Rede Family/Philippa/3
Roleplay from Aeneas Gabanus (14 minutes ago)
Aeneas looked at Philippa as she laughingly asked what his words meant. "A lady of your stature and beauty, of such grace, of course," he said with a shy smile on his face. He then continued: "My 'conversations' with the Sandalakians are often a one way street, they inform me of their strategies, of the miseries in their realm and their barbaric nature and I listen carefully. They often feel the need to share their intimate secrets with me, or my captain. I would not even consider to lower your stature by mentioning you to this filth. You are so much better than them, a true lady, versus a band of barbarians. I would do all in my power to keep you away from their plague," he said, obviously stirred by the idea of the Sandalakians.
Then Aeneas' messenger arrives out of the blue and informs Aeneas that the King of Ikalak has informed them that they are not interested in an agreement and that the talks have failed.
"Can't you see I am occupied," Aeneas said, clearly irritated by the interruption "the news is fine, go back and wait until my return. Do not speak of it to anyone!" he continued to the messenger. "Milady, my apologies for the interruption. Let it not spoil our time. It has been long since I was able to experience such peace and tranquility, truly you are a gift from the gods are you not?"
Philippa flushed as she heard the words of the messenger.
"Aeneas..." she continued, "I'm sorry. Obviously I am not a gift as you say, I should have tried harder for you. What sort of beast invites you here knowing the outcome of the negotiations."
She shook her head with exasperation at herself, "I truly don't think beyond the fog of battle or my own self. I can't explain it - I sometimes dream of Ikalak burning, your General is there and I feel an ambivalence for the entire island. It sometimes feels like nothing matters, but when I'm with you it's different..." she sought the words to explain how she had felt since arriving on the island from her home. The feeling like she had been here before.
"M'Lord, you must know that I clearly said to the council that I implicitly trusted both you and General Alparslan. I could not speak for Queen Sorcha. The Queen made it clear to my King that she alone ruled her country and distrust towards her was strong. I could've been more forceful, but I was not. I focused on my army, my strategy and really paid little attention to the negotiations". She diverted her eyes, "I am so sorry"
Roleplay from Aeneas Gabanus (5 minutes ago)
"Milady, I am certain you have done us justice. Your King also stated it was his decision alone and to me you shall always be a gift," for the first time in many years, he blushed a little bit. Nevertheless he moved closer to Philippa and kissed her on her forehead. "Our Queen is strong and speaks from the heart, her word is trusted and respected within all of Taselak. Apart from that, our feelings are known. Personally I would rather destroy the Sandalakian barbarians together. But for now, I fear this will be the only chance for us to see each other outside a war situation"
"And please, do not ever compare yourself to a beast. Beasts live to our East and your South, rather noblewomen does not even do you proud," he continued. He looked at her, not certain what to say next, a thing which never had happened to him before.
Roleplay from Philippa Rede (30 days, 1 hour ago)
(Personal message to Aeneas Gabanus)
Philippa's face flushed and her heart raced as she felt his gentle lips brush against her forehead. She felt herself relax as his words reassured her that he didn't blame her for the outcome, though she still felt she could've done more.
She exhaled heavily and took a step back to relieve the tension of the moment.
"My army is over the horizon in that direction," she gestured north easterly with a wave of her hand. "I should be with them but I like the solitude here" She looked around the shady clearing, the only sound the water moving in the nearby river. She gazed at Aeneas and reached out to touch his cheek, her fingertips brushing softly over bristles left unshaven,
"Join Ikalak!" Now the words were out they continued unbidden from her lips, "Leave Taselak and join Ikalak. Our Judge is useless, you can take his position." She looked beseechingly into his eyes, "Please Aeneas" she urged.
Roleplay from Aeneas Gabanus (just in)
Aeneas felt Philippa's touch "Sometimes I would dream of it, to sit and ride besides you and be free at any time of day and life," and he paused for a moment, "But I cannot, not while Taselak still breaths. My grandfather was a proud Taselakian and it would disgrace him, but above all it would destroy all honor in this world. I do not believe there is anyone capable of dealing with these barbarians as I am. It is not only my own life I must protect, for then I would have been in your arms, but it is your life and of any Ikalakian and Taselakian, who yet still breaths." He looked down for a moment, it was clear to see that Aeneas was very much moved by his own words, or the thoughts behind them.
He looked back up at Philippa, "Should Taselak ever fall, I will join you, even if it means I must fight my brethren. If it were but my own life, but it is not. There must be one to stop this evil and that must me be." He looked at her with sad eyes, moved slowly closer to Philippa and finally placed a kiss on her lips. "Goodbye my beautiful, if only all of life was as easy as these past hours with your"
Philippa lent up to return his kiss, encircling her arm around his neck and allowing herself to melt into his arms. All her worries and cares seemed to melt briefly away for an instance.
Suddenly a curdling cry cut through the peacefulness of the moment, Philippa’s stomach dropped as she realised her men were under attack. She pulled away, briefly glaring at Aeneas, anger flashing in her eyes. He had tricked and betrayed her!
Running to her horse, she pulled the tether from the tree and galloped away to join the battle.
Roleplay from Aeneas Gabanus (9 hours, 50 minutes ago)
Aeneas could only but enjoy the moment which had formed, only to see it ripped apart by a curdling cry. Philippa ran away after the cry and Aeneas thought that he would be ambushed. He drew his sword and yelled loudly: "Come here you cowardly dogs, dare to strike me. I will cut you down like I do all, you will bleed before you die, you will beg for mercy, come here you cowardly dogs!"
After not being attacked for half a minute, he moved towards his horse, with his sword still in his hand. He did not understand it were in fact Taselakian men assaulting Philippa's men, something she did. "Philippa, how could you betray me so," he shouted as he ran away. "By the gods!" He climbed the horse and decided to move away from the screams and back into Taselak City. It would be there where he'd be safe from an ambush.
53 of your men were killed and 13 were wounded in this battle
A total of 7 men are once again ready for battle. 3 of your wounded men die from their wounds.
9 attackers
Philippa's body ached as they buried the last of her unit. Fifty six graves lined neatly in a hidden vale in Astin. The cavalry had come out of nowhere and ridden them down. She smirked at the nine attackers that had met their fate at the hand of her soldiers, but it was costly. Too costly.
'Philippa, how could you betray me so' she remembered hearing him scream at her as she had run into battle. The kiss, the farewell, it all made sense now. He did blame her for the negotiation fail and had tricked and entrapped her in Astin. And now the blood of fifty six loyal men laid on her hands for being such a fool. Philippa struck futilely at a nearby tree and yelled. "Damn you!"
