second born.

Duke of Ross-shire and Prince of Scotland. James Stewart. Virescit vulnere virtus Courage grows strong at a wound.

[buckynanbarnes]

robb stark in every episode >> winter is coming (1x01)

[queenmabcrossing-blog]

     Mairie paced the corridor outside of the hall where she was to meet her betrothed. She did not look forward to the occasion. Helene had spent the better part of the morning coaxing and corseting her into what she was told was the most fetching dress that she owned. It pinched her waist and made it difficult to both move and breathe. She hadn’t slept at all the night before and spent a good portion of the evening prior to that trying to beg, barter, and bribe Arthur into telling her that she didn’t have to get married. He,with all the pity his eyes could hold, told her that he couldn’t change what their father had done without potentially starting a war. She forced to resort to her backup plan of begging James to take her to China where no one could find them again. Although he considered it momentarily, his responsibilities got the better of him, but he did let her whine and even cry for a minute before he made her try and sleep for the “big day”. She couldn’t blame either of them, though. They were only trying to do their best for her. Plan C involved a creative use of fire, arrows, and a few well placed rodents. Rodents weren’t readily available. Therefore, her furniture suffered her wrath. As a bonus, her sword was dulled. Nothing was going to make her mood better, and she was fairly certain there was nothing that could make it worse. “Bastards.” She grumbled before throwing the door open, fully prepared to pout like an eight year old the entire meeting. Mairie gathered her skirts and marched into the room with her head high. She saw her brother’s face instantaneously, but her suitor’s back was towards her. For once, it brought her no comfort to see James’s face. “Are ye all just going to sit about like a bunch of piss ants or are we going to get this over with so I can go on to archery practice?” Her path directly towards her brother’s side was halted by the familiar face sitting across from him. “What the bloody hell are you doing here?!”

[kazimierzjagiellonczyk-blog]

Laughing, Kaziu appreciated the princes’ humor, the moment allow some of the nerves clawing at his stomach to calm. He should not be so nervous, he reasoned. This girl was his betrothed, they were to be married, and he hoped that the girl would not be disappointed at his own appearance or mannerisms; the Scots reasonably different than Poles and Lithuanians. Mairie, he had been led to believe, had been vocal of her unwillingness when it came to their marriage, and although the duke could not fault her, the revelation certainly brought him no comfort. “You have my word that your sister will be treated well, Your Highness,” Kaziu nodded his head, a promise, “I have two sisters of my own, I understand your worries.” Before either could say another word, the doors to the chamber opened, and a feminine voice interrupted them. He did not turn immediately, although his eyes widened slightly at the sound. The voice was a familiar one, and the words and tone mirrored that of the girl he had run into just days prior. Thoughts confirmed when she reached her brother’s side and questioned his own presence, Kazimierz all but shrunk away at his own stupidity? How had he not realized that the girl scaling the gardens walls was the very girl he was meant to marry? He’d assumed - quite stupidly - she had been a lady-in-waiting by her admittedly unladylike speech, and easily disregarded her accent. Idiot. “You are the Princess Mairie?” He uttered the words, dumbfounded. 

[secondxscn-blog]

         The men and women whom accompanied the Stewarts on their trip to the Holy city had been raving at the idea of their Princess marrying, mostly for they would possibly get to attend a wedding, however there were no words that could comfort James on the idea. To him Mairie was still the small girl whom followed him around, whom he would have to lift so she could reach upon the tallest of tables, and the young woman whom visited him and his estate as an escape. That girl had been his closest kin since the death of their mother and knowing that, once she was wed, it would be quite some time before he would lay eyes on her eyes sickened him. She burst into the room as only Mairie could, bringing James to rise with a strained smile upon his lip. “Sister,” his tone was filled with a warning and yet he was clearly quite amused by her immediate response. “Since ye have met before I don’t see the need for an introduction but for formality’s sake; Mairie, this is Kazimierz, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Kazimierz, my outspoken sister, the Princess of Scotland and your betrothed.” The introduction seemed to leave a bitter taste in James’ mouth as he lifted his dram of whiskey to his lips and finished it in one.

[thelittleonc-blog]

              Novella caught her lip between her teeth for a moment. To her, she interpreted his actions as distaste and hatred. He had been avoiding her at every turn, every time she laid eyes upon him he was gone. Was it the kiss that they dare not speak of? Was it the emotions that she had bubbling under her skin for him and he was trying to tell her that he felt differently? That he had made a mistake? The thoughts tormented her at night when she was alone and she dared not tell Cat; and so, she was stuck in this endless cycle. With a quiet sigh, she pressed a light touch to her brow for a moment.      “ You may be right, maybe I should explore more within the place I have been given the wonderful opportunity to stay. ”      His last sentence though, oh the double meaning that she perceived from it was enough to kill her.      “ And sometimes, what I want slips behind corners before I can even have a word with him or I catch his gaze and he has this look of – this look of, ”      her features fall slightly,      “ I am babbling again, I apologize. ”

[secondxscn-blog]

