• Closed • [Krome]Walking in the cold

[Xander Andaris]

Ashan 1st, Arc 717

Xander closed the door behind him and leant against it as it clicked shut. His stomach still hurt but his face was feeling a little less painful, it must have been that paste Celeste had applied to his face. It had been quite soothing and the mark had receded a little, not completely however. He leaned against the door briefly and ran his fingers through his hair, he wished he could be himself before the lady. To his surprise she had managed to work her way in to his defences. She had borrowed in and planted some kind of slow ticking time bomb, intentionaly or not she had managed to open a crack that had been closed for some time.

He had to get ready, he quickly resolved that he would just not give up his defences. He had to keep up his facade, he had done it for 8 years he could do it for many more. He tucked in his shirt and grabbed his waste coat, the fabric soft and expensive as he pulled it on over his now tucked shirt. Next he grabbed his blue coat, the casual one that actually protected him from the cold and not the formal one. It sat around the middle of his thigh at its bottom. He quickly combed his hair, passing the teeth through the small knots and fixing it into its normal style. He fastened the coat and then grabbed his sword and belt, already attached together as he hung the blade in its sheathe with the belt attached. He pulled the belt tight around his waist and placed the sword in a comfortable drawing spot.

Once ready he left the room to collect Celeste so they could walk to the village. He knocked on her door and waited patiently to be invited in or joined outside by his fiancé. His left hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he adjusted his collar to cover some more of his neck in anticipation of the cold air outside. He had always liked the cold, much more than the dreadfully hot Saun trials. He supposed it was his Northern blood, years of living in the cold having caused some kind of evolution in his body to make him better with cold weather. Although, he did feel the cold of course, he just didn't mind it so much.

"Are you ready, Celeste." He smiled at the lady as they met again that day, just about fifteen bits had passed since they last spoke. "If so we should get going, the walk is lovely but in the snow it takes a little longer than in the hot seasons." He smiled as he stepped back and assuming she was ready would lead the way outside. It was one flight of stairs and then out of the main entrance, not the most difficult route but he still lead her through it, he could not assume her to have learnt the way in such little time. He opened the door and stepped out holding the handle and letting Celeste exit into the driveway before he closed it behind her.

He met with her again out in the middle of the gravel driveway and smiled. It was cold and refreshing for him, he hoped it wasn't unbearable for the young Southern Lady of House Andaris. He was stood facing the house and she with her back to it. "you're sure you are okay with walking my Lady?" He smiled as something in the window caught his eye. His father was stood there on the second floor, watching them. No, watching her, his eyes glaring at the back of Celeste's head. It was odd of his father but he thought little of it, he was probably just a little angry still from the events of the night before.

He looked at his father distracted for a few trills before he offered the lady his left arm. "If you will, Celeste." He said ready for her to take his arm and let him lead the way. His body was warm as always and Celeste would most likely feel that as she took his arm. The walk from the house followed a road that ran through a small forest of trees first but would soon come out with fields either side as the village came into sight. "I hadn't taken you for a walker, i must admit. I am rather wary and unkindly thinking towards most people from the South, few are like myself." He admitted this in confidence, he hoped she would not read too far into this. He doubted it enough to reveal his treasonous ideas though.

[Celeste Andaris]

When she answered the door she was ready to go. She wore a thick cream coat with deep red piping on it. Her skirt was long and a deep red and she wore a cream and red thick woolen jumper. With soft warm boots and thick gloves, she had her thick woolen scarf and was ready to pull up the hood on her coat. She had applied a subtle touch of make up which accentuated the size of her eyes and some gloss on her lips. No rouge on her cheeks, though, in the cold they would redden on their own she knew.

Her hair, which she had brushed and brushed until it shone, she pulled back from her face and tied loosely behind her. All in all, she considered herself to be as ready as she could be and she opened the door and smiled. Glancing at his hand, resting comfortably on his sword, Celeste looked at him with a question in her mind but she did not ask it. He asked if she was ready and she smiled, pulling the belt of her coat tight as she nodded. "I am, my lord."

