The knight kept his demeanor respectful, but he was conscious of the awe her presence affected, and terribly conscious of her hands. "Thank you Milady. I am envied by many tonight having danced with your sister and now, with you."
A few pairs of eyes stared daggers at him from the side seating, but Eric decided it was worth it. He would be the envy of all his friends at least, and perhaps the Prince for that matter. He took a long, slow breath and moved his right hand to her waist.
Post by Liliana Daysworn on Jan 16, 2014 2:05:08 GMT -5
When she realized that Prince Jarvan just may have caught the slip of her tongue, Liliana could not help but blush, the color flaring like fire all over her pale cheeks. It was almost as if she had ingested an entire bottle of wine on her own. "That's good to hear," she responded softly. To her credit, she hadn't stuttered yet and it was only through sheer will that Liliana managed to maintain appropriate eye contact.
As expected, the Prince's movements were smooth as silk and Liliana felt the difference between him and Sir Stonewatch. The knight was fun to dance with, but this was a different sort of fun. She didn't have to watch her feet, only her words. The younger girl moved almost effortlessly as the Prince swerved them away in a particular direction. "Sir Wenly?" She worried her lower lip in bad habit, teeth scraping over lightly glossed lips as she thought of her father and the poor knight.
Without realizing it, her eyes drew away to scan the crowd almost fearfully. Though her body remained fully locked onto the song and swaying away, her mind was drifting to her father's furious visage. Liliana remembered how he looked when she said, with as much defiance capable of a fifteen year old girl, that she did not want to marry some silly Duke of Wherever. Fresh air had never smelled so good when she was finally released from the confines of her high towered room.
But Prince Jarvan didn't have to know that. "I think it would be best if we find Sir Wenly immediately after this." Okay, maybe Prince Jarvan did have to know. Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut? Why was she even acting like this? It couldn't possibly be because of how Sir Stonewatch had acted, could it? That was absurd! She continued to berate herself through the entire song, at first unable to even look Prince Jarvan in the eye for fear that he may find she had a couple of screws loose.
But when she did, Liliana realized that it didn't matter. Because the Prince was supposed to be interested in Tianna and not her. She didn't mind it, though the fact made her relax considerably. She always made a fool of herself but thankfully her logic had not totally abandoned her this night. So the daughter found herself smiling once more and enjoying the dance, even letting out a soft giggle as one of the men stepped on their partner's foot next to them.
Tianna seemed to be intensely interested in devoting all of her attention onto the knight. Normally she would have given a small smile to those staring, but her smiles were reserved for Sir Stonewatch... Eric, was it? "You are welcome, though I fear I am a little out of practice." She held back a grin - the knight's nervousness was palpable and it made him all the more endearing. Why hadn't she seen him before? She surely would have remembered if he had been present at other gatherings.
"So, Sir Knight," Tianna began as his hand settled on her waist. It was unlike her to start conversation, especially when she had been so quiet with the Prince, but she knew that he would not initiate small talk of any nature. She lifted her hands and placed her hands on his shoulders, slender wrists resting against his body as she smiled once more. Oh, she was being completely illogical about this, but she didn't care. Not one bit. "I haven't heard anything about you. I'm interested in knowing."
Post by Exemplar of Demacia on Jan 16, 2014 23:24:54 GMT -5
Tianna's statement confounded his expectations for the evening. Here he was, dancing with the woman that in his mind was the most stunning person in sight, and she wanted to know more about him, a modest knight. Her touch alone was exhilarating. He didn't have time to consider why she was dancing with him, and not Jarvan, and during a slow dance at that. Sir Eric Stonewatch wracked his mind for an unassuming response. The dance was simple and quiet, which gave him plenty of room to think.
"Milady, I am a Knight of the Royal Army. I have served six years for His Majesty, fighting is my profession." He paused for a moment, hesitant until her steady attention convinced him to say more. "The soldiers who follow me are my true family. I don't dream of being a hero, or even a general, if only my family. That's what I fight for." When he finished, he couldn't help but feel that he'd said too much, and Tianna's reassuring smile was all that kept him from apologizing. "I'm not sure what the prince sees in me, to be honest."
