RP:Warm Reunion at the Throne of Ice

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Frozen Throne

Massive, blue-steel double doors manned by a pair of armored Frost Giants grants entrance to this rebuilt throne room. A room without corners, this circular affair is well-lit by azure-flamed lanterns set at regular intervals along the walls. Between each lantern stands a stern-faced, heavily armed Frost Giant, all wearing the matching uniform of the Queen's Guard. Their armor, trimmed in white fur, has been crafted of enchanted ice to be as durable as steel while appearing much like polished silver, and covers them from winged helm to spike-toed boots. Emblazoned on their breastplate is the Snow Maiden's crest: the white silhouette of a rearing snow gryphon against a black snowflake. This same symbol is repeated in woven blue tapestries on either side of the doors, and a final, magnificent one carved into the icy wall directly behind the throne. The throne itself is one of a kind, its base once a seat of blue-steel now encased in flawless ice, covered in arches, curves, and edges all seemingly carved by a master carpenter. This is the domain of the Lady of Frostmaw, where allies are welcomed and foes are expelled.


---

Hildegarde had long-avoided this area of Frostmaw, purely out of her belief that she had not yet proven herself worthy to walk here. But since battling with the wizard twice and her other endeavours, she felt that she might now be worthy to step foot in the circular room. Once here, her breath was lost in amazement! The Knight had never seen such a throne room; let alone ever be in one! She looked around, eyeing the throne in particular. She was wary of the Queen's Guard, however, not wishing to upset them by over-stepping the mark. Yet, she couldn't help but picture herself standing at the side of the throne; in full Knight regalia of the royalty, halberd in hand to watch over her charge and be protector of the realm. Her cheeks flushed red; scales rippling across the surface at the thought. The couatl on her shoulder would have smirked if he could, commenting on the thoughts, ~Isn't that your job already, Hilde?~ The Silver frowned slightly, shaking her head, "No, Kenway, it is not. I defend Lord Kirien and the peoples of the realm. I have not yet earned that position there."


Kirien is not there the first time Hildegarde's eyes fall upon the empty throne. He is there but a blink of the eye later, stretched lazily, comfortably, across the seat and looking as though it's been hours since he last moved. For a long couple of seconds he remains quite motionless - dead, almost, as his face lacks expression and his eyes are closed, and his chest does not rise and fall with breath. Then Hildegarde speaks in hushed words to her telepathic companion and Kirien twitches, cracking an eye open. "Hm?" With one hand he pushes himself up a little, rubbing at his mouth with the other as he yawns. Rising, rising... and he tilts his head so as to peer bemusedly down towards Hildegarde, allowing a short silence to stretch between them before he asks, "When did I last see you?" as if he can't quite remember the answer himself, even though he should.


Hildegarde's halberd dropped to the floor with a clang as her liege just appeared to 'manifest' upon the throne! Of course, the clang of metal upon the floor captured the attention of the Queen's Guard; all eyes on Hilde as she rushed the throne - running as if she were going to bulldoze into an opponent - and throwing her arms around Kirien, pulling him into a mighty hug just as he began to ask his question. The Silver hugged him tightly - she might have suffocated him if he were mortal - doing her best not to sob in delight and worry for the man. "Kirien!" she managed to squeeze out, strong arms wrapped around him like a child being reunited with a parent after a scary journey. The Queen's Guard looked tense; closing in on the two and looking to Kirien for answers about whether or not this Knight was a threat!


Kirien goes a little wide-eyed and has to quickly scramble into a more upright position, before Hilde envelops him in such a firm hug that he would find it difficult to breathe at all, had he need to. "H-Hilde, hey--" His weak protest is drowned against metal armour before it can really find its feet, so Kirien simply gives in instead. A short wave and an empathic nudge to the guardsmen advancing on the throne tells them all they need to know, and then the terramancer is hugging the Silver back, arms wound tight about her waist - he manages to stand and, through a feat of vampiric strength, lifts her entirely from the floor so as to spin with her and soak up that infectious delight of hers. "'Allo to you too, cherie," laughs Kirien, setting her down and wriggling back enough that he can look her in the eye. "Now, truly, when was the last time we saw each other?" It feels like a while, yes.


