|
Post by Raynesleigh on Dec 19, 2011 17:55:57 GMT -5
Setting: France
Year: 1670
Monarch: Louis XIV "Sun-King"
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Dec 19, 2011 21:34:08 GMT -5
Arienne lifted her eyelids slowly then abruptly shut them again, wishing to take the night before from her memories. Tears filled her eyes and she gasped and shook her head. She had done this because her father had asked her too. Or rather, because he had told her to. She was the daughter of a Duke, a man high in the king's favor. The youngest of his five children and three daughters, and now, the King's whore. It did not matter to her if he was a king. She had not wanted to lose her virginity to him. She did not love him. She had loved Elliot and he had died in battle a year ago. Swallowing, she sat up, curling the sheets closer to her and then covering her face with her hands.
King Louis had come to her father, asking permission to take her as a mistress and after a bit of money and a bit more land, her father had agreed. She had of course, vehemently tried to get out of it, but she had had no choice in the matter.
"Let him in your bed and he will make you a happy bride of some Duke..." her father had said. She had wanted none of it but a slap to the face and a promise of being locked away till there was gray in her hair, not to mention, her sister Marguerite taking her place, had forced her to concede. So last night, he had come to her room, and made use of her. It had hurt and had been so embarrassing having him kiss on her and touch her in ways not even Eliot ever had. And now it was done. She was officially his. With her luck, he would tire of her quickly.
A lady's maid came to help her dress, saying that the King wished her presence so it was with heavy heart that she slipped from the bed and let herself be dressed in a pretty white and gold ensemble with pink accents, her hair dressed with pearls and pinned lace. It was rather pretty. If the maid knew anything she was not saying.
Swallowing, she walked down into the main room of court and found herself standing before the 31 year old king. Airenne curtseyed then stood tall and looked at him slowly. He smiled.
"Madamoiselle...Seeing as you have been left alone at court by your father and brother until September, I am seeing to it that one of my men personally sees to your safety," he said then motioned to one of his musketeers. "Monsieur Lucien will take good care of you," he told her.
"As you wish, majesty," she said softly then glanced at the man before looking away again.
"Excellent. Now Monsieur, do show Mademoiselle Renault to the newly cultivated gardens so the two of you can get used to each other" he said simply. She lifted her gaze and then turned to gaze at the man dressed in the blue of a guard and musketeer. Then she looked down, drawing her shawl closer to her then taking a deep breath looked down again.
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Dec 20, 2011 12:06:24 GMT -5
There had never been a more amazing feeling in the world then at the top of the Eiffel Tower over looking the historical city of Paris. Those were the first thoughts that came to her mind as she was taking in the sites of the city from the tower. With her flash camera in hand, Valerie was taking pictures to be developed back home so that her family could see that she had a lovely vacation with her friend, Cindy as they were backpacking through Europe during their summer vacation from University. Of course, they had been promising to do this since they are in Grade Eight, of course she remembered the day on the school yard when they spoke of all the things that they wanted to do in their lives.
This was one of them, glancing over to her friend who was on the other side of the crowd of tourists from all over the world. She could hear a mix of languages, some were a group of Japanese tourists as well as some from Eastern Europe that she could not quite pinpoint along with some Americans from Texas or something of the sort.
Both Cindy and herself were born and raised in Montreal, Quebec to anglophones but Valerie was bilingual and Cindy knew enough French to get her by in Quebec. "Cind..." Valerie called out as she raised her hand but her friend waved as if to say a few more minutes as she smiled with a nod knowing that she felt the same way since she wanted to take in more of the sites as she thought of a song that was playing on the radio alot. 'Steal My Sunshine.' It seemed to pop in and out of her head as she was leaning over the railing of the tower and looking down.
That was when something bumped into her from behind and she felt herself fall forward as her camera's wrist strap forward and into the structure of the Eiffel Tower smashing into pieces as she felt her body floating for a split second as her eyes closed waiting for the pain that would ultimately end of life.
And yet, it was as if nothing happened and she felt water on her face as she looked up feeling that it was rain and that something smelled terrible as she could not help but frown as she raised herself up. It was dark out but she was somewhere that she shouldn't be. It was an alley of some sort... that did not make sense as she thought of being on top of the Eiffel Tower with Cindy and the crowd of tourists. This was entirely different. She looked to see that she was on some sort of pile of garbage... the brief glimpses of her camera smashing into bits was all she could think of as she looked down at her clothes. She was still wearing the shorts and the white peasant top which was looking a little see throught because of the rain as she slowly lifted herself up to see where the hell she was.
