Stories Thread

[The Lemongate]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You people forced my hand. I had to act.

“Velocemente! Velocemente! Don’t you even know how to row?!?!?! RAPIDO!!! Aaah! You bunch of pickled lards wouldn’t even be able to drive a wheelbarrow! It’s a wonder we’ve managed to get to the Bosphorus at all! Mama mia!”

A large man was widely gesticulating at the rowers on the Carico di Lardo, a Genoese galley headed for Constantinople. Large didn’t really do justice to the man’s girth. Huge and ponderous might be more precise, but a few things in life defy description, and the man’s corpulence was among them.

Voluminoso Maiale was exasperated. And when he was exasperated he tended to produce prodigious amounts of sweat. He wiped his brow on the sleeve of his tunic. Even though he was still on the Carico di Lardo, he had dressed in his bright fushia overcoat with assorted shoes over a orange and white striped tunic. He also sported a large bow-tie adorned with a pearl in the middle and a large, feathered cappello hat. Now though, because of the lazyness of his sailors, worthless scimmie piccole all of them, he would have to change his clothes as it was totally unacceptable to enter the City of Coin, the Mother of Trade, the Capital of Silk, the Queen of All Markets without the most sumptuous clothes his immense coffers could offer him.

He had prepared for this day all his life. The day he would conquer the Great City of the Romans, raid it’s markets and enslave its citizens with his fine, tender, juicy mutton chops! The very best of the west! Directly from the fattest lambs of Liguria! This day had to be perfect.

“And I will not let those annoyingly slow sailors tarnish it,” muttered Voluminoso.

A voice brought him out of his reverie: “Water faring associate transportation workers, sinior.”

Voluminoso was taken aback, tried to mumble an answer spewing a thick glob of saliva in the process before remembering where he was.

“Yes, yes capitano, associate transportation workers, not slaves. I know.”

The Water Faring Worker’s Guild was a relic of his plan to gain control of all galleys in the western Mediterranean. The plan had of course backfired in a terribly ironic manner as only his own sailors and slaves had joined the guild and now he was forced to deal with them as a collective bloc of associates. Gone were the days where he could just have them whipped. He sighed. It was such a barbaric thing to do to an honest merchant to force him to negotiate with those little wretches. He was sure that one day in the future, those guilds and associations would disappear. People in a thousand years will never put up with such uncivilized behavior.

But Voluminoso Maiale was not in Constantinople only for commerce. No, he was here to find a wife. In all the cities he had visited in his life (which really only amounted to three, but one of them was in fact a village where he was forced to spend the night because he had gotten lost on his way to Milan) he had heard that the most beautiful women of the world came from Greece, and he was quite decided to marry the most beautiful among them, Anna Komnena, daughter of the great Roman Emperor. After all, was he not the richest and most powerful merchant in all the western world? And his robust physique clearly displayed his opulence. Surely she could not refuse him!

As his thoughts wandered on how he would conquer the city of his dreams and her queen, the Carico di Lardo sluggishly approached the docks of Constantinople.

[The Lemongate]

Voluminoso had been sitting on the docks of Constantinople for the better part of the morning. He was extremely tired. Watching his Water Faring Associates disembarking his prodigious quantities of fine mutton chops was an extenuating chore and he felt as though his energies were totally drained.

Calling his butler, he ordered a carriage to be brought up and to lead him in the inner city to find a place to rest. The ride into the city would have been uneventful had it not been for Voluminoso’s habit of ordering his driver about, yelling at him from the side window of the carriage, parts of his flabby stomach drooping out giving him the general appearance of a squished prune.

“You should have taken the left scimmia stupida! Now you’ll get us lost! Mama mia, sono circondato dai imbeciles! No! NO! Left here! Sinistra! Are you deaf? And be careful you nearly crushed that woman! Do not force me to come up there to teach you how to drive! Riiiight! Right! Oh! Just wait until I get up there! I will crush you like an insetto!”

