NationStates Jolt Archive

((OOC: Invited: Lavenrunz (Sophia), Pantocratoria (Theodora), Excalbia (Rebecca), Taraskova (Vethara)))

24 April 9 R.A.

It was spring. The rolling hills of the Holistan countryside were fresh and green. The first rays of the rising sun shone lightly off the morning dew. Here and there stood a cherry tree, a magnolia, or a dogwood. From the porch of Rosewood, Grand Duchesses Nianki and Vicotira ni Gwydion could see the hedge maze, vast and freshly trimmed. The fenced rose garden lay off to the other side, laid out in elegant squares.

In the distance, the hills were speckled with country farmhouses and the large enclosed pens where they kept their livestock. Up close, as both women well knew, these were hog farms and home to the least pleasant sights and smells in Danaan agriculture. From this distance, however, they blended into the idyllic landscape.

Nianki looked down the road, waiting for the guests to arrive. While most of the guests were foreign nobility, this was not a party for diplomacy but a party for Vicotira. The guests had been carefully selected to avoid political or romantic complications. That's why no boys were present. Nianki was growing increasingly worried about the younger sidhe. Vicotira had been practically lifeless since her father's true death last year. For the first eighty days, Nianki had considered her niece to simply be going through the mourning process but as months and then a year passed with no improvement in her niece's mood, she began to grow more seriously concerned. She hoped this party would cheer the girl up a little, put some life back into her.

After her release from captivity, Theodora had found her usually chilly and formal relationship with her father turn into a warm and affectionate one. Although she had never been happier, after a few months the Emperor's affection had become almost smothering, and with her confidence and self-esteem rebuilt, Theodora had been quite happy to venture out into the wide world by accepting the invitation to Vicotira's party. It had taken some time for the Emperor to be convinced, but he finally allowed her to leave the court for fear of pushing her away again emotionally through being too over-protective. The diplomatic gesture, the symbolism of one of his daughters attending a private party with his Danaan counterpart's sister after the recent tensions could not have been lost on him either.

And so finally Theodora had gone overseas of her own free will, to attend a party for an immortal girl she didn't know, practically on her own, discounting the entourage of dozens of maids, with one notable exception - the Emperor had sent his best friend and champion, Sir Constantine the Hardy, to see to Theodora's protection. In many ways Sir Constantine was the father Theodora never really had - a combination of state duties and his rigidly formal nature had made the Emperor a distant father at best throughout her childhood, and after the death of Theodora's mother, things only got worse. Sir Constantine, responsible for the safety of the imperial person and the Emperor's children, had a far more consistent and personal role in Theodora's upbringing. She was glad to have him along, but rather hoped he'd stay out of the way - she didn't want to be the only guest to have brought someone along to the party with her.

"It's written in your eyes, Your Highness." observed Sir Constantine as the limousine made its way up the road to Rosewood. "You don't want me to embarrass you."

"No, it isn't that at all!" Theodora insisted. "I just... well... this is a party, as I understand... just for girls."

"I'm not a guest, mademoiselle." Sir Constantine replied, a reassuring smile spreading across his scarred face. "Outside of whatever apartments are allocated to you, you'll not see me at all. The rest of the time I'll spend assisting the Danaan security in whatever way I can."

"But His Majesty said..." Theodora started.

"I know, that I wasn't to let you out of my sight, that I was to be with you at all times, that I was to follow you around like a bad smell." Sir Constantine chuckled. "Well, what the Emperor doesn't know won't hurt him. Once I'm satisfied that the Danaans know what they're doing, that their own security arrangements are adequate, I see no reason to ruin everything by following you around everywhere you go. You deserve to have some fun. And with my face I'd probably scare all the princesses and grand duchesses and countesses anyway."

"Your face isn't scary, it's very distinguished!" Theodora replied, hugging the old knight affectionately. His face really wasn't scary, but it did have several prominent scars about which Sir Constantine liked to boast.

The car came to a stop, and Theodora settled back. Sir Constantine held up a little mirror for her to check that her hair, which the Emperor's desire to make-up for years of frosty fathering had allowed her to wear in quite a modern fashion (as opposed to one of the styles worn by generations of female courtiers at the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator before her), was in the right place, and that her lipstick looked right.

"How do I look?" Theodora asked nervously.

"Terrible." Sir Constantine replied sarcastically with a smile.

"And after I said you looked distinguished!" Theodora gasped with feigned indignity, before breaking into a gorgeous smile.

She glanced back into the mirror, and she yelped in terror and closed her eyes, having seen rats preparing to chew into her cheeks in the reflection. She took as deep a breath as her corset allowed, and reopened her eyes. There were, of course, no rats. She raised a slightly trembling hand to one cheek to be sure. Sir Constantine set the mirror aside and put his arm back around her shoulder to reassure her.

"It happens so infrequently now..." Theodora mumbled. It had been weeks since she had last had a nightmare, days since she had even thought about what happened to her.

"It's OK. It's OK." Sir Constantine replied in a soothing voice.

"I'm ready." Theodora replied, managing a light smile again, not matching her previous enthusiasm, but still looking happy to be there nevertheless. Sir Constantine got out of the car, and opened the door for her.

Princess Rebecca sat plastered to the window as the Embassy’s limousine crested a low hill. She looked over her shoulder at the young diplomat Sir Adam had assigned to escort her to Rosewood. “It’s a beautiful country…”

“Yes it is, your Highness,” Stephanie Zalite said earnestly. Most of the Embassy staff had dreaded the idea of being the control officer for a young royal, but Zalite thought it was exciting. After all, she thought, how many first tour vice consuls get to spend time with a princess, much less the only daughter of the Emperor! “Holista is a beautiful country, your Highness, especially in Spring.”

Rebecca smiled. Ms. Zalite wasn’t that much older than she was and Rebecca liked her. She had certainly been good company on the drive from the Tarana. The Princess scanned the passing scenery, looking for a hint of their destination.

Grand Duchess Vicotira was so beautiful and sweet, Rebecca had liked her the instant she had met her at Empress Aurora’s birthday party. She had dreamed of having the Resurgent Dream and she had been thrilled when she had received the Grand Duchess’ invitation.

Of course, with everything that was going on in the Isles, her father had less than pleased with the idea of sending her abroad for a second time. The young princess shook her head; her father was so sad these days and so worried. And so angry. Sometimes it worried her. Yet, in the end, her mother and her aunt Christiana had convinced her father to let her go. And without a chaperone. Rebecca giggled. Her father had wanted to send Peter to chaperone her – and Peter had been surprisingly anxious to accept the task – until her mother reminded him that all the guests would be girls and that Lady Allison had reported a certain – how had her mother put it? – chemistry between Peter and Vicotira. That had been enough to persuade her father to keep Peter out of the picture.

“Your Highness,” Zalite said, interrupting the Princess’ thoughts, “we’re here.”

Rebecca looked at the beautiful building, then smiled when she caught sight of the unmistakable lines of a Peacock Motors limousine in front of her own. “Theodora must be here…”

The security guard in the front seat stepped out, took a cautious look around, then opened the rear door. Princess Rebecca stepped out and looked around.

