[forestborns]

alastair & nell

It was precisely at this point that all of her bravado from sneaking around all day vanished, or maybe it was the alcohol that had provided her with that boost. “Surprise!” Whispering softly for fear of attracting the attention of another, the look of guilt that was plastered across her face was the most she could muster as her heart started racing. Looking around like she just got caught doing something criminal, she was waiting for the other brother to pop up, as if just by saying his name Alastair had summoned him. “Sshhh, no one knows. And you can’t tell him either. Promise me you won’t tell him.” 

Thinking that she heard footsteps approaching in the hallway she fidgeted panicked, practically shoving him in the room as he unlocked it, shutting the door quickly behind her. “Yes thank you for rubbing it in. I know i’m not supposed to be here, but I cou…” Her words fell away as he threatened to let Calix discover the truth of her being here. “You wouldn’t dare. You’d do that to your own sweet little sister?” She was fully aware that she was laying it on thick, but she’d completely abandoned all senses as of now.

HE TRIED TO frown at her as the guilt started to appear on her face, but couldn’t help a warm smile from appearing on his lips. he was exasperated, and this was out of the ordinary behavior for his obedient little sister. “fine. but you better tell him soon, or else he’ll have both our heads.” that was a large overstatement, but alastair seemed to know only how to communicate in exaggeration. 

“my own SWEET little sister, yes. the same one who disobeyed orders to stay home, who is now sneaking around welkin doing god knows what. you’ve gone rogue, little nell.” he eyed her skeptically as he slumped into an armchair by the hearth, wine in hand. to be quite honest, he’d been jealous of her orders to stay home. he wanted nothing more than to be back in the forest, far away from uptight royals and watchful staff. “i thought there was only room for one mischievous regwyn. you’re coming for my title, little sis.”

[forestborns]

alastair & estelle

‘  well  I  guess  it’s  surprising  for  us  both,  ’  she  returned,  as  a  titter  escapes  her  lips.  in  truth,  back  home,  she  had  always  been  an  early  bird.  yet,  how  could  you  not  ?  given  the  impending  sunrise  in  the  distance.  she  felt  the  need  to  always  wake  up  before  the  sun  was  fully  positioned  in  the  sky.  simply  a  day  wasted  otherwise.  at  the  question  at  her  being  here,  she  could  only  run  nimble  fingers  through  her  horses  locks,  ‘  I  think  she  needs  the  exercise,  besides  being  cooped  up  in  here  since  we  arrived.  ’  her  words  saccharine,  as  emerald  hues  shuffle  over  to  the  other.  ‘  and  if  I  may  ask,  what  brings  you  here  ?  do  you  wish  to  ride  or  gorge  your  mare  in  apples  all  day  ?  ’  she  quips,  as  she  watches  the  little  exchange.   

HE NODDED AT that, dimples appearing as a smile surfaced on his lips at her words. given the sheer amount of people in welkin, he was bound to run into someone in the stables. he hummed in agreement to her explanation, watchful eyes glancing at his mare as she took the apple gladly, though gave him a reproachful stare. though he couldn’t hear her thoughts, he could certainly take the stare as a ‘how dare you leave me in here’ look. the tease made him turn back to her, and he let out a chuckle. “well, that’s an odd way to invite a dashing young man for a sunrise ride with you, but i’ll allow it.” alastair teased back as he unhooked his saddle from the wall and placed it on the horse. it wasn’t truly an invitation, but since when did alastair need anything formal to do what he wanted? “though i’m sure she’d appreciate apples all day long, i think we could both use a bit of fresh air.”

[forestborns]

alastair & nell

Nell had spent the day running around the markets, sitting in the gardens and talking to the plants, meeting new people and avoiding those that she already knew. When night finally came, she’d spent dancing her way through halls and taverns, no one knew who she was here and she loved it. Hours had gone by while she’d sat in a tavern with some rather mean looking pirates simply listening to their stories about their travels while they kept her tankard full of honeyed mead. A girl she’d met earlier in the evening said she could stay with her, and Nell swore to the gods that she had followed her instructions to a T, but she was beyond lost. Stuck in a series of hallways that seemed to sway around her.

