forum A Thing You Won't Remember
Started by @ElderGod-yellowqueen
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@ElderGod-yellowqueen

"I've not yet been introduced as a lady. I feel it would be better for me to eat on my own. I don't want to start up any rumors. More than there already might be from a girl being found in the prince's room." Elitia, Ebony, said.
She looked around the room that had housed her for a day. It smelled like Romulus. It was nice. And she would miss it, miss him dearly, though she would never admit it.

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

Uriah nodded. "I thought that would be the prudent option." He glanced at her as they walked down the hallway. "If I may… Lieutenant Lear told me nothing about you, other than you were a dear friend of the Prince's. However, I have made some assumptions based on your sleeping arrangements, your unannounced title, and the fact that you wish to remain hidden… and I've come to the conclusion that we have much in common." He paused a moment. "I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to help you be whomever you wish to be, and will keep hidden what you ask me to keep hidden."
As they neared the kitchen, he relaxed his demeanor a bit. "For instance, it might be wiser for us to walk in and ask for food as if you were an old friend, rather than a noble in hiding. If you'd like." He wasn't pushy, but Uriah was no stranger to needing to put up careful walls.

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

Elitia followed by his side, keeping her gaze forward. She didn't want to look around and see. She didn't want ti see what was the same and what was different. Her heart wouldn't be able to bear it.
She looked up at the knight and smiled gently at him, grateful he only believed that she was in sex work, same as he had been, she inferred. She didn't need anyone else knowing her true identity. The more people that knew, the more likely it would spread until rumors were far and wide. She didn't want to lose her head nor did she want the people rallying in her name. It would be safer to stick to the shadows.
"I will follow your lead, Ser."

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

Uriah smiled slightly. "Uri, if you like, Milady." They walked into the kitchens about then, and one of the cooks smiled at him.
"Uriah! Good to see you down this way." She glanced at Elia, smiling wider. "Friend of yours?"
Uriah nodded quickly, his entire demeanor changing. He acted almost giddy. "Yes, a friend come to visit! We're heading out in a bit, but I was wondering if we could get some food first?"
The cook turned and began gathering items. "I can get you whatever you like, we're prepping quite the meal for the nobles today. The Prince is back! And the King as well, so we've been prepping favorite dishes of theirs, and you should see the variety some of the nobles ask for…"
She prattled on the entire time, and Uriah smiled at Elia. He knew who he'd asked, known full well that she'd talk the whole time and not ask questions.
"Just point at what you want." he whispered at some point. The cook looked up expectantly every so often, filling a couple of knapsacks full of food.

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

"And the same goes for you then, please, just call me Ebony." Elitia was no lady. She was so far from it. She felt like a fraud almost. She may have been born a princess but she hadn't been one in a very long time. And she likely would never feel like that again, no matter how well she did as a countess.
She smiled at the cook in front of them, just nodding her head along with the lady. She didn't speak to interrupt though her stomach did grumble once or twice. She pointed out a few food items that looked good: some roast, rolls, potatoes, and a couple of pastries for dessert.
"This all looks wonderful. I bet it'll taste even better than it looks. Thank you so much for doing this," she thanked the cooks, giving her a kind smile.

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

Uriah knew full well his sense of propriety wasn't going to let hm just call her Ebony at the first try. He settled on "Miss Ebony" for the time being, which kept the name respectful but playful, which he thought struck a good balance. He didn't know what background the Countess had come from, just that The Prince had clearly rescued her from something awful. It could be anything from slavery to sex work to just sheer poverty.
Just sheer poverty. He shook his head just slightly at the thought. Poverty was an ill, but under the King, being just poor was a mercy, if you weren't enslaved in some way. In any case, what she'd been rescued from had clearly shaped parts of her, and he'd need to be careful not to trigger things, either by being too friendly too quickly, or being too stiff and formal for her to be comfortable.

