Mother Knows Best

Mother Knows Best

The story of the birth of the Prince of Perfection Aurelian Poe.

Roleplay from Lorelai Chamberlain

Mother Knows Best

As people went she was fairly non-descript, she had had her days, but now those days were many years ago and she passed down streets as 'just another old woman.' It actually made her smile to think how quickly the young might disregard the old, unless they were their own elders, and indeed when some were their own elders, terms such as biddy became a dismissive normal.

Closer regard would show a straight backed posture to the comfortably matron-like frame. The stride of a woman who was comfortable in her skin and wore her years without humility or regret. The cloth of her dress although simple, was cut expertly to flatter her shape. Her hair largely covered still had evidence if the golden strands if her youth. She had been companion to a Queen, nurse maid to a second Queen and was now the eye that watched over yet another generation.

Arriving at the Palace gates she rapped on the door, stepping back and humming to calm her own instinctive nerves.

The guardsman stepped out casting a brief and disappointed look over the woman. He smirked at an unseen companion. "Whatever you are selling, biddy, I can't see Her Grace buying." She raised an eyebrow, thankful at least that he had not tried to send her to the kitchens like a beggar.

She fixed him with an appraising stare, not hostile but carrying an intensity that communicated both her confidence and meaning. "My services aren't for sale, I am here on behalf of her Ladyship the Imperatrix of Perdan, and I would see Gideon of Stormehold."

The guard hesitated and she knew instinctively that she had the better of him. She carried no letter or seal, wore no crest or adornments, but she knew how to speak to people and more oft than not to get what she wanted. He looked at her again, his countenance perplexed, she allowed herself the beginnings of a smile.

"You may tell him I am the Mother of Oligarch."

Roleplay from Aila Storme

Mother Knows best

“Me?”

There is utter disbelief in the tone of Aila’s retainer Gideon as he receives the first summon from someone other than Aila since his arrival on East Continent years ago. The rarity, the unexpectedness, and the ominous name -Mother of Oligarch- all serve to spur him forward with great caution. Whoever this was, it was most likely they were after Aila, not him, and he would protect her for whatever this stranger was planning no matter the cost.

The guest had already been shown to an audience chamber as most guests were, a large room decorated lavishly and furnished with comfortable seatings for nobles to discuss their business in private. When he arrives this room is no exception, an almost familiar level of luxury awaits him as he enters wearing none other than Storme colours, azure and sable with a shining silver falcon emblem on his breast.

The man himself is middle aged but handsome with his neatly trimmed dark hair and clear bright eyes, some slight signs of aging in the form of charming widows peaks and lines from decades of smiles add more than they detract. When he shows his smile it is warm, bright and straight. Gideon does not know who this person is, but they are clearly nobility while he is not, so his manners are impeccable as stands in the doorway bowing at their waist.

“Gideon, at your service my Lady. You summoned me?”

Roleplay from Lorelai Chamberlain

Mother Knows Best

She rose as he entered, his verve as he bowed bringing the warmth of a smile that went quickly to the twinkle of her eyes.

“Gideon, at your service my Lady. You summoned me?” his gently accented tones were respectful without any hint of irony or mockery.

She found herself already liking the man she had heard of, without ever actually meeting. Reaching his side she drew him into a warm embrace, bending him almost double in the process.

"I am neither Lady nor have I summoned you. I am though more than pleased to finally make your acquaintance."

She pulled the bewildered man onto one of the plush couches at the side of the room. "I'd have arranged refreshments by now, but not to worry... anyway, Mother Ollie, or just Ollie will do, it has been so many years since I have been known as anything other, I at times forget I had a name before."

She sat back folding her hands in her lap. "Firstly, thank-you for seeing me, I had tried to track down my little poppet Princess Glory, but in fairness my affinity is far more that... well... I blather." She took his hand in hers, it was softer than she expected. "There are three reasons I had hoped to meet you today... two entirely about you and my apologies the third about your mistress."

She paused, she knew more than most that the element of choice for the indentured was a precious commodity, she would not force an issue simply by ensuring he had no option to leave without hearing her out. "I wonder would it push my luck to tell you some secrets and pick at your indulgence?"

Roleplay from Aila Storme

Mother Knows Best

Not a noble, nor did she summon him?

Hearing that the woman was a commoner like him was enough to relax Gideon enough that when he is lead to the plush couch he stands with an arm offered at the ready to help the old woman lower herself down if needed. When she is comfortable, he sits beside her listening curiously to what it is she has to say. Mother Ollie...Where had he heard that name before? Glory as well, familiar but something he could not put his finger on. Still, he sits with his pleasant smile until inevitably, the subject he was dreading is brought up.

