Sonnestill (closed)

[Maka]

It was summer solstice in the market town of Traumhof, and the festival of Ceres was in full swing. The afternoon sun, riding high overhead, bathed the entire town in golden summer light. All along the marketplace farmers haggled and argued over the stalls. Preparations for the Tourney of Venus had been going on all morning on the grassy town green. A dense knot of giggling, blushing local girls adorned the tip of the festive pole with their ribbons, bright in shades of red, green, blue, yellow, and white.

Watching the girls closely were Traumhof's young men, many of them stripped to the waist and ostentatiously flexing their muscles or oiling themselves down. By longstanding Traumhof tradition, when evening came they would struggle and wrestle with each other for a chance to mount the pole and seize the ribbon of their choice. The game did not end until all the ribbons had been plucked -whereupon the ribbons were restored to their owners, who were required by inflexible tradition to reward their champions with a kiss.

A kiss was all that they owed but neverthless many Traumhof girls then chose to accompany their swains for a leisurely evening walk through the woods outside town, from which they would return several hours later, flustered, flushed but happy, with their hair and clothing in disarray, a new and saucy sway to their stride and a dreamy, thoughtful look in their eyes.

The sky this summer solstice had been cerulean, completely unmarred by clouds, and the weather a perfect golden warmth. The only disruption to the proceedings had been the announcement of Pieter the tailor that he had devised a flying machine and that he intended to test it by leaping off Traumhof's rosy red town walls. He was persuaded to at least do it at a point at which they overlooked the river. This turned out just as well, since Pieter's flapping leather wings failed him and he fell unceremoniously into the cold waters of the Flusstern. More level heads had already been prepared for this eventuality, Pieter having tried and repeatedly failed to build working flying machines over the past three years and he was fished out, given a mug of summer ale, and sent home to change.

It was as well that the festival of Ceres was attended by such propitious omens. Traumhof today had a very special guest, whose presence the unfamiliar gold and black standard hanging outside the council house alluded. The princess of Sonnestill herself was in Traumhof! And rumour said she was even going to attend the Tourney of Venus later on in the day.

That was a rumour that had many of Traumhof's boldest young men wide-eyed with hope. The princess was well-known to be an unparalleled beauty, the shining, flawless jewel of the royal house of Sonnestill. That would have had Traumhof's pretty girls in a high pique, except that their own curiosity was irrepressible. What would the princess wear? How would she hold herself? How did she style her hair? For now, she was still resting within the council house after the rigours of the journey. All eyes occasionally rested on the council house's timbered facade with avid curiosity.

The princess' reason for being in Traumhof was also well-known. She had concluded the first and shortest leg of a long journey -first west from the capital to Traumhof, on the border with Carcassone. Then across Carcassone to the northern port city of Cierge, and there by ship to the island nation of Hy-Brasil, there to wed Prince Arawn, her betrothed since childhood.

And it was a welcome match, at least for those few who understood the game of politics in sleepy Traumhof. Sonnestill was prosperous but small, and neighbouring Carcassone had long been eyeing its fertile farmlands, its rich forests and mines and its wealthy towns with greedy eyes. The only match for Carcassone's power was Hy-Brasil -and a wedding between the two royal scions would bind Sonnestill and Hy-Brasil into a defensive alliance. Traumhof, on the border with Carcassone, had been occupied by her aggressive neighbour many times throughout her history and understood the danger she posed.

But that was a problem for the town councillors, with their heavy beards and heavy chains. The young simply enjoyed the day, each other, and the novelty of having a gorgeous princess as a guest in their town.


***

The council house's suite of royal guest-rooms had not been used in a long time, perhaps not within the lifetime of Sonnestill's present king. Nevertheless they had been scrupulously aired out, with fresh scented candles burned to chase away the lingering smells of dust and mould. A little back corridor ran behind the great bedchamber, a discreet way for servants to move in and out of the room as required.

