The seven Duchies of Central Rynmere and their respective baronies, cities, towns, villages, and landmarks each overseen by a Duke of one of the seven noble families and ultimately controlled by the King of Rynmere.
“Of course,” the Krome replied. She crossed her legs together and held Nathaniel’s gaze evenly. The change of topic was a relief to be honest. Talking about politics was certainly an easier task for her compared to discussing their feelings. While she wasn’t exactly satisfied with how their conversation had ended, the young woman was relieved to change the subject. “I have learned that one must consider every possibility, every option. Especially in a world like ours.”
Velaine moved with more ease now, slipping into a role she was more comfortable with. It was probably noticeable to the Endor. She leaned forward, propping her elbow on her thigh and her chin on her hand. While she had trouble playing the betrothed, she had trained herself far longer to be a shrewd woman. “To be frank with you, if given the choice, I will prefer to lead Krome. I know the land, its strengths and weaknesses. I know what I’ll do with the duchy. We are struggling and I know Endor is in a much better state than us. But that just makes me want to lead it more, you know? We are already a mess and I can’t let anyone make it even worse.”
While she hadn’t been second-in-line of the ducal seat for long, the young woman was already quite taken with the idea.
“You probably can argue the same thing against me. That you know Endor better than Krome and I’ll have no objections on that,” the young woman mused, watching her betrothed closely. “Be honest to me, are you against being a Duke of Krome should the seat falls into our hands? As far as I can tell, this betrothal wasn’t exactly your idea.” While she, on the other hand, had been preparing to chain herself with any man should it serve her purpose.
She smiled mildly, not wanting to seem like she was against the idea. “If that’s a possibility, you’ll probably have to teach me about your home once we get there.”
“Why do you ask though, Nate?” she returned, tilting her head ever so slightly. “Did something happen that makes you think you might inherit the duchy?”
Last edited by Velaine Krome on Sat Jan 20, 2018 8:19 am, edited 2 times in total. word count: 374
Her answer was very expected, but he had significant counters to what she said. Her only point that he could not counter was that Krome would flourish in her hands versus being left to her parents or to a cousin of hers. The unknown frightened her; he could not blame her for it. He could argue the same for his own house. Of all his cousins, he knew Alice the best. If she were to sit as head of Endor, he feared she would rule with her feelings more so than her mind. That was not always a bad thing, but leading with one's heart on one's sleeve made them vulnerable. Already they had had to hide one body. How many more would need to be hidden before she was taken from the seat? Then there were the others; lesser known Endors that could be even worse.
"Neither do I think this betrothal is your idea. I will safely blame our mothers for that," Nathaniel started. It was a joke to ease into his next statements. They would be tough pills to swallow. "I suppose the lay of the land does not concern me. Give me a horse and a good Krome guide and I'll learn the land. I bet you would be able to do the same if Endor were shown to you. As I see it, Krome has suffered a great deal by aiding in the rebellion. To no fault of your own of course. Your family is broke, albeit, this betrothal will bring in some funds."
He stiffened when she got down to the nitty-gritty of the situation. Why had he brought it up? He knew exactly why, but he was somewhat ashamed to tell her. Again he rand his hand up his face and through his hair. By now she would have started catching on to the nervous habit of his. "Last night, Oliver mentioned in his jabbing way that you would make me Duke Krome. I do not feel indignant about that, but I hope you understand how emasculating it might seem. Commoners take the name of the husband. Nobles take the name to whichever situation suits them best. I am not against becoming a Krome, but I could see us helping both houses from Endor's duchy more so than I do Krome."
It was a strange argument, but his business edged mine saw less the politics of the situation and more the flow of nel through the system. He leaned forward, adjusting his posture until he was seated upright with both elbows on his knees. Nathaniel remained relaxed over the situation; ultimately, whatever happened would happen. "I view things differently than you do Velaine. I see things in terms of the circulation of nel. If we were to sit upon the seat of Endor, we could ensure a positive flow of nel into Krome. Krome could pay off its debts, bring in more food, and flourish. All of that would be done by your hand as Duchess Endor. Even Duchess Krome, whomever that might be, would have to realize that you have power in a place you do not even rule."
