♔ II ► VIDEO 【UNSEELIE LOCKETS + HERMIONENET COMPASS】

[skjalf]

( Today, she is beautifully dressed in a gown of dark green, and her hair is braided in a crown about her head, with some loose curls falling past her shoulders. Appearance is everything today, when she has such a request to make. It is not as humbling as she might have expected, to be in such a position as to need to ask for aid; perhaps it is because it is not for her, personally.

But rather an endeavour which may benefit all. Carefully, at first, she smiles, an expression which gains warmth after a few seconds. )

I greet all of you well. And pray that all of you are doing all right. Sadly, as we are all keenly aware, such a state will not long be enjoyed by many of our native brethren. The Void would consume Leathann, and I commend the great efforts being made by all to keep it at bay.

Yet the isle of Briste to the north is in similarly dire straits, and I would make a great effort there to see their people saved from death, if the Void is not stopped ere it might swallow the isle. I know not if raising it might be viable option; rather, I have struck up an overture, a dialogue with their Council of elders.

My hope is this: that we might relocate the people to a settlement on the coast of the mainland here. If I might secure their trust and blessing to do so, I will lead their people to the head of the North road. There, I propose a settlement be built, which may in time grow into something greater.

I would do this myself, but I lack the funds to. Thus I appeal to you all: please, aid me in this. I will either repay you in turn or owe you a favour later, for certain. I would not ask for donations unless it is within your wisdom to provide one. Either way, you would bear my eternal gratitude for this.

These people may be hesitant to trust us, but they deserve a better fate than that which awaits them if we do naught.

Comments

[meloncholy]

[It's exactly like that.] I think you'll find I'm a tough but fair taskmaster. [But yes - work for it, Bess.

They'd spoken about marriage and Elizabeth's misgivings. His smile loses its wideness but takes on a certain depth of warmth to hear it mentioned, even in a joke.] Then I'd have to be a happy and content man with a distracted wife. I'm sure one would greatly inform the other.

[Nudge nudge, wink wink.]

You have not, but then neither have I. [He's not used to receiving such declarations of affection often, with the life he's lived, but Elizabeth seems determined to make up for their absence.] I love you, too.

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[skjalf]

Much more fair than most, I will warrant! ( She laughs, confident that she has him around her baby finger enough to get her own way. ) Tough might even appeal, depending upon the fashion in which it is meant.

( Though her cheer is set to pause for a series of long moments strung together, in which her heart begins to race and her eyes open wide. Apparently from the look on her face, her misgivings are not entirely the same as before.

It is entirely his doing, with the patience, understanding and care he has shown her. Something softens infinitely in Elizabeth's features, including her smile. )

One would hope that such happiness would never need to be forced for my sake. Are you—is this meant to be taken as a proposal? If I were to be a distracted wife, love, it would be entirely your doing. And I would enjoy every moment of it.

( Yes, those words mean entirely what he might think they mean. )

A fact we should remedy on a daily basis, I think. ( Her cheeks flush with pleasure, and her smile broadens. ) No matter what is to come, that is one thing I never wish to change. I have been so very happy.

As I hope and pray that you have been, too.

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[meloncholy]

Well if I'd known that -

[But soon she's focusing on the other part of what he'd said. In truth, he'd meant it as harmless flirting. He didn't have the same misgivings about marriage as Elizabeth had - the idea of being a man's property - only the idea of union, of family. It was something he'd lacked sorely during his life, having lost his mother and now his brothers in arms.

Only the world was ending. There would be no children and he's sure neither of them would want to bring any into this world without more certainty that they'd survive.

Only - only the world was ending.]

A poor proposal, if it's given over the lockets. And none of the traditions of our own world seem fitting. But still, if I were to ask such a thing, I would give it more ceremony than this. [It's worth noting that so far the conversation is lacking a 'no.' A warm smile plays around Porthos' lips.] You would have to wait and see. But yes - I am happy.

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[skjalf]

( Even if the world were not ending, Elizabeth finds herself most inclined toward the idea now. Now that they have been together for nearly a year, and known each other for nigh upon two. He has made it absolutely crystal clear that he would never consider her his property, and respects her choices as well as her lifestyle, without any expectation that she change any of it to suit him. What else can she do, when she has found someone who accepts her so readily with both arms held open wide?

Become his very loving, entirely devoted and sometimes distracted wife. The matter of children is an obvious one—in that it is decidedly not a good idea. Unless they adopt a brood of orphans, who arguably would benefit from their love and guidance the most, anyhow—then, no. Heirs of their bodies cannot be brought into this world. Not as it is. )

You have my leave, and my blessing to ask this of me whenever you so choose. My answer is already decided. And perhaps we should make a tradition of our own, to celebrate our new beginning in this world.

( Because as she has told Clarke, everything ends eventually. But she chooses not to believe that now is that time. )

I wait upon your pleasure, in more ways than one, I am certain! Few things in this or any world could make me a happier woman.