It was only when she heard his voice did she stop dead in her tracks, her jaw hanging open, surely the gods were playing a cruel trick on her. She was completely at a loss for words, her own sheepish grin falling into place. “Only if you forget that you ever saw me here!” It was a reach, but she’d hoped he was drunk enough that she could get away with it.

ALASTAIR WAS GLAD he was already crouched and the bottles were safely on the ground. he would have dropped them all had he noticed his little sister before that. “nell! what in god’s name are you doing here?” he asked, completely bewildered. the last he’d seen of her, she was back at the regwyn’s estate deep in the forest. “does calix know you’re here?” he asked right away, though he was sure he knew the answer to that. he hastily gathered up the bottles and motioned for her to follow him into his chambers. once the door was closed, he turned back to nell.

“seriously, nell. this is crazy. even for ME.” he repeated, finally frowning as the reality of her presence settled in. “no amounts of wine could ever make me forget you’re here when you’re supposed to be in gullivere.” he uncorked a bottle, sorely needing another cup of wine to continue this. “tell me everything. and don’t try to spare me any details, because i’ll get calix to get it out of you.”

[forestborns]

alastair & seraphina

perhaps he met with many more butterflies than she had, and perhaps he was right. or maybe the gods were not quite as willing to give good luck to those who already had good fortune, to balance the world. but that seemed to be the sort of wistful thinking she got in trouble for all the time at home. “the trees decide depending on the person? how do they know if that person is good or bad?” if she were ever in gullivere, or any other forest she supposed, this was useful information and not just fairy tales about talking trees. “i ran across a fox once, caught in a snare. i was allowed on a hunt with my father and his men and i set it free. i received quite the lecture afterward and was not allowed on another hunt.” she wasn’t sure why she told that story, it felt right though, just like setting the fox free. bright red, just like her hair, she had felt a kinship of sorts. she could think of one way to escape the festivities but she wasn’t so sure a betrothal in gullivere was what she should pursue. they were peaceful and had little to offer, her father’s voice was in her ear and she didn’t say what she was thinking out loud now. “that must be a special horse.”

ALASTAIR’S EYES LIT up at the question ---- it didn’t take much for him to get too enthusiastic in a conversation, and talking about the way nature ( at least in gullivere ) reacted to people always caught his attention. “the trees in our forest are hundreds of thousands of years old, and though you cannot hear them, they can hear you, me, all of us when we’re within earshot. “it’s less about if a person is fundamentally good or bad, and more about the trees’ opinions on the person. they know a lot more than they let on. i’ve only ever managed to get a few pieces of good information from their chattering.” he explained. they were tricky, the gullivere trees. and in his thirty three years, was still growing accustomed to their ways. “i’m sure that fox is very thankful, to this day. too bad your rescue missions were cut short.” he nodded along at her words. she looked as fiesty and cunning as any fox he’d ever met. “yes, quite, as in she does not kick me off when i tease her. do you have any pets?”

[forestborns]

alastair & phillip

Phillip just couldn’t believe it. Well, he could, but he didn’t want to believe what he was seeing.

“…While I appreciate the sheer gall you have, that will have to be a no. It’s such hubris that I am deeply and profoundly impressed. However, as the steward of the castle, I ask you turn those over to me minus the two bottles you can take to your chambers and be a drunkard with or you can return to the food and drink areas and get drunk with as much ale, wine, or liquor your body can stand. There is no need for six of these in your room, you lush. Who are you and which country are you representing?”