Vethara stared curiously through the window of the Menelmacari aircraft that Lady Sirithil so graciously put at her disposition for the event. The Grand Duchess by right of Tarasovka admired the landscapes below as she approached her final destination, her mind filled with various thoughts, such as why was she invited in the first place. After all, she did not know anything of Vicotira before Aurora’s birthday party, but the young Taraskovyan was already looking forward to discovering what Holista reserved for her.

She smiled at Lietirnon, her loyal Mornahossë guard that had been protecting her for several years already. Vethara could fend for herself alone, due to some particularities of her past life, but still she accepted that her bodyguard would come with her to the event, although receiving strict orders to remain among the Danaan security personnel. As of the High Coordinator, the same man who taught her maybe everything she knew (and not only in the domain of martial arts), just frowned when she told him that she was going abroad again, after which he shrugged and said that it was none of his business and that she was trained well enough to be able to go somewhere without him. After which he accepted to make sure that Government in Exile of hers functioned properly while she was away and went back to reading on the arts of Menelmacari sword crafting.

And so, burdened by nothing, Vethara stepped out of the aircraft, breathing the fresh spring’s air with delight as Lietirnon and several of his colleagues looked around, making sure everything was safe and well before leading her to a car most graciously provided by the locals. The young Grand Duchess by right smiled as she imagined her escort in the dark blue apparel of the Alexander Guard, sighing as she thought back to her loyal, brave and proud subjects that never yielded the Winter Palace to the Federal authorities. Little did she know, then, that in several weeks time everything would change (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=414324) dramatically, taking her completely by a pleasant surprise…

[OOC: Have Siri's permission to use whatever Menelmacari that is in use here.
Thank you for your attention.]

An Osprey V-22 VTOL came swooping over the countryside. Sophia emerged from the small bathroom, looking and feeling utterly confident. She was wearing a pair of brightly colored sarong pants that gave little glimpses of her supple thighs and calves, and a plain white blouse of smooth silk that showed off her lovely tanned arms and honey colored hair. It had taken her nearly the whole flight from the hospital carrier that was visiting Resurgent Dream to get her lipstick right, but no one needed to know that. She put on a pair of sunglasses and sat behind the captain and navigator, who confidenly adjusted the plane's propellors and set it down neatly on the grass. An attendant got up and opened the door for her, and she gracefully descended, smiling.

As the foreign women arrived, another long limousine pulled up, silver rather than black. On the hood, it bore in miniature the flag of Selinia and the crest of House Beaumayn. What was most interesting about this vehicle, however, was that it was a hover vehicle rather than a wheel and axle affair. While both conventional hover technology and gravitic-based hover technologies were available in the Resurgent Dream, their actual use in ground vehicles was almost unheard of, at least in the High Kingdom's Terran holdings.

The rear door of the limousine opened automatically and three human women disembarked. The first lady to disembark almost looked like she could have come out of an 18th century French court, except that she had wisely foregone the rather ridiculous powdered hairstyles of the era. Her dress was a light blue with a medium neckline. Her fairly wide skirts parted gracefully to reveal underskirts of a lighter blue. The hems of the affair were made of fine white thrills with golden lining. On her head, she wore a matching hat with a wide brim adorned with several large peacock feathers. Around her neck she wore a golden locket. The second lady to disembark wore an elegant strapless dress, low in the neck and the back. Her dress was slit up to mid-calf, exposing shapely leg. Around her neck was a diamond choker. The third woman to disembark was dressed in a fashionable, dark black pantsuit with a white blouse and heels.

Aside from their divergent dress, the women looked strikingly similar. They were of different ages. The one dressed in such archaic fashion seemed to be the oldest, in her mid-20s. The one in the pantsuit could not have been a day over sixteen. The middle woman was somewhere in between.All the women had brown eyes and all were brunettes. All three had "typically" semitic facial features, to the extent that that even means anything. The oldest was also the fairest, with milky skin and light brown hair. The youngest had jet black hair and tawny skin. Again, the other was in the middle. The oldest of what could only be assumed to be sisters looked to Theodora, Rebecca, Vethara, and Sopia. "I assume you ladies are also hear for the party." She smiled. "Shall we then?" With that, she started moving towards the manorhouse itself.

Theodora nodded in response to the lady's question, and followed them up into the manor, although she hung back so that she could walk up alongside Princess Rebecca of Excalbia, the one person there whom she had met before.

"Hello, Your Highness!" she said cheerfully to Rebecca.

By the limousine, Sir Constantine looked over to the Osprey, almost imagining a heavily armoured combat squad popping out of it. He was relieved therefore when Sophia descended. More than relieved - in fact he struggled to keep his jaw from dropping at the sight of the gorgeous Archduchess. He was suddenly filled with the desire to be about 20 years younger and of higher birth. He snapped out of it quickly enough, however.

Sophia walked right up to Vicotira and taking her hands kissed her on both cheeks, saying, "'Allo, liebchen. Lovely lovely to see you so soon after the party! And are these your sisters? You are all so lucky to live in such a beautiful country, er ist so jetzt!"

Princess Rebecca gave Theodora a warm and enthusiastic smile. “Oh, your Highness!” Rebecca took Theodora’s hand and held it tight. “It is so good to see you again. You look so beautiful!”

Rebecca turned to Vethara and Sophia. “Your Highnesses,” she said with a quick curtsey. Then, turning back to Theodora, she said,” Your Highness, have you met Grand Duchess Vethara of Tarasovka and Archduchess Sophia or Lavenrunz?” She turned back to Vethara and Sophia. “Your Highness, do you know Her Highness Princess Theodora of Pantocratoria?”

Rebecca stared slightly as the three sisters arrived in their hover car. She nodded to them and, walking beside Theodora, followed them towards the manor house. She smiled when she saw Victoria and excitedly whispered to Theodora, confiding how much she liked the Grand Duchess and how much Peter had liked her as well. However, she waited patiently for her to finish greeting Sophia before saying hello.

"No, I've not had the pleasure." Theodora replied. She curtsied with practiced grace to the two new arrivals. "I'm very pleased to meet Your Highnesses. Isn't this place lovely, I've never been anywhere like it!"

She went up with Rebecca, Vethara and Sophia, and waited patiently for Vicotira to greet the other young ladies. She wondered why she had been invited to Vicotira's party, never having met the sidhe before, but she was very happy to be there nevertheless.

Vicotira rose and kissed Sophia on each cheek as well. "No, they are not my sisters. Both of my sister's are crowned heads of state. Still...It is good to see you again, Your Highness. Have you met my aunt, Her Highness, Nianki, Grand Duchess of Shieldcrest?"

As Vicotira mentioned her, the sidhe who was sitting with her on the porch, a sidhe with muscles some trolls would envy stood, inclining her head politely to Sophia. "My niece speaks very highly of you." she commented.

As the three girls from Selinia approached, they each got their hands lightly clasped, but no kisses. After welcoming them, Vicotira clasped Rebecca's hands lightly. "It is nice to see you again as well." She then turned to Vethara with a broad grin and very carefully copied the greeting she saw Vethara use to Aurora. "Welcome to Holista, Your Highness." Lastly, she turned to Theodora. "Princess Theodora, I know we do not properly know one another, but I was hoping we could grow to do so. Welcome to the Resurgent Dream."

"Thank you, Your Highness, and thank you very much for inviting me." Theodora replied with a smile that could melt ice. Her English bore a noticeable hint of an accent. "I hope we can get to know each other as well."

