Post by The Jenn on Aug 22, 2007 22:57:05 GMT -5
Note: This contest will not be open until Nathalia posts the second half sometime on Thursday. The rules and prizes will be better explained then. Please do not reply until she can do so.
Evening had long since blended into night by the time Serafino returned to his chambers. Meetings with several of his advisers lasted longer than he expected and left him with an unpleasant taste in the back of his mouth. The mundane aspects of running his court usually bored him into annoyance and tonight was no different. Normally, however, they kept the tedious details to a minimum with a mind for his temper. Tonight's issue with a major disruption in the flow of trade through the Highlands due to bandit activity had been important enough that they had to forgo that courtesy.
If he could just root out the annoying outlaws himself and deal with them swiftly, ax in hand, that would be one thing. All of this searching and baiting left him irritated that they wasted his time - and, less importantly, that of his men - by their activities.
Such were his thoughts as he walked through the halls of the palace and turned the corner towards his chambers, only to be stopped short as he spied something outside of his door. Several somethings, actually, and all of them were peeking at him after hearing the footfalls of his approach.
The Queen took one look at the large pair of baskets and their blanket-swathed bundles, nothing but their curious eyes visible, before turning sharply and bellowing for his assistant.
"DYMPHNA!"
The call could be heard throughout the palace and more than one individual's head snapped up in nerves or interest. What had riled their temperamental monarch this time...? The doe in question dropped her sandwich in surprise and hurried off to attend him, the pile of sprouts and cheese falling messily back on its plate. She was at his side in moments, taking in his fuming expression and upright posture at a glance. Even more striking was the fact that he had taken up his bipedal form in his outrage, battle ax held securely in his clawed hand as if he wished to use it at that very moment. His other hand held a small scrap of paper which he promptly threw onto the floor.
No, not the floor. Looking down, she could see it drift into one of two baskets set on the gold-veined white marble. She blinked in surprise at the sight and several pairs of eyes blinked right back at her, which she found more than a little unnerving.
"They are here," Fino practically hissed, his serpentine mouth able to make the sound despite the distinct lack of 's' in any of the words. "I am walking here. They are in my way. Take them away from here. I do not care where you take them, just remove them from my sight. Throw them in the pond for all I care."
Continuing to fume, he turned away from the apparently offensive sight of the blanket-wrapped bundles and stormed into his chambers, slamming the door and setting one of the younglings to wailing in distress at the abrupt sound. Dymphna looked at the children in open curiosity as the one cried and the others just watched her. Perhaps it had been the note that riled his majesty? Shrugging her shoulders, she reached down and grasped the wicker handles of each basket. She would have to read it later, after what she decided to do with these unexpected deliveries.
Evening had long since blended into night by the time Serafino returned to his chambers. Meetings with several of his advisers lasted longer than he expected and left him with an unpleasant taste in the back of his mouth. The mundane aspects of running his court usually bored him into annoyance and tonight was no different. Normally, however, they kept the tedious details to a minimum with a mind for his temper. Tonight's issue with a major disruption in the flow of trade through the Highlands due to bandit activity had been important enough that they had to forgo that courtesy.
If he could just root out the annoying outlaws himself and deal with them swiftly, ax in hand, that would be one thing. All of this searching and baiting left him irritated that they wasted his time - and, less importantly, that of his men - by their activities.
Such were his thoughts as he walked through the halls of the palace and turned the corner towards his chambers, only to be stopped short as he spied something outside of his door. Several somethings, actually, and all of them were peeking at him after hearing the footfalls of his approach.
The Queen took one look at the large pair of baskets and their blanket-swathed bundles, nothing but their curious eyes visible, before turning sharply and bellowing for his assistant.
"DYMPHNA!"
The call could be heard throughout the palace and more than one individual's head snapped up in nerves or interest. What had riled their temperamental monarch this time...? The doe in question dropped her sandwich in surprise and hurried off to attend him, the pile of sprouts and cheese falling messily back on its plate. She was at his side in moments, taking in his fuming expression and upright posture at a glance. Even more striking was the fact that he had taken up his bipedal form in his outrage, battle ax held securely in his clawed hand as if he wished to use it at that very moment. His other hand held a small scrap of paper which he promptly threw onto the floor.
No, not the floor. Looking down, she could see it drift into one of two baskets set on the gold-veined white marble. She blinked in surprise at the sight and several pairs of eyes blinked right back at her, which she found more than a little unnerving.
"They are here," Fino practically hissed, his serpentine mouth able to make the sound despite the distinct lack of 's' in any of the words. "I am walking here. They are in my way. Take them away from here. I do not care where you take them, just remove them from my sight. Throw them in the pond for all I care."
Continuing to fume, he turned away from the apparently offensive sight of the blanket-wrapped bundles and stormed into his chambers, slamming the door and setting one of the younglings to wailing in distress at the abrupt sound. Dymphna looked at the children in open curiosity as the one cried and the others just watched her. Perhaps it had been the note that riled his majesty? Shrugging her shoulders, she reached down and grasped the wicker handles of each basket. She would have to read it later, after what she decided to do with these unexpected deliveries.
