lay down your swords.

king augustus erik gustavsson. xxiv. ❝ --- and the pale king glanced across the field of battle: but no man was moving there; nor any cry of christian heard thereon, nor yet of heathen; only the wan wave brake in among dead faces, to and fro swaying the helpless hands, and up and down tumbling the hollow helmets of the fallen...

[catherinewindsor-blog]

i’m a sheep. made a MUMU for my three muses to help cut the clutter out and clean things up. i sent it in to the main, but please FOLLOW HERE !!! i will have catherine, augustus, and alexandra here. 

[augustuserik-blog]

hvpelesskingdoms:

           ‘ well, i am glad. it is a valuable language to learn, but then again – i am biased. ’ karina responded wistfully, for once caught up in the nostalgia of home. there was much to be missed with. but having all her family here in bern lessened the feeling. tossing her curls over her shoulders, the princess kept her gaze locked on augustus until the very last moment when he directed her attention to the sky. her oceanic gaze flickered upward, searching for the constellation, a wide smile overtaking her face when she finally noticed it.

           ‘ yes, i see. ’ the russian piped up earnestly. she’d always found astronomy fascinating, but her governess had preferred to focus on more academic lessons. 

          ‘ would you care to join me ? ’

“only slightly. i, however, am not. and i do agree-- it is valuable. especially when the members of russia’s royal family are such pleasures to be around.” a smile was directed towards the princess for a lingering moment before the king took an apple out of his pocket and bit into the rich red fruit. smile only widened when karina recognized the constellation he had pointed out, glad that the beauty of the star formation could be seen by another. 

“i have always loved the constellations with stories behind them,” augustus remarked. “it would be an honor-- if you don’t mind?” the king asked. “i hate to disturb your escape, if that was what you were seeking.”

[hollatom]

[augustuserik-blog]

hvpelesskingdoms:

     karina lifted her head in surprise at the sound of a familiar voice, but not one that she would expect to hear russian from. her piercing gaze landed on augustus and a small smile appeared, running her fingers through her hair to rid herself of the grass that had likely appeared. ‘ i did not know you spoke russian. ’ the blonde piped up, always pleased to hear her native tongue. it made her nostalgic for home, though she had found much to enjoy in bern.

          ‘ it is a lovely night, isn’t it ? ’ her question was genuine, though her eager gaze returned to the sky as to not miss anything.

eyebrows raised at her words, a glimmering look of teasing mystery behind his eyes as he met hers. “there is a lot you don’t know about me, принцесса.” he smiled lightly. augustus looked to the sky, continuing to watch the twinkling stars above. “i’ve learned it since i was young. my father believed it was a valuable language to know.” the former king had insisted on augustus’ education being complete in every way. languages, classics, history-- astronomy. 

“it is.” augustus agreed, nodding. indeed, the air was warm, but a cool breeze laughed against his cheeks on occasion. the moon was clear and nearly full, and the wind rustled the leaves in the trees with a soothing melody. “i have always enjoyed looking at the night sky. see there?” augustus took a step closer to her, pointing towards the left. “orion. the hunter.”

[augustuserik-blog]

hvpelesskingdoms:

    what a sight it must have been – the russian princess, dressed in her usual bests, sprawled across the grass. there had been so much stress going on as of late ; she felt so grateful for the moment to breathe and focus on the present. for once, she was not concerned about keeping her dress or hair pristine. she simply wanted to watch the stars and drink the bottle of wine that she’d stolen.

           ‘ Падающая звезда ! ’ karina gasped, a pale hand shooting up to point at the sight.

always wandering. a RESTLESS soul at times, augustus had taken to the grounds to get away from the bustle of the castle. although he had been invited to partake in the usual drinks with other men of court, the king felt he needed time away from the routine gathering. some time outdoors always did the soul well-- a belief held close to the hearts of swedes, who cherished their land. 

at the sound of a very familiar voice calling out shooting star, augustus looked skyward, a smile of WONDER subconsciously arising on his regal features. “потрясающий.” quick to adopt the tongue of the princess, he turned to her with a warm expression, lit with awe. “какой вид.” not just the star, but also the image before him, a princess with a bottle of wine beneath the night sky. 