Rebecca took Victoria’s hands and smiled. “Oh, thank you for inviting me, your Highness. It is so good to see you again. And so exciting to be in your country!”

Vicotira nodded to Theodora and Rebecca. "It was my pleasure to invite you, of course." She looked off distractedly for a moment and then shook her head, clearing it. "Dinner should be served momentarily."

At that, she headed into the building, the Selinians following. Nianki remained on the porch, still speaking to Sophia.

The living room, the first room one entered, was rather large. The furniture, all looking aged but finely cared for, was in the style of the antebellum American South. The three chairs and the couch were all made of genuine cherry and upholstered in gentle shades of green and gold. The fireplace roared in the corner.

Vicotira led the way through two double doors to the right. The doors were arched at the top and filled with square glass window panes (obviously not perfect squares around the arch). Between the glass ran gold formed into a vine pattern and the edges of the doors were similarly formed. The dining room has similar doors on the cabinets which filled each corner, built into the corner to make the entire room into something of an octogon, with four sides formed of lengthy walls and four of short cabinets. Inside the cabinets were displayed fine sets of China and silver, obviously in addition to that currently adorning the table, which was set for nine.

Vethara smiled to Rebecca and Sophia, having met the two previously, exchanging several words of courtesy with them as Rebecca presented her to Theodora. The young Taraskovyan inclined her head politely to the Pantocratorian. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

She smiled joyfully as Vicotira greeted her, both amused and honoured by the fact that a foreigner would deign to use the rituals of her homeland. The emotion made her blush softly as she greeted Vicotira herself using one of those curtseys that the foreign women always dropped when greeting someone. Of course, the inclination of her back was, so to say, only minor and she quickly readopted her straight position.

“Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness. And I would like to profit from the occasion to ask you not to refer to me as ‘Highness’ for the duration of this event, because, for obvious reasons, we are all Highnesses here and it might get really confusing as to who is addressing who.” She said with a grin as she took in her surroundings, her emerald eyes sparkling as she became curious as to what awaited her.

Theodora followed the other princesses into the building, smiling at the setting and the furniture. It all looked as alien to her as it would had it been done in some bizarre fae style, and in fact, that is actually what she thought it was. She looked positively delighted, even more so when Vethara suggested that everybody stop using the word "Highness."

"Oh yes!" she said a little too enthusiastically. "That's a marvellous idea! Don't you all think so?"

Vicotira grinned widely at Vethara as she curtsied, blushing slightly. She nodded to her and Theodora. "Yes, that would make since. Given names only, then?"

The middle sister from Selinia blushed slightly. "I wouldn't want to presume to be on such familiar terms with women of higher..."

Vicotira waved her question off. "Now, now, Rebecca. If I didn't want to be on familiar terms, I wouldn't have invited you to a private party." As she spoke, she moved towards the dining room. "Shall we settle for a light repast, ladies?"

"Erm... one problem..." Theodora began, biting her lower lip, although the rest of her expression was more playful than nervous. "If it's given names only, there are two Rebeccas!"

She took the arm of the Excalbian princess beside her and nodded in the direction of the middle sister from Selinia.

Rebecca followed the others into the building. She admired the design of the room and furniture. She had seen similar design in parts of the Holy Empire, especially those that had received heavy immigration from Old Virginia in North America.

She smiled with delight at the suggestion that everyone go by first names. But her smile turned to a confused look when she realized there was another Rebecca.

She gladly took Theodora's arm and smiled at the Pantocratorian princess. "Well," she said softly, "if we are truly going to be informal, my family sometimes calls me Becka. If that'll prevent confusion, you are all welcome to call me that..."

Sophia was a bit confused about what exactly was going to happen. She hoped to God it wouldn't be some kind of episode of country house living. How boring was that? She said, "So, Vicki, what is there to do out here, anyway? Water skiing? Riding? Hunting?"

Vicotira nodded to Rebecca. "Very well, Becka. That seems like it would work out nicely." She laughed lightly to herself and shook her head. "Two Princess Rebeccas..."

When Sophia spoke, Vicotira looked around briefly in honest confusion, trying to figure out who the woman was speaking to. After a moment, the sidhe looked off into the distance, seemingly forgetting what was going on. Nianki, who had followed everyone in after Sophia had simply walked away from her without answering, put a hand lightly on Vicotira's shoulder and walked her away from the main group briefly. The two spoke quietly in Welsh for a few moments and then Vicotira returned to the other woman, smiling lightly. "All of that, Sophie, except for water skiing. There's riding, hunting, swimming since we're all ladies, music...but first we eat." Vicotira spoke exactly as if there were no break between when Sophia asked the question and her answer, the girl really not sounding like her heart was in her words. "First, however, we eat." She gestured for the others to sit, taking her own seat, as did the three girls from Selinia. Nianki shook her head and walked into the other room, even though a place was set for her.

"Do you hunt, Vicotira?" Theodora asked as she sat down.

Vicotira sat down, nodding to Theodora. "Oh, yes. Most all Danaan royals hunt. It's tradition."

The meal, consisting of salad, a local soup, beef steak and vegetables, and then cobbler for desert was served one course at a time by a plump Boggan woman who also have each guest her choice of wine. The Boggan kept glancing at Sophia for no reason that was explained and also at Rachel, the youngest of the girls from Selinia. Nianki did not come to dinner and her salad was left set throughout the meal.

Something was troubling the host, Vethara was sure of this, for the, at first glance, unimportant details did not manage to escape her attentive gaze. However, she could not know what exactly was troubling her. Maybe it was that the young sidhe was not over thrilled with the prospect of having to share a boring meal with guests while there were so much funnier things to do! Or maybe that Vicotira held disdain for one of the guests, in which case it was surprising that she invited that person in the first place. The young Taraskovyan brushed that thought away as being illogical and pondered whether the first one had any sense. And sense it did have, but maybe there was something more to the signs than just simple excitement?

She exchanged some smiles and jokes with the other royalties as she got seated by the table, looking forward to what the local cuisine had to offer. And whilst her stomach held a certain influence over her mind, she still could not help thinking about what was really happening behind the curtains in this innocent party…

"Is... erm, am I allowed to call her Nianki? Is she not joining us for dinner?" Theodora asked as she began to pick at her salad. She could see that Vicotira looked depressed and distant, and wasn't sure that things were off to as pleasant a start as she would've preferred. She glanced at Sarah and smiled, and wondered whether her style of dress was a common one in the Resurgent Dream. "Pardon me, Sarah, but your gown would be quite at home at the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator. Is it in fashion in Selinia?"

Vicotira glanced after her aunt. "Yes, you're allowed to call her Nianki. She just..." The sidhe paused, looking around the table briefly. "She is very traditional." She smiled faintly. "Does everyone know one another?"

Sarah smiled lightly. "It is fairly common at my father's court. As you can see, however, even my own sister's do not quite share my taste." She ate some of her salad. "I've heard a good deal about the Court of Christ Pantocrator. What I have heard has always fascinated me, a fascination shared by my mother. Would you tell me about it? I heard that that's where the infamous terrorist Euphémie Avenier was tried."

Rachel's eyes widened and she stood up, blinking several times. She sat slowly back down, her eyes focused on Theodora intently for a few seconds. "We should go riding after dinner." she suggested as she resumed eating her salad. "We should ride out by the rath."

