Heart is a Labyrinth

Amelia Rosette Fulton. Twenty-four. Ward of the house Odell. Betrothed to Tibalt Barclay. A r i a d n e.

[hollidayxgrainger]

[evasigan]

Serina was sitting straight in the saddle on her gray horse Ashford, observing the devastation in front of herself. Westedell was in ashes, a mere ghost of a memory to what it used to be – a glorious city with many family enjoying it’s protection and light. Now, it was a cold and dark place, filled with echoes of screams of the victims and memories of the family which brought it to ruin.

She was staring straight ahead at the toppled stones which fell from the towers and the trees which turned to charcoal as some of the flames caught the nearest trees before the fire was contained solely to the city. In her thoughts, Serina failed to notice someone approaching her, until the person spoke and the young Odell flinched.

“Pardon me, it appears my mind has wandered too far. Would you mind repeating that?” She bit her lip apologetically, shyly asking the person next to her to repeat itself.

[ameliasmaze]

Amelia felt close to tears; or suffocation, whichever came rapidly for her, in the ruins of a once marvelous and grand town. Now? Now it was nothing more than dying fire cackling in some of the places in the devastated walls of the city, refusing to die out and let the ashes to rest, let it all turn into nothing more than a sad tale for upcoming generations. Perhaps someone might rebuild it, more smartly and kindly than the, now fallen, ruling dynasty has done it?

The little Ward clicked her tongue and ushered her mare Labrys towards one of the hilltops, overseeing the devastation, perhaps out of morbid curiosity; she never really enjoyed the capitol, no matter how hard she has tried to fall in love with it’s walls and people -- it was all too grand, too pompous for her. As she led Labrys towards one of the spots safe from fire and smoke, Amelia noticed another sole figure standing there, seated on grey horse, her long gown covering the most of the animal’s backside.

Amelia made her way towards the woman, a woman she soon recognized to be her dearest friend, someone she loved as dearly as a sister. She called out of her, but when the woman did not respond, the little Ward neared her and spoke just a little louder.

“I ask if you are feeling alright, lady Serina? Surely, there are far more enjoyable places for one’s mind to wander, then a sight of destruction and devastation.”

[ameliasmaze]

Cyra shrugged, though she knew the answer; somehow, she always did. “I doubt it will.”

Amelia felt a small frown marring her features and she titled her head to the side to observe the young red haired woman in front of herself. She seemed so certain that the horrors would never end, that the little Ward asked herself whether or not the girl has suffered some great misfortune to leave her regard on life so glum and pessimistic.

“It sounds as if you are too certain of it, my lady. Surely, these horrors will once cease to be? We cannot all be unhappy and cruelly treated forever, can we?” She softly spoke, feeling her frown deepening.

[ameliasmaze]

Katherine listened to the girl, and she frowned in sympathy. “I am sorry to hear that. On what account is he imprisoned?” She asked, titling her head to the side, before pushing a bottle of whiskey towards the girl. “Here. I was right to think you need it.”

The subtle and sad smile on the little Ward’s lips grew, ever the slightest, before she shrugged, delicately. It was the reason same as ever and the reason which should the least be responsible for imprisonment.

“His loyalty. My betrothed is a knight for the Vitello family and on that account he was taken into custody.” Amelia replied with a sad and deep sigh, accepting the drink that the woman shared with her.

“I thank you, lady Katherine. It appears I am in a dire need of it; more than I have anticipated.”

[ameliasmaze]

“Child lost at birth drove a mother to the deep and dark waters. Now a mother returns, calling for all the children to make them H E R S.”

Amelia Fulton -- Rusalka, a water nymph form the Slavic folklore, a spirit of a woman who was driven to commit a suicide. Rusalka is an unquiet being who is no longer alive, associated with the unclean spirit and dangerous. She’s a female spirit of the unclean dead; this includes suicides, unbaptised babies, and those who die without last rites.

[ameliasmaze]

Cyra eyed the woman and sighed, nodding. “Yes, of course you may.” Hesitating for a moment, she continued. “Terrible day, is it not?”

Amelia visibly shivered at the question. Terrible was such an understatement, yet she nodded with a petite smile nonetheless.

“Indeed, most horrible day of all. Will this cruelty never end?”

[ameliasmaze]

“Well, I do doubt there would be any other reason to visit a tavern.” Katherine chuckled, and titled her head. “Do you wish to talk about it? It could help. And my name is Katherine, I don’t believe we’ve met before.”

Amelia offered the woman a small smile and then shrugged ever so slightly. She did not know her, not really, but she did want to talk to someone about Tibalt and his imprisonment.

