Topic: Averting Disaster

Alys Beauforte

Date: 2013-07-03 07:55 EST
August 10th, 1613

The storm had settled in not simply for the day, but for most of the night as well. The palace of Bannoc Rise had been battered with wind and rain, witness to beautiful lightning flashes that lit the sky in purples and blues. Certain of the inhabitants of the palace, however, were not in the mood to enjoy the scenery. The Duke of Lonnare had taken the Lady Alys out riding a couple of hours before the storm had hit, and though no one expected to see them return before the weather proved itself safe to ride through, the unexpected arrival of the duke's riderless horse had caused a minor panic to ripple through the court. The king had control of those demanding a search party, but only just, trusting his friend to look after his niece and bring her home safely. He had, however, put someone else in charge of locating their wayward family member and her betrothed, the only person Christian could be fairly certain knew exactly where Charles would have taken Alys.

Will had ridden out in the grey pre-dawn, fresh clothes and breakfast in his pack for Charles and Alys should he happen to come upon them in his wanderings. Of course, he had a feeling he knew where he was going, and where he would find them, his horse leading Charles' stallion unerringly toward the clifftop overlooking the beach. The storm had washed all evidence of passage from the little pathway and the beach beneath, but Will couldn't just ride past. Taking the precaution of tethering the two stallions, he unhooked the pack from his saddle and made his way down the sloping pathway, whistling to himself cheerfully. The dawn was breaking slowly to cast golden light through the mouth of the cave as Alys' brother came upon it, stepping inside and staring at what he found there.

The fire Charles had worked so hard to build the day before had long since gone out, but was evidence that they'd been there some time. There was also evidence of at least one meal shared between the pair. Simple as the meal had been, it had sustained them and staved off hunger. The pile of wet clothes that had been spread out to dry were still where they'd left them and still damp from the soaking rain the day before. But what more than likely really caught Will's gaze was the partially blanketed forms of his sister and his closest friend, lying close together in each other's arms, tangled in a lover's embrace and looking peaceful and content in repose, as if neither had a care in the world.

Partially blanketed ....As soon as Will's brain caught up with what it was he was actually looking at, he let out a loud groan that echoed around the cave, turning his face away and covering his eyes. "For the sake of the Goddess, did you have to be so naked"!" There was a thump as he tossed the pack to land on Charles' leg, his lips twisted in a laughing grin even as he continued to groan as though his eyes were burning themselves out of their sockets.

Will would more than likely be mollified by the grunt of pain that was elicited from his friend as the pack landed on Charles' leg, startling him from a deep sleep. He bolted upright, upsetting Alys who had been nuzzled close beside him, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he found Lord William standing over them, his back turned to give them a modicum of modesty. "Will!" Charles exclaimed when he realized who it was that had found him. He'd recognize his friend anywhere, even with his back turned. "Alys, love, we've been rescued!" he said, turning to his betrothed and shaking her gently, if she wasn't awake already.

Her brother's voice had not roused her, but the sudden loss of Charles wrapped around her was enough to shock Alys awake, all the more so since his abrupt motion had taken the blanket with him, stripping her to the waist in the process. She blinked groggily, passing a hand over her eyes as Charles shook her, focusing just in time to see Will glance over his shoulder at them. Alys let out a squawk and snatched at the blanket, covering herself as she glared at her brother. "Do you mind" Eyes front, Marillier!"

Will snorted with laughter, shaking his head. "Well, you're alive, at least. Fresh clothes in the pack, and the king wants you back at the castle before Bereth sends out his hand-picked search party."

Charles climbed out from under what little had been left him of the blanket and strode in all his naked glory up to Will to take his face in his hands and kiss him soundly on the cheek. "I could not be more happy to see you, my Lord William," he remarked with a playful grin. "What took you so long" Of course, we're alive. Do you think me such an oaf that I'd get us both killed over a rainstorm?" Charles did not seem overly surprised to see his old friend, relieved even at the sight of him, glad it was Will who had found them and not any of Bereth's men. That would have proved scandalous, at the very least.

"Oh, I ....whoa!" Will pulled abruptly away from his friend's embrace. "Cover it up before you take someone's eye out!" he declared over the sound of his sister's laughter, squeezing his eyes shut once again. "I love you both, but I really don't want to be seeing so much of you." There was a pause as he considered what he had seen. "I assume you're already married, or you wouldn't have taken this risk."

Alys looked up from where she was examining the contents of the pack, her eyes seeking Charles' gaze a little warily. "Uh ..."

"There had better be something to eat in there. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!" Charles remarked as he turned to watch Alys rifling through the pack. He had apparently either not eaten in a while or had worked up an appetite or both. He broke off when Will mentioned marriage, and he met Alys' gaze with a worried look of his own. "That's something we need to discuss with you, Will," Charles admitted, snagging his shirt from where he'd left it to dry and tugging it on over his shoulders to cover himself. The shirt was still damp and smelled of sea water and smoke, but at least it hung down long enough to give him some modesty, for the time being.

"Not until you're dressed," Will was quick to jump in before either of them could present the beginning of what he had a feeling was going to be a serious discussion. Eyes still closed, he gestured wildly in what he assumed was Charles' direction. "I'll ....Our old fire-pit must be out there somewhere, I'll do something about breakfast for you," he told them, incredibly uncomfortable with all the skin on display. "Just get dressed. And try not to make any more babies while I'm within earshot." Again, Alys' laughter rang in his ears, spurred on by her brother's obviously discomforted approval of what he had walked in on.