"Umm, yes, that sounds very nice." Theodora nodded in reply to Rachel's suggestion and rather intense gaze. She turned back to Sarah. "Well, it's like its own little artificial world. Nothing seems to ever change there..."

She caught herself and bit her lower lip as she thought about what she wanted to say. Theodora had often considered the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator to be her prison, but she didn't want to portray herself as a "poor little princess" type by being too critical. Besides, it was a fascinating place...

"...the rituals and ceremonies which are so usual there are quite alien to outsiders, I imagine." she said, shifting her tack a little. "Life is lived out in front of the world, and so everyone is always gossipping... which can be entertaining."

She smiled mischeviously - she enjoyed gossip, so long as she wasn't the topic of it, which was all too often the case.

"And of course there's all sorts of fêtes and diversions, to add some spice to an otherwise rigidly fixed daily routine." she said. "It seems like quite a crazy little world sometimes. And the gardens are extraordinary, they seem to go on forever... rather like me, I'm afraid. I don't want to bore people. You should visit sometime, Sarah, and see it for yourself, who knows, it might be as exotic and refreshing to you as this wonderful place is to me!"

Sophia commented, "I've rarely seen such lovely grounds. The gardens, yes, I would love to see those. And...well, I take it then that there is no lake or anything if there is to be no water skiing. But why do you mention that since we're ladies there will be swimming? Is there some kind of taboo against men and women swimming together here, liebchen?" she took off her sunglasses and admired the place they had arrived at.

The Boggan who was serving them grinned at Theodora. "Gossip..." She looked off dreamily. She then turned to Sophia as she spoke, smirking lightly.

Vicotira looked back towards Sophia, again taking a moment to figure out the woman was talking to her. Dana, why can't she use my name? "When not everyone has a bathing suit there is." Vicotira answered her question. "As for the grounds, they belong to my aunt who I introduced you to earlier." Vicotira answered, unaware that Sophia had not been willing to join in conversation on the porch and assuming she had. The Boggan woman laughed slightly and then covered her mouth and went back to the kitchen.

Sarah smiled to Theodora. "It sounds wonderful!"

Vethara giggled lightly as she heard Vicotira’s comment about bathing suits and interdiction to swim with men, for it had reminded her a story she was told long ago. “You know, my brother once told me a story which transpired during his service in the army. The unit where he served was stationed at a small base on the Tal-Setar river in the Fiefdom of Uil. And upstream, there was a little village.”

She smiled at those around her as she spoke, quite eager to get to the end of the story. “The people living there were quite fond of water melons, growing them in the hundreds, many somehow managing to find themselves out in the river. And so my dear brother and some friends used to grab some, cut them out to make hats and went upstream, where they would go into water next to some bushes or trees and, covered with the water melon ‘hats’ they would wait.”

Her smile grew broader as she continued. “It is well known that Tal-Setar has its sources in mineral rich mountains and, whilst being rather cold, its waters have some curative properties. Some believe that they make people live longer and be forever young.” She shook her head as she smiled, before continuing. “I do not know the details, but women from that village liked greatly to bathe naked in the waters, under the watchful gaze of the young recruits. Once, my brother was caught, the elder women dragging him out of the waters and whipping his back with sticks.”

She erupted into a loud laughter as she pictured herself the scene of the heir to the Taraskovyan throne getting beaten up by a bunch of naked non-Taraskath women in their forties or fifties for having been spying on them. Well, obviously, the young recruits were not spying on the old hags, but on the young goddesses that swam along. Vethara shook her head, trying to bring her breath to normal, erupting into short giggles all the time. “Yes. My brother was quite a funny eccentric man. He had all the girls of the Grand Duchy at the reach of his hand and yet… he always wanted something more special than simple routine.”

Theodora gave the Boggan a funny look. Servants didn't tend to speak out of place in the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator. But she decided to simply smile at the woman before returning her gaze back down to the conversation.

"You should visit, every person of noble birth is welcomed there." she said to Sarah with a smile. She then listened to Vethara's story and laughed along with it, trying to picture one of her brothers with a watermelon on his head being flogged by villagers, and finding the idea absolutely hysterical.

The Danaans laughed lightly at Vethara's story. Rachel grinned knowingly. Vicotira pondered a moment. "Did these village women know who he was?"

Sarah looked up at the Boggan woman. "Any good gossip recently, Marella?"

Marella Shortcloak shook her head. "Not much, Your Highness. Her Highness hasn't been around much to cause any." She winked at Vicotira as she returned to the kitchen.

Vethara nodded to Vicotira with a broad grin. "They indeed knew who my brother was. Did not stop them." She giggled again before shaking her head. "I was not even born when my brother suffered such a treatment, but I do remember him telling me that when father learned the news, he erupted into laughter, saying: 'That is my son indeed!' He never told me why..." She said as she sighed, the smile fading away from her face at the thoughts of her dead family, before flashing back up as more and more joyfull memories filled her mind.

She looked at Vicotira and smiled most charmingly. "You must know that in Tarasovka, the Grand Duke rules because Gods will it and the people tolerate it." She gave the sidhe a quick wink before looking over those others present at the table. "I am sure that you ladies must think of me as a barbarian from a savage land now." Vethara said as she grinned broadly again, indicating the joking nature of her last words.

"Why, Vethara?" Theodora asked with a puzzled expression. "What's so barbaric about the people tolerating the Grand Duke?"

She looked about quizzically at the other guests. Had she missed Vethara mentioning going about Tarasovka with a club and whacking things? The story about her brother was cute, not barbaric!

Sophia thought Vethara's remark was funny and she laughed, slapping her knee Lavenrunz fashion. "Wie kommisch." she remarked. "Is that not like the old saying from Iesus Christi: "God save the Lord Protector, and keep him far from here!""

Sarah smiled at Sophia. "And God keep all Iesians away from decent people." She raised her glass to Sophia, finding that worthy of toasting.

Rebecca laughed at Sophia's joke and Vethara's both, not finding either puzzling. She laughed a little more than usual, having been genuinely overtaken by both.

Rachel looked off, thinking about Iesus Christi and seeming quite perturbed. "How can such evil as that nation exist in the world, Sophia?" It seemed natural to Rachel that Sophia, being older than her, would somehow have the answers to all of life's questions.

Vicotira was becoming quite withdrawn, letting the others talk. While Nianki had not made explicite that the girl was troubled or that the party was to cheer her up, it was becoming apparent to even the least attentive guest that the girl was deeply depressed. She picked at her food, smiling politely at the jokes of her friends but not really getting into the conversation. Finally, she spoke to Sophia. "How do you find my aunt?"

