She has paused to pull on a cloak to conceal her more Avalonian than local garb, but apart from that, Lys has made no attempt to change from the event. She makes her way from the Avalonian quarters through the palace halls, hood pulled up to partially conceal her identity; and from there, she heads to the royal family's wing.
When challenged, she states her identity in a murmur. "I wish to see Prince Balthazar," she says politely. "I have reason to believe that he will not mind my visit. Would you please inform him that I would like to speak with him?" And she settles in, quite prepared to wait.
One of the two guards instructs: "Wait here," while he heads into the chamber. The remaining guard watches the young woman with casual interest -- they are acquainted, or rather he knows of her. He doesn't stare; merely he acknowledges her presence.
When the door opens again, both the guard and Thalin, the Sun King's principle seneschal appears. "Lady Lys," Thalin smiles warmly, "...it is a pleasure to see you again. You may come in."
The guards stand aside and allow entrance to the chambers under the watchful gaze of Thalin. Were it not Thalin, there would likely be no entry.
Inside, the curtains that were drawn to block out the sun for an afternoon's long nap have been opened, allowing a view of the Capitol at sunset. The sky is pink and indigo, magenta and tangerine with the setting of the sun. "His majesty is getting dressed," Thalin notes, gesturing for you to have a seat on the sofa. "Would you care for anything to drink while you wait?"
"Thank you." Lys smiles, polite but not hurried, waiting until Thalin emerges. She anticipated being permitted in, but it is a relief all the same. "Thank you, Sir Thalin, I would appreciate some fruit juice, if any is available. I don't wish to put you out."
She knows full well how many young ladies must be clamoring at the Sun King's door at all hours. She has no desire to be marked as one of those. She asks casually however, "And do you often have to check the linen closets, by any chance...?"
As he chuckles quietly in answer, Thalin gestures for another servant. "Please bring a pitcher of the apricot for Lady Lys and his majesty. I hope you don't mind apricot," he smiles. "It's the choice of the day. And... yes... we have to sweep the room several times per day." He might be joking; but he probably isn't. "He should be out momentarily," Thalin assures.
The bedchamber door opens shortly after and Balthazar emerges, refreshed from his day's tourney. "Lys, this is a pleasant surprise," he smiles. His expression is warm, the echo of his golden gaze. He is dressed in a plain pull-over shirt, the sleeves of which are tested by his arms, and a pair of deep indigo jeans. It makes the gold of his hair and eyes and the caramel bronzed complexion all the richer. He is the embodiment, just now, of the sunset happening just beyond his glass.
"Thank you, Thalin," Balthazar says quietly to his seneschal as he takes a seat across from you. A servant is there shortly thereafter, setting down a tray with a pitcher of chilled apricot nectar and two glasses. Balthazar waits to hear why you have come.
For there must be a reason. He can't remember the last time you came looking for him.
"I don't mind apricot at all," Lys assures Thalin. She smiles. "It's all right. I can wait." Any signs of hurry are put away where they cannot be seen; when you emerge, she turns to you, smiling still. "Your majesty. I am sorry to interrupt your evening; I have just come from an assembly of Avalonian court."
That may be information enough for you to figure it out. She isn't sure; she watches you discreetly, accepting the drink with a murmur of thanks. "I thought you might like to know," she says carefully, "that the West siblings came before the Lady of the Lake, and were recognized. It will, of course, be news of great interest to the public at large; by which, naturally, I mean those at court in general."
"It's fine," Balthazar says with a smile. "Thalin wasn't going to let me sleep through dinner." When you mention the Avalonian court, there is no glimmer of surprise for that. There is a slight spark of surprise at the mention of siblings.
"That will be the talk of the day tonight and tomorrow, to be sure," Balthazar says after a moment, a hint of amusement at the corners of his mouth. "The court is like an agitated hornet's nest just now. The slightest breath of gossip sets it in a swarm. Well," he exhales, a hand lifting and raking through thick, short hair, "... that will make dinner entertaining tonight. I'm glad I'm staying in." The grin smoothens like honey across his face.
"How were they received?" he wonders. "And... I am curious... as to your thoughts on it all." Balthazar's golden eyes fix on you warmly. "You know I trust you, my friend, to speak the truth and to speak your mind."