With great pain, Voluminoso pulled back his belly inside the carriage. He was much too tired to fight with his coach driver. There would be time for that when he arrived in some place he could eat. And he still needed to get dressed properly. He had every intention of going straight to the Emperor’s palace that evening to demand the princess’ hand. He would probably have to hire an orchestra. And maybe buy a city block or two and transform them into gardens he would gift her. And he would create the greatest mutton chop market in all of Constantinople just for her! It would be marvelous!

As the carriage was passing near a tall and richly decorated building close to the Hagia Sophia, Voluminoso forced his carriage to stop.

“This is it. Stop. Stop you headless chicken! This is my hotel can you not see it! Stop I tell you!”

The coach driver tried to explain, but Voluminoso was not listening, he had pulled out his bulging form the carriage and was walking full speed towards the Magnaura.

[TheFlax]

((Written in collaboration with Kagemusha))

Banquet Revelations

Home of the Doukai, Constantinople, 1081

Anna gazed emptily at her own reflection in the mirror, her mind having wondered far away. Her thoughts went mainly to the different men she had recently met; from Kosmas Mavrozomis to Makedonios Ksanthopoulos, each had given her something to consider, even the overly angry one, Kalameteros. Her contemplation didn't last long as she was brought back to reality by a slightly annoyed voice.

"Anna! We have to get you ready, the banquet has already started."

Her personal servant and confidante, Verina, was franticly arranging Anna's hair while she sat and did little to help.

"You know how I dislike these gathering."

Verina paused and gave her a stern look through the mirror. Anna pouted in response, but knew Verina was right, she had to get ready. Nevertheless, like an actor playing her part in a play, she felt compelled to play out her role as she did everytime.

"Verina, why don't you go in my stead?"

The young woman was now choosing proper earings for Anna. Again she pause, this time smiling warmly.

"I am much to common of a woman to pass as royalty."

Anna made an exagerated roll of her eyes, but nevertheless had to agree. It was not a question of Verina's beauty, but they had very different features save for their dark hair. Her face was more angular than Anna's and the several springs she had over twenty had given her a somewhat austere appearance. With an exagerated sigh, Anna resigned herself to her fate.

"Very well, lets get this over with."

Anna applied a small amount of rouge on her cheeks while Verina fitted her with two small golden teardrop earings. The preparations over, Anna rose to watch herself fully in the mirror. She admired how her rich burgundy brocaded silk robe woven with raised designs of gold contrasted with her dark hair and pale face. Turning to her confidante, she repeated the words part of their ritual.

"How do I look?"

"You look marvelous Anna."

Smiling, Anna embraced the older woman, before leaving her room to join the banquet. As she heard the voices of revelry getting nearer, she steeled herself for another tedious evening. A few steps later, she took a deep breath and entered the banquet. At once, most eyes turned on her and Anna struggled to at least offer them a practiced smile.

Ioannis Kantakouzinos had been mingling through the banquet like it was requiered for any man of noble birth. Shaking hands of other noble men and kissing hands of their spouses and daughters.

He was sipping a glass of wine, wearing a black kontomanikion, with red sagion, which had newly embroiled coat of arms of the house Komnenodoukai on its shoulder, while the red colour was taken from his own family insignia.

As he was sipping his wine from a silver cup, the young Kantakouzinos became more and more uneasy. Ioannis thought's drifted.

What if the princess becomes enraged because of the disturbance of her privacy and tells her father that I am harassing her? Maybe this really was not such a good idea?

Suddenly the doubts of the young man were interrupted as Anna Komnenos entered the banquet, looking somewhat our of this world, with her brocaded silk robe, long flowing dark hair and pale skin.

Ioannis swallowed quite loudly and drank rest of his wine with one swallow, thinking.

Just put one feet after another and walk to her. Its not like you haven't fought in the battlefield risking your life times and times over. She maybe more dangerous then any enemy encountered, but she is no enemy and you are no coward.

Encouraged by his thoughts, Ioannis started walking towards the Princess, but just when he got few meters away from her, a familiar voice came from bit down in front of him, ending his internal battle like a bolt of lightning.

"Ioannis, how nice to see you! You have grown as a real Kantakouzinos man."

Ioannis turned his face towards the sound and saw the face of old and somewhat wrinkled woman with hearty smile on her face. Ioannis replied.

