RuneScape Forum Archive | Feel the Silence

Crystal Smee

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“Oh, I never had time for games,” he said mournfully. “Father saw to that. It was studies from the moment I was old enough to read, and ever since I was twelve I had to sit in on meetings – first some of them, now, all of them. He’s grooming me well to take his position. I’ve never been able to think about much else.”
“Are you nervous about taking over?”
“I used to be. Now, I’m kind of excited. I mean, he gave me control over the war, and we’re doing well.”
“I sure hope so,” she said softly.
“We are,” he assured her. “I guess it’s given me a lot of confidence. If I can manage a war, surely I can manage a nation. And I have all kinds of plans. First off – reordering the way the meetings work. People can come to me when they have something to say. There’s no need for the man in charge of the treasury to sit around and listen to me arguing with the commander of the army.”
“Well, doesn’t the army affect the treasury? I mean, you have to spend money on it, right?”
He stared in surprise. “Huh. I never thought about it like that. The man always looks so bored, like he doesn't need to be there.” Daringly, he placed a hand on her knee. “You will be such a huge help to me, Justine.”
She tensed. “Don’t go getting ahead of yourself, my Prince,” she said shakily. “I only came to the gala with you. I make no promises for the future.”
“But you have enjoyed yourself, yes?” She nodded, unable to say more, for her throat had gone dry. “And you would like to spend more time with me?” Again, she nodded. He was leaning closer. “Good. I’d like to get to know you better as well, Justine. I’ve enjoyed myself too.”
“Perhaps we should go back inside,” she gasped hoarsely, when his face was barely inches from hers.
*I thought you did*’t like it in there.” She could feel his hot breath on her cheeks.
“Yes, but you have – obligations,” she stammered.

12-Jul-2009 22:19:41

Crystal Smee

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“James—“
“Shh-“ he whispered, and caught her lips with his. The kiss was warm, but unfamiliar – she had never kissed anyone besides Lucas. It felt good – too good. For a moment she leaned in, losing herself in his embrace, and his other hand reached up to caress her just under her jaw. She jerked away, nearly falling off the bench. It took all her strength, and her skin ached to go back, let herself be lost in his easy touch, but she couldn’t –
“Justine?” he asked, his voice husky.
“I can’t – I can’t do this – I can’t – I’m sorry –“ she stuttered, and staggered to her feet.
“Wait!” he cried, but she had to run, she had to get far away from him, before she made any more mistakes. She fled down the balcony, toward the music and the light from the party. “Justine, wait!” he cried after her, but he was too stunned to follow, and she got away. She hesitated at the doors, saw her father hovering inside, scanning the crowd as he searched for her, and realized she couldn’t possibly face him now. She hurried past, further down the balcony, and escaped into the darkness, hoping she could hide from James and all of her troubles. Her cheeks burned as she loped along, tripping every once and a while in the high-heeled shoes. The feel of his lips seemed imprinted on hers, and she wondered if it would ever go away.

12-Jul-2009 22:20:07

Crystal Smee

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I finally add, and nobody wants to read it XD

15-Jul-2009 14:50:24

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The stars were flung across the sky, little pinpricks of light in the darkness. Justine trailed her hands along the balcony, feeling the smooth grains of the wood, as she stared up at the pattern in the sky. Looking at the stars was soothing, and slowly the pounding in her heart eased. They were familiar, she knew every shape, every star and where it belonged, and they made her think of Lucas. They had sat on her balcony so many times, their bodies twined together, and had studied the sky. Lucas knew the names of every constellation and would point them out to her, telling her the intricate myths behind each one. He taught her about Jeremiah and his flaming spear, and the great bird with its wings spread wide down toward the horizon.
If he was here now, instead of away at the war, they would be sitting out on that balcony now, laughing at how foolish all the people at the gala were. He would imitate a pompous lord, and then ask her to dance. They could always hear the music, drifting over from the castle. He would pretend to waltz, except he did*’t really know how, so he would step on her toes a few times, and then spin her around and around until she laughed dizzily. Then he would pull her in, flush against his chest, and they would dance and move slowly around the porch, until they swayed to a halt and just stood in their familiar embrace.
She felt the tears beckoning and bent her head to her chest. Self-pity was so inviting; all she had to do was let her fragile walls fall down. The view of the city could not bring her the same peace it usually did no matter how much she willed it to; the angle was too different from her own balcony. She couldn’t see the jeweler’s street, or the artists’ quarters. Here, she saw only the vast castle courtyard behind its locked gates, and in the distance, the taller rooftops of the city buildings.