He watched the Countess making food choices, and smiled as the cook, a girl he'd met a few times who he thought was a bit sweet on him, specifically picked the fruit pastries, which he liked. Lady Ebony was polite, and the cook beamed at them both.
"Enjoy your lunch! I hope it satisfies your tongues and your stomachs. Oh! And you'll have to come back and try a new pie I've been working on."
There it was. She was making hard eye contact with him, an Uriah gave her a gentle, non-commital smile.
"Maybe one day soon. But we don't mean to take up your time just now, I'm sure you've got a lot of prep."
The girl looked at her cutting board reluctantly, as it waited patiently for her to finish what she'd been doing. "Yes… we do." She looked back at him, her eyes hopeful, before looking at the Countess. "I hope you like the food." A warm smile, and she turned back to her food prep.
Uriah gently nudged the Countess towards the side door, picked up the knapsacks full of food on their way out. "I'm sure we will."

Out the side door, where a cart was waiting. Uriah set the food packs in the back. Lily and Calvin were sitting comfortably in the seat of the cart, their few belongings packed. They perked up at the sight of the Countess, but didn't say anything yet.
Uriah turned to the Countess. "We'll set your things here, so you can focus on riding and bonding with your Wulf. The Lieutenant should be back within a few minutes with the Wulf, so maybe we eat, and then go once he's returned?"

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

Elitia just smiled at the girl and nodded. "I have no doubt that I will enjoy it. It looks delicious." She gave her guard a knowing look. Anyone with eyes could see the cook fancied him. She wondered how Uriah felt about her.
She turned and followed the knight outside. She ate a couple pieces of her lunch as they walked, her stomach grumbling at the smell of the food. Her smile widened as she saw Calvin and Lily waiting for her. They looked well. Much better than when they had been stuck in the brothel.
She went to stand by the two, gently brushing back Lily's hair. She turned her attention to Uriah with a nod. "Alright, that sounds good."
Now she only needed to think of a name.

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

Lily hopped down out of the seat to give her a hug, squeezing tight around her middle, before letting go and stepping back, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I'm not used to-… to protocol and everything." She gave a small curtsy, her entire demeanor shifting into something obviously new and stiff to her. "What… what should we call you now?" she asked softly.
Calvin smiled warmly at her from the seat. He didn't say anything, but his expression said Thank You as clearly as if he'd yelled it.
Uriah busied himself with packing the stuff in the back, letting them have their moment. He moved from there to making sure the bridle and harness on the horse was done up correctly, and then gave a sharp whistle.
His mount came running up, making small huffing noises. It looked like a Wulf, but much smaller and more hyena-looking, with the same tan and black fur. He'd received the Warg as a gift from his friend's in bootcamp, after his first mission had seen his horse shot out from under him. He'd named the Warg Nurl, and they'd become very close friends. Nurl snuffled at him, noting the Countess's scent from walking near her, and turned to look at her, his eyes playful. Uriah tugged on his fur, as if to say 'No.' She would be treated with respect, which meant none of Nurl's playful wrestling antics.

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

Elitia only have her a look. "You dint need ti follow protocol, Lily. You may hug me whenever you wish." She pulled her back into that hug. "My new name is Ebony, so just call me that. There's no need for formalities. Please, don't call me lady."
Calvin and Lily were the last people she wanted to call her by her formalities. She was practically adopting them both at this point. She just wanted them to call her by her name.
"When we're alone, you can call me Elia," she murmured in her ear, "But only when we're alone. No one can know my real name."
She hoped they could keep quiet about it. Her name was too similar to her birth and name and it was likely someone would put things together later on. She couldn't risk that, for her safety and theirs.

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

Lily smiled at her and hugged her back tightly. "I'm a little afraid that if I don't use your title and your new name all the time, I'll slip up and call you the wrong name in front of someone." She lowered her voice to just above a whisper, to make sure she wouldn't be heard by anyone else. She was worried about it, even not knowing Elia's true history.
Calvin nodded seriously."We'll do our best to get this right. You're giving us such an opportunity, and we know you didn't have to, and what this means for us." He was grateful, and he wanted her to know that.