Not wishing to seem severe, he tries his best to sound unbothered as he finally replies "I would never refuse such an offer M'La-" he catches himself, fooled again by the ladies dignified demeanor despite just being told otherwise. "Ma'am" he continues, "But please- tell me what it is about Aila first" he drops her title, appealing to the part of a fellow retainer that might recognize when one of her own is concerned for a young family member.

"Then I will listen to any secrets you wish to tell very gladly."

Roleplay from Lorelai Chamberlain

Mother Knows Best

She immediately recognised a kindred spirit, were something to effect her Mistress she would be sure to hear it before she was given news of herself. His hand still in hers she weighed his tolerance of her refusal before speaking the words, in some ways her being here was an act of betrayal. She hesitated smiling.

"I imagine you and I both know the power and value of secrets Gideon, the one I would tell you that affects your Mistress might prove to be a betrayal of my own Lady..." she allowed his hand to drop bringing her eyes up to his. He was inscrutable. Normally she was so good at reading people, but with this man, her senses told her she might proceed, but his own aspect was the well practiced mask of one who made sure to see and say nothing. She had no choice...

"I said I had three reasons, and I am afraid you must humour me and hear them in order of what effects you first." His face darkened with the hint of a scowl, but professional mild interest quickly chased the emotion from his aspect. She smiled sadly at that as she continued.

"Firstly, the most simple of my messages. I wanted to meet you as it is long past time that we met. I am Lady Chamberlain's woman, I manage her household. She holds your Lady in high regard, higher than most, but I have met neither you nor she." She grinned taking his hand again. "I am pleased to finally remedy that."

Producing a long bone pipe from some exquisitely hidden pocket she tamped the bowl before lighting it. "You don't mind do you?" The question was entirely rhetorical and she continued regardless. "My second reason concerns a certain Jocelyn Goldfield... she was a servant whom you were acquainted with back in Aix I believe... or so she told any who would listen."

He was good, but for the fine beads of sweat that suddenly dappled his brow his face betrayed nothing. "She claimed you fathered a child on her. Though to be fair I question the truth of such a statement, since the babe sprung full grown from a womb that must have been quickening your seed around seven months by my reckoning." He looked about to speak, tightening her hold on his hand she pressed on hoping this ingrained polite demeanor would not allow him to disrupt her tale. "Every mother wants better for her child than she had for herself Gideon, and life didn't always treat Jocelyn well... her daughter.... your daughter... thrives. Though Jocelyn herself sadly joined the Goddess a few days after her birth." She chewed at the end of her pipe. "The girl, Lucy, is a little beauty, a golden haired charmer. She is at Cúirt na Baintrí being nursed in a chamber set aside for another baby who will want for nothing. She cannot stay there though. The Goldfields have claimed her, she will be returned to their smallholding and raised by her grandfather and uncles." She tried to allow her eyes to communicate what her lips wouldn't give words to. "Unless, her father wished to press his claim..." she allowed his hand to drop, her own eyes now focused fully on the plush carpet not willing to look for what his face might tell her.

Roleplay from Aila Storme

Mother Knows Best

The sweat on Gideon’s brow is just a hint at the snake coiling in his guts right then, this day was something he had been waiting for certainly, but to have this old woman deliver the news...He was in trouble, he could feel it. As she suspected, he did not interrupt her- a look of relief appears for the smallest of moments at the news of a thriving baby girl but the news of her mother took that away in an instant.

He remembered the lass as well as if she were standing in front of him now, young, well built, attractive, strong, it seemed so wrong that this could happen to her. The night they had met he had been locked in a room with her, forced nose to nose until they had ended up having a night neither would forget. Everyone would assume it was for one reason, an obvious one, but in truth it had been much more significant than that; A total purging of secrets and a bearing of souls between near strangers. An admission that he would be able to satisfy her needs, a discovery of a sensitive intelligence behind a mask of bouncing curls and joyful boisterousness...and whispered agreement to raise a baby that was never his.

Gideon's face is a mix of pain and pity as he stares down at where their hands are clasped, not daring to look at the old Mother Ollie as she goes on about the golden haired charmer sitting in Aix among nursemaids and servants- but no mother.

The mention of the Goldfields holding is enough of a hint to Gideon even in his state of shock, he and this woman while generations apart spoke the same language, shared a similar heart. If the Goldfields would keep her better than he, they likely would never have had this conversation. “She’s mine” are the first clumsy words from his mouth “Oh, Gods..”