He couldn't help staring into her eyes. For most of his life the looks he received from noblewomen were momentary glances, and mostly when he was standing straight faced at attention. Hers were like warm gems, rings of light circling pools of deep darkness that drew him out of his carefully polite self. In her hands, the best he could do to ease the tension would be turn his head away. He didn't. "What do you see?"
What had her so worried? The look on her face, her words, they gave him his exit strategy. After this they'd go back to the table and be sure Wenly wasn't... in trouble? He could understand that Liliana's father would have little in common with Sir Thayke, but awkward silence or unfriendly words was the worst Jarvan IV had feared. Her expression and tone said more, and Jarvan impulsively wanted to comfort her. If she was so concerned with Wenly's comfort, her father couldn't be so hard to get along with.
"Do not worry. Wenly is a sensible man when it comes to station. I am sure he is fine, but we will go and see him next, as you wish." His words seemed to ease the worry on her features and The Prince felt himself relax. They were in a crowd of people, and the crown on his head still drew the attention and speculation he had been born to endure. In spite of it, he found himself only interested in the peculiar noblewoman in front of him, who judged ships with a passing glance and worried about the social discomfort of Knight Captains.
She was beautiful as well, rivaling her sister's charm with her own brand, but when Tianna came back into his thoughts he felt small pang of guilt. No man should allow himself to have feeling for two women, especially not sisters, but that wasn't what he was doing. This is just a friendly dance. I've nothing to worry about. I am learning about her family, and her my friends. That should only draw us closer together. The music and tempo of the dance played a counterpoint to his rationalizations.
Liliana danced as well as any woman he had danced with. He had been enjoying himself and should have continued, but the thought of Tianna kept him formal and quiet, only grinning when one of the dancers mistakenly stepped down on his partners foot before he remembered himself. He danced, and that was all.
Post by Liliana Daysworn on Jan 17, 2014 1:37:24 GMT -5
Tianna wasn't quite the seductress she was trying so very hard to be, especially since it was so improper. She did manage to maintain her somewhat innocent smile, even if she knew that people were watching the well-known noble touch the not-so-noble knight in ways unfitting for a woman who had only just met their dance partner. She saw the thoughts fly through his mind, and so tilted her head to wait as they turned.
When he began to speak, Tianna listened in rapt attention. She knew of men who decided to stay in the army, preferring to hold swords rather than hammers, or shields rather than platters. But her father had always refused to let her talk with knights for some reason or another (though she suspected he knew). Even her mandatory service left her in a tent, separated from the rest. She never really thought about it. "That's very sweet of you," she said, her smile genuine and unassuming. At the mention of Prince Jarvan, Tianna opened her mouth to protest, but the words died in her throat as the knight drew her in with eyes far more captivating than anything she had ever seen.
The older daughter gripped Sir Stonewatch's shoulders a little more tightly, her knees felt weak and she had to swallow lightly to wet her throat. This was treading dangerous ground, and she somehow knew her father was watching. And if he wasn't, someone else was. They always knew what she did. Her life was a series of locked doors and hushed whispers and she was tired of it.
Tianna glanced to the side, then drew in a deep breath. "Loyalty, bravery. Knights need that and it's expected of them. But you're not just men in suits of metal, are you? And you care about family. I... that's something I respect." Tianna squeezed the man's shoulders lightly with a sheepish smile as she leaned in. "Sir Knight, I would trust you with my life." She knew that she had not answered his question, not really. Because there was no answer, no words to describe this feeling that encompassed her and she was utterly helpless to ignore it.
Liliana blinked at Prince Jarvan's answer - she was honestly expecting some questions concerning her answer. A smile blossomed on her face, one of relief as she nodded. "Oh, phew, okay, that's good to know!" She didn't even bother to hide the way her shoulders loosened. "Not that I doubted your... friend, my father can just be a little overbearing but you're right. I think he will be able to handle--" Liliana's eyes immediately widened as she realized what she was implying about her father. Oh no. Oh no, no, no.
"-- but you know, my father is a good man. He's just protective. As any good father would be." Her weak laugh said otherwise, but she was uncomfortable with saying much more. Her fingers twitched in the Prince's soft grip but all she did was shift a little closer to avoid brushing against another pair. What was she doing, anyway? She was talking to the Prince like he wasn't the Prince and future King. Liliana knew that he was just a person, though. He was flesh and bone and (slightly more noble) blood, but he was still a person and he still had feelings.
