Realistic or Modern The Moss and the Stones

[Hati]

Aspen laughed a little when he seemed to panic over her tears. "It's okay," she said, wiping the remainder away with the palm of her hand. While her father still weighed heavily on her mind, her heart felt lighter. That had been one of her fears that was buried so deeply down she hadn't even realized it: that Duncan would be like her father. But it was clear her betrothed was nothing like him, and even with Hector's threat hanging over her head, she felt something like relief.

"Ah, we wouldn't want that, now would we," she said lightly. He was right: they had been out in the gardens for longer than was probably proper for a quick walk. Her tone was light, but they both knew that a scandal about their marriage could tear the whole thing apart. Though she wasn't particularly enthusiastic about returning to the castle either, because that meant facing her father again. She hoped he had already retired to his own chambers, but that seemed like wishful thinking. At least she had kept her hair up this time.

She turned back the way they had come, breathing in the earthy scent one last time. "I was... worried, about this arrangement," she confessed suddenly. She hadn't started walking back yet, debating her word choices before she made a fool of herself. "But I'm hopeful everything will work out in the end." Aspen flashed him a small smile, though as they started walking back to the castle it slipped from her face. Her father could still be awake, after all.

 

[NickNacks]

Her laugh was like the whisper of a brook over stones, bringing a small, wistful smile to Duncan's face even as she wiped a few of the tears away. Even if she was facing a host of her own problems, some of which Duncan wasn't sure he could fix, just the face that she left reassured him that she would be alright. Perhaps he wasn't exactly confident in playing a role as a husband, but he was certain he could do things as best he could until he figured it out.

"I'm sure I don't live up to whatever standard people pushed on you to have, but I try my best." For once, he wasn't feeling any pressure to present himself in a certain way around her, or at least not in the way he had upon first meeting her. "And I think it'll be alright, Aspen. I do." He gave a short nod, seeming to pressure himself, before beginning the short walk up to her room. Things were beginning to wind down in the inside of the stone building. The faint scent of sandalwood was prominent as they approached her chambers, which was already being attended to by a maidservant.

"My aunt Lennox was most interested in meeting you before the wedding," Duncan added, turning to Aspen once again. "She can be a bit...Er, intimidating, but she doesn't mean any harm. I think she'll like you."

 

[Hati]

Duncan's words were reassuring. "I think so, too." Aspen didn't have the first clue on how to act as a wife, though she knew of the many expectations placed on her shoulders. But she was starting to feel more confident about the whole thing. Of course, that was mostly due to Duncan, and she couldn't be more grateful. Lucky, indeed.

Even luckier was that it seemed her father had gone to bed after all, because he was not waiting for them in the main hall. Aspen couldn't help the silent sigh of relief as they passed through, the fire in the hearth burning low. It wasn't long until they were back at the room he had shown her earlier. It was with a slight jolt that she realized she hadn't even thought about having to meet Duncan's other family members. His aunt had been one of the ones right in the middle of the fight to reclaim his birthright, if she remembered correctly.

She gave a nervous laugh. "Well, I hope she does like me," she said, already feeling intimidated despite his words. Aspen's only experience with war was the swordfighting she learned at her estate, which is to say, she had no experience at all. But she was well aware of the effects it had on people, and she wondered what kind of person Duncan's aunt Lennox was. Undoubtedly brave, but what else?

All of her things had already been taken to her room, and Felicia or another one of her maids had unpacked. "It was a pleasure to meet you, King Duncan," she said, bowing her head slightly. "And I do look forward to getting to know you better before our wedding." Despite her formal words, there was a slight smile on her face.

 

[NickNacks]

Her sentiment was certainly echoed as Duncan made his way up the stairs to his own chambers. Despite the mostly pleasant evening he'd spent with Aspen, knots were not gripping at his stomach as he made his way up to his room, his chest tightening with each step. Being afraid of the dark was childish at best, and being afraid of a room was even more laughable. Yet, as he stepped foot into the room, he felt the familiar sense of dread creeping in with each passing second.

The room itself was nothing remarkable, though extravagant. The bed was large enough that it took up most of the room. Duncan's eyes soon came to rest on the vanity against the left wall, a large mirror rimmed in an oval of gold leafing. He could still faintly remember entering the place as a child, perhaps not even six years old, and coming across Angelica, Caelens wife, brushing her hair. He'd been wandering about the estate, having escaped his nurse. She'd been kind to him, as he remembered, had even smiled and told him to play outside, where there were lots of hiding places.

Twelve years later, she would talk her husband into stabbing Duncan's father to death.

