Opportunity for the Ambitious [Roza]

[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK With barely a whisper, the lock slid out of place. A triumphant smirk slid across the young man’s face and with a glance around him to be sure that he was alone, he slipped silently inside. The northern end of the Old Town on the edge of the market was quiet at this time of the day; everyone in this part of town was too busy working. Being so close to the market, he knew he would find a few valuables. It was never much—small pieces of jewelry, maybe a few coins—but it was enough to make it worthwhile to slip in and out of the home. Over the years, he’d gotten so good at locating what he wanted from someone’s home, he spent barely any time finding and taking what he wanted. All he found in his victim’s home was an emerald on a simple gold chain. He dropped the necklace into a pocket and slipped out of the house as easily as he’d entered, slipping the lock back into place with expert skill. Walking through the streets as though he belonged there and hadn’t just stolen something, Fane made his way toward the cathedral. Four years in the city and the cathedral remained a rallying point for him and his three comrades, no matter what sinful deed they engaged in before going there. Fane always thought that it was Costel’s way of reconciling with God. Today, though, he was only meeting with Andrei. Fane spotted Andrei sitting in the last pew almost as soon as he stepped into the cavernous cathedral. In the middle of the day like this, there were few people inside the chapel with the exception of the staff. He lightly bumped the back of his brother’s head when he was close enough, making the blonde haired man look up with an amused glint in his eye. Though he loved all of his adopted brothers, Andrei was easily Fane’s favorite. “Bunã ziua, frate,” Fane said as he eased around the end of the pew and sat beside Andrei. “Salut, Fane. How did it go today?” His gaze eased around the cathedral’s interior, taking in the colored lighting from the stained glass, supplemented only by a few lit candles. “Well enough. I cannot complain when it was uneventful.” Andrei nodded, but there was a knowing smile on his face. “You were bored, were you not?” He chuckled at his brother’s perceptiveness. “Of course I was.” The two men stopped talking while someone walked by. “What did you wish to tell me?” “Come with me.” Fane stood and followed Andrei outside to a vacant corner of the cathedral grounds. His brother pointed toward the palace, guiding Fane’s gaze to its upper levels. People were rushing around frantically and all the young man saw was a panicked frenzy. Shouts rose from the grounds, though the people there were hidden behind the stone wall separating the commoners from the nobility. In the same low voice he used inside the cathedral, Andrei clasped Fane’s shoulder and murmured his commentary. “There is only one thing that would cause such chaos. I would bet anything that royalty will be coming to the city.” The thrill that Fane had been missing from his day to day life was rushing back to him in the moment. In all that chaos, who would notice a single person out of place? All he would have to do is climb the wall and slip into the madness. Who would know? Just the very thought of that opportunity had his heart beating just a little faster with adrenaline. With a deep breath, he reigned in that energy. He had long since recognized and understood the dangers of attempting to steal from the palace. As exciting as the idea was, it wasn’t one that he would be acting upon anytime soon. “Fane.” He pulled his attention away from the building and followed Andrei’s gaze to the palace gates where a horse-drawn carriage surrounded by guards entered. The carriage horses and mounts were all sleek and matched. Each piece of tack on the horses and adornment on the carriage glistened in the sunlight. Everything about the parade was flawless. It disappeared behind the wall and he knew that his brother was right. Royalty was in the city. 719 WORDS , ROZA , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

translations:
bunã ziua, frate: good day, brother
salut: hello

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2599/rosetable.gif][atrb=height,600,bTable][atrb=width,500,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] As her gilded carriage made its way smoothly through the streets of Ascalon, the first-born Princess of Etrias stole a glance amusedly out of her side window very pleased and proud that the citizens were making such a fuss over her little visit. A smirk rose on her angelic face as she watched her kingdom’s subject scrambled to bow and curtsy before her carriage passed by. Impromptu visits to the city were always the most entertaining. “Well, it’s good to see the people of Ascalon still love us, isn’t it, Bianca?” remarked Rosaria nonchalantly to her lady-in-waiting who sat opposite her in the carriage. “Indeed, m’lady,” replied the eager-to-please aristocrat. “Why would your Highness expect anything different?” “No reason, Bianca. No reason at all,” stated Rosaria placidly while whay she really wanted to say was, ‘Perhaps because there’s talk of a rebellion, you little fool.’ Once the princess and her entourage arrived in the Great Square, the carriage halted in front of the grand cathedral of Ascalon. Then with the aid of a footman, her royal highness and the lady-in-waiting exited the carriage. Before the steps of the holy edifice, the princess smoothed out the skirts of her somewhat modest black velvet gown, composing herself to enter the church, while Bianca adjusted the dark veil that covered her braided locks. Then as Rosaria mounted the cathedral’s steps, the bells tolled, signaling for the people to gather for sermon. Once inside, the Princess of Etrias took her place in her reserved pew right in the front. Soon the citizens of the city began filing in, and the vicar garb in his ceremonial robes emerged from his room adjacent to the nave. Upon seeing the princess, the elderly priest approached her, and greeted, “Your Highness, it is a delight to see you among the congregation.” “Your words do me to great an honor, Father.” Rosaria replied with a kind smile as she held out her hand towards Bianca. Without delay, the lady-in-waiting gave the princess a pouch filled with gold coins. Then Rosaria offered the purse to the vicar, stating, “For your poor box, Father.” Taking the generous donation, the vicar stated, “You are most kind, my lady. Etrias is truly blessed to have you has its princess.” With modesty, she cast her dark eyes to the floor, and replied, ‘I do not desire praise, only to aid my people.” As soon as the congregation filled the cathedral, the vicar took his place in the pulpit and began his sermon. Sitting poised in the pew next to Bianca, Rosaria barely listened to the words that flowed from the old man’s mouth. She only looked like she was paying attention. He was rambling on about helping your neighbors, making sacrifices in difficult times, and generosity. As the final blessing was delivered, the vicar added, “And we are most thankful for Her Royal Highness’s most gracious donation, which will feed and help the less fortunate in these troubling times.” That bit certainly caught her attention. Rosaria smiled to herself, knowing that the news would probably spread and only boost the regard her people held for her. However, she wasn’t done winning her subjects’ adoration yet. Oh no the best was yet to come. ( outfit )