But she couldn't bring herself to treat him like any normal person. Because there were expectations and there were consequences. She needed to be perfect and act perfect, and that was all there was. It was who she was, even if Liliana tried to convince herself that there was so much more. There was so much more to the Prince as well - people had their secrets, and the Lightshields surely had history that ran deeper than the books she had been told to study and read. But as much as she wanted to remain cordial and distant, she couldn't. She could feel Prince Jarvan's movements; however smooth they were, they were also restrained.
The brunette could not help but smile to herself. "What about you? Are you close with your... the King and Queen?"
Post by Exemplar of Demacia on Jan 18, 2014 22:00:19 GMT -5
His better judgement and his fear of resentment were washed away by the gentle touch of her hands on his shoulders. The voices of the crowd and the sounds of music were drowned out by her few soft words. Eric didn't ask when he leaned in to kiss her, and his kiss was nothing like the formal affections of a nobleman. It was strong and animate, his hands pulling her closer, his breath warm on her neck. Whether it was the alcohol, the scent of her, or her innocent smile, Eric was intoxicated.
He found himself pulling back, and opened his eyes to curious stares. Shoulders were being tapped and fingers pointed. The song hadn't ended, and the some of the dancers had noticed their kiss. He looked left and right, panic creeping across his mind. This was a nobles daughter, whom the Prince was interested in, and he was making a mistake of unmatched greatness. He looked at her, seeing some of the same fear in her eyes. All he could think to do was to escape, and leave the crowd behind. He waited until the dance was over, trying to maintain a semblance of calm without looking Tianna in the eyes. He pulled her away by the hand, leading them into the standing mass of soldiers and lesser nobles who filled the lower courtyard. He kept going, walking down the steps and along the waterfront waterfront, where the great wooden docks met the stone worked shore.
Only when they were alone, the sounds of the party low and distant, did he stop. Guilt vied with his desires. How many had seen, and of those which could put names to the memory? Who would they blame and who would they punish? What would Jarvan IV do?
"I... I'm sorry Lady Tianna, I don't know why I... Tell them that I dragged you off, and that I forced the kiss. Let any blame fall to me. If you leave now..." Looking up, he realized she hadn't said a thing. Her face was unreadable, and he was struck with sudden fear of her reaction.
There was definitely something wrong. Her worry was infectious, and Jarvan IV found himself wondering what kind of trouble she was afraid of. That she was overreacting was all that he could guess, but the worry stayed with him through the dance. He felt foolish when his attention led them too near to another pair of dancers, and Liliana had to draw closer to him just to keep out of their way.
She didn't seem to mind his mistake, but her fingers moved nervously in his hand, and he found her nervousness and informality endearing. Something about her laugh caught his attention. When she asked about his parents, he felt compelled to answer her as if they were old friends. "They... know how to be protective. My mother and I were very close when I was young. I had a world of my own then. Now my world has me. I... learned a long time ago what she was protecting me from."
Post by Liliana Daysworn on Jan 18, 2014 23:01:22 GMT -5
Tianna could only breathe out, and in that moment she swore that she could feel all trepidation leave with that single sigh. The small space between their bodies, the small obstacles that parted them melted in that moment and her eyes fell shut as Eric's lips pressed down against hers with a sense of unyielding urgency. Her heart fluttered deep within her breast, the same feeling she had not moments ago and now amplified by the way her - the - knight's kiss felt like so much more than it should have.
But as much as she wished for the world to curl in on itself, just as she was beginning to melt, the sensation was gone and the moment had vanished. Tianna moved her mouth against empty air, words unsaid as she tried to catch her breath. She opened her eyes just as Eric's face seemed to pale in the low-light, but her own cheeks were flushed with the excitement of the moment. She didn't seem to notice or care about the way they were being looked at. She didn't see anything but the man before her and the electrifying sensations jolting down her body.
The dance continued but Tianna didn't feel it. She was moving, light and airy with Sir Stonewatch's eyes anchoring her to the ground lest she soar away. She was giddy, and not from any alcohol but an intoxication of a different kind. Tianna felt herself being moved when the music no longer rang in her ears, her dress brushing by objects as she walked obediently. Muttering and whispers approached her, and a hand reached out to grab her shoulder but Eric's insistent pull made sure that only a finger would scrape by her. Yet that was enough to snap her out of her reverie.