Alys Beauforte

Date: 2013-07-03 07:56 EST
"We are naming our firstborn after you, even if it's a girl," Charles shot back, hoping to ease his friend's tension with some good-natured teasing, though the statement was not far from the truth in Charles' heart. For all his worrying, he felt far better now that Will had arrived to help them. Charles would not soon forget his friend's loyalty, and he only loved him all the more for it.

"Poor child," was Will's parting shot as he waved his friend off, snorting with laughter once again as he ducked out of the cave. They heard him from outside. "Good Goddess, what did I do to deserve that?"

Alys giggled, her lap full of clothing for both of them, hands busily sorting his from hers as she looked up at Charles. She was as relieved as he that it had been her brother to find them; the Cardinal would have made great political capital out of what Will had just walked in on. "You heard the man," she teased Charles fondly, throwing him his fresh clothes, "put it away before I decide to really embarrass my brother."

He chuckled at both Will's remark and at Alys' not so subtle reference to a certain part of his own anatomy. "You were not so much in a hurry for me to put it away last night," he teased back, catching his clothes and shaking them out to make sure he found them suitable. He found his mood lightened, happy it was Will who had found them, reminded of childhood and all the adventures the three of them had had together.

"Oh, I think I was," she countered laughingly, arms flailing as she pulled a fresh chemise on over her head, glad that Bess had sent Will out with clothes relatively easy for her to dress herself in. "I just wanted you to put it somewhere very specific -" From outside the cave mouth came another groan, and the sound of Will's footsteps advancing further away from them. Alys grinned up at Charles. "How much of an eyeful did he get, do you think?"

Charles chuckled at both Alys' teasing remark and the sound of her brother's groan. If he insisted on eavesdropping, then Charles thought it served him right to overhear something he really didn't wish to hear at all. "Oh, I'd say he saw enough to know what we've been up to, but don't worry. He loves us both too much to speak a word of it to anyone." Charles pulled the filthy shirt off his back, and replaced it with a clean one, one that was more practical and less frilly than the one it was replacing. "I am only worried what he will think of our plan."

It was awkward to dress herself without being able to stand up while she did so, but Alys' ankle was throbbing with dull pain this morning, and she didn't want to risk damaging herself further. Nor did she want to draw attention to her injury, so she bit down her comments on the difficulties of dressing and got on with it. "I never know with Will if he will approve or disapprove," she admitted with a slight shrug. "You would know better than I, but ....well, he did ask if we were already wed. Doesn't that suggest that he would rather we were?"

"I'm sure he would," Charles replied with a small frown as stepped into a pair of pants and pulled them up over his hips to tie them at the waist. "Were you my sister, I would insist on it." He glanced down at her a moment, wondering if she needed help. Not only did Will not yet know about their plan to be married, he knew nothing of her injured ankle either. Dressed enough for modesty, Charles knelt down and drew the blanket away to take a look at her ankle.

The offending limb had swollen further overnight, enough that there was barely any give in her movement of it, despite the bandage she had put on herself the day before. Alys paused in the process of lacing her over-dress to watch as he examined her ankle, drawing in a hiss of pained breath when she tried to roll her foot. "You should take the bandage off," she told him. "It's doing more harm than good now."

"You should soak it in the sea. It would help with the swelling and the pain." He was no physic, but knew from experience that the cold would help ease the pain, if only for a little while. "Once you are dressed, I'll take you outside, so you can soak your foot," he promised as he very carefully unwound the wrapping from around her ankle, frowning when he saw that the swelling had increased and wondering if they should put off the wedding after all. He was still confident it was not broken, but a clean break sometimes healed faster and less painfully than a hurt such as this. "If you stay off it, it should feel better in a few days." He hoped.

A tender gasp escaped her lips as he unwrapped her ankle, despite how gentle he was with her, unaccustomed to having any kind of injury at all. "I feel like an idiot for falling in the first place," she admitted in a slightly grumpy tone, tugging her laces tight as he worked on her ankle. "I can't wear a shoe on that, not today, at least."

"It was an accident, Alys. Nothing more. There is no scandal in twisting your ankle. And you needn't wear any shoes. Will and I will carry you wherever you need to go." He tucked the blanket back over her foot, not wanting Will to see it without some explanation first, and moved to his feet to finish dressing, pulling on hose and boots. The gray of dawn was quickly giving way to morning, and they would have to be gone soon if they wanted to get back before Bereth's men went looking for them. Charles knew Bereth held no love for any of them and would like nothing better than to find any reason to blacken their reputations at court and cause them to fall out of favor with the king.

"It will be hard going for both of you, getting me back up to the clifftop," she said, guilt coloring her voice as she settled her clothing as best she could, tying her hair back with a ribbon she had found amid the clothes that had been sent for them. "But at least it offers a good excuse to the naysayers at court for our being out all night." She wasn't looking forward to the gossip there, nor to the very public dressing down the king was going to have to give them to protect both their reputations and his ability to continue showing them favor.

Alys Beauforte

Date: 2013-07-03 07:57 EST
"It was a simple ride into the countryside. We were caught by surprise by the storm and had to seek shelter, during which you fell and twisted your ankle. It is a simple enough matter for anyone who doesn't look for scandal," he replied, growing angry at the thought that anyone would dare challenge his word or the word of the king's niece. "I am anxious for us to be away at Arindale," he muttered darkly, a mood threatening, as he straightened his shirt and made sure it was properly tucked into his trousers. His only regret about leaving Martel was leaving William behind.