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[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK He stood in the shadows beside his brother as the rest of the populace scrambled to formally acknowledge the princess as soon as she emerged from the ornate carriage. No other member of the royal family emerged, but there was another woman with her. He could only assume it was one of her many servants. Guards accompanied her as far as the heavy wooden doors to the cathedral. People flocked to the building, drawn in by the ringing bell. Though the bell had no effect on him, Fane began to follow the masses to the service. “What are you doing?” Andrei asked him warily. “What does it look like, frate? I am going to church.” Though part of him knew the princess would be easy to spot in the crowd, he didn’t want to lose her for long in the crowd. “But you are not—” Andrei cut himself off as he grabbed the edge of Fane’s cloak. “La naiba, Fane, you are not religious.” When the dark haired young man turned to regard his brother, there was an amused smirk on his face. “Watch your mouth, Andrei. You are on God’s land.” He could easily read the suspicion in Andrei’s expression and that he thought Fane was at least considering an entirely reckless idea. What else was new? “Do not blaspheme,” he chided with that brotherly scowl. “That is the princess. You cannot pickpocket royalty.” Fane couldn’t help but roll his eyes at that. “I am not going to pickpocket the princess. I may not be religious, frate, but I can appreciate the beliefs of others.” He would be on his best behavior… inside the cathedral. With a sigh, Andrei let the black fabric of Fane’s cloak go. “You are going to hell, you know that, right?” That amused grin spread. “Da. I am certain God would not have to look far to find a reason to send me there.” With that, he left Andrei standing on the edge of the cathedral property, arms crossed and scowling that same brotherly scowl, to follow the princess into the cathedral. As soon as he slipped silently passed the guards and into the church, he spotted the princess in the front row speaking with the priest. While the rest of the congregation filed into their respective pew, Fane reclaimed his seat in the last row. He watched as a purse, presumably of coins, passed from princess to priest and that reckless side of him, the side that sought adrenaline, began to stir. When the mass finally began, Fane kept his gaze on the princess and didn’t hide that fact. Many people in the cathedral kept looking in her direction; she was royalty after all. He had to respect that she hardly moved during the service. If anyone asked him what the priest had spoken about, Fane wouldn’t have been able to even guess at the answer; the service itself was all white noise that he tuned out. “…Thankful for Her Royal Highness’s most gracious donation, which will feed and help the less fortunate in these troubling times.” A lazy smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. If he could only manage to find her alone, what could potentially be the source of enough money for him and his brothers to live comfortably the rest of their natural lives was sitting a couple hundred feet away. He waited until much of the crowd was vacating the cathedral before standing and filing out as well. He was just another face in the throng of people spilling through the doors and onto the streets, excitement charging them all and whispers of the princess’s presence comprising most of the conversation. Fane made his way to the same shadowy edge of the grounds where he’d left Andrei and he wasn’t surprised to see the other man was gone. From that same spot, he stood silently and waited for the princess to make her appearance. The mundane day had taken a turn for the interesting. 668 WORDS , ROZA , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

