#3830  darklord_kodiak
     
Bbbbbut my lady. I don’t understand.

#3832  darklord_kodiak

     My lady, I confess I have always wanted you from the day I laid eyes on you. I know this is wrong and probably won’t go over well. *Takes a knee* My lady I.......I... Will you marry me? I can’t live without you. I can’t bear the day we would ever be apart. *Lowers his head waiting on a response.*

#3834  darklord_kodiak
     
     Anything for the hand of my Lady. I shall die trying. You shall be my bride or I shall die. I do not see any other option. My love for you has a hold on me that I cannot shake. I need you to be mine.

#3836  darklord_kodiak
     
Eventually?!?!? I can’t get my mind off of you. You are my world -- my light. If I can’t have you I might as well perish in the flames. You are love, my dear. A little too much probably. Please, take this ring.

#3838  darklord_kodiak

     I can’t be without you. I have realized this. I need you now more than ever, I still hold you in the highest regard but my mad love for you cannot be controlled anymore. This is why I left,  I can’t hide my feelings for you anymore. I need to have you.

#3840  darklord_kodiak

I am willing to take that death right about now. If I must I shall honor your wishes.

#3842   darklord_kodiak
     
I must take my leave now -- not to mention a cold shower. Very cold.

#3844   darklord_kodiak
     
I shall be there, my lady. With you every step you take.

#3846   Penthesilea
     
A palace in the Badlands...

NO!!!

     “He was supposed to abandon her! He was supposed to break her heart!” *Furious beyond words, the raven haired sorceress expressed her displeasure at the Lord Marshall's declaration of love by murdering a dozen slaves by fire....*

#3854  Penthesilea
     
The Lord Marshall's Quarters

     Kodiak came out of the shower feeling somewhat more himself. What the hell happened to me! He hadn't been sick to his stomach after a kill since his first year! True, he'd overextended himself with the magick and the light flash that Penthesilea has used to save them had been painfully brilliant but that was neither excuse or explanation. There had to be another explanation. Something he was missing. He was vigorously towel drying his hair when he felt a presence in the room with him. He whirled to face it and dropped into a combat crouch without thinking -- which was good because Ares was behind him, coming in fast....
The next few minutes made a complete mess of the room as man and God worked diligently to mangle one another. Finally, Ares stepped back.

Lord Duncan/Ares: Good. After your performance with the assassins, I thought I was going to have to take you back to camp.

Lord Marshall: That won't be necessary... and I'd fight you if you tried. *The Wargod's raised eyebrow doesn't phase the Lord Marshall in the least.* I'm not leaving her again. Ever. I love her. Maybe I love her too much. Just being around her makes me soft in the head. I forget what I was before I met her and what I'm going to need to be to protect her. *The Wargod studies the Lord Marshall for several long minutes.*

Lord Duncan/Ares: A word of advice, Son. Stand up to her. Get in her face. Otherwise, she'll run all over you like a rug and, eventually, what she feels for you will turn to disgust. You can play the courtier in public when enemies are watching. In private, you are a man and she's the woman you want. She's got good reasons for keeping you at arms length at the moment but that won't last forever. She's a strong woman used to getting her way. Don't let her have it -- at least not all the time! When she pushes you, push back. *The Lord Marshall starts to protest. Ares forestalls him.* I know. I know but she's not like other women. Hell, she's not even like other Queens. You won't loose your head -- at least not any more than you already have -- if you stand up to her. *Ares finally took pity on the young man.* You've never dealt with a woman like Penthesilea before. Treat her like you would another man. The only way you can loose her now is if you don't stand up to her. *Ares paused, listening.* You need another shower and you don't have time for one. *With a wave of his hand, Ares returned the Lord Marshall to a freshly scrubbed condition and dressed in his formal Lord Marshall's uniform.* Now get out there and be what you really are and not what you think you should be! *And Ares vanished and shortly thereafter, Kodiak left as well.*

