Withered petals fallen

[Amariette Willowbane]

How long had it been? How long would it be?

Amariette had been left with more questions than she ever thought she could handle.

The young woman had returned to the castle months ago, walled up in her rooms where she became a ghost that few were lucky enough to glimpse even in passing. So much had befallen her that she had shut herself off from the world, refusing to see a single soul save the many handmaidens she had befriended rather easily.

Now she sat by the window, always by the window, looking out on a world that seemed so unfamiliar to her, so alien.

So meaningless.

It was the handmaidens that were keeping up her appreance, it was the handmaidens that were returning each and everyday to see that their councilwoman was washed and dressed and somewhat fed.

Yet there was no spark in those once passionate emerald eyes, no flush of pink in that lovely pale flesh.

Amariette Willowbane was trapped within a living death and the memories were all that remained to haunt her.

She had gone to the antique shop, and there she had confronted the old woman who had stolen her youth, only to find that Madame Cerise was nothing more than a hollow puppet, doomed to forever sit at her vanity and stare into the blue of her doll's eyes. No, the real evil was the creature that fell from the shadowed corner of the room to glide across the floor on physical claws, stalking upon the beaten old vessel that she had been rendered with gleaming red orbs.

"Ah so you have finally arrived my darling, so wonderful to finally be able to introduce myself." It hissed as it rose onto its hind legs and stood it's full seven foot height, body created of pure shadow and as black as the wickedness that gave it strength. "You needn't worry about Lillian anymore, I've swallowed her soul and she's as harmless and as useless as can be. She's not even aware of her fate now, how she will sit and stare until the youth she craved so deeply is utterly spent and nothing but bones remain once more. It's such a sweet demise, don't you think?" The demon slithered toward her like a serpent, causing the cursed young woman to recoil in horror. "Of course, now I am faced with one more dilemma, and that's you my dear. You alone know the truth about my existence, you know that, now, thanks to darling Lillian there, I am a creature of flesh and blood. And that simply will have to be remedied, nothing personal dear, really. Now don't make a fuss."

Her eyes closed as she prepared to submit to her fate, her old and withered body curling in a ball on the floor. It was the voice that caused her to look up, it was the light that swallowed up time and made the entire scene move at a snail's pace.

"You'll not be harming her while I am in control, foul sewer beast!" The powerful feminine voice ignited as the source emerged into view, the figure's arms lifted high and the brightest, purest white light radiating outward with almost blinding force. With a hiss, the shadow demon recoiled and was thrown back over the bedroom vanity, Madame Cerise crushed beneath its weight. Clawing and thrashing violently, it made a swift retreat and threw itself through the nearest bedroom window, vanishing into the night with a roar of fury.

It had been her mother who had saved her. Brianne had been the one to drive the monster away, which resulted in the accidental death of the owner of La Lune Noir and the end to her daughter's dreadful curse. With her youth and vitality restored, Amariette could think of only one place she wished to go. Home. To Daniel.

It was when she got there and found it empty did she begin to despair.

And then, she found the letter.


That letter that was now faded and creased, tear stained with running and ruined ink, sat upon her gilded table, dust covered, ignored completely. She had received no other word from him. Amariette, adorned in a long and elegant ivory satin nightgown with the straps fallen down her arms just so, stared listlessly out her window, watching the season change once more. Lusterless red curls fell full about her shoulders, framing a face that seemed so finely shaped by sorrow, capturing a pain that was as much fresh as it was lingering and ageless. There were no more tears on her cheeks, no more salted slopes of despair.

Those had dried up long ago.

[Amariette Willowbane]

'How long do you plan to suffer yourself this pain?'

It had been days since she had entertained an envoy to update her on the developments within the castle, the reports of the Royal house and its members falling on mildly interested ears. But Amariette didn't need to turn around to know who had disturbed her solace. There was only one being she knew of that could come and go as they so pleased.

"Go away, Mother. I just want to be alone."

'You could 'see' his Fate if you had only the courage, what do you truly fear then child? Losing him, or never knowing if he was lost to you because of another?'

The younger woman drew up from her chair incredulously, rage flashing in her emerald eyes. "How dare you! How dare you confront me like this! With this...flight into the fancy the likes of which I'd never think you capable of! I loved Daniel, Mother, and I know in my heart that'd he never forsake me for another. But...I...." The strain had suddenly become to much, the grave sincerity of the words she desperately tried to silence forcing their way from her lips even as she collapsed to the floor on her knees, "If I do not see his fate, it will never be true in my heart. If I never gain the knowledge of his disappearance, then somewhere, somehow, he is planning to return to me. I can't bear the thought of otherwise."

'You are young, and such passions in the young have the ability to burn anew. To wall yourself away forever, pining for a love you know to be lost is idiocy my dear. It has been almost a year now, it is time you made peace and moved on, you have a title and newfound status to concern yourself with.' Those comforting arms embraced her kneeling daughter, cradling the sobbing youth and stroking her hair lovingly.

"My title....my title could never make up for what I have lost in him. And you are as much the fool as I if you believe I will buy such a selfish bit of reasoning." Pushing free of the powerful woman's arms and inadvertantly throwing her aside, Amariette swept up her robe and tore from the room, vanishing down the castle corridor in a ruffle of velvet. There was no place she could go to escape Brianne, but somehow she knew that this would be the last time she would see the woman for quite some time. Emotions were just too raw between the two of them and there was a fresh anger in her soul at her mother's proposal, the words echoing in her frantic mind.

Make peace and move on....make peace and move on....make peace....

"No!"