translations:
frate: brother
la naiba: damn it
da: yes

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2599/rosetable.gif][atrb=height,600,bTable][atrb=width,500,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] As the citizens of Ascalon rose from their seats and exited the cathedral, Rosaria lingered in her pew a few moments longer. She wanted a few moments to herself before she had to deal with the masses of poverish commoners. Why she had to smile and personally give them each a coin, God only knew, but the royal women of her bloodline had been doing it for generations, continuously winning the love of the people. Of course most of them were doing out of the kindness of their hearts and not purely for reputable gain. At the end of the day, all of her acting and manipulating were just a means to an end—and end where a crown of a queen is placed upon her head. It was not long before all the city folk vacated the church. The Princess of Etrias rose gracefully from her seat. Her lady-in-waiting quickly followed suit ready to follow her mistress. Then before she went to make her way down the center aisle, Rosaria glanced one last time at the religious icons that were displayed reverently on the alter of the cathedral. For a moment she paused. Then she began to wonder where all her scheming and deceit would take her when life was over. Would she be damned for her less than noble intentions, or would her good deeds, not matter how selfish, win her a place among the blessed? “My lady, the poor should be lined up outside by now.” The meek voice of Bianca broke her from her spiritual contemplation. “Yes, well, lets not keep them waiting. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can get out of this horrid black dress.” Rosaria stated, finally giving voice to the fact that she would much rather be back at her castle or in the Duke’s palace being the center of attention. Still with her ever evident poise and grace, the Princess of Etrias hasten down the center aisle, swiftly making her way to the cathedral’s massive wooden doors. As the entry opened before her, the dark eyed royal stepped out onto the stone landing. As she gazed upon her subject, Rosaria’s lady-in-waiting gave the princess another purse filled with gold. At that moment, Rosaria was thankful for her entourage of guards who were holding the people back from simply mobbing her. Pulling out a few coins, the princess passed through the crowd, hand each citizen two coins. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to help.

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[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK The flood of people leaving the cathedral quickly slowed to a trickle, but many of the people lingered for what he assumed to be a glimpse of the eldest princess of Etrias. It wasn’t until the building was empty that she made her appearance through the heavy wooden doors. Fane watched as another purse passed from servant to princess just before her guards set up their formation around the two ladies. Rosaria handed coins to those in need as she waded through the sea of individuals, speaking to them as she did with what he could only assume were kind and hopeful words. He stood back, waited, and bided his time until many of the people in the crowd had been given their coins before he made his move. Fane eased through the crowd, his hands dipping undetected into the pockets of those who had been given gold coins. No one paid him any attention; there were so many people, he was lost in the crowd. As soon as he was close enough to the guards, however, he left the pockets of those in the swarm of people alone. “Prinţesă Rosaria,” he said by way of greeting, bowing his head out of respect for the royal woman. “You do the people of this city a great honor with your presence and generosity.” He naturally had an accent from his homeland, but in the conversation with the princess, he was laying it on thick. Even he wasn’t sure if he amplified his accent to draw her attention—from his perceptive point of view, she appeared to be augmenting if not faking her kindness and caring for the poor people—or to merely make her remember him. Fane wasn’t thinking far into the future; he focused his attention on the thrill of adrenaline that fueled him. Guards who could easily apprehend him for the pickpocketing he just completed or the jewelry he stole from the residence earlier—and those were just his deeds for that day—stood mere feet away from him. What could easily be mistaken as a polite smile tugged at the corners of his mouth though in reality, it was a smirk of amusement and of victory. No one knew of him; in this foreign land, he was a nobody, merely a ghost, a fantomă, lurking in the shadows and doing what he had to in order to support himself and help his brothers. He wasn’t the son of a boier here. He had no name to live up to. Here, he was free to continue with his path of deviant choices. 433 WORDS , ROZA , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

translations:
prinţesă: princess
fantomă: ghost

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2599/rosetable.gif][atrb=height,600,bTable][atrb=width,500,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] “Prinţesă Rosaria, you do the people of this city a great honor with your presence and generosity.” When the rich outlandish voice reached her ears, Rosaria turned immediately to face the speaker, curious to match a face to the voice. No one, especially the lower class, had ever dared to speak to her directly. Instantly, her deep, dark eyes locked with ones of glistening ice blue. They seemed to pull her in, compelling her not to look away. Yet she kept an air of indifference about her as she stood before the line of guards that stood between the princess and the peasant. “I only wish to ease the hardship of my people in these troubled times—to show them that the crown does care for their wellbeing,” remarked Rosaria nonchalantly, announcing her seeming intention. In truth, keeping the people happy was just another means to an end—a way to make sure that more did not join the rebellion and a way for keep her family to keep the crown. Unlike the citizens of Ascalon, Rosaria could not imagine herself toiling in a field or scrubbing a floor. It was the royal life that she was accustomed to, and it was the royal life that she was going to keep at all costs. Stepping back a bit, the Princess of Etrias examined the man that stood before her. The audacious man was tall with sable hair and was exceedingly handsome. Far too attractive to be a commoner. Something was off. “You are not from here,” said Rosaria, stating the obvious. “Tell me, who are you, and where do you hail from?” ( outfit )