The moment played again, but this time Tianna felt her breath stop and not in a good way. Eric... Sir Knight had kissed her. Her! And it wasn't the fact that he had kissed her, but the fact that it had been in front of all those people and those faces that would surely remember hers. And her father... oh, she hoped that he had not seen. But she knew that even if he had not seen, he would hear. And he would know. Tianna inhaled, the sharp tang of salt and water and sand hitting her nose; the smell was only slightly relaxing but she preferred the high, clean air and oh, there would be hell to pay.
Only Eric's voice brought her frantic mind back to reality and she soothed herself down. "No, no, it's okay," her voice trembled more than she would have liked but she managed to take his hand into hers without much difficulty. "Please, don't be sorry. I... I don't want to leave you. I don't..." Tianna took a deep breath. "This... we are in this together, okay?"
Liliana quirked an eyebrow but was otherwise satisfied with Prince Jarvan's response. "That's good," she said, nodding firmly. Despite her own father's constant protection, she knew that he only had their best interest in mind. Well, theirs and his. She couldn't really tell him to stop either - the Daysworn daughters were, as she was told, a rather hefty prize considering how much her father would do in order to avoid any and all stains upon his family name.
She bit her lip, another question sparking. "You... don't mind it, then? Or didn't? Despite understanding, wasn't it... suffocating?" Liliana, to her credit, did try not to sound too probing but she was curious. The Prince hadn't even bothered to cover up his words. He was honest. She... respected that.
Post by Exemplar of Demacia on Jan 19, 2014 20:28:22 GMT -5
The sounds of the evening continued as they had before. Music echoes down and met the gentle wash of water on rock and keel. Eric stood an listened to the woman he had dragged away from the party, watching her fears play across her face while her words gave life to a desperate hope and rekindled the feeling that had made him lose his senses moments before. She said together, and his heart leapt. Taking her hand he spoke, "I don't want you to leave. I would have you all for myself, and give you all of my life for as long as we live. Tianna, I would do anything, but I cannot give you the life you need. Not the comfort you know. I'm only a Knight. I have a single house. I've never had a servant." He kissed her hand gently.
"I don't deserve you."
He wanted the march back to party and tell the whole crowd how he felt, their opinions be damned. He wished for time to turn back, before he let his heart run out on him and tangle itself up in her. How could she love him? How long before she grew tired of him? How long before someone came looking for them both? Whoever it was would take them apart, and he'd likely never see her again. Part of him wanted to grab her hand and start running again. He stood there, bracing himself for the inevitable pain, for the moment when she turned and made his fears real. He could only watch.
The corner of his mouth curled into a smile. "It was infuriating. Ever day was planned, every activity was chosen for me, all my lessons were prescribed by someone else. There were times when I wanted to run away." He looked out into the crowd with thoughtful eyes. "That changed. I changed." A cool breeze blew across his face, and Jarvan IV turned to see the ships rigging sway in the wind. He once thought he wanted to be a sailor, that they had more freedom than soldiers or princes. How ironic it was that they were trapped on a boat for most of their lives, regimented and ordered about for every hour of their lives aboard. The Prince turned back again, to the nobles daughter who spoke so candidly. "Life is seldom what you expect."
Post by Liliana Daysworn on Jan 20, 2014 10:05:14 GMT -5
Tianna shook her head, almost viciously. Strands of dark hair fell from its tight constraint, framing her face as she stared at the knight with a conviction worthy of any Daysworn. "I would love nothing more," she breathed, and though her mind screamed at her, telling her to be careful she brushed those thoughts aside like one would an ant. "Than to put my life in your hands, these hands." She stroked her thumb gently across the vein crossed skin in her grip. "I've had enough of servants." Tianna tried to joke, to bring some light back to this relentless chase of everything she would ever care about.
Except her smile caught in her chest and it hurt so much to watch the man twist upon himself, word and action pulling and breaking each other apart. "Don't say that," Tianna breathed sharply, tugging her hands away and placing them against Sir Stonewatch's cheeks, "Eric," she made sure he could not turn those eyes away from her. She smiled, her tone softer now and she leaned forward to kiss the knight's nose. "We all deserve something greater than ourselves. For me, it's you." Then Tianna's lips were on her knight's, murmuring something lost against soft skin and the crash of waves against rough sand.