The streets were cobblestones but then, the city was probably trying to make this area look older because of all the tourism. "I wonder where Cindy is..." She said to herself as she reached around for her cellphone. Both of them had gotten one if something that this had happened. Looking down at the device, it was running out of battery life as she dialed the numbers only to say that there was no service. "Bullshit..." She whispered as she rubbed her arms feeling the goosebumps crawl up her arms as she went out into the streets. They were lit with flames making her think that it was romanctic for the briefest of moments as she glanced around. She needed to find herself a payphone to call the hostel that they were staying at and to tell her friend that she was alright.
She felt tired as she started to walk looking for a cafe or a bar or something of the sort that would have a telephone. That was when she heard someone say... "How much?" in a bastardized version of French that was worse than her own as she looked behind her to see a man who grabbed onto her shoulder as she screamed and pulled out some pepper spray and directed it into his eyes. The string of the pepper spray made him scream but let go as she felt it go into her own eyes and they watered as she looked like she was crying, her masgara running down her face as she went down the road half blinded.
---
Bowing to his King, the young man who was in his mid twenties took on his task despite being the second son to a Count. Since his older brother was the one who would take the title, he was to join the royal guard as a musketeer in servicing the King and all of his wims. This young lady seemed to be his newest wims since it was well knowned that the Sun King had a number of mistresses. "Yes, your majesty." He said simply as he bowed to the lady in question.
He was one of the higher ranking men of the unit and to be given a task like this was supposely an honour. Something that he did not think such an honour since he was basically babysitting a fool hardy young girl who was to be the King's mistress.
"Mademoiselle?" He heard himself say as he offered his arm to her since this was by right of the King and being a loyal subjest, he would never disobey as she took his arm and he was to escort her to the royal gardens. A place that he had to admit was beautiful, it had been put together by countless master artists and gardeners until the King, a parton of the arts was pleased with it. And he had been.
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Dec 20, 2011 17:24:00 GMT -5
Jerome slipped out of a nearby tavern. He had been enjoying a few pints of ale, a hearty stew and of course, Madame Lorraine's best tarts. he was not dressed in uniform as he was off duty for a little while and instead was wearing a simple shirt, breeches and had his hair tied back, not under a foppish wig of curls everyone and their mother seemed to be wearing. He did however, have a sword at his hip made of the finest steel and was so sharp, it cut easily through nearly any target.
He was a handsome man with brown hair, hinting with gold, his face was made of angles that were perfectly proportionate and made him appear rougish but completely delectable. Something that made most women fall for him. he had a reputation as one of the greatest musketeers, having apprenticed under D'Artagnan until earning a name for himself in his own right. He was a lover of women, and a fighter of justice as well as to protect the king.
As good a King as Louis was politically, some of his personal behavior certainly didn't sit well within Jerome. Granted, he had numerous women but if the King saw a woman he wanted, married or nay, he would convince her husband, family, or her with promises of money or some such till he got what he wanted. He had numerous bastards and Queen Marie seemed to take a blind eye to it but he knew the woman did not like it at all. But she wouldn't say anything because that was what good Queen's did.
He was busy whistling as he rounded a corner only for him to be smacked into by some crying woman. He managed to catch both of their weights without falling and turned to look at the crying woman in the lamplight. She had kohl running down her cheeks and was wearing some sort of garments he didn't even realize a woman could wear. she had a nice body though. He would give her that much. Whatever she was wearing, definitely accentuated every curve.
"What in God's name? Are you alright?" he asked her, lifting her cheek, hoping she spoke French or English. So thinking, he asked again in a very thick accented English.
-----
Arienne glanced at him then looked at the gardens as they passed through them and she sighed. She already knew what he was thinking. That she was the King's plaything and mistress. That she was a little whore spreading her legs to better her position at court. But she didn't give a damn about court. Or money or land. Not that it mattered. She looked at the musketeer escorting her then looked forward.
"Thank you for taking to looking after me Monsieur Lucien. As much of an honor as it is supposed to be, I get the feeling you would rather be doing anything then playing personal guard to the King's whore," she said glancing at him and then forward.
"You don't have to guard your tongue around me. I am as aware of the situation as you are and nearly every single courtier present..." she said simply, dropping her arm from him and walking down the path to the roses that were in full bloom thanks to the season. She ran her fingers over the yellow rose before then sighed.
