^Tarava^

"Yes, of course, we'll have to plan the attack," Arietis agreed. "Should we travel to Mer, then? Or would that raise too much suspicion?"

Tarava's thoughts flew to Mer - the little city on the coast of Kyngdom, with myriad twisting streets and white buildings and an undercurrent of secrecy. The Resistance was based there, and few Nobyls really lived in it, so there'd be small excuse for Arietis and her to go there.

Then again, she'd been there once before, with Rulkan, in the early days of her Resistance activities when she needed to convince the leaders that they could trust her. How had they managed to get there? "There's one way for us to go there," she said. "We supposedly travel to the city of Ertim, close to Mer, because we want to 'visit a friend' - or a distant cousin, or see a dressmaker there, or something along those lines. From there it's easy enough to walk into Mer. It would be risky..." She fell silent for a moment. "...but I think we should try going to Mer ourselves. Especially as, since it's our idea to take over the palace - your idea," she added - "we should take it to the Resistance ourselves. Although, if you don't want to go, I can go alone. Maybe there's no need for both of us to risk our reputations." The last thing she wanted, she realized with an odd clarity, was to put Arietis into trouble of any kind. She understood and admired the girl's devotion to the Resistance, but she was also starting to feel protective of her.

Far inside, though, she hoped that Arietis would want to accompany her. It would be safer, besides, with two of them...

~

Ooh, Edyta looks like a great charrie! And btw, just wanted to say, I've really been enjoying the conversation with Tarava and Arietis :)

Aah, did it seriously take me three weeks to respond?? I'm so sorry! School's been really hectic, and I've had barely any time to write :/ I'm so sorry about the late reply, and I hope we can continue this RP :)

-Arietis-

Tarava suggested that they could travel to Ertim, a city that neighbored Mer, under an alibi, and then from there travel to Mer. Arietis agreed -- it sounded like a pretty solid plan -- until Tarava offered to go by herself. Her reasoning made sense (why risk both their reputations when there was no need to?) but Arietis didn't want to just sit back while Tarava put herself at risk. That had been her father's approach, and look where that got him.

"No," she said, shaking her head firmly, "I would like to go, if that's all right with you. Saftey in numbers and all that." After a moment, she added, somewhat shyly, "And besides, I've always wanted to see Mer. I've only ever heard about it." It might've been a childish reason to want to go, but to be fair it was a childhood wish she wanted to fulfill -- she'd read about Mer in books, with its glittering white stone buildings, wide cobblestone boulevards, and flowering plants growing from the side of the streets, when she was younger, and dreamed of one day traveling there.