16-Jul-2009 21:34:25

Crystal Smee

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Justine had seen this view before, once, with Lucas at another ball. Her father had forced her to go, even though she did*’* want to. It was one of his futile attempts to get her away from Lucas and back into her proper place.
Lucas’ father had asked him to help with the catering, and so he had worked as a server that night. Poor Lucas, he wanted to lose himself in his books that night, instead of watching Justine from across the room, unable to speak to her at all. He had been very upset, eyeing her possessively as she danced with young suitors, and as a result he had tripped and spilled a full tray of champagne flutes across a startled group of important diplomats. He had been so embarrassed he’d fled the room.
Justine had chased him outside, to this same balcony, and once she saw they were alone out here, she’d come up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him tight against her. She could remember how his body had quivered until she’d run her hands up and down his arms, then turned him to face her, and finally she had calmed down.
“I can’t do it, Justine,” he’d whispered hoarsely into her neck. “I can’* watch them all flirt with you. You’re mine. You belong to me.”
“I know,” she murmured, tangling her fingers in his hair. “I won’t let anything happen, Lucas, I swear.”
He had jerked away, frustrated. “But they should know! I should be able to proclaim my love for you! I should be able to dance with you, and hold you, and speak to you all night long, not have to sneak around or make a fool of myself to see you!” he’d exclaimed. “But I’ll never be good enough for you, will I?*
*You mean for my father,” she said coldly. “You know how I feel about you, Lucas. And someday he’ll understand that. Until then…well, it’s better than not being together at all, isn’t it?” she added cautiously.

16-Jul-2009 21:35:02

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

He had embraced her tightly and buried his face in her hair. “Of course it is,” he promised.
How could she have done this to him? How could she have let this happen, knowing that it would kill him if he ever knew? She loved Lucas, and she wanted to be with him, and now she had ruined that. He loved her more than life itself, she knew that, she knew everything he did was for her. He had gone away for her, he was risking his life for her, for their future, in this very moment, and this was how she repaid him? By going behind his back while he was away and kissing somebody else?
Oh, and that wasn’t even the best part! She paced angrily, clasping her hands together until the knuckles were white, and railed at her body’s betrayal. Oh, the best part was that she wanted to kiss the prince. Who wouldn’t? He was a prince! He was stunningly handsome, and he’d been nothing but sweet to her, all night. She wanted him; she’d never been very good at lying to herself, and she despised herself for it. How could she want another man, when she had Lucas? How could this have happened to her? Things were so perfect with them, and now it had all gone terribly wrong. Should she tell him? Should she write a letter and tell him of her betrayal, and hope that he still wanted her? Or should she just pretend it never happened? She would stay away from James, she would stay away from the castle altogether, and wait patiently for Lucas to come back.
“There you are!”
Her body stiffened with shock at the sound of his voice. James had found her, of course.
“Hey,” he said quietly, coming up behind her. “Why did you run away from me?”
She whirled to face him, trembling. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” she sobbed. “I won’t do this, James.”

16-Jul-2009 21:35:45

Crystal Smee

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“Why not? Talk to me, Justine.” He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to meet his gaze. Her skin burned beneath his hands. *I thought you wanted –“
“I do!” she cried out. “Oh, James, that’s the problem! I can’t – I can’* want you!”
“Why not?*
She wrenched herself forcefully away, unable to look at him any longer. She leaned over the railing and tried to catch her breath so she could force out the words she had to say. Finally she said, in a voice barely audible, “Because I lied to you.”
“What?”
“I lied, okay?” she shouted shrilly as he pulled her back around. “I lied when I said there was nobody else!”
He staggered back, as though he had been hit. “Who?” he gasped. His blue eyes searched her face angrily. “Who else is there?”
She couldn’t stop them now, the convulsing sobs that shook her body. “We’re promised to each other - Lucas – his name is Lucas – he’s the **
*The servant boy, the one who’s always in the library,” James whispered. His gaze had gone vacant, staring somewhere over her shoulder, as he remembered his fleeting glimpses of Justine’s lover. He scowled. “Why would you lie about him?”
“He’s a servant. I’m….part of all this.” She waved a hand, encompassing the castle, the ball, her high-class world. “We’re not supposed to be together. My father –“ she hiccupped loudly. “My father hates him. I’m not supposed to tell people – let alone you!” She pushed at his chest, trying to take out her frustrations on him. “You of all people, the prince! He will be so angry with me!”
“Justine, why are you here with me now? Why aren’t you with Lucas?”
Her face crumpled. “Because he’s gone,” she said hoarsely. “He…he left.” Her chest felt like it was encircled by iron bands, and she could barely speak. Saying the words aloud hurt too much.
“Then why—“
“The war,” she choked out. “He’s a soldier.”