It was conniving, but he could see them ruling over two places without having claim to both. Puppet masters in a sense, they could pull the strings from a distance until they were happy with the outcomes. "You are certainly more likely to inherit your duchy. My father is second born, and my uncle has two sons. I am no where near as close as you to becoming the Duke, but it is possible and we should be prepared if faced with a choice."
Velaine smiled a bit at his comment, remembering how the fates had brought them together. Though it didn’t do much in terms of softening the Endor’s words. She had no idea what had led her family to join in on the rebellion. Now, they’re not even here to suffer the consequences, having scattered to the winds. “That’s what I am trying to do. I am to fix Krome. So far, none of my family members had done anything significant to change our dire situation. For all I know, they will waste all the opportunities I have given them once I left.” The distrust Velaine’s words was obvious, hinting at her skeptical nature.
The young woman had agreed to their union because she thought it would secure her rise to the ducal seat of Krome. She was more than ready to ruin her father and betray him when the time comes. She had left Ne’haer with the promise of inheriting Krome in her mind. To think that it would all go to waste…
She hadn’t expected for Nathaniel to be quite affected by Oliver’s words. Despite his assurance that he was alright with it, Velaine had picked up on that particular gesture of his – the one he always made when he was somewhat distraught. It wasn’t difficult to see where he was coming from – learning psychology had allowed her the ability to slip into someone else’s shoes and consider their views. She opened her mouth to assure him that such things have been done countless times before – even her own brother left his family name to take up his wife’s – but changed her mind. It probably wouldn’t help.
“Alright, I’m listening,” the young woman relented. She didn’t bother hiding her wariness. Nathaniel had seen enough of Velaine to know that the she-wolf inside of her wouldn’t necessarily be thrilled with the idea of joining the bears.
There was no doubt she could see the merits in his plan. While it was vague, the Endor had the right idea. Should they truly ascend to Endor’s seat and find a suitable replacement for the Duke and Duchess Krome, what he was saying might not be entirely implausible. It was a radical idea, but one that might have some hope – especially should Velaine progressed her magic in Empathy.
But that would mean she was to be the one to be stripped of her own name, to leave the enchanting forests of home. She had only returned and the thought of leaving it so soon wasn’t entirely pleasant. Velaine couldn’t trust anyone else with managing the duchy, not when she was capable. Not when she knew the other choice was letting her mad father and negligent mother run it. What if they ended up destroying Krome entirely?
A small whisper in her head reminded her that she came home not for her home. But for power. She wasn’t like her brother, with ideas of liberating her house for justice and whatnots. She wanted to liberate her house so that the power she held once she reached the top would be unwavering. But will becoming an Endor help her achieve that? She wasn’t entirely convinced, to be honest
From the moment they were betrothed, Nathaniel probably had become her ally by default. It didn’t matter whether they agreed to it or not. They were stuck together, everything he or she did will reflect on the other. Yet, Velaine couldn’t say that he trusted him. Not with this. What if he wanted to use her to take over Krome? If she agreed to become an Endor and gave such power over her family to the bears, what’s stopping them from ruining her house when they wanted to? Even if she was the Duchess Endor, the people would listen to Nate, not her.
She would be powerless. Useless.
Velaine pursed her lips in thought. Those were concerns she probably never could voice out loud. “You’re right, though. We definitely should consider it early on.” This wasn’t something she could decide at the moment. She doubted she could give the Endor a satisfying answer. Still, this was all theoretical. She was still close in-line for Krome. For now, she tried to turn the questions to him instead. “Do you even want to be a duke? No matter the house you’re leading?”
For the longest time, she did not say anything. He did not pressure her, instead settling his chin atop his folded hands while he watched her work through the information. She was not forceful in her reply, instead agreeing that it was something that they needed to discuss. It had been discussed and he would leave it simply at that. Ultimately, she was closer to getting a duchy than he was; however, they needed to be on the same page if something changed. Having laid all of that on the table, he felt at least accomplished in that discussion. So far, this had been a productive carriage ride. He almost thought this had been wrapped up and intended to leave it there when she asked if he wanted to be duke.
