An Assassin in Their Midst

[Flamelord]

Marcellus noted as the guards departed. There were only two left, and a bit a ways away. If he had brought his knife, he could have killed her now and had a decent chance of escaping. But he hadn't, and he expected trying to snap her neck would end badly for him. So he didn't try anything.

Instead, he just held her tight as she cried in his shoulder, the tears joining with the rain to go crashing down on the ground. He just let her cry for a bit, to get out what she needed to. Gretchen had been very important to her, and her death was very shaking. at least this would get him credit with her, to increase her trust in him, he supposed.

He talked to her as she cried. "It's alright, just let it out. There's a time for being strong and a time for grieving, and I will not judge. Despite the appearances you put up or everyone, you are still human like the rest of us. I'm here for you if or when you need someone to talk to, now and in the days to come. I know the feeling, I know what it's like, so don't be afraid."

[Eruraina]

Elrien let the tears fall, her breath coming in sobs muffled by his shoulder. She barely heard his words through her sorrow, but felt that she could let it out with him there. That it didn't matter if he saw her this way.

For the longest time they stood there while she grieved. Finally she stopped and pulled away, wiping her face and blinking. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and she sniffed from a runny nose. Though she was starting to shiver, a chill having set in from standing out in the rain. Before, she had been working and moving, keeping warm. Now she had just been standing, and was feeling completely miserable.

Without a word and with a downcast gaze, she simply started head home. Whistling, Stormfoot came up beside her, and she grabbed his reins, and led him up towards the castle.

[Flamelord]

Marcellus could feel the time pass as he stayed there with her. He was loathe to interrupt her, so he put up with all the rain so he could be there. She needed someone to lean on, and he was there to be a crutch for now. It was all good.

Finally, she decided her physical needs beat out crying, and she started back to the castle, her horse following behind. He went and got the horse he had come in, and began following her at a slightly faster pace so he could catch up. when he did, he slowed down so they would reach the castle together. For now, he was just willing to be there as a comforting presence. Later, when all the attention on her had died away somewhat, he'd probably give her the advice he had found most useful when his father died.

[Eruraina]

Elrien was silently thankful that Marcellus was there for her. Though she knew she would have to talk to him later. A permanent replacement would be needed for Gretchen, and Elrien knew that Gustavus had told her that he wanted to be part of the army, and she promised to help him do that to help fight. So someone else would need to be found. Though this death was very unexpected.

As she walked, she gradually composed herself, swallowing back the tears and beginning to walk not like a girl that just had a great loss, but a princess that had duties to attend now. So by the time they reached the castle, it was only her eyes that revealed the sorrow in her heart. Jarrett came to take the horses, and Anna came to lead Elrien to the bath she had drawn for the princess.

"Thank you," she told Marcellus before following Anna away. She went and got washed in the hot water, the chill leaving her, and cleaning the mud away. When she dressed, she put on a black dress, for mourning. She then made her way to the great hall where her father waited. Their eyes met, and an understanding went between them. But the day's business would not be halted. If it had been a noble or royal that died, the day would have been made for mourning. But it was a servant, so the chores would continue, though Elrien would mourn while she went about her duties.

[Flamelord]

Marcellus made it back to the castle with Elrien and accompanied her until Anna arrived to take the Princess to her bath. He could see her mentally compose herself along the way, though the pain still spoke in her eyes.

As he went on with his own duties, he noticed she had put on a black dress for mourning, which anyone would have understood if they had been there when she found out. He knew he had told her that he wanted to join the Army, but he "decided" that he should put that on hold for a while. They probably wouldn't want to go to the trouble of having to train yet again someone new, and he always had his own concerns. He'd talk to someone about it later.

He thought about talking to her tutors, but decided against it. They had their own eyes, and she probably wouldn't appreciate it if he had them go easy on her today. If she couldn't handle this, there would be serious problems when she ruled. Not that he intended to give her time to rule, but still. He went about his duties with the plan to approach her after dinner when there was some free time.She knew he'd lost his own father, so he understood her pain. They could have a nice chat.

[Eruraina]

Elrien continued her day as if the tragic event had not happened, going to her lessons and duties. Though her eyes remained sad and rarely a smile touched her lips. She skipped lunch, even when it was offered and even urged for her to eat, but she wouldn't. She was not her cheery self, but then again she was in mourning, for Gretchen had been a mother to her. When dinner came she sat in the same place as before, barely picking at her food, and seeming to mostly ignore all the talking that went on around her. Already news had spread about the castle. Other servants who were close to Gretchen wept and had put on black head dresses or sashes, not having time to fully change. Though rumors made the story different than what it really was. They said it had been a murder for someone who was trying to send a message to the royal family. Or that a witch had done it, and planned to curse the princess. Each rumor growing more outlandish with every retelling.