He remembered finding her again, at that same place in front of the vanity. She'd been slumped over, her head resting against the wood, the ornate brush inches from her outstretched hand. Had it not been for the flies, she might have been sleeping.

Duncan all at once felt hot, then cold. Then, he was sick.

The next morning would find him absent from the breakfast table-in his place was a woman who bore some slight resemblance to him. Though she was no longer a young woman, she was pretty in an intimidating way, her eyes blue and sharp as they flashed across the room. She shared Duncan's fair completion, but her jaw was softer. The telltale mark of a scar ran in a thin line down from her cheekbone to her jaw.

The woman, Lennox, stood up upon Aspen's entrance, making no qualms about surveying her from head to toe, her gaze a calculating sweep. After that was done, however, she flashed a grin in her direction.

"So you're the one? He might've done worse."

 

[Hati]

It was strange, sleeping in the place that would become her home for the first time. Aspen had hardly left the estate growing up, as her father had said there was no need for her to, but she suspected that was mostly so he could keep an eye on her. Alone in the dark, her father's words weighed heavily on her thoughts. It didn't take her long to fall asleep, but his warning echoed in her mind the entire time.

Felicia woke her up the next morning, helping her get dressed and doing her hair. "Not too tight," she said, wincing, as her maid twisted it back. But Felicia paid her no mind, and she sighed. Aspen frowned at herself in the mirror. It would be her first full day at Bryalshire, and she found herself wondering what would be in store for her and Duncan before their ceremony. Part of her wanted to get it all over with so her father would go back home, but she knew it wouldn't be that simple. She also knew that being the king's wife would bring a whole lot more responsibilities.

It was likely that very soon, her father would be the least of her problems. The realization startled her more than she cared to admit. "Are you alright, Lady Westbrook?" Felicia asked, brow furrowed. "You look a little pale."

Aspen had long ago given up trying to get her maid to call her just by her name. "I'm fine," she said, waving a hand. "But perhaps some food would be good, yes?"

Felicia nodded eagerly. "They said breakfast was ready in the main hall." Aspen stood up, thanked her maid, and exited her room, her soft steps echoing in the hallway.

The first thing she noticed was that her father was not there. Most likely, he had a meeting about wedding preparations. Or perhaps he was composing a letter to the estate to check in already, even though it hadn't even been a full day. The second thing she noticed was the woman who stood up and very obviously looked her up and down. Aspen flushed under her gaze, feeling exposed.

But the small smile seemed promising, at the very least. "You must be... Lady Lennox..?" she said, unsure how to address the woman before her. "And yes. I'm Aspen Westbrook," she said, bowing her head in greeting.

 

[NickNacks]

The woman, who was indeed Lady Lennox, responded to the deduction with a slow, crafty smile. "None other. Please, be seated Lady Aspen. We have much to discuss." Lennox took a seat herself at the table, reaching over to draw a cup of tea closer to her seat, stirring a few more cubes of sugar. "You'll have to pardon my nephew for not joining us today. He's taken in by a fever again, apparently." Skepticism was somewhat obvious in her tone, even as there was no detectable malice in her voice.

"So!" Lennox turned to face Aspen, an excitable gleam in her eyes. "You'll have to tell me all about yourself, of course. Dunnie's told me nothing, so I was going to have to start snooping around if I didn't have the chance to meet you face to face."

 

[Hati]

Aspen took a seat across from Lady Lennox, frowning when she explained that Duncan would not be there. "Will he be alright?" she asked, concern in her features. She knew he had been ill, thought not nearly as much as some rumors had described. But he seemed fine the night before, and she was worried that something had overcome him during the night. Though it didn't escape her that Lennox seemed less than convinced of what actually ailed him.

Despite her worries, she had to bite her lip to keep a smile from spreading over her face as she heard Lennox's nickname for Duncan. "I'm not quite sure what there is to tell, truthfully. I've lived in the estate with my father, Marquess Westbrook, for most of my life. I try to keep myself busy, but he doesn't, ah, approve of all my hobbies." She gave a slight shrug. With her father absent, she felt slightly more relaxed, though part of her felt like just saying his name would somehow summon him.

 

[NickNacks]

The older woman hummed in response to Aspen's concern, an expression of seriousness overtaking her face. "...A lot of the physicians here are quick to blame things on humors or ailments. I take a more wholistic look at such things. When I lost my son, I couldn't get out of bed for a month-it simply felt as though I had no strength left at all. I was told it was the work of demons or some such hogwash, but I knew better. I knew it was grief. I believe that's the sort of thing that keeps my nephew sick. Grief. Memories." She took a long sip from her tea, before quickly moving the conversation along to lighter things.