And little Luc ran along it. He was a swift, agile child -and he'd needed all of his speed and agility to get past the guards keeping a watchful eye all around the council house. Now he was so close, right next to the bedchamber's servant door. He bent to apply his eye to the keyhole... and found himself unceremoniously yanked away by the neck.

"What are you doing, boy?"

Luc instinctively struggled, trying to squirm out of his captor's grip, but the fingers were like iron. The grip was not tight enough to hurt his neck, but it was unshakable in its tenacity. He looked up.

The first thing he noticed about the man who held him was his eyes. A deep and stormy shade of blue, they seemed to notice everything and bore right through the young boy, pinning him in place like a butterfly on a page. The man was tall and broadshoulder but with a lean, tight muscularity -a man who could move extremely swiftly and yet hit extremely hard when he needed to. His hair was smooth, dark and cropped close, his cheekbones high and fierce. A faded white scar ran across his forehead -perhaps from a swordblow. His voice was soft, but it commanded instant respect.

He was dressed in fine clothes, but they did nothing to conceal the man's true role in life, no more than the plain sword at his side did, its leather-strapped handle worn with use. If ever a man were born to be a warrior, born to be a knight, it was this man.

"I didn't do anything!" Luc squeaked.

The knight sighed.

"Perhaps not. But you're not supposed to be here. What do you want?"

Luc hesitated, but something about the knight's piercing eyes simply compelled the unadorned truth.

"I wanted to see the princess," Luc said softly and reluctantly. "They say she's beautiful."

For a moment, the princess' guardian looked strangely sad.

"That she is, boy. That she is. More beautiful than you could imagine."

There was silence. The knight broke it.

"But you'll get plenty of chances to see her this evening, at this Tourney of Venus, won't you? In the meantime, she deserves her rest. And her privacy. Go on. Go."

Luc could hardly believe his luck. It didn't seem like his captor was going to execute him, imprison him, or even report him to the mayor. He took off at racing speeds, determined to get away before the knight could change his mind, but then the man called out:

"Stop."

He just said it, he didn't shout but then he didn't need to. Luc's feet simply seemed to halt of their own accord, for all his reluctance, and he turned around fearfully. Would the man kill him there and then?

But rather than reaching for his sword, the knight reached inside his surcoat and drew out a silver penny, tossing it to Luc with a flick of his wrist. Luc caught it instinctively, his eyes wide.

"Here. Spend it at the fair today, in her highness' name and the name of her servant, Sir Thomas a Valles."


Thomas watched the boy run off, then rapped on the door the boy had been trying to spy through.

"Your highness?" he asked, his voice now suddenly tender.

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Princess Sofia, adventerous yet dutiful

“Where it is? Where it is?” the short and stout middle-age woman muttered repeatedly underneath her breath.

“I know I’ve packed it. Where it is? Where?” Her arms continued to pull out a garment after another from one of the many large, mahogany wooden chests. It was handcrafted with exquisite designs. The Sonnestill emblem carefully carved on all sides. Each dress she pulled out were tailor maid with gold stitching, priceless gemstones and unique embroidery fitted for the royalties only.

Two, much younger and way slimmer, maids stood on each side of her, diligently catching the exclusive dresses and carefully placing them on whatever clean surface they could find around the chamber. They handled them with extra care. They were sure that if even an inch of the thread is to fall, their heads would be chopped and hit to the floor first. They had never, and probably would never again, seen clothing that is as exquisite and valuable as these around Traumhof.

Even the frantic woman’s tunic was made of rare cotton that could fetch a very handsome amount. Just by the cloth alone, one could clearly see who was from the King's city and the border-town. While the trio rummaged, the third young maid of Traumhof stood quietly behind the town’s first royal guest, Princess Sofia y de Sonnestill.

The maid watched her looking out the oversized stained glass window. The colorful sunlights illuminated her long golden locks and smooth porcelain skin. Her bright sea eyes looked out to the horizon at the glimpses of the people preparing and goofing around for the festival. She envied their simple life as much as the maid was jealous of her wealth, stature, and beauty. Even in a day-to-day riding outfit, she couldn’t hide the elegance and aurora of a royalty.