"They were received well, and they were recognized. In more ways than one," Lys murmurs between sips of juice. "They have been recognized as Prince and Princesses of Carbonic and Benoic, of Lancelot's line through Elaine of Carbonic. Lady Bianca has agreed to personally take them to Benoic, to see to it that they are recognized officially... and, of course, to introduce them to their progenitors."
She puts the juice down carefully. "It may not come out quite at dinner, but it will come out very soon. I will need to speak with a few people, to forestall certain ... reactions." She hesitates, then gives you a covert, discreet glance. "You realize, of course, that this will make the women and some men attempting to get into your bed go into a frenzy, I hope?"
"Investiture," he says quietly and thoughtfully. Before he says much more on that, Balthazar pauses on reactions. He listens and watches, and as his gold eyes hold the sight of you he sits forward. "I am often surprised by how quickly news hits. Particularly right now. What... certain reactions, and by whom, worries you?"
That much contested mouth; its fullness curves upon a smirk. "I will have to give Thalin a raise..."
"Thank you, sire," Thalin says in passing. He remains within eyesight of the young woman. No... no woman gets solitary access to his majesty right now.
"I imagine matters will be reaching a frothy head over the next week, particularly so. I am not going to complain, however. It is part of the game. And to complain would be arrogant."
"I have no doubt that you and your lady will be able to handle anything which comes your way. My concern is not for either of you." Lys speaks calmly and carefully, but without undue hesitation. "However, there are other hearts in this game, and other alliances; some nebulous, some less so. When this comes out, all the strings will be buzzing with it, vibrating along lines we do not see but which can be felt all the same. The effect in some quarters will be stupendous."
She looks at you carefully from under dark eyelashes, then up to the ceiling. "They will think your lady and her brother and sister to have been in on this together. That you have been snared - that your family is under a foreign influence. Even those who do not outright believe it will want to believe it, because it is a more tolerable option than believing their own skills, their own sons and daughters were unable, or in some cases, more ethical than to do this. And that means that every alliance, every friendship below a certain 'rank', shall we say, will be taking this information and ... re-evaluating. And that means that those who lack rank and title of their own are particularly vulnerable to becoming flotsam and jetsam upon this sudden flood. It is going to be very interesting. Some people will get hurt." She says this without emotion, but the strength of it is in her eyes. She wishes to prevent that some people from including herself.
He takes what you say seriously. In fact, his question itself was not a deflection but a clarification. You are saying things that he has thought, they have thought, perhaps have even discussed. You can see that in his eyes. "That perception, or the threat of that perception, has been ...on our minds," he quietly confirms. "There," he pauses and exhales, "..is really no good answer, Lys. It was always going to be this way, I fear. I am not certain how to predict, or even if it can be predicted, the reaction, to mitigate harm to others. We will have to brace ourselves, and see."
His mouth curves in a thoughtful frown. "It's cast now," Balthazar says, lifting his gaze to you. "We are all standing in our various alliances. Damned if we do; damned if we don't." He pauses, sitting back after a moment. "What you say is completely true and completely valid. There just isn't much that can be done before the reaction occurs, I do not think. How do you feel about your own alliances? Do you feel that you will be placed in a precarious situation yourself?"
Balthazar's expression is openly warm and compassionate. It isn't that he isn't concerned for what might happen or to whom -- quite the contrary. But you can't charge ahead if you don't know what you're charging into. Nonetheless, he can feel sympathy and compassion for those who will be caught in the undertow of the revelation.
"I have always been in a precarious position." She states it without self-pity; this is what it is, and that's all there is to it. "Too little is known about me to put me on too high a pedestal, you realize. That I have a title is a courtesy; I am attached to the Lady of the Lake's court, and it is presumed that my family were at least unobjectionable. But my identity is still shrouded, and as a result, my future is largely in my own hands to secure."
Lys smiles slightly and looks down, then picks up her apricot juice for a sip. "I have often conjectured as to who my parents were. Were they tragically murdered, their enemies still living in the shadows and so numerous that even the Holly King could not find and bring them all to justice - or did the Lady of the Lake and those who have authority over me not wish to pay his price? Or were my parents traitors and spies, so that in order to avoid their sins following me, I was stripped of their name and kept in ignorance so that I could not betray myself? But there is no point in conjecture. I do not know, and more importantly, neither does anyone else - and so it is up to me to either continue to live on the Lady's good will, or to find my own way, or perhaps both."