        “–this look of guilt,” his voice softened with a sigh as he hesitantly stepped away from his earlier perch. The Prince had not been raised to speak emotionally or openly, emotions were little more than an inconvenience and could perceive a man as weak, to do so felt foreign to him. Since the death of his mother James rarely spoke his true mind and so he was often misunderstood; just as he was when so many believed he wished to take his brother’s place and Novella believe he disliked her. In fact he felt differently and that was usually the case. “Don’t apologize, I find yer babbling endearing. I shouldn’a even spoke up tae you but I suppose I owe an explanation and an apology of my own,” he spoke softly in comparison to his earlier response, moving closer so that he was less likely to be overheard. “I should never have been so bold as to act as I did, I should not have touched what was not mine. I had no right. I kept my distance out of respect for yer family but mostly for you, I couldn’a trust myself to not be so impulsive again.”

[thelovelyrichardmadden-deactiva]

[secondxscn-blog]

thelovelyrichardmadden:

Medicinal picspam of Richard Madden on a horse looking incredible

[thelittleonc-blog]

              There is a fraction of a moment that his comment stings in her chest and hurt is evident on her face. Just as quickly, though, she pulls on a mask. She had been taught long ago that emotions were your enemy in this world. She had let her emotions take hold of her when James had been around; she wanted so badly to let those emotions through, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t because he was pushing her away and she didn’t understand WHY.     “ My apologies for not realizing that you presided within my head and you know what I find interesting and not interesting, ”     She draws a breath in through her nose and lets her eyes close for a moment, fighting the lump in her throat. This wasn’t her. This anger wasn’t her; this bitterness wasn’t her. Opening her eyes she looked to him and murmurs,      “ I apologize, ”      her arms fold behind her back casually because she’s not sure what else to do with them.      “ I apologize for whatever I have done to bring your distaste and hatred against me. I meant no offense when I was asking for a new place to see. I just – I do not want to run out of time before I have the chance to see ALL of this city. ”

[secondxscn-blog]

           It was often James’ bitterness which allowed others to misinterpret his attitude and words, it happened many times where his brother was concerned and it seemed to be happening now. For a moment he had contemplated ignoring the Neapolitan Princess’ request but he simply couldn’t. He couldn’t remain in the shadows and return to his chambers in avoidance, as he had done so many times since he had shown the ruins which they called the Colosseum, for the tightening in his chest forced his hand. “Your words merely suggested thus,” he said in almost a mutter, removing the book from his lap as he rose from where he had been sitting. “Distaste and hatred?” he repeated with a clear furrowing of his brow, once again his inability to show clear emotion had represented him wrongly. “There is no distaste OR hatred, your grace. I thought only that you are missing out on the wonders that rest beneath yer very feet while your eyes are cast further afield. Sometimes what you want is right before it and ye don’t even ken it.”

[thelittleonc-blog]

“ I want to see something NEW. This city is sprawling, surely there is something interesting out there. Behind a shop or in an alleyway maybe? Somewhere? ”

[secondxscn-blog]

        “Your Grace, you stand on the very ground on which Saint Peter built the first church, his body lays beneath yer feet but I’m sorry that you don’t find it interesting.”

[belxvedmargxt-blog]

“I do appreciate that, dear cousin. I should have for us to quarrel merely because others in our family disagree.” She inhaled slowly, knowing that she ought to be cautious about the topic. Being unable to know what he had been told by Mairie, however closer she could remain to the truth without painting either completely in the wrong would be the best path to tread. If she appeared the saint, it would reflected poorly on her and seem as she was attacking his sister’s character, which she at times wished she could. “I fear that I was unkind as a child to your sister and she has not forgiven me for it. Although I do not recall being so cruel.”

[secondxscn-blog]

          “I do recall she told me as much. My sister was born with fire in her veins and a strong head on her shoulders, I hope ye can forgive her or at least not take her temper tae heart.” James could not apologize for his sister’s actions, nor could he promise that she would never lash out again, but he would comfort the Devil himself if it would make their stay in Rome a little easier. 

[helenedrummond-blog]

“Good. I admit, I have had little time to explore the city, but I hope to soon. Grateful and happy as I am to be in this city, I admit I cannot become accustomed to the heat.”

[secondxscn-blog]

       “Should you not find another to escort you, it would be my pleasure to offer my company; surely ye wont be able tae find any better. I can’t say the heat becomes more comfortable, unfortunately, that’s something we will have to endure.”

[eleanoroliphant]

[secondxscn-blog]

lauranoncrede:

new medici still

[belxvedmargxt-blog]

“Ah, yes, the Princess. I fear she does not think too highly of me and I cannot begin to imagine what descriptions you have received of me from her lips. Am I as she claimed? I can recall a few choices words shared between us for which I must take partially responsibility” if only to better what he must think of me. 

[secondxscn-blog]

        “All she has said to me is that ye didna get along, she claims nothing and so should refrain from worrying yourself. I trust my sister but, even if she had tried to advise me, I like to make my own judgement on a person. May I ask about the altercation in question?”