As they walked out of the house, he stopped and closed the door and so on, Celeste took the opportunity to pull up the fur lined hood of her coat after she had wrapped her scarf around her neck. With her back to the house, she was looking out over the landscape. When Xander came over to her and asked her if she was sure, she smiled. "I am not made from mashed potato, Xander Krome. You will find," she slipped her arm into his and turned her face up to look at him, "that I am not a wilting flower. A walk in the fresh air is good for the body, refreshing for the lungs and to do so with you is.."

Unaware of how they were being watched, Celeste stopped walking almost as soon as they started and turned to him. "I had not expected to find myself engaged to a stranger. That was not the biggest shock, though." She regarded him with a rare and honest expression in her brown eyes. "No one has ever stood up for me like you did last night. I knew that my marriage would be arranged for me, I never considered that it might be to a man who I think I can be pleased to wed." Then, she put her arm back into his and was more than happy, and more than used to, the walk.

As they made their way, she asked about this sight or that one. Her questions were about Krome and its people, it's traditions and customs, what it exported and, of course, about what his vision for the Duchy was. She was very good at polite conversation, very good at not being too probing or too invasive, but equally, she wanted to learn and to know and so she asked.

[Xander Andaris]

He took step with her but was surprised when she stopped almost immediately, he was assuming some kind of admittance to not really wanting to walk. Instead he found himself smiling at her words, especially as it meant he had gained her trust and that was what he needed from his future wife. As she spoke though, it was clear to him that he felt a similar way. He did not love Celeste that was for sure, he doubted he could love anyone, he was, however, not hating the idea of being married to her. In truth, the idea was more welcoming, now he knew the woman better and had seen her truthful and trustworthiness he was sure she would make a good wife.

"I am glad to hear it, Celeste. I too am finding myself warming to the idea of our marriage, I suppose we are lucky to having been arranged in a seemingly good pair." He smiled as she took his arm again and they continued walking, she seemed to be much more comfortable with this now. He remembered at first how she had seemed so hesitant to touch at all, her flinching and rigidness at contact. Now though she seemed much less phased by it and that was a good sign, at least he believed it progress. "As for my actions it is what any truly noble man would do, I think the true meaning of nobility has been lost over the Arcs. Few still follow a code of honour, care for their subjects or remain loyal and just. I, strive to be all those things, even if sometimes I fail in much of my life I am that way. It was the right thing to do and the only thing to do in the situation." He placed his right hand on her hand that was looped in his arm. He looked over at her as they walked down the forest road, the snow crunching under foot still.

His eyes looked at hers in a way unlike before, there appeared to be some extra layer of emotion in them when he looked at her. "Besides, I couldn't have my future wife painted in such a way as my father was, he was out of order and out of line with his words. He would be one of those I spoke about just trills ago, I sometimes think it amazing I am his spawn." He laughed at his use of words, he doubted anyone would describe themselves as spawn. "Anyway, that is enough about that, his actions and the foolish happenings of last night are not worth out time. We have much more important things to do I am sure.

He continued to lead the way as she began to ask questions when the village that was nearest to his home came into sight. He answered them all to the best of his ability. Telling her what he knew of the sights of which he knew little, he was not much of a sight seer to be honest. He did speak of some traditions though, he knew of some celebrations based around the lake and the tales of the treasure that sunk to the bottom of it. When the topic of exports came up it was a simple answer, fish, furs and wood, a rather simple list of exports and one he was sure could be improved upon if the Duchy would spend some time to broaden its horizon. Finally came his views and wishes for the Duchy of Krome, this was where Xander began to clam up. He couldn't tell her of his aims yet, it was far too soon for that and he was not sure she couldn't go immediately running off to tell the king yet.

He could, however, tell some of the truth to the woman. "I think Krome needs to refocus, to gain back some respect and power. To this day I know not what Krome stood to gain from siding with the Burhan's in the rebellion and civil war, I was not involved and therefore have no clue what must have been offered but whatever it was I doubt it was great for the Duchy. I know Krome needs to take some time to think of its own needs and regrow its power and standing in the hierarchy of Rynmere's nobility." He looked at her now, the passion for his Duchy was clear in his eyes as he spoke and lead the way towards the slowly approaching village.

"How about you, Celeste, what do you wish for Andaris, you are inline to be Duchess after all. I am only to be a Baron." He wished to add that he wanted more than that though, that he was going to attempt to take the Duchy as his own but he couldn't and instead he wished to hear her plans for her future as one of the most powerful and influential women in Rynmere.