She smiled regretfully. "We will have to remain anxious a good while longer," she reminded him with obvious reluctance. "I know you. You won't let me move myself to a duchy under threat, even if you have to tie me to a bed to stop me." Sliding herself from the blanket beneath her, she set about filling Will's pack with the damp clothing and sandy blankets, somehow fitting the empty water-skins and Charles' empty pack in there as well before buckling it closed once again. Then she looked up at her lover, offering him her hands. "I suppose we should face this and hope Will doesn't laugh too much, then."

He clenched his jaw as he moved about the cave, knowing she was right, gathering up their things and bringing them to her to stuff away in Will's pack. They were so close to being able to live the life they both wished and yet, something always seemed to block their progress, however temporarily. He wasn't so sure she'd be any safer at Bannoc Rise with himself and William and Christian gone to battle, but he had little choice in the matter.

She could not come with them where they were going, and at least she'd have family here to keep her company and to keep her safe. His mood had turned again with the reminder of court and of impending battle. His was not a peaceful duchy, not yet, but Lonnare was key to the security of Francia, and it seemed Christian had put great trust in Charles by appointing him duke, over others who had vied for the title. Charles had vowed on his honor and his life not to fail his king, and he meant to keep that vow. "I suppose we should," he replied, but instead of taking her hands to help her to her feet, he crouched down beside her and scooped her up in his arms, as he'd done the day before.

It was more than a little humiliating to be unable to even stand without needing assistance, but Alys was deeply grateful when Charles didn't offer her any choice in the matter. With one hand wrapped securely around the strap of Will's pack, she curled the other arm around Charles' shoulders as he lifted her into his arms, secure and surprisingly comfortable supported there. Her lips brushed his cheek fondly. "Do you think he'll stop at a church on our way back if I give him details about last night?" she asked impishly.

He arched a brow at her question, not having considered that before. "We would still need another witness, and I do not think he needs details to know what happened between us." Indeed, Lord William had seen enough with his own eyes to know what had transpired between his sister and his closest friend. "Shall we face the music?" he asked, as he shifted her, grimacing just a little at the ache in his shoulder but making no complaint.

She sighed teasingly, adjusting her grip on him to keep from laying too much pressure on his bruised shoulder as he grimaced. "True," she admitted reluctantly. "I am entirely at your whim. Take me where you please, Your Grace."

"You should never say that to a man, My Lady, and expect him not to take advantage of the invitation." For the first time in nearly half a day, they emerged from the cave, her in his arms, looking small and fragile in his arms as he carried her out into the first light of day. The view was as lovely, if not lovelier than the day before, with a sweeping view of the ocean, the sky bursting with color in fiery hues of reds and oranges as the world awoke with the dawn.

Small and fragile she might have looked, but she was laughing as he stepped into the first frail light of the new day, drawing an indulgent smile to her brother's face as he looked over at them. Will had managed to get a small fire going, big enough to fry fish on a flat rock, which was what he was doing as his sister and his best friend emerged onto the beach. He rolled his eyes at them. "Good grief," he chuckled. "Charles, I understand that you are completely in her thrall, but it will become necessary to let go of her sometime soon."

"She twisted her ankle, Will," Charles explained at their approach. "I'm fairly certain it's not broken, but the swelling concerns me," he continued, the expression on his face underscoring his claims. He set her gently down on a rock that was large and flat enough to serve as a makeshift chair and lifted her skirts just enough to expose the injured ankle. "We were caught in the storm and had no choice but to seek shelter. I never intended to keep her here overnight."

"Her ankle?" Will frowned, tipping their food onto a cooler rock away from the fire and rising to his feet, wiping his hands on his trews as he crouched down. A single glance to Alys obtained her permission to touch her injured limb, his hands less gentle than Charles' but more confident.

"I slipped on the rocks in the rain," she explained to her brother, jerking suddenly as a spike of pain lanced up along her leg as he, too, tested the freedom of movement in the joint. "It was a stupid accident."

"Which wouldn't have happened if I hadn't brought you here," Charles reminded her as he looked on, once again taking the blame for the accident and full responsibility for any repercussions their illicit night away might have on their reputations, though he fully intended to marry her at his earliest opportunity. He reached for the pack, opening it and pulling out his soiled shirt.

"Oh, for goodness' sake," she rolled her eyes at Charles, his comment taking her mind off the painful examination her brother was giving her. "We are not having that conversation again, Beau."

Alys Beauforte

Date: 2013-07-03 07:58 EST
Will glanced between them, lowering her foot carefully to the sand, and skillfully interrupting before an argument could start. "Can you stand, 'lys?" he asked his sister, surprised when for a moment her mouth hung open dumbly.

"Um ....well, I haven't actually tried," she admitted, accepting his roll of eyes with good grace.

"Charles, help her up," Will told his friend. "I don't know if it's broken, but if she can take her weight, no matter how painful it is, I think we can rule out snapped bones."

"Are you both mad?" he asked, looking from one to the other. He had the pack in one hand and his soiled shirt in the other, fully intending to soak it in cold water and apply it to her swollen ankle. "She cannot stand on that! It will be too painful!" Clearly, the thought of Alys in any small amount of pain was completely out of the question as far as Charles was concerned.

Alys looked at him, her eyes warning him against suggesting insanity ran in her family, but the more intimidating look came from Will. Possessed of his mother's dark eyes but with the full force of his father's sense and temper behind them, Will's gaze met Charles' incredulity head on, stubborn and pointed. "Either you help her up, or I will, but either way, we're testing that ankle," he told his friend firmly. "And if you help her, you won't be the one kneeling on the sand holding her skirts up so you can watch as her ankle takes the weight."

Charles glowered back at them both, but knew when he was overruled, as he so often was when the two of them were around. "Very well," he agreed reluctantly, turning to Alys, his gaze softening. "Hold onto me," he instructed. "If it gives out, I won't let you fall." He wrapped an arm around her waist and very slowly helped her to her feet.

