Defiance of Fortune

"For she knew she could not be stronger than herself." - L.T.

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“Her eyes like angels watch them still,  Her brows like bended bows do stand,  Threat'ning with piercing frowns to kill  All that attempt with eye or hand  Those sacred cherries to come nigh,  Till "Cherry ripe" themselves do cry.”

- By Thomas Campion (1617,) There is a Garden in Her Face  Composed by: John Rutter Performed by: The Cambridge Singers

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Change of Plans | Annette & Herbert

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It can be difficult to know a moment of tranquillity in the heart of Paris, even during the early hours before sunlight even formally light the stage, the city can still be found quibbling in every corner. The gardens of the royal palace offer one of the rare incidents of sanctuary with still the presence of outdoor breeze, leading the weary captain to find himself visiting the illustrious garden increasingly often.

He generally found himself left to his own musing during most of his sojourns, with the occasional greeting and acknowledgment from fellow aristocrats, guards and oftimes, members of nobility. Herbert treaded through the grounds aimlessly, feeling the fresh morning breeze brush upon his skin, bringing about it a hymn, ringing distantly in his ears along with a whiff of his melancholy. Woeful but still ceiled with his patrician grace, he stood amidst the garden comparable to a scene from a painting. He jeered at the thought to himself, for a soldier like him to be contrasted with such romanticism. Inattentive to his steps, he stepped on a fallen branch. The noise of the crack reverberated much louder in its vacant surroundings than it normally would, catching the attention of another audience. Not entirely unforeseen, though still indubitably surprised, he was attended to by the queen. She, like him, had a noticeable bleakness about her, albeit laced with delicacy and with a gentle edge about her esteem. Her voice shook slightly, her gaze tampered by a trace of guilt, complementing her graceful attire. It was undoubtedly more beautiful, though concerning all the same.

“Pardon, my queen.” He bowed to her gently, masking his reactions and watching attentively if any need from her should arise. “I shall inquire the same. The weather is rather brisk.” He added, with a tender smile and a tone of concern weaved within. “If you shall need anything, do ask.”

The Captain of the Red Guard was certainly not the figure she expected to run into on her morning stroll. However, she was a woman who could keep a pleasant smile on her face no matter what emotions startled her, or crept below the surface. It was a skill that she bore some pride in, but also one that was born out of necessity. She nodded politely in response to his bowing, an acknowledgement of both hof their stature.

“Merci, Captain.” She glanced out across the gardens, only the occasional swallow their companion. “I did not mean to interrupt your private time.” Her tone of voice was apologetic even as she continued to smile quietly. “I know how precious it can be.” Her smile spread a little wider, as if that was somehow a secret that they now shared.

“If you do not feel it would be inappropriate, I would invite you to join me. However, please feel no obligation.” She delicately transferred her book from under her arm into the palm of her hands. Attempting to assume a more formal posture now that she was in the company of another.

The Red Guard were not figures that Annette regularly found in her day to day life. They were not the sort to gamble with her as the braver Musketeers did long after dinner when the dogs were gnawing at their bones and the musicians had drunk a little too much. Nor were they the sort to seek audience with the queen in a formal context. As a result she kept her glittering facade completely intact, etiquette foremost, as she sized up the man before her.

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Change of Plans | Annette & Alexandre

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bcstardking:

The garden was peaceful, no courtiers buzzing at his heels or guards precariously placed as Alexandre tried to put distance between them. It was quite safe within the palace walls, safe too if he was sharp enough outside of them, and although in recent years it was common for Alexandre to dodge on entourage he was pleased to walk carelessly alone. Peaceful it was, but alone he was not, her voice cut through him like a bitter northern wind. “Pardon,” he stammered, his gaze flickered from the fountain he’d been consoling, and the memories to be found in the icy water, to her. Annette was beautiful, there was no denying it, but Alexandre wondered if the look of shock was at having to share the gardens with someone or himself. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, mon amour.” 

“I didn’t mean to be quite so noisy,” Alexandre ran his thumb over the pebble he’d been about to skim across the water’s surface, three or four had already sunk to the bottom of the half-frozen fountain. “It’s early…are you not sleeping well my queen?” He carefully pocketed the pebble and approached her, the gap between them disappearing, if only it was that simple. “Ah,” he hummed after eyeing the book tucked beneath her arm, if he had been twice as organised he’d have brought one too and perched himself on the lawn. But with frost still biting relentlessly at the grass and Alexandre in a riot of thoughts, it had slipped his mind.

