[Aridan Crowe]

Aridan

I will love the light
for it shows me the way...

The Garden of Aurelia was perhaps one of the most enchanting locations around the palace. Any other time of year, it was vibrant with colors - not a bud shying itself away from the sun above. Normally the scent of the flowers would seep through an open window, adorning the Chancellor’s office with a nice and natural floral aroma - a pleasantry to any who would walk in. Now, however, with the approaching winter, it seemed to have begun to grow a bit cold. The garden, although still bearing plenty of its color for now, held a gloomy light over it. Yet, the window remained just barely cracked. Not nearly as much as normal to preserve the temperature, but just enough to catch a whiff of the blossoms that remained.

Aridan sighed from his desk, sliding the documents in front of him into one of three folders as he sorted through them. Notices of import delays and tariffs all went into International Affairs. Records from the treasury, naturally, went to Finances. And the stray letter from the recently-widowed Duchess Mouroe; he skimmed the top of the page long enough to assure it was not an invitation to any memorial before sliding it into a folder lovingly labeled “Fire”.

Movement brought his attention down to his side, meeting the golden gaze of the fox in his office.

“Another letter of adoration?” Her voice rung through his mind almost teasing. “What was the line this time?”

“You would think some would have the dignity of waiting at least a week after their husband’s in the ground to start exploring new options.”

“Shallow. You're sure it's not a daughter this time?”

“No! She has sons my age.”

Stella shifted, not thrilled at the prospect. The smirk worn by the Chancellor was one of disbelief, the laugh that slipped one of discomfort. It did remind him of something coming up, however. He brought the Finance stack back to the center of his desk, filing away the burn folder for another day. Flipping past citizen loans, he pulled the paper to the top of the stack listing each dedicated fund for the capitol. He traced his own penmanship, following the numbers down to the value dedicated to the Community Fund.

“That said, we do need to look into organizing the Winter Formal,” Aridan flipped through the stacks, skimming through the budgets. “It looks like we have enough for me to begin planning.”

He tapped his fingers across the wood of his desk, mimicking a rhythm known only to his subconscious. Stella’s ear flicked in familiarity, but she spoke not of it. Rather, she paced over to a small cabinet, sticking a paw beneath it to slide out what sounded like two delicate pieces of metal across the floor.

“Silver or gold this year?”

“I don’t know yet, Stel,” he hummed, sliding open a drawer to shuffle through it. He pulled a small pouch from within, setting it atop the desk. The pouch was one Stella recognized immediately, pacing back to his side the moment she heard its contents shuffle. Aridan paid no mind to her movements, rummaging through the drawer more until he found a small card within - that of the royal tailors. Thunk. The colors were often left up to the fashion industry - after all, they had more hands-on knowledge of the supply and demand of the trends and these events were some that could make or break their sales.

“You know the process by now - we have to go ask.”

Crunch, crunch, crunch…

“That said, we’ll need permission from the queen fir-”

Aridan’s gaze shifted from the card in his hand to the fox at his side. The pouch he had set atop his desk had somehow fallen to the floor. Stella’s nose must have tripped into it.

“I’m listening.”

It sounded like a plea for him to ignore her actions, but to Aridan it simply sealed the image in. A grin spread on his lips, giving way to a warm chuckle. Setting the card down, he rested a hand atop her head, rubbing behind her ear and he grabbed the half-eaten pouch of treats from the floor.

“I swear you have a problem with these, Stella.”

He could feel her rolling her eyes. The warm-toned dismissal let slip another faint laugh.

“But as I was saying. We need to get the budget to the queen for her approval and any say she wants in it first.”

...yet I will love the darkness
because it shows me the stars.

[Eveline Lennox]

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the petal upon the stem

Eveline had awoken early in the morning. The crisp air wafted gently from her open window, sending shivers that roused her from her rest. No nightmares tonight. The downy covers filled with feathers from the stags in the forest thickets below the castle rested gently atop her body, creating a nook of warmth that shielded her from the cold. She felt most comfortable this way, but she could doze off no longer. Eveline's schedule was filled with important comings and goings, meeting with her Chancellor to discuss noble matters, and of course, visit some of the lower houses with Thorne. He had recently taken a liking to the hard working people in the city of Nythalaê, she could feel the fondness in his heart as he recounted his adventures late at night. [break][break]

Eveline kicked her blankets off of herself, greeting the cool breeze with a sheer night gown. At the foot of her grand bed, Thorne slept soundly, breathing deeply over outstretched paws. His ears flicked back towards his other half as she made the bed, though he was not yet ready to wake. Eveline sauntered to her wardrobe, picking out a cream colored dress decorated with light blue laced flowers, with a sloped neckline and cinched waist. The fabric was thick and velvety, with long sleeves to keep her warm during the winter months. She tossed it haphazardly to her bed, turning towards the giant copper claw tub that shimmered in morning light in the opposite corner of her room. Although their technology wasn't great, they were blessed in the Cirrus castle to have access to an underwater aquifer that never dried. The spout of the tub, copper and silver woven together, was a simple mechanism that only required the push of a level to allow water to flow freely. [break][break]

As it did, Eveline reached underneath the tub where a small rectangle space had been carved downward to set chunks of wood to be set ablaze, heating the water in the copper tub. Warmth billowed from underneath the tub, warming her feet. She then turned towards an old wooden shelf, lined with various oils and dried herbs. Eveline meticulously dripped oils into the water with thing glass droppers, and the room filled with earthy and floral scents. Thorne let out a sneeze, and turned over to continue sleeping, his chest rising and falling like the sun and moon. Eveline gazed at him lovingly, thankful for his company all these years. She placed her oils back in their respective spots upon the shelf, and grasped her hair brush, gently pulling it through her dark chocolate locks. It was made of ivory and ornate silver from a Daínish merchant, a gift from a friend long since lost to time. Finally, she was nearly ready. [break][break]

Eveline set down her brush and pulled a threaded ribbon from the drawer of the sheld, tying her hair up loosely. She stripped her nightgown from her frame and set it gently upon a brass hook notched into the wall. She lifted a tentative foot above the tub and into the water, finding it's tender warmth inviting her deeper. With a deep sigh, she relaxed into the bath, allowing her eyes to close for the briefest of moments, her mind wandering through the souls and eyes of the land. Eveline felt the baker, hard at work with beads of sweat forming above his brow as he kneaded sourdough. She then saw the young girl, who held a stuffed Pixin tightly, nervous as she was led through the middle streets of Nythalaê by her Father. Lastly she saw the fisherman in her minds eye, who lazily held the pole in his grasp with one hand, as the other held tightly onto a mug of fishwine. So many stories to be shared, and but a sliver of them would be known. Thorne finally stood then, yawning loudly as he stretched his back, arching lowly and shaking his great mane. Care not to travel too far, my friend, you have much to accomplish today. Eveline smiled as she traveled back to her own mind, settling into her body as the warmth seeped deep into her bones. [break][break]

Eveline's feet padded gently as she made her way to Aridan's office, Thorne's heavy steps behind her drowning hers out completely. They had both eaten breakfast in the garden, sharing recent stories and dreams. She now wore a determined face, preparing her mind to focus on what the peoples living within Selâ needed from her. She stopped in front of the door of Aridan's office, rapping her knuckles upon its face three times, waiting to hear his call so she may enter. She might be Queen, but all peoples, including the Chancellor, deserved to have their privacy respected. Thorne sat down patiently, tail curling around his paws. [break][break][break]

taggingAridan Crowe

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