Sophia hesitated a moment. She didn't like to dwell on deeply serious or philosophical questions, but in a sense this was not merely philosophical. She remembered how a few years ago...when she was not much older than some of the women here...
She was sleeping peacefully, having had an exciting night being daringly flirted with by handsome officers at a ball in Hofburg. There was a sense of dash and splendour in the air as the people rallied to the flag and the Empress Joanna to fight the Reich along with their allies, to defend the helpless nation of Ienotheisa.
Then there were lights on in her room, and Baroness Bresnvorts in her dressing gown all but weeping and crying out, "Please, up, Highness, at once, they're taking you to the Shelter!" And bewildered she was barely able to dress, finding herself like a child again, shocked from sleep, her nightgown pulled over her head, underwear and a dress pulled onto her, and then in mere moments taken out to where she was huddled onto a Fledermauss helicopter and flown out of the city. As they flew past Hofburg over the dark of the countryside they could see searchlights in the sky, and see flashes and hear the low thumping of explosions as the Iesus Christian bombers arrived at the city, and see the streaks of tracer fire and rockets streaming into the sky. She had wept with terror, believing it to be the end...only a week later cheering with everyone else as the Reich forces withdrew from Lavenrunz, leaving burning and rape and ruin in their wake.
Sophia shuddered, and looked at Rachel. She shook her head sadly. "I don't know. I...I don't know if this is the right time to talk about that, Rachel. I don't think the whole country is evil. A lot of the time only a few people act for good or evil in their countries. The rest of the people seem to just...want to live without trouble. And so if the main group of people leading are evil, people go along with them to avoid trouble. But of course it comes." she suddenly had no appetite, but she made herself smile and listened to a change of subject.

Wandering away when she had a moment, she heard Vicotira, and she wondered if the sidhe woman was thinking about the recent troubles in her own country and in the North Atlantic. Sophia hated such things, and she realized she had been fleeing them ever since that awful night when she had felt so helpless. Hearing the question, she said, "Oh well...I just got off the plane and followed everyone else." then she laughed. "No, seriously...I can't decide yet, Vicki. Why?"

Vethara smiled most sweetly at the Pantocratorian. "I am honoured that you do not find me barbaric, Theodora. I was simply joking referring to our strange customs and the fact that people can flog the Crown Archduke without getting punished for their audacity." She sighed and shook her head, pausing for a little moment, plunged into her thoughts. "I love my people. Wish I was with them. But then again, when folks say clearly 'Off with her head!' it might be better to stay away until they calm themselves down."

She grinned broadly as she said the last word and then listened to Rachel's question, frowning a little. "I remember that my father had some dealings with that nation, apart from that, I do not know much about it. Being the youngest of three children, my chances to become Grand Duchess were minimal so I never bothered myself with foreign politics." She said with a sad smile. "Who would have guessed that I would someday become Grand Duchess by Right, the only thing separating me and my nation being half a million soldiers loyal to the Ruling Council?" With that, she lit up again, a smile on her face. "But we are not here to talk about me!"

Rebecca and Rachel raised their glasses to their sisters toast. Vicotira also did so half-heartedly and forced a weak smile. She looked to Sophia, holding back tears. "I was just wondering." It hadn't occurred to her that Sophia would have just not talked to her aunt after she introduced them.

Vicotira then looked to Vethara. "The government of the Resurgent Dream fully recognizes the rightful claim of the Grand Duchess Vethara to the throne of Tarasovka." she said simply and almost reflectively. If anything, Vicotira seemed more despondent than when the party had begun, almost dangerously so, and with the effects of Awe & Beauty factored in, she was a heartbreaking sight, looking like a tragic and miserable hero from legend.

Rachel started to cry and ran from the table. Rebecca sighed and got up, moving swiftly after her. Sarah smiled apologetically to everyone there. "Is something wrong, Vicotira?" she asked, as it seemed everyone else was too polite to. It wasn't that Sarah didn't have the usual regard for protocol for women of her rank. It was just growing impossible to ignore anymore.

Vicotira nodded slightly without really answering. "It's time to go riding, like Rachel suggested. Would someone be so kind as to go fetch my aunt and the other two Selinian ladies?"

"Yes, I will!" Theodora said, rising to her feet. Things had gotten pretty miserable pretty quickly, and while she had begun to think that Vicotira was very upset with something Sophia had done, she had no idea what sent Rachel running from the table. "Vicotira, please don't be upset, this is a party!"

She then followed after the two Selinian women. She couldn't help but reflect that whatever Vicotira was upset about, it couldn't possibly be as bad as she thought it was - but then, Theodora had recently come to see what was "bad" in an entirely new light.

"Rachel? Rebecca?" she called.

Rebecca was holding the sobbing Rachel in a small study. "We're in here!" she called to Theodora. As the Pantocratorian girl approached, they rose, Rachel getting control of herself.

Rachel approached Theodora, blushing lightly. "Sorry. I just lost my nerve for a moment."

Vicotira and Sarah remained at the table, talking with Sophia, Vethara, and Rebecca.

"Whatever for, Rachel?" Theodora asked, offering her hand. She nodded politely to Rebecca. "We're going to go riding now. But I need to find Vicotira's aunt first, would you be so kind as to help me? This place is all rather strange to me, I'm afraid, and I've no idea where to look for her."

OOC: I'd take it as a personal favour if one of you would enter MIRC please.

OOC: I'd take it as a personal favour if one of you would enter MIRC please.
OOC: I'd love to but it won't let me connect! :(

Sophia was a bit bewildered. "What's wrong, Vicotira?" she asked quietly. "You see genuinely sad, not just a bit blue. Or would you rather not discuss it?"

Vicotira opened her mouth. She closed it again. She looked around the table for a moment before moving towards a sideroom. "Can I talk to you in private, Sophia?"

Rebecca and Rachel rose, smiling weakly to Theodora. "She's probably on the back porch." Rebecca answered. "Do you know why everyone seems so upset?"

"I don't know, I'm afraid." Theodora replied, shaking her head. She headed out to the back porch with Rebecca and Rachel, searching for Nianki.

"Sure, Vicki." said Sophia, and went to the sideroom with her. She was concerned, but had the thought that it could be anything from courtly matters to unexpected pregnancy. She found herself feeling fascinated and also a bit protective...the girl was so utterly lovely and poised, and yet somehow so vulnerable...

"Call me Vicotira." she corrected politely, moving to the library and shutting the door behind her. "You know how souls are normally immortal?"

Nianki was standing on the back porch, looking out over the countryside, when Theodora found her.

(OOC: Sorry about all the catching up!)

Rebecca – now known to everyone as Becka – had eaten her lunch and listened to the conversation swirling around her. She was probably the youngest girl at the table and she was feeling just a bit shy.

As she had eaten, Becka had noticed Vethara looking at Vicotira. She had noticed that her host seemed a bit down – especially compared to how happy and bright she had been at Aurora’s party. She had wondered what was wrong, but felt it was not her place to ask.

“A ride would be lovely,” Becka had agreed with Rachel’s suggestion.

Becka had turned to look at Sarah as she spoke with Theodora. “Yes,” she had said softly, “you should visit New Rome! Pantocratoria is wonderful! The gowns and the ceremony; its all so… romantic.”

Becka had blushed and giggled at Vethara’s joke about her brother.

That moment of light-heartedness had been short-lived, however. When Rachel ran crying from the table, Becka had covered her mouth in fear and surprise. “Vicotira,” she had said softly, “is something wrong? Can I help?”

Becka felt a sense of panic as Theodora jumped up and ran after Rachel and the other Rebecca. Vicotira looked so sad; Becka could barely look at her, yet could not seem to look away.

Her feelings plummeted when Victoria and Sophia moved towards a side room. The young princess turned to Vethara and whispered, “Do you know what is wrong, Vethara?”

"Your Highness?" Theodora asked, unsure whether she could call such an imposing figure by her first name. "Vicotira asked us to look for you, she says we are about to go riding... would you like to come with us?"