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[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK As soon as he addressed her, she wheeled around, skirts rustling quietly, to face the man who had the nerve to speak to her. He could see the briefest flash of… anger? Or indignation. An amused smile tugged at one corner of his mouth and an entertained spark ignited his ice blue eyes. Even when the Princess of Etrias’s eyes found his, he didn’t look away. The guards, concerned only with her well-being, ignored the bold eye contact that he provided to the princess. As long as he made no move to touch or harm the young lady, the guards would leave him alone. Fane watched as that indignation vanished and was replaced by that holier-than-thou-art expression. “I only wish to ease the hardship of my people in these troubled times—to show them that the crown does care for their wellbeing.” She carried about her an air of disinterest which he found contradicted her admitted desire to care for her people. To assuage her pride, the young man averted his gaze first albeit briefly to bow his head again. His eyes found hers again as soon as he raised his head. “Of course, prinţesă. I have never doubted your intentions.” He just doubted they were what she claimed. Perhaps she did care for the people that her family was sworn to protect and guide through good times and bad, but he didn’t believe for a moment that that was her only motive for passing out money to the poor. “You are not from here. Tell me, who are you, and where do you hail from?” The young lady’s tone left no room for debate; she wasn’t merely asking, she was demanding an answer from him. Somehow, that amused him as well but he didn’t allow his expression to reflect it. “I am Fane, son of Boier Demetrius Aleksandar of Crymea.” 311 WORDS , ROZA , COMPLETE!

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

translations:
prinţesă: princess

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2599/rosetable.gif][atrb=height,600,bTable][atrb=width,500,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] “I am Fane, son of Boier Demetrius Aleksandar of Crymea.” Crymea? The realm of Crymea lay to the northeast of Etrias. The two countries were major trading partners. Etrias exported iron, textiles, and timber, while it imported fruits, vegetables, grains, and most importantly wine from Crymea. The wine from Crymea was of the absolute finest quality, and it was Rosaria’s favorite; it suited her delicate palate the best. ‘Boier… Well that explains it all.’ The Princess mused, knowing that his aristocratic features had to have matched a noble birth. Rosaria did not know all the inner workings when it came to Crymean politics, but she did know of the ranks and styles of their hierarchy. It would be a terrible oversight on her part if Rosaria did not know how to address a visiting emissary of the Crymean king. “Lord Fane, you are most welcome in Etrias,” said the first Princess of Etias, respectfully bobbing into a small curtsey with courteous and pretty smile. Rosaria eyed her guards signaling them to move out of the visiting noble’s way. Like the loyal drones they were, the guards swiftly, but systematically stepped out of the lord’s way. “Come, Lord Fane. I am expected at the duke’s palace, and I would be most delighted if you would accompany me.” As Fane passed through the line of guards, Rosaria led her new companion to the golden carriage that waited for her. He would make quite an impression on the nobility that would also be in attendance at the palace, especially the ladies. Of course, the princess would make sure to keep him in her close company. She couldn't have any other noble woman stealing his attention. No. Rosaria was much too proud to let that happen. The ride to the palace was short, without delay, and overall extremely uninteresting. Rosaria did not say a thing for the whole ride, contenting herself with staring out the window surveying the better part of the city. Every now and then, the gaze of her dark eyes drifted discreetly to the reflection of the bioer’s son. As the carriage entered the palace grounds, Rosaria’s eyes fell on the brownstone ediface. The slate plating of the roof gleamed like silver in the evening sun. Before the carriage stopped in front of the grand doors of the palace, the chamberlain of the Duke Maulesel strode out onto the stone landing to greet the royal guests. When the Princess of Etrias stepped out of the carriage, the chamberlain approached her, bowed, and stated, “You are most welcome, your Royal Highness. I am afraid his Grace has gone on a hunting trip.” “Of course he has,” remarked Rosaria dismissively, honestly not caring where her host was. As long as she had a grand roof over her head, a soft bed to sleep on, and a feast every night, the princess heeded little whether her host was present or not. Sauntering past the chamberlain with Lady Bianca in tow, the princess halted on the first step and glanced back at the handsome Crymean lord. “I hope to see you at the feast this evening, Lord Fane.” She stated graciously with a charming smile. Sweeping back her back her obsidian skirts, Rosaria dipped into a gentle curtsey. “I bid you a good day until then.” When the sun had set and the citizens of Ascalon returned to their humble abodes, the palace of the great city was filled with light and mirth. The men and women of the noble houses who resided in the city filled the great hall. Three feast tables were set up laden with the richest cuisines, ales, and wines; two were positioned parallel while the third, the head table, was set perpendicular to the two. The Princess of Etrias was seated in the middle of the head table with a cup of the finest spiced wine in her right hand and a vacant seat on her left. Her stygian vestments were replaced by ones of red brocade and pale golden satin. Pearls and rubies adorned her waist neck and hair. Her silken russet locks were pinned in soft rings on top of her head while the remainder was draped over her gentle shoulders. A laugh of amusement escaped her painted red lips as she basked in the light of the lord and ladies constant attention. Her dark eyes glowed with delight as praise and compliments were once again showered upon her. Rosaria was truly in her element now. ( outfit )