When dinner was done, Elrien left her plate, only half eaten, and slipped outside. It was still raining, but she managed to dash to the stables without getting too soaked. Inside she slipped into Stormfoot's stall. The stable hands glanced at Elrien as she entered, then at each other, and made sure to be busy away from her so she could have her space. The princess wrapped her arms around the horse's neck and started crying.

(I know I'm skipping a lot of the day... I hope you don't mind.)

[Flamelord]

((It's fine.))

Marcellus watched Elrien as she went through the day, more because the escalation of the rumor into something actually close to his true intentions was a bit offsetting. He wanted to see if his cover would stick, but from what he saw it seemed she was too busy grieving to consider anything else really. She barely ate, her face was tinged with sadness, and pretty much everyone could tell what kind of mental state she was in.

As part of his own plan, he thought it best to talk to her, comfort her, even if he couldn't do it like the king could. Let her think he was someone who understood, who she could confide in. Then, he'd strike. Wasn't the worst plan he'd ever thought up.

He was at dinner, this time making sure to have some with everyone else. As it ended, he watched Elrien slip out of the room through the way she had gone out before. Knowing where she was headed, he dismissed himself and headed off towards the stables, though he moved a bit slower to give her some time. Entering, he could see the stable hands keeping a safe distance from the stall that had her horse in it.

We walked to the door and stood there for a little bit, just watching her, before speaking up as he walked in. "You know, when my father died, I vowed that I would kill a hundred Syvians in his honor." After saying that, it occurred to him that he should really stop surprising her like that, but it was a bit late now. "I'm still working on it," he finished wryly. "I suppose it doesn't seem that relevant, but I think I know what you're going through. My mother died in chiildbirth, so my father was the only family I had. When he died, it wasn't a good time for me. I wanted to lash out, to break things. I started down a bad road."

[Eruraina]

Elrien's sobs had gradually calmed down as she cried. She had already soaked the portion of Stormfoot's neck that she had been pressing her face against. The big gelding must have realized his owner's sadness because he just stood there calmly while she cried, not trying to go eat or move away from her. She had managed to slow her breathing a bit, but the tears still fell.

But again she did not hear Marcellus approach, and again she startled when he spoke, not realizing anyone was there. She straightened, quickly wiping her eyes to get rid of the tears that had fallen, drying her face. She listened to his words as he spoke, trying to compose herself. She needed to be strong in front of others. She was a princess of a proud kingdom, the sole heir that would take the throne when her father died or became unfit to rule. Showing such weakness to the people would make them doubt her. But a thought came to her while he spoke, mentioning the death of his father wanting vowing to kill Syvians.

"That's right... You wanted to join the army. I promised to help you accomplish that upon Gretchen's return... I still will. You should not be bound to wait upon me. I will speak to my father about finding a position for you," she said, looking up at him.

[Flamelord]

Marcellus's thoughts panicked just a little as she mentioned getting him a position in the army. He didn't think that that part of the cover story would come back so quickly. He needed to stick around, so he could, you know, assassinate her. He quickly thought up a good response.

He shook his head. "That's fine, but at the very least I insist upon sticking around for a while longer. If I am to go, you will need time to train a more permanent replacement. I couldn't leave you in the lurch like this. And if you want me to stick around longer, I will. It is no trouble to me at all. Any service to the Crown will help me in my goal of hurting Syvin and getting my own revenge"

[Eruraina]

Even in her state, Elrien noticed the slight... hesitation?... before Marcellus spoke. Part of her thought it a bit odd he hesitated, but then figured it's that maybe he just didn't think of that or remember it in all that had been going on. She rubbed her eyes, listening as he spoke. That he insisted on sticking around a bit longer in order to find a train a suitable permanent replacement. These words greatly relieved her. For now it was one less thing to worry about, though she knew she would eventually have to worry about it.

"Gustavus, you have my gratitude," she told him, patting Stormfoot's neck and going over to the stall door. She was done crying and mourning. It was time now to be strong and move on. She would not forget Gretchen, of course, but she needed to prove that she had the strength to work through a hard time such as loss. "It's probably time to head back to the castle and get more things done."