Nianki nodded. "I believe I will." She moved to follow Theodora.

Theodora, Rebecca, Rachel and Nianki made their way back to the rest of the party.

"I found them!" Theodora announced cheerfully to try to lighten the mood.

Vethara smiled at the Excalbian princess. “I know not what is wrong, Becka.” She paused for a second. “It just happens that sometimes things do not go the way we’d want them to go. But the winter will pass, the snow will melt and the swans will return…”

Not that Vethara expected Becka to understand her remark on the swans, for it would have been surprising for the Excalbian to know. The swans had flown away, so long ago, and their return was not yet certain. Indeed, things did not always go the way they were meant to be and, whilst some knew one sort of hardship, the others knew another one.

The Taraskovyan Archduchess shook her head slightly and looked back at Becka. “It would seem that Vicotira has already found somebody to confide to, no reason for us to fill our minds with it. After all, as my father always said: ‘If everybody starts worrying about a single thing, everything else will go to outright hell.’” She shot the Excalbian a smile.

"Are we ready then?" Theodora asked eagerly.

*bump for Jo's return*

Nianki crossed her muscled arms. "Not yet. We're waiting for Vicotira and Sophia."

Sophia considered, looking at Vicotira solemnly, thinking wow, she's just like Auntie Jo was...so deep.. "Not...exactly Vicki." she said.

Vicotira nodded. "I don't mean in an abstract philosophical way or anything." Vicotira said. "I don't really understand those things either. The thing is...I'm not sure if I should be sharing this...according to our traditions and to a literal reading of most of our scriptures, there is a way to kill not just the body but the immortal soul of a fairy. I can't share what it is, really, not even to you but..." Vicotira sighed heavily, looking away with teary eyes. "My father..."

With a gentle hand Sophia offered Vicotira a hankerchief and put a hand on her arm. "Yes? Your Father....?"

"During the terrorist attack..." Vicotira finished.

Sophia took a deep breath. "You will have to help me out a bit, Vicki, because I'm not sure that I understand. Are you asking about what may have happened...afterward?"

Vicotira sighed heavily, pushing away the tissues. "No, Sophia. I'm not asking you anything. I'm trying to tell you what happened. My father died like that!"

She walked over to the other side of the room, leaning against the wall and sobbing. "I'm not equipped to deal with this. What does it even mean? How do you understand something like that?"

She walked back towards Sophia, laughing in embarassment. "I'm sorry, Sophia. I shouldn't have brought you into this. Let's just go riding with the others. It should cheer us up, don't you think?"

The sidhe smiled mildly, walking back towards the door to the dining room and holding it for Sophia. "And, please, call me Vicotira." she repeated. She followed Sophia out and inclined her head to everyone else gathered. "We're ready."

Sophia was taken aback...she hurried after Vicotira and exclaimed, "Wait, forgive me, I can be dense at times...I'm very sorry. And I did not mean to insult you, I was trying to be friendly by calling you Vicki." she paused. "I understand. Grief is hard. I try to forget it myself by being...well, frivolous. Because I don't understand it myself. I wish I could give you a bunch of worldly wisdom but I don't understand why good people have to die awfully. I can only say...that there really is evil in the world." she hesitantly offered Vicotira an embrace, and hoped that in her blue eyes a wish for forgiveness could be read.

Vicotira hugged Sophia tightly. "No, no, you forgive me for being so silly. You can call me what you want. I wasn't upset at you. It's just...I don't know. I'm not 'designed' for grief. We're supposed to be immortal and..." She sighed and kissed Sophia on each cheek. "You're my friend, Sophia. You're my friend." She laughed a little shyly and gave a weak smile before slowly pulling away and going to rejoin the others.

Sophia warmly smiled at her. "I'm glad to hear it. And I am glad to be yours. Now: let's go have some fun. I'm looking forward to seeing some of your country's famed hospitality. Though to be honest--this spot is so beautiful, so magical that you can't imagine anything but wonderful things happening here..."

Theodora saw Vicotira and Sophia together, and smiled. She turned to Nianki again.

"Looks like we're altogether again... can we go now?" she asked enthusiastically.

The Taraskovyan Archduchess shook her head slightly and looked back at Becka. “It would seem that Vicotira has already found somebody to confide to, no reason for us to fill our minds with it. After all, as my father always said: ‘If everybody starts worrying about a single thing, everything else will go to outright hell.’” She shot the Excalbian a smile.

Rebecca smiled and nodded. She tried to not to worry about Vicotira, but still watched the door waiting for her return.

Nianki and Vicotira led the way to the stables. Nianki smiled lightly at the guests. "You can all pick out your own horse, if you'd like."

There was a fairly large selection of mounts. The horses came from a wide variety of different stocks and colors. Most of them seemed fairly tame, nuzzling any noblewomen who came near. One or two seemed fairly wild, moving restlessly about in their stalls.

Although she was a more than competent rider, Theodora went straight to one of the tame, most gentle looking horse. Approaching it in a soothing, non-threatening manner, she stroked its neck softly.

"You're a pretty thing, aren't you!" she said in a quiet, sweet voice. "My name's Theodora..."

She looked about to see if the other girls thought she was being ridiculous.

OOC: I'm assuming that before they went down to the stables, the girls got changed into some riding clothes. While it would be technically feasible for Theodora to ride in her New Rome court dress, I don't think exercising in a corset sounds like a lot of fun.

Vethara followed the girls to the stables, fully equipped for the coming event, and looked through the available horses, her eyes lighting up as she spotted a magnificent black Russian Don stallion in the back of the stables. She advanced rapidly towards the horse, only to find it huffing loudly at her and pacing angrily in his stall. The young Taraskovyan smiled at the stallion, reaching out for her pocket and retrieving a small package containing some salted black bread, and reached her hand out for the animal to eat.

The stallion huffed some more, looking with suspicion at the smiling girl, before making a step forward and taking the offering, as Vethara reached out to stroke his face. Smiling radiantly, happy to have established contact with the beast, she turned towards Vicotira. “I shall take this one. What is his name?”

Sophia walked thoughtfully along the stalls, and with an expert eye looked over the horses. Of course it stood to reason that they would have been given a good selection, which they were. For herself, she was attracted to a grey Barb mare with a flowing mane and tail, who looked both fiery and sensitive at once. Preferring a challenging horse that she felt empathy with, she approached quietly and offered her hand; feeling a velvety nose pushed against her hand she smiled and said, "this one, I think." nodding to a stable servant to get it ready.

"His name is Midnight. It's from the color." Vicotira replied to Vethara.

Sophia was able to find a servant, a young Boggan named Anna who was a cousin of the other royal stablehand, Edmund, who had had such an encounter with the Imperatrice of the Dominion many Samhains ago. The woman scurried to obey her with a deep curtsey and "Yes, Your Highness."

Nianki, not waiting for any such niceties, mounted a rather wild brown steed which went still as soon as she settled on his back. She was riding bare back, no equipment between her and the horse.

Vicotira was soon mounted on a light, red horse, looking around. The three Selinian Princesses all chose relatively tame mounts. They were now just waiting for Becka.

Sophia was amused by the wildness of the Fae Duchess, though inwardly she shivered, unable to avoid thinking of legends of Der Erlkonig from her own land and his wild hunt...she smiled her thanks to Anna and said, "What is her name, my girl?"