16-Jul-2009 21:36:43

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“Oh.” Realization dawned across his face. “The questions you asked earlier…”
“Yes.” She wrapped her arms around her midsection.
He paced away from her and back, taking all of this in. One hand scrubbed at his jaw, itching at the stubble there, and the other rested angrily on his hip. “I told you that you can trust me,” he said reproachfully. “Why couldn’t you tell me?”
“I told you, my father –“
“No!* He grabbed her again, harder this time, by the wrists, when she tried to turn away from him. “You lied,” he hissed. *You lied to my face, repeatedly, when I asked if there was anyone else. I wanted to be sure, but you – you lied. Why?”
She wept loudly. “I was ashamed. You’re a prince! He is so…beneath you! I’ve seen the way people on your level look at him! I thought – if you knew – I just wanted to have fun, James, it’s been so long and I haven’t gone anywhere, I’ve hardly talked to anyone, and then you appear out of nowhere, and you want to spent time with me…I thought if you knew, you wouldn’* want to – the way you look at me, it’s obvious what you want, and I just wanted to spend time with you, and I did*’t think you would if you knew I was*claimed,” she finished breathlessly.
“Justine, I meant what I said. I want to get to know you, promised or not. But you cannot keep secrets from me. I will not be lied to,” James said firmly.
“I know. I know it was wrong. I just wanted –“ She broke off, shaking her head. “I shouldn’t. Lucas, oh, he would be so hurt, if he knew.” She backed away, suddenly wild eyed, horrified at what she had done. “I have to go. James, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied. I’ve hurt everyone, now. I’ll – I’ll stay away. I’m sorry.”

16-Jul-2009 21:37:34

Crystal Smee

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She darted around him and fled into the ballroom. Only a few steps in, and she crashed straight into her father. He grasped her arm and took in her reddened face and smeared makeup.
“Justine, what’s happened to you?” he exclaimed in fury.
“Get away from me,” she snarled, and broke free, then sprinted through the ballroom, oblivious to the spectacle she made of herself, and out of the exit.

James ran after her, shoving through bodies, until he was stopped in his path by Gray Val’Myren. “Move, my Lord, I have to follow her!”
“What did you say to her?” Gray demanded, throwing a hand against the younger man’s chest to hold him back.
“Move, Gray,” James hissed, throwing him off. Gray grabbed him from behind and held him in place.
“Don’t you dare go after her, you’ll do more damage than you’ve already done! Now stop and tell me what happened!”
James glared around at the faces of the gathering crowd, and over all of them, his father’s cold, disapproving stare. He gripped Gray’s arm and growled, “Outside!” and dragged him through the crowd to the courtyard. The guests at the gala, still having some sense of propriety, did not follow, and soon he and Justine’s father were alone. His heart was pounding rapidly in his chest, and he did*’* want to be anywhere near this terrible man. He turned on him, getting close to his face, spitting in his rage. “You did*’t tell me she was already taken!” he thundered.
“What are you talking about?” Gray replied mildly, but James could see him tense, could see his fists clench.
“Lucas? The man she’s promised to!”
“Oh, that.” Gray waved a hand dismissively. “That’s nothing, my boy.”
James jabbed a finger in his chest. “You will speak to me with respect, Gray. I’m the prince here. I should have you thrown in jail.”
“For what? Trying to set you up with my daughter?”

16-Jul-2009 21:37:50 - Last edited on 16-Jul-2009 21:38:25 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“Who is already betrothed!” James bellowed. “Damn it, Gray! You come to me, tell me to seek out your daughter, invite her to this ball – I rode around the city for hours looking for her today! I do all of this, because you promise me she’s the perfect match, that she would make the most wonderful queen someday, that I will love her company, and you leave out one important fact! She’s claimed!”
Gray was finally becoming enraged himself. His perfectly combed hair had become undone, so that long strands waved about his face, and his steely eyes flashed with anger. “To a servant boy who has gone off to the war!” he retorted. “Come on, James – my Lord,” he emphasized mockingly, “how long do you really expect that will last? He’ll come back a changed man, and he won’t care if she found somebody else in the mean time. She’ll forget about him eventually – he’s just a servant, not all that memorable, really.”
James placed both of his hands on Gray’s shoulders and shoved, hard. Gray crashed down into the gravel walkway with a yell, and James bent over him, holding him by the collar of his expensive silk shirt. “I am not a dishonorable man. I will not dishonor a girl who has promised herself to somebody else. I will not dishonor her love for someone else. How dare you try to deceive me into doing otherwise? You stay out of both of our lives, Gray. She doesn’t deserve any more of your meddling.”
He threw the older man back down into the dirt, feeling a grim satisfaction as a scrap of silk tore free in his fisted hand, and strode angrily away. He was shaking with rage. Twice, in one night, he had been lied to. Why was everyone so intent on keeping this Lucas such a secret? Clearly, the fact that he was a servant bothered everyone greatly, including the man himself. He had run off to the war to prove himself, but he’d abandoned Justine in the meantime.

16-Jul-2009 21:38:58

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