Hildegarde was ready to ramble on about how much she had missed the man; finding it so very hard not to well up and become emotional in his presence, in his embrace. As she was lifted and spun, she blushed furiously, but she was still delighted. "Kirien, it's been so long, I... I feared the worst!" She said, somewhat fearfully, "The last we saw of each other, I... oh, I don't really remember. It was before I battled with the wizard Svilfon, though, that is certain." She looked him over now, at long last, "Are you well, though? Is something wrong?"


Kirien can't help pulling a face but reassures her fondly, "If it was the worst then you'd know, I'm sure. Et that's unlikely to happen. Sorry for worrying you again, though." His brows draw together some when she mentions fighting Svilfon; events he does not recall in the slightest, which can only mean it's been far, far longer than he thought. He squints at Hilde for a moment, trying to work out what scars are newer than others. He stares at the young couatl, too. "That's a new one." A pause, and Kirien puffs his cheeks and steps back, before inclining his head politely to Kenway. "Why were you...fighting Svilfon?" he asks Hilde with genuine confusion. "Did you argue?" Is he well? Kirien frowns a bit more at that. "Am I? Probably. Just...a bit out of sync."


Hildegarde seemed somewhat relaxed that he seemed well; that nothing too terrible had happened to him. At the mention of Kenway, however, she smiled and leaned her head affectionately to Kenway, "Yes, sir, this is Emiur's son. He has a very dutiful mind, you see, so... He was entrusted to me. I hope to do Emiur and Satoshi proud, raise him correctly." She grinned at the couatl, before focusing her attention back to Kirien. "I have fought him twice, now. He said I must..." she frowned; suddenly going more quiet, similar to when she told Kirien her opinion of Ignatius and his arm; or when she retold killing Pridak and the shame and remorse she associated with it. "He said I must prove my worth in protecting you by fighting him; then prove my worth in looking after Kenway here." She paused, adding quietly, "I... feared I would not make it out alive, Kirien..." it was obvious, with that last remark, she was somewhat ashamed or nervous about it. Fearful, even.


Kirien 's mind vaguely recalls whispers of a nameless fear surrounding Emiur; little shadows of movements and information he picked up on while secluded in his room. Now, all that feels rather far away...which it probably is. He's still not sure. "It's a pleasure then, son of Emiur." He hides whatever unease he might be feeling behind a well-crafted smile, though it does fade a bit when Hilde becomes quiet and tentative. Pressing his lips together and frowning, Kirien floods comfort through his veins and allows it to pass into the Silver, before leaning up on his toes and hugging her round the neck. "He probably took it into his own hands since I didn't. I'm sorry. I've never felt you should have to prove yourself to moi, though - if I did, I'd have asked you to do that before accepting you as my sworn sword. You're most certainly worthy."


Hildegarde looked to Kenway, smiling as he dipped his head respectfully to Kirien. The couatl had learned much from Hilde; adopted many of her customs and traits. As her liege placed his arms around her neck, she bowed her head respectfully, but it was more a sign of a hidden or suppressed vulnerability. "You need not be sorry. I am glad that he found me worthy of you, Kirien. I... I only wish he had not burned my legs so or used the flames on me," she shuddered in distaste, "or the loud sounds. It was so painful." She murmured the last, having not intended to even voice that. She then looked to Kirien, offering him a winning smile, "I am glad you're back, Kirien. I've missed you," she said, far more softly, as she attempted to hug him again. Although, this time she was far more gentle!


Kirien takes his chance while Hilde's heat is bowed and, now that she's in range, lifts a hand to brush aside her fiery hair and manages to place a chaste kiss to her exposed forehead. What with her being so much taller than him, he can't quite reach normally unless he's cheating. "Fire is Svilfon's love, j'suppose, like mine is metal and stone. Still, I'll make sure to smack him with something. Ah, your legs are all right now, oui? If they're hurting, we can sit down." Concern tinges the empath's features, his vulpine ears pinning back slightly at the thought of loud noises being used for the specific purpose of deafening someone in combat. He knows enough about that, too. "I've missed you as well," he murmurs, the words muffled against her armour.