Liliana nodded as if she understood, and she did. She really did. But she felt as if she was agreeing simply because she wanted to agree and not because some rule was there saying that she had to agree. "I know how that goes," she said, sighing almost wistfully. She wanted to reach out and touch those intangible thoughts squirming and swirling in the sky, to press them close to her heart, to think and wonder on the strangeness of it all. There were emotions high in the air, tangling with the delicate strings of courtship and passion and she could feel it grip her heartstrings and tug insistently.
"I tried to change," Liliana surprised herself with the outburst, as if she were sitting in one of those confessional booths she had heard so much about. But the lights were there, swarming in the distance and they all knew the firefly's life was as fleeting as it was bright and marvelous. The younger girl knew the possibilities of ever having a chance like this ever again teetered on the fragile line of never. She needed this. So Liliana continued, "Maybe I didn't try hard enough. Maybe I tried too hard. But change has always evaded me, testing my limits and knocking at impenetrable doors and I say "I can't break that one down!" and change looks at me in pity and vanishes again."
The Prince probably thought her crazy by now, but Liliana was far too intent on getting her point across that she seemed not to care. Until she realized that she needed to care, so she quickly turned her face and pulled a blush to light.
Then she took a deep breath and suddenly, a smile spread on her lips; a smile reserved only for her books and herself, buried in neatly pressed paper and the odd smell of history. She smiled with her gaze fixed onto the Prince's own eyes, frost glimmering with finality as Liliana chuckled. "I seldom expect anything from life." Her lips did not press shut after The End; the pages continued to turn. She laughed again, her thoughts etched into her mind, dull greys and slivers of orange swirling like water and oil.
When at last her chuckle faded into air, she inhaled yet again. "Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh at you. Just at... this, what this is," Liliana swirled her hand in the air, the one that had unclasped itself from Prince Jarvan's grasp and and she looked to be conducting the silence that befell the circle of harried misfits. Except it wasn't her, it was the final tangle of a dress and high shoes that slipped away between the mass of legs. Liliana brought her hand to her mouth and sighed into her palm.
"They left." She said, plain and simple and it cut no less than slipping a butter knife on her finger.
Post by Exemplar of Demacia on Jan 20, 2014 22:26:43 GMT -5
Eric waited and the pain didn't come. The fragile hope he held grew with every word and touch that came from Tianna's lips until it filled his mind with thoughts of a future together. When she caught his face in her hands, all the fear melted away. Still, he couldn't help his hands wrapping around her and pulling her tightly to his chest. "Come away with me Tianna Daysworn." Her hair brushed against his face, and he let himself be lost in the moment. He let himself accept it, that she wanted to be with him for more than just a hour or an evening, and he let the knowledge settle into him. It was a warmth and a comfort that filled him with energy and set his mind spinning.
"We could leave all of this behind... I have a savings, we could start a new life." He leaned back, holding her shoulders gently in his hands. "I have never felt this way about anyone. If you trust me, then lets leave, now. Before anyone misses us. We'll go north, away from your father and the city. We can find a place to be together out there." He could hardly believe his own words. Yes, they could leave the city behind. In Freljord or in a border town, they could escape everything that might separate them. They were thoughts he had never dreamed about. Plans were forming in his mind that would have sounded crazy the day before, but they weren't crazy. They made perfect sense. "Will you trust me?"
Slow steps kept them spinning together to the music, and as Liliana spoke she seemed more and more like an old friend and less like a girl he had hardly met. He had never shared his feelings about his upbringing with anyone, not like this. He wasn't supposed to have fears. The Prince allowed to have second thoughts, or to have had doubts about his future. Liliana not only listened without judging, but she understood. Jarvan IV could at least return the favor, and he listened as she admitted her frustration. The more she spoke, the more he understood how strongly she felt, and the more he felt his sympathy reach out to her. He wanted to tell her that he understood, but he didn't get the chance.
So many times he had felt the pressure of his life like a crushing weight. The responsibility started as a burden, and the power hadn't made him feel free. He had a fate, a requirement to fulfill. It had taken him years to feel like the mold of leadership wasn't chafing his skin. Slowly, he had broken it in, like a second skin that didn't quite fit until he pushed back against his boundaries and made that skin his own. He had the strength to change. It came to him that not everyone had that strength, that freedom.