“It is my fiance. He is imprisoned and I cannot stop worrying for him.” Little ward replied before smiling a bit wider and bowing her head. “My name is Amelia Fulton. I am please to meet you acquaintance.”

[ameliasmaze]

Out of Place || Amelia & Open.

[ameliasmaze]

Gods — he would never grasp how many lands and families there were. ( clans? tribes? how, exactly, did these kingdoms find themselves serving one king when they stretched so far and wide? ) “You’ve had quite a life then, young one,” he said, gentle as his brows rose high on his head. Beasts and death. That, his people knew of.

For a moment, he stiffened. But this was a GIRL, what would she know different, raised in a place such as this? Chest rumbling with a great laugh, Neilson found himself enjoying the girl’s tease. HIM – noble sir! ( or was she trying to cause offense? ) “No, no, can’t say I am. I’m from the North, girl; the land of the free folk.” Then, he shook his head, knowing he’d at least have to tell her. “Might watch your jests around others. Can’t imagine my people would take kindly to being called noble sirs. We have no titles, those belong to you and yours.”

----

Amelia’s eyes widened for a brief moment before her mouth shaped a little surprised ‘o’. She ought to be more careful and her inability to successfully say who is noble and who is not, even after such practice, made her uneasy. Frankly saying, she did not care who was of blue blood and who was a commoner -- nowadays, somehow, it all mixed, with even servants marrying kings.

“I am terribly sorry! I meant no offense, please do accept my apology. I must admit I am a lost cause in recognising who is noble and who is not today. It all mixes lately.”

[hansburger-blog1-deactivated202]

[ameliasmaze]

The Dungeons. || Amelia & Tibalt

[ameliasmaze]

He heard the familiar jingle of the guard’s armor as he walked, resenting him for being able to wear it. He felt weak without his sword at his side, like he’d lost a limb in all this nonsense. He was mid-conversation with Norah when the guard stopped outside his cell.

This is it, he thought. He’d had that thought a dozen times, but this was well and truly it, he was convinced. Pushing himself off the ground, he walked confidently to the door, only to be greeted by the face of his intended.

“Amelia?” Confusion rang through his voice as he blinked, convinced she was a vision. The prisoners had very little food daily, if the wildlings remembered to feed them at all. Her pale fingers wrapped around the bars and he realized she wasn’t just a hallucination.

“What are you doing here?”

Amelia exhaled in relief, half expecting to see him near death. She knew how poorly prisoners were treated and she offered him a small, gentle smile as he spoke her name. She nodded, her smile widening ever so slightly.

“Yes, it is me.” Little ward replied with a gentle and hushed tone, pressing herself closer to the bars. Hearing his question, she felt colour rising to her cheeks and she slightly lowered her head.

“I have come to see how are you faring. Are -- are you alright? I hope they are not cruel to you?” Amelia asked, hopefully.

[cortegiania]

[I]t’s quite rare to have strong females [in a historical drama] but actually it wasn’t rare in Renaissance Italy. As much as they were used as marriage tools, women did play very strong roles in society. They were still governesses and patrons, and if the men went off to war, the women would rule the town. They would rule their principalities, and Lucrezia was acting Pope for a while as well! They were given a lot of power and authority, so it shouldn’t be that odd to be playing a strong female in a period role. {x}

[ameliasmaze]

The Dungeons. || Amelia & Tibalt

Amelia has mustered all the ounce of courage she had in her petite body and decided to visit her betrothed in the cells. She made her way towards the dungeons and softly spoke to the guards, her gentle aura having them take pity on her and let her in -- exactly what she has planned. Sometimes, her pretty face and gentle persona held a slightly manipulative trait she had never thought she would be forced to use, but it helped her achieve her goal at the moment and that was making sure Tibalt was as safe as he could be in that dark and damp place.

The guard appointed her to his cell and retreated back to his position to give them at least some privacy -- as much as it was possible in the somewhat full place. So many poor souls were captured simply because they stayed true to their loyalties -- an admirable trait, if someone asked her.

Approaching the iron bars which kept her away from Tibalt, she felt a concerned frown take place instead of a gentle smile she wore moments ago. Her gaze felt to her betrothed and she felt the frown deepen.

“Tibalt?” Little ward gently called out catching his attention and wrapping her fingers around the bars.

@theknightstxle

[ameliasmaze]

Out of Place || Amelia & Open.