"Don't you think you'd like a saddle?" Theodora earnestly asked Nianki as Anna helped prepare the horse she had chosen, after tending to Sophia's mount. "Pardon me, what's her name?"

Anne curtsied to Sophia and Theodora. "Wind Chaser and Winged Victory, Your Highnesses." she said, curtseying deeply to the two royals.

Nianki shook her head at Theodora. "No, no I wouldn't. Have you ever ridden bareback before?"

"No, of course not!" Theodora blushed in reply to Nianki's question.

Theodora smiled when she was told the horse's name. She nodded to Anna appreciatively, and then resumed gently patting the horse and telling her how pretty she was. When the horse was saddled, she got up onto the saddle, and started getting used to the feel of the horse.

Rebecca - now going by her nickname, Becka - followed the rest of the girls to the stables. She lost herself among the horses, petting them, talking sweetly with them and trying to get a feel for their personalities. She was barely aware of the other young women until she saw Theordora's horse saddled and the Pantocratorian getting into the saddle. She looked over at Nianki riding bareback and smiled. Becka was a confident rider, but not that bold.

Finally, she picked a white horse, spirited but not overly so and waited for someone to help with the saddle.

Anna smiled kindly at Becka as she helped her with her saddle and got her ready to go. The Bogganess then curtsied deeply to the Excalbian princess. "Your Majesty."

Nianki shook her head at Theodora. "You really should try it, Theodora. It's the only real way to ride." At that, she turned and galloped out the door.

Vicotira rolled her eyes after her departing aunt. "She's always like that, ladies." At that, she spurred her own horse out, following by the Selinian princesses. "Does anyone have any preference on where to go?"

Nianki rode out in front. Sarah rode by Sophia, Vicotira by Vethara, Rebecca by Theodora, and Rachel by Becka. Rebecca smiled broadly at Theodora. "Your name is actually rather common around these parts, Theodora."

Sarah smiled at Sophia, a refined, courtly, smile. "I trust you are enjoying yourself thus far."

Vethera steered Midnight out of the stables, the stallion huffing haughtily as they reached the outside, his body suddenly tensing as if to go into a wild race. Vethara leaned forward and whispered something into the animal’s ear, rubbing his neck firmly, before sitting back straight in her saddle. “Ah, I feel this one is eager to repeat the Cossack chase of the French.”

She gave Vicotira a smile as she looked around. “I should commend Your Highness on your stables, for you have quite a choice in breeds.” She leant forward to pat the horse on its neck a little again before looking back at the Danaan girl. “I also wondered whether you have horseback archery around these parts? It is a national sport in my nation, one I particularly enjoy.”

"Not as common as Rebecca it would seem." Theodora replied with a mischevious grin. "But believe me, it's more common in Pantocratoria. Every second girl born in the 1980s was named Theodora, after my mother."

She fell quiet for a moment and looked away thoughtfully. She let one of her hands leave the reins to touch a simple necklace she was wearing, before smiling back at Rebecca and stroking the horse's neck with her free hand. She glanced ahead at Vicotira, and further still at Nianki.

"I can't believe she's really riding bareback!" Theodora told to Rebecca in a gossiping tone, biting her lower lip lightly. There was almost a hint of jealously in her voice.

Vicotira nodded a little to Vethara as she rode along. "We do have it. It is, however, not all that popular. I suppose we could go obtain bows and go somewhere to practice it but I am not sure the other ladies would wish to do so." She glanced at the less athletic and more feminine princesses about.

Rebecca looked at Theodora in puzzlement for a bit. Then she blushed and switched into French. "Forgive me. English is not my first language and even an educated lady can only be expected to speak so many fluently. What I meant to say was that your name is commonly heard in these parts. Princess Theodora of Pantocratoria, the legendary beauty, whose royal Hellenic descent seems, regardless of official geneologies, to be more of Helen than of Aeneas." She smiled a little and shrugged, urging her horse into a slightly faster pace. "At least, that's what the Holistan nobles have been saying."

Rebecca laughed at the next comment. "She always does. I'm sure she would teach you, if you wished. I can just imagine the scandal at your father's court."

Theodora blushed at Rebecca's words, although she thought it was all rather over the top. She was lost for words for a little while, before replying, in French.

"Have.. why would Holistan nobles be saying such things?" Theodora eventually asked. "As for riding bareback, I don't need anyone to teach me, I could do it, you know."

Part of Theodora really wanted to give it a try, but her recent experiences had taught her to be a little more cautious, to respect the rules a little more.

"It's just that..." Rebecca frowned, really not wanting to bring up the real reason. "Don't worry about it. It's mostly that Holista's a mostly Catholic Principality and you share their religion while exemplifying the values of free spiritedness and youthful vigor that they also hold dear. A lot of prominent Catholic leaders seem more rigid and stern."

Then she grinned a little. "Well, feel free to do it here. With the people here with us...and the people around us staying out of sight and doing there security jobs...there's no way you could be hurt. Besides, it's a perfectly non-controversial thing to do here. I wish I could. I'm afraid I'm not that great a rider. There aren't many opportunities in Selinia."

The Jewish princess smiled softly at the Pantocratorian again. "You're a princess and a beautiful one to boot. You should get used to people making a big deal out of you."

"Well, that's..." Theodora looked at her dubiously. "That's a little silly. I'm not a Catholic leader, and I'm not a very good example of anything in particular. My father is a prominent leader, and I can assure you, he's rigid and stern."

She regarded Rebecca oddly for a few moments as she thought about what a perculiar explanation she had offered her for what had been a rather perculiar comment. She rode closely by Rebecca.

"Are they really talking about me in Holista?" she asked. "And if they do, why do they really do it?"

Sophia grinned at Sarah. "Yes, I am. What a lovely set of stables."

She admired the trotting action of the horse, feeling herself getting to know the handsome beast, and said, "Do you ride often, Sara? I have the feeling that you do."

"Whenever I'm on Earth." Sarah answered.

Rebecca shrugged. "You're just well-liked. Don't worry about it."

Vethara laughed lightly at Vicotira’s words. “It has been a while since I have practiced that sport. I hope I did not get all rusty and clumsy, for it is rather dangerous to be so in that kind of sports!” She erupted into a joyful laughter at the words, and upon having calmed down looked at Vicotira. “May I ask what are your favourite sports? Or just things you like to do?”

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to sound weird." Theodora said, fearing that the brevity of Rebecca's response indicated that she had made her uncomfortable. "Thanks very much for saying such a lovely thing in the first place."

She stroked her horse's neck a little as they rode on, and then turned to Rebecca grinning.

"You know what?" she asked. "Next time we stop, I think I'll switch to riding without a saddle."

Weirdo thought Sophia, frowning and spurring ahead a bit. She rode up to where Vicotira and Theodora were talking and said, "Vicki, what a lovely idea. Where shall we ride to, do you think? There is a lake, is there not?"
There was a look of mischief twinkling in her blue eyes.

The girls mingled around, and Theodora found herself riding next to Vicotira when Sophia rode up to them.

"There is?" Theodora asked. "That sounds nice... can we ride there, Vicotira? I bet our horses would like a drink... wouldn't you Winged Victory?"