JUST HIS LUCK to run into the stuffy man who wasted no time in lecturing alastair. he was hoping, with all the chaos of the gathering of royals, that he’d be able to slip the bottles without being noticed. he was so DAMN close to his chambers, too. “steward of the castle.” he repeated as the smile he sported previously withered. “is it truly such a tragedy that i’d rather sup and drink in isolation?” he asked, frowning at his words. “i’m alastair regwyn. though i don’t represent anyone but myself. i’m sure you can deduce where i’m from with that.” he had thought of lying, but would it really do him any good? he doubted his family ( apart from his younger sister who wasn’t even here ) would cover for him.

[forestborns]

alastair & aradia

                    FINALLY SHE HAD managed to slip away from the group of individuals discussing matters at hand. Aradia was not just a trophy wife, she was just as involved as her husband in peace collaborations, the quicker she could help to achieved the goal the quicker she could return to her darling daughters. There was steadiness in her footsteps as she made way back to her chambers only thinking of the softness that the bed will offer her, until the sound startled her and the mischievous smile behind it was quite familiar. “Alastair,” She said with a stern voice but her eyer were full of warmth towards her brother in law. “What troubles are you creating for yourself now.” She bent down enough to hold two of the bottles and the goblet. “Move on then, I will not be entangle in you plots.” She chuckled. 

ARADIA WAS A welcome sight to the brunet. though having her catch him in any of his regular schemes back in gullivere would mean the end of whatever he was doing, here the familiar face was more than welcome. he’d heard her say his name in that way a million times, though couldn’t think of one time where her eyes didn’t betray her voice. “no trouble at all, if no one catches me.” he shrugged at the familiar dismissal with a smile. “really, i’m just trying to feel more at home. and drunk.” he explained as she ushered him on. he reached his chambers, opening the door nimbly anad setting down the bottles of wine before turning. “sure you don’t want a glass? i’m willing to bet you’ve had a long day of brown nosing.” he teased, uncorking the first bottle.

[forestborns]

alastair & tasnim

the      grime      of      the      hunt      stuck      to      rough      skin      ,      &      it      appeared      as      if      the      exhaustion      she      carried      around      burdened      her      .      NO      ,      you      would      never      see      the      good      lady      of      house      fe’thas      in      a      dress      ,      or      swamped      in      ornaments      that      made      moving      almost      impossible      (      you      swore      each      step      sounded      like      a      symphony      )      .      in      an      attire      befitting      of      her      instead      .      the      colors      of      her      mother’s      name      ,      &      a      light      leather      bodice      that      framed      a      white      blouse      &      pants      .      GOD      HAVE      MERCY      .

the      goblet      clattered      at      her      feet      ,      &      a      man      who      would      have      gone      unnoticed      suddenly      became      a      person      of      interest      .      she’s      cold      :      the      strange      blue      of      her      eyes      icy      on      the      man      she      knows      is      not      of      njoran      .      brows      arch      ,      &      she      has      half      a      mind      to      kick      a      bottle      .      ❝      aren’t      you      being      too      familiar      ?      ❞

LIVELY EMRALD EYES rise to meet the icy grey ones looming over him with an air of disdain. there is a clear difference between the two sole occupants of the cavernous hallway. he isn’t expecting a warm welcome from his sudden clumsiness, but he also isn’t expecting the chilly reception. “too familiar?” he repeats, looking back down at the bottles and slowly rearranging them in his arms. “i don’t know, am i?” he asks as he stands back up. he’s not used to speaking to people without the musings of the greenery around him to give him insight on the other. in truth, he’s better equipped for communicating with wildlife than he is with people, especially ones that are hard to decipher like the woman beside him. “well, do you want to help me or not? i need to know if i have to come up with an excuse if you’re going to tell on me.” he asks, quite impatiently. as a prince, he wasn’t accustomed to chilly welcomes and cool lingering stares.

[forestborns]

alastair & athaliah

“PART WITH TWO, AND WE MIGHT CALL IT A DEAL,” athaliah breathed, lips quirking into something resembling a smile (though it had been far too long since she had used such muscles).