"Aunt Eugenia!"

Before he was able to continue. He felt an familiar sensation as his aunt pinched his cheek like million times before. His aunt still had power in his fingers.

"Have you remembered to eat well Ioannis? Ever since you left me and your uncle and started residing in the main residence of our house, I have been worried about you. I know what the young ones do, I was also young myself once, dancing until dawn and drinking wine until the last clear thoughts have passed their minds. Your Uncle says its nothing to worry, but Ioannis, you must remember to eat and sleep well or you wont live to see old age. It caused enough grief to our family to loose your father in Manzikert and afterwards your mother to the convention. You must stay healthy and live long, pass me and your uncle."

"Yes Aunt, of course Aunt.."

Ioannis tried to reply, as his eyes wondered between his aunt and the heavenly creature just few steps away. Anna Komnenos was surrounded by other people, so she could not have noticed the episode next to her.

Or could she?

Ioannis thought, but was were interrupted by his Aunt Eugenia.

"Now young man. Do not just stand there, but dance with your aunt."

Ioannis nodded with expression on his face like he had just lost a duel, while being dragged by his aunt to the floor.

After a bit of wait and nodding to his aunts, talk and suggestions of how he should live his life, another song started and Ioannis did his best to entertain his aunt while every time when he turned towards the princess he could not help but stare at the vision, which was so near, but still so far away.

Anna was already weary of the insatiable sycophants surrounding her. Pleasing them was easy, she needed only to smile meekly and modestly at their flattery or to laugh lightly at their jests. Nevertheless, she couldn't care less about them and their desires.

A quick scan of the room showed her few possibilities of escape, thus she would have to make one. She tolerated the men assembled before her for a time, until she saw an opportunity. The music had changed in favor of a dance that requiered a frequent rotation of partners.

Excusing herself suddenly, she sallied from the besieging admirers and grabbed a hapless courtier, before joining in the dance. This sort of dance suited her best because she didn't need to commit herself to anyone specifically, after a few moments, the dance would make her switch partners with someone else.

During the second dance, Ioannis could notice that his aunt would not last long anymore, the old bird couldn't keep him away from the princess for long anymore as she would soon need to rest.

As the dance was about to end, Ioannis was once again about to turn so that he could see the Princess in all of her beauty, but as he turned around, there was only few young men, where the princess had been just a moment a go. A terrible thought crossed Ioannis' mind.

Did I already lost her before I was able to meet her?

The music stopped and Ioannis stayed in his place, nurturing dreadful thoughts about his aunt, whom had gone to sit down and rest for a bit.

The first notes of the new song begun and by old reflexes Ioannis took one step to the right and spin to the left reaching his arm to the next partner, without so much looking towards that direction.

As he grabbed the sophisticated and small arm to to his own hand, he looked up and there she was, Anna Komnenos, holding his hand with a cute but appropriate smile on her rose lips. One spin to the right and then she was gone spinning with her next partner, while Ioannis was going to the opposite direction with his new partner, smiling and thinking.

It seems all hope is not lost yet. Now I will just have to wait while she spins through the line and back to me.Then she can't surprise me dumb.

After reaching the other end of the line, partners changing one after another, Ioannis could see how the beautiful princess was travelling his way. As he felt the touch of her hand again Ioannis said so others could not hear.

"Your higness, could you spare me word or two after this dance?"

Ioannis watched the Princess straight to the eyes and waited for a reply.

Anna recognised Ioannis the first time she passed by him in the dance and on the second pass, she could only smile and nod softly before shuffling over to her next partner.

The dance didn't last long enough for her to pass Ioannis another time and as soon as the music halted, she slipped away. Glancing back at Ioannis, she silently invited him to join her in one corner of the room.

Like moths drawn to a candle, the sycophants assaulted her once more. Anna dodged and weaved arround them, using other guests as shields. Circumventing most of them, she made her way hastily to where she would meet up with Ioannis.

Ioannis watched as the princess struggled to get rid of her admirers and as few stubborn few still following her, where they were supposed to meet. Ioannis decided to march between the Princess and the people trying to catch up with her. As he reached the point where he was standing between the Princess and the remaining followers, Ioannis suddenly turned to face tthem and with soft but determined voice said.

