To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Skoll slowly followed after his mistress, and Hrolf was first to greet them as they neared the small private dining room toward the back of the palace where Christopher was discussing the previous battles with his generals, learning from his mistakes so that he might perform better in the future. Upon the entry of their queen, the generals rose and Christopher came to meet her. "Evening, love," he said with a smile, but it faded as he saw how agitated Skoll still looked. "Something wrong?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"We have a meeting tonight at dinner with some representatives from the Rus." Kayla said as Christopher stood to greet her. "Skoll is very leery of strangers in his courtyard and around his mistress, it seems. I think someone trained him to be that way."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Did Monomakh send them? He wouldn't even be home yet," Christopher thought aloud. At her mention of Skoll, Christopher laughed and knelt to scratch the loyal dog's neck and ears. "Good to know. We need tough men like Skoll. Of course, Hrolf's pretty no-nonsense himself. Won't let me have any fun." Christopher had no reason to be worried by men from the Rus after the peace treaty, though he wasn't sure of the reason for their visit.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Makirakov was the name that the man gave me. I assumed it was something to do with Monomakh and his troops. There are so many of them from so many different branches. It makes my head spin sometimes." Kayla told her husband, looking up at him with a slight shrug of her shoulders.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Makarikov? As in the Prince of Novgorod?" One of the other men, General Korir, asked them. "Odd, milady. Novgorod is no friend to Monomakh, they believe he is a usurper to the throne of Grand Prince. They believe it should belong to Prince Makarikov, seeing as Novgorod is the old capital of the Rus."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then, I suppose they are looking for our support in the matter. They will find that I have little patience for games as of late." Kayla said as they filled her in on that situation. "Especially if it takes me away from my planned time on the coast."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We will deal with them for you, madame, if you prefer," another general offered. Of course when a Viking said 'deal with them' he probably meant 'kick them out.'

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, I will deal with them." Kayla said as she glanced towards the generals that were offering to take care of the situation for her. "It is very nice of you to offer but as long as I am queen of his country I will not have anyone speak for me. That way, there is no misunderstanding."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Understood, madame," the man said with a nod. After properly excusing themselves the generals dispersed. Christopher was rather bothered by the news of Novgorod, but he tried to remain positive.

"They may be against Monomakh's reign, but... What quarrel do they have with us? We settled everything and we never set foot in Novgorod," he reasoned more for the sake of his own nerves.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Christopher, I beat Monomakh in battle. They probably wish to make themselves our friends in order to over take him themselves. However, I am not interested in furthering their cause. I do not want fighting." Kayla said softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Neutral it is, then," Christopher agreed, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "We've had enough for a long time. But hopefully even without support, they'll leave us out of it. Though... I'm afraid Monomakh might call for aid in the future if things get too heated."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, we can deal with the future when it gets here. For the moment, I want to focus on us. A family. A good home." She murmured, looking up at her husband. "I want to go to the seashore. I want to go home for a visit as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll just have to wait and see, love. This might very well delay us a little longer," he sighed.

That evening as the Novgorodian General arrived, the castle was fairly tense. Everyone knew Novgorod's problem with the Rus and that their presence couldn't be for anything good.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla had spent all afternoon preparing for the visit from the general and his contingent. She wanted to be civil, but she didn't want a war. She needed time alone with her husband and it seemed that everyone was conspiring against them to make sure that did not happen. A bad mood hung around her like a thick cloak even though she had tried her hardest to make sure that they were all welcomed and settled as any good hostess might.

 

[KieranSoares]

The arrival of General Nikodim Isaak was fairly subdued. Unlike many other great men who liked to ride in on display to fanfare, Isaak came into Trondheim completely unknown until he arrived in the courtyard with his handful of men. None of them wore any faction insignias except for one who carried a Novgorod banner and a black and yellow bear on a patch on the general's coat. They were dressed nicely but not pompously, and seemed brooding and serious as their dour clothes. Nikodim Isaak was the oldest among them, at least in his fifties, and his men were all either around Ulfric's age or above it. These were hardened men in politics and war, and it showed in their focused expressions and serious air. Kayla was not dealing with vain politicians or poncy nobles. She was dealing with men much like her own generals: warriors forged in the hell of battle.

The General entered last after seeing his men all hang up their cloaks, and when he took his own off, it was revealed that his right arm was tucked inside his coat in a sling with the sleeve empty, ruined by some old battle perhaps. He turned to face his hosts for the first time, and he and his men bowed in unison to her. "Your Majesty," Isaak spoke with a well-schooled accent in Norwegian.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla had dressed for the occasion in one of her simpler gowns. It was brown, home spun and made by the Norwegian woman who sold woolen cloth in the market. She wore her circlet upon her brow and her wedding ring. Besides that, she was completely unadorned. She didn't want to flaunt her position and she knew that these men were serious in their own right.