Theodora rubbed her horse's neck and smiled. She looked at Sophia, biting her lower lip slightly. There was a definite resemblence to Princess Helen.

"How is my brother?" she asked her. "I haven't seen him since the wedding."

Sarah frowned as Sophia rode away.

Vicotira nodded a little. "Yes, we can ride to the lake, certainly."

She then pulled over to Sophia briefly. "Is something wrong?" she asked in tones of concern.

Vethara frowned as Vicotira simply ignored her question, choosing to pull over to Sophia instead. So she just rode out in front an enjoyed her surroundings, free of the burden of conversation.

Vicotira looked back to Vethara, having found herself by Theodora. "I like to play Fychell, joust, ride, the usual things." She then turned between Sophia and Vethara for a moment. She was sure she'd offended both of them.

Sarah and Rebecca fell back together, having somehow found themselves back in one another's company. They spoke quietly but both looked slightly annoyed. After a while, Sarah rode up alongside Theodora and Rebecca alongside Vethara.

Rachel and Becka were the only original pairing to have survived. They kept trotting alone amicably.

Niaki circled back to the group and then started ahead again. Her expression seemed severe but then again it always did.

Theodora smiled to Sarah pleasantly, but didn't have a lot to say. She tried to make some polite conversation after Nianki rode by.

"I told Rebecca that when we stop at the lake, I might switch to riding bare back." she grinned, seeming a little excited. "Have you ever tried it?"

Becka rode along quietly, occasionally making small talk with Rachel - mostly to comment on the trees, wildflowers or other passing bits of scenery.

She noticed that the older girls were always breaking into clusters, grouping and regrouping. A plan seemed to afoot, but there were other currents that the younger girl could not quite figure out.

Becka turned to Rachel. "Should we ride up and see what the others are going on about?"

Sarah shook her head. "No, Theodora. I don't think it would be the sort of thing in which I would be interested. However, I am sure you would be quite good at it." Sarah answered in French. "Would you tell me about the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator?" Sarah asked.

Rachel smiled. "I believe we shall." she answered. She urged her horse forward and pulled up alongside Sarah, leaving Rebecca to pull alongside Theodora. "Of what are you two ladies speaking?" Rachel asked her sister.

Sarah smiled a little. "I was just asking Theodora about Pantocratoria. You know I've always wanted to go there."

Rachel laughed. "You can. I'll stay in Selinia. If I went to New Rome, Father'd probably make me wear a dress."

"His Highness would be right to make you respect the customs of our host." Sarah snapped.

Becka followed Rachel at a trot and caught up with Theodora and the others. She giggled at the exchange between Rachel and Sarah. “But, Rachel,” she called out, “you would look lovely in a New Rome dress – they’re like ball gowns.” She looked over at Theodora. “Don’t you agree, Theodora?”

Even as she spoke, Becka began to feel the tingling of a new idea. Something to which her father would be quite unlikely to agree. Unless it were presented in just the right way. With just the right emissary. Becka smiled slightly and began looking for a moment to pull Vicotira aside for a private conversation.

(OOC:Becka's idea continues here: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9289560#post9289560)

"Hmm... what else would you like to know, Sarah?" Theodora asked. She had already answered the same question when Sarah has asked it earlier, after all. She nodded in response to Becka's statement. "I'm sure you would, Rachel. But you probably wouldn't find it very comfortable. The corset's very tight, and the under skirts make it awkward to move quickly. But I'm sure you'd be very pretty in one..."

"I'd like to..." Sarah started.

Rachel cut her off. "What's a corset?" She looked at Theodora curiously. "I've never worn one of those before."

"Well, I was wearing one as part of the dress before I got changed into my riding clothes..." Theodora started. "The corset was the tight thing I was wearing around my waist, you know, up from my hips to my chest. They're very tight and they can make it hard to breathe, so horse riding isn't a lot of fun in them. They reduce your waist by a few inches."

"Why do you wear those if they're so uncomfortable?" Rachel asked. "It doesn't seem like they would be very popular."

"You just don't understand Pantocratorian culture." Sarah chided.

"That's why I was asking." Rachel clarified.

"It's just the fashion of the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator. It has been like that for two hundred and fifty years. You get used to it, it isn't so bad." Theodora explained.

"I don't want to get used to it." Rachel said emphatically.

The girls mingled around, and Theodora found herself riding next to Vicotira when Sophia rode up to them.

"There is?" Theodora asked. "That sounds nice... can we ride there, Vicotira? I bet our horses would like a drink... wouldn't you Winged Victory?"

Theodora rubbed her horse's neck and smiled. She looked at Sophia, biting her lower lip slightly. There was a definite resemblence to Princess Helen.

"How is my brother?" she asked her. "I haven't seen him since the wedding."
"Oh, yes, your brother." Sophia said with a smile. "He seems to be settling down nicely enough in Lavenrunz, though I think he finds it unusual after your own country and his court in particular."


She then pulled over to Sophia briefly. "Is something wrong?" she asked in tones of concern.

"Wrong? Why no..." Sophia replied, surprised. "I just wondered...er...is Sarah a bit...you know, what is the word, bird in the head...strange..."

"If you were Pantocratorian, you probably would though." Theodora told Rachel, forcing a little smile. "There are worse things than wearing a corset."

Airhead... she thought to herself, before catching herself and noting with some surprise that Rachel's seemingly innocent remark had made her angry. She wondered why - after all, it was the sort of sentiment she had often expressed to her friends in the past, before it happened. She calmed a little, and replaced her forced smile with a more natural looking sincere one.

"So Sarah, what did you want to ask me?" she said, looking to the other sister.

"I don't think so." Vicotira responded to Sophia, looking at her questioningly. "What did she say to you back there?"

Sarah considered as she smiled lightly at Theodora. "I don't know. I just want to know everything. Your country has always fascinated me. Rebecca was always interested in Lavenrunz. Rachel was always interested in..." Sarah wrinkled her nose in distaste, not caring that her sister was still right there "...Knootoss, but I always found Pantocratoria to sound like a wonderful place. I've been meaning to visit but it is rather more complicated. Women like me can't simply show up or board a tourist airplane. It would have to be a state visit which would have to be arranged under some pretext or another."

"I don't think so." Vicotira responded to Sophia, looking at her questioningly. "What did she say to you back there?"

Sarah considered as she smiled lightly at Theodora. "I don't know. I just want to know everything. Your country has always fascinated me. Rebecca was always interested in Lavenrunz. Rachel was always interested in..." Sarah wrinkled her nose in distaste, not caring that her sister was still right there "...Knootoss, but I always found Pantocratoria to sound like a wonderful place. I've been meaning to visit but it is rather more complicated. Women like me can't simply show up or board a tourist airplane. It would have to be a state visit which would have to be arranged under some pretext or another."

It was at about that time that they finally approached a large, blue lake. There was still a little while to go but the girls started slowing their horses and coming back together into a group as they arrived, although Sophia still had plenty of time to answer Vicotira's question without Sarah hearing.

"Well, I asked her if she enjoyed riding, and she said 'when I'm on Earth'." replied Sophia. She said with a short laugh, "An odd comment, you must admit."

Vicotira held back her own laughter...barely. "Not for someone who lives on a Lunar colony, Sophia." she said, winking.

Check out my threads I need help. They're in the nationstates section of general, just search Breragor plz