"If you could kindly spare us a minute with the princess, I would be forever grateful to the lot of you."

After saying the words the young Kantakouzinos kept staring at the eyes of the men, until all of them had decided to walk away or had turned their attention elsewhere in order to save face.

Then he turned towards the Princess, bowed and said with a playfull smile on his face, while pretending to be very much looking like he was sorry.

"I am terribly sorry for interrupting your chat with these ladies and gentlemen. I most humbly beg for your forgiveness."

Ioannis slowly raised his head while smiling to Anna. After the formal questions and compliments that had to be made on every occasion when nobles met, Ioannis explained to Anna what he wanted to talk with her.

"Your Majesty. As you must be aware I am practically an old man and because of my hideous appearance, no woman will pity me enough to marry a monster like me."

Ioannis tried to look as serious as he could and touched his moustache,while trying to draw his mouth downwards as if looking sad while he had trouble keeping his playful smile covered. He continued.

"Because of my hideous looks and need of your father, the Emperor, of strators to fight and die for him in distant places, my duty and honour is to go and fight the Tartars, Magyars and Saracens. For this I ask you dear princess to touch this cloth with your hand, so I could place it near my heart in order that the light which shines from you could give me comfort when without doubt my armor will be punctured by the Tartar arrows and the heathen Saracens will cut me open like a fish, while there will be probably blood everywhere...."

Ioannis continued his story about his horrible and gory death in hands of the enemies of the Empire, while trying to keep his act of doomed man together, with occasional smiling eye contacts to the Princess. He slowly raised his right hand with the cloth, which was the very same fabric the book had been covered with. He continued babling as if he was just trying to get the Princess to interrupt him.

Anna was taken aback by Ioannis' words, she had only wanted a companion for discussion that would not fawn over her. Apparently she had stumbled into something quite different.

She reached for the cloth and softy placed one finger over his mouth, wishing to silence him.

"Hush now. What is wrong with you Ioannis? Why do you speak of hideousness and doom? Is this some sort of game?"

Yet once Anna felt with her gentle hand the cloth handed to her, recognition flared in her eyes for an instant. It was the same kind of cloth that had wrapped the book she had recently received. A quick glance confirmed want her tactile senses had told her.

She did not know what to make of this. Was it a coincidence? Or was Ioannis toying with her?

Ioannis reached for the Princess' arm, so he could grab both the cloth and the hand holding it to his own. He leaned forward, bowing his head and kissed back of the hand of Anna. Slowly raising his head while gently taking the cloth to his own hand, while aiming his eyes to the eyes of the princess. He said with a gentle voice.

"The thing is Annna Komnenos, that as your humble admirer, who does not deserve the attention of the beauty unmatched in Court of Rome, or any other city under the sky. I must take my leave. Before I bring shame to either of us."

Ioannis smiled with longing and some kind of sadness in his eyes, unable to hold his feelings for the princess no longer, like he had hid those feelings for years. Realizing his revealing expression, Ioannis turned his eyes to the ground while nodding his head in a bow. He turned around and walked into the night, the confused expression of the heavenly creature burned in his eyes.

Anna simply stood there befuddled and at the mercy of the circling vultures. Seeing their prey vulnerable, they dived upon the young woman, quickly surrounding her. At first, she simply stared at them, stammering nonsensical replies, but quickly she pushed away her troubling encounter with Ioannis. She would reflect on it at a later time, for now, she had to entertain these fawning fools. It took all of her countenance to avoid sighing in despair.

[flyd]

Constantinople, 1081

As the sun was setting on the first day of Senate deliberations, Markianos Ampelas left the Magnaura and headed toward the inn where he was lodging during his stay in the city. Though the merchants were closing up their shops, the fishermen returning to the docks, and even the city garrison preparing to retire for the night, it seemed the tireless bickerers in the Senate would continue through the night. The sun had set by the time Markianos reached the inn, but it was still light out, and the streets were still fairly active. He picked up his mail from the inn keeper, and went to his room. The room was small and simple, containing only a bed, a chair, and a table. On the table was a mass of papers, and on the chair and the floor were scattered his clothes. The only decoration was a pair of small icons on the east wall, one of the blessed Theotokos and one of Saint Demetrius of Thessalonike. Markianos changed into plain clothes, and did not even bother to read his mail, but only sat on the edge of his bed and waited. After about half an hour, he donned his heavy, military cloak, under which he hid his sword and some money. He looked at the wall with the icons, made the sign of the cross, and left.