"General. Welcome to Trondheim." Kayla said as the man greeted her. "We have ordered a meal for your men this evening. If you would follow me, we can discuss things over dinner."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Thank you, milady," the General said with a nod before giving his men a small nod as well. They filed ahead of their general and seemed to be carefully examining their surroundings. Either it was force of habit or they were cautious about something happening. The General was seated near to Kayla and Christopher and Ulfric, while the others seemed to be keeping out of the discussion. Their general was the real diplomat.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla sat down with Christopher's help, glancing towards Ulfric and then at the general as she tried to gauge what the situation was. The general was very serious and a little dour. She had no idea what was going on in his head and she felt a little nervous about the meeting that they were about to have. What would he ask from Norway?

"General, I have to tell you that it is surprising that you are here. We have a treaty with the Rus after what has happened. Can you tell me what your main goal is?" Kayla asked him as the servants started to serve a hardy Norwegian meal, created by the cooks from the little restaurant that she and Christopher had become very fond of.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We have come, milady, to inform you that you have- through no fault of your own- made a treaty with a usurper. Monomakh is not a Prince, only a lowly lord "

"Then why is it that he's about to become Grand Prince of the Rus?" Christopher asked with a concerned gaze

"Monomakh is related distantly to the rightful Grand Prince, our master Prince Makarikov. But a... transgression... altered the line of inheritance. Many years ago, Novgorod was the capital of the Rus, but a rebellion ended in the execution of our Grand Prince and his sons were rightfully disallowed inheritance of crowns as Princes to compete in the next choice for Grand Prince. The crown was meant to be given to the charismatic and benevolent leader of the rebellion, but instead he was named a simple noble and the elder son of the former Prince cheated his way back into royalty. That usurper who so insulted the people of the Rus was Monomakh's great-great grandfather. The man meant to be Prince was our own Prince's ancestor. It has taken generations and careful planning, but we finally have our rightful Prince on the throne of Novgorod, and he is what the Rus needs. But he was called a usurper himself despite the love of his people. And he was dismissed from the running for the title of Grand Prince and Novgorod has long since been abandoned by the rest of the country. Now a bloodless commoner is about to take our Prince's rightful place. And we will not stand for it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"General, this seems like an issue between yourself and Monomakh. We have just finished a war to protect a member of the Triad and I have given my word to Monomakh himself that he will have peace. I'm implore you...please come to some kid of peaceful resolution." Kayla said, feeling slightly panicked at the idea of dealing with another horrible situation.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It is an issue which we have been actively pursuing. But we cannot allow Monomakh any kind of acceptance as a Prince. Therefore, our master sent us to request you break your treaty with him. It is null and void anyhow with his lack of claim on his throne."

"Monomakh is loved by his people, and popular across the Rus. That must count for something. You said yourself that Makarikov's line was the choice of the people. What harm is there in giving them the leadership of another they love?" Ulfric reasoned.

"He has no right to his position. No commoner may be a Prince without proper election and the approval of the council of Russian princes. Monomakh has pursued neither, but the princes already disapprove."

"And so the voice of the people doesn't matter then?" Christopher asked, detecting the hypocrisy.

"Royal blood claims the final say," the General murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would like to speak to your prince directly." Kayla said finally, looking towards Ulfric and then at Christopher. "When he is able. I will change my plans to be here when he can come to Trondheim."

That meant their trip to the coast would not happen. Her trip to Inverness would not happen. It made Kayla sad, but she had a duty to her kingdom and that meant protecting her allies with everything that she was able to do.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm afraid that will not be possible," the General informed her. "Which is precisely why he has sent me in his stead. I am no simple messenger, milady. The Prince has given me authority to bargain and act for him without waiting for his approval, and specific instructions to secure your compliance at whatever cost."

"You mean to buy our loyalty?" Christopher asked, clearly very offended by the idea. The General was unphased.

"Whatever the cost," he repeated.

 

[heartofcourage]

"There is no amount of money in the world that will buy my loyalty." Kayla said quietly, standing from her spot to stare down at the general. "You may stay and finish your meal. I am afraid that I have lost my appetite."

 

[KieranSoares]

The General rose as well, facing her unflinchingly. "Gold is not the only thing in question, your ladyship. The Prince has offered anything you may wish for. Land, soldiers, luxuries from across the continent... Or perhaps you would prefer the finest healers in the world to help you with your next child, to avoid a repeat of the past."

That had Ulfric and Christopher both on their feet instantly. "Get the hell out!" Christopher snarled, rounding the table with Ulfric beside him. When the General didn't budge, Christopher delivered a shattering blow to his face. The man staggered and all of his men drew their swords. But when their general raised a single hand, they stood down but their glares warned the Lord Protector against any further outburst.

Spitting blood on the floor, the General met Christopher's gaze. "Consider the offer carefully, young man. The alternative is war. I will give you one week to answer. You will find us in the next town." With that, the Novgorodians left the castle and Trondheim altogether.