[augustuserik-blog]

i’m just going to go ahead and do a starter call because i haven’t been able to think of any open starters for any of my muses. they’ll be short n’ sweet, but ! like this if you’d like one from augustus, king of sweden. i’ll message you beforehand to see if you wanna plot something or do something in particular !! i need more plots / connections for augustus in particular so i’d love to do that if ur down?? pls ily all 

[augustuserik-blog]

silverthorns:

“Yes, I do realize I look like a fool. No, I do not need it pointed out to me,” the Prince said with a blank expression, fed up with the foreign court already considering his latest ‘fashion’ statement. “I was so kind as to allow a new clothier from this kingdom dress me this morn, and have come to regret being kind altogether. Apparently, he was a fan of dramatic colors. I did not know this going in, and have come out understanding what it is like being a peacock instead. Unless you have a remedy for this situation, I’d rather sulk off for the rest of the day.”

augustus was at a LOSS for words. on one hand, the outfit was not in his particular taste, but he knew it was considered stylish in some courts. swedes had always been a bit more conservative when it came to STYLE, however, and the other royal’s colors contrasted the deep navies and golds worn by the swedish king. “a FOOL is a little strong. i was not going to call you such, either,” he began carefully. “you’ve gained the knowledge of something through the experience,” the king shrugged, a bemused expression barely veiled on his face. “i am sure i could find you something else to wear if you’d like? i have access to the wardrobes, of course, of all my staff and advisors. my people are generally less FORWARD in their manner of dress,” augustus offered. “in order to save you from sulking through an entire day.”

[thecrownshq]

IT’S HONESTY HOUR THURSDAY!!

please reblog this post to show that you’re participating in honesty hour and the admins (and members ) will send you some questions !! ANON OR NOT, YOU MUST ANSWER EVERY QUESTION IN YOUR INBOX !!

[augustuserik-blog]

hvpelesskingdoms:

     the princess had gotten quite good at sneaking in and out of the castle at her leisure. while some looked at her and saw only daintiness, those who truly knew her knew that karina was not afraid of a challenge – whether it was a stroll in the the night time or scaling the side of the wall to gracefully slip through a window ( both of which she presently completed ). once her feet landed on the castle tiles, the blonde smiled in self-satisfaction, carefully inspecting her dress for any dirt or tears before she caught a shadow in her peripheral.

          ‘ o, Боже ! ’

   augustus had a HABIT of wandering and pacing. the tendency had arisen during the war-- when he had served as a general, and strategies bounced back and forth in his mind, debates raging for hours on what decision to make that could change the course of the war for his COUNTRY. every decision the young king made weighed heavily on his mind; wandering by nighfall and candlelight was a means of relieving and thinking on it, even just for a while. thoughts were interrupted, though, as he noticed a FAMILIAR figure entering by way of a window ( UNCONVENTIONAL, to say the least ) into the castle. a questioning look crossed his face as he suppressed a small smile. “karina?” he asked. “i see you make windows into doors now.” his tone was amused, then rather curious. “it’s rather late to be out. not much to do at this hour.” 

[augustuserik-blog]

magnusgustv:

Dawn had broken, the cool air of the Swiss morning just warm enough to be bearable. Sat out on a large, tiled balcony, Magnus perched on the cold stone wall, eyes sweeping the misty landscape of the castle grounds. Fog rolled across the grass, the soft sunlight starting to break through it. He had been inside too much yesterday – wanting to feel the gentle breeze on his skin for at least a few minutes today. Hearing footsteps on the flagstones, he turned to see a figure,  nodding his head slightly in greeting. “Good morning. Care to sit?”

      augustus had been awake long before the sun had risen in bern. there were treaties to read over, alliances to consider, and advisors to consult-- and the young king was determined to do it all with aplomb. stomach growled as he exited one of the many studies in the castle, signaling his hunger just as he came up the steps, only to see his younger brother to his right. “ah. magnus,” augustus said, nodding in return. the king waved away his advisors, letting them continue on to the dining hall for the morning meal while he joined his brother. he took a seat beside magnus, settling with a small smile. “i quite like the sunrises here. i do see them often enough,” he commented. “not stockholm, though.” 