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[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK He watched as her expression registered her comprehension at who he was. Had he lied? Not exactly. His father was boier… until he died. At that point, Fane had disappeared from the grid and had no claim to his father’s title unless he was to return to his homeland. All of the responsibility was undesirable to the very impulsive young man. Sure, he would have the money, but he wouldn’t have the adrenaline anymore. He would be trapped in a dog and pony show doing exactly what the exquisite young princess before him was doing now: dancing like a puppet on its strings for the public. His way of using his father’s good name when it suited him left him free to do as he pleased. “Lord Fane, you are most welcome in Etrias,” that same lovely puppet greeted with a curtsy that was nothing more than a sign of respect. An intriguing little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she motioned the guards to let him pass their secure barrier. His attention didn’t waver from the princess while the guards stepped aside; in fact, he looked as though he believed the armed men to be beneath him. He was supposed to be a noble, after all. “Come, Lord Fane. I am expected at the duke’s palace, and I would be most delighted if you would accompany me.” “It would be an honor and a pleasure to accompany you, Prinţesă Rosaria.” He followed her through the crowd to the same ornate carriage that brought the young princess into the city and to the cathedral. The horse drawn carriage took the short journey to the palace; he watched as the scenery changed from one of city streets and a myriad of people and buildings to that of manicured landscape and emerald lawn and massive palace. This was almost easier than breaking into homes to steal. Fane kept his expression calm to keep the princess from becoming suspicious—who wouldn’t be suspicious if the young man displayed far too much interest? He waited for the carriage door to be open and then he followed Rosaria onto the palace grounds. While the duke’s servant greeted the princess, he looked around the grounds nonchalantly. When his charming hostess began to move her group inside, he followed. She stopped at the first step and turned to him, executing another curtsey that was product of years of training. “I hope to see you at the feast this evening, Lord Fane.” She stated graciously with that charming smile in place. “I bid you a good day until then.” And with that, he was unleashed within the walls of the wealthiest home in the city and no one was going to question his right to be there; he’d been invited by the princess, after all. As soon as he’d thanked her, the two of them parted ways. He took his time wandering the halls of the marvelous palace at first but when a servant asked him if she could do anything for him, he got an idea. “Da. A change of clothes and a bath drawn. I want to be more… presentable for the feast this evening.” The servant girl curtsied deeply before leading him to a vacant room. Too easy. He bathed in the warm bath water drawn by one of the servants scurrying around. Once he finished in the bath, he waved the servants away when they attempted to help him dress. The clothes they’d provided for him were finely tailored. His new shirt was silk dyed a deep blue that could have been easily mistaken for black at first glance on the sleeves and waist; the body was black. His pants and boots were simple black. The vest was black trimmed in grey fur and the last adornment was a string of onyx gems and opals. With a pleased smirk, he handed the servant a gold coin that he’d gathered from one of the people in front of the cathedral. The servant led him to the banquet where he immediately found himself a chalice of fine Crymean wine. His ice blue eyes slowly rolled over the crowd of nobility and a variety of wealthy men and women of the city then settled on the princess. The night was just beginning and if it went the way he hoped, he would gain far more than opulent clothing. 734 WORDS , ROZA , COMPLETE! OUTFIT

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2599/rosetable.gif][atrb=height,600,bTable][atrb=width,500,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] A vivacious laugh erupted from Rosaria’s lips as she delicately held the silver wine goblet in one hand. Her battle of wits with Lord Wolfram, one of the duke’s brothers, was turning out to be more entertaining that she thought. It even proved to be amusing to Lord Tristan Black, eldest son of Marquess Black, who was sitting to her left. “My lord, I did not know that I would be having a side dish of comedy to go along with my meal, but I must say, I rather enjoy it,” remarked the dark haired princess in a charming and amiable tone, placing her goblet next to her nearly empty plate. “If I may be so blunt, my lady, but who are you kidding?” piped Tristan in a jovial manner, leaning towards the princess. “You like comedy with everything from pheasant to tiramisu, and the whole court knows it.” Her good friend’s words left both Rosaria and Lord Wolfram in stitches. Composing herself, the princess replied, “While that is true, Tristan, you require something a every meal as well… A lady on your arm. However I do not see one tonight. Are you hiding her under the table?” With her last words, the Princess of Etrias lifted the tablecloth, looking to see if Tristan had actually stashed any of his latest beauties underneath the table. She’d put nothing past him. “Oh, you wound me, your Highness,” stated the nobleman, rather dramatically as he clasps his hands over his heart. “Do you really think me such a villain to pursue every young lady I see?” “Your words, not mine,” replied Rosaria with a soft giggle, her dark eyes gleaming with charm. Then the princess noticed the gaze of her own personal guest. In his fine vestments, he looked like a true member of nobility. Why he was walking around in plain black clothing was beyond Rosaria. She preferred that her dress match her lofty station and assumed most of elevated rank did as well. The princess continued to watch Fane out of her peripheral vision while only partly listening to her host. ‘Should I approach him or just wait for him to come over?’ These were the thoughts that rattled in her mind all the while. ‘Of course, I could always just summon him over.’ The princess was about to put idea into action, until she saw the crimson haired Lady Ivanna walk straight up to him with no sense of tact. Ivanna was the social climbing daughter of one of her father’s knights, and Rosaria could not stand her. The girl tried so hard to join Rosaria’s inner circle of friends. It was amusing at first—the princess and her friends got a good laugh out of it—but then the lady became persistently annoying. However Rosaria did not have a chance interrupt the two before music began resound in the hall. The center of the hall was cleared, and couples began lining up, preparing for the dance. “Your Highness,” stated Lord Wolfram, rising from his seat and offering his hand. Without missing a beat, Rosaria placed her hand in his and rose gracefully from her seat before being led into the center. She would let everything proceed as normal. She had a new plan to acquire what she desired. Beginning dance, the lords and ladies bowed each other as the music picked up its tempo. The tune flowing from the various instruments was a lively one. The strings and woodwinds carried the lighthearted melody, while the horns provided the harmony, and the percussion kept the quick beat. Following the beat of the music, Rosaria and the young lord stepped diagonally towards each other, moving so that they were nearly back-to-back. Then wrapping one arm around the other’s waist, the two spun around one another twice, and then Wolfram placed his hands securely on the princess’s waist and lifted her up into the air. When she was airborne, Rosaria glistening sable eyes found the Crymean noble who she had ignored for the dance, and for a brief moment a playful, flirtatious smile danced on her rosey lips. After the princess was lowered to the floor, the two diagonally sidestepped to each other and circled around one another once more. Then Rosaria and Lord Wolfram stood side by side and hand in hand as the dance began to manifest into a more linear fashion… Small jump the left, step back, and step side… Small jump to the right, step back, and step side… Tap to the side, tap across, tap to the side, and tap in. Then repeat. During the little line dance, Rosaria found Fane once more in the crowd and for a moment met his glacial eyes intently with her own. As dance ended, the couples bowed and curtsied to each other again, thanking their partner for the dance. As Rosaria gracefully lowered herself, nearly touching the floor, her eyes remained fixated on the nobleman of Crymea as if she we bowing to him. Rising, the Princess of Etrias thanked her host once more and sauntered back towards Fane with an amused look on her lovely face. However she did not stop to greet him. No, Rosaria barely acknowledged him as she glided past him and Lady Ivanna. Instead, with her hands folded behind her back and her head slightly raised, the princess sauntered right past him and through the open doors to the maze-like garden that dominated the back of the estate. ( outfit )