Without taking her eyes off the street, the princess questioned in a soft tone, “Nurse, what are you doing?”

“Finding you the gown for tonight,” the woman replied, emphasizing on 'the.' She continued with her quest and dug into another chest.

Sofia shook her head. “Tonight is a festival and a tourney, not a royal ball. Something simple will do.”

“Non-sense. You’re not just a simple girl, m’lady. You’re a princess. As one, you must dress appropriately to show status and demand respect. I have never put you in a commoner’s cloth for the past twenty-one years for any public appearances. I won’t start now.”

The nurse rambled on but Sofia had already tune her out. It wasn’t until the knocks at the door and a familiar voice that her attention came back to reality. One of the nurse’s helpers went to answer. The door opened just enough for her to see through the slit. The girl stared up while the man's icy blues towered over her. She was dazed in both fear and awe for a whole second before she turned to the princess.

She announced, “It’s Sir Valles, m’lady.”

The Princess’ rosy lips immediately curled upward at the name. As always, he showed up just in time to rescue her from boredom. Sofia could always count on him and had been since they met years ago. He was her childhood friend, who served the royal army and then became her personal guardian. He had been by her side at very chapter of her life. So naturally, she picked him to be her escort, protecting and seeing her away.

“Let him in,” she ordered without sounding too excited.

The girl pulled the door fully ajar for the guest.

"Ah, Thomas. Have you saddled Charming? Today's a beautiful day to stretch his legs," she said, hoping he would just play along and get her out of this bedchamber.

Charming was her white stallion. He too had been with her since his pony-days.

 

[Maka]

The local girl was flustered and flushed, her hands unconsciously smoothing down the skirts of her dress as she looked up at Thomas' towering form. She was both relieved and disappointed when after one single, fiercely penetrating glance, his gaze swept on. Somehow, that one brief glance was enough to make her feel as though the tall knight had seen and taken in everything about her, that he knew things about her that even she did not know. It was a sensation at once unnerving and profoundly thrilling, even arousing.

But Thomas rarely had eyes for anyone else in a room when the princess was present. His gaze immediately went to her. As ever, Sofia looked stunningly gorgeous, a slight smile gracing the flawless classical beauty of her face as she turned to greet him. The bright sunlight streaming through the window burnished the locks of her hair, setting the legendary Sonnestill royal gold into perfect contrast against the creamy ivory of her neck. She was dressed in just a simple scarlet riding outfit, although it was of a cut and cloth of a quality unknown in the provinces and it clung to her slender, toned body like a second skin, but she made it look more elegant and alluring than a costly silken ball-gown from Cierge. Even had she been dressed in the rags of a street waif, her royal beauty would have commanded the same reverent attention. It was said that when Sofia had been born, the goddess Venus herself had kissed the infant's brow, endowing her with that seraphic beauty.

But a princess, even one as filled with life and beauty as Sofia, was still also a playing piece. And her father, though not an unkind man, knew that she must be used in defence of his kingdom. And so the engagement had been contracted between Sofia and Arawn when they were both children and Sofia had grown up knowing that when she was of age, she would travel to Hy-Brasil, there to marry a man she had met just once ten years ago, and live there for the rest of her life. But that was the sacrifice she made for Sonnestill's security. Thomas understood sacrifice in the line of duty.

As she had grown older, and her beauty grown all the more bewitching, tempting counter-offers had been made from other states, some even stronger than Hy-Brasil but willing for the sake of besotted scions to consider a marital alliance. King Rochus, Sofia's father, however was a man of his word.

And Thomas had known Sofia all of this time -ever since the day they had first met, a day forever emblazoned on his memory, the day on which his life had been transformed. He had been the son of a castle guardsman, just one of dozens of rough, hardy children playing and fighting in the barrack quarters of the castle, well away from the royal chambers. But his father had brought him on a hunting trip the royal court had made to the eastern border of the empire, to a lodge in the Great Forest. And the day after their arrival, word had gone out that the young princess Sofia, only a few years younger than him, had wandered unaccompanied into the forest and could not be found. The woods around the lodge were thick and dark and known to house wolves, deep cold forest pools and sometimes cruel outcasts, bandits who had pledged themselves to underworld powers and wicked forest spirits. Search parties were organised, and armed bands of men began to search through the woods calling her name.