“IS THERE A REASON YOU ARE SMUGGLING ENOUGH WINE TO RUN A COUNTRY?” she teased, words articulated to push the joke home. she goes and daintily picks up a few bottles, slipping a few into the giant pockets of her cloaks. they were good for a great many things, carrying strange objects was one such benefit of a large cloak.

“ATHALIAH HESSARIAN,” she said in way of greeting. “AND YOU ARE?”

HE GIVES A dramatic sigh at her words. “you drive a hard bargain, you know.” alastair’s wide grin offsets her own small smile, and he finally acquiesces. “i think two bottles less may be worth the help.”

“my arms would not be able to hold the wine needed to run a country i was in charge of.” he responded. it was true that the younger prince liked his drink, but mostly, he liked to drink with others. you could find out a lot about a person with a few cups of wine and some pointed questions cushioned between compliments. he watches her slip the wine into her sweeping cloak with relief, and leads he towards his room a short distance away.

“it’s a pleasure to meet you athaliah. you have my thanks for all the help.” he opened the door to his chambers, walking into the sun-drenched solar as he turned to face her. “alastair regwyn. the non-important prince, just how i like it.” 

[forestborns]

alastair & layella

“You? A husband?” Layella forced a laugh to show she was kidding, slightly. “Sounds awfully boring.” She wasn’t sure she could see him give up all his antics for such a civilized life, which she was grateful for. She wouldn’t have gone on half the adventures she had without him after all, her life would be dull without him. She followed him and peeked down the corridor before closing the chamber door behind them, thankfully no one had seen them. “Well, if it helps I’ll be here to set a distraction if you ever need to get away from a possible betrothal situation,” she joked and she pried the cork off the bottle in her hands.

HE GAVE AN enthusiastic nod at her words. “certainly boring. and not at all what i have planned for the rest of my long, fun-filled life.” the looming threat of betrothals that served as alliances were another reason alastair meant to spend his days alone in gullivere, not exposed to potential life-changing schemes that he had no say in. “you’ve always made a fine distraction, i must say.” alastair laughed at that, bringing two cups to where she uncorked the bottle. “i don’t think there are any wedding bells in the near future, though, so for now we may still celebrate our freedom.” he hoped he could spend the rest of his days in gullivere, with layella by his side, helping their people and causing some mischief, as it always had been.

[forestborns]

alastair & orlaith

she looked down at him as he knelled perhaps a little too close for complete comfort. did he just ask her to help clean his mess? followed by a bribe? orlaith blinked back at him, furrow forming across her confused brow before she searched the hall around them for anyone else, coming up empty. “are you stealing from the watchers?” still standing, she looked back down at him. “sir, if you want more drink you merely ask the help.” it was a quiet voice, out of fear that someone around them would hear. 

HE COULD TELL he had surprised the other, and he felt a slight twinge of guilt for the sudden encounter. “not STEALING, per se. simply borrowing. besides. the watchers are old and preoccupied. they can do without a few bottles of their prized wines.” he explained. he started back up, rearranging the bottles in his arms. “alright, then. next time i need a drink, i shall seek you out. i hope you don’t disappoint. but for now, i’ve got a good night’s worth of fun, if you’d like to join me. i’m having my own latecomer’s banquet. the attendee list is quite short, at the moment.” he started walking again, not bothering to look if she was following or not. “i’m alastair regwyn, by the way. i don’t think i’ve had the pleasure to meet you.”

[exitwound]

all i want to do is lie tragically on the forest floor and feel the rain on my skin

[forestborns]

alastair & seraphina​

“oh, and why is that?” she shouldn’t have asked but she never seemed to do what she should. “what else can you find in the gullivere forest?” she’d love to hear more about his home, it was both fascinating and, if as her father would say, useful for future endeavors. she hated to be like him but she had been raised to take the throne and old habits were hard to shake, especially in this environment. “lucky you, already. i would have done just about anything to not go, or to leave early but i was allowed neither of those things. “ she listened to his story, which didn’t sound too honest but let him think it was convincing. “you could have walked, or called for a carriage or escort. there certainly would have been many ways besides horseback to enter welkin.” she pointed out, so he could improve his story perhaps, to see if he would embellish it further.

