sophiexholden

roma★

blake kathryn
we're not kids anymore.

if i look back, i am lost

⁂
Not today Justin
Sade Olutola
RMH

ellievsbear
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
hello vonnie
Today's Document
YOU ARE THE REASON
Monterey Bay Aquarium
styofa doing anything

★
trying on a metaphor
Jules of Nature
$LAYYYTER
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@cordeliaarrington
sophiexholden
ooc | Romayne & Cordelia
romaynevitalis
oMGGGGGG I hadn’t even considered that arthur’s kill!stare is super legit since he literally just killed someone who was gonna move da moves on cordelia hahahahAHAHAHAH (ngl while arthur is mostly like NO ONE LOOK @ ME I DEF DID NOT DO IT part of him kinda wants to be all SEE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN U TRY TO GET WITH CORDELIA AND I’M NOT OKAY WITH IT BACK OFF ASSHOLES ;DDD)
alTHO tbh arthur’s death stare would probs only encourage romanye as well????? even if he knew how serious it was #facepalm
anyway, I think he’d love her spirit and her take on things (even if he can tell that she’s super naive and has no idea what is really going on). and tbh I feel like he’s probably going kinda stir crazy and isn’t allowed to go anywhere outside of the palace w/o permission from rowena so he’s probably also just super excited whenever new faces show up at the palace just to mix things up a little haha
When you literally overkill to keep your lil sis innocent ;DDDDDDD Honestly, Cordelia causes so much trouble and has no earthly idea smdh part of him wants to be like THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS lkfjlksdjfkljKLFJ;KDSJLFJ IM YELLING (so is Cordelia she just doesn’t know ;DDDD)
IT WOULD ONLY ENCOURAGE ROMAYNE I CHOKED Cordelia is like ‘there is literally no downside to this relationship’ *arthur tries to murder romyane* cordelia: ‘wow who could have possibly foreseen this wild turn of events?????’
ISN’T ALLOWED TO GO ANYWHERE poor romayne they’re not even marRIED yet and she’s already putting the shackles on #goodtimes Honestly Cordelia has no! earthly! clue! that’s what’s going on for him she’s just like ‘we’re just having fun nbd’ but she will def start pestering Arthur that they need to take a trip to the Southern Isles bc???? they sound like they geT what life should be like in Cordelia’s book smh Also that awkward moment when she tries to get Romayne to go somewhere w her *fire emojis*
ooc | Will & Cordelia
I feel like Will and Cordelia would flirt with each other all the time? But it would also be super harmless probs on both sides, so all in all, just goes on better than Will x Evie lol (altho arthur still gives will the stink eye but will doesn’t notice)
I 100% agree!!! I feel like there’s probs constant flirtation going on when they see each other but I doubt they think of each other much when they aren’t together or anything and yeah hahaha Cordelia def doesn’t mean anything by it at all????? Honestly Will and Cordelia’s style of flirting is what Cordelia generally thinks is happening when she’s flirting????? #facepalm
All that being said, esp bc they’re on the same page, I can potentially see them being friends. I mean, idk that they’d be super close or anything, but I feel like they def have a similar worldview and set of interests etc that would help them get along, even when they aren’t flirting hahaha
Dragonflies | Cordelia & Dmitrei
dmitreimassard
“I do a great many things that I have been warned against doing,” He said, teasingly. “And what, might I ask, are you doing wandering about all alone so very near the spot where a man’s very life was taken from him?” He asked, “Alexandir Godiva is kept under lock and key, yes, but have you considered that there may have been an accomplice to his crimes? That very person could have taken you by surprise, just as I have,” He said, resisting the urge to smile at her once more, “If I may, allow me to accompany you on the rest of your tour of the gardens,” He said, “I would surely not be much use against the man who was able to kill such a warrior as Jon Valles, but if it just the mastermind behind the crime, perhaps we might be able to outwit him together.”