Thomas had declared that he would help and his father had cuffed him soundly, telling him he would only hinder the search. So he had taken off on his own, moving through the dark, unknown woods -an unarmed boy alone but unafraid. And he had been the one to find her, sleeping peacefully in the bough of an old oak, and the one to gather her up in his arms and bring her back to her father.

From that day forward, honours and promotions to match his talents had been his. He had served in the army, been knighted, commanded men in battle. But he had never forgotten his primary duty, one which he would have carried out whether commanded to or not, whether rewarded or not. That was to protect Princess Sofia y de Sonnestill, with his life's blood if necessary.

"Of course," he said, in response to her question. There was not a hint of a smile on his face. "Charming is saddled and awaits you below, your highness."

Madeline, Sofia's nurse, was one of very few people at court or anywhere else who was not intimidated and overawed by Thomas. She sniffed skeptically at his declaration, grumbling that she was sure her Highness had said nothing of going riding up until now, but finally conceded.

"But don't be long!"

Thomas bowed his head, and walked with Sofia to the door. Once past it, a rare smile crossed his lips and for a moment warmed those stormy eyes.

"That woman... "

He looked down at Sofia, his smile turning wistful.

"Last day in Sonnestill."

In the future, Sofia would only be returning to her homland for fleeting diplomatic visits, at the side of her consort. When Thomas returned, it would be alone. He treasured the time they had left together, and yet felt an ache in his heart whenever he looked at her, wishing that things could be different than the way they were.

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Everyone else seemed to blend with the wallpaper with Thomas’ presence. Not just for the princess, the other girls felt the same way. All their eyes were glued on the tall knight with Hercules’ physique and Jupiter’s aurora. The princess turned heads with her elegant and grace, while Sir Valles demanded attention with his commanding and authoritative pose.

Even with the unsympathetic look on him, she felt much happier with his presence. Despite the persona he put up around others, she knew about his softer side. She had seen and experienced his gentleness. Ever since he had plucked her from the bough of an old oak, Sofia had never feel completely safe without him near.

Just as she hoped, Thomas went along with her scheme. His expression didn’t alter while he reported, “Of course. Charming is saddled and awaits you below, your highness.”

Although she managed not to grin with excitement, her eyes beamed with delight. She added, keeping her voice steady and unmoved, “Excellent. Then we shall ride.”” Turning to the maid closest to her, she commanded, “My cloak, please.”

The girl quickly grabbed the crimson cotton cloak on the edge of the queen size bed frame. She gently draped it over the princess’ shoulders. Sofia was already to the door when the nurse griped, “But don’t be long!”

Once outside, she sneaked a glance up at Thomas and caught his faint smile. She returned a secretive smile but continued down the corridor in an unchanged demeanor. It wasn’t until they were far away from the nurse’s ears that she showed excitement on her face.

“That woman…”

“…is tedious,” she finished his sentence with chuckles. “She means well though.” Her green eyes darted behind them to ensure no one else was around. She finally exhaled in relief, “Alone at last!” She relaxed her shoulders, cracked her neck, and stretched her arms. In front of him, she didn’t have to keep up her persona.

She raised her gaze to and stared into his when he stated, “Last day in Sonnestill.” There was so much misery behind that one simple statement. After today, she would no longer be Princess of Sonnestill but married woman, a wife to Prince of Hy-Brasil who she hardly knew.

Marriage was every girl’s dream, a hopeless romantic’s happy ending. However, Sofia didn’t care for hers. It was just another political move. She understood and accepted the arrangement. It was her duty to unionize the two countries. Then why was this inkling on the bottom of her gut screaming and wanting to let out? She was too afraid to face the feeling. Thus, she buried it and told no one, not even her faithful friend, Thomas; a friend whom belonged in two different social status by birth.