[Celeste Andaris]

He was warming to the idea of their marriage? That prompted a smile from her and a slight flush of her cheeks. As for his suggestion that they were lucky to be put in a partnership which was a good pairing, she nodded. "I believe we can be, yes. I am sure that it will be difficult to negotiate at times but if we are both prepared to work together, then we will be able to make a success of our family." The thought of it made her uncomfortable in ways which she could not describe, but she had to get used to the idea of physical contact with him. So, she relaxed and she kept her arm in his as she did. It was a very small first step but it was, at least, a first step.

He noticed, she thought, that she did not like contact. Or at the least he seemed pleased when she was obviously more relaxed. In its turn, that made her feel more at ease and so, when he put his hand over hers, she glanced down at it and then simply smiled at him, leaning briefly against him and forcing herself to remain relaxed. His words helped that, when he spoke about nobility and what it meant. "My mother always told me that nobility was service and protection of the people," she looked at him as she said that and her face was the carefully neutral expression which she wore when she was trying to hide her emotions. This time, of course, the emotions were about her mother. When Xander looked at her again, though, his expression had changed, she noticed. There was a new depth, an intensity in what he said. But he did not wish to speak of it, so she fell silent on that subject with an element of relief.

On the civil war, Celeste looked at him with a serious gaze. "It is my understanding that a lot of poor decisions were made by a number of the houses. But you are correct, Xander, we have to look to the future." Serious brown eyes turned to him as he spoke, of rebuilding the place of his house in Rynmere nobility. "All of Rynmere nobility needs to adopt that attitude, and consider what nobility means. We stand on a precipice of descending into decadence and self indulgence which will, inevitably, lead to self destruction." Celeste smiled slightly. "The combining of church and state in this union between Cassander and the Empress may give some stability. I believe that our union can do the same for our two duchies, if we choose to work together."

As for her plans? Celeste glanced at him from underneath her lashes for just a moment, considering her response. "That is a complicated question, Xander Krome, and it is a simple one too. I want our children to be safe and warm and fed and happy." Her smile was a rueful one, "not just yours and mine, although those first of course. But all our children, In Andaris, in Krome and Burhan, Warrick and Venora. It is, perhaps, a woman's politics, but it is a complicated reality to strive for." To protect the people, to serve the people was a noble's job and, like her mother before her Celeste tried to do that. "It is hard, though, to protect those who do not wish it, to try to bring stability to those who wish chaos. I had never considered that I might be Duchess, I have three elder brothers. I am the youngest of my parents' children and so I could afford to be the dreamer amongst us."

They walked and soon enough arrived in the village and Celeste looked around with interest. Snow covered and beautiful, it was picturesque in a very non-Andaris way. "I wonder, Xander, is there a good tailor here? I have received some clothing to-trial from my tailor in Andaris but if I am to live as Andaris and Krome, then I would like to support business in both." Her smile then turned to a more wicked, almost impish version of her usual, "And I can keep a good tailor in business by myself you know. I hope that the dowry your family provides mine has taken that into account. You will need to identify an income stream specifically for your wife's clothing bill." She had not really teased him or joked in such a way before now, but she judged it appropriate to do so.

[Xander Andaris]

She certainly had admirable aims for what she wanted as Duchess, ideals and beliefs that anyone could fins impressive. Clearly she had thought it through and apparently it was similar to what her mother's beliefs had been and that was in Xander's mind most likely why she believed it. Much like himself who had taken his ideals from the butler who had raised him like a son, so he understood why she had adopted views in such a manner. In fact he could entirely relate to the idea of working for the people, doing what was right for them and not just yourself. He did wish to give the power to the people of Krome after all. "Those are very respectable ideas my Lady." He smiled at her as they came up upon the village and soon entered into its white and charming streets, the buildings shimmering in the cold daylight.

He had not expected her to be a joker and whens he teased him in such away he looked at her in surprise. "Is that so, Celeste, well as long as you don't bring me to bankruptcy then I am sure your shopping habits can be accommodated in our marriage." He winked at her and laughed, she seemed to have a sense of humour. "You may find yourself having to facilitate for my own love of food, I could probably eat all of Andaris out of house and home!" He took her hand in his now, unlinking their arms and going for a less formal approach. It appeared that they were becoming much more close, more like a couple than he would have expected. It appeared their mutual want for a happy and safe marriage was making it easier to get along than expected.