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Dec 21, 2011 0:21:43 GMT -5
She did not even look up, not that she could see anyways as she pushed against whomever hearing the spoken language of both French and English. "I'm okay..." She muttered in english before reliazing that this person spoke French as she moved away rubbing at her eye so she could see clearly, smearing the black masgara as she rubbed at her hazel eyes. Finally looking up, she stared at him for a moment now knowing who he was or the clothing that he was wearing as she said. "I'm alright but... I'm not a whore..." She said to him since she had been mistaken for one earlier on.
Did she look like a hooker? Everyone dressed like this, atleast from what she knew. Britney Spears and some of the other teenie boppers wore things that were much worse that bared their stomachs. Staring at him, the rain was only a light drizzle and the air was humid from the summer night as she knew that she had to ask for a telephone. "I have to call my friend, Monsieur..." Valerie started. "Could you direct me to a pay phone or a constable?" She questioned reaching into the pockets of her 'Daisy Dukes' and pulling out some francs from earlier on in the day when she had bought a croissant and some of the best coffee in the world for her breakfast at the cafe from around the corner to the hostel.
It took her a moment to see what sort of clothing he was wearing as she wondered if he was some sort of performer for tourism or actor. Well, she was not going to ask any questions as she smiled. "Ah, perhaps you might even know the hostel that I need to go to." She mentioned before telling him the address of the hostel. "It had a bar attached to it as well called the 'The Dirty Sow.' She frowned thinking that it was a terrible name for a bar but who was she to question someone's choice.
---
"Mademoiselle." He said simply despite what he thought of her, he had no right to judge and he would tell her that. "I was given an order by my King to protect you at all costs." He explained as he watched her going towards the roses. "I am not to pass judgement on the actions in which you are to go about." He sighed. "You could be anything to the King, but that is not for me to judge you on." Lucien was looking a little bored because he did see this as a sort of babysitting job but he would do as he must.
"As for what I rather be doing... truthfully, I would prepare to be drinking in a tavern and flirting with a buxom barmaid but that is not to be said." He smiled at her as he slowly followed thinking that the young woman was a strange one but, one had to wonder. He supposed that it was work of the King wishing to have whomever he pleased to have and this was just such a case.
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Dec 21, 2011 8:25:54 GMT -5
Jerome looked at her, brow raising. Payphone? And the only way he knew of calling was to go to a woman's house. As for the bar and hostel, he had never eared of either. "Pardon me, Madamoiselle, but uh....perhaps you've had a nightmare or something...I do not seem to know, anything you are talking about. Their is a hostel...but I do not think it would suit a woman like yourself...especially since it is for men who are injured..." he said then sighed. Feeling the bite of chivalry and also the bite of lust that accompanied the woman. He glanced around then looked at her. "Come...I've a place you can stay," he said helping to lead her along. There were a few bar fights breaking out, a few women screaming at their men on the front steps of their small houses.
He slipped down a few alleyways and then into an open street out of the bowels of the city, eventually making it to his small townhouse. He had little more than a maid and spent most of his time at the palace. He led her inside, and he saw his housekeeper Helene in the front parlor. She looked up and her eyes widened. "Monsieur..." she said, eyeing the scantily clad woman.
"Helene...see that this madamoiselle gets a proper bath and something worth wearing oui?" he asked and Helene nodded, offering her hand.
"Follow me," she ordered kindly.
-----
She glanced at him and smirked. "Well I'm sorry you haven't been given the privilege today..." she mused then sighed. She sighed. Gardens were pretty and all, but they weren't really her thing. She was more of a mind to play music or duel with sabers. Her brothers enjoyed the fighting and she remembered starting to learn to fight at five or six years old. Of course, now that she was in the position that she was in, her brother Henri was not so pleased, and neither was her brother Claude, but she guessed it was better she did play the whore than her sister. Marguerite wouldn't last a day at court. She was a little sickly thing and for her father to even suggest putting her elder sister in that position really did burn her ire.
She sighed and turned to look at him. "Well...I suppose, the king must trust you if he's being so kind as to allow you the honor of escorting me. I guess he thinks I am safe from being seduced. Not that I'm seduce-able of course," she said with a shrug then sighed and sank down on a marble bench, maneuvering the skirts so she could sit comfortably. She sighed and looked back at him.
"How long have you been in the king's service?"