Lear walked up about then, with a large Wulf behind him. It was roughly 6 ft tall at the shoulder, had light brown fur with white markings across all four legs, and was nearly bouncing with energy. "I see you got food, the kids, and the cart. All that's left now is for you to get into the saddle. And the name, of course. If you name him first, I can hand you the lead line without a problem, and he will obey for the most part. He is still young, though."

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

Elia pulled Clavin into their hugs as well, giving them both a tight squeeze and kissing the top of their heads. "Do not thank me. It is what you deserve. Deserved. No child should ever grow up where you both did."
She gave them only last hug before releasing then and letting go. She turned at the sound of Lear approaching and the Wulf. Her eyes shifted behind him, seeking out for Romulus, subtly. She really wasn't going to see him again after the office. Her heart sank at the realization but she didn't let the sadness and disappointment show on her face.
Taking a deep breath, she turned her attention to the Wukf in front of her. She held out her hand, waiting for him to come to her. After a moments pause, "Lorcan."

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

Calvin and Lily both beamed at her, though they didn't say anything. They were a bit overwhelmed by her kindness. They climbed back up into the seat of the cart when she let go of them, and glanced at Lear with wide eyes.
Lear nodded approvingly at her choice of name, but he wasn't really the one who needed to approve. The young Wulf looked at her, the expression on his lupine face thoughtful. He seemed to be considering the name, and that was clear when he began scratching symbols of some kind into the dirt at his feet. Lear looked down at the symbols, and his smile widened just a little bit.
"He's writing the name you've given him in Wulvish runes, to be sure he can get it in his head. That's a sign of acceptance." Lear stepped to her, holding out the lead line, and Lorcan lowered his head, walking up to her as well. He kept his head down, showing submission and respect, but his night black eyes were locked on her face, as if watching how she would react to him being up close.

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

Elia smiled and nodded at Lear, though she didn't take her eyes off of her Wulf. She placed her hand on his muzzle, petting him softly. "Such a handsome boy," she murmured.
She didn't flinch away or jerk back from the Wulf. However, her eyes did begin to wonder, searching for Romulus once again. They didn't say goodbye. She wanted to say goodbye. Her shoulders drooped as she turned to face Lear, still standing by her Wulf.
"When are we leaving?"

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

Lorcan nuzzled her palm, and huffed quietly, appreciating that she didn't flinch from him. He squatted at her question, presumably predicting what Lear was about to say. He had a saddle strapped across his shoulders, built differently from the huge one Ruir wore for Romulus. This one was much smaller and lighter, obvious more fit for someone Elia's size.

"As soon as you can, which is now, I believe." Lear said gently. He knew what she was wanting, but… "The Prince will be in meetings all day, with his father prepping for more war." He touched her shoulder. "I'll be sure to let him know you made it out safe, and to tell him goodbye on your behalf." It was the best he could offer just now. He stepped forward to help Elia into her saddle.

Uriah leapt up onto Nurl's back, and the Warg stepped over near Lorcan, keeping his head down. Uriah nodded at Lear, before looking towards Lady Ebony. "Ready when you are, Milady."

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

Elia just nodded. She should have known better. She should have known he wouldn't have been able to say goodbye. He was a prince, one recently returned to home. He had plenty of things to catch up with. She was the least of his priorities.
She stepped into the saddle, using Lear to stabilize herself. She shifted in the saddle, adjusting her skirts, until she was comfortably settled in the saddle. She pet Lorcan's mane as she grabbed hold of his reins.
"Goodbye Lear." She gave him a small smile before turning to Uriah. "I'm ready."

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

Lear smiled up at her and patted Lorcan's ribs. "Farewell, Lady Ebony. We shall see each other soon."
Uriah nodded and gave a command, and Nurl took off running, with Lorcan and the cart horses following him. The castle gates opened as they approached, and nobody questioned them, another of Lear's helpful tasks.
Lorcan moved smoothly, his feet landing softly, his speed low. He was clearly aware that his rider was new in a Wulf saddle, and he took it easy. It was a 3 hour trip at their place, and Nurl would lead since Uriah knew where he was going.
Calvin and Lily stayed glued together in the cart, Calvin trusting the horses to follow Lorcan closely.
The trip was uneventful, and they reached the Manor of Morganshire in the normal 3 hours. Uriah was known to the guards there, and they let him in. They'd been notified of what was going on, and a cheer went up from the mostly Venian guards when they realized the new Countess of Morganshire was also a Venian, and young and beautiful as well.
There was rejoicing as Elia rode into her new home.