Hildegarde would never have allowed herself to be in such a circumstance with anyone other than Kirien. Even though they rarely saw one another, they had a bond that could not be lightly shaken or taken for granted. It was a bond that was tightly knit; strong and promising. "My legs are fine, yes, m'lady Maggie attended to them shortly after combat. With training each day, they are at their regular strength. It is, perhaps, fortunate that the blood of my kin is good for healing purposes." This tender moment between the two was something that could not be replicated by another. The Knight held no other in as high a regard as she held Kirien; none could compare nor surpass the image she held of her liege, nor the respect she held for him. Her servitude was initially out of a yearning to do so; duty and her own honour. But now, her servitude was done out of love for the man before her.


Kirien makes an absent mental note to find this woman named Maggie and shower her with flowers for her help. For the most part, however, the empath is simply lost in the moment, as immersed in Hildegarde's emotions as he is in his own, focused on and thinking of little else. It's strange, he thinks, because he's never met anyone who has felt this way toward him-- but it's nice, really, and it makes him hold her all the tighter. If Kirien could be here longer, forever, knowing and feeling all of this, he would. "I'm glad you're all right now," he says eventually, smiling one of those smiles that makes it seem as if there's nothing at all wrong in the world.


Hildegarde felt oddly comfortable in Kirien's embrace; relaxed and at peace, without a single care in the world. She felt so at peace there; so secure, which was somewhat ironic, given that she was supposed to be the protector in this relationship! She, at long last, pulled back somewhat to give them room to openly discuss. "I've done feats since your absence, Kirien. I helped your sister search for Emiur; I have battled Svilfon twice; I'm raising Kenway here... My life has changed so much since entering your service. I think it's the greatest thing to have ever happened in my life."


Kirien does, finally, relinquish his hold on the Silver and sinks back onto the throne, reclining against the cool ice. Where is his chickadee, come to think of it? He pulls a bemused face, and figures he'll have to search her out later on - tracking ghosts is something he's particularly good at, at least. "Oh-- Emiur, what...what happened?" An ear flicks and he frowns some. "I remember a little...niggling sensation. Regarding Emiur. Et Venturil. I never checked out the echoes, though-- but, um, oui. Our little family es kind of...interesting, so I suppose it's no wonder something changed! I do hope you're happy here with us."


Hildegarde gave a shake of her head, "I do not know, sir. I have not heard any news since my trip to Venturil with Lady Satoshi," she sighed softly. She looked to Kirien, "All I know is that poachers acquired him and his mate, they were searching for the nest too. But we found that first." That was all she could offer him, for that was all she knew on the situation. "Oh yes, I'm happy, sir! I'm happy to serve you."


Kirien 's expression darkens with a touch of anger, though none of it is directed at Hilde. "I should have gone before. When did you find the nest? How long ago?" There could still be echoes lingering, in which case Kirien is intent on seeking them out. A twinge of guilt resounds in his chest, because he really should have investigated all of this a long time ago. He glances at Kenway, then down. "Speaking of, ah, serving...and worth...I think I owe you something, don't I? A token of a kind."


Hildegarde frowned slightly, having detected the anger in his expression. "Perhaps a month or so, m'liege," she offered, "Satoshi and I brought the eggs back here, as we could not risk it. As you can see, they have hatched." She briefly brought her fingertips to gently caress Kenway's head. "Oh, you do not owe me, sir. You bestow tokens when you feel it is ready or when you feel I have proven worth to you."


Kirien makes a distinct, sharp, "Tch," sound. "A month." Definitely a long time, now. It makes sense, he supposes - he should really find some way of keeping track of how much time passes in his own reality, whether or not he's actually moving within it. Maybe he should just leave the threads alone. All this leaping seems as though it's beginning to have an adverse effect on his body, anyway, if the slight stiffness in his muscles is anything to go by. "Well, I feel like you have, so I owe you one, I think. Let's see..." He taps briefly at his chin in thought, humming. "We all have coats, or cloaks, or some amalgamation of the two, so-- we'll get you a cloak! Silver or not, you should have something warm to wear up here."


Hildegarde bowed her head at the 'tch' sound, obviously trying to show she was repentant or something akin to that. She was looking much like a scolded child with her head bowed! But at the mention of a cloak, she smiled slightly and looked to him, "Thank you, Kirien. It... It means so much to me, that you would assign me such a token."


It is not long before the pair part ways, in order to go about their duties or avoiding them, as one can imagine Kirien doing.