|
Post by Marie Antoinette on Oct 23, 2008 14:54:51 GMT -5
She sipped at the tea, going slowly in case anything more would kick it back. When her stomach didn’t react negatively, she took more generous drinks.
“Once breakfast is done, we should continue on. I don’t mind this place, but I know I’ll feel better at Petit Trianon.”
|
|
|
Post by Oscar François de Jarjayes on Oct 27, 2008 10:57:49 GMT -5
"Of course, Your Highness," Oscar said. "I await your pleasure." She knew there was much to be done; news would need to be gathered of the result of the fight, the status of the army and of King Richard, whom she still believed to be at Versailles. Perhaps that was what she could do now; surely someone in this inn would have some information, and her query would not be suspicious.
But something odd was happening. In Oscar's carefully ordered brain, the artificial division between what she knew to be true and what she suspected was false was dissolving. That is to say, her natural but unvoiced suspicion about King Richard was gradually gaining strength as the hold he had on the people gave way. Unlike many of his soldiers, who had little contact with him and whose ruler mattered little on a day-to-day basis, Oscar had always felt vaguely uncomfortable around him. She owed him her allegiance. But she had always felt, as if on some other plane, that there was something wrong.
She had set it down to her own personal issues and, like all the others, attempted not to think about it. Duty was all, and what Oscar thought her queen deserved was immaterial to her task of protecting her. Now, with the illusion weakening even its tenuous hold on her mind, she began to realize that Richard was nothing. And she was unaccountably cheered by the knowledge, for Marie Antoinette was still all.
"If it please your majesty, I will seek out news of the rebels," she said, hiding her troubled thoughts but for the tiny frown line between her brows.
|
|
|
Post by Marie Antoinette on Oct 27, 2008 20:04:44 GMT -5
*If Marie realized any of what was going on in Oscar's mind, she made no outward sign of it. Her own inner thoughts were in enough of a spin--Richard, the strange and swift rise to the crown, and her capture and escape from the rebellion.
And of course, her stomach problems. She was likely making too much of it in her mind, but it bothered her*
"Yes. I've been wondering how the battle has gone." She was preoccupied, and it showed in her voice.
"But, not too long. And be very careful."
|
|
|
Post by Oscar François de Jarjayes on Oct 28, 2008 14:49:36 GMT -5
Oscar smiled, almost to herself.
"I will be discrete, Madame," she said, and bowed. Downstairs she learned something very interesting, and when she returned she was able to tell Marie that the rebels had, it seemed, won the day.
"The army seemed to disperse, all at once," she said, her face composed and brows lowered, contemplating the next piece of news. "And I regret to inform you, Your Majesty, that your husband the king was apparently slain." She didn't know how else to put it, and watched Marie's face anxiously.
|
|
|
Post by Marie Antoinette on Oct 29, 2008 10:31:05 GMT -5
In all honesty, Marie wasn’t sure what she thought about the rebels winning, which was confusing in its own right. She was glad that the fighting was over, no matter what her other feelings were.
The news about Richard, on the other hand…
“Mon dieu,” she murmured, her face growing pale.
If what she suspected about her “stomach illness” was true, then her current situation was a lot more complicated.
“It’s not fair!” She suddenly cried, slamming the doorframe with a fist. The pain only briefly registered as she covered her face in her hands.
“Dammit…damn everything…”
She wasn’t crying. In fact, rather than feeling sadness or depression, she was angry.
|
|
|
Post by Oscar François de Jarjayes on Oct 29, 2008 12:04:26 GMT -5
Oscar worried that she had done this wrong, told her poorly. She was blunt by nature, however discrete she might be in her duties, and she hadn't the words for this sort of thing. She raised an arm instinctively (the one without the bullet wound in the shoulder) and the hand at the end of it hovered near Marie's shoulder, wishing to offer comfort but unwilling to casually touch her queen. She assumed grief was Marie's primary emotion, and even if Oscar could not understand such feelings directed towards King Richard, she did not like to see her in pain.
"I am sorry, Madame," she said softly. "I am certain he died proudly in battle."
|
|
|
Post by Marie Antoinette on Oct 29, 2008 18:50:58 GMT -5
*Marie took a deep breath, trying to calm down. It wouldn't be fair to take any of her feelings out on Oscar--Varjayes had only been doing her duty. If she could help it, she would not do any harm to her only ally.
She let her hands fall, meeting Oscar's eyes*
"I...I think he would have joined the fray, yes. He never struck me as someone that would sit still on the sidelines."
She'd never seen him fight, but that didn't mean he didn't know how. The man was a royal, after all...much good such training had done him, it seemed.
"We simply must press on," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I can wait to think more on the situation at Petit Trianon."
And have time to puzzle out what her next move would...could...be.
|
|
|
Post by Oscar François de Jarjayes on Oct 29, 2008 20:28:54 GMT -5
Perhaps she should have waited until the queen was safe and comfortable. But Oscar would have wanted to know right away. She dropped her hand and nodded.
"We can depart when you are ready, Madame."
|
|
|
Post by Marie Antoinette on Oct 30, 2008 17:54:01 GMT -5
She gave Oscar a wry grin.
"I could leave now--there really isn't anything to pack."
|
|
|
Post by Oscar François de Jarjayes on Oct 31, 2008 11:25:18 GMT -5
"As you wish," she said. "I have settled our account here."
Oscar bowed and moved aside to let Marie pass. She would keep one hand on her sword, however, until she was safe.
|
|
|
Post by Marie Antoinette on Oct 31, 2008 16:54:34 GMT -5
"Thank you." Marie moved with measured steps, though her pace was a little quick--she really didn't want to delay anymore. It had been too long since she felt as though she were at home .
|
|
|
Post by Oscar François de Jarjayes on Oct 31, 2008 19:38:16 GMT -5
Oscar fell into step behind her, like a well-trained guard dog and just as loyal.
((We can probably take them to wherever they're going, eh?))
|
|
|
Post by Lucy Harris on Nov 1, 2008 14:18:24 GMT -5
((Aye))
|
|
|
Post by melody on Nov 10, 2008 16:10:06 GMT -5
**NEW DAY**
The docks being a bust, Melody had wandered listlessly through Paris, sure that she was either going crazy or dreaming (maybe both). All the walking was tiring, and though she didn't want to delve too far into this place, she needed to stop and rest.
She ducked into the inn, glancing about warily.
"Hello?"
As before, she still held onto her laptop, her only bit of familiarity in this place.
|
|