After a moment, Arietis glanced back at the palace. Golden light spilled out of large windows onto the untrodden snow, and the faint din of laughter and music could be heard. "Do you think we should head inside now?" Arietis asked. "People have probably noticed our absense by now." 

~~~

I'll post Edyta's POV soon-ish. I've also been enjoying writing their conversation! Again, I'm so sorry about how long it took me to respond :/

Aw, don't worry :) I know how time-consuming school can be, and how quickly time can go by... we can definitely continue this RP, and I'm so glad it's still going :) @Celine, I'm glad you're enjoying it!

^Tarava^

"No," Arietis said decidedly. "I would like to go, if that's all right with you. Safety in numbers and all that." She hesitated briefly. "And besides, I've always wanted to see Mer," she added softly. "I've only ever heard about it."

"It is a beautiful city," Tarava replied. The pride of Kyngdom, Kalam had called it when they went there together. "Maybe the most beautiful in Kyngdom. Thank you, Arietis - I'll be so happy to have you with me."

Silence hung in the air for a moment, and Tarava took a deep breath of the clear, cold, pure winter air. The gardens were folded in silvery perfection. Then Arietis spoke again. "Do you think we should head inside now?" she suggested. "People have probably noticed our absence by now."

Tarava sighed and nodded. "We probably should," she said. She laughed. "We scarcely want someone coming out here and discovering what we're talking about." Especially not a certain Rulkan pur Abadore... Why? she wondered suddenly. Why was she so afraid of Rulkan discovering what she was doing? Anyone else could also, and she shrugged that off as a necessary peril. What was it about Rulkan? About his trust in her, that she didn't want to lose?

Tarava, stick to the present. She looked at Arietis; the girl looked warmer, thank goodness, in the cloak. "Come on, then," Tarava said with a smile, and the two turned back to the palace. Tarava hesitated at the doors. After the icy solitude of the gardens, the room looked crowded, golden, full of light and noise and deception. And after finally being able to reveal her ideas, her dreams, her true self, to Arietis out there by the pool, she didn't quite want to go back to the superficial life she led on the surface. But there wasn't really any way around it. She entered the room, quickly catching up with Arietis, who had already gone in. "Come to my palace tomorrow," she said with a quick smile. And we can plan our journey to Mer...

aah i'm so sorry! this reply took way too long! i was really busy, but it still wasn't fair to make you wait so long for a response :/ i hope we can continue this conversation! i've really enjoyed writing/reading their conversation :)

-Arietis-

"We probably should," Tarava said, referring to whether they should head back inside, and laughed. "We scarcely want someone coming out here and discovering what we're talking about. Come on, then."

They walked back to the palace, the snow falling more heavily now. The ballroom was flooded with light and warmth, and there was another warmth in Arietis's chest now; a sort of warmth that came from having someone to confide in, from having a friend. 

She was glad she'd come to the ball--initially, she hadn't wanted to. There was nothing less appealing than being in a crowd of people who worshipped Catastrophe, and having to pretend to be one of them.

But now, she didn't have to be alone anymore. She didn't have to smile and play along all the time anymore, because she was part of the Resistance. And it felt nice to have a purpose.

As Arietis approached a table laid with an assortment of delicacies, Tarava caught up with her and told her, "Come meet me at my palace tomorrow." She smiled, and disappeared into the crowd of Nobyls.

***

Tarava's palace in the northern city of Evranel was a architectural marvel, and Arietis couldn't begin to imagine what it looked like on the inside. She'd taken a carriage to the palace's front entrance, and now she stood, wrapped in a heavy cloak in the cold weather, waiting for someone to escort her inside, where Tarava would be waiting.

Arietis was overcome with an almost childlike giddiness (which she quickly repressed for fear of coming off as immature); she was here, at her friend's palace, about to plot to take back one of Catastrophe's bases. For the first time in a while, she felt hopeful.

~~~

I wasn't sure what the palace looked like and I didn't want to make up stuff that wasn't true so the last bit isn't very detailed. and again, I'm really sorry about how long this took :/ 

-Kalisse-

"Indeed," Estrelle replied. "What is it to you?"

"Ah, I was just wondering, that is all," Cresseth said, smiling coldly. "Simply a comparison of the two of you."

"Why? Surprised that we contrast so much?" Estrelle challenged.

"Oh, no! Whatever gave you the idea?" Cresseth looked hurt, though it was pretty clear that it was fake.

"It seems that I've misread the intention, then," Estrelle said.

"It is unnecessary to tell you," Cresseth continued, as if Estrelle didn't speak. She turned to face Kalisse, who shivered a little involuntarily at her sharp gaze. "And this...cousin of yours, is she used to society and all?"

Estrelle nodded for Kalisse to answer, so she said hesitantly, "I'm still rather new. I live...on the outskirts."

"Outskirts?" Cresseth repeated, then nodded. "Ah, that makes sense, for your mannerism, not to be interpreted as an offense," she added.

Estrelle looked impatient, like she didn't enjoy this conversation, which Kalisse certainly didn't. She glanced over at someone who had drifted to her side, and Kalisse recognized her as Sereline. "Ah, you must excuse me, Cresseth," she said hastily. "I must get on."

"If you must," Cresseth responded, finally walking away to talk to someone else.

Kalisse watched as Sereline whispered something into Estrelle's ear, and Estrelle nodded, looking serious. "What is it?" she asked.