Dmitrei exhaled, shaking his head, “If I knew the answer to that question, I would do it myself. No one deserves to have such a thing happen to them, but your cousin perhaps least of all. She is as fairer than even the brightest of these roses, both in appearance and character.” She had the allure of the soft petals, which hid her sharp thorns underneath that would pierce you as you tried to take it for yourself.
“You must forgive me for my remark about your safety,” He said, “I hope it did not make you uneasy. I will agree that it may not have been Alexandir Godiva, and that the man responsible may still be on the loose … but, I do not think that there is a safer place in all of Aragoth than here.” He said, “Your cousin, the Queen, has taken every precaution, as has your aunt and brother. What happened to Jon Valles, will not happen to anyone else. Still, I do think it would be wise to exercise some extra caution until it is resolved, but I should not worry if I were you.”
“It very well might have been the pirate,” Dmitrei said, “He seems to delight in both causing trouble and making poor decisions.” He paused, “But, whatever the truth, I’m sure we can trust the Queen to find it.”
“How very shocking!” teased Cordelia with a bright smile. “Whatever shall we do with you, my lord?” Arching her brows, Cordelia turned towards him proudly. “I am not afraid!” she declared in a tone very convincing for someone who had just jumped at the sound of a nearby footfall. “Not with you here by my side, Lord Massard. I don’t believe anyone should be witless enough to attack the both of us: a member of the queen’s own council and her niece beneath her very window!” She paused. “Besides, we are much more pleasant than poor Lord Valles ever was. Who would ever want to harm us?”
That Jon Valles had provoked Alexandir Godiva, and that Alexandir Godiva had provoked Jon Valles, could not possibly be called into question. It was a fact, witnessed by half the court, and indisputable for all that. Whether further provocation had occurred - or vengeance simply taken - was less sure, but there seemed no one more likely. Even if Alexandir had murdered Jon, Cordelia didn’t much blame him. Naturally, the Queen could not overlook a murder and some slap on the wrist would need to be administered: perhaps she would give Raimbeaucourt or Evie elsewhere, perhaps Alexandir would be kept under house arrest for some time...Nothing was clear, but as murders went, killing a man like Jon Valles didn’t seem so very awful after all.
“Is there a particular accomplice you suspect?” inquired Cordelia in a conspiratorial tone. “You’d not keep such a thing from me, would you, my lord?” she added with a soft smile. “Our friendship is much too important for the keeping of any such secrets, I’m sure.” Folding her arm into his, she smiled brightly. “I should be very glad of a gallant companion,” she replied. “One cannot be too careful in such circumstances, but I shall feel very safe indeed in the company of the cleverest man in Aragoth.”
Her spirits, kept artificially high by the social necessity of conversation and distraction, dipped again at the thought of Lynessa’s misery. It puzzled her how such a wonderful woman might be so easily and all-consumingly ensnared by such a blackguard, but her regard could not possibly be questioned, now. “That is so,” agreed Cordelia. “She has all the beauty of both her native Houses.” Cordelia’s Aunt Avelina was fond of saying how very great the resemblance was between Lynessa and Nycole Arrington of old, but Cordelia didn’t think it could be so exact as her aunt insisted. The descriptions did sound right, but one could never say for certain after so many centuries. Still, it was a comparison Avelina had always proved eager to draw.
“It is not you,” assured Cordelia. “I confess I am...agitated, but if there is a fault in it, it is owing to my own anxiety over Lynessa,” she paused, before going on. “And if anyone has been stirring me up, well, I’ll own Arthur has me rather in a state, as well. I think he fears greatly that, rather than Jon, it might have been I who was killed. Which is ridiculous...Jon had a great many enemies, but who on earth should want me dead I can’t for the world imagine!” she declared, naively. “He has been most affected by the events, certainly. I suppose he feels a bit responsible for our cousins, as he is the head of House Arrington, but I really don’t see what on earth poor Arthur could have done to prevent this heinous murder,” she added, insensible of the irony in her words.