ALASTAIR GAVE A lazy shrug. “let’s say the butterfly to luck ratio has been quite disproportionate. besides, i believe in making your own luck.” he explained with a grin. not that the younger gullivere prince needed anything more than he already had. “oh, an abundance of things. some good, some bad, depending on the person venturing in. the trees are great gossips, so i like to hang among the branches most days. they can get a little boring, but then again there are foxes, wolves, deer, bears, the list goes on. there’s always something to do.” he rambled, already missing his furry friends and the gullivere smallfolk he preferred to spend his time with. he laughed as she spoke, nodding. “next time, i can try and figure out an escape plan for both of us. except there’s no guarantee it’ll work.” he’d tried many plans and schemes over the years, and about half of them failed miserably. “i couldn’t have left my horse out there alone. we share a special bond, you know. not so much in welkin, with impotent abilities, but still.” that part at least was true.

[forestborns]

alastair & calix

“Oh, of course.” He said with a roll of his eyes that was out of fondness for the younger brother rather then annoyance. “You got yourself into this mess, I should let you get yourself out of it,” But already he was taking a few of the handed bottles. He wasn’t about to leave Alastair to find himself in trouble before things even began. The duties of an older brother. “I’m already carrying these stupid bottles for you, if you think I’m not drinking some of it, you have another thing coming. Now let’s go before we actually get caught by someone that may have an issue with this.” He said hurrying them along following his brother who led the way. “And in case you’re wondering, no, you didn’t miss anything of the welcome banquet.”

ALASTAIR LET OUT a laugh at that, feeling almost like things were back to normal ---- except they weren’t. the silence surrounding him for the first time in his life was a constant reminder. the brunet nodded at the older male, wearing a mocking stern face. “you should. absolutely. but that wouldn’t be much fun.” he argued, letting another one of his easy smiles grace his lips. “smart, always so smart.” he nodded at that, and before long he was opening the door to the lounge off of his bedroom with his foot. he set the bottles down on the table near the door, nodding at calix’s words. “good, i couldn’t bear miss a piece of good entertainment. how did you fare? i’m sure the handsome healer made many a lady swoon.” he teased, though his words rang true. he filled two gold goblets inlaid with green tint to simulate vines wrapping around the cups. he’d stolen them from the castle as he was leaving gullivere. he handed one to his brother before taking a sip.

[forestborns]

alastair & layella​

Layella couldn’t believe her luck at being the one to find this mess, she had to hold in her laughter to not give him away. “I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my time,” she agreed, kneeling down to take one of the bottles and lighten the load. She shouldn’t have been surprised to see him like this on his first day there, at least getting into some sort of trouble was what she’d expect. “I heard last night caused a lot of headaches for the people who attended, I almost wish I’d gotten here in time for it now,” she joked. 

LAYELLA WAS A welcome sight ---- in all the mischief he’d gotten up to during the years, she was always by his side. in fact, alastair couldn’t remember a time where she WASN’T around. “that’s what i like to hear.” he grinned, standing up once more and leading the way to his chambers. “i’m still quite glad i wasn’t a part of the celebrations. i hear they’re betrothing people left and right. sooner or later someone will have the terrible idea to marry me off.” he joked back, though he wasn’t truly worried. all the attention was on his brother calix, the crown prince, as always, which was how he liked it.

