Alliances - ADULT/CC *Casting - 2 open*

[littleroswell]

~KING JEFFREY~

I stand as one of the guards at the door announces my son's arrival. He enters and greets me and the two advisors that I have been meeting with. I wave him over. "Come in, Alex, come in." Turning to the two men in front of me, I nod at them. "Thank you, gentlemen. We will talk again. Hopefully, this will go the way that we all hope it will." As they leave, I tell the guard at the door, "Please send for the Princess. I need to speak with her as well."

"Very good, your majesty," he says formally and closes the door.

I turn to my son and smile at him. "Alex, I wanted to talk to you about something important that's about to happen. I wanted to talk to you about it before your sister arrives and get your opinion on it." I wait for his response.

~KIVAR~

I study her for a moment as she comes in the room and greets me. It doesn't take a walk through her mind to tell me that she is frightened of me. A little fear is good in a wife but too much can cause someone to do stupid things...things like sending pleadings for help to a friend or family member. Instead of trying bringing it up and punishing her for sending them, I decide to punish her in another way. I won't let her receive any messages from her brother or Prince Rath and let her believe that they no longer care what happens to her. Then she will realize that she has no one else to turn to but me.

I deliberately let my gaze soften and push my anger to the back of my mind. I look at her hair and frown slightly. "You have your hair up again. I love it when you wear it down for me," I tell her quietly, with some of the warmth I used to show her in my voice. You catch more flies with honey that with vinegar. I will win her affections back again and she will once more be content here. Until she is with child she is still useful to me. And I admit to being somewhat fascinated with her. She is a beautiful creature and she is mine.

I move toward her and she takes a small step back. "Are you afraid of me, Vilandra?" I ask with a hurt tone.

[KarenEvans]

Isabel

"You have your hair up again. I love it when you wear it down for me." he says in a voice which reminds me of the time when we were happy.For a second I am tempted to think that may be just may be he wants thing to change however I know better than to fall for this trick.

Involuntarily my hand goes up to my hair and undoes the loose knot.I am so jumpy nowdays,always afraid of invoking his wrath,so much so that I am ready to do anything to keep his anger at bay.It's tiring living like this,like I am walking on shards of glass.One wrong step and I will be wounded.

"Are you afraid of me, Vilandra?" he asks as he comes closer and I stop myself from taking another step backwards."Not afraid Kivar...I'm weary of you.And can you really blame me?What happened to us...to you?I don't know you anymore."

[Sternbetrachter]

ALEX

I nod at the passing ministers when they leave my father's office before turning my attention to my father.

"Alex, I wanted to talk to you about something important that's about to happen. I wanted to talk to you about it before your sister arrives and get your opinion on it."

I nod warily at this as I make my way to his desk and sit down in one of the stairs. Whatever it is, it must be very important indeed if he chooses to speak so cryptically.

"Here I am, what is that you want us to know?"

I have a bad feeling about this, like either Liz or me won't like what he has to tell us.

[Flamehair]

Elisabeth

I was sitting on my bed reading an old book when suddenly someone knocked at my door. With a small sigh I closed the book and stood up, quickly throwing a look at myself in the mirror hanging over the dressing table. Then I went to the door to open it. Outside one of our guards – dressed in his uniform in red and black – is standing, bowing his head when he sees me.

“Your royal highness”, he adresses me formally. “His majesty wishes to see you. He is waiting in his office for you, along with the crown prince. I furrow my brows a bit confused about why my father wants to see me. Nevertheless, as the guard turns around I follow him curious down the corridors towards the kingly office and enter it without stopping myself to knock at the door.

[littleroswell]

~KIVAR~

Her words irk me slightly but I don't let it show, not even in the slightest. Instead I sigh loudly and sit on the bed...something I haven't done in her presence in a long time. I feel this somehow shows vulnerability but that's something I want her to see right now. Looking at her with sadness I nod. "I know, Lonnie," I say using her old nickname I had given her. "Trying to keep the peace that my father helped to establish between all the worlds of this system is very trying to my nerves and I know that I sometimes take it out on you. Will you ever forgive me?"

I take her hand and I feel it tremble slightly. I pull it towards me, and her subsequently, and place my other hand over it, rubbing her hand between both of mine. I bring it to my lips and kiss it tenderly. "Say you forgive me, Lonnie, and we'll try to start again. We'll be happy again. I promise to try to be better," I whisper. I always feel aroused around her but now, at this moment, I feel a touch of the awe I once did in her presence and for the space of those few moments, I want nothing more than what I'm asking...for her forgiveness and the chance to try again for happiness.