Alys was genuinely surprised to see Charles back down so quickly, making a mental note to get her brother in her corner as often as she could to smooth over marital bumps in the future. As Will knelt, she raised her arms to Charles, held close against him as he drew her up onto her feet.

After a moment, Will sighed. "Alys, I love you dearly, but put the damned foot down, would you?"

Charles knew Will was right and knew it was for the best, doing what he'd been unable to do. Perhaps he cared for her too much, but the thought of causing her any pain, purposely or otherwise, was simply abhorrent to him. He nodded his head to Alys to silently reassure her and tell her he had hold of her if it was too painful or her ankle wouldn't hold her weight.

For all her agreement that her injured limb had to be tested with her weight, Alys was frightened of setting her foot down, much less standing properly upon it. Pain was not something she had any experience in enduring. But Charles had her, and she knew that even if Will forced this on her, he wouldn't make her do it again if it was too painful. Biting her lower lip, she forced herself to relax her foot, the sole finding the sand as her fingers tightened in Charles' sleeves, oddly reassured by the gentle grasp Will took on her calf.

"That's it, 'lys, keep going," he encouraged her, wincing himself as she let her weight settle evenly on both feet. Alys' face abruptly paled, but she could hold her weight, even whimpering with the pain.

As soon as they were sure she could hold put her weight on the foot, Charles was anxious for her to take her weight back off it, tightening his hold on her waist and easing her back down onto the rock. "That's enough," he said, seeing her face go pale. "It's as I said. Not broken, just badly sprained."

She was shaking as Charles set her down once again, but rather proud of herself for not crying. Will nodded, leaning back to rest his arm on one raised knee. "You're right," he agreed with Charles, "but I wasn't going to walk back into Bannoc Rise and offer up her ankle as the reason you stayed out without being absolutely sure of what I'm telling the king. Bereth's been making his life a nightmare since Gideon came galloping back yesterday afternoon." He twisted, scooping one of the cooked fish from the stone and into a handkerchief, handing it to his sister. "Eat that, 'lys, you'll feel better in a bit," he assured her, squeezing her knee gently. "Help yourself, Your Grace."

"For Goddess' sake, stop calling me that!" Charles exploded, annoyed that his dearest friend insisted on deferring to his title when there was no one there who cared. "What in bloody hell is Bereth doing poking his nose into matters that are none of his concern" I swear if he makes any trouble for us, I will make it my personal ambition to see him disgraced."

His outburst got him nothing but a snort of laughter and a pair of identically incredulous smiles. Will glanced at his sister. "The good mood didn't last long, did it?" he commented, letting out a sharp guffaw at her answer.

"Well, he didn't get much sleep last night," Alys smiled sweetly, and quickly returned her attention to her breakfast before Charles could object to the unnecessary tease.

"Yes, he's always grumpy when he doesn't get a few hours on his own," Will agreed, turning his grin back onto Charles. But to his credit, he didn't hold the levity long. "Bereth's trying to discredit you," he told his friend. "He seems to be working on the theory that if enough neutral parties can be persuaded to give evidence to the king that you and Alys deliberately spent the night out here alone so you could canoodle in privacy, Christian will have to withdraw favor from you. Not to mention the fact that fornication for a woman can be interpreted as heretical misapplication of the Goddess' laws. I wouldn't put it past him to try that one, too."

Alys Beauforte

Date: 2013-07-03 08:00 EST
Charles continued to glower at them both, except now his hands were on his hips and he was eying them both through narrowed lids. "Are you done talking about me as if I wasn't here?" he asked, relaxing a little and reaching for a hunk of fish. "Well, of course he is," Charles agreed with his friend's assessment of the Cardinal, breaking a piece of fish off and popping it into his mouth, remembering suddenly how hungry he was. Charles considered Will's insight a moment as he chewed on his fish before commenting. "But if we were married, there would be no grounds for his accusations," Charles mused aloud.

"But by the same token, if you were married without the king's permission, or his presence, you could both be arraigned under a very loose charge of treason," Will pointed out, though his tone made it clear that he doubted Christian would ever sign a warrant to that effect. He glanced suspiciously between them. "Wait ....I thought you said you weren't married."

"We have his permission," Charles said, trying to think it all through. "He asked that we be patient and wait so that he can give us a proper celebration, but I do not think he would be too upset if we were to be married sooner." From Charles' statement, it seemed they were not married yet, but were considering doing just that sooner rather than later. "I want us to be married before we go to war," he added, glancing to Alys for confirmation of his statement.

"We want to be married before you go to war," she corrected him gently, reaching over to curl her fingers about his in a tender squeeze for a moment before her eyes turned to her brother. "Will, you know the dangers. And if none of them come to pass, the king can still have his great celebration of a wedding. No one need ever know but us, and our witnesses."

Will eyed his sister with a faint frown. "The dangers," he repeated with a sigh. "Death or birth, and both will need legal documents to make them safe." He leaned back, rubbing his temple hard, guessing a little too accurately what they were saying. "And who is the other witness, dare I ask?"

Charles didn't realize his mistake until Alys corrected him, but he made no apology, letting her explain to her brother what it was they were hoping to do and why. He was still worried about making her a widow, but if she was with child, she would have the legal documents proving the child was not a bastard. But it was not just about a possible child; it was about protecting Alys from their enemies while the men who cared for her were off to war. "It was to be Lady Darnal," Charles replied, "but we haven't asked her yet."