Estelle pursed her lips, looking tense, but her eyes told a different story, a story of something...almost like excitement. "I believe something big, or shall I say, important, is happening soon." 

Ofc we can continue the conversation :) I've been enjoying it so much too. And I know how long things can take - I've been meaning to write one thing for about two months now, and I wrote the latest part of one of my solo writes I don't know how long ago. If it takes you a while, don't worry, I'll wait :)

^Tarava^

It was very early the next morning when Tarava woke up. Parties usually left her drained of excitement, energy, and everything else, and certainly the last part of yesterday's had been one endless stretch of boring people and - as always - pretending to be someone she wasn't. And avoiding Rulkan. She'd never liked acting around him, and yesterday, for some reason, that had been so more than ever. Tarava had felt it would just be too dangerous to talk to him, when she was caught up in a whirl of plans and ideas.

But nevertheless, the party had left her poised for action and, really, just happy. It had brought Arietis to her, and Tarava valued and needed Arietis' friendship more than she'd thought she would. Another Nobyl who was working for the Resistance would give her much more freedom, and besides that - Arietis was so imaginative, so withdrawn and yet so shyly warm when you came to know her.

And today, they had to plan their journey. Tarava went over to the latticework window and glanced out at the sweeping grounds and, beyond them, the city. Snow was still lying in thick drifts over the old, lost summer world, and the room was slightly chilly, even though the fire had been newly built.

About midmorning, Tarava was sitting by the long window in the main living room of the palace, trying to read a book but really thinking about the attack on Lord Helion's estate, when a servant entered. "The Lady Arietis is here to visit," he announced. "She said you invited her. Do I show her in...?"

Tarava was well aware that most of the palace's servants were fiercely protective of her; some of them knew of her role in the Resistance, and the others had in general known her since she was born. "Yes, I asked her to come," she said, looking up quickly. "Show her in, please."

The servant disappeared, and a moment later Arietis came in, her cheeks crimson from the cold weather. "You got here!" Tarava exclaimed. "I'm so glad - my wording yesterday was rather vague, especially since I didn't wait for an answer... Make yourself comfortable, we're safe here." She gestured the other girl to a chair close to the fire, and went back to her own. "It didn't take you too long to get here?"

~

Concerning Tarava's palace, I haven't worked out much of how it looks, but here's some basic information: it's set in the middle of grounds, including several separate, walled gardens, some lawns, and wooded sections. It's very fancy, definitely, with about four floors, multiple ballrooms, bedrooms, etc., and has chandeliers and fireplaces in every room; it was built a long time ago, but since her parents died Tarava renovated the interior to be in the latest styles. It's toward the center of Evranel, though rather set apart from the actual city as a result of the grounds. The room Tarava's in at the moment is a fairly large one that serves as a living room, with double doors leading out to the gardens, a harp, a large fireplace, and one wall lined with books; it's on the ground floor. And I hope that description wasn't too long ;)

aaand it took me way too long to write this. i barely had time to write anything but my NaNo novel during November :/

-Arietis-

One of Tarava's servants led Arietis down a lavish hallway with ornate and tasteful walls, and into a room that looked out over the gardens and had a fire crackling in the hearth. Tarava was sitting in a plush armchair beside the fire, and she got to her feet as Arietis entered. The servant bowed and left without a word, leaving the two of them to themselves.

"You got here!" said Tarava, beaming. "I'm so glad - my wording yesterday was rather vague, especially since I didn't wait for an answer..." She smiled warmly at Arietis and gestured to another armchair beside the fire. "Make yourself comfortable, we're safe here." Arietis sat down gingerly on the chair, her muscles tense. It had been so long since she'd been to another person's house, and even though she trusted Tarava, she wasn't used to relaxing so easily around people. Her father had drilled it into her that people were dangerous, and the sooner she learned to rely on only herself, the better.

But Arietis was slowly trying to unlearn that. As she'd realized last night in Lord Helion's snowy gardens, it was a good feeling to have people you could trust.