Sofia was blessed with royal blood. Wealth, good fortunate and beauty were given to her by Venus, or so people claimed. Thomas was born a commoner, and nothing came easy for him. He worked hard to gain respects from the people. The calluses on his hands, scars through his body and old broken bones validated that. His courage and swordsmanship earned him honor and ranks. Even so, Sofia and Thomas could never be more than just a loyal knight protecting a royalty.

Despite that, she managed to grow close and very reliant on him. They shared many common interests and happy moments together. He taught her how to ride a horse, dwell a sword, and survive in the Great Forest if she get lost again. In turn, she gave him dance lessons, court rituals, and companionships. Their friendship strengthened by the days.

Yes, friendship... There could be nothing more between them. She was to be sail off tomorrow… The die had already casted. They should not dwell on what can’t be undone.

She conjured a smile on her face and insisted eagerly, “Right. So enjoy it to the fullest, Thomas. Come. Let’s just ride. Show me the land before the festival of Ceres commence.”She pulled the hood over her head to hide her face and those eyes that easily betrayed her joyous façade. They filled with sadness and fear…

 

[Maka]

The woods had never seemed more beautiful. Slanting bars of sunlight traced down through the leaves overhead, outlining the path in a filgree of green, brown and gold while the fresh scent of summer tinctured the air. Thomas remembered how, in the first few years, he'd sometimes taken Sofia out into the woods and shown her the tricks, mysteries and secrets of the Great Forest -that great ocean of green that stretched across three nations. She'd been a quick study. He remembered once surprising her kneeling down amidst the undergrowth, studying the secret green world of the ants and tiny things, imagining their universe below the brambles and ferns.

Did they have such forests in Hy-Brasil? Thomas had heard only of their great new industrial towns, their factories and mills and clouds of smog. But they must surely have woods. He did not like to think that he was taking Sofia to a place without green woods.

They had not talked much since their mutual realisation that it was Sofia's last day in Sonnestill. Instead, they had simply enjoyed each other's company in silence, riding through the woods and breathing the soft, sultry summer air. Thomas had fallen back and allowed Sofia to take the lead on Charming, her beloved white stallion. It was always a pleasure to watch her ride -and not just for the sight of that slim, straight back, for the rise and fall of those wonderfully tight and toned buttocks in their leather sheath, but just for the unthinking skill and grace that she brought to the exercise, as she brought to everything. He had taught but he had never taught her to ride like that. You couldn't teach riding like that. It was instinctive like swordsmanship -or loveplay.

That turned his thoughts in a very unwelcome direction. He knew something of women, shepherdess or high-born lady, they all had the same appetites but not to the same degree. He could tell from the way Sofia moved, from the flash of sapphire flame in her eyes, or the way an unbidden flush would colour her ivory cheeks or a little feminine shiver pass through her delicate, slender frame, that she was possessed of the ripest and healthiest appetites. They went with her supple young body -as perfect an engine for lovemaking as anything Hy-Brasil could have designed. Soon that engine would wake and be brought to a fire... by this Prince Arawn. Would he appreciate the priceless gift he'd been offered? Would he be man enough to satisfy all of Sofia's new and urgent desires? From what Thomas had learned of most princes, he doubted both.

He shook himself out of his dark mood. There was no sense ruining their last afternoon together in their homeland. He rode up alongside Sofia just as a bend in the path brought the walls of Traumhof back into view.

"The Tourney of Venus," he said. "The mayor says that's all the young people of the town talk about for weeks beforehand."

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

Sofia felt so free while she rode Charming. Her legs, strengthened by days of riding with Thomas, clutched tightly on the horse’s sides, while her body bounced on his back. His hoofs galloped away loudly underneath her. They drowned her troublesome thoughts. She focused on the beautiful scenery before them. The sun cascaded beautifully above the plump woods.