He takes his hand from the old woman and brushes it through his own hair trying to push away the tears threatening his eyes. Gideon has forgotten about Aila, in favor of this new blonde beauty in his life- “I will ride to Aix at once. She, Lucy. My Lucy... will live with me here in the Capital”

== Roleplay from Lorelai Chamberlain

Mother Knows Best

She cupped his face on her hand, relieved more than she imagined she would be by his response. "There are men who should be fathers, Gideon," she confided. "I'm proud of you." It probably meant nothing to him, but it was true nonetheless.

"The other matter..." she began. He was barely listening to her, she knew it was habitual politeness that had him yet at her side. "Please Sir Gideon, I need your help..." he remained distracted. "Gideon, my Lady has been in labour for two days..."

== Roleplay from Aila Storme

Mother Knows Best

Gideon is startled from his thoughts of the dead with news of the living, and shakes his head at the news of a difficult labor for one of the most prominent women of the realm, and Aila's best friend. He turns to look at the old woman, worries etched onto a face that had seen many women suffer through their labors. He had only witnessed one, and it was an experience he hoped never to repeat...But how is he meant to help with a matter like that?

"Just tell me what you need from me, Mother Ollie. Anything."

Roleplay from Lorelai Chamberlain

Mother Knows Best

She flushed deep red, appearing smaller by the second. "I... my Lady refuses to give birth in Perdan, she wants her child born in Aix... I told her the herbs that can delay such things. Then... then I find she has been chewing the root for four days now. I have birthed dozens of children and this is not good for her or the baby. It will take days to get to Aix and she seems content to spend her time in the barracks."

She looked up at the man in desperation. "She won't listen to me... I know she is waiting for Lu- His Grace... but it isn't good, the herbs make the child sleep, and every day it grows bigger... she is playing with both of their lives. Perhaps the Duchess...?" She let the question hang in the air in the company of her now public shame.

Roleplay from Aila Storme

Mother Knows Best

"Why would she be so reckless?" Gideons asks in a state of shock, the question of why the woman would even provide the herbs is there but he will not say it aloud for her own sake. "Follow me, Mother Ollie" Gideon stands, offering a hand up to the woman. "We must seek out the Duchess and tell her of this. She will be angry enough to startle the baby from Dame Lorelai, come along now" he rushes the woman quite unfairly, eager to find Aila.

---

The Pirate King's Study was no more pleasant than it was during the Autumn. Cool enough for a roaring fire to fill the room with warmth and light and the sounds of crackling wood, but warm enough that the Duchess did not have to wear layer on layers of wools and cloaks to keep the chill away she worked with her back to the huge window. Instead, she is dressed lightly in a dress strictly too formal for a girl sitting alone in her study- As Gideon bursts through the door without a proper summon he can tell from the dress alone that she has just come back from her courts. "My Lady"

Aila has already come to her feet, slipping around the corner of the desk to meet Gideon halfway across the room, knowing that whatever caused him to forget his manners and barge in must be urgent. Pale with shock, instantly concerned, Aila thrusts both hands into Gideons as she urges him "Tell me what the matter is!"

Gideon, looking serious as ever turns to the little woman hobbling through he door behind him, resting a withered hand against the frame as she took in the sight of the young Duchess. "This is Mother Ollie" Gideon explains urgently.

The name is familiar, one of Lorelai's servant but why would Gideon but in such a rush to introduce them..? "Unless mother Ollie is about to keel over I don't see the rush Gideon" Despite her somewhat cruel words she is smiling.

"Lorelai isn't well. She needs you, it's the baby."

"Me? Why me? I have never had a baby." Aila's words are panicked and fearful. Her hands fall from Gideon, she takes a few measured steps toward the strange old maid and sizes her up with that intense Storme glare, looking for answers this time instead of weakness.

"She needs you Aila" Gideon tries again.

"I don't understand!"

Gideon urges Ollie on "Tell her!"

Roleplay from Lorelai Chamberlain

Mother Knows Best

She has dealt with Queens, yet the glare of the Duchess added to the shame the old woman already felt, making her feel all the more elderly and foolish. She looked with pleading eyes to Gideon. With no help forthcoming she pulled the front of her bodice straight.

"Your Grace," she bobbed in a slow curtsey. "Thankyou for seeing me." She tried to avoid the younger womans gaze. "I have hoped to meet you many times, but certainly not like this."

She pursed her lips drawing in the resolve and decorum she had learned from years of service as both a maunt and while indentured, "Lady Lorelai can be a rather headstrong woman. She has a certain set of ideas that she will not waver from, despite the experience and rationale of those who might... guide her in a more fruitful direction." The words dried in her throat as her resolve began to buckle.