Cordelia’s eyes widened. It made a great deal of sense to her that it should be this James Garin. After all, he’d proven himself an enemy of House Beaumont. Why not steal one sister and murder the bridegroom of another? This was, she had always been told, the nature of criminals: to seek out evil and perpetrate it. “How awful! For first one sister and then the other to suffer so cruelly at his hands. I am grateful he was stopped before he could exact such a toll upon my aunt or Evie!” she paused, and this time spoke in all seriousness. “Perhaps it was he who was my lord the Duke’s accomplice! Perhaps it was he who put the idea into his head!” There was, after all, nothing more sinister than a pirate.
Come to the Window | Roran & Cordelia
rorandegrey
“I didn’t think it’d break through,” He confessed, “Seems I didn’t know my own strength,” He added, raising his eyebrows as he grinned at her. But his smile fell when she mentioned that they might be skinned alive if they were seen. It sounded an exaggeration, but if what Alaric had told them all about the Arringtons the night the dragons and their riders fell, he decided to put more faith in those words. If the Lord of this castle truly had killed his very parents, what might he do to him for breaking a window to try to steal away one of his servant girls for the evening?
Perhaps that thought alone should have been enough for him to abandon his plan completely, but instead he simply followed her under the cover of the trees.
“I was trying to get your attention.” He said, “I was going to sneak in the castle, but I saw you at the window and thought it would be more efficient,” He tried to smile, but then he added, “ – you won’t be to blame for that, will you?” He asked. If she would be, then he knew that he’d come forward and take responsibility and that that would be the end of his uncle letting him out of his sight. That is, if he made it out of here alive … if Lord Arrington did not kill him for this, then Charles DeGrey would.
“Will you be missed if you leave for an hour or so?” He asked, “My uncle and my friends – we’re having a little feast at our camp in the woods and, well, would you like to meet them?” It sounded silly when he said it aloud. Still, he wanted her to meet everyone and what better time then now, when they would all be together? He hadn’t exactly told anyone that he had made a friend, but he didn’t think they’d mind: it wasn’t as if they would discuss any secret plans while she was with them and as long as Arya stayed in the woods, he didn’t see the harm in it.
As he joked with her, Cordelia tried to look self-possessed, but ended up grinning back. There was an artless air to Roran, utterly unstudied, that was wonderfully refreshing. Perhaps he was not so polished a flirt as Romayne Vitalis or as cultivated a one as Dmitrei Massard, but Cordelia trusted Roran more, which meant the flirtation was more real. Of course, Cordelia wasn’t looking for anything, really, save a little excitement (she knew what to expect from her life too well to look for much more than that, but what could be more exciting than sneaking off under false names for a forbidden adventure?), but it was a flattering thought nonetheless.
“Well,” she replied, coquettishly. “You have my attention.” She laughed when he spoke of efficiency. “I daresay you were correct in that. I can’t seem to dream up a much more immediate approach,” she teased. “Short of climbing the walls yourself which...would be a terrible plan.”
Fain was nothing if not ostentatious and, short of the Imperial Palace, was the largest hall in the East. Unlike the other royal family of Aragoth, House Arrington was keen to publish its glories, something it did at every opportunity. No sooner did one leave the main road to the path which led to the entrance of Fain than one encountered twin lions on either side of the road, their plinths almost as tall as a man on horseback, the lions themselves stretching on and on and on. As a child, Cordelia used to climb a nearby tree and climb onto their stone backs, playing all across the breadth of them. These greeting lions were so far from Fain, itself, as to be out of view of the castle, and that was only the beginning. An effort to climb Fain would be foolish in the extreme and was, thus, something she mentioned an alternative too ridiculous to entertain.
Though Cordelia was doing her best to appear statuesque and beatific, she couldn’t help coloring at that, said with such impulsive sweetness. “No,” she assured him in a low tone, biting her lip to conceal its smiles. “I won’t be held accountable for that. Everyone thinks it was some poor bird that flew through the glass. No one will be held to blame.”