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

(So, here's a thought. I was going to suggest a timeskip, once you responded, to about a month later. She'd be settled in a bit more, she'd know her people better, Calvin and Lily would be squared away, and it would give Romulus plenty of time to heal, etc. Would you be down for that? If not, we can totally continue how we are. Your call)

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

Elia gave Lear one last look before facing forward. She did not look back as they rode. Not once. It was her old life she was leaving behind once again. A life she never wanted to remember or live again. There were too many dark memories there. And while she wished she had more time with Romulus, she didn't want to be at the palace for a minute longer.
She never once complained during the three hour trip, despite the aching starting in her thighs and bum. She wasn't used to riding like this, and not for this long either. She munched on the food she had brought occasionally, when her stomach was hungry. She didn't want to eat too much incase the nerves caught up to her and she ended up vomiting.
Her body stiffened as the people of Morganshire cheered as they road on. Memories flashed in her head so quick she had barely any time to have any grasp on them. Her body was shaking and she hoped she could conceal that. She forced a bright smile on her face and waved at the people as they went. She was going to be their Lady. She would be in charge of them and their wellbeing. She needed to leave a good impression.

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

To Lady Ebony Morgan, Countess of Morganshire.

From the desk of Lieutenant Lear of the Royal Guard.

Greetings.
It has been a while since we last spoke. I hope you have had time to order your household and get your affairs put together.
I am writing this letter to up-end those affairs in spectacular fashion.

It has come to my attention that the Morganshire wine presses supply the Crown with most of their wine, and have done so for quite some time. We have paid the workers a living wage, but not much more, and it has been determined by the Crown that the entire Estate is entitled to backpay. To account for nearly 13 years of profitable wine vending, the Crown has settled on the sum of 1.4 million gold pieces, paid directly to you. We hope that this lump sum may be enough to set you in good standing and comfort for a while, and certainly enough to recoup the cost of redecorating and wardrobe that you will have incurred by this time.
If you should require additional funds for, say, the educating of two young wards or the hiring of more guards, please reply with any needs you may have, and I shall have the money sent to you posthaste.
Do let us know how you are settling in. The Crown takes great interest in the wellfare of its nobles.

By the warmth of the sun,
Lieutenant Lear.

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

It had been a couple of months since Lady Ebony had arrived at Morganshire. The original staff remained, minus a couple of workers that had wrongfully insulted Ebony and her wards. They were let go on the spot and immediately replaced with loyal citizens. The first couple of weeks were chaotic as they all got to know each other. Ebony spent most of her time with the household manager and the vineyard managers, learning how the house worked, learning to use the ledgers, and putting in orders for updated equipment. It was a lot of work and long work days as she attempted to learn everything. Even now, she still wasn't sure of everything. Ebony ensured that Calvin and Lily were put in the best school Morganshire had to offer. She wanted them close to home, coming home to their beds every night. She had lots to teach them.
The Lady gathered the two children up in her room on their first night there to have a private discussion with them. "Life as you know it is about to change. This isn't like your roots. You won't be fighting for food or a place to sleep. You will have your own bedrooms, plenty of food, beautiful clothes and accessories. But you cannot forget your roots. Do not let wealth get to your head. You may have better clothes and better education than our help but that does not mean you can be rude to them. You will be humble. I expect both of you to keep your rooms clean and organized. I don't care if you have your own maids who will clean up after you. You will clean up after yourselves. Do not make their jobs harder for them. You will treat everyone here with respect. If you have an issue with a member of the household, you will come directly to me, no one else. And we will discuss it. Neither of you will be wearing the clothes that you used to. Lily, you will be required to corsets and lace-up gowns. Calvin, you will be required to wear the best trousers and tunics and jackets that are afforded to you. This is the life of being noble and you will need to fit the mold, at least to a point. You will have the best education and the best tutors. I expect both of you to learn to your fullest potential. And Calvin, when you catch up on your studies because you are both behind, I will begin to show you how to be a Lord of Morganshire, when you eventually take this from me. It's going to take time for everyone to adjust. Be patient and be accepting."