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Dec 21, 2011 12:02:17 GMT -5
Walking through the streets of Paris, she did not want really what to say because she was seeing either some sort of movie set or this was some strange prank that was being played on her. The men and the women of the streets were dressed in dirty clothing that you would see the lowly peasants in Les Miserables or something of the sort dressed in. Valerie was quiet because she had a feeling that if she said too much then she would perhaps be locked up or would someone excuse her of witchcraft? No, that was the Spanish who did that... or something of the sort. History was never her strong point but that was if she was having some weird history dream... or acid trip.
Once at the house, he had not said where this was nor that she had be taken to his house. Atleast, she assumed but this was probably a terrible idea since she had to be wary of men in other countries. Her father had warned her that being naive could lead to dangerous situations. However, the maid being told that she needed a bath and appropriate clothing.
What was wrong with her clothing? That's what she wanted to know... this was what women wore in the summer... not that frock that this women was wearing... who was she anyways, his mom? The man was almost in his thirties from what she could tell and he lived with his mother?
Well, most likely not his mother because she had called him 'Monsieur.' A house keeper of some sort perhaps which was silly unless he was really rich or something... Before she could ask a question, she was being whisked away for a bath and to be dressed in some dress that had been borrowed. It looked liked something out of movie or play...
A part of her liked the swishing of the dresses and petticoats but the bodice was hell as she frowned. "Madame... uh, I need my bra... I can't simply go braless." She said to the maid as she touched her breasts not understanding how her tits were about to pop out of the dress. Maybe the guy who brought her here was some sort of weird pervert... she was going to have to get her pepperstray ready...
---
"It is a bother to say the least, Milady..." He retorted back to her with no hint of a smile as he watched her sit down and adjust her skirts. He did not move from his spot to sit down or rest as he said. "There are men who would take advantage of an opportunity such as this to try and seduce one of the King's many mistresses." Of course, she was not the first and she would not be the last. "As for myself, I have been a musketeer since I was ten and six." He said to her. "For eleven years since my father instructed me to join this or the church." Naturally, being a young man who liked young woman, he had not wanted to go to the church.
"Obviously, I was not in favour of the later." He explained.
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Dec 22, 2011 10:29:28 GMT -5
Helene looked at her, brow raised. "A bra madamoisellle? We have nothing called that...I never heard of such a thing," she said then finished with the dress and grabbed a shawl, wrapping it around her shoulders then pinning it just at the crease of her cleavage making it more modest. "There you are...you must be from England. They do have strange taste," Helene mused then smiled. "Now as Monsieur Chevalier is going to the King's barracks late tonight to take his post, I think he won't be to upset if you take up a room here. There are a few extra rooms and then we can see about finding a boarding house for you and perhaps a job. M. Chevalier always one to lend a helping hand and judging by what you were wearing, I would say you need it," she said simply.
Taking her arm, she led her down to the dining room which was adjoined to the kitchen and sat her down before going to the kitchen and coming back with a bowl of soup and some bread and dried meat. "I have some leftovers so you can enjoy this and there are a few tarts left over so if that suits you then I'll be sure to get them," the woman said.
Jerome came in grabbing a bit of bread and sitting down opposite the young woman he had brought home. He looked at her as he buttered his bread, adding some dried meat then cutting it up into smaller pieces.
"I never did get your name," he mused thoughtfully. "I am Jerome Chevalier..." he introduced, putting a hand to his chest then smirking before taking a bite of his food as Helene left them alone.
-----
She sighed. "I was...I wanted to be a nun. I always thought it would be a life for me. But my dowry is to large to give to the church. So father says...so once the King tires of me I'll marry some great duke or count who doesn't mind I'm not a virgin bride because I'll bring such a large dowry to his coffers," she said then frowned. Shaking her head. "Needless to say my future doesn't lie in the church. You are lucky. You are a man and can choose your future," she said glancing at him then sighed looking away. She bit her bottom lip and looked down.
After a moment, she shook aside the feeling of helplessness and sourness then stood. "And as much as any man might like to seduce me, I told you already, I'm not seduceable," she said simply glancing at him and smirking. "Some women might not have self control, but I do...Im sure I could stand of a man's wiles. The last thing I want or need is making the King get angry with me." she said then sighed and turned away, walking toward the edge of the garden then pausing to watch the couples as they walked on the palace lawn. She never did understand the stigma. Men could flirt and bed women yet women had to stay chaste. Not that she wanted to have several affairs with different men, but women never would get the same rights as a man if the world remained as it was.
