a very VERY belated birthday to the wonderful, beautiful, ASTOUNDING Samaria!! Raymond is the luckiest musician in the world to be loved by a songbird such as her. So here is a drawing of Raymond and Samaria enjoying a beautiful Ersallian morning in our beloved Royal!au
Samaria is the MC of the lovely @larknnightingale whos friendship I have adored;;v;;
I also wrote a fic to go along with this piece...it's under the cut
Mornings, a relative thing that usually starts after the stroke of midnight, but doesn’t truly set in until the sun crests over the hillsides. To some servants those precious hours before the sun rises was the time they considered morning. As they rose from wherever they laid their head to rest, they had to carry out the many chores of those dark early hours. Especially for those who worked in The Grand Palace of Ersailles, It was a life Samaria was once very used to, as she had previously worked for the ruling king and for his heiress very briefly. That is, until she met the current queen’s cousin. He transformed her from a humble scullery maid and into a glittering primadonna. That same cousin later became her lover and together they carved out a new and beautiful life.
So one would imagine Samaria’s surprise as on her birthday she was startled from her sleep while the dark shade of night still held the morning hours in its grip, to find her lover, Raymond, in the kitchen of their cottage deep within the eastern forest.
He hadn’t noticed her yet as Samaria crept into the kitchen with a curious furrow to her blue brows, Raymond was hunched over the floor of the kitchen, quickly scooping up branches and tiny leaves of rosemary back into their glass jar, which thankfully hadn’t broken. He was muttering under his breath wildly, his black wavy hair swishing this way in that as he tried to clean up the mess to the best of his ability.
Samaria recalled a silly statement Raymond’s mother, Celine, would often say as she watched Raymond scrounge around the kitchen floor.
“Raymond’s talents lie in music, not unfortunately in keeping house”
Which was a strange statement to say considering Celine, as she too was a part of the royal family, had lived in the palace with Raymond almost their entire lives.
Still Samaria thought it was oddly warming to her heart as Raymond hastily scooped up the last few leaves and set the jar back on the counter. He held out his hands with an almost fearful expression, making sure the jar wouldn’t leap to its perpetual death off of the counter once again.
“What possessed you to be up at this hour?” Samaria asked, finally making her presence known. Her head tilted to the side slightly in curiosity. Her blue curls fell from her shoulders and bounced with the movement.
Raymond froze, his muscles tensing and eyes growing wide as the sudden noise startled him. His dilated pupils quickly shot to where the origin of the voice was only to see Samaria standing there. Her doe-like eyes alight with curiosity in the dark kitchen. His body relaxed some, and his words seemed to have been scattered for a moment as he whipped his head from the linen-covered pile on the counter to where his beloved stood.
All the while stuttering; “but- it was- you are…..oh…”
Sheepishly the musician dropped his shoulder and hung his head in defeat, “I was going to surprise you with a breakfast picnic, and a spectacular view of the sunrise.” With a quick flick of his wrist, Raymond pulled back the linen that was obscuring a basket. “For your birthday.”
The basket was handsomely full of what looked to be a few peaches.
A hefty, yet small, wheel of cheese.
A tin of some sort of mysterious treat.
And a thermos of what Samaria could only assume was tea, but from the warm smell that filled the air, it had to have been more of an apple cider. It was being cleverly kept hot in a bottle, it's exterior insulated with bushels of straw bound tightly around the bottle.
Samaria was truly touched. She stood there at a loss for words for a few moments. It didn’t matter how early it was, or how Samaria wished she was awakened to the feeling of Raymond cuddled against her. He had gone out of his way and had expertly planned to make the start of Samaria’s special day extraordinary.
Once her mind had processed the beautiful gift her lover had crafted for her she swept her arms around Raymond and hugged him tightly. A wide grin appeared on Raymond’s face, not because his dearest was hugging him, but because he knew Samaria loved what he had attempted to do for her. Naturally, he hugged back, he loved how perfectly his arms wrapped around her. The two stood there in the kitchen for a few moments. Snuggled in each other’s embrace they both had the same lovesick expression. Samaria’s head pressed firmly into Raymond’s chest and Raymond’s head resting upon hers.
“What a wonderfully fantastic thing you have done!” Samaria’s muffled voice could still be heard through Raymond’s linen shirt. Her head poking out from against his chest to look up at him with sincere joy, “When are we leaving?”
Raymond’s grin grew into a full smile. Taking his love’s hand he kissed it almost gleefully as he stated that he would like to leave as soon as possible. So Samaria set off quickly and soon enough the two love birds were on their way trudging through the dark misty morning of the Ersaillian woodland.
Finally breaking the barrier of trees, Raymond helped Samaria over a small fence as they needed to cross over some old farmer’s land. Unfortunately, the hem of Samaria’s dress was snagged, and in Raymond’s brave attempt to unhook it from the rotting wood fence, all the while still keeping his love balanced in his arms. The two toppled over and landed in the tall grassy field with a thud. Which in turn awakened a few sheep that seemed to have been sleeping with their herd. Spitting grass from his mouth, with a rather sour wrinkle to his brow, Raymond came face to face with one of the sheep. To which Raymond knew belonged to the farmer who owned the land. Seeing as the sheep was marked for ownership.