Did he want to be duke? Prior to meeting and becoming her husband-to-be, he had never even really considered it. He was too far down the list in Endor to believe it to be possible. There were his mines to take care of and his responsibilities to his mother. Nathaniel was entitled to sleep with whomever he wanted. There was the pleasure of digging in the dirt and pulling unrefined iron ore to ship off to Andaris. Supply the crown's army, honor his family, and complete his civic duty to his people. He was living the dream. Nathaniel had not imagined anything further. "I had not wanted to be duke before you. I had my path set out before me and I was content to live that life. I make it my mission to reform the criminals that come to me to be content with their lot in life; to teach them that I need to be happy with mine. If my path has changed, then I will have to be ok with that."
He reached over to take her hands, patting them lightly. This was probably a little beyond his years, but he had seen his father do it to his mother when he was trying to be reassuring. "Whatever house. We will make history, Lady Krome. We will do it together, no matter what stands in our way."
There would be a lot to stand in their way in the future.
Letting her hands go, he reached under his seat. He produced a box tied with a pretty bow. Marshall had outdone himself on Nathaniel's behalf. Sometimes, he appreciated that man more than he would ever know. Nathaniel handed the box over to her. "Happy Zi'da Velaine."
His answer was something she expected. It wasn’t too difficult to tell that Nathaniel Endor had been uninterested in climbing the ranks of nobility – at least compared to her. As far she could tell, he wasn’t entirely comfortable in maneuvering through socialization, but his ideas also told her that he had the mind for politics. This way a topic to hash out another trial. Besides, they still had a long way to go.
When he took her hands, Velaine tried not to enjoy his warmth too much. She couldn’t help noting how small her hands were cusped in his. It was far too easy to be swept away by her emotions. She needed to remind herself that there was no one she could trust. No one. Not even when she wanted to. If her own family could betray her, abandon her… Nate could do the same. She was the one who needed him, while he… He probably didn’t really need her. There are always other noblewomen available for him to marry. Still, Velaine smiled at his words and nodded. “Together.”
The young woman blinked in surprise when the Endor placed the present in her hands. It had some weight to it and she had to stop herself from shaking it to hear what was inside. Without thinking, she asked, “What?”
Gingerly, the she-wolf unwrapped the box, not sure what to think. She had half the mind to thrust back the present to him without seeing what was inside. It never occurred to her that Nathaniel would give her anything, not for a single moment. They had gotten along well enough, but certainly not enough for her to expect any sort of gift during Zi’da. Inside was a scroll, but nothing like the one she had ever seen before. The parchment was finely made and she opened it carefully. Inside, nothing was written. Curiosity got the best of her.
“What is it?”
Once he explained what it was, Velaine sighed. An echo scroll – certainly not something you can easily find. Shaking her head, she directed her bright blue eyes towards her betrothed. He was smiling slightly, probably pleased to have taken her off guard once more. “I- I can’t, Nate. I can’t accept this. You’ve given me too much already.” That donation last night and now this. He kept giving and she kept receiving. Nathaniel had proved himself to be more thoughtful than she expected, again and again. Honestly, it sort of scared her. It tied them closer and closer together, indebting her to him. The warm feeling inside her chest terrified her even more. “It’s- You’re far too kind to me, my lord.”
Her heart was pounding and she hated herself for it. Velaine was supposed to be the one in control, to use this relationship the way she wanted to. “I didn’t even get you anything. You’re making me feel awfully inconsiderate,” the she-wolf admitted with a sheepish smile.
The echo scrolls had been a fantastic find. He had been perusing the marketplace shortly after meeting with Hillard's wife. It was in an effort to take his mind off the worms that had been plaguing his operation. Marshall had picked him up shortly after this discovery. The merchant had used them previously to stay connected with his family. Now that they were in the same city, he had wanted to share this opportunity with another. Nathaniel felt that he had gotten the scrolls for a decent price. The 500 GN had been a very reasonable price for an enchanted trinket.
Not that he would ever tell Velaine how much he paid for it.
"That scroll is the sister to another; the one which I will keep in my personal possessions. I was told that if you write on yours, it will appear on my scroll. The same will happen if I write on mine. This way, we can always communicate with one another," He stated calmly, very pleased with his find. His joyous smile immediately turned into a frown when she mentioned that she could not accept this. "Who else would I give it to? My mother? I would certainly prefer you to have it. She watches me like a hawk enough as it is. Overbearing woman."