[littleroswell]

OCC: I have PM'ed flamehair to let her know to edit her post where she had Jeff speak. For now, we'll pretend Liz is on her way as Jeff speaks to Alex.

~KING JEFFREY~

I chuckle a bit at Alex's wary expression. "Relax, these are happy times, son! Your sister is soon to be married. I had hoped that the ceremony would be allowed to be held here but Antar is insisting that its Crown Prince be married on the world which he will rule and I can't blame them for that. What I wanted to talk to you about is that I have received word that two guards from Antar will be coming to watch over Liz for the next few weeks until they can escort her to Antar for the wedding. What do you think of that?"

I know who at least one of these "guards" are but I've promised to tell no one else and at first, I was angry that Prince Xan would be so bold as to tell me that he wanted to make sure his bride-to-be would be a good queen for his people. But the more I thought of it, the more reasonable it sounded and I'm so proud of Liz and know she will be a good queen that I quickly changed my mind and was happy about the whole idea.

[KarenEvans]

Isabel

"I know, Lonnie,"
That's the name he gave me when he started courting me and he hasn't used it in ages.

I am sick of this game he keeps playign with me,running hot and cold.I know he has a lot of responsibilities as a King but not more than any of the other Kings in our planetray system.Tess says that Kyle never takes out his anger on her.He manages to leave whatever business he conducts in the court.He discusses things with her if they bother him but never takes his frustration out on her.He treats her like a queen in more ways than one.

Will you ever forgive me?" he asks taking my hand in both of his,kissing it "Say you forgive me, Lonnie, and we'll try to start again. We'll be happy again. I promise to try to be better."

I close my eyes,so very confused by his behaviour.He seems sincere but I'm not sure."I...you hurt me Kivar.You became a stranger to me and I loved you so much.I don't think I can stand to go through that pain again if you change your mind." I tell him quietly and pull my hand away and turn my back to him,willing the tears away.

"Did you ever really love me?Or was that all a game to you?"

[Sternbetrachter]

ALEX

Liz is going to marry? Wow! I knew that the day would come but ... I'm still surprised.

"Prince Xan, isn't it?" I muse out loud, trying to come up with a face and succeeding - partly, I haven't seen him in more than ten years or so.

"I haven't heard bad things about him so I guess he is a good enough for my sister." I tell my father with a smile before turning serious again. "Why are they sending guards here? Are they worried that we plan an attack on them or have some other plans against them? And I guess Liz doesn't know of this yet."

Before he can answer, Liz enters, my father giving her an enourmous hug ... I guess he realizes that soon, he'll lose his baby girl.

[littleroswell]

~KING JEFFREY~

I am surprised at my son's reaction, and also pleased. It sounds as if he has respect for this prince that will be my son-in-law and his brother-in-law. I nod. "Yes, it is Prince Xan. I have heard many good things about him and his people seem to love him a great deal. That's important to me. These guards are for more than one reason, not the least of which is to protect Liz from anyone who might try to stop this alliance from taking place. There are still those who feel that there can never be real peace. I'm sure it is also to be able to send a report back to Xan about his future wife and how she has turned out."

I sigh and run a hand through my now graying hair. "I really must start including you in more of the meetings with the advisors and the reports. I'm getting older and there is much you need to be prepared for, Alex. I can't live forever and while I'm not even close to really old, there is always the possibility of assassination. I have been waiting to put these responsibilities on you as much as possible to allow you your freedom and to give you time to find a wife yourself." I glance at him sharply. "You are reading the minutes of these meetings that I send you, aren't you? You are keeping up your studies?"

Before Alex can answer, the door opens and Liz walks in. I smile at her. She is the apple of my eye and I love her so much. I hope she will be happy with her new husband. I am glad he is coming here and that I will get a chance to check him out as well.

"Come in, Liz, come in. Please, have a seat," I gesture at the chair next to Alex.

[Flamehair]

Elisabeth

Quickly I’m throwing a nervous and a questioning look to Alex, my beloved older brother but his expression gives no answer to me. So I smile at our father and make myself comfortable in the chair between Alex and him. “You called me father? I hope everything is all right?”