It was said by the household that the Lady Ebony was kind at first. She had a gentle voice and would always listen. But the longer she was there, the more she took to the bottle. It was said that anyone could smell the wine on her if they came within a few feet of her. She became more anxious. She would raise her voice at the staff or at her wards when she was particularly stressed. She did always apologize then or after a time, which was more than could be said for other Lords and Ladies. She was antsy and twitchy if she was too long without a glass of wine. The wine would calm her and relax her. She went through at least a bottle a day. The Lady Ebony was in denial of her addiction. She had fired the one staff member that had been brave enough to say something on the spot. What they weren't aware of, is that she was trading her sex addiction for alcohol. She hadn't truly realized how much she had craved sex until she had gone weeks without a single interaction. And she was a Lady now. She couldn't go around sleeping with everyone. So she turned to the bottle in an attempt to suppress her urges.
Her wine rack was always full in her room. She would always have a glass before bed. There was always a bottle tucked away in her office when she was dealing with paperwork or grievances of her people. She had at least one glass of wine at every mealtime, though she forbade Lily from drinking any alcohol until she was sixteen, and Calvin was only allowed one glass a day should he wish to indulge.

And as Ebony sat at her desk, reading the letter she had received from Lear, she most certainly had a glass of wine in her hand, sipping gingerly. She was deliberating how she would disperse the sum she was being provided to her workers. While she may have a heavy drinking problem, she did pay her household and vineyard workers a considerable sum. As someone who understood what it was like to suffer, she wouldn't let anyone under her rule face the same fate as her. She had another paper on the side as she tried to think of a letter to write back. She had found over the weeks of being Lady Ebony, her correspondence with Lear had lessened more and more. And she had never once wrote to Romulus, never received anything from him either, so why should she write to him?
Finally, she settled on:

To Lieutenant Lear of the Royal Guard
From Lady Ebony Morgan of Morganshire

Greetings.
On behalf of Morganshire, I thank you for the sum. My people will be most pleased with receiving a generous bonus. I see a celebration in our future from such a sum.
Calvin and Lily are doing well. Their studies have been steady. Both have tutors outside of school to ensure maximum knowledge. Calvin will begin his lordship training with me in a few weeks. I believe he is ready.
You have given us more than enough. We have been making sufficient funds atop what you have provided for us. Thank you for your generosity but we do not need any more coin from the crown. We are doing well. I have plans to use some of the extra wealth to remodled parts of the manor. It is so old and parts are crumbling. I hope you will be able to visit to see it finished.

Wishing you well,
Lady Ebony Morgan

@EldritchHorror-Davadio health_and_safety emoji_events

In the few months since saying farewell to Lady Ebony, Lear had sent a few letters, though her responses were sparse. She was clearly busy settling into her new place.
He had also pulled strings to set her business in high standing across the kingdom, and Morganshire wine was now almost exclusively the wine sold across Venia.

If Elia had stopped and just sat on her pile of money, she'd be rich till she died of old age.