Emotion caught at her, betraying her demeanor and her knees threatened to buckle. "I have been her companion for close to ten years, I watched her grow from being a little girl to a woman... she asked me what would happen if her time came," she raised eyebrows to convey meaning, "while we were on route to Aix... I reassured her that I knew the roots to stop that happening... 'Oh?' Says she and fool that I am, I told her... I practically took her to the bazaar where they could be bought... she refuses to have Lucius child outside of his Duchy. She says the Imperatrix should not cower in a coach, and is in no condition to ride."

"Four days she has forced her child to sleep, much longer and I fear it will not wake, and Ora only knows what it will do to her... I am so sorry to bring this to your door Your Grace, but she won't listen to me and seek as I have, I couldn't reach her aunt Glory... I'm so sorry M'lady." Worried tears followed her words.

She sniffed them back, her shame not allowing her the self indulgence of selfish tears.

Roleplay from Aila Storme

Mother Knows Best

Unlike Gideon, Aila has no patience for those who are meek or intimidated, she peers down at the wrinkled woman in this rare instance that she had the physical upperhand on someone. It just happened to be a shriveled old maid, one that Gideon was lingering beside rather than joining rank with her. His hand strokes the older woman's sloped shoulders as she speaks, and they can both tell the old thing is about to cry.

Aila blinks a few times not in confusion but in an attempt to pull herself away from her usual explosive anger for Gideon’s sake. Or so she thought. In truth her slow, calm reaction was farm more threatening looking than her usual shouting and pelting of candy dishes. “We can take care of this” a careful sentence, delivered with eyes burning with anger. “Gideon, go and fetch some competent midwives, then show this ehm.”

“Ollie” Gideon offers helpfully.

“Offer Mother Ollie somewhere to eat and rest. I will find Lorelai and find out what compels her. I expect you to be ready for commands the night long, Gideon.”

“I must leave for Aix as soon as the Midwives are arranged Your Grace.”

“Aix? Why Aix?” The Duchess snaps “You think you can drag the Duke from his…” She chooses the word carefully, painfully aware of the watery eyes of the old woman listening to them “Business..?”

Gideon clears his throat, mustering all of his bravery “Well, I’ve got a baby out there. And I must bring her here before winter comes. She needs me.”

Silence stretches between them, Aila composed herself to simply wave her approval of him leaving and stalk off- her carefully guarded temper exploding as she slams the door of her own study shut behind her, leaving the two commoners in there alone. The slam echoes in the room painfully loud, and causes several wall hangings to clatter to the floor in its wake- he turns to the older woman and sounds proud “That was a really good reaction, for her!”

== Roleplay from Lorelai Chamberlain

Mother Knows Best

The pains had come again, stronger and more sustained than previously. The roots did their job but it was taking more and longer. Just one more day... or perhaps later today, if Fat Bastard could just find a gentle path that didn't make her feel like her insides were going to drop out. She looked at the list, laid out alongside a precious missive from Lucius. He did better and she had to return to Aix. Tucking the letter beneath the list she winced reaching for another of the black roots.

Tonsure appeared in the doorway, his usual supercilious hauter a little diminished over the past few days. Mother Ollie had been gone most of the last day, but at least that gave her some forbearance from her interminable chastisement. Though admittedly she would have preferred her company to Tonsures right now.

She looked to him in irritation. "Well?"

He raised a nostril in a manner only he could announcing with bass gravitas: "Her Grace, the Duchess Storme of Perdan is in the parlour."

She gripped the side of the desk preparing to stand, the tell tale twinge told her this was not an option yet. Panicking a little she chewed frantically at the root. "Doesn't she know I'm... very busy." Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the sides of the desk more tightly. "Tell her Luci- no tell her I am with the Queen..."

The Duchess was not in the parlour but in the doorway, her sweet smile far more dangerous than a furrowed brow. With but a flash of her pearly white teeth, Tonsure was trying to insinuate himself into becoming part of the doorway.

The smile remained frozen and deadly: "Really Lorelai, you expect me to believe Alyssa would lower herself to attend you at your apartments... Why you insist on staying here when I have promised you a suite at the Palace I will never know." Her full name... the fixed smile. Lorelai fortified herself. Aila continued sweetly: "I might think you did not wish to see me!"

Frowning, she thought briefly to rise and greet the Duchess, instead pushing her hair behind her ears she stretched.