What he offered sounded perfectly delightful and Cordelia made no more effort to conceal her smile. How exciting, to eat in the woods, to meet new people! It sounded like something from a legend, and Cordelia was determined not to turn up any opportunity that resembled one. “I should be delighted!” she replied, happily. “I doubt as I shall be missed at all till my broth-” she cleared her throat, shrugged. “Till my brother has need of me.” Since her brother was Lord Arrington, she’d hesitated to mention him at the last moment but, realizing Cora might well have a brother as well, she decided to say as much, nevertheless. “That shouldn’t be till my Lord the Duke thinks to retire this evening,” she clarified with a shrug. “Is it very far? I’m sure we could borrow some horses, if we like...”
ooc | Romayne & Cordelia
will def flirt with cordelia even after arthur gives him the kill!stare
Honestly Cordelia is the same and Arthur’s kill stare will probably only encourage her tbh (given that…she doesn’t know that he’s literally actually murdered someone yknow)!! She’s always a lil rebellious but esp now that everyone’s freaking out bc of Celia and Jon she’s like I DO WHAT I WANT smdh
Anyway I think she would genuinely enjoy Romayne’s pov on things!!!!!!! He’s so new and exciting!!!!!! And she’d love to live in the freer world he describes!!!!! Not having any experience of the reality of it she totally idealizes what he hears and!!!! excitement!!!!! She wants to live like that (aka her perception of how that’d be hahaha) and she’d be all Morris moss voice: ‘every value I’ve ever held is being questioned and im loving it!’ Smdh she’s like 'I’m so glad we’re going to be cousins! We’ll have so much to talk about!’ And meanwhile the entire house of arrington is screaming hahaha
White Walls | Cordelia & Celia
celiabeaumont
Celia ran, quickly as she could, to meet her cousin. Wrapping her arms tightly around her, she pulled her into an embrace. “I was worried about you, too.” She said. The castle wasn’t the only place for rumors: the small towns and villages were full of them, too, and it seemed that the noble families of Aragoth never stopped providing them with things to gossip about. Half of the things Celia heard on their journey she didn’t believe at all, and others she certainly didn’t care to (such as her sister marrying Valles) but that hadn’t stopped her from being concerned for her loved ones back at home.
“But, as you can see, I am unharmed,” She promised, smiling as she pulled away.
She laughed when Cordelia told her what she had heard. James Garin wanting to be king was perhaps the most absurd things she could think of! She imagined that he’d hate every minute of it. “No, he had no such plans,” She said, grinning, “And he certainly didn’t try to marry me. Thank the gods for that. He wanted the ransom and nothing more.”
Cordelia asked her to tell her everything, but the truth was, Celia didn’t know where to begin and for the first time in their relationship, she wondered how much she ought to say. Celia had always been an open book when it came to Cordelia: she shared her inner most secrets with her without even a second thought. But there was much to say about what she had seen and some of it may sound traitorous when she spoke it aloud. She thought about how she might have reacted to such information (how she did react when James first tried to tell her of it!) and in the end, she settled on saving the condition of Aragoth for later.
And then there was the issue of Loys Mortain and discovering that James was Loys and Loys was someone much different. She hadn’t yet told her mother this (eventually she would discover that something was amiss, the moment she met the real Loys, but for now she figured that telling her that James had met her before, deceived and then stolen from her, causing her to agree to marry a man she thought was someone else, would not help his case).
“I – I don’t know where to begin.” She confessed, “So much has happened.”
“Worried about me,” teased Cordelia, still half-serious. “Don’t be silly. Why, what on earth would happen to me, here?” Yet, if Celia’s ordeal had proven anything, it was that anything could happen to anyone. Still, Cordelia had never been one to relent to melancholy if faced with any other option at all.
“Thank all the gods for that!” exclaimed Cordelia, smiling through the afterglow of her own worry. She could hardly believe the blessing of Celia’s safe return...just as she could hardly believe the horror of her having been stolen away in the first place.