However, he and Romulus both knew better than to think that would happen. Reports from Uriah had shown Lady Ebony to be a decent manager, and a good influence on the two kids. They had also shown her to be an increasing drinker, which was a problem. She'd drink herself to an early grave, and Romulus needed her alive, preferably sober, if his plans of putting the Calistar's back on the throne was ever going to succeed.
Lear had also received exactly one letter from Lily and Calvin, and it had been extremely welcome. The handwriting was neat, if crude, and Lead could tell they'd conspired to write it themselves. They were taking to education quickly, Lily in particular. She used several words that would have been far outside her vocabulary only a month prior, and had an easy eloquence that was surprising for the shy, quiet girl Romulus had been kind to. Calvin wrote like a man more suited for action, though he did say the studies of strategy and business he was taking were extremely interesting to him. He'd make a good Lord, and if Lear was reading between the lines correctly, and excellent soldier.
They were doing well, were happy and healthy, and their only concern was the same as Uriah's: Lady Ebony's drinking habit. The kids avoided the wine like the plague, and watching what it was doing to Elia was hurting them. Lily didn't know what to make of it, since she'd never known Elia to have such an issue, but Calvin had a theory.
Lear, I never found satisfaction in my job. Ever. I hated servicing gruesome men on a regular basis. But… My Lady enjoyed a sense of power, and because of her position, a sense of freedom. Here she lacks that particular outlet, and has switched out another. For lack of a polite way to say it, she gets drunk because she cannot get laid.
Lear had sighed heavily as he'd read it. There was no easy resolution.
He'd sent a letter back, encouraging the young ones and assuaging their fears.
He'd also sent a missive to Uriah, asking how close he and Lady Ebony had gotten. Uriah had responded that they'd gotten decently close as Lady and guard, but that she was closed off to him about the things that drove her to drink. Lear suggested to him that he very carefully try to help her, and Uriah had responded that he'd be very careful about attempting such a thing. That had satisfied Lear, and it was the best thing he could offer her as of yet.

Romulus would have had more to say on the matter, but his mind had been focused elsewhere. For one, he'd needed to heal, and the concussion symptoms had gotten worse before they'd gotten better. For another thing, the war effort was ongoing, and Romulus had his attention split between readying his Corps, and trying to quietly mitigate the effect of this new war on the Venian people. He'd been making policy changes left and right, risking his father's ire to make sure the cost of this war, in money and lives, landed squarely one the Haradrim shoulders. It was heavy work, and Lear had needed to comfort him many times as the Prince grieved killing his own people for the sake of a place he couldn't claim as home.
In all that mess, Romulus had also made 2 more trips into the Venian countryside, and freed multiple more people. Calegon had kept quiet, and Romulus had managed not to make a mess of anything else.
It was on the third such trip that Lear realized they'd need to pass through Morganshire on the way home. He kept it to himself, as the Prince always kept his travel plans secret, but he hoped that maybe something would come of it.
~~~~

Uriah was in the habit of waking up long before dawn, to be ready for whenever Lady Ebony woke up. This morning, the sun was well set, and if the trail of sticky, half-dried wine leading to her bedroom door wasn any indication, she'd gone to bed drunk and would likely wake up hungover.
He waited in the antechamber of her rooms, having given a few orders to the servants, who'd been waiting as well.

@ElderGod-yellowqueen

Ebony hadn't slept an ounce through the night. The manor needed renovations. The ball room was a disaster and the dining hall needed to be expanded. Several of the rooms were old and outdated. She had started small, by renovating her room, her ward's rooms, the kitchens, a few other rooms for staff. But now it was time for larger renovations. And she been arguing with her merchant and household manager what tile to use, what glass, the chandelier. It was all frustration and stressful and she had gone through nearly half a bottle staring at an empty paper while she attempted to decide.
Her life as a princess was never like this. It was easy, fun. They only thing she needed to choose was how she wanted her hair and which dress she wanted to wear. It wasn't like this. She wasn't used to ruling over people, there protection and wellbeing in her hands. She was stressed all the damn time. She was doing he best but she felt like it was never enough. She was never enough.
The dawn had came and went and the sun had certainly rose. She heard shuffling and noises outside her bedroom door and she knew it was Uriah. Her head was poundng, her body ached, she looked like a mess. She had dark circles under her eyes, her hair was frizzy mess. She looked awful.
"You can come in, Uriah. If you're going to stand around, might as well come and help me choose which drapes to order." She called out to her guard. She murmured to herself as he came in, "They can't be too dark. They can't be too light. They need to stick out. They need to be subtle. They need block out sun. They need to let in sun."