"Forgiive me for not standing sister, I am just so very busy... I always have time for you, but..." she tried to spread the papers on her desk to look more. "I am tired is all, Mother Ollie would normally have me taking a constitutional at this time." She gabbled nervously. "She will be sad that she has missed you again.... so much work... yes, take a seat... Tonsure, bring the Duchess some refreshments. I will have my special tea." She felt the sweats developing on her back. "So what can I do for you?" She pushed her hair back again. "Warm isn't it..."

Roleplay from Aila Storme

Mother Knows best

Aila is unconvinced, watching her friend lying and deflecting, asking her to sit. The Duchess snaps at the servant she has never met causing them to stop in their tracks and await her command “You.” Tonsure nods, unsure as to what is going to happen “No drinks, leave.”

To the sound of shuffling feet behind her, Aila rounds the desk and leans against it’s edge, staring down at Lorelai with sharp hazel eyes. “She did not miss me, Gideon brought her straight to me. I know everything. There are midwives waiting in a chamber down the hall, they are preparing everything for you. You can come with me nice and easy, or I can get the ‘additional staff’ to help you down there forcefully.”

She does not turn from Lorelai, raising a hand to snap two fingers together- summoning a few armed guards to shuffle in behind her to glower at the heavily pregnant woman. With the threats laid, Aila lets go of the desk and kneels beside her friend, looking up now instead of down as she makes her appeal “I don’t know where Lucius is, or what he is doing- But you’re safe here with me. If anything happens to you or this baby Lori I will go mad.” The guards have stopped glowering, they just look worried now that they might have to actually wrangle the Imperatrix in a moment. There is an awkward silence as Aila swallows her pride in front of commoners and adds on a humble “Please.”

Roleplay from Lorelai Chamberlain

Mother Knows Best

"Get - them - out - of - here..." the hoarse whisper bourne from shame and fury mixed with humiliation. Aila nodded to Tonsure and the men fell gratefully back beyond the door.

When she looked up furious tears streaked her face. "I would die before armed men force me to any bed... whether that be birth marriage or... any other."

She attempted to rise, being forced back down by the crippling pains. "By the Gods Aila I am so frightened... it feels like my insides will fall out.." she scanned the desk for more of the black roots.

"Aix without Lucius, was unbearable, but... but..." she shuffled through the papers, pushing his short note toward Aila, "he is back... and I need him, I need him to see his child... our baby... it will be perfection personified, and Lucius will know... he will know that he can create something truly perfect. Something that matters more than anything else. I needed him to be there and now I feel trapped here by my own weakness."

"I need to get ah..." the pains took her breath away... "I need to get back to him Aila, I need our child to be born in the Court." She collapsed into sobs. "But I can barely stand... three days to Aix may as well be a year if I can't stand without feeling like I want to push my insides out." She spied some of the chewed root on the floor, pointing she begged. "Can you pass me that..."

Roleplay from Aila Storme

Mother Knows Best

Already her heart is pounding, she has no experience with these sorts of things and seeing Lorelai the way she was made her more scared than she could ever remember being. Still, Aila remains cool as she grabs the pointing hand and stands again, hugging the other woman close to her. “No, Lori. This is happening now.” Gently Aila smooths Lori’s hair. “Perfection is not stifled by location.” Aila tries to help Lori up again, but another cry of pain ends that and she has to listen to another bout of begging for the damn root. “GID! SOMEONE FIND ME GID BEFORE HE LEAVES.”

---

No one had to find Gideon, the echoing of that all-familiar voice made it quite far in the castle on a good day- the panic in it’s tone sends him flying from the side of the hobbling old maid Ollie and toward the Duchess yelling for him. He had to get to Aix soon, and as much as it tore at him Aila needed him first.

Outside of the Imperatrix’ study several armed men, and worried maids linger peeking in the door but step away on his approach. He has seen women in labor before, but one glance at Aila tells him she has not- so he enters the room with every confidence and ushers the blonde with her huge frightened eyes away and replaces her with a calm, strong presence. “Put your arm around my neck, my Lady” He requests in his gentlest Dwilish tones, and with Aila’s help once she is secure he lifts her with ease despite her extra burden. Her discomfort is met with gentle reassurance, he keeps a tight hold on her as Aila runs ahead and shouts the others to get out of her sight.

His Duchess then watches with admiration, having forgotten that he was a warrior to begin with and now suddenly reminded. She keeps close at Lorelai’s side until they reach a room in the same tower, small and warm with a comfortable bed and more midwives then any one person would ever really need. It is there Gideon finally gently lowers Lorelai down, not where she wanted to be but somewhere safe, secluded and surrounded by people who knew what to do.