Spirits of the Earth

@visualspice

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The Marcell townhouse did not usually play host to major negotiations--and today was really no different, if Andreas gave it another moment's thought. The "negotiation" part itself was nearly over, conducted almost entirely through letters and proxy over the course of the last few months. All that was left was to sign some papers and set a date.

He hadn't even known this was happening until about a week ago.

Which was more warning than his sister had had, admittedly. He glanced sidelong at her from where he stood in the main parlor, unable to sit and just sort of...uselessly hovering at Gavriella's side, as though that might actually do anything to prevent what was happening.

God. What was taking so long? Their parents hadn't even deigned to enter the parlor yet, though he knew their...guests were arriving soon. Were he and Gavi just supposed to wait here? He hated not doing something.

Without thinking, he reached over to take his sister's hand and squeezed gently. "Gavi--" he started, then stopped, sighed, and dragged a hand through his hair in frustration. What was he supposed to say? That he was sorry? That he wished this wasn't happening? That he'd tried to talk their father out of it? She knew all that already--but more importantly, it didn't matter.

So he settled for a soft, "I love you. You know that, right?" He leaned in to kiss the top of her head and gave her fingers another quick squeeze before pulling away to look into her face. "Listen, just...I will always be here for you. No matter what happens after today--if you need me, you just have to ask. Alright?"

She found herself sitting on the settee, doll like in her fancy gown and hair drawn up in intricate curls and gems. Even her lips were painted over in ruby red, which at first, was in contrast to the softer color she was used to- but it matched her dress, which was a deep burgundy layered amongst laces of black. If it wasn't so fancy, and there wasn't a splash of color here or there- she would have thought her family had her wearing a funeral gown.

But when she admired herself in the mirror, she was lovely. She frowned and the memories faded back to where she sat.

It had been too long, or perhaps she had been too antsy, and she moved to stand and pace a bit, brother near her side. When she paused at the door, she was wringing her hands and staring out the front. No carriage had arrived yet, but she was still nervous and her stomach was in notes.

Naturally, it was her brother her brought her out of her gloom, and his gentle kiss. She peered up at him, eyes wavering as she tried to smile, but had to bite back her frown.

"Couldn't I just run away? Take one of the horses and just stay at a country house with you until our parents forget about me and this idea to marry me off?"

It was childish, but then again, she still- at many times, acted very much like a child.

His heart broke a bit for that, and he tried to force a smile of his own as he squeezed her hand again. "You know how tenacious Father is," he muttered. "Do you really think he'd just forget?"

He hesitated a moment, then drew her in against his chest in a brief, tight hug. "Look, the wedding won't be for a few weeks. This is just...finalizing things. Not much has to change once they leave." That was definitely a lie--or at least a stretch--but he hoped it was somewhat comforting.

Andreas was so absorbed in his own anxieties, his worry for his sister, that he didn't actually notice the carriage arrive outside the townhouse and the three figures that approached the door. In fact, he didn't realize their guests had arrived until there was a brief, panicked shuffling outside the parlor door while a footman stammered, "Madam, please, there's--the master of the house would wish to speak with you before you adjourn--"

"Nonsense," an unfamiliar voice waved off the anxious propriety. It was a woman, her accent low and sonorous, like she was about to slip into song at any moment. "You said the young lady is through here, yes? Why delay?"

With that, the door swung open, revealing Milana Bartok and her two children. For some reason, the first thought Andreas had was that her daughter, Reina, was almost a strange, mirror-inverse of Gavriella. They were nearly of a height, both with fine, doll-like features and each clearly dressed to impress. But while Gavi was fair and dark-haired, stark contrast to her black and burgundy gown, the Serenian woman had olive skin and flaxen hair, with a gown of a nearly identical style in silver and pale blue. Clearly, she'd been paying attention to Connlaothian fashions.

Milana herself had eschewed such niceties, dressed in clear Serenian fashion and positively dripping in gold and sapphires. Andreas had to resist the urge to frown at the ostentatious display before his attention flickered toward the young man who stepped around from behind his mother.

His eyes widened. "You--!"

Mikhail grinned, smug, and dipped into an elaborate bow toward Gavriella, ignoring her brother entirely.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, my lady."

If time existed, in that moment it clearly did not- and if her jaw was working, that too, was broke, left open and ignored, a long with her breath, which had stopped for a substantially long time.
The face, the voice, the mannerism....

And then her brother sputtered, and she was yanked back to the present, with the very realization that the man she had met last night at the ball was none other than-

"You're my betrothed?"
Perhaps that came out a bit rude, but Gavrielle was utterly confused! Or perhaps more surprised than anything as she found herself bristling as she took a step back, eyes wide as she looked at all these new people entering her house- But not a sign of her parents!

In desperation, she turned to her brother, (Thank god, he was nearby!) and latched onto his arm so tight, giving him an imploring gaze before looking back over at their expected (but truly unexpected!) guests.

Mikhail's smile grew, though his eyes were colder than they had been the night before. He dipped his head again. "I am, my lady."

"Misha." Lady Bartok turned to her son with a frown. "Have you already introduced yourself to the young lady?"

Reina snorted and mouthed, Somebody's in trouble at him. He resisted the urge to make a rude gesture in her direction.

"I...did. In a manner of speaking," he replied cautiously.

Andreas, for his part, was speechless during the exchange. He looked down at Gavi, his eyes just as wide as hers. Where in all hells was their father?!