Much to Markianos' relief, the street was nearly deserted. While the sky was still a light pink, not much light reached the street level. Although the street was lighted by torches, they were weak, and one could easily go about clandestine business. He headed west, away from the rich areas of the city, passing through a succession of neighborhoods, each of greater ill-repute than the last. He finally arrived in the neighborhood he seeked, a few miles away from the center of the city, though still within the Wall of Constantine. He got off the main road, and navigated a labyrinth of narrow and poorly labeled streets. At each small intersection, he would stop and look at a small piece of paper he held in his hand, which probably contained directions. After another half mile or so, he arrived at the place.

From the outside, it was but a door in large, two-story building, with the only feature distinguishing it from the other doors being the letter μ painted upon it with white paint. Beyond the door and down the stairs was a fairly large room with about twenty tables, some half of them occupied. Markianos took a seat in the corner, and almost immediately a waitress, a pretty, blue-eyed, Rus' (probably Rus', from up north certainly) girl, brought him the only item on the menu: a large cup of beer.

Markianos was on his third beer, though it may have been the fourth, when it was announced that the tavern was closing. He did not react. Soon, he was the only person remaining in the tavern, and was approached by a short, Greek man, probably the owner, who reiterated that the tavern was closed.

"I am looking for Spyridon Mikellides," said Markianos without ever looking at the man.

"What?" responded the other, "I don't know who that is. You need to get out."

Markianos stood up and left. He stopped outside of the tavern, and stood near the door. A few people from the tavern remained near by, most engaging in pointless drunk conversation with their friends, though some occasionally casting glances in Markianos' direction. After a short time, the Rus' girl (yes, she might have been from further north, perhaps from the land of the Varangians, but that really is beside the point), came by.

She came up to him, put her arms around his neck, and said, "Would you like to come with me for some fun?" Her Greek was decent, with a slight hint of a Russian accent. Or perhaps Varangian. It was too light to tell, in any case.

"Yes," he said, without showing any emotion. He then followed her away from the crowd without drawing any attention. He followed her through the labyrinth until they came upon a building which was not in any way distinct from the other buildings, and entered a door which resembled most other doors. He followed her up the stairs, and she led him into a room lighted with a lamp, and when she had led him thus, she left, closing the door behind her. The room was clean, neat, and utterly ordinary and inconspicuous, except for the man in a dark blue cloak with a hood, sitting at a table and looking at Markianos.

Markianos sat across him, and asked, "Are you Spyridon Mikellides?"

"I go by many names," said the hooded figure.

"Well," said Markianos with a slight hint of annoyance, "is Spyridon Mikellides one of them?"

"What is it you want, Comes Ampelas?"

Startled a bit that this man knew who he was, Markianos started making his request: "There is a certain man who goes by the name of Apionnas Vringas. A Senator, of the rank of Strator. I shall tell you all I know of him, and you shall tell me everything else. He claims to be descended from a noble Roman family, and claims to have been taken a slave by the Mamluks and was an officer in the Manoso... Manosourioi--"

"Mansuriyya."

"Yes. Indeed. He now comes to the Roman Senate dressed as a Saracen. His family connections check out, and he was allowed in, and did participate in the debate, but there has been no proof, nor any show at all, that his allegiance lies with our Basileus Alexios and our Lord Christ. It is his allegiance, in both the temporal and spiritual realms, that interests me the most, but any information past what he has provided, and the accuracy of that which he has provided, would also be useful."

"It is possible that I can help you," said the man who sometimes goes by Mikellides, "but since the target is a Senator, and the punishment therefore high treason, it will cost money. Perhaps one hundred and twenty florins, up front."

