Katarzyna

girls like her were born in a storm. they have lightning in their souls. and thunder in their hearts. and chaos in their bones

[thequotejournals]

I had two desires: desire to be safe and desire to feel.

Louise Glück, Vita Nova (via asteriaria)

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“I have awoken you, your highness.” he shook his head, running a hand through his hair. dante smiled, and began picking up plates. “nay, are you finished eating?” he raised his eyebrows. “was the journey hard on you?”

“I suppose someone had to, lest I start drooling.” She replied easily, a smirk on her face. Returning her gaze from the boy to her plate, Kasia considered it carefully. “I believe I am. I could scarcely take another bite for fear I would fall asleep on my plate.” She thought for a moment on her journey back to Bern, “It could have been easier had my mother not insisted I take a carriage. I think now that it was her fear of sailing that drove her suggestion.”

[ben-ravencroft]

“No,” István firmly responded to his advisor. The king’s patience for his advisors and meetings had always been low but since finding that letter it was now even lower than before.  “I have heard what you said and now you must let me think things through,” he continued; his blue eyes never leaving his advisor’s which left him unaware of the new party in the hallway. “Leave and do not attempt to seek my thoughts on this till I find you. I do not want to be bothered by the likes of you right now.” 

The king found himself unable to process and deal with what he had read and in turn found himself biting back at his advisors and those who pestered him where he would normally just remain quiet. He spent more time alone which one would think would be a difficult task to do but the king had managed it. He felt like the ground below his feet was crumbling beneath him but he needed to find stable ground because he had a country and people counting on him so he put on his face that everything was the same but just now with an added anger that he couldn’t keep from boiling. István turned from the man without sparing another glance and looked up to meet the gaze of another who the king had no idea how long they had been stood there. “Elnézést kérek,” he grumbled. 

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It would seem in the short weeks that Katarzyna had been departed from Bern that much had changed. There were new royals flouncing up and down the hallways on the daily. And it would seem, that rooms had been rearranged. The princess had stopped short of fully entering the threshold, realizing a bit belatedly that the room she was about to enter, was not actually occupied by her father any longer. “You must forgive me. Though I speak a great many languages, that is not one of them.” She replied, lingering still by the door. “I apologize, these were once my father’s private chambers but I can see quite clearly that they are no longer,” she smirked, stating the obvious, “I hope I have not disturbed you greatly.”

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Aurelia nodded, laying back on the ground. Her eyes focused on the high ceilings, before turning towards Kat. “I have not eaten recently, no.” She smiled, softly. “I do have a fondness for cheese.” 

With a nod, Katarzyna sent one of her ladies scurrying off. “I must insist you keep up with your diet, my lady.” She chided gently, taking a chalice of water from her one newly returned lady. Reaching her hand out for Aurelia to take to help her sit up, “Slowly now.”

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HANDING HER THE CHALET, LAVINIA PICKED UP HER OWN AND TOOK A TASTEFUL SIP, LETTING THE FRAGRANT FLAVOR SETTLE ON HER TONGUE. “To your arrival,” she toasted, a polite smile curving her lips upwards. “Pleasure to meet you, your highness. I’m Lavinia. Princess of Ireland.” She still felt weird saying that, in truth, she knew she would never get used to such a thing. She wasn’t one to boast of her title, nor actually use it for that matter. She was royal by blood, but a healer by trade. She knew if her parents were still around, they’d be exhausted with her lack of pride in her name. Of course, Lavinia respected her house dearly, but it wasn’t something she used to identify herself with. As far as she was concerned, she was Lavinia Chatham, wife of the late Edmund Chatham, healer and sister to the King of Ireland. No more, no less. “If it’s not too much of a tiresome request, perhaps you could tell me a bit about your homeland? I have not had the pleasure of attending, but would love to… someday.” 

“Likewise.” She replied, tilting her glass at the princess in reverent greeting now that she recognized her and her title. Taking a sip, Katarzyna let the sweet wine mull over her tongue as she mused over what to tell the princess of her homeland. “I am unsure where to start, your highness. It is quite cold, for one. Being so far north and so close to Russia, which is perhaps the coldest land I have ever visited. Is there something specific you wish to know?”