Will blew his breath out through his teeth, raising his hands behind his head as he leaned back against the stone his sister was so securely sat upon. He seemed to be lost in thought for a long moment, until his eyes strayed to Alys with a gentle frown. "Father Adam?" he asked a little cryptically, and seemed to relax as she nodded. He nodded with her, and turned his eyes onto Charles. "The king will order you both to your chambers to rest for the day," he warned his friend, probably superfluously. "Would midnight do you, or did you want another sunrise as a bachelor first?"

While Will and Alys further discussed a possible plan, Charles wandered closer to the water, crouching down to soak his soiled shirt in cold water. He heard the two of them talking behind him, and could almost hear the wheels in Will's head turning as he considered their plan and tried to sort out a way to make it work. Charles squeezed out the excess water before making his way back toward the pair, crouching down again to tend to Alys' ankle. "It's cold, but it should help bring the swelling down," he warned her, as he lifted her skirt to wrap her ankle in the cold, wet cloth, turning his gaze to Will at his question. "Tonight?" he asked, surprised that things were moving so quickly. He had expected at least a scolding from Will.

As Alys gasped, jerking away from the initial press of the cold cloth against her swollen ankle, Will turned a stern eye onto Charles. "Would you like me to stand over you with a broadsword in my hand?" he asked pointedly. "You're in love, that I understand. But you've also endangered my sister's reputation. It's my duty as her brother - shut up, 'lys -" Alys closed her mouth on the protest she was about to make, turning a comically scolded look onto Charles as her brother went on. "As her brother, I have a duty to protect her as best I can, and you're going to marry her sooner rather than later. If I could stop you off at a church on the way back to the castle, I would, but I can't, so midnight will just have to do."

Charles snorted, wondering what Will would say if he knew that it was Alys who had practically begged Charles to take her, not the other way around, but if Will wanted to believe it was Charles' doing, then that was fine with him. "Don't be an *ss, Will. Of course midnight will do. I would have married her years ago, if I'd been able." He turned his attention back to tending to Alys' ankle, a frown on his face at Will's harsh words, which Charles had been expecting anyway.

"You were able, you were just too pig-headed to know that was what you wanted," Will told him sternly, glancing at his sister just as pointedly. "And so were you, so you can stop looking so smug."

Alys scowled at him, turning her eyes back down to where Charles was tending her ankle, muttering under her breath so only her lover could hear her. "Interfering old baggage."

As much as Charles didn't want to argue, Will's scolding had pricked at Charles' pride and he turned his head toward his friend, eyes narrowed. "And how, pray tell, was I able" If I'd interfered, there would have been war. Or do you think it would have been wise to go to her while she was in mourning" All these years, I have obeyed the king in all things. I have done everything that was ever asked of me. You think I was being pig-headed" You think I did not know what I wanted" I have known what I wanted since I was ten!"

Charles' face flushed, all at once angry and embarrassed at his own outburst, which he had not expected. He left the compress on Alys' foot and moved to his feet. "Sorry," he mumbled, glancing at them, one and then the other, before turning his back and striding away toward the crashing waves to gather his thoughts and calm his nerves.

Alys Beauforte

Date: 2013-07-03 08:02 EST
Will didn't let him go far, leaving Alys where she sat, ignoring her advice not to even attempt approaching Charles in order to do just that. "What, you decided you wanted to marry her when she was five years old, did you?" he demanded of his friend. "Or did you think I would not have a problem with the fact that not only are you risking her reputation by courting her in the first place, but that you would risk her freedom and your head by allowing yourselves to be found naked and wrapped around each other?" He glared at his friend, anger very obvious in his gaze. "Did you really think that I would not be angry with you about this" Did you think I would laugh it off, that everything would be fine just because it is me" Bereth had me followed, Charles. If I hadn't noticed him, if I hadn't shaken him off, I would not have been the only witness to your wake up this morning. Swallow your damned pride and learn a bit of humility for once, or not even Christian will be able to give you what you want so badly!"

"Humility?" Charles echoed, rounding on his friend. "You want humility' That is easy for you to say. You who were born to this, both of you. I've had to fight for everything. I've had to make sure I don't make any mistakes. And don't tell me all of this is because of my father or my grandmother because we both know my grandmother hates me and that I will never be good enough in her eyes. And no, I didn't decide I wanted to marry her when she was five. I decided I wanted to be a good man, a king's man, a better man than so many of those around us. I wanted to make something of my life, to make a difference, and to prove that even someone with a commoner's blood - with my mother's blood - could be as worthy and as noble as one born of royal blood. That is what I wanted."

Charles wasn't sure if he was done or not, but for the moment he was all out of breath, realizing once again that he'd said far more than he'd planned on saying. He would have explained to Will what had really happened, but it wouldn't have mattered. In the end, he was right, and Charles knew it. "Easy for me to say?" For all his explosion of anger, Will took a step back, half-turning away before he thought better and threw a punch at his oldest and dearest friend. "The sooner we get to war, the better," he muttered in irritation. "You're itching for the fight, obviously. You want to resent us for being born to a position, you go right ahead. Get on with proving yourself however you think you need to. But that is not what I am talking about. I don't care about your blood, or your mother's blood, or any of that. You are my friend, and I love you dearly. But Alys is my sister. As much as I love you, I love her more dearly, and I will not allow either of you to put her in any more danger than you have already. She needs this wedding for her protection, whether you tell others or not." He let out a huff of breath, shaking his head. "I ....I'm disappointed, Charles. I'm disappointed in both of you. I thought you both had more sense than to take this risk so openly."