#3857   Penthesilea
     
The Great Hall

     *Penthesilea descended to her Tower's first floor and exited the elevator into the reception area. The animosity nearly knocked her over. The Lord Marshall stood to one side, her brother, Satira and her knightly escort led by Sir Michael on the other. I so don't need this now! She snarled to herself.* Whatever it is, settle it later! *She snarled aloud.* Fall in, now! * And she headed for the door to the Great Hall, giving the others in the room no choice but to follow her. They emerged from the tower and took their places in the Great Hall. Rather than take her seat, Penthesilea stood in front of it on the first step up the dais. Daemon and Satira stood to one side while the Lord Marshall stood on the other. She drew Hellion and rested her point on the floor. The Lord Marshall saw the set of her wrists and how her fingers curled around the grip. He forced himself to remain still.

Penthesilea: I have come to announce my choice. But first, there is a matter of justice to attend to. Lord Reginald Leverance, stand forth to answer the question I will ask! Lord Demurest, Lord Graham and Wentworth of Far Deep, stand forth to witness! *The required gentlemen were brought before her, some more willingly than others. Leverance looked furious and no longer bothered to hide his contempt.* Lord Leverance! I will now cast a Truthspell on you. Wentworth of Far Deep, I call on you to verify that a Truthspell is all that I cast. *The man nodded and Penthesilea cast the spell.* Is it as I have said?

Wentworth: It is, my Lady.

Penthesilea: Lord Leverance. What is your involvement in the attempts on my life? Explain fully so that all may hear.                  
     Penthesilea saw him attempt to fight the spell. No doubt his time hidden abomination of a sorceress had had orders to protect him from such questions. She saw comprehension dawn in his eyes as he began to spill his guts. He detailed it all, every plot all the way back to summer when she had been poisoned by nanotechnology and would have died if not for MoonCat's innovative treatment. She did not ask him about his fellow conspirators. Let them think that they are safe, she thought, I'm not ready for a war at my doorstep just yet... Finally, the vile recitation came to an end.* All have heard. *She addressed the crowd.* I am not a Queen, no nation claims these lands but the representatives of foreign kings come to offer alliance as if I were a Queen. So be it then! If I must have a Queen's burdens and responsibilities, I will have a Queen's prerogatives as well! *She looked at Leverance and smiled.* The penalty for attempted regicide is death. *He had just enough time to realize what was happening. Hellion flashed in her hands too fast to see and Leverance's head fell to the floor at her feet as his corpse fell in the opposite direction. Bloody sword in her right hand, she stepped down to retrieve the head. Grasping the gristly trophy by the hair, she tossed it to Leverance's startled men.* Take that to your king with my regards. The rest of him will go to feed the vultures as an example! *Two servants appeared with a litter to bear the corpse away, first to Torao-Akio's rooms and then to a far corner of the estate where the waste from the slaughtering season was buried to rot. When the body was gone, Penthesilea spoke again.* Lord Kennicott, your suit has been accepted, Negotiations will begin in two days time. The rest of you are free to leave. King Orag has agreed to provide you with an escort to the borders of your respective states. Winter is coming and you should make haste. *She turned and left the room without another word. Once back inside her tower, she issued orders.* The Lord Marshall will supervise the removal of our unwanted guests. *She saw the rebellious looks on the faces of her knights.* Those are orders, gentlemen! If you have a problem with the Lord Marshall settle it later when we don't have an army at our door! *They hesitated. She stared them down. They acquiesced and went to do her bidding. Quickly, she spoke to the Lord Marshall.* I won't be able to do that again. You must regain their respect without my help. *Kodiak only nodded and went to his tasks. Penthesilea looked for her brother and Satira but they were gone....

#3859  [Re-write by Penthesilea]

     *Satira had managed to lure Daemon to her rooms, hoping for dalliance that would strengthen her hold on the big warrior. It still rankled that she had failed to kill Kodiak in the confusion of battle. She was sure that another chance would come, sooner or later, but the sooner that the Darklord was removed from his position of influence with the Keyholder the better. With him gone, Satira could concentrate on the Keyholder’s brother and the Keyholder herself. As Daemon brooded about the Castle’s situation, the Lord Marshall’s return and what it would mean to Penthesilea and things in general that he wouldn’t confide in her, Satira reflected sadly that it was too bad that the Keyholder was exclusively heterosexual.  Her Master’s plan to gain control of the Castle and its Keyholder would be progressing much faster if Satira could go the direct route and seduce the Keyholder herself......