"Hector." The way she said the Marquess's name was more like a scoff, punctuated by a roll of her blue eyes. "Forgive me, my dear, but the few times I've met him, we've never seen eye to eye. Between you and me, I don't believe he approves of anyone." Lennox shook her head. "You mustn't continue trying to limit yourself in order to please him-believe me, I did the same for my father, and it wasn't until he was dead that I finally realized how much time I had wasted. Someday, I'll have to tell you all about it."

 

[Hati]

Grief. It made sense, really. Duncan had lost a lot in a short period of time. Truthfully, Aspen was inexperienced when it came to such emotions like loss. She had never gotten to know her mother, so there was hardly a connection, and her father had kept her rather isolated from her other relatives. But she nodded quietly at Lennox's words. It would take time for those wounds to heal, she knew.

"No, I don't think he does," she said with a sigh. Though Aspen bore the brunt of Hector's criticisms often, there didn't seem like anyone that he outright approved of. As Lennox continued to speak, she smiled sadly. "That's the thing," she said. "Usually I don't care to please him." That was why they had so many arguments at the estate, and why he was so harsh on her. Because they both knew that, when it came down to it, she really didn't care what he thought about her. "But this is something I can't really afford to mess up."

 

[NickNacks]

"Mess up? You aren't marrying Hector, are you?" One dark brow arched upward as Aspen replied. "Duncan's the only one you'd have to be worried about, and he's roughly as intimidating as a snow-owl. Well, usually." A small shrug emphasized the sentiment. "Though I suppose I do understand where you're coming from. It's been such a long time since I've ever really considered the feelings of men in general," she mused thoughtfully.

It was then that a quiet pair of footsteps became audible from the small parlor. A glance to the entryway would reveal none other than Duncan himself, looking a great deal more worn out than he had the previous day. He appeared even paler, if that were possible, and one hand wiped a bit of sweat from his brow. He had his walking-stick with him as well. "A snow-owl, Aunt Lennox?" He inquired, sinking into the seat beside her. "That's a little harsh, isn't it?"

In response, she simple reached over to ruffle Duncan's hair. "It's good to see you up and about, dear. Are you sure you should be up?"

He took a small bite of toast. "I get bored in there," he replied, somewhat dismissively.

 

[Hati]

Aspen decided that she very much liked Lennox. It was already apparent why Lennox and her father didn't see eye-to-eye, and that only made her like her more. Though even with Lennox's reassurances that she didn't have to worry, her father's warning remained in the back of her head. It was a complicated thing, their relationship, more so than either of them cared to let on. Especially with the wedding date growing ever closer.

She had just started to finally eat when Duncan entered. She took in his weary appearance, a slight frown on her face. "Good morning, King Duncan," she said, inclining her head as he sat down. He looked even more tired than he had the day before, and she was worried about him. At the same time, she wasn't exactly sure if that was even her place, so she opted not to say anything about it.

 

[NickNacks]

His eyes flickered to where Aspen sat, and he mustered a small smile. "Hullo, Lady Aspen," he replied. "Is my Aunt talking your ear off yet?"

An indignant scoff left the aunt in question, and she straightened in her chair. "That's awfully rude of you, Dun. Your betrothed and I were having a perfectly civilized conversation," She flashed a quick wink in Aspen's direction. "But, now that you are here, you'll have to come with me to selected a wedding gift. You will, too, of course." she added with a glance to Aspen.

Duncan groaned lightly. "Aunt Lennox spoiled me and my brother when we were younger. I suppose you'll be subject to that as well now."

 

[Hati]

Unable to help herself, Aspen grinned. Duncan and his aunt seemed so close and comfortable with each other. If she was being honest with herself, she envied their relationship. Aspen was lonely, but she'd never admit that to anyone, least of all herself. "I hardly see that as a problem," she said lightly.

Footsteps echoed behind her, and when she turned to look, the smile fell from her face. "Good morning, father," she said quietly as Hector strode in.

He barely spared her a glance. "King Duncan, Lady Lennox," he greeted stiffly, taking a seat beside Aspen. She noticed ink smudges on his hand, evidence that he had been writing. "I trust my daughter has been good company this morning." Aspen bit back a retort, not wanting to start anything with him. Not after the previous evening.

 

[NickNacks]

The mood shift after Hector entered was almost tangible-the only person who didn't seem phased was Lennox, who merely gave the man a curt nod and sipped from her teacup. Duncan supposed that, when you'd been through the same things as his Aunt, you had little concern about what other people thought of you. She was kin to the King, and was very secure in her position.