Samaria perked up from the grass rather quickly, “Not to worry! Our picnic is safe!” she exclaimed boisterously, yet still quiet. She held up the basket, it was then when Samaria realized 3 other sheep were surrounding her and all staring rather ravenously at whatever contents sat in the picnic basket. Whirling around quickly Samaria spotted Raymond not far beside her, who was on his knees and face to face with a fourth sheep. She suppressed a giggle, seeing as their predicament was now a stand-off of musicians with a picnic basket versus hungry sheep (who were much cranky after being disturbed in the wee hours of the morning). Quickly Raymond stood to his feet, the sheep jumping back in response, but his companions still cautiously crept forward. Raymond looked from the basket to the sheep who all had started bleating at them.
“No sudden movements,” Raymond warned quietly, as he slowly backed away from the sheep who were starting close in. “They think our picnic belongs to them.”
“Well, that makes sense.” Samaria muttered back, following in his lead as she too started taking steps back from the sheep, “we are intruders on their land. It seems they are wanting compensation for waking them up.”
“Oh, sadness.” Raymond huffed. One of the other sheep huffed back in response. “If only we weren’t on a time-sensitive celebration. Then I’d be willing to negotiate.”
“You could try serenading them with your pan flute,” Samaria suggested, tilting her head back over her shoulder as she responded. The two were almost back to back now as Raymond muttered, “no good. Sheep don’t respond to flutes. I’ve tried it. They prefer the harp as opposed to the pan flute.” Raymond reached his hand back, knowing he must’ve been close to Samaria now. He continued, “besides, I’d rather not test the irritation of these woolen lambs. My playing might anger them further.”
“What else would you suggest?” Samaria lifted the basket above her head as a sheep tried to snap at it. Now back to back, and surrounded. Raymond looked from bleating sheep to bleating sheep, his eyes flickering light when he realized he did have an idea.
In one smooth and quick motion, Raymond scooped Samaria up into his arm, the basket still held far above her head. Raymond took a deep breath, his chest puffing out slightly to make himself look bigger.
“Baaaaaaack you sheep!” Raymond scolded, even if it sounded more like a braying sheep.
The sheep all stood stunned and jumped back.
Raymond shouted his warning again, the sheep seemed to back away. Startled from Raymond’s shouting, eventually carving a path for them to run and escape to.
Once Raymond had felt they had reached safety, he slowed his run to a walk Samaria still in his arms. He looked over his shoulder just to be sure the sheep hadn’t followed past the farmland. He let out a heavy sigh out of relief, a few beads of sweat running down his cheek. Now perfectly distracted Samaria leaned up and delicately kissed his cheek. His salty sweat pricked her lips ever so slightly, yet she didn’t care. Raymond froze in surprise, his shocked expression melting quickly into a smile as he looked down at Samaria. Her precious brown eyes peered up at him as she sweetly muttered, “my hero.”
“Anything for you my songbird.” He smiled, “no sheep, or beast is too great of a challenge. Especially if it means your safety.”
Samaria smiled brightly and wiggled out of Raymond’s grasp so she could walk hand in hand beside him.
The couple continued onward in their journey, the last obstacle, as Raymond assured Samaria, was just crossing a babbling river. Which was a bit of a fiasco all on its own. But due to Raymond’s quick wit, he was able to save his dearest love from dipping a singular precious foot into the cold rushing current. Breaking the line of a smaller forest, which they had to traverse through after the river, they finally came to the place Raymond was looking for. Passing through a rotting detached fence they arrived at this beautiful hillside. Lush plants, grasses, and many colorful flowers cascaded down the hillside and into the plains below the hill, which stretched for a few more miles until it hit the mountains that protected the more rural farmlands of Ersailles. It was still dark, but both Raymond and Samaria could tell the morning view of the sunrise was going to be spectacular. They settled on the hillside and Raymond began to weave together several daisy chains as Samaria set out their picnic. Her careful hand placing the items in the optimal places so they wouldn’t roll down the hill. The feat however was a bit of a trial, as Raymond had to run down the hill to retrieve a peach once or twice. Samaria finally just stuck the damn thing in her mouth out of frustration, to which Raymond laughed as he finished off his first daisy chain. He fastened it into a crown and gently placed it atop his dearest love’s head, pulling her hair out and around the delicate crown so it wouldn’t fall off her head.
He shifted to face her in the grass, admiring her beautiful face. Samaria could just see Raymond’s blue eyes melt at the mere sight of her, she felt her heart flutter and a soft blush crept up her cheeks.
“Beautiful.” Raymond whispered, “not just today, on your birthday, the most wonderful day of the year. But every day.”
Samaria’s heart not overflowing with adoration she kissed his lips sweetly, and Raymond kissed her back. Gently Raymond pulled away and sat beside her, he poured them both the cider as they continued to wait for the sun’s arrival.
“I was very curious as to why there was a bundle of straw in this basket.” Samaria inquired, blowing on the still somehow warm cider before taking a sip. “Where did you get such an idea?”