Charles took the punch, only a little surprised by it, stumbling backwards as his dearest friend's fist connected with his jaw. The blow hurt, but it was Will's words that hurt more. I'm disappointed....in both of you... Charles' heart sank heavily at those words from his friend. If Will wanted to blame someone, then he could blame him, so long as he didn't blame Alys. He rubbed his jaw where the fist had connected, glancing momentarily at Alys and feeling only love for her and shame for the danger he'd put her in. "I don't resent you. I've never resented you," Charles replied, his voice quiet. You are the only family I've ever known... "If you want to blame someone, then blame me," he said, turning his back again and walking off, not trusting himself to say anything more, needing a few minutes to gather his composure, his heart heavy with guilt and anger.

"For the love of ..." Will clenched his fists and growled at the sea as Charles stalked away, wishing his friend could see himself the way the people who loved him saw him. They saw a man made noble by his deeds; a man who had, yes, been a little less than circumspect in his affairs, but also a man who loved more deeply than most people could imagine. A man who had waited for five years to be allowed to love one woman, never knowing that she loved him in return, in silence, for all that time.

Frustrated, Will returned to his sister, and for a long time, it seemed, they spoke quietly. He had things that needed to be said, things she had to hear, and though he hated himself for the distress his disappointment caused her, Will needed her to know just how far-reaching the consequences of her actions could be. But as censuring as he was, he was also there to hold her as she wept her guilty tears, stroking her hair, whispering his forgiveness, and wishing Charles would return to them soon.

Charles put a little distance between himself and his friends - friends who he considered more family than those who were his family. He loved Will like a brother, and he had loved Alys for as long as he could remember. Maybe he had fallen in love with her when she was five. What difference did that make" Was that so very hard to believe" He stood there as still and quiet as a statue against the sunrise, unmoving but for the breeze that stirred his hair. He had taken Will's words hard and to the heart and knew his friend was right. It was his fault.

He should have resisted her charms and courted her the way she deserved, the way that was proper for a woman of her station. Little did he know that a little way away, Alys was weeping guilty tears in her brother's arms, while Charles refused to weep. Crying, he'd learned long ago, never solved anything. Men don't cry. Isn't that what his father had told him when his mother had died" But Charles had cried. He had cried then, and he'd cried when Alys had been sent away, alone where no one could see or hear, where no one would know. He wouldn't cry now. He would take the blame for his mistakes and make it right. After all, they all wanted the same thing, didn't they'

Yes, they did all want the same things. Will had been harsh because he had spent a sleepless night in concern for his friend and sister, and when he had found them, it had been in a position so compromising not even Alys could have charmed her way out had it been anyone but her brother who found them. On top of it all, she was hurt - though he accepted that it was no one's fault - and Will was frightened for them. They risked Alys' freedom with their foolishness, but worse, they risked Charles' life. He wanted them to take the danger seriously. He wanted them safe. And if, to do that, he had to make his own sister cry, then so be it.

Charles watched the sun as it rose in the sky, admiring the beauty of a new day. If all went well, by this time tomorrow, he'd be a married man. He couldn't help but smile a little at the thought of that, no matter how much Will's words hurt. He wondered if they had any idea how very much he loved them, how much he'd always wanted to be family. What did it matter that he and Will were not blood" He was his brother, in all ways that were important - the brother of his heart, if not his blood. Alys had always been the glue that had held them together, but he had never loved her like a sister. It had always been something more. Charles dragged his gaze away from the sky and bent over to pick up a rock, rubbing a thumb against the flat side of it before rising and tossing it into the sea, to skim across the waves, the way he and Will used to, almost hearing their laughter echoing in his ears, like ghosts of the past that haunted this place.

Alys Beauforte

Date: 2013-07-03 08:05 EST
"All right ..." Will had left Alys where she sat, drying her eyes and infused with what little hope he could give her, making his way with wary but confident strides to where Charles lingered. "Here's what we do. Once you and Alys have been very publicly dressed down by my uncle, I will suggest that she convalesce with her old friend, Lady Darnal, at her town house in Martel. Christian will, no doubt, leap on the opportunity to make a show of keeping the two of you separate, and the Cardinal can whistle up his own arse for a reason to say no. You will rest and attend to business, and get some sleep, and this evening, you and I will go drinking. The court is used to us not getting back before dawn, so you will have the whole night. I can make all the arrangements while Alys is being moved today."

Charles heard what his friend was saying and knew it was a good plan. Will had always been the level-headed one, after all, getting Charles and even Alys out of trouble when their reckless behavior got the better of them. It was no different now, but Charles knew that had to change. He was a duke now, and he had to start acting like one. Being brave wasn't enough; somehow, he needed to gain some of Will's wisdom. He let Will say what he needed to say, laying out the plan, knowing Charles and Alys would agree, as they always did. "Do you remember when we used to come here, you and I" We talked about everything in those days, didn't we" Our plans for the future, our hopes and dreams, the women we loved or didn't love. I told you everything then, but I never told you how I felt about Alys. I thought you'd laugh at me or tell me I wasn't worthy. I still don't think I'm worthy, but I'm grateful that she'll have me."

"Charles, no one will ever be worthy of my sister," Will told him quietly. "But that is because she is my sister, and not because she's the granddaughter of a king." He reached out to squeeze his friend's shoulder firmly. "She loves you. Any fool can see that. I wouldn't part with her for anything less than love, not this time around. And I'm glad that she'll be with you." He frowned thoughtfully, letting out a low sigh as he dropped his hand to his side once again. "Do you remember the day I married Ursula" I didn't love her even half as much as you love Alys, and it was still the best day of my life. What made it the best day was having you there, standing with me. You're my brother, Charles, regardless of blood or rank. Marrying Alys will just make that official. How could I possibly disapprove?"