The Princess looked back at Thomas every now and then. Even though their gazes only locked for a split second, they said so much. She was scared, and he was afraid for her. She was scared that that she could no longer have him by her side after today. She could no longer look into those stormy eyes, which can demand anything from any girl, noblewomen, and princesses, herself included. She wondered if she could look at this so-called Prince Arawn with the same admiration when she looks at Thomas. Her gaze filled with secret desires and hidden needs.

She peeled her eyes away from him just as he rode up to her. She slowed Charming until they came to a stop. She looked out to the Traumhof’s walls while Thomas said, “The Tourney of Venus. The mayor says that’s all the young people of the town talk about for weeks beforehand.”

She added, “I bet it’ll be very festive and crowded tonight. Everyone will be so happy and occupy with the events. I wonder if it’ll matter if the princess shows up or not. Will anyone notice if the princess goes missing?” she pondered wishfully out loud.

Charming turned around under the guidance of her reign. She added, looking into the tree lines. “If only we could just ride on forever. We could just live in the forest, build a small cabin in the middle of nowhere, hunt of our own food. We’re resourceful enough right? Then tonight wouldn’t be my last night. Then we would never be apart.”

She looked over to Thomas, shook her head, and planted a smile on, “Silly me. That’s never going to be possible. Nevermind that. So what’s Sir Valles the Great to do once he’s released from nursing the Princess huh?” she teased.

 

[Maka]

Thomas' breath caught in his throat at the dream Sofia was describing. She was just teasing him, just joking with her best friend, but he could see it all so vividly. The cabin they could build for themselves, their hunts in the dappled forests... and most of all, their long, ecstatic nights.

But she was, of course, just joking. Sofia would no more abandon her duty than he would. And so instead they rode side by side into town, Thomas considering his princess' question.

The truth was that the prospect of a world without Sofia seemed arid and lifeless, a sunless eternity. And he hadn't even thought about what he might do.

"Perhaps I'll request a posting on the eastern border. There's always trouble there -bandits, Varian raids... it'll keep me occupied, at least."

They were riding through town now, and Sofia was attracting numerous stares. Even if the townsfolk had not known who she was, her luminous beauty, elegant posture and the jiggling of her generous young breasts would have been cause enough to stare. One girl, greatly daring, came forward to stand as the princess passed by. Thomas took her in with one quick glance and satisfied himself that she was not a threat. Plucking up her courage, she addressed Sofia:

"Your Highness, shall... shall you also be in the Tourney of Venus?"

 

[Lotus_Maiden]

The princess noticed and didn’t mind the stares. Although she didn’t care for the attention, she was used to them. She returned their gaze with hers now and then, dipping her slightly to greet them.

Sofia looked over to the rider beside her. “Bandits and raids… Please be careful, Thomas. Even though I won’t be here, I don’t need a messenger to bring me negative news about you.”

Then a girl came up and posed a question. Her eyes stared up at the princess with both fear and admiration. She was trembling slight. Even Charming felt her fear as he came to a stop and snorted at the girl.

“Be in the Tourney,” Sofia repeated. She shot a grin at Thomas, insisting, “Yes, we should participate instead just watch. Jousting? Sparing?” She already slid off the horse as she spoke, with her mind already made up.

 

[Maka]

Thomas knew that look. As sweet as a Sonnestill orchard, and yet harder to turn from its course than a glacier. He'd seen it many times before, and learned the folly of trying to argue with his princess in such a mood. Perhaps it wasn't appropriate for her highness to participate in a town fete such as this, but it hadn't been appropriate for her to climb trees, fight in mock-duels, race Charming against his own grey Falcon, and she had done all of those things.

"As the princess commands," he said.

He was sure of one thing. He'd be the one plucking Sofia's scarf from the top. He could only imagine the speculation that might get loose if word got out that some Sonnestill yokel had been permitted to take liberties with the princess on her journey to her betrothed.

And then he might feel the soft warm pressure of those lips for just a moment... he put the thought aside roughly. No. They wouldn't have to observe this stupid custom.

Sofia's interlocutor giggled, her eyes wide.

"Really, your highness? Oh say you're not jesting with us! We'll need your token... "