“I am very relieved to hear it! That blackguard doesn’t deserve you, little less to usurp our wonderful cousin! In fact, I can think of hardly a soul living less deserving!” After all, to have stolen Celia away, he must have been even worse than Jon Valles - and Cordelia could hardly even picture so odious a villain! “I heard your mother put a stop to his ambitions, and good thing too. He must be the worst man in all of Aragoth! You must have been terrified!” Taking Celia’s hands in her own, she squeezed them in an effort to give some encouragement.
“Well,” Cordelia mused aloud. “I suppose you could begin at the start of it all. I suppose it must have been quite a shock, indeed, to see one man take down your entire guard! Certainly, though, he wasn’t alone then, certainly he had some help...”
OOC | Cordelia & Orella
As I said in my post from Cordelia to Symon, Cordelia was v accustomed to riding out to the West to visit her cousin, Helena, back in the day. While I don’t think she was ever robbed (bc if she had been I have a feeling her brother wouldn’t let her continue to ride about so freely) - or at least never ADMITTED to being robbed ;DDDDD - do you think she and Orella might have ever met?
OOC | Cordelia & Symon
This is Cordelia Arrington, one of the many cousins to the Queen, and therefore one of the many heirs to her uncertain throne. Cordelia is cheerful, willful, and generous, but spoiled and kept innocent of what’s ~really going down in Aragoth by those around her. Anyway, when her cousin, Helena, lived in the West, Cordelia would v often ride out there to visit her. Do you think she and Symon might have met, at that time?
Keep It Secret | Cordelia & Guinevere
guineverefontaine
Guin grinned, “I’m always surprised to see anyone else, myself,” She admitted. Surprised was, perhaps, an understatement. Hearing another step in the tunnels often made her worry as to who they belonged to. So far, she had never come across anyone else but Cordelia, but she was certain that they were not the only ones who knew about these passageways. Cordelia had even told her that Celia, at least, knew.
“I’m glad to hear it! Still, I would be glad of your guidance and company.” She was, of course, happy to chat with Cordelia but if they were caught by someone else, now it seemed much less suspicious that Guin was down that at all and she relaxed some.
“I only saw Evie,” She confessed, “She is well, but … I think she is worried for both her sisters.”
Guin did not know Lynessa Beaumont well, but she worried for her, too. She would make an effort to get to know her after the wedding – they would be cousins after all – but until then it seemed she and her mother were always busy with preparations. Although Guin wasn’t sure that any amount of planning would be enough to ready her for her husband to be.
Guin smiled softly, “Indeed, he is. One cannot blame him.” She added. She loved her sisters and cousin, dearly. And she supposed, if she were Arthur she would have a hard time choosing amongst them, as well. Still, that did not mean she liked him any better for it. She wondered if he didn’t mean to marry any of them, at all.
“That is true,” She said, “And yet, for all his constancy, I’m not sure I’ve been able to make him smile,” She said, teasingly.
“Oh, yes,” agreed Cordelia. “It always startles me! I never expect to see anyone here. And when I do, I always feel almost as though I’ve been caught doing something quite naughty,” she laughed, having no idea that Guinevere felt the same way...because she was.
"Good,” replied Cordelia, good-naturedly. “These passageways are much more pleasant with company, anyway. Not that I’d be alone with just Aegor,” she added, grinning towards the horse as though he were in on the joke that he was an animal and she was not. “Companionship is always welcome.”
Glancing away for a moment, Cordelia nodded. She tried to construct a cheerful reaction, but found no way to pull it off. She smiled, a little sadly. “She has reason to be,” she admitted, softly. “Lynessa is most piteously grieved, and Celia...” She bit her lip. “Celia seems unhappily changed by the event. She no longer has that peace about her she once possessed...Natural, given what she’s been through but...tragic.” Celia, of course, had seen the world and was no longer so innocent of the truth as her cousins, but not realizing this, Cordelia mistook her newfound wisdom for misplaced anxiety, having been kidnapped. “We must all do our utmost to assure her that, at last, she is safe.”
