Sterling

Knights and Nobles~Tales Of Heroes (Open)

Dinner later that night:

Listening to the careful chewing, the precise placement of a cup, to the inhaled breath for a word to be spoke and then to be forgotten and a sigh instead escaping… Catrin kept her own expression solemn as she ate. Seated between Wil and Eira it was as if she too sat right on the border, and the uncomfortable, unnatural peace between her two siblings was only enforced by the authority of their parents across the table.

Eating in one of the private rooms afforded the Hywel’s instead of the main Hall Cadi thought her parents were both avoiding the rising tempers of the knights and lords, or perhaps they knew their time with Wil and as a complete family could be coming to an end very soon.

After all...Catrin would have to be married soon, it only made sense. She had heard mention of several agreeable matches coming to Montgomery in the next few months and surely one of them would come to an arrangement.

And even if she remained with her family for a time longer, Wil would not. Battle was coming, England was upon them. It made her heart ache to think of her young brother off fighting for their country. So many did not back whole, or at all.

Then there was the obvious chance that Eira could be sent off to the nunnery.

This private joke cheered Catrin and she smiled, ducking her head demurely so no one would see her unseemly glee at the sedate dinner.

Eira in a habit and coarse woolen clothes... Those poor sisters wouldn’t know what hit them.

Sea green eyes darted over to the ‘sister’ in question and crinkled with an unshown smile.

Eira shifted restlessly in her seat, picking at her food, and every so often, lifting a morsel to her mouth, however she mostly was waiting for her parents to finish their meal and dismiss the girl, really she had no interest in eating with them at all. The silence was uncomfortable, and only furthered Eira’s wish to leave, brown eyes centered on her plate, as she hoped someone would speak up about something, about anything, but she would not risk the lecture she might endure if she was the one to do it. If she was next to Gwillym, she might have nudged him, to try and prod the boy into talking, but when she looked over, instead she caught Catrin looking toward her, a hint of a smile in her eyes.

That only furthered the girl’s frustration, curious on what Cadi had found amusing, but knowing that she could not just ask her. Why she had to bare this torturous formality daily, to sit and dine in silence with her family, Eira would never understand. It was the only time of the day her presence was ever mandatory, and Eira felt even that was excessive. Usually, she would sit in uncomfortable silence while her father lectured, and felt criticized

Guessing at the reason for the pained look on her younger sister’s face Catrin straightened up a bit more and settled her fork on her plate, preparing to diplomatically change the tone of the meal.

Folding her hands gracefully in her lap Catrin coughed softly to draw her father’s gaze. His brow twitched in consent that she might speak.

“Will you and Wil be going on the hunt tomorrow? Perhaps I ought to prepare a basket for your travels?”

Her lips curved sweetly into a smile and her father actually reciprocated. It was a gentle and genteel gesture of her to make, sending her father and brother off to hunt with a basket made by the Lady rather than the servants. And the topic of hunting seemed safe enough, no politics, no marriage, no rules.

It was assumed and understood Catrin and Eira would NEVER go on a hunt with the men,and really why would they want to?!

“A lovely gesture my dear…” Her father grunted as he set down his glass. “The hunt might be cancelled however…” The way he held his lips together tightly let Catrin know she had touched on yet another sensitive subject.

“Another time.” Their mother chimed in before the meal was resumed in silence.

Schism: Blood of Heroes

Oh hummm

Schism: Blood of Heroes

Hey all! Whose still around?

1860's Upstairs, Downstairs style RP (Not based on show)

Interested @MayLily915

Knights and Nobles~Tales Of Heroes (Open)

The morning progressed as it typically did, with little to no change in routine. Prayer, breakfast, brief conversation with her father or mother and then off to her various activities. Cadi couldn’t really call them chores as they were elective and furthering her skills as a lady. Needle work, accounting suitable for a Lady to run the house hold while her husband was away, weaving, conversation in French as well as Gaelic. The day was sure to run by without a glance backwards, a nice routine to know all was well.

War was looming ahead, anyone could see that, was there much wrong with enjoying a quiet days work?

Cadi thought not. Still she saw her father and other men of import bustling to a council room to discuss something ominous (if their gloomy expressions were hint enough) which cut her language lessons short.

“Of course.” She had promised her tutor. “I will return these texts immediately, you go…” A small smile was given and returned between the two and Cadi sat for a time alone at the table before rising. There was no point in worrying over what it was going on behind those closed doors. The best she could do was return the texts to where they belong and perhaps pursue a rare afternoon to her own devices.

Uncertain what she might do with the free time Cadi took a leisurely coarse to the libraries, her thoughts in the clouds and her step slow and wandering. Eventually she did find the room and even the shelf needed. With a satisfactory push she returned the volume to its rightful place.

And was at a loss.A puppet with it's strings cut.

With no one to dictate her actions and no one to mind her Catrin meandered about the library for a time before coming to the large window the room boasted. The glass was wavy and bubbled but still, a glass window was a luxury not many were able to experience.

Yet another example of her blessed life. Then why didn't she feel blessed?! Irritation stirred in her gut at being left in the dark. She wanted to know what was going on, but the most she ever heard were murmured conversations between men before they noticed her approach.

Politics were clear, England and her servants were at Wales door. The question was when and how they would knock. With so many knights gone and remaining gone despite the oncoming of Spring and the various tournaments and festivals it brought... Those empty chairs signified another pair of hands at the borders. Another pair of boots that may never return.