[ameliasmaze]

The North called, more inviting and tempting than ever before now that their war was over, yet he stayed, watchful eyes trailed on the noble’s Alliance every step. He knew nothing of these Balors, Larivieres, Thorntons or Pemberleys — knew nothing except their betrayal and easy agreement with his people. Perhaps it was unwise of him, to place such trust in those he couldn’t bring himself to look away from. But he could place trust in what his people had shown them; how they’d brought war to their doorstep and stopped only of their own free will. While the fight was over, their was not; and Neilson comforted himself by remembering the looks on every face in the throne room that day.

Staying close to the Keep, he kept to himself as he walked the outside of the Keep, a bit wary of the smells that came from their halls. It wasn’t much better by the gardens where he remained, but it was something better than what was locked inside. Eyeing a sturdy tree off in the distance ( what could be seen from the top? he stepped closer — ) but stopped short at a tap on his shoulder, coming face to face with a rather small girl.

Her sweet face immediately inspired a gentle smile. “I would, but I’m afraid I don’t know where it is, either,” he said rather apologetically, as if he had anything to be particularly ashamed of to begin with. He was clearly a stranger to this place, even though he’d left his furs at their camp for the heat. ( library … library … library.… ) “Isn’t this your home? Wouldn’t you know where it was?”

Amelia had hoped the man would know where it was and she could not help the little feeling of disappointment washing over her. It appeared she would have to wander alone around the Keep after all and it was a thought that brought a slightly concerned look on her face. She offered him another small, kind smile before he asked her a question and she shook her head.

“No, I live in Esterhaven, under the house Odell. I am their ward after a beast destroyed my village when I was nothing more than a little girl. I have little memory of my previous home, except that it was destroyed in fire when the Minotaur attacked,” The little ward gently replied. “Are you not from here as well, noble sir?” She inquired.

[ameliasmaze]

Out of Place || Amelia & Open.

It was not the first that that Amelia Fulton was at the Keep, but it all seemed so different than the last time she was there with the Odells. She has heard what has happened with the town -- the resurrection of the dead, the destruction of the city and, now, the fall of the Vitello house. It was all a bit too much for her to digest and, looking around herself, she has noticed how much everything has changed. How -- twisted it all looked. Like it was another dimension, another town in place of the old one.

It was a little unsettling, but the little ward kept her gentle smile on her face as she walked around, searching for something to distract her before she gathers her courage to visit her betrothed in the cell he was kept in. Reading seemed like a good idea and, noticing the first person who did not look like they would murder her on sight, she made her way towards them and gently tapped them on the shoulder to catch their attention.

“Excuse me! Would you be so kind to appoint me in the direction of the library, please? The Keep has changed so much since I was last here and I would not like to get lost in search for it.”

[cyra-langden]

Cyra was distressed. Yes, she was right, again, but this time she had no one to tell. No one who would believe in her prophecies and, even though part of her was content with how Asa’s lies about her turned out, she wanted for people to believe her. She was sitting in a tavern, a one that was surprisingly deserted for such an occasion and hour,  sipping on her dark ale, lost in thought.

It wasn’t until she felt and heard someone sit next to her, that she snapped out of her thought, but still refused to acknowledge the other’s presence, completely determined to speak to no one and deal with no one that day.

[ameliasmaze]

When the news about her betrothed’s imprisonment reached her, Amelia was more than distressed and heartbroken. That being said, she was fully aware she needed a drink ( and to visit him, of course, but somehow alcohol got the upper hand at the moment ) and that was how the young ward has found herself in an empty tavern, save a red haired woman sitting by the bar.

Amelia made her was towards her and, as the woman seemed to not notice her, the young blonde spoke softly.

“Excuse me, would you mind if I joined you?”

[bloodied-historian]

Ever since she publicly proclaimed she was not loyal to the Vitello family, she was left alone and now she was celebrating it with a drink, before she noticed someone, looking rather distressed, standing close by.  “Care to join me for a drink? You seem in a dire need of it, if I may be so bold.” Katherine gently proposed.

[ameliasmaze]

Amelia was not overly fond of alcohol, but in midst of such horrible and dreadful events, the ones which had her dearest fiance imprisoned in a cell, she has decided that one drink would do her no harm. She had walked through the city in search of a decent tavern and, upon finding one, the young ward entered, her eyes quickly rounding the place. She has found an empty spot next to a brunette and made her way towards her, excusing herself to everyone she accidentally bumped on her way towards the bar.

Placing her hands on the counter, she waited for barkeep to notice her, when the brunette spoke. Amelia felt a small smile curl her lips as she turned to her.

“That would be very kind of you, thank you. I have, indeed, come here for a drink.”

[borgias-lucrezia-blog]