She paused, thinking of Guinevere’s situation. “I’m so very sorry about your father and your cousin,” she added in a low voice. “I never knew my father, but...I cannot imagine how cruel a loss it must be to those who know that joy. Certainly, I can’t imagine loosing Arthur.” She paused. She did not know what to say about Jon Valles. She’d not cared for him, herself, but he had been Guinevere’s cousin. If anyone had ever seen goodness in him, Cordelia felt sure, it must be the Fontaines. “And my cousins are my dearest friends. To loose them...It’s all so awful for you...”
As she said that one could not blame Arthur for his...interest in her sisters and cousin, Cordelia glanced away. It seemed she was not the only one made uneasy by the whole thing, but she didn’t have the desire to speak anything against her brother. Instead she said, “Whoever he chooses will be someday one of the greatest ladies in all of Aragoth. One cannot fault him for being careful in his selection, I suppose. It must be difficult to have to make such a choice, especially knowing its consequences against the ones you love.”
Laughing aloud when Guinevere mentioned Cassius, Cordelia arched a brow. “I wouldn’t blame myself, if I were you. I’m not entirely convinced Sir Cassius knows how to smile, little less laugh.” She paused. “Once, I saw him sneer at Lord Massard. I have a feeling that’s about as close as he comes to either.”
Sansa Stark: It’s just that… you’re intelligent and cultured…and kind.
Petyr Baelish: My dear, you’re young so I realize that you’re a poor judge of character.
Written in Water | Cordelia & Helena
Recently events had Cordelia deeply unsettled. Going to the palace, she sought out her most rational cousin.
“Ugh, I don’t know what to do about all this!” exclaimed Cordelia, throwing up her hands. “I just want it to be all right. For everyone. How awful that our home is consumed by this terror and sadness. And poor Celia and Lynessa! They deserve only the best, how have they come to receive the worst? And how can anyone complain so bitterly that your uncle murdered Jon Valles? It is all so preposterous! Of course murder is wrong,” she added quickly. “And I am dreadfully sorry for poor Lynessa, but..” she bit her lip, whispering. It was wretched, she knew, to speak ill of the dead, but... “Jon Valles was a terrible person. Surely you don’t believe he’s guilty, really, do you? I won’t be half surprised if Jon attacked him and Alexandir was simply forced to defend himself!” Cordelia didn’t care for Alexandir as much as she might, but the whole thing was quite blown out of proportion. Alexandir wasn’t a terrible person, though she didn’t quite trust him - Dmitrei and Aunt Avelina had warned him against her against him too many times for Cordelia to be so naive as that - but to put up a hue and cry over someone nobody liked anyway as though Alexandir were now the demon god himself incarnate for such an act...It was all so ludicrous.
Cordelia had lived her whole life in spoiled pleasure. All these events so soon upon each other, causing her family to turn on itself, was utterly unthinkable to her just a week earlier. Cordelia was spoiled, but she was generous too, and she only wanted to fix the whole thing - which she was certain was all a great misunderstanding - for everyone and go back to the way things had been. How anyone was caught up in the madness enough to actually believe it baffled Cordelia and she looked forward to its happy conclusion.
“Was it ever like this at Vysova?” inquired Cordelia, listlessly, throwing herself backwards onto the bed to stare at the ceiling. She rolled over to face Helena. She was tired of all this. She wanted it to be over already. Inactivity irritated and stifled her and, seeing that there was nothing she could do about it was endlessly frustrating. The talk felt pointless unless there was something it could achieve. She told herself there was - because of course it was all so absurd and everyone must see that - but it was so hard to crawl out from under it all.
“Tell me something happy, Helena,” requested Cordelia. “Were there any young men whose hearts your broke back in the west when you left? You must have enchanted them all! Did any of them catch your attention, though?”