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[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK It didn’t take the princess long to meet his gaze after he arrived to the party. A languid, sly smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. In his typical bold manner, Fane held her gaze even when he nodded his head slowly and just enough to be seen by the princess across the room in acknowledgement. She turned her head away quickly, her attention returning to her present company. His smile turned smug when he noticed that the turn of her head let her watch him out of the corner of her eye—whether or not she was doing so didn’t matter at that point. His attention was dragged away from the lovely princess when a woman with fiery hair interrupted his line of sight. “I don’t believe we have had the pleasure of meeting, my lord,” she started with a notably deep curtsy. “I am Lady Ivanna, one of the eldest princess’s personal ladies.” The woman said all of this as loftily as she could, proud of her lot in life. “You are, are you?” he kept his icy eyes on her, that same sly smirk on his face and gleam in his eye. “Then are you merely on a break for food and drink? The other servants seem to be waiting intently upon the prinţesă and not wandering the banquet.” All of this was said with a polite smile and undivided attention, giving her the illusion of interest from the Crymean accented man. She seemed oblivious to the fact that he’d called her little more than a personal slave and instead focused on the fact that he, by all appearances, was accepting this story of being the princess’s lady in waiting. Could it be true? Sure. She was—or claimed she was—a noblewoman and he knew very well how easy it was to crash one of these parties; a few words exchanged in a thick accent and you were in. Perhaps being more notorious in the court left the Lady Ivanna without that option, but he couldn’t rule out that she wasn’t doing exactly what he was; reaching higher. Perhaps, unlike him, she wasn’t reaching much too far much too quickly. “Ah, where are my manners, hm?” he said, raising the back of her hand to his lips briefly. “I am Lord Fane of Crymea. It is a… pleasure to meet you, Lady Ivanna.” His eyes never left her face and he was able to witness the gradual but quick transformation of her face to a color that nearly rivaled her hair. Though he had to fight hard, he managed to keep the arrogant, entertained, and patronizing smile off of his own features. “A—And you as well, my lord.” The woman cleared her throat and had the mind to remove her hand from his. The music changed and people gathered in the mid-room clearing for dancing. Having no interest in dance, he kept his attention on the young lady to whom he was speaking, his eyes drifting in the princess’s direction more than once. One time in particular, he noticed an alluring and charming smile from the young princess and she certainly wasn’t directing it toward her dance partner; that smile was all for Fane. He continued small talk with the lady who’d approached him, but she was hardly doing any speaking. She still seemed flustered from his direct attention. Good. As the music changed again, the dancers bowed and curtsied to their partners before parting. Rosaria parted from her noble partner and headed toward Fane, though she paid him little attention. Sure, she glanced at him, but for the most part, her eyes were directed toward the door through which she ultimately exited and her chin held slightly elevated as though she were looking down her nose at everyone else in the room. Her strut was one that almost begged him for his attention. After the princess disappeared through the door, Fane turned his attention back to the Lady Ivanna. The princess could wait. He didn’t make her wait long—a few minutes, perhaps—while he spoke more with the noblewoman. He parted ways with the lady before strolling to the gardens where he knew the princess was waiting. He took a sip from his chalice of wine as he ventured to the gardens. The heavy scent of pollen and flowers greeted him as soon as he passed the threshold, as did a massacre of color from green to red, purple, and white. He was silent as he wandered into the depths of the garden, hardly displaying his interest in the princess. 768 WORDS , ROZA , COMPLETE! OUTFIT