Charles did not turn his head toward his friend when he felt his hand squeeze his shoulder, not quite trusting himself with the tumult of emotions that were waging war in his heart. He only listened quietly as Will continued to speak, his heart aching to tell his friend how much his friendship meant to him and how very hard it was going to be to leave him behind, even with Alys as his wife. In that moment, Charles was no longer the duke, a man who would be equal in rank to Will before long; he was the younger brother, always a little bit lost, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. When he turned his head at last to Will, his eyes were glassy with unshed tears his father would have been ashamed to see in his son's eyes. "What are we to do without you in Lonnare?" he asked, his voice betraying the worries and doubts he had let no one else see.

"Make me nieces and nephews, naturally," was Will's annoyingly matter-of-fact answer, though it came with a hint of his smile, gentler than it might have been in other circumstances. "And write me long, fulsome letters every day so I can solve your every problem. Or ..." He turned to face Charles, meeting his friend's glistening gaze with calm solemnity. "Or you will learn to have faith in yourselves and your own ability to lead a people who will need you. You won't be always away from court, and nor will you be always fighting the border skirmishes. You can give her courage, and let her temper you, and Arindale will sing your names for centuries to come. I have faith in you, Charles. So does my father, and my uncle, and a hundred other names I could give you. But until you recognize your own talents, words will mean nothing to you." He clapped his friend's shoulder once again. "That's one thing Alys can teach you. She's a stubborn little stick. You won't have a quiet life with her around, I can guarantee."

Charles mirrored his friend's smile, chucking a little as he looked past him at the subject of their conversation. She looked small and meek sitting there on the rock, though Charles knew she was anything but. Alys had more courage and more life in her than anyone he knew, man or woman. "Life will not be boring, that is for certain," he agreed, clapping a hand against his friend's shoulder, sobering a moment as he watched Alys again, his heart aching with love and desperation. "I am sorry, Will. I never meant to put her in any danger. It's just that I love her so I cannot wait any longer."

"Yes, well, everyone makes mistakes," the older man sighed quietly, following his friend's gaze to where Alys was staring out across the sea, not even picking at the meal that was still in her lap. Her face was sober, though only Charles could guess that her thoughts had returned to punishments handed out just a few short years before, punishments that had almost broken a young bride but for the love in her heart for another man. Will shook his head. "At least this mistake is salvageable. You'll have to be more careful, even after the marriage, but if it comes to it, I'll have Lady Darnal take the marriage certificate to the king himself rather than risk either of you to Bereth's spies."

"And while we're gone?" Charles asked, his gaze still fixed on his betrothed, wondering what she was thinking and what had been said between herself and Will after he'd wandered off. Bereth was always a concern and a good part of the reason why Charles wanted them married before he left for Lonnare.

"While we're gone ..." Will sighed. "I don't know, Charles. Bereth's bile is aimed squarely at you and I for the time being, and he cannot act upon warrants or suspicions without the signature of the king or his regent. Romola may be a weak queen, but I doubt she would give him permission to persecute her husband's kin. I think Alys will be safe, and if she begins to grow with child, then Lady Darnal will know what to do."

"Is it selfish of me to almost wish she's with child?" he mused aloud as he watched Alys. "Goddess, I wish I could make you understand how much I love her." He turned his gaze back to Will momentarily. "I swear to you I will always care for her, always protect her. So long as she is with me, I will never let any harm come to her. You have my word."

Will smirked faintly. "You'd be a bigger fool than ever if part of your heart didn't wish for a child from the womb of the woman you love," he assured his friend quietly, his own eyes on Alys from afar as she sighed suddenly, enough unaware of their scrutiny to raise her hands and wipe stray tears from her cheeks. He frowned at that, his heart heavy with the knowledge that those tears were probably his fault, and turned back to Charles. "We couldn't part with her to anyone else. So long as you love her, Charles, that's all I ask."

Alys Beauforte

Date: 2013-07-03 08:07 EST
"She is not my sister, Will. I do not love her the way you love her, but that does not mean I love her any less." Charles turned toward his beloved again, frowning when he saw her rub at her cheeks, presuming she'd been crying, but why' It wasn't a disaster. Not yet. They had Will to thank for that. They'd be married tonight and then no one could cause them any trouble, not even Bereth. "She was not happy in Edessa, Will. I will make sure she is happy with me." He did not want to tell William all that Alys had told him about her life with Henri, but he did want to ensure him that he'd do everything in his power to make sure the rest of Alys' life - the part of her life that would be spent with him - was filled with as much happiness as he could give her.

"Good." Will's smirk returned as he glanced at his friend. "Because you know what I'll do to you if she is unhappy." He grinned at Charles, one hand clapping him hard on the arm as he turned fully toward his sister. "Come on. Let's get you both back in good time. Christian will be pleased to see you hale."

Charles was still frowning, both at the mention of Christian and at the sight of Alys crying. He had not meant to upset her by bringing her here; quite the opposite, in fact. It seemed for the time being they were forgiven, as Will's anger had passed. Charles only hoped the king would be as forgiving. "Thank you, Will," he told the other man. "You are a good friend."

"I'm a bloody awful nephew," Will countered with a chuckle. He nodded toward his sister. "You bring her up. I'll take the packs and have the horses ready - and she'll be riding in with me, Charles. Let's not give your enemies more ammunition than they have already." His eyes lingered on his friend's face, knowing that addition would bother Charles and hoping he would see the wisdom in it before he opened his mouth to object. The success of the night ahead of them depended upon their being utterly above reproach today. He nodded once more, and picked up his stride, stooping to sweep up the packs as he passed the fire and heading for the cave.