At Large | Cordelia & Arthur
“Oh, poor dear Lynessa!” lamented Cordelia. She didn’t understand the love Lynessa had for Jon Valles, but she knew good and well that it was there (whatever strange cause there might be for it). She couldn’t imagine the suffering Lynessa must be enduring. Still her mournful cries at the news haunted Cordelia. She didn’t think she could ever forget them.
“I wish there were something we could do!” Cordelia bit her lip, trying to think of some form of comfort they might offer. She could think of nothing but paltry gifts, and what were gifts to a husband lost? Murdered, no less! And on their wedding day to boot!
“I cannot believe,” she began, thoughtfully, “That Alexandir could possibly have murdered Jon Valles! Killed, yes, but murdered...Surely Jon must have done something, attacked him perhaps...Arthur, you are the Duke of Fain. You have a great deal of influence. You should speak out on his behalf. The people know you could never deceive a soul. If they know you believe in his innocence, they will be guided by you, they’ll believe you, and justice will have its day! Instead of this loathsome fear-mongering! As if Jon Valles were such a great loss anyway.” She sighed. Cordelia detested the idea of injustice, little less a miscarriage of it, especially against someone she knew personally.
“Besides, there is the possibility, however remote, that Alexandir did not kill Jon.” She bit her lip. “But if he did not do it,” she asked the air. “Who did?” There was no answer to her question, and she did not expect one, but the idea frightened her. “Arthur, you must be safe. If someone is targeting the Arringtons, surely you will be the greatest target of all!” she declared. “We must not let this stand. For all our sakes, the killer must be found.”
Her mind made up that this issue must be resolved quickly, for the sake of all her family, she continued. “It can only serve Aragoth’s interests to do the right thing, dear brother.” She paused, trying to read Arthur’s expression. “Surely you do not believe Alexandir Godiva to be a murderer? It’s unthinkable, impossible! I’ve known him my whole life, brother. He is no murderer.”
Wind in Willows | Cordelia & Kate
The wind streamed in thick gusts through Cordelia’s copper hair as she road, heedless of how it tugged and pulled at the intricate updo her ladies had fashioned. It was for the best, anyway. Today, she was not Cordelia of the Royal House of Arrington: today, she was Cora, maid to Cordelia of the Royal House of Arrington. She went incognito, as one of them, amongst her new friends, and the adventure of it excited her. She admired and valued and enjoyed these people, and so far none had come to suspect, as far as she knew, the truth of her identity.
Cordelia loved nothing more than horseriding. Aegor’s hooves raked the road from Fain to the village with instinctive power, Cordelia grinning widely as she gave him his head and road at full pace, her skirts billowing behind her. She never felt more alive than when she was riding.
As they came to town, she slowed her horse gently, all the way down to a walk, plodding politely through town. Her dress and hair were a mess, but she felt at peace somehow. It was nice, she found, to be a common girl rather than a great lady, every now and again. Raking her fingers through her unruly hair, she pulled it back into a more humble style as she rode, as befitted the more servile frock she’d “borrowed” from the closets, back home.
Lately, she’d made the acquaintance of Roran DeGrey, whom she quite liked, and he had introduced her to some of his friends, such as Kate Miller, the baker. Cordelia was very fond of Kate, and was very taken with the notion of a lady who worked and provided for herself. Riding to Kate’s shop, Cordelia dismounted and tied up her horse. In general, Cordelia found, she was more fond of the common folk than of the various petty nobles that peopled Rowena’s court. Here in town, there were more real people of substantial character to be found and Cordelia admired their honesty. She, of course, had no earthly idea that her new friends through Roran were all members of the resistance, hoping to overthrow Cordelia’s own cousin, Rowena...
“Good afternoon, Kate,” Cordelia called out affectionately as she entered the shop. “It is so very good to see you.” Cordelia, now Cora, wore a modest dress (compared to her own dresses as Lady Arrington), not dissimilar in style from the sort she often saw Kate wearing. It was comfortable and moved with her - something to wear for getting things done, something Cordelia found she quite liked about it.