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2599/rosetable.gif][atrb=height,600,bTable][atrb=width,500,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] The Princess of Etrias stood out on the terrace that was the precursor to the high, bushy walls that constructed the maze. He was making her wait. The Crymean nobleman that is. No gentleman of her court would ever have the gall to keep her standing alone as Fane was doing now. It was quite a risky move—one that Rosaria would have certainly pulled herself had their roles been reversed. Yet she hoped he would leave Lady Ivanna’s side and not keep her waiting too long. Soon a new set of footstep sounded against the stone beneath her feet. “Lord Fane, keeping a lady waiting is a sign of very poor manners.” Princess Rosaria stated in a mildly chastising voice as she turned to face him. Her unamused expression shifted to one of victorious contentment. “But now that you're here, would you care to join me for a stroll through the maze?” She remarked lightly descending the terrace and gliding towards the entrance of the maze. Of course, the princess knew her way through the maze quite well, having been invited to many a garden party hosted by the dowager duchess. However, it was quite an easy maze to navigate through. Even a newcomer could easily find their way through the maze in a matter of minutes. It was made for decoration, not determent, after all. ( outfit )

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[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK When he stepped over the threshold of the door, he found the princess of Etrias standing on the terrace with her hands still clasped behind her back. “Lord Fane, keeping a lady waiting is a sign of very poor manners,” she casually rebuked him as she turned to face him. She didn’t seem pleased, but then, what did that matter? There wasn’t too much she could do to him if he’d overstepped his bounds… But her expression changed to one of relaxed triumph. He’d played right into her hands—or so she believed. “But now that you’re here, would you care to join me for a stroll through the maze?” Without waiting for his response, she descended to the path and seemed to float toward the maze of decorative hedges. “I would be honored to escort the enchanting Prinţesă Rosaria through the garden,” he replied as soon as he’d reached her side and smoothly cut her off, offering his arm for her to take. As soon as she did and they began to amble through the maze, he smirked casually. “You know, prinţesă, perhaps my keeping a lady waiting is an attribute of my… roguish charm?” His glacial eyes danced with amusement although he was looking ahead and not at Rosaria’s reaction. The music, still playing within the palace, drifted through the open door and to them amidst the shrubbery; it had taken a turn for the soft and slow. They were alone in the garden—he heard no other voices and had seen no other people outside. They were likely all inside enjoying the food, drink, and merriment while the foreign noble, Fane, escorted the princess alone through the extensive gardens. He finished the last of his wine which he held in his free hand before setting the emptied chalice on a statue as they passed. “Prinţesă Rosaria, would you do me the pleasure of joining me in a dance?” The music was slow, wonderfully intimate, and would give him a chance to get even closer to the exquisite princess of Etrias. 343 WORDS , ROZA , COMPLETE! OUTFIT

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[Rosaria de Valore]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2599/rosetable.gif][atrb=height,600,bTable][atrb=width,500,bTable][atrb=vAlign,top] “I would be honored to escort the enchanting Prinţesă Rosaria through the garden.” A soft, yet elated smile rose on the princess’s lip and her dark eyes glistened with delight as Fane offered her his arm. Now if only she could be at court with him in this very same position. Roza would be the envy of every lady at court coupled with a man that could rival her eldest brother’s charm—not that she wasn’t already. That would be something to truly be triumphant about. However she would settle for a stroll in the garden… For now. Gently, her arm slipped into his, snaking around his strong upper arm before Fane led her into the maze. “You know, prinţesă, perhaps my keeping a lady waiting is an attribute of my… roguish charm?” An entertained chuckle escaped Rosaria’s lip. “Charming. Yes. Roguish… Perhaps?” remarked the princess with a smirk matching his own, humoring the nobleman. “Though I can’t imagine you playing to role of the romantic hero, so I suppose it is appropriate.” As they drifted further into the maze, Princess Rosaria placed her free hand on his forearm, know that they were quite alone, wanting to possess his all the more. Father and farther they moved into the gardens, until the only that linked them to the banquet was the music that filtered through the air. “Prinţesă Rosaria, would you do me the pleasure of joining me in a dance?” “My lord, I would like nothing more,” replied Rosaria graciously. With her right hand in his, the princess dipped into a gently curtsey while Fane bowed. As they began their waltz-like dance, Roza felt fane pull her closer than what was the norm. Where most usually had a good four inches between them, the nobleman barely allowed a half inch. Not that the princess minded one bit. Placing her left hand on his shoulder and her right hand outstretched in his, Rosaria gracefully followed Fane as he circled flawlessly in a three beat cadence. A natural and pleasant smile rose of the Princess of Etrias lips as he whirled her around while she mirrored his movements perfectly and elegantly. "So, Lord Fane," Rosaria began, attempting to strike up another conversation. "What else are you good at? Beside dancing?" ( outfit )