[forestborns]

alastair & estelle​

OPEN  TO EVERYONE      ＊      LOCATION  :  STABLES .

her  hues  are  DARK,  as  she  looks  to  the  stable  boy.  his  intentions  were  not  to  undermine  her,  but  to  keep  her  safe.  yet,  he  wasn’t  aware  of  her  capabilities.  the  saddle  set  in  places,  as  she  mounted  the  mare.  nimble  fingers  clasping  around  the  reign,  as  she  situates  herself  atop,  MARISOL.  words  imparting  from  her  lips  in  softness,  as  she  spoke  to  her  possession.  words  of  encouragement,  as  she  patted  it’s  long  locks.  however,  she  wasn’t  alone,  as  the  STABLE  was  always  occupied  during  the  day.  yet,  she  wasn’t  expecting  anyone  to  be  there  at  this  time.  the  BIRDS  had  yet  to  start  chirping,  but  the  sky  was  slowly  transferring  to  a  navy  tint  indicating  the  sun’s  arrival.  green  hues  looking  to  another  who  was  preparing  a  horse,  ‘  I  didn’t  know  that  other’s  were  even  awake  at  this  time  ?  did  you  sleep  well  ? ’

AFTER A FITFUL sleep, alastair wanted nothing more than to walk barefoot in the gullivere woods, taking in the sounds, and maybe strike up a conversation or two. his home was far away, though, so instead he wandered the halls, until he found himself outside near the stables. he assumed this is where they’d stored his mare, and he knew she’d be just as restless as him, cooped up and in the presence of so many strange humans. as he walked in, apple in hand, he turned to the voice. “i could say the same. i usually don’t encounter too many people at this hour. i did not ---- though it’s not for lack of trying. i’ve always had a hard time sleeping in castles. what brings you to the stables so early?” he shot back as he advanced toward emerald, and gave her a pat on her snow white neck, offering the apple as a sort of apology for bringing her here.

[forestborns]

alastair & calix

He was returning to his own quarters after spending the morning out in the gardens of welkin. It had helped the feeling of being away from the tranquil woods that surrounded the home in Gullivere. He hadn’t been in search of Alastair, and honestly, coming upon him thieving wine and a chalice wasn’t all short of what he might expect. The resounding noise of the goblet clattering to the ground would have been enough to wake the dead. “I’m not even going to ask.”  He stood in the open threshold and lightly shook his head, “I can plead the fifth on whatever you’re doing and pretend I never saw you.”

OF COURSE THE person alastair would run into as he neared the corner to his chambers would be his brother. not being present at the banquet, and traveling to welkin with his own company, this was the first time he’d seen the older male since gullivere. a laugh escaped alastair’s lips at his brother’s apparent exasperation. “see, that’s why you’re my favorite regwyn. except for myself. of course.” he stood back up, offering some bottles to calix before retrieving his own load. “and how much convincing do i need to get you to have a cup ---- or five ---- with your brother dearest?” he asked as he led the way, bottles now in plain sight in his arms. no one would ask questions as to why the two princes of gullivere were holding too much wine. at least, not to their faces.

[forestborns]

alastair & seraphina

dark brown eyes followed his movements as he found a butterfly and it actually landed on him. “isn’t that meant to be good luck or something?” she said, delighted as she leaned in for a closer look at the beautiful creature. “oh, well — a marriage alliance was made between ceren nouv and wheldrake but beyond that nothing of much interest happened. it was rather boring if i’m being honest. why did you miss it?”

ALASTAIR TURNED HIS gaze back towards the other, a lazy shrug gracing his shoulders. “if it is, the gods owe me a large debt of luck.” he quipped. “they’re very amicable creatures, unlike most you can find in the gullivere forest.” he added. he gently brought the butterfly near her face, and it fluttered up to settle on the top of her fiery red hair. he laughed at that, glad his connection with animals hadn’t dampened, though his ability to communicate with them had. alastair nodded as she recapped the night, glad he hadn’t missed anything of interest. “why, i missed it because i wanted to.” he gave a quick wink as he spoke, turning back towards the plants. “my horse simply would not enter the welkin estate all night. i swear, i had no part in it, though it did work out to my advantage.” he lied, another one of his famous smiles pulling at his lips. better rehearse that one before he saw anyone from his family.