[augustuserik-blog]

lilianemarie:

––––––– 【✦✧✦】AS EXECUTION WAS MENTIONED, liliane bit her lips in quiet grief. she was, however, quick to regain her manners and greeted the young king most politely. ❛ your majesty. i am most glad to see that you are faring well since our last meeting. ❜ a sigh escaped her lips, then shook her head as soft wisps of hair followed her movements.  SHE UNDERSTOOD THE REASON behind the action. understanding didn’t equal acceptance, however. liliane did not agree with the way the action taken by the swiss king. especially when it’s obvious even to fools that those people were mere pawns. whatever the reason, liliane never fancied death. they reeked of memories of his brother’s bloodied uniform. ❛ we are supposed to gather here for peace. but all i’ve seen here are deaths. and more deaths. do you think people have forgotten the reason why we’re in swiss? ❜

the french lady appeared to be in good health, although she did seem to have an air of nervousness or discomfort about her. augustus paused for a moment before nodding to her and responding, “and the same to you, your grace.” he placed his hands behind his back, squaring his shoulders in an effort to exude confidence in such a crowd. 

augustus did not care to attend the execution, but he knew it would reflect poorly on his strength, character, and country to others if he did not, so he found himself standing in the square regardless of personal preference. he had seen plenty of death in his time. too much, for only twenty-four years. he had no desire to see any more. at her words, he pursed his lips, seeing the truth to them. “personally,” he began carefully. as a king, he spoke for a country, and as such, had to mind his speech. “i do not believe the path to peace should be lined with graves. blood was never used to clean a mess up,” he remarked. the young king sighed. “perhaps. most other heads of nations, though, appear to want peace. it is currents that run beneath them that fight against, though, it seems. people like these. i believe we must stop the deluge that causes such chaos at the source, wherever that may be.”

[augustuserik-blog]

kestrelbcy:

for @augustuserik

        “ a natural history, “ he read off the cover that was so lovingly presented at him. even if the most books in the library were german, or any other language he had difficulty with, there were just some comforts that could not be denied. old friends that hid in the pages. and of course, old friends that read them. augustus. the sort of name vas used to cry out in the middle of fields, with smiles on their lips, the kind of name that begun most letters. 

      the name that was now preceded by the word ‘king’. 

          “ read anything good lately ? ” he managed, hoping that there was no bridge to be built between their last letter and now. if there ever was, then let’s hope he’d managed to cross anyway. gus couldn’t have changed so much so soon. 

between book shelves and within crisp pages, augustus did not exist as a king (a foolish thought, his father would have reprimanded him, once you are a king, every movement is as a king) but as just augustus. simply soaking up the knowledge offered to him by writers, philosophers, and poets. and beside vasily, too-- he did not have to be king. indeed, he had grown up as just gus when play-fencing with each other. he hoped it would remain that way now, even after augustus had returned from fencing with steel instead of wooden toys. 

he strode up towards the aisle in which vasily stood, placing his hand beneath his chin thoughtfully as he considered the latest volumes which he had read. 

“john milton’s paradise lost,” he settled. “complex, fascinating. i read it on the journey from stockholm,” augustus explained, a smile warming on his lips at the sight of his old friend. “and you?” he asked. he extended a hand to shake by way of greeting, glad to be in familiar and easy company. “read anything good lately-- anything interesting happen lately, old friend?” he sighed. “it has been far too long.”