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Dec 22, 2011 12:26:14 GMT -5
The way that he said it was almost arrogant as she took a moment to think, she did have a French last name but only because her mother who was French insisted that the family take her name instead of her father's which was Turner. "Ah... Valerie LaRocque." She said thinking how strange a dream this must be for her to be having as she looked around the room trying not to look confused by her entire situation. "What day is it?" She did not want to ask what year it was because that would most likely raise questions and that was not something that she wanted to deal with at the moment.
She thought of what his maid or mother had said to him, she seemed disappointing of her... she was not even remotely English, she was sure that her parents were a few generations of living in Canada of all things. Her dad was from Alberta and her mother being very francophone wanted to stay in Quebec. Never the less, it worked out but she hated visiting her french relations. The idea of getting a job and going to a boarding house was almost scary since it was obvious that she wasn't in Kansas anymore. And this was no wonderful land of Oz. Val thought of Cindy for a moment as well as the memories of falling off the Eiffel Tower. Did anyone else see that freak accident... was this some sort of afterlife?
What she needed was some alcohol or a hit of a blunt... and she wasn't even in Amsterdam yet... She kind of wished that she had a smoke as well. Reaching over for some bread despite feeling awkward, Valerie looked over to him for a moment as he was eating. "So, I do need to look for my friend tomorrow... or something..." She explained as she ate some of the bread and butter thinking that she would like some of the tarts that was talked about as Helene came in and put them on the table as she was eyeing them.
---
"It is not so lucky, I was only given the two choices. I suppose it is more than my older brother who is to become the Marquess la Charce." Lucien said simply as he was listening to the young woman feeling sorry for herself. He supposed that one would be happy to be favoured by the King but who was he to say about that since it was obvious what sort of life she was going to go through. "I think that you might be naive in saying that you are unable to be seduced." He said to her trying not to laugh.
"Have you ever been seduced by a man who was quite good at doing so? I suppose that some ladies are unable to be seduced but they call them 'Froid poisson.'" He said with a little laugh before straightening himself up. "You do not seem pleased with what you have been dealt. I suppose I can understand but, there is not much that you can do about it. No?" He said simply. "Perhaps embrace it for what it is... and stop with the silly pity party."
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Dec 23, 2011 20:58:52 GMT -5
"What's today?" he asked, repeating her, and then he grinned. "Today is June 14th, and of course, the year is 1670...." he said, teasing her slightly. He had some more food then sipped on the brothy soup. "Did someone knock you on the head mademoiselle?" he asked, thinking it strange her french was so off yet she had a french last name. Perhaps she was half english, and her father was French. There was really no way of knowing and he had just met the woman. "And as for tomorrow, if you so desire it, then so it shall be. And if that does not work out for you, I am sure a job as lady's maid can be found for you at the palace, whether it be to Queen Marie or perhaps to one of the king's mistresses. The man has several," he said simply, giving a shrug. "What can be said except he likes to be surrounded by young and beautiful women. I suppose, that is what happens when one suceeds the throne so young," he mused then dipped his bread into the soup and ate some more. "I am on the night's watch at the place but tomorrow morning I can see to it that a place be made for you at court somewhere...if you prefer," he mused thoughtfully then smirked, running his fingers through his hair before sitting back and watching her carefully.
"You must be a long way from home," he mused thoughtfully, taking a sip of his wine and watching her with a hooded gaze.
-----
"I"m not being silly and I am not pitying myself. Just accepting the fact that I won't be the virgin bride to a man I loved. It was my one wish, and it's not coming true. Acceptance is not the same as pity," she said simply then glanced at him. "And I don't think I'm a cold fish. I was engaged once. And I did love him. But he died in battle. A handsome man he was but...he has been dead a year now. Eliot Deschamps, son of an Earl. Perhaps you knew him?" she asked then shrugged. "Well regardless, I felt a warmth with him. Even if I did want to become a nun, I could give it up for him.." She sighed, smiling softly in remembrance. "So...what does a king's mistress normally do when she is not...otherwise engaged?" she asked curiously.
"I highly doubt I'll wish to come to these gardens every day, and if you are to be guarding me, surely you want to have a little fun as well. I'm excellent at chess...and I can fence decently. I do have several older brothers that taught me in secret. What do you suggest?" she asked curiously, not taking her eyes off the men and women as they walked the palace green.
|
|