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[Fane Valeri Aleksandar]

now the dark begins to rise

save your breath; it's far from over

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] I WILL NOT BREAK Everything he said, all of his timing was perfect. She was entertained, enraptured, captivated, all by him and a few words. Of course, her thinking that he was some rich noble helped; he was certain of that. The joke was on her, now, wasn’t it? It was amazing what people would believe when his words were what she wanted to hear. He had the name to support his claims, but any search into that name and his history, any contact to Crymea that she made would cause the entire claim to collapse upon itself. “Charming. Yes. Roguish… Perhaps?” she teased with a pleasant grin and chuckle. “Though I can’t imagine you playing to the role of the romantic hero, so I suppose it is appropriate.” His own smile spread into a half grin, revealing a sliver of white teeth. “That makes both of us, my dear, prinţesă,” he replied, continuing the relaxed banter. Every lie consists of a grain of truth; she would never be able to claim that he lied about his role. His confidence grew—not that there was much room left for it to grow—as her grasp on his arm was reaffirmed by the addition of her free hand. She accepted his offer to dance and he led her flawlessly through the steps of a dance. The music, the atmosphere, all of it was perfect. They were absolutely alone in the gardens; no guards, no partygoers, no servants or nobles. It was a rare occasion, he was certain, for the princess to be alone with only a man she met mere hours ago. In only a few steps of the dance, he pulled her even closer, leaving almost no room between the two of them. The princess didn’t seem to mind at all. For a few moments, there was nothing but them and the music. The gardens were gone, the thought that someone might stumble onto their private dance was gone. He felt the thrill of being a commoner alone with the princess and contentment that everything in that moment was so simple, so pleasant. There wasn’t much that would ruin the few moments for either of them. “So, Lord Fane, what else are you good at? Besides dancing?” she asked, curious and intrigued. He guided her through her own twirl before bringing her close once more to continue their dance together. “A number of things, prinţesă.” A sly, amused smile slid across his face. “If I were to tell you, there would be no mystery left.” He only had to lean in slightly to murmur in her ear. “And where is the fun in discovering anything the easy way? Hm?” Once the music ended and their dancing ceased, he didn’t immediately pull away from her for the customary bow and curtsy of thanks. Instead, the hand that had been holding hers drifted to her face to tuck a piece of hair that had shaken loose during their dance behind her ear. His touch was soft and only long enough to brush the unruly strand behind her ear before his hand drifted to her shoulder. “You are a lovely dancer, prinţesă.” And with light pressure to a small spot on her shoulder, she collapsed, unconscious, with Fane there to catch her. ~ “What were you thinking?!” Costel shouted at him. “Impersonating a noble? Infiltrating an event at the palace? Kidnapping the princess!” The elder man’s emerald eyes locked onto his. “You are out of line, Fane. You are not one of them.” Something inside of him snapped. “No, Costel, I am not. I could be, but that would require turning my back on the three of you.” His tone was much quieter than the vehement Costel’s, but just as cold and venomous as any shout that he could have made. “The only way I claim my father’s title is to give you up to the guards. I cannot concoct a story that would satisfy them for my years of disappearance.” Though his face was still flushed and his eyes flashed angrily, Costel backed down however slightly. “I will take no part in this scheme, Fane. You will not destroy our lives because of your impulsiveness.” He took one look at the silent Nico and Andrei before he stormed out of their home. Nico followed Costel rather quickly. Andrei hesitated longer but he followed the eldest of the group through the door. Fane stood silently for a few long minutes, composing himself and burying the anger he felt toward his brothers. He sacrificed much to keep the three of them safe—even as he pulled his reckless stunts. He could be wealthy, a spoiled noble like the people at court here. He could have land and money and no cares in the world, but he didn’t. Did he want the responsibilities that came with being a man with a title? Of course not! But the option was always there, looming over his head—if he wanted to stab his brothers in the back to claim it. As he stood there contemplating the knives in his own back, Fane knew how he would get away with this so-called stunt without punishment. If it came down to it, he would turn on his eldest brother to prevent his own imprisonment, even if it meant a return trip to Crymea to claim what was rightfully his to make his own story and credibility untouchable. He stepped into his room, one that was surprisingly comfortable despite his means of income—well, an honest income anyway. He had everything he needed: a bed, a comfortable chair, a place to stash his clothing and loot, and apparently a place to keep a kidnapped princess. It was simple, really. A strategically placed ransom note and a missing princess with no one the wiser as to who would dare spirit her away from the festivities at the palace; it made for a lucrative scheme. Should he be caught, he could explain his history with a twist—the man of his past blackmailed him. Everything was becoming so simple, so clear. He settled into the chair in the corner of the room, waiting for the princess on his bed to awaken from her slumber. 1,038 WORDS , ROZA , COMPLETE! FINALLY!!!OUTFIT

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0