Raymond held up the bottle with a sort of pride to his smile, “Lyra and I when we were younger, we would often be required to read books for tutoring and all of that. Of course, our tutor was my mother, aside from Lyra learning...queenly things, she encouraged us to read books we wouldn’t normally seek out. She said it was good to stretch the mind that way.”
He took a long sip from his cup, sighing as the warm liquid hit his senses and the morning chill was chased away. “I read about this baker who was trying to think of a way to keep whipped cream cold. He had built houses for his father before becoming a pastry chef and knew straw was a good insulator. His idea worked, although not in the way he expected. Turns out that chef discovered the prototype to what we know now as la glace, or I suppose more commonly it is known as ice cream.” He let out a bit of a short laugh, “I figured if it could work with keeping things cold, it could keep things hot.”
Samaria was almost baffled by the idea, yet she made a note that she had to try and make her own ice cream. “Well, it worked. This apple cider is perfect for drinking”
Raymond smiled down at her, and at last, the first light of day was starting to peek through the mountains. The dark sky finally giving way to a brighter purple.
Quickly Raymond grabbed Samaria’s hand, his eyes glowing with a giddy light to them. “I’ve been wanting to bring you here since the moment I first heard your name.”
The sunlight illuminated the valley in pockets, some of the grassy brush was still clouded in darkness, while others were cast in a bright orange glow, the dew on each blade of grass sparkled, making the valley look like a field of sparkling diamonds. The sky was painted a beautiful soft pink and orange. The clouds that drifted by looked like tiny pink sheep all resting by the mountain tops, and as the sun started to warm the earth, it too started to warm the bodies of the couple taking in the breath-taking sight.
Samaria’s eyes were affixed and delighted at the wondrous view, she found herself scooting closer to Raymond, resting her head against his shoulder.
Raymond gently lifted Samaria’s hand to his lips and kissed it softly, “This is how you make me feel.” He spoke quietly like if he raised his voice even the slightest bit, the spectacular view would shut itself away and it would be night once again. “Every song you sing, every prank you pull, every step you take, every ‘i love you’ that rings and resonates on my ears.” Raymond turned his attention to Samaria, turning her cheek gently so he could look at her fully so that she might understand just how sincere he was being, “Every time you blush as any of my words, every sigh that falls from your lips, and every flutter of your beautiful...perfect...lashes.” He paused for only a moment, staring into her eyes with such love, such adoration. “You, Samaria, the very fabrication of everything that you are, casts eternal rays of sunshine into my soul.” He pressed her hand to his heart and Samaria’s cheeks flushed a deeper color of red, “ It burns me up and I am more than willing, thankful even, to be consumed by this fiery love I have for you.”
He looked out into the wondrous view for a few moments, shaking his head, almost not believing what he was hearing himself say, “I used to think that this sight. This beautiful phenomenon that nature had woven together, was the most wondrous, beautiful thing I had ever experienced in my entire life.” Raymond, now on the brink of tears, turned back to Samaria. “I was a foolish boy for thinking this. For today, of all days. You, the most beautiful, wondrous person to behold, was born on this day.” He inhaled deeply, his free hand brushing a few loose curls behind Samaria’s pointed ear, “and I am eternally grateful for it. It is an absolute privilege to be a part of your life. That is how much you mean to me, how you as a person, primadonna and touring with a world-famous opera aside, it is just you Samaria...and only you for which my heart years and will forever question how...how could I have been brought such a perfect angel?”
Samaria was at a loss for words, she felt a little overwhelmed at Raymond’s words. He was known for being incredibly easy with compliments but this...this was much different than a simple flick of the tongue. He had truly felt all of these things so strongly and now he was spilling his heart out to her, almost like he was confessing his love to her for the very first time all over again.
Not knowing what else to do at that moment, Samaria hugged Raymond tightly, her legs wrapping around his waist and burning into his neck. Raymond held her tightly, his fingers tangling in her hair as he let a few tears slide down his cheek. “Happy birthday love, I love you so….so much.”
Once the sappy heartfelt moment had passed, the lovers broke into the picnic fully. It was then discovered that in Raymond’s fumbling around the dark kitchen, as to not raise the suspicions of Samaria as he was packing the basket, he accidentally packed the sea biscuits instead of the scones. Thankfully they still tasted good with the cheese Raymond had also brought.
As the sun continued its climb, Raymond and Samaria enjoyed their picnic. Samaria felt truly blessed on the morning of her birthday, the sunrise was beautiful, however, unfortunately early she had to rise to see it. She wasn’t going to let Raymond’s efforts go unrewarded, and as a start, she made him a matching daisy crown and necklace. As she adorned her dearest love with the floral jewelry she kissed his head, “Thank you, darling, for the most fantastic start to this day.” She muttered sweetly to him. Raymond simply just took her hand and squeezed it gently with a wide smile. Raymond pulled his pan flute from his pocket and quietly the sound of Peer Gynt’s “Morning Mood” filled the air. Samaria scanned the grassy patch she sat down in and picked a few flowers to take home a press between some of Raymond’s books, she wanted to remember every last detail of this morning, and this day.