She smiles again and puts the drink down after a sip. "But it is people like me - whose position is dubious, shaky, or simply too low to have much weight - who are most buffeted by these winds, Balthazar. Some will try to use us. Others will discount us. We are bound by social obligation unless we throw off the trappings of this society, and if we rebel to such extent, we also lose the comforts and protections it offers. Some choose to do so. Others ... prefer a bit of comfort, at a price." She shrugs delicately. "I am your friend and I would not betray you; you know this. But I do have my own path to walk, and there is a limit to how much charity I can accept and still cling to my self-esteem. So ..."
Again, Balthazar is quiet. He listens. He watches the air around you. "I am struggling with understanding how or seeing that your position is precarious or dubious. You are a ward, of some favor or they wouldn't keep you around, of a favored court, with its own alliances. You personally have alliances that I don't see would be tested in this. Maybe I'm naive because I have the status and I don't get it because I'm not in it. I will grant you that is a distinct possibility. So ... please do not think that I'm talking down to you or belittling your concerns. I just am at a loss as to what you would have me do, Lys."
The information you have brought him, he already knew. The motivations you speak, he had already considered. You want to ask something, he realizes. But what? "You do not wish charity... I wasn't proposing that... but if you needed the protection of my court, or if you needed an ally as you walked your path, please tell me." He smiles a little. "I understand it will be a mess, people will hyperventilate, and there will be those who will be upset. But ... I'm getting the feeling that you have a specific concern, either for yourself or someone dear to you, or that there is something that you need. So... please tell me. I don't want to stand around watching friends suffer," his smile begins to melt across his mouth. Yes, there will be those who are upset, their plans dashed to pieces.
"Do?" She looks mildly surprised. "There is nothing that I wish you to do. I only wanted you to know that this is going to be revealed, sooner, perhaps, than you thought. You are my friend. I would not want you caught by this unexpecting."
Lys shakes her head and she smiles, rising to her feet. "I do not think I need any protection, Balthazar. I appreciate your offer. But right now... I am trying very hard to make my own way. If I need that, I promise I will tell you. I am not blinded by vanity or pride, merely, perhaps, blinkered by it." She laughs, quietly. "Who knows? Maybe someday I will find some freedom. In the meantime, this is what is; and I am not unhappy, merely cautious. Now, I had better go. Do come see me and bring your lady sometime, won't you?"
Ah. And he smiles warmly as he rises. "I was doing that male thing that women hate," he teases. "When did I become that guy?" He holds his hands out for his friend's. With Thalin standing nearby, there is no misunderstanding tempted.
Balthazar holds your hands a moment, his fingers squeezing slightly. "If you ever want a spot in the Sun King's kingdom, all you ever have to do is ...ask for directions, Lys. But," his smile softening, "...regardless of where you land, I have no doubt but that you shall always land on your feet. Thank you for the warning. I was... prepared for the respite to end."
Some respite; he's been nearly chased down the halls as it is. No wonder he prefers to sing Beatles' tunes.
He frees your hand with a last clasp of his fingers. "I appreciate your friendship, Lys. I always have. And I would love to come see you. I will talk to Gillian..." Balthazar pauses and smirks. "I hope to see her tonight, but seeing one another might get difficult after today. Well, I'll make sure her seneschal gives her a message at least. Maybe we can arrange something just after the coronation. I'm sure she'd love it. Thalin..."
"Yes, your majesty," Thalin says, standing nearby.
"Please ensure that Lys makes it to the next floor unmolested. Take her down the royal stair." Balthazar looks back to his friend. "I think my chambers are the last anyone wants to be seen coming in or going out of right now. Thank you, again..."
She smiles at you, and inclines her head in acknowledgment of your invitation, and your words. She turns to follow Thalin, without saying anything further. What, after all, is there to say? Lys raises her hood before she leaves, to grant herself some small concealing shadows.
There are rumors enough afoot in the palace, tonight...
Posted by rowan at March 31, 2010 11:25 PM