"As for a tailor. Yes,there is a small tailor here yes, I doubt it can compare to your tailor in Andaris but it does the job for me. Here I can take you there in a moment I just need to check if I have any letters." He lead the way through the village to an old Tavern, it was worn down but it appeared it was still popular with the older natives of the village as a few were already there sipping drinks and talking. "I will be out in a few trills, please wait here for me, Celeste." He released her hand and then approached the doorway looking back to her with a last thought. "If you need me please just call, I will be out in a flash." He smiled making sure she realised he would protect her again like he had the night before.

As he left it would appear another man would reveal himself, dressed in a large old brown cloak with the hood over his head. He was carrying a staff and a satchel bag, he appeared old at first with how he walked. He made his way across the road towards the tavern and came up alongside Celeste with a nod of his head. It seemed casual and none suspect until he passed her and dropped the staff to the ground. He then suddenly grabbed Celeste, tugging at her coat and attempting to find a purse or bag or something. His hood fell back revealing a middle age man and definitely not the elder he had previously appeared. His face was vicious as he struggled with Celeste trying to find anything he could and if he couldn't he would take her clothes, her jewellery or even go further in anger at the lack of loot.

Xander was inside still, asking the bar tender if he had any letters. He had them delivered here so his parents would not read them and apparently there was one. Suddenly his few trills would be a little longer than hoped as the bar tender left up the stairs to collect it. Xander leaned against the bar waiting, unaware of what was happening outside with Celeste.

[Celeste Andaris]

Her intended seemed to appreciate her sense of humour and Celeste smiled as he winked at her. "Well, we will have to make sure that we have the best cook and the best tailor." She allowed herself a slight chuckle and found that, when he unlinked their arms and held her hand instead, she really did not mind. How strange. "This is nice, Xander. Thank you." Her hand squeezed his gently and she smiled at him. It was good, she thought, that he was taller than her. It would have been no good had she been towering over him. So, she walked with him a while and she grew used to the feeling of her hand in his. It seemed like she might, she considered, be able to do this. Small steps forward in terms of not being horrified at his touch, but they were definite steps and she was pleased.

He had to stop off at the tavern and get his letters? He had secrets to keep from his parents, then, she thought and she simply nodded her head. "Of course. I'll be fine, go." When he stopped to remind her to call she made a shoo-ing gesture and smiled. "I am not made of mashed potato, go." It was interesting to be able to look around out here and get used to the place where she would be spending a fair amount of time. The people seemed friendly enough, although most were busy moving back and forth. Celeste noticed the elderly man and she nodded to him with a smile in return to his nod. As he dropped his walking stick, she even moved forward to pick it up.

Then, without warning, his hands were on her as he started tugging at her, trying to rip open her coat. "Wha...." was all she managed to say as he snarled in frustration. Realising what was happening, Celeste started to struggle, trying to pull away, to fight back but he was stronger than her, such a lot stronger. His hands were rough as he searched for a purse or some jewels which she simply did not have and she froze, literally froze in terror.
"What the... where's your jewelry?" His hand reached out and grabbed her, wrapping around her throat as Peake's had not so long ago and he pushed her against the nearby Tavern wall, his other hand on her, reaching to lift her skirt. Celeste let out a single, high scream of Xander's name, which was stopped as he squeezed the hand around her throat, cutting off her air supply and hurting her. He pushed his body against hers, whispering promised obscenities and she whimpered but did not scream again.

As Xander came out, Celeste was struggling but losing the struggle. The man who held her by the throat against the wall was trying to pull at her clothes and she was kicking and fighting completely ineffectually. His much larger body was pushed up tight against hers and he was bigger, stronger and completely overpowering the heiress of Andaris.

[Xander Andaris]

He leaned over the bar and tapped impatiently against the wood as he looked over to the stairs, he was searching for the bar tender. It was frustrating it was was taking so long, it never normally took this long and that meant either they had lost it or it was much more than just a letter that had been delivered. He turned his back on the bar and was just watching the patrons of the bar sipping their drinks, playing cards and discussing what they have planned for their days when he heard it. The high pitched scream of his name piercing the sound in the room and the walls like they weren't even there. He had no doubt it was Celeste and he found himself immediately pushing away from the bar, his body pushing away into a run.