Her smile was an ambush, after a long march beside her, retracing the same memories of resentment and bitterness right until the turn when she looked up at him. All the tension was dispelled by her laugh, and Jarvan IV wanted to capture that moment for himself. She caught him off his guard with her gesture, and he smiled back. "And what is this?"
He looked around, following her gaze to find the nobility were alive with a new interest. They were looking around at one another, the beginning of a new scandal spreading among them. A few of them still regarded The Prince and his partner, eyes watching and mouths muttering in their wake. Clearing his throat, he took Liliana's hand and started to lead them back towards the Duke's table. "Something has them stirred up. Let's get back to our seats and find out what's happened."
Post by Liliana Daysworn on Jan 21, 2014 2:17:54 GMT -5
As if in old habit, Tianna's arms slipped around the knight's, her cheek pressed against his shoulder and his heart beating against hers. She could feel the erratic thumpthump and heard hers sigh in unison. She allowed herself to revel in this warmth, a warmth only affection and fondness could bring, but she could not help herself as she winced slightly at the other's words. "Away?" She murmured, her hands clutching at the fabric of the man's attire as the strange syllables slipped through her lips.
Leave. Could she leave? All her life, Tianna had her eyes on the sunset and sunrise, wondering what it would be like to reach out and touch the horizon. She knew she never could, because this was her life and her life and place was here. In Demacia. Leaving would mean leaving all she was behind, her old fantasies and her mother, father... Liliana. But leaving her life meant starting a new one; a fresh, clean start with this man who adored her so. This man who made her feel safe wrapped in his arms, who made her blush like an innocent milkmaid and made her feel completely and utterly in love.
Tianna felt herself shift, and once more she was looking into the knight's eyes. "I feel the same way," she said, almost quickly, afraid that if she had said it any slower it would not be true. She heard the rumors, that she was inconsistent and flighty but she felt her heart anchoring itself to this harbor. This man who spoke so passionately about leaving this Golden City and all who resided within. He spoke of moving far away, to lands she may not have even heard of. Perhaps the sunny deserts or the cool air of the mountain, just like home.
A breath caught in her throat. Eric's voice, the way he looked in the dim light and just the knowledge that he was a sworn knight of Demacia and yet still willing to throw so much away for her. "I trust you, of course I do." She said, placing her hand on the one on her shoulder, a small smile glimmering in the haze of her thoughts. She wanted to ask about his family, how they would cope without him. But she was scared that if she did, he would second guess and everything would slip away. Her hold tightened slightly and she bit back her tears. "I trust you more than anyone."
Liliana had the sudden urge to wrench her hand free as she was lead away from the dance floor, away from the familiar and the real. But as always, she pushed the urge down, drowning it away and she simply nodded. "Okay," her voice was small in comparison to her previous tone of fulfillment and understanding. The younger girl was confused. Confused because there were thoughts in her head that was not her own, and her heart was fluttering like a small bird within her rib cage. Her sister had never been so bold before.
"Prince Jarvan!" A loud voice streaked through her thoughts and shattered her musings and Liliana screeched to a halt, her eyes widening. Without thinking, she ripped her hand away and held it to her chest as if it had been burned. She took two steps away from the Prince of Demacia just as her father pushed through the crowd. Lord Daysworn seemed taller in his wrath, anger boiling to the surface and darkening his eyes as his gaze swept across her, then the audience. A stiff smile forced itself on his face as he bowed, "I apologize for my interruption, but I'm afraid we must leave."
The atmosphere was electric; crackling in his rage, her father stepped towards her and Liliana bit her tongue to stop herself from cringing backwards. Though her father would not touch her in public, much less reprimand her, she knew what he was thinking and feeling and it scared her to her very core. "Y-yes," she said, feeling smaller than life and almost embarrassed. "I... yes, thank you, my Prince." Gone was the strange familiarity she had talked about, and all that was left was the good girl and her shell. "I had a wonderful night."
Lord Daysworn simply waited until Liliana had shuffled past before turning and called, "Find your sister and tell her we're leaving. We have much to prepare for."
Leaving.
Liliana smiled thinly to herself and ducked through the crowd.
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