Markianos tossed a small sack on the table, which landed with the distinct sound of ringing coins. "Fifty florins there, expect seventy when I have good information. And if this fellow should be uncovered a spy, then perhaps expect great rewards from the Emperor."

The two men then discussed the logistics of how they will contact each other and pass information and money. Satisfied, Markianos left the room, and found the Rus' girl waiting for him downstairs. She was to take him back to the tavern so he could find his way back. He did ask her where she was from, but she only smiled at him and said nothing. Typical cloak and dagger types, never reveal more information than is absolutely necessary, even if it is just to satisfy a simple curiosity. She was very pale, with light hair and bright, blue eyes, definitely from the far north, possibly from Novgorod or Rostov, if not from the lands of the Varangians.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Written with assent of AG

[Kagemusha]

Kantakouzinos residence the next morning.

Ioannis woke up early and had his usual simple breakfast. Naksos waited patiently until his master was served and then started reporting of the usual things like the household costs, new servants and other things normal.

The older man waited for Ioannis to change the subject to other things more urgent, but as the younger man did no such thing, finally he gave up and asked.

"So Master, how was the banquet."

Ioannis watched the view opening up from the windows opposite to him and replied.

"Naksos, i really do not know. Maybe the Varangian guard will arrive soon and put me into chains and i will be deported to some small island on Aegean Sea, or maybe nothing will happen. What i know is, that now Anna Komnenos knows who sent her the book and also she either understands that i have feelings for her, or thinks im crazy. Which in the end is pretty much the same thing. Only time will tell, what the princess thinks..."

Ioannis stopped talking when a young boy entered the room and whispered something to the ear of Naksos. The older man nodded as sign that he understood and the boy left.Naksos moved his eyes to Ioannis and said.

"The Basileos is about to address the Senate."

Ioannis turned his eyes to Naksos and replied.

"Then lets go."

[TheFlax]

Reflections

Imperial Palace, Constantinople, 1081

The banquet had ended nearly an hour ago and it was well into the fourth hour of the apodeipnon. A cool breeze sporadically made the many candles in room quiver. In that wavering light, Anna sat hunched on herself at the edge of her bed, her hands in her disheveled hair and her eyes red with tears. Her silken white nightrobe echoed each shudder as Verina tried to confort her. The book she had received the other night was sprawled on the floor, minor damage could already be seen in some places.

Reality had came crashing in tonight. The day before, messages from unknown admirers seemed surreal, as in a fantasy. It had been all a game for her, trying to discover their identities, yet always missing some crucial clue. A few hours, one of them had revealed himself as Ioannis Kantakouzinos, an acquaintance she had met several years ago. Not only had he toyed with her before revealing himself, but had prompty left her in a state of turmoil that had left her defenseless against the throng of suitors and sycophants who had jumped at the occasion.

She had thanked God for giving her the strength of keeping face until the end of the banquet. Rage, frustration and sadness had built up for the better part of the night and once the banquet was over she had rushed to her room and surrendered to them. She felt angry at herself, for being taken unware, and at Ioannis, for leaving her to the wolves without consideration. She felt frustrated at her powerlessness over this whole situation. She felt sadness because she could not give Ioannis want he wanted and because the revelation had shattered her foolish but conforting romantic dreams.

Rubbing her eyes, Anna turned to her confidante.

"What should I do?" She inquired in a desperate tone.

"About what?" Verina replied, moving to sit beside her.

"Ioannis Kantakouzinos." The name was spoken without a hint of emotion.

"He loves you, does he not?"

"He said as much."

"Then use him."

Anna's expression turned from grief to shock.

"I can't do that!" Outrage was creeping in her voice, yet Verina remained calm.

"Don't you frequently use other people's weakness to your advantage when dealing with them?"

Anna pondered the question, a bit too long for her own liking. Her reply was hesitant.

"It's... It's not exactly like that...I..."

"It's exactly the same thing." Verina pressed on as she felt Anna ceding ground.

"I guess so... but it feels wrong."