#3861   Penthesilea
     
The Keyholder's Study

     Order had been restored to the room after the battle and Penthesilea had been hard at work all morning. Not only was she working on her list of demands for the marriage negotiations but there were a million and one things that needed her signature after being read, accounts that needed to be checked and just plain stuff that kept her glued to her chair. There was a rap at the door and Penthesilea looked up. The Lady Knight Magda stood in the doorway with a tray that was laden with.... lunch? Penthesilea checked the clock. Past lunch, actually..... way past lunch. Her stomach growled, happy that she'd finally noticed. Magda strode in with the tray and placed it on the desk in front of Penthesilea.*

Magda: Eat. *She commanded.*

Penthesilea: Yes, mam. *Penthesilea replied and did as she was told. Satisfied that the Lady was not going to starve herself to death, Magda returned to her duties. Once hunger was satisfied, Penthesilea was reluctant to return to work. So she took a comfortable chair away from the desk and next to the fireplace and relaxed. It was peaceful, quiet and no one seemed to be trying to kill her at the moment, so she turned her mind to thinking -- specifically about the sudden turn her life had taken.* You really know how to upset the apple cart, don't you? *The thought was directed to her father's twin and Penthesilea heard a faint chuckle in response. Eris was, traditionally, the Goddess of Discord and Strife. In reality, she was a Goddess of Chaos whose only rule was: Thou shalt not stagnate!

     Penthesilea had been getting along well. She had found herself and her girls a home that was quiet and relatively peaceful. She had friends and people to look after. Most importantly, she had made peace with the fact that she was going to be celibate for the rest of a very long life. She was not happy about it by any means but she had made peace with it. She could function and did, very well. Then she had become aware that a man was slipping into and out of her Castle. Sometimes he came with others, sometimes he was alone. And he always slipped away before she could catch him. Then, finally, during one of the Castle parties he hadn't been fast enough and she'd caught him and dragged him out into the light. And looked up into his eyes. And was nearly lost. Then he made her laugh and she was lost. In an instant, her life was turned upside down, inside out and shaken violently. Her peace had been shattered by one mischievous grin.... She had tried to fight it. To keep her footing and her peace. She's told herself that they were friends and that was all that she felt -- friendship. It was a lie but she kept telling herself it was the truth as she watched him court other women before settling on one. Told herself again and again that it was useless to love him because he loved someone else. And because she believed that her affection would put him in danger, she had violated her vows never to interfere with the heart and mind of another. The spell worked (or she thought it had) and all the lies she told herself didn't help when, before her eyes, he had asked another to marry him and she knew that, as Keyholder, she would be expected to bless their union if not perform the handfasting ceremony herself. She had lived a very long time and, before being cursed (with her consent, she admitted) she had known many men. Never before had the loss of one, who had not even been a lover, hurt so much. She did not want to think about what had happened after that...the choices that she had made out of pain and guilt.

     It was only after she had admitted to herself that she loved him that she was able to find peace, even when he left her and she believed that he did not love her, not even as a friend. She loved him and that alone was enough. She loved him and she would go on until he came back or .... didn't. He had come back -- a lot sooner than anyone expected. And he had asked her to marry him. Stunned, she'd accepted. She couldn't say no or even avoid answering him. She simply could not. It wouldn't be easy. She was by all accounts a hard woman to live with -- strong willed and independent. And she still owed him some payback for letting her believe he didn't love her when, in fact, he was as in love with her as she was with him! Men! Then she laughed. The world would be a poorer place without them. I'm betting you're not done with us, are you, Aunt?
In the back of her mind, Eris laughed.

(So everyone knows: this post occurs approximately 24 hours after the attack of the Shadow assassins.)