"It didn't take you too long to get here?" Tarava asked, sitting back down in her own chair.

"Oh, no, not at all," said Arietis. "I arranged for a carriage to take me right here. Evranel is a rather lovely city, isn't it?" she remarked, remembering how she'd looked out of the carriage window at the glittering building with spires that scraped the clouds, and at the vibrant streets, bustling with people dressed in the latest clothing styles. "It's so wonderful that you live right in the heart of it."

~~~

ah no, your description wasn't too long ;) the palace sounds lovely :) 

and i know i've already said this, but i love this rp so much, and i've really been enjoying their conversations and seeing how their friendship develops <3

^Tarava^

"Oh, no, not at all," Arietis said in reply to Tarava's question. "I arranged for a carriage to take me right here. Evranel is rather a lovely city, isn't it? It's so wonderful that you live right in the heart of it."

"Yes, I love the city," Tarava replied. She'd been born here and lived here most of her life, and she'd been down every street thousands of times. She had so many memories linked to Evranel; of herself, of her parents, of holidays and parties and growing up. There was something in the glowing splendor of the high palaces that just felt like home to her. "My family has lived here since my grandmother bought this palace," she added with a smile. "You live close to Olde Windswood, don't you? I've heard a lot about the loveliness of the pur Venori estate." A marvelous mansion, someone had told her over the jewelled rim of a goblet. A bit rustic, but I suppose some like the rustic style... someone else had murmured, looking discreetly away at the crowd. The pur Venori estate - yes, that place, Rulkan had laughed to her, the candlelight reflecting in his eyes. It's a beautiful old estate. Do you want to dance? "Someday I would love to see it," Tarava added. She leaned forward slightly, keeping her eyes on the dancing flames. "But for now... I hope this doesn't seem too brusque or sudden, but there are so many things to settle about going to Mer. Are we agreed that we're going to Ertim, then? Or should we just go straight to Mer itself? Arranging a meeting with the Resistance leaders shouldn't be too difficult, but doing it without anyone knowing is always a bit... challenging." She couldn't help a very slight, excited laugh from slipping out of her; when she had already decided that she was going to do something dangerous, she always half-enjoyed the intrinsic excitement of planning it out.

Glancing at Arietis as she waited for the reply, she was glad to see that the other girl seemed to be relaxing a bit. Tarava knew what it was like to be always on one's guard, and suddenly, more than before, she truly wanted to give Arietis what she'd always wanted herself; love, and friendship, and a place to be a normal person in normal times.

Not what they really were: "traitorous" Nobyls in times of revolution and unrest.

~

I love this RP too <333 I agree, their interactions and friendship are so much fun to do :D

-Arietis-

"Yes," replied Tarava, a faraway look in her eye like she was looking at something past Arietis--at something that might not even exist anymore except in memory, "I love the city. My family has lived here since my grandmother bought the palace." She turned to Arietis. "You live close to Olde Windswood, don't you? I've heard a lot about the loveliness of the pur Venori estate."

"Yes," said Arietis. "It--it certainly has its charms." That wasn't quite the word. The house was a crypt; though she tried her best to take care of it, the lack of servants meant the large, empty was heavy with cobwebs and dust. And she hadn't entered her father's study, not even after he died. It was exactly as he'd left it; it seemed frozen in time. 

But yes, the old pur Venori estate, with its gilded furnishings, floors of expensive polished wood, and sprawling now-overgrown grounds boasting of old money and privilege, certainly had its charms. It was a long way off from Tarava's warm, elegant, and cordial palace, though. And Arietis had to admit, she much preferred the latter.

"Someday I would love to see it," Tarava continued, and then turned to face Arietis. "But for now... I hope this doesn't seem too brusque or sudden, but there are so many things to settle about going to Mer. Are we agreed that we're going to Ertim, then? Or should we just go straight to Mer itself? Arranging a meeting with the Resistance leaders shouldn't be too difficult, but doing it without anyone knowing is always a bit... challenging."

Arietis thought this over for a second. "Yes--yes, I think it's best we just go to Etrim. I think it's suspicious though that two Nobyls would be traveling together in that direction, and--oh, didn't you say you had a friend--what was his name?" she interrupted herself, distracted. "Kalam, wasn't it? You did say he'd be back by today, didn't you? He isn't a Nobyl, so perhaps--perhaps he could help us arrange a meeting with the Resistance leaders," Arietis said, trailing off, a bit unsure of herself, and a little ashamed for being so easily excited. 

But all of this was exciting. Thanks to Catastrophe and her father's paranoia, she'd missed out on a proper childhood. She'd never had any real friends, she'd never gone on any sort of adventures, she'd never seen the world. But she had a feeling that all of that was changing, and she could hardly wait. So she offered Tarava a slight smile, and added, "Sorry, what do you think?"