"Marquess," Duncan greeted him with a small nod, becoming intensely interested in his toast. Before he could answer the question, Lennox inerjected.

"She's been utterly delightful." A warm, fond tone entered the older woman voice, and she went so far as to reach across the table and settle a hand over Aspen's. "I can't imagine a better addition to our family. Of course, she'll have to be trained up a bit. You do know how to sword fight, I assume?"

Duncan glanced over in warning. "Aunt Lennox..."

"What? It's an essential skill. You think I would've been able to save your sorry hide with a knitting needle, Duncan?"

 

[Hati]

Judging from her father's expression, Aspen guessed that he didn't care for Duncan's aunt just as much as she did him. It was almost amusing to her, as she was used to people being afraid of her father. She knew firsthand how intimidating he could be, but Lennox didn't seem to mind him one bit. Aspen could guess she had faced much more frightening opponents on the battlefield.

She flushed at Lennox's compliments, recalling Duncan's comment before they had parted. It seemed his aunt had liked her after all. Her father frowned, but didn't seem displeased. Though, as Lennox mentioned sword fighting, his brow furrowed. "No, she does not-"

"I do, actually," she found herself saying. "Some of the knights on the estate taught me." She risked a glance at her father, only to see him staring at her in confusion. Having figured there would be no way he would approve of her trying to learn, she had asked some of the knights to teach her when he was away. At least, her father seemed surprised, as if he had forgotten he should be angry at her for going behind his back. "I thought it might be worth learning."

"I suppose it could be valuable," her father finally said, and it felt like a victory.

 

[NickNacks]

Duncan finally looked up in interest when Aspen replied, waiting until she looked over to catch her eye and mouth 'Really?' Even he had only really received the minimum of training. He was never particularly good at combat, and his position in war was typically a strategic one more than anything else.

"Well, good girl. You're a step ahead already," Lennox said with an approving nod. "Women from my house learned long ago that those without swords can still die upon them. That way if, God forbid, the worst occur, you'll be able to stand a fighting chance. Maybe even protect your husband while you're at it."

"There's no need to brace for any innovation," Duncan spoke up quietly. "There aren't any threats."

"Of course, dear," Lennox replied offhandedly. "Now, Lady Aspen, why don't you tell me if you prefer opals or emeralds? My mother left behind the most beautiful brooch, and I've had no daughters of my own to pass it on to-"

 

[Hati]

Hector still seemed at a loss for words, though Aspen figured it was better than him being angry. She caught Duncan's eye and flashed him a small grin. While she had figured it would be a useful skill to learn, truthfully she had initially wanted to learn because she was bored. It was only after a few lessons that she figured it would be good to know if she ever needed to defend herself.

Or her husband. Most likely it had been a good thing to have picked up after all. Her father appeared to have reached the same conclusion, and gave her a slight nod. It almost looked like there was something akin to approval in the expression on his face, but Aspen dismissed it as her imagining it.

She glanced back to Lennox, a startled look on her face. "Oh, I... I don't think I could accept," she stammered. While she was Duncan's betrothed, she wasn't sure if it would be acceptable to take such a gift. Later, maybe, but not before they were wed.

 

[NickNacks]

"Nonsense, nonsense." Lennox replied, waving a hand in sheer dismissal of Aspen's refusal. It was as though she had not even heard it. Duncan had to duck his head to hide a small laugh. "If you can't wear it during the ceremony, what on God's green Earth is the point of having it? Other than that, I suppose we ought to talk details for next week. Duncan, you'll be feeling up to the dance by then, won't you? It's tradition."

The young king gulped as he glanced up, looking rather unsure of himself. "I should be alright, Aunt Lennox, but I haven't practiced very much-"

"Well, we'll fix that, won't we?"

 

[Hati]

It seemed there was no point in arguing with Lennox. Aspen could guess why her father disliked her so much. Even as the thought crossed her mind, she glanced up to see him, once again frowning as he looked across the table. But for once, he didn't object. Most likely he didn't want to cause a scene in front of Duncan. Or he didn't feel like debating with his aunt. She hid a smile.

"Dance?" Her father had mentioned it briefly, or maybe she just hadn't been paying attention. Of course she knew how to dance, and had attended several balls because of her status.

Hector glanced down at her. "You have been keeping up with your lessons, haven't you?" he asked. Having recovered from his shock about her sword fighting, he was back to his stern self. Aspen preferred when he didn't know what to say.

She nodded. "Of course I have." But dancing with her tutor was much different than dancing with her future husband, and no doubt there would be many people of status that would attend. The thought made her nervous.