His feet pounded against the wood and then the snowy cobblestones as he came out into the street. His eyes flashed around in a frantic quest to find Celeste and they finally came to rest on her and some man up against the wall. He didn't even pause to see what he was doing and instead ran straight at him, throwing his body in a tackle against the man and falling to the floor with him. The icy snow enveloped their bodies as they wormed around trying to find purchase in order to get the upper hand. Xander managed to find grip by burrowing his foot into the snow until he felt the cobbles as he pushed up and on top of the mugger. His hand found its own way into a fist as it hit the man in the face, once and the twice before his grip slipped in the wetness of the snow.

The man wriggled his way free from his grip and squirmed and scrambled his way to his feet. Xander worked to do the same, his body ached from the night before but he was not about to give up. It was his duty to protect Celeste and that was what he would do, so he two worked his way to his feet and stood opposite the man. Now, though, he drew his sword, the blade slashing across in front of him as he stood between the assailant and his intended. His hands gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, the leather in his hands providing a strong grip with lots of purchase for him.

The mugger didn't stick around long now as soon as the sword was drawn he quickly began his retreat, fleeing down the street his cloak flapping behind him. Xander watched for a couple of trills before returning the sword to its sheathe and turning back to Celeste. He realised he had not known what had become of her and if she was on the floor he would offer to help her up and if she was stood he would make sure to check she was not injured. He ached even more now and was sure he would end up with a bruise on each of his knees. The landing had most certainly not been one of his best and now the adrenaline was wearing off it was actually getting quite painful.

"Celeste, are you okay, did he hurt you. I am so sorry and this is my fault, I should never have left you alone." Xander looked at her, concern bright in his eyes as he looked into her deep brown hues. His hand trembled from the adrenaline that was wearing off but still ran in his veins. "I suppose this is the second stupid thing I have done within 24 breaks. I never would have suspected that to happen here, Celeste, I swear it is not something I would ever have imagined happening here. I am truly sorry you had to go through that." He forced a comforting smile as he waited to see if she was okay, he resisted the urge to hug her though. After what had happened he was sure physical contact was the last thing she wanted.

[Celeste Andaris]

The world was black. Not because she was passing out but because she was looking down a telescope, in a way, looking through only one lens. All she felt, all she knew, all she experienced was that hand wrapped around her throat. It was everything and she felt only it. Oh, and terror. Absolute, gut-wrenching terror which turned her colder than the snow. His hand was around her throat and his body pressed against hers. As he whispered to her and his other hand roamed over her, Celeste let out a deep, pitiful groan of pain and despair.

Then, he was gone and Xander was there. She saw it, as she fell to the floor and wheezed in great gulps of air, her knees hitting the ground and her hands landing in front of her. Her coat had been torn open, her top ripped in the grabbing he had done. As she had done just the night before, Celeste looked up and at the sight of the fight ongoing, she pushed herself backwards until she had her back against the wall, curled into as small a sight as she could be, she pulled her knees up to her chin and she watched with wide, terrified eyes. As Xander punched him, the man who had tried to hurt her, and then they stood and he drew his sword, Celeste's whimper would likely go unnoticed.

As Xander turned to her, she was on the floor, her back against the wall and her eyes locked on him. He reached a hand out to her to help her and she looked at it as though not sure what to do. She shook her head at his offered help and she looked up at him with a face which was drained of all colour. "No. No. Not again, I can't. Not again. You.." Celeste looked at him as she realised something, and she stood up. She was shaking from head to foot and was on the verge of tears.

"You stopped him. I... " her lower lip trembled as tears fell from her eyes. "Xander...I can't. Not again. Please, please can we just go home?" Actually, she realised, 'home' was where his father was and she didn't want to go there, either. She looked at him and wondered if she dared say what she thought and wanted. Her hand in his squeezed harder. "Xander, I know this might sound insane, but can we stay at an Inn? Just... just for one night. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just want to be somewhere quiet. Can we be somewhere quiet?" Later, she would be amazed that she had been so honest with Xander Krome, but that was what it was. She didn't like that she was crying in front of him and she realised, to her very genuine surprise that she was comforted by the feel of her hand in his. Unconsciously, she stepped closer to him and looked at him. "And do you have a hankie?"