Yet Anna's hesitation was slowly slipping away. Verina felt Anna was about yield and delivered the final blow. "Didn't he hurt you Anna? Look at the state you are in!" In Anna's mind it made sense, would should she worry about how he felt after he clearly abandonned her, uncaring about her feelings? She let herself fully drop in the plush bed.

"You're right Verina. If needs be, I'll do it."

"What about the two Comes you have already met, Kosmas and Makedonios?"

Anna propped herself slightly on her elbows and locked her eyes with those of her confidante. "They aren't interested in me Verina, not in that way."

The older woman laughed softly. "Anna, every man is interested in you!"

Anna shock her head lightly. "Not them, they won't."

Verina became more insistent. "Anna! You have to use every advantage you have, you must..." In an instant Anna rose to a sitting position and scowled at Verina.

"Enough!"

Verina gave her an apologetic look. "But Anna..."

Anna cut her off as she rose. "Leave." Not looking back, she made her way to the room's balcony. Pushing the drapes aside she made her way into the darkness until she felt the balcony's railing. She propped herself on it and gazed at the sleeping city before her. Somewhere out there, Ioannis was thinking about her, not knowing how she felt. She silently apologized for what she was about to do.

[Privateerkev]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OOC: The following story is sappy and full of emotion. It is an attempt to balance out TLG's earlier stories regarding a certain large, boisterous, and buoyant merchant. Feel free to read on but you have been warned.

1081:

A desk and chair had been moved into the Grandmaster's spartan quarters. Simple and made of wood, there was a candle and a pen on top of the desk. By all accounts, today would have been considered a good day. The politics were going about as well as could be expected. Deals were being made for the benefit of all involved. Things were moving forward. But today was not a good day.

Makedonios sat hunched over a desk trying to scribble something down on a piece of paper. Ever since he had met Anna, he couldn't get her out of his mind. She consumed his thoughts. She floated into his mind like a beautiful apparition and smiled at him with that glowing smile of hers. He had not had a good nights sleep since they met.

They had communicated since but it was... very basic. No emotion, no heart. Makedonios had poured over her letters as if to soak every last drop of emotion out of them. But there was none there. The exercise left him feeling empty. There was no solace and no closure to be found there. He needed to tell her how he felt. But how?

He was under no illusions. He knew her father would never let them marry. And he knew she only saw him as a useful confidante. And he knew his faith and commitment to the Lord would never allow anything to progress any further. But he still felt how he felt. There was no denying it. He was starting to develop feelings for her. And not the kind of infatuation all the nobles felt. No, he actually liked the person he was getting to know. He liked her for the little things. The imperfections that defined her character. The times she allowed a little weakness to show.

For when she allowed weakness to show, it proved that she was not too proud to admit she was not perfect. She was very... humble for a Princess. And intelligent. Far more intelligent than the Comes. But unlike many men, Makedonios did not mind that. He knew he was smart enough to get the job done and that was good enough for him. Her intelligence did not threaten him. He hoped she knew that. Makedonios had already gotten a good read on many men in the Senate and he could tell that many of those men could not handle being with a woman smarter than they.

All night, Makedonios tried to scribble on the piece of paper with his hands shaking. Little rolled up balls of paper littered the floor. He didn't know how to put his feelings down on paper. He glanced at a small Orthodox cross on the wall from time to time. First praying for forgiveness for his impure thoughts. Then for strength. Now he prayed for guidance. Nothing came to mind.

Giving up, the Grandmaster got up and snuffed out the candle. Putting his robe over his clothes, he left the room, and quietly padded through the Order's chambers in the Senate building. He just needed to get some air. It was an unusually hot night but there was a breeze. Strolling down the path along the Magnaura, he saw the palace. He wondered which window was hers.

Standing there thinking, he realized that if he wrote to her tonight, he'd just be putting his own problems on her. Sure he was conflicted and confused. But why did he think earlier that she could possibly help him with that? He did put some of his work problems on her but she had asked to help. But this was different. This would be putting his emotional problems on her. He still didn't know what to do. But he knew he would somehow just have to work through it. And it would do neither of them any good to have him dump his emotional baggage on her.

Saying a prayer for her, Makedonios walked back into the Senate building to go to bed.