His laughter was strong after that. Nathaniel loved his mother but he did not want to have a line of constant interaction with her. He could imagine that she would never let him go if she knew these scrolls existed. Slowly, he began to move back into that relaxed fashion, snuggling himself into the corner and stretching his legs as best as he could in the cramped carriage. He heard Nadia and Marshall laughing outside, apparently enjoying their own conversation.
"Do not worry about it m'lady. I am sure that your continued presence will be enough for me. After all, Zi'da is a season of giving. It is in giving that we remember that we are human. You have given enough to me as it is; I will continue to give and be kind to you as long as we are destined to be together." His words were cryptic, but he had markedly changed over the last two seasons since they originally met. Nathaniel was still a stupid bear with a rough edge, but diamonds were not made overnight.
Nathaniel closed his eyes while she contemplated his words. Although he had gotten plenty of sleep the previous night, he was still making up for the trials of sleep his had missed since journeying to Andaris. The nightmares had been feverish and frequent, so it was no surprise to him when he fell asleep to the rock and rumble of the carriage moving along towards Berengar.
Etiquette: Sleeping Together Without Actually Sleeping Together
Discipline: Keep Your Face Neutral and Calm
Discipline: Wait For the Right Time
Meditation: To Calm Emotions
Meditation: Focus On Your Breathing
Meditation: Sink Into the Darkness
Empathy: More Reliable Method of Controlling Your Emootions
Empathy: Knotting Away Anxieties
Empathy: Pushing Emotions Deep
Politics: Considering All the Options
Politics: Endor or Krome?
Politics: Controlling Krome by Being Duchess Endor
Politics: Trust is Difficult
Non-Skill
Nathaniel Endor: Been With More Women Than He Could Count
Nathaniel Endor: More Sensitive Than You Expected
Nathaniel Endor: Thinks Ruling Endor Is Best
Nathaniel Endor: Far Too Kind
Marshal Jeev: Nathaniel’s Right Hand Man
Marshal Jeev: Manservant of House Endor
Nadia Harwyn: Gift from Caius Gawyne
Nadia Harwyn: Master Mine Architect
Loot: Echo Scroll from Nate!
Injuries/Overstepping: No.
Fame: No.
Magic EXP: YES
Grading Checklist
Thread List Up to Date?
Yes
Skill Point Ledger Up to Date?
Yes
Money Ledger Up to Date?
Yes
Fame Ledger Up to Date?
Yes
Solo or Collab?
Collab
1500 words or more?
Yes
Number of Posts
8
No. of Skill Knowledges Due
13
[/color]
Rewards
Nathaniel Endor
Skill Points: 15
Knowledges:
Skill
Seduction: Honesty in Sleep is Sexy
Seduction: The Beauty of a Surprise Gift
Seduction: A Woman Looks Good in the Morning
Endurance: The Benefit of a Good Night's Sleep
Resistance: Able to Keep the Clothes On
Stealth: Nathaniel's Black Book of Women
Business Management: Marshall Jeev, Head of Personnel
Business Management: Nadia Harwyn, Mine Architect and Gift from Caius
Business Management: The Flow of Nel
Politics: Presenting the Facts
Politics: House Krome vs. House Endor, Pros and Cons
Politics: The Emasculation of a Name
Politics: The Weight of a Title
Non-Skill
Velaine Krome: Interested in Nathaniel's Past
Velaine Krome: Appreciates the Gift
Velaine Krome: The Other Half of the Echo Scroll
Velaine Krome: Interested in Renewing House Krome
Loot: No.
Injuries/Overstepping: No.
Fame: No.
Magic EXP: No.
Here's hoping that I don't turn into a gibbering, incoherent mess because wow... *fans self* I've only ever skimmed bits of Nate/Vel (Vate? Nel? Lol, Nel!) threads before so I've never had the chance to get a good idea of their interactions but yeah, they work bloody well together as it turns out. It makes me want to go digging through things now, especially from little flyaway comments. I even want to go digging into Alice Endor because of the mention of getting rid of bodies?? What are you getting yourself into Vel?!
I'm incredibly curious about what made Vel decide to return so suddenly with Nate to Endor. So many questions, such a desire to stalk all your threads. If you find someone lurking in the corner... well, at least you'll know who to say hi to! Great thread, guys, very entertaining!
Don't forget to edit your request as having been graded, here and mark it with this stamp!