There were questions that perhaps he ought to ask. But he would not be so vulgar to intrude on Annette’s privacy, not when he valued his own so dearly. Alexandre was careful to tug his collar a little higher, the marks there had not yet faded, “if you are cold you could have my coat?” In the same motion, he slipped the thick fur coat from his narrow shoulders, on him it had looked a little large but on Annette it swamped her. “There,” he murmured, deft fingers adjusted the coat until it was no longer at threat of slipping from her shoulders. Alexandre regarded her, guilt thick in his throat and stilling anymore words from spilling from between his lips.

She wasn’t sure if she was glad it was Alexandre or not. It certainly meant she wasn’t in trouble for sneaking off without her usual retinue in tow. However it meant looking into his eyes, and attempting to smile as if every look he spared her wasn’t worth more than every diamond she owned. It wasn’t as if she were starved for attention, or as if she was wilting with desire, it was a fear that sat deep in the pit of her stomach that she was somehow failing him. “I wasn’t frightened, only pleasantly surprised.” She smiled and laughed lightly, although it failed to reach her eyes. 

Annette’s eyes traveled from the stone in his hands up to his eyes, surmising his activities, and immediately understanding his need to be alone. It was the same need she had. They were similar in spirit, she thought. Perhaps that’s what made it so easy to simply be with him, despite the unspoken failures. She had tried to fall in love with him, she tried to fall in love with him every time he smiled at her when they first met. It had been easy, but then the realization that it wasn’t the sort of love she should hold for her husband had crept in. It had dawned on her gently, but with the icy grip of anxiety speeding her heart all the same. Every night he that he was not present in her bed was a relief and a punishment wrapped in one another, but as it was every night, she had learned to sleep soundly after the second year. “Mais non.” She reassured him gently, her head shaking briefly, curls bouncing. “I just thought the morning....” she trailed off, looking around her, “It needed visiting today.” 

She had forgotten to feel the cold, even as she shivered, and it was as he noticed and slipped his coat around her shoulders that she noticed it once more. She had no time to respond as he wrapped her in it, his warmth still soaking the garment. She smiled once more, and this time it reached her entire face. “Merci.” She wasn’t sure how to say thank you in a way that told him as much as she wanted to. So instead she held in a sigh and found his searching eyes once more. “And yourself?” It was more than one question trapped in too few words. “Won’t you be cold? Aren’t you up early as well? What are you doing?” All of the words unsaid, because they simply felt too intrusive. 

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Change of Plans : Open

Boredom was the curse of a queen, this was something that Annette had learned a long time ago. Shiny baubles and pretty silks could only keep her attention for so long. Although they were welcome distractions for the time they served. Thankfully, most days contained enough odd distractions to keep her occupied. The little diversions ranged from the trouble her ladies managed to cause, to the days she was able to escape the duties of court life in favor of better entertainment. 

The air had a lingering cold to it that even the spring sun had not yet managed to touch. Annette shivered as she stepped into the gardens. The trees had not bloomed yet, though she set out for them anyway. They were her favorite haunt during the summer, and she found comfort underneath their branches. Aside from her own apartments, the garden was one of the only places she felt truly at home. There was a slight bounce in her step as she thought about her plans for the day. She had sent down for her favorite horse to be saddled after lunch, and the late afternoon was all her for a few card games. There were no appointments on her books, nor audiences to be held. Under arm she had tucked a small book of poetry, written in her native tongue. 

Shivering again, Annette pulled her shawl a bit tighter around her shoulders. The sky hung high overhead without a cloud to cover it, yet somehow a little too gray for what it should have been. It put a sense of trepidation in her chest, as if everything could fall apart at a moment’s notice. Her perfect plans felt more fragile than they should have, or perhaps had any right to. A sound caught her ear and she looked over her left shoulder, then her right, no one appearing to claim it. Picking up her pace a bit, she jumped as she looked forwards once more, nearly tripping over the source of the noise.

“I didn’t expect anyone else to be in the gardens this early!” A tone of surprise and guilt edged her voice.