[Xander Andaris]

Xander looked at her defenceless on the floor, her back pressed up against the wall of the tavern. Her eyes were full of fear, her face covered in tears and her breathes short and panicked. However, what got him worst was her words, the use of 'again' that made him wonder. He had suspected that maybe something had happened to her in the past once already but now he was sure, no doubt in his mind that the strong and noble Celeste Andaris was not as strong as she let on. She had been through more than he would have imagined and she clearly could no longer deal with violence. Maybe she had never been able to defend herself from attackers but now it was even clearer.

Her hand was in his now squeezing hard as she looked at him, the tears on her face glistening like the melted snow on his own. "Celeste, its okay, you are safe now I won't let anything happen to you." He looked at her the truth clear in his words and eyes, he would protect her with his life as was his duty. Then, however, she surprised him and was more honest than she had been before, she asked if they could stay in an inn. He understood now why she wished it, after the events of the night before and this new revelation that she had been attacked before made it clear she wished to be away from his father. His concerned eyes were soft and calm as he raised his hand slowly to wipe the droplets of tears away from her eyes. "We can, we will stay in an Inn tonight and return home tomorrow if it is what you want."

He kept hold of her hand for a moment before removing his coat, the cold air immediately attacking his now much more exposed body. It was like lots of small bites that froze upon impact across his body but he could cope. He took the coat and placed it around Celeste, hanging it on her shoulders to cover up her ripped clothes and small amounts of exposed flesh. "Somewhere quiet it is, come on I will take you to the Inn." He placed his hand back in her and lead her through the snowy streets as she requested a hankie. He stopped and face her as she stepped in closer, he could not recall if he had one with him so he looked.

She was in luck, normally he would not have been carrying one, however, the last time he wore the waist coat out he had been to the ball. Then they had all been gifted handkerchiefs and so he had one available for her to use. He pulled it from the pocket and handed it too her, smiling at her as he tried to keep her calm and distracted from what had happened. "Here you go, this should do." He waited for her to do as she wished with it and then they continued to walk soon arriving at the Inn where they would be staying, he trusted the owners of the place and was sure they could get a room comfortable for the both of them. He, of course, would sleep in a chair and allow her to take the bed, he did not have enough money with him to afford a room for the two of them.

"We can stay here tonight, it will not be as fancy as the places in Andaris but it should do the job. Unless you have changed your mind we can go in and get a room." He stood by the door, his body getting colder by the trill as he waited for her reply to come. He doubted her mind would have changed and assuming it hadn't he would lead her inside to rent the room for the night. Inside he would rent the room for the night and then depending what Celeste wanted they would go upstairs or remain in the dinning room and eat or drink something to settle her nerves. It was still far too early for sleep but he would understand if she wished to lay down.

[Celeste Andaris]

He lifted his hand and gently stroked the tears from her face and spoke to her in quiet, reassuring words. He was gentle, somehow, even as he told her that he would look after her and Celeste was aware that her mind was reeling. Then, he told her that yes, they could stay in an Inn and took his coat, wrapping it around her. The warmth of it, the smell of him on it hit her as she pulled it around herself, aware of exposed flesh although there was little.

The way in which Xander responded to her confused Celeste in a multitude of ways and tried to make sense of it. As they walked, she held tightly to his hand and listened to him. His tone was gentle, kind, protective and he seemed to be genuine. She wished, in that moment, that she could believe it, but she could not. Her brother had once been kind and protective of her, after all. Although he had always, always, had a temper and his response to her behaviour now would not be this. It was confusing, so very confusing.

Too much, she knew, for her mind to deal with right now, so she thanked him for the handkerchief and she used it to dab at her face, cleaning her tears. "I'm sorry, Xander, I should not be making such a fuss. It will be fine, I'm sure." He checked with her, though, about the Inn and she looked at him with a conflicted expression. "I feel like I should say that I have changed my mind, that I am being a foolish woman and all will be fine." Dare she trust him to be who he claimed he was? "Please, if we can, I would appreciate it more than I can tell you."

So, they went into the Inn where he took care of things in a manner quite unlike any she had come across before.