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“It is good to see you, I had feared it would be months until you arrived.” He grinned wide at his friend, a woman he had practically grown up with. “Yes, but that does not mean that the journey was anymore strenuous for me than is was for me.” He did not hesitate to take the seat beside her. “Everyone is quite well, Sabinah and Toras especially. And what of you, Kat? It has been far too long since we last conversed.”

“I think my mother would have liked to delay my return for such a length of time as well.” Kasia replied, laughing easily. She had known Lukas almost her entire life, thought of him as a brother. Conversation with him and the rest of his kin had always been easy, and for that, she was grateful. “My life is quite dull. I spend my days knitting and playing with Dama.”

[dailyactress]

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I’m trying to rewatch all the episodes of Once Upon A Time that I missed (starting from that awful Frozen half season) and I can’t keep up with these crazy kids???

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“Nothing wounded but my pride, and maybe the hem of this dress,” the princess laughed airily. “I’m sorry to disturb you, truly.” As the girl scooped up her books, Jamilah offered a protest that she could do it, but it was too late. “Thank you,” she spoke solemnly, nodding her head in appreciation as she took the stack of literature from the other girl’s hands. “You are kind to help me in all my clumsiness,” she joked as she offered the girl a small smile. “I am Jamilah, princess of Swaziland. Pray tell, what is the name of my savior - and the savior of my books?”

Bending to examine the aforementioned dress, she nodded slowly, “I regret to tell you, it is torn. Though nothing more than I or a skilled seamstress could fix. I could send for my sewing box, if you’d like.” A friendly smile crossed her all too often serious face as she held out the books to the young girl, taking note of some of the titles in the stack of tomes. “I would hope that there would be someone to help me up should I fall.” The corner of her mouth twitched in reply. Kasia herself was rather clumsy, though she had learned to reserve her worst moments to private. “Katarzyna, princess of Poland. It is a great pleasure to meet you, Princess Jamilah.”

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A soft smile formed on his lips as he listened to her speak, nodding a little. “Now those are two things I feel everyday. Distracted and exhasuted” he mused. As she stood up, he straightened himself because it would be seen as rude of him if he didn’t have proper posture. “Oh not at all. If you ask me, I think all journeys are eqully exhausting. No matter where you come from” he told her.

“I would imagine you have more cause than I to be exhausted and distracted. I merely sit with my ladies all day. There is little room for princesses in any negotiation.” She said, rather bitterly, for Katarzyna had always longed for more power than she held as the second daughter of the King. “Well, thank you, in any case, for allowing me to complain about my journey.”

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Hervé had become somewhat of a ghost in the palace (or perhaps he’d never stopped being one) ––– failing to slip back into the thrum of court life, devoid of his sister and companions he’d held before he’d become a dead man. Hoping to elude them, and all others, he avoided the great hall until it was all but empty (spare a stranger), only to glance up from his plate in confusion as he settled into a seat (gaze harsh, for he no-longer knew how else to be) at the mention of what he had made his home for the last few years. He knew, as well, how tiresome the journey was –––– having made the very same one himself, while braving the elements, keeping to the cover of trees, all under the darkness of nightfall. But none could find out that. Regardless, he was not one to apologise to (his opinion mattered not, and what propriety remained in him?), and looked back to his plate. “What reason have you to apologise? A long journey is tiring to both the best and worst of us.”

“Should you ever find yourself a princess, through whatever means, you would come to learn that there is very little you can get away with without having to apologize for it.” She replied, smiling weakly. Still, she supposed she had little room to complain. Her life was more privileged than most. “Though I still haven’t decided whether I am the best or the worst among us.”

[hrhkatagnes-blog]

“ Well, we don’t need to go to church to stand before Him. “ she replied, smiling sadly, more to herself than to Katarzyna. If Kasia was her daughter Anna would make sure she would grow up be more pious. But now there was no use of teaching Kasia faith or showing her ways Anna wanted her to go - Katarzyna was an adult, the two of them were in quite similar age, so whenever Anna would like to teach her something, it would be seen as a parody of parenthood. And Anna did not wanted to make a fool out of herself, let alone - she didn’t want to fix first queen’s mistakes. “ Don’t worry, if you really wish to marry, I believe you can find someone in Bern… there are many handsome young monarchs looking for a wife. If you’re even interested in it, of course. And Fryderyk… oh, he’s good. Very curious about everything in this new palace. “ 