Perhaps Charles surprised him, perhaps not - perhaps he took a bit of of Will's advice to heart for once, swallowing his pride and agreeing with his friend, rather than objecting, no matter how much it bothered him. While he would have preferred Alys share his horse, he knew Will's plan was the wiser one. "There is no one I trust her with more than you," he replied, which sort of went without saying since Will was her brother, but it was Charles' way of telling him how much he respected the other man and trusted him.

That statement sent Will away smiling to himself, glad his friend had managed to make his passion lie down and play dead long enough to accept a little wisdom. He loved Charles dearly, but he himself had grown up far faster than his friend and even the king had had to. Duke Edward had begun teaching his son the ways of a duchy when he was only nine years old, instilling in Will a deeper sense of the world than perhaps his uncle or friend had yet to achieve.

Alys looked up as her brother walked past without a word, the tear-tracks on her face red against her pale skin but promising to fade long before they reached Martel and Bannoc Rise. Her eyes turned to Charles, curious and solemn. "Is everything all right?"

Charles and Will parted, one man heading back toward the cave to gather their things, while the other stopped in front of Alys and and crouched down in front of her. Charles reached for her hands, taking them in his own with a warm, loving smile, even as he noted the tear tracks that had reddened her lovely face. "Everything is fine. Will is going to ready the horses. You're riding back with him. It will be better that way." He reached up and brushed a finger across her cheek, in part to wipe away any remaining tears. "All will be well, dearest. I promise."

Her smile rose in answer to his, and faltered as his finger stroked her cheek, her hands twisting in his grip. "I'm so sorry," she apologized fervently, fond eyes bright with tears unshed. "I shouldn't have been so careless, I should have ridden myself. This is all my fault. I'll never forgive myself if ....if ..." She couldn't even articulate the fear that punishment might fall on him for her foolishness.

"Shh..." He pressed a finger against her lips to hush her, unworried about the consequences, even if he should be, confident all would be well in the end. They were too close to fulfilling their dreams to allow disaster to strike now. "We will be married tonight in secret, and not even Bereth will be able to contest the wedding. We were caught in a rainstorm, Alys. No one could have predicted what happened." He glanced toward the cave where Will had gone to fetch the remainder of their things. "We have Will to thank for finding us first."

She sniffed softly, forcing herself not to cry, not to upset him with her own distress. "I'm still sorry," she told him, half-laughing at her stubbornness. Drawing in a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders, swallowing hard. "We should be on our way," she said quietly. "The longer we're out of sight of the court, the worse things will be. And they will be bad enough." She leaned toward him, catching his lips with hers in a brief, fierce kiss. "I love you. And by midnight, no one will be able to contest that, ever again."

"Dearest love," Charles started, cupping her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing the remnants of tears from her face. "It is I who should be apologizing. I put you at risk with my foolishness, and for that I am sorry, but I will never apologize for loving you. I love you more than life, more than all the stars in the heavens. There are no words to tell you how much I love you. I would face a thousand Bereths to spend my life with you."

He grew quiet as she kissed him, his heart soaring with happiness to know she'd soon be his. It was going to take all his self-control not to grin like a madman when Christian handed down his punishment.

"One Bereth is enough," was her far more sober reply, the grim reality of how close she had brought him to disgrace or even death too close to her heart for the imminent prospect of their marriage to give her more than a moment of joy at this time. She would be easier in herself when they had faced the king, but for now, Alys was sick at heart with worry for her love. "Let's go, Beau. Before I disgrace you any further."

"You have not disgraced me, Alys. You have made me the happiest man in all of Francia." He leaned close to kiss her again, though he knew she was right, at least in her desire to return to court. The longer they were away, the harder Christian would have to be on them. It was only luck that had saved them so far, but Charles chose to believe it was a gift of the Goddess. For some reason, She had chosen to smile down on them this day and he would make certain to offer Her due thanks when they returned.

She gave him a sob to taste on her lips as he kissed her, torn between happiness and lingering fear for him as her fingers strayed over his cheeks. And there she could have stayed, but for the amusement throat clearing that started up behind her. "Put each other down, children," Will's voice interrupted the tender moment. "Plenty of time for that later. You know, when it's actually legal."

Charles smirked into her kiss when he heard the warning from Will, pulling away from her and glancing over at his friend with an equally amused sparkle in his eyes, despite the bruise that had formed on his jaw, care of his dearest friend. "It's only a kiss, Will. Nothing so scandalous," he replied with a smirk before turning back to Alys. "You should eat something. It will take a few hours to get back."

As her brother chuckled behind her, Alys conjured a smile from somewhere to reassure Charles fondly. "I'll live," she promised him. "I don't have any appetite this morning." True, that could have been for any number of reasons, but the most prominent was the worry over him. Will might have driven that worry home, but it had been there since the storm had begun the day before. "I promise, I will eat later. Lady Darnal will stand over me with a cane if I don't, you can guarantee it."

He hadn't really eaten either, but he wasn't anymore hungry than she was, his stomach too tied up in knots to think much about food. He smiled at her promise and brushed another caress against her cheek. "I'm sure she will, and if she does not, then I will make certain of it later." He kissed her one last time before moving to his feet and scooping her up into his arms. It was a long walk back up the cliff and a long way back to court, but despite everything, his heart felt as light as a feather knowing she was about to become his bride.

((Oddly emotional scene for us, but hey, it turned out good! Everyone should have a brother like Will! :grin: Many muchly thankles to Charles' player!))