~~~

yesss :D and i hope that bringing up Kalam again is okay :)

^Tarava^

"Yes - yes, I think it's best we just go to Ertim," Arietis said, evidently considering her words. "I think it's suspicious though that two Nobyls would be traveling together in that direction, and - oh, didn't you say you had a friend - what was his name?" She stopped abruptly, as if she were trying to sort out her thoughts. "Kalam, wasn't it? You did say he'd be back by today, didn't you? He isn't a Nobyl, so perhaps - perhaps he culd help us arrange a meeting with the Resistance leaders." She paused again, looking slightly hesitantly at Tarava.

"Kalam, of course..." Tarava had nearly forgotten his arrival, though not quite. So much had happened since those moments before she went to Lord Helion's ball and he had left to try and find out more things, her only link to the world she was forbidden to enter. And often entered anyway. "Yes, he should be arriving soon. He can surely help us - he's fairly well-known in Resistance circles, and I'm sure no one will notice if he talks to the leaders. I'm certain he'll agree. He can probably come to Ertim with us, or actually find lodgings in Mer, and initiate communication with the Resistance leaders. And then through that, we can arrange a meeting with them." No further than that, Tarava, something warned inside her, the inner instinct that she had come to trust. It doesn't do to plan too far ahead. She knew she was far too prone to do that, but the present was usually far more relevant and helpful to focus on than the future. She flashed Arietis a smile. "The leaders know how to maintain secrecy; once we can actually get through to them, we shouldn't have many difficulties. And Mer is such a beautiful town - I'm sure there won't be too much suspicion even if we're openly seen going into it now and then. Hopefully we'll be able to manage things with them."

Though Kalam had met some of the Resistance leaders, and told Tarava about them, she herself had never seen them. No, that wasn't right. Once, when she had just joined the Resistance, she had met a minor powerful figure. But that was all. She was starting to look forward to the trip to Mer with more anticipation than usual.

Steady, the same voice warned. It's too early yet to be thinking about this as a pleasure trip. Because you know it isn't.

~

Yess bringing Kalam up is definitely fine :) I've been abandoning him of late, but this should be a wonderful chance to bring him back into the story.

Okay, I think I'm finally going to continue Zara's story. @Zealatom, if you want to bring Kalarix back into it, go ahead :) I'm just going to be moving on a bit.

-Zara-

The next morning, Zara rose early and went outside. The sun was starting to filter through the pine branches, falling softly over the brown carpet of needles on the ground. The snow had all melted, she realized with a start. The winter cold had vanished. 

Perhaps spring had begun.

She walked a little way into the forest, deep in thought. The only sound was the soft noise of her leather boots on the ground.

Last night had been one of the most chaotic of her life. Other than that wild night when her family fled from their home as Lord Helion's soldiers advanced upon it, she couldn't remember such an eventful time. First Kalarix had come. Then other Nobyls had appeared. What could it mean? she wondered for the hundredth time. 

At that moment she heard her father's voice echoing among the trees. "Zara! Are you there? Come quickly!"

It was only a few steps back to the cottage. Her father stood by the little doorway, with her brothers on either side of him. He gave a satisfied nod as he saw her approach.