[augustuserik-blog]

yet another meeting in the name of alliances and peace had been conducted in a room filled with far too many people for augustus’ liking. discussions of a potential match between himself and karina romanov of russia had begun; it was an alliance that his advisors were strongly in favor of, due to the close proximity of the nations and russia’s sheer strength. and augustus saw the sense in it too-- saw what it could do for his people. karina was kind and beautiful, too, a friend, he would say, but-- selfishly, he sought another arrangement, allowed himself to hope to hold the hand of another. iris. 

he exited the chambers where he had been meeting with them all ( the swarm of swedish and russian advisors following him in his exit ) at precisely 5 o’clock in the evening, when he had arranged to meet the princess of swaziland in the main hall via letters sent through their couriers the day before. augustus had planned to have a basket of food sent ahead to the stables. he thought, perhaps, the two enjoy a leisurely ride together and dine on the shores of the clear blue lake not too far away. it was much easier to feel himself with her, and especially easy when away from the confines of the castle walls. 

the king prayed he was not being too forward, even after their last exchange. at the sight of iris, he moved forward to greet her, a quiet smile on his lips. 

“good evening, your grace,” augustus said, maintaining formalities in such a public space. “i’m quite grateful you could spare some time to pass with me.” he waved away his advisors, moving to walk with her to the doors, and leaving the castle. “i-- i had some ideas for how we might spend the evening?” he began. “would you be alright with a ride and to dine by the lake, my-- iris?” he caught himself on the formality, attaching her name to his question instead. “if not, just say the word and it will be forgotten.” @irisodoemene

[augustuserik-blog]

it had been a while since augustus had had the opportunity to visit france, but he remained fond of the country nonetheless. at the sight of the vaguely familiar lady in waiting from the nearby country, he moved to bid her good morning her with a warm smile. 

“my lady,” he greeted her kindly. “it has been some time since i have been able to pass time in the palace of france, but i do recall seeing you there,” he remarked. “it is always pleasant to see the face of an ally. especially in times tumultuous as these, even though it is ‘peace.’“ he sighed quietly. “the execution, i fear, does not assure me as much as it should.” @lilianemarie

[augustuserik-blog]

the king of sweden had done his best to meet with every other head of state that had come to bern for the negotiations. not only because it was in his very social nature, but because he wanted to make an impression-- to dispel any rumors that a young king of only twenty-four years might be weak, or easy to take advantage of. he was kind, yes, but he did not want others to think that meant they would be able to take anything from sweden. upon hearing word, then, that antonina, the queen of albania, had arrived in switzerland, he hoped he would be able to make her acquaintance; thankfully, fortune smiled down upon him as he exited the castle library, volumes of books in hand: the woman was seated only a few meters away. 

“your majesty,” augustus said, nodding his head respectfully. “i am pleased to make your acquaintance at last.” @ofconvicticns

[augustuserik-blog]

the announcement of the perpetrators of the arson in the swiss castle had sent the whole place buzzing again. every interaction, it seemed, was stained with the talks of it, but even augustus could not keep himself from talking about it. as he sat down in the dining hall with a glass of beer and a serving of food, he turned to the fair princess beside him, 

“my lady. i hope you have been faring well in these hectic times.” the king nodded towards her by way of greeting, before asking curiously: “what do you think of it all?” a tilt of the head accompanied his question. “i am afraid i am not exempt from the desire to discuss the matter.” @gcorgiana

[augustuserik-blog]

whenever he was in need of advice, there was a handful of people augustus considered seeking out-- always at the top of this list, however, was adelaide. the young woman was an invaluable source of knowledge and warmth to him, and she was almost the sister he had never had ( having been an only child ) growing up. so now, as the young king felt out of his depth in an area he normally was quite comfortable in ( no, not politics or battle, but romance ) he was on his way to speak to her and collect advice. augustus knocked on her door to quietly announce his presence. once it had been opened and they had exchanged greetings, he carefully posed his questions: 

“if you... were to receive a gift of flowers from someone. what sort would you like? and would you find receiving a bouquet--” he stumbled, running his tongue across his lips as he decided to just be forward with it. “would you like it, do you think?” @adelaidcsx