“I shall leave all things religion to you, Anna.” Kasia replied cooly, knowing well how religious the new Queen was. Katarzyna’s mother had never forced her children into religion, and so a young Kasia never developed a relationship with God. Now, she could simply be found in a chapel for it was the one place she could find peace. And by peace, it meant nobody tried to talk to the princess. “I should like to marry if only to be a Queen. The second eldest and worse yet, the second daughter, never brought me much power. Though my father finds it frivolous, I should also like to marry for love. And tell me, how often do those who would be Queen marry for love?” It was a largely rhetorical question. She knew her parents had not been in love and she doubted her father capable of love entirely. At the mention of her brother, Kasia did smile, “I returned with Dama, I know how much he enjoys her.”

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Megaira sat then, diagonal to the woman as she reached to tear off a slice of bread for herself, folding the rest up in a napkin to give to Artemis later. Apparently, her large dog was not welcome in the dining room, as she scared the servers. “Then be prepared to set up residence for a very long time. I do hope you brought something to entertain you.” The woman murmured, sarcasm flowing over each word. “Perhaps I simply find it much easier to sleep then.”

“I have just returned, your highness. I have been here for some months. My mama requested my presence though, and I couldn’t refuse her.” She said with a shrug, knowing well that nobody would fully understand the persuasiveness of the former Polish Queen as she has yet made her appearance in Bern. “I have Dama, my greyhound to keep me company. She is entertainment enough.” The princess recognized the dripping sarcasm in the woman’s voice, though she chose to largely ignore it. “It would seem you do.” She smiled, oh so sweetly.

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Demetrios raised an eyebrow, his smile cooler that is usually was. “Good morning to you too, Your Highness,” he began easily, amusement in his voice. He had learnt to accept sarcastic comments and biting remarks; after all, it was a natural reaction to his rank. But he’d also learnt to laugh through it - to charm and smile until people stopped focusing on it just a little less. “Though if I’m imagining things already, I fear it can only mean the worst.”

His amusement was rather infectious and in spite of her exhausted state, Katarzyna found herself smiling. “I think we are all mad here. It’s only natural. We’ve been largely locked up together for so long. I have begun to fear that we shall never leave.”

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“Kat! Siostra!” Apolonia had rushed to the hall the second she had heard of her sister’s arrival. Though the two had differing opinions on their father, blood was blood, and Apolonia would do anything for Katarzyna. “How was your journey?”

“Apolonia,” Kasia smiled warmly at her sister, “I knew I would see you sooner rather than later.” The two, as differently as they may have felt about their father, had always been close. “Oh it was long and troublesome. I had to travel by carriage. There was a storm out at sea, or so mama said. She is well, by the way, and sends you her love.”

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she had only been looking for a snack — coming across royalty was the last thing she expected. “there is nothing to forgive.” joséphine replied, shaking her head with a soft smile on her lips. “when we arrived from belgium, i could barely manage the journey to my rooms to sleep. so i commend you, your grace, you are managing quite beautifully.”

“You are most skilled in flattery, my dear.” Kasia laughed lightly, “I wouldn’t be surprised in the least bit if I had drool running down my chin.” Pushing her food around with her fork, Kat looked up at the girl in surprise, “I have never visited Belgium. Tell me, what is it like?”

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♠ ─ head inclined in acknowledgement to her words of thanks, dark hair falling over a shoulder, UNBOUND. the hour was late and time of decorative styles passed when bell rang for final meal of the day. “mothers are known to take drastic measures to keep their young close. i could understand her desire yet as daughter, it must have been tiring. i am CERTAIN she appreciated your presence, however.” how strange, for mother and father to be in separate places that daughter must travel to see one or the other. “i was not at bern during the fire, thankfully. childbirth had seen me BOUND to bed. i am glad to have missed the worst of the last attack, arriving a day earlier would have put my family in grave danger. i hope none of your own family members were injured greatly?”

“She’s lonely. I suppose I can understand it and I also suspect I shall not be without her long here in Bern,” Kasia replied with a shrug and a sigh, “She does so like to meddle not only in the lives of her children, but in my father’s and his new wife’s.” She was loathe to call Anna her step-mother for the girl was two years younger than she was after all. At the woman’s tale of her arrival following the fire, Katarzyna nodded, “Congratulations on the birth of your child.” She smiled softly, raising her cup to her companion. “My family was unharmed. I was burned, though.”