“Have you any sweet loaves left so late in the day?” inquired Cordelia. “My lady of Fain has quite a fancy for them.”
Think of You | Cordelia & Lynessa
There was nothing she could do, of course. Lynessa’s husband was dead and her heart was broken, Cordelia knew, and there was no fixing that, but she hoped she could at least provide her solace. She had given her some time and space, but now that it was seemly, Cordelia went to pay her a visit. In truth, she didn’t know where to begin. What did you say to someone who had lost so much in such a horrible way? Especially when Cordelia herself had never much cared for Jon Valles...She wished to be neither hypocritical nor insensitive. Cordelia just wanted to help.
Ravenwood was a beautiful castle, built first by the Young Dragon, King Sebastyan Godiva, for his mother, a Beaumont, and good siblings. Cordelia loved the romantic histories, which is why it gave her heart a twist to see the towers, now twisted by the heat of dragonfire during the Purge of the Dragonriders. A cruelty, a shame.
Cordelia supposed that was one positive that had come from Jon’s life: he had helped Rowena and Cassius ferret out Dragonrider supporters and end them. Cordelia, herself, and her cousins might be dead, now, had they not. Perhaps that was why Lynessa loved Jon: in a way, he had helped save her life and the lives of her family. Cordelia decided to bear this in mind as she comforted Lynessa. It would be easier if she bore in mind the good.
As soon as she saw Lynessa, Cordelia went up to her and embraced her. She had always admired and loved her cousin: always wanting to be like her. As a child, she would follow Lynessa around, taking in every little thing she did. Now, she tried to keep in mind the things Lynessa had taught her, and be the best person and most noble lady she could. Cordelia had grown up without a mother, certainly, but she had had Lynessa there, near as close as an older sister, to help shape her. Now, she hoped to be of use to her.
“Oh, darling Lynessa, I cannot begin to imagine how you must feel,” she said, hugging her tightly before pulling back just a bit. Jon never deserved you, she thought earnestly, but she didn’t say it. Besides, who on earth possibly could deserve kind, generous Lynessa? Certainly not Jon, she thought uncharitably. Cordelia took both Lynessa’s hands in her own. “And then that beastly Dalmas comes along, trying to claim what little you have left of him! It’s too cruel!” cried Cordelia. “There must be something I can do. Tell me, dear Lynessa, how can I help you?”
White Walls | Cordelia & Celia
“Celia!” exclaimed Cordelia, racing across the courtyard to envelope her cousin her arms (and almost knocking her down). “Celia, Celia!” she exclaimed, hugging her tight before releasing her to step back and look at her. “There were so many rumors that you were hurt...or worse! We were so worried! It must have been so harrowing!” Or exciting, thought Cordelia, but it struck her as unfeeling to say when she didn’t know which it had been.
“Oh,” she hugged her again, more relieved than words could express to have her home and safe again. “I’m so glad you’re safe!” She felt like crying but she must be strong for Celia. Holding back the tears that rimmed her eyes, Cordelia didn’t let go for a time.
Taking her hand, Cordelia led Celia to the closest bench and sat beside her eagerly. “You must tell me everything,” she said seriously. She could only know how best to help when she knew the whole truth. “I heard your mother imprisoned that beast of a pirate who carried you off! Well done,” she added, congratulatory. “She said it was treason,” she added conspiratorially. “Since you’re in line for the throne. Did he really try to force you to marry him and declare him king?” Wild rumors abounded. She gasped in horror. “Did he succeed? If so, you mustn’t worry, dearest Celia, that’s no legal union. Rowena will soon have it all cleared up. No harm will ever come to you on its account.”
She squeezed her cousin’s hand affectionately, hoping to help strengthen her in a difficult time, if she needed it. The Beaumonts had known too much tragedy of late and Cordelia was determined to do all in her power to alleviate any portion of the hurt. She only wished there was more she could do. But Cordelia felt powerless, a feeling she detested more than any other, especially when she was unable to help the people she loved.