A blurred image combined with the distinct scent of Lavender and a flash of red curls hurled itself through the engraved doors and out into the castle gardens, the shadowed silhouette falling against the stone bench bordering the grand fountain, the statue a perfect rendition of the Queen of Ulster herself. With her head buried within her arms, thus did Amariette weep, her soul a wellspring of pain she had not given release for quite some time. Curled and trembling did she pour out her sorrows softly, the sound barely detectable within the vast symphony of night and all its many players.

Her only audience being the glittering stars above.

[Farris Wolf]

Farris back from the academy with some experience of class under his belt was weary from travel. He was only going to see if Kahlan would take pity upon a young man that had once been a soldier in her army and would give him room and board. Maybe a job since it been so long since that damned betrayal.

He slid through the gates of the castle with ease smiling at the guards there passing off as a noble....not hard to do since the long red coat with lots of "glittery stuff" as the guards usually said was upon his shoulders tonight and underneath was the richly embroidered red shirt. The waist down was concealed by the long coats droopiness. Yet there was a blade hilt sticking out from the side of the coat in a readily made hole. He had the very look of a gentlemen returning from a ride. He turned to his horse and led it through patting its cheek lightly.

He moved on to wards the stables and led the horse in as the moonlight flooded his face now and then past that long flow of light brown hair. The scars on his face were small nicks at the most things you couldn't tell over table at a tavern with a pewter in hand but that wasn't Farris's thing anyway. He was growing older and telling stories about the glory days would not appeal to him. He didn't want to realize he was old yet. He finished grooming the horse and noticed a noise and he looked about for a second and he headed for it after getting his horse secured.

He noticed the doors opened and turned looking to wards the garden and moving inside it he saw Amariette at the fountain. He stood there for a few seconds watching a woman he had had feelings for in this state. He threw the ideas out of his head. She was Daniels now and he would never encroach upon another person's own life like that. It was to much for him. He had enough hate as it was toward him.

Her robe around her made goosebumps rise on his arms for a moment before he made a guttural sound announcing his presence. He was something else other than stars. He wold b ea part of the audience and a part of the play that would unfold before the lives of many Ulsterians.

[Amariette Willowbane]

Amariette lifted her head at the sound, turning to look toward the alcove where a shadow waited. She barely recognized the figure, but made haste to gain her feet and straighten her disheveled appearance. Wiping her eyes and cheeks quickly, she hugged the robe about her and took those calm steps forward, bare soles soundless. As she emerged in the alcove to greet the newcomer, her features softened visibly and she realized that this supposed –stranger- was no stranger at all.

“Why Sir Farris, what brings you to the castle gardens at so late an hour?” The question was not demanding, but a gentle type of curious. Tilting her head, she took his arm and led him into the corridor where the chill in the air could not reach them. Soldiers stood guard at each end and seemed rather intent on ignoring the two completely. A patrol would be coming by, that much she knew, and he would question the two of them to assure basic safety.

How long had it been since last she saw him? There was a look of maturity now etched into his features, but his eyes were still kind, though weary at the moment. Had he just arrived? And if so, had he rooms in the castle? So many questions filled her mind as she admitted to herself that his sudden appearance had her quite flustered. There were already rumors flying about consisting of the Chairwoman and her ‘strange’ ways. Standing in the hall with a knight at this hour would not help her situation at all.

“Best we not tempt the guard with gossip. If you will but follow me please?” Turning in a flash of red velvet, she drifted down the corridor toward her rooms, knowing that her handmaidens were still awake and awaiting her return. She hoped he would follow, since the knight looked a bit worse for wear. Opening her doors to her small audience chamber, she quickly sent a young maid to fetch drink and food for the both of them, positive that the kitchen roared with life even this late.

Offering him a chair, she slipped into a cushioned high back one of her own and crossed her legs demurely, tilting her head to survey him in further detail. Wearing a warm smile, she allowed the tray to be set between the two of them on the large desk and poured him a glass, setting it before him and pouring one for herself and holding it up in a toast, “To the return of an old friend…”

[Farris Wolf]

Farris led by her into the hall followed her with out hesitation even though he questioned slightly in his mind.

He was pulled to the room and he smiled quickly at the maid as he passed by her. He looked down at the chair and sat down in it slowly getting quite comfortable.

His eyes set upon her examining her again after she had tidied herself up to a representable state. He looked at the maid and then back at her with a questioning look. "Gossip must float around you that much for you to even mention it to me....and I am still no knight. Just a man who is learning more about this land." He sighed and raised his glass. "To Kahlans Health." He lowered it down and tipped it against his lips letting some tea slide down his throat. He hadn't been able to experience the taste for quite a while now.

He closed his eyes for just a few moments and then opened them. "Please tell me what has happened."`

[CrimsonWinds]

Darkness raised up and covered the land as her lavender eyes just filled with a scornful look. His hands were covered by his robe, as his walk was something that was the object of intimidation. He stood very tall for he was a wizard of great caliber, and the reason why Zandramas could not enter this world any longer. He aged, many years but looked as young as twenty-two. Slowly he turned her head downwards as she listened to the talk of rubbish, the talk of humans...He chuckled, talking longer stride in the night as he stood in a corner, his eyes just driving a deep seeded hatred for everything. But then again he was a withered old brute in personality but slowly he drew his voice into range.....

" Little little pumpkins, walking in the dark. Stay my children and lets talk....Take a deep breath, deep breath......." Slowly he drew himself up as he walked out of the night, a tall dark figure was he but underneath the cloak was a mighty warrior and very dangerous. His staff was thin and black. The tip of it held a claw, which in turn held a clear crystal one that changed according to the power the wizard summoned. He eyes then turned to crimson, a blood color as he looked at Farris and Willow..." Such long times....such long times..."