Pressing a gentle palm against the pane the eldest Hywel sighed, staring blankly out at the sky as it turned cloudy and gray. Much more typical of a spring day than the former rays of sun had been and certainly more reflective of her state of mind.

A soft cough behind the Lady drew her attention away and Cadi quickly replaced her forlorn look with a pleasant smile, turning to see who it was who called upon her.

Her brother! They hadn’t gotten to talk at mass and then he had headed off to hunt.

“Wil…” She smiled all the more, genuinely happy to see her younger brother. He was absent so much of the time now... Her heart tugged. Another pair of hands at the bow and arrow, sword and shield.

Tilting her chin back to inspect his not as youthful face Cadi reached up to rub the back of her neck teasingly. She had been considered astoundingly tall in the family, and of most other Welsh nobles.
Especially for a woman. But her little brother had by far exceeded her own height and that of almost all of their relatives.

“I feel pity for your master…He has to keep buying you new clothes…” She smirked and gestured for her brother to come closer so she might better inspect him.

"Was your hunt fruitful?" Catrin asked softly, her brows arching inquiringly. Did she know that it was not Pheasant he stalked but their errant sister? It was impossible to tell with Cadi, she kept her own council so well these days.

@CorinTraven

Knights and Nobles~Tales Of Heroes (Open)

Morning all... How did the tests go.

Roleplaying group - looking for friends.

@MonstrousMan Sure thing! Link me if a Chatzy or what have you comes up. I'd be interested to see what you folks cook up.

Roleplaying group - looking for friends.

@MonstrousManIt's alright. I understand for sure.

Roleplaying group - looking for friends.

@Mae I thought for a moment you said 'last time it was lobsters' and I was wondering what that would look like. Sadly it was not lobsters or any sort of sea creature, only crime families.

Hello! Are you still looking for people or do you feel filled up? Also, alas...I am not in the UK. I know...I know...This might make the likeliness@MonstrousMan of my being accepted considerably lower.

Knights and Nobles~Tales Of Heroes (Open)

Running her thumb over the pad of her middle finger slowly Catrin closed her eyes, breathing in deeply as the bristles of her hair brush passed through her locks, the presence of the maid behind her radiating heat. It was a comforting and quiet time. Years ago Cadi had once made the mistake of commenting to her mother that as a Lady of the house she shouldn’t have to wake up as early as the servants. Asides from a slap Cadi had been told that as a Lady of the house she was expected to rise before the servants. What was the point of being noble if one didn’t conduct themselves with virtue and graciousness?

It was a shock then, that her title alone had not ensured her the qualities of virtue, grace, poise and all that made up a noble woman. And in that moment Cadi had felt shame, shame that she had even thought for one moment that her status of blood alone should have entitled her to all the things that made her life blessed and easy. Never in her life had Cadi have to clean her own chamber pot, or bake her own bread, or labor in any fashion. Never in her life had she been hungry, or thirsty, or ill and gone on without her needs being met.

Was she really so much better than these other women as to not have to work? No. She had just been born to the right family.

Shame had wracked Cadi’s soul for weeks after that realization, and then as the guilt and shame subsided she had promised to work as hard as she might to truly be Noble.

The brush stopped moving and Cadi opened her eyes again, peering at the looking glass, her reflection wrinkled and warped as the glass was old, but still a mirror. Her hair was glossy, black and smooth, flowing down her back attractively as the maid set the brush down. Carefully her hair was parted into three pieces and then pleated, the braid coming to wind around her head and pinned carefully in a coronet. A dark green veil pinned over her hair demurely to match the color of her dress, cream under sleeves adding contrast to her dark lips and even fairer skin.

Prepared for the day Cadi stood with a regal nod to her maidservant and headed down the keeps stairs to the room where the Hywel’s would break their fast. Seeing her mother and father standing in silence waiting she curtseyed and approached. Her mother’s mouth twitched in what might have been a smile and her father actually nodded in approval.

While it would have been nice to have a son first, Catrin Alis was a credit to the status of eldest child. He beckoned his daughter closer and Catrin walked alongside her father as they made way to chapel. When they returned the meal would be laid out.

“No Eira?” He observed, his voice deep and gravely. Cadi tucked her chin modestly and lowered her gaze.

“She has taken to prayer in the nearest Parish…” Cadi murmured, her voice soft and gentle. Of course Catrin suspected her sister was not actually so devote as that, but Cadi wasn’t about to get Eira in trouble with their parents. After all, Cadi had never straight out asked Eira if she truly went where she said she would go. Perhaps Eira indeed was praying down past the castle… It was the oldest sisters place to keep her siblings safe and protected, even from their own father.

“Hhrrmm” Gwallter grunted but asked no more. He either suspected this was not the truth and did not care, or assumed Eira would never disobey the rules set in place. Either way Cadi was not going to bring the topic up on her own.

Mass was drull as ever, but Cadi kept her mask of polite interest in place as her thoughts roamed. Perhaps she was a bad Christian… Many of the Welsh were, holding to older beliefs…But the Father’s ramblings were difficult for the Lady to focus on. She knew not a thing of the state of her soul nor where it would go when her body retired from this mortal plain, and honestly Cadi didn’t much care to be thinking of such things. The time would come and she would find out…What was the point of worrying about it now?

Stifling the urge to yawn Catrin stood as her parents stood, walking carefully behind them as they left the church, being the highest ranks ensured them the ability to escape first. The Lady smiled at the thought and ducked her head so none might see her grin unless they think her lacking piety.