 

[NickNacks]

Though Aspen seemed a little taken aback by the mention, he was grateful that she at least seemed to have a pretty definite idea of what she was doing. Duncan had never been particularly good at dancing, and with the current state of affairs, he hadn't spared much thought to scheduling out any lessons for himself. He'd be paying for that now, obviously.

"I was never any good," he mentioned with a small shake of his head. "Even at parties, I usually just stood back and let Dominic handle socializing for me."

"I remember," Lennox said with a teasing grin. "You're not going to be able to get away with that this time, Dun. It's your wedding, after all."

His stomach flipped. He really was getting married, wasn't he? "I...Suppose it is," he replied with a slow nod.

 

[Hati]

"As long as you don't step on my feet, I think we'll be fine," Aspen said, a small grin on her face. Her father glanced at her, but he didn't say anything. Part of her suspected he didn't want to get into anything in front of Lennox.

"Same to you," he said mildly. "And don't go running off." He stated it like it was a fact, and she could hardly detect malice coming from his tone. Though she did grin sheepishly at his words. She had a habit of ducking out of parties early, something he chastised her for often. "It wasn't proper," he'd said, many times.

Aspen shook her head. "I won't," she said, yet something felt off. Ever since her father had joined them at breakfast, he hadn't seemed like himself. She glanced again at the ink stains on his hands, wondering if there was something troubling him. Was it the wedding? She couldn't tell.

 

[NickNacks]

"I'll give it my best, but promise to forgive me if I do." Her grin was returned by a small smile of his own, a rush of fondness for his betrothed coming up in his chest.

He enjoyed being around his aunt Lennox, truly, but he did sort of wish that he and Aspen were allowed to be alone for just a little while. And not to mention her father was still present, which put an odd dynamic on things. Duncan had also noticed the strange ink stains on his hands, which piqued his curiosity somewhat, though he wasn't confident enough to ask directly.

His aunt, on the other hand...

"I hope you were able to find the post pigeons alright," Lennox commented with a crafty smile, setting her teacup down. "They're quite dependable little birds."

 

[Hati]

Aspen laughed. "I promise," she said, butterflies in her stomach. Even though the dance was in the next week, just the thought of being so close to him made her nervous. That, and thinking about everyone that would be there. With no way out. Truthfully, Duncan's dancing skills were the last thing on her mind, but it did help ease her nerves to laugh about it.

Her father gave Lennox a tight smile. "I did," he said, leaning back in his chair. "It's rare that both me and Aspen are away from the estate, and I need to make sure things go smoothly while we're away." He said it casually, and it was only due to Aspen knowing him that she could see the slight tension in his posture. But before she could ask about it, he was talking again. "Speaking of the dance, I do believe we have a meeting regarding preparations soon," he said, addressing Lennox. One of many meetings, no doubt, and Aspen didn't envy him one bit.

Though she'd have to ask him about how things were back at home.

 

[NickNacks]

"Oh, I look forward to it." Lennox's tone was so cool and assured, that Duncan was only able to tell it was sarcastic because he had known her for years, and he had to lift his hand to muffle a small chuckle. "There shouldn't be too much left, aside from going over the steps, and there aren't too many. You both stand, recite vows, the handfasting happens, so on and so forth. Nothing to it. I really think the feast is going to be the most difficult thing to prepare...Aspen, love, do you have any foods in particular you enjoy? I know my nephew is partial to tarts..The dessert, mind you, not the harlot-"

"Aunt Lennox." Malcolm actually choked on his food at that last comment, and offered Hector a rather embarrassed smile. "My aunt meant no offense. Er...Do you need any servants sent to your estate, Marquess? I'd be happy to arrange it."

 

[Hati]

"Ah, just any kind of fruit really, I-" Aspen coughed, eyes wide as she fought to conceal a laugh. Lennox was certainly the character. She took a sip of water, though she still looked delighted at Duncan's aunt's comments. Her father, on the other hand, looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than at the table.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but everything should be fine," he said curtly. Aspen knew if anything happened back at home, he'd rather go himself to sort things out anyway. Though she also knew he wouldn't want to leave anyway because he wanted everything for the wedding to meet his standards. Which, she knew, were almost impossibly high. "And yes, well, this is why we have meetings for these kinda of things," he said dryly, glaring at Lennox.

Aspen shot Duncan a sheepish grin when she caught his eye. While she knew the meetings would be incredibly boring, she also wished she could have a chance to listen in on them. If only for the chance to hear her father and Lennox truly go at it.