"Zara, I'm afraid we have to go," he said, and she noticed that in his right hand he held a letter. "I have just received important news. The Nobyls - some of them, anyway - are planning resistance against Catastrophe, and I have been asked to join. I can't yet tell you who has invited me, but we are leaving the cottage for a time and going to meet him."

It was all so sudden. Zara stared at him. "But Father - when did you receive this letter? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"It came a few days ago," her father answered, "but I had not decided yet what to do. Now I have reason to think that we may be in danger if we stay here longer. It is best that we leave. But we will come back, Zara, do not be sad."

Okay, so I'm just going to start with Almeria (Lord Helion's wife) :)

-Almeria-

Almeria looked up from the desk she sat at. Late afternoon sunlight, reddish and dull in color, yet warmer than at any other part of the day, filtered through the diamond-paned glass window of her room. How she loved afternoons up here in her study, where she could sit at the old mahogany desk writing letters, doing calligraphy, or scribbling down the poems that came to her at odd hours and filled her with the keen joy of creation even after she wrote them on paper. It was almost the only joy left to her. Almost. There was still the joy of living. And she never felt it so strongly as now, in these peaceful hours when Helion was out visiting the other Nobyls.

Sighing a little, she folded up the paper she held, which was covered by now with her fine faint handwriting, and slipped it into a file. Her wine-colored skirt rustled across the floor. Other than the noise she made herself, the house was completely quiet.

Almeria had come to the study today not just to write, but to think. Peace had reigned over Kyngdom for ten long years - the famous Resistance seemed to have disappeared, Catastrophe had sat contentedly on his throne without facing enemies. But perhaps it was still possible to overthrow him. Perhaps there was a way to bring happiness and justice to her beloved homeland once again.

Her sensitive face looked pensive. For a moment she stood still, holding the paper in her sliim hand. Then  she dropped it in an envelope and walked quickly to the door.

"Jered," she called to the messenger who stood at the end of the hall. "Send this letter for me, please."

|Rulkan pur Abadore|

Well, here he was in the old Evranel palace again. Rulkan stepped out of the side door, glancing around the snow-swept garden. In a way it was a relief to be back - it always felt like coming home to leave behind his other palaces, all newly built and devoid of the memories that made this place special. He had grown up in Evranel, and in some strange way the city had become a part of him.

He would really have to do some work on it at some point, though. The palace was becoming far outdated in terms of the fashion of the time, and parts of it needed repairing; not that it was dilapidated, but the old musty rooms that he didn't frequent had become a bit too old for convenience.

His thoughts turned to the party yesterday. How wonderful that Tarava had been there. What was it about her that he trusted so much, that he perhaps even loved? And why was she always so reserved one moment, and so seemingly open the next? Rulkan, he chided himself, you're one of the highest Nobyls in Catastrophe's ranks. Who knows what Tarava is playing at, but you know that you can't really trust her.

A light step came behind him on the snow, and, expecting it to be one of the servants, he turned. For an instant it was like seeing a vision, or a ghost. A narrow face, steady gray eyes, brown hair that swept away from a high forehead...

"Tiliren?"

"Yes, Rulkan, it's me." And, yes, it was the voice of the older brother who he had always thought to be off in some southern city, far from the palace where they'd spent their boyhoods.

"What are you doing here? I never thought -"

"Don't worry, I'm not here to take your palace or anything. I've been hearing so much about the famous Rulkan pur Abadore - I thought I'd come up and see you for once. In the end, did you -"

Rulkan shook his head sharply. "Tiliren, don't say anything. How is your wife?" The only reason that the palace in Evranel had been left to him was because Tiliren had married a rich Nobyl girl and gone to live with her instead of staying here.

"She's well. I'm not staying, I'm just passing by. But I'm closer to some things than I was when I left, and if some things I'm hearing are true, you'll be wanting to be careful. Look after yourself, Rulkan. These are troubled times, and you're in a perilous place. Too perilous."

~