[belxvedmargxt-blog]

“And what did you know of me? Am I no longer familiar to you or perhaps I am not as I am rumored to be? And you needn’t worry, I do not pretend as though I can any influence over your branch of the family. Therefore, I will not be offering my power of persuasion to any that would use it to seek you out, cousin.”

[secondxscn-blog]

           “Only what my sister spoke of ye, it seems she knew you better than I. I do not like to make assumptions based on what I have been told but it’s all I have so far. I appreciate that, I will be sure to refrain from worrying.”

[duchessclementina-blog]

“I was just reading about Caesar’s conquest of Gaul, but honestly some of the Roman love affairs interested me most,” Clementina admitted sheepishly, worried that she went from sounding like an educated lady to a lovestruck girl. “Take Antony and Cleopatra, for instance. I cannot imagine loving someone so much that I would rather die than live in a world without them present.” Clementina lended a vastly interested ear to the man, as such wise words were seldom spoken by the nobles that she knew in Florence. “You are quite right, signore. I believe my brother could learn much from you.”

[secondxscn-blog]

          “Love affairs are a favourite of yours? I know little of them myself but I hear they are popular,” he nodded, glancing to his side to offer a smile to his companion. “I don’t think it to be impossible to love someone thus, ye just have to find the person. Perhaps we just aren’t all fortunate to find them.” James knew little about love or how it worked, personally he had only felt it for kin, but he wasn’t about to rule it out before experiencing it for himself. “Thank you, ye would be surprised how many would refuse to admit I am right. Sometimes ego comes above reason. Though I’m sure yer brother is a fine man, he need not learn from me.”

[kazimierzjagiellonczyk-blog]

Kazimierz smiled at the man, one he had met years ago when he had visited Scotland, the moment he’d first been able to lay eyes on the girl he would eventually call his wife. She was but a child then, both of her brothers fairly older than her, and the young Duke had found he far more enjoyed the company of the men than he did entertaining the thought of marrying this girl - a child. Now they sat, half a decade later, whiskey freshly poured in their goblets, and knots in their stomachs - at least, there certainly were in Kaziu’s, as he finally sat prepared to meet his betrothed. “I thank you for arranging this introduction, Your Highness, I know the King has been engrossed as of late, and I am wholly grateful.”

James, Mairie

[secondxscn-blog]

            Even with the efforts made to remind himself that seeing his sister married to someone he knew would be better than marrying her to a stranger, James remained unhappy at the thought of seeing his sister married to anyone at all. Since the death of their mother he had been closer to her than any of his siblings, feeling fiercely protective where she was concerned, and it was safe to say he was bitter about the whole situation. At least e had whiskey to keep himself calm. “Aye, a King’s work is never done, but I am sure my sister will join us soon. I informed her of the meeting and I am sure she is just lookin’ for somethin’ to beat me with once it’s over,” he chuckled before bringing his goblet to his lips. “She can be a hand full, ye may as well know that now. But she’s a handful I expect you to take great care of if I’m to watch her sail away.”

[belxvedmargxt-blog]

“And do you count yourself as one of those people? Do you wish to know me?”

[secondxscn-blog]

           "No need, I knew of you once. I believe we are cousins, I only hope ye do not offer the sway you have with all of yer cousins.”

[thelittleonc-blog]

              Novella shifted in her seat and leaned her arm on the table so that she could cup her chin in her hand. Her brow creased slightly as she tried to absorb all that he had taught her today. Her head rose and fell in a nod. He was right; if everyone understood each other all the time, the world would be a much easier place to live in. Sadly, though, that was not the way the world worked. She gave him a surprised look when he offered her a dram and then she smiled slightly when he backpedaled.      “ I cannot say I have had the pleasure of trying whiskey before; I would love a drink. ”      She said, pushing herself back up into a proper seated position.      “ As for the lessons, shall we pick up again tomorrow? Same time and place? ”

[secondxscn-blog]

         “Never?” there was a tone of surprise to his question where there shouldn’t have been. James had always been so set in his ways, seeing Scotland as his great love, that he was still surprised upon meeting outsiders. “Tomorrow, aye, but until then,” he began with a nod as he rose from his seat by the window, and stepped to another table near by where he had a bottle and, coincidentally, two chalices. Once he poured a small amount into each cup, he stepped back towards his Neapolitan companion and offered one to her. “Be careful not to drink too quickly, it can be strong if ye have never had whiskey before.”

[helenedrummond-blog]

“Yer sister takes up much of my time, as ye well know. But I am much obliged for yer company now, I’ve not even attempted to deny yer my favorite.”

[secondxscn-blog]

        “Aye she does, I should be having words with her for keeping ye from the rest of us. How is Rome treating ye, cousin?”

[kazimierzjagiellonczyk-blog]

“A superior drink, I must agree. Although my tastes are far simpler, as I usually prefer the sweetness of mead.

“A bit of both, I should think. At least, that is the safer answer.”

[secondxscn-blog]

         “Then ye haven’t tried Scottish whiskey, though it is not always for those who prefer a sweeter taste. Some can hardly take a sip without it going to their head.”