Milana huffed and glared at her son a moment longer, then looked back to their hosts with a bright smile. "I apologies for Mikhail and any...indiscretion on his behalf, my dear." She swept forward, hand extended regally toward the duke's children.

Instinctively, Andreas moved his sister half behind himself--then realized what he'd done and flushed uncomfortably. "Er--Lady Bartok, it is...a pleasure," he managed to stammer after a moment, his eyes flicking back and forth from their guests to the parlor door as though that might summon their parents more quickly.

Gavriella was still gaping, and it took her too many moments to try to recompose herself. It was hard to smooth back she was visibly shaken, her mind unable to wrap around the idea of it. But then his mother was apologizing and Gavriella dropped her gaze with a flush.

She had found the man attractive but well...
She chewed on her lip and peered over at her brother, who now stood protectively before her. She was visibly relieved, and took the moment to better compose herself. How uncouth of her to react as such! Her mother, had she been present, would have scolded her with her eyes (and later, very harshly with her tongue).

"We... had met in the ballroom," she admitted, sheepishly as she shifted awkwardly and tried to make it not seem so. Her eyes flicked to Mikhail, curious of his response, but it was hard to keep her eyes directly on him- especially as those eyes were looking directly back... at her.

Mikhail, for his part, seemed more bored than anything else. Carefully bored. Someone who knew him—like his sister, eyeing him sidelong—would note the tension in his jaw and the slight tapping on two fingers against his thigh and know that he was putting a lot of effort into seeming unbothered.

To Andreas, the mask of indifference really only solidified his idea that his little sister's betrothed was a callous ass, more interested in playing around that putting any effort into knowing or caring for Gavi. He had to bite his tongue to keep himself from launching into a tirade.

"You did, did you?" Milan's gave her son another sharp look, and he shrugged.

"More by coincidence than anything else," Mikhail lied easily. He shot Gavriella a small, polite smile. "Forgive me for not introducing myself properly, my lady, but I'll admit I was curious as to who exactly my betrothed was."

Andreas seethed and Mikhail smirked at him. "Where is the Duke, by the way? Shouldn't he be here for these finalizations?"

It was hard to hide it, the hurt in her eyes, at such a reply. She had thought this man so charming and now....
What was she to think? Something twisted inside her and she looked away, blinking back stinging eyes and internally scolding herself for being so sensitive! Why should she care the way he reacts? It's not like she chose this man to be her husband...

Even still, it stung and she internally withdrew, wishing she could just disappear from this situation completely and never be heard from again.

Andreas was going to kill this man before he ever had a chance to be his brother-in-law.

Mikhail found his stomach clenching uncomfortably as Gavriella withdrew behind her brother. Shit. This wa the problem, wasn’t it? He’d wanted to put her off balance, to show he didn’t care, that he was no more happy with an arranged marriage than she was.

He hadn’t expected to like her.

“Come, come, dear, no need to be shy,” Milana coaxed with a bright smile, woefully misreading Gavriella’s reaction.

Seeing the way Andreas’s eyes flamed, Reina cleared her throat quietly. “Mother? Perhaps we’d best wait for the Duke and Duchess before we proceed any further—we are their guests, after all.”

It was about that time that Thank Ansgar's Name, their parents showed up in a tizzy, apologizing profusely for the delay and got right into formalities. Upon discovering their daughter had met their intended, they seemed confused but then delighted, stating that was a good thing and that it would make the wedding all the smoother.

By now the guests were offered seats, tea and treats- none of which Gavrielle was pleased to accept, although she did take a seat when that was offered, but simply held onto her tea, it growing cold as the conversation lulled around her, and the petit coffee cake she had accepted remained untouched at the end of her plate.

Lady Bartok greeted their hosts with the same enthusiasm and pageantry with which she did everything—eh iv h was to say, quite a bit—and the older generation seemed to take over the conversation so entirely that there was really very little input from either set of noble siblings.

Andreas spent most of his time glaring at Mikhail, while the young lord seemed content to ignore him and Gavriella both.

Eventually, it was Reina who leaned forward in her seat and placed one hand delicately beside her mouth to murmur to Gavriella, "I'm afraid we haven't been directly introduced. If we're to be sisters, I'd like to get to know you better." She offered a small smile for the younger girl, then stomped subtly on her brother's foot when he huffed and muttered something about her sticking her nose in things.

When Reina reached out to her, Gavriella's eyes lit up. Oh! She had not considered that part...
Getting married..
it meant she would gain a sister. And part of her felt foolish and a little selfish for casting that side of things aside.

She smiled genuinely at Reina and gave a polite nod, wishing she had tried a lot sooner to converse with her rather than deal with her brother, whom she too, was now focusing on ignoring. (Two could play at that game, sir!)

"Oh, I'd like that very much! I'm afraid I was taken off guard by this whole proposal, to me I just... It just seemed so fast."

Reina smiled at her kindly and reached across the small space to pat her hand. “Well, it was rather, wasn’t it? I won’t pretend to understand all your family has been dealing with, but I should think the…current political climate makes arrangements like this move much more quickly than they might do otherwise.”

Andreas was only half listening to the young women’s conversation, the other half of his attention occupied with trying to discern just where exactly in the marriage negotiations their parents were. Lord Bartok had not attended the meeting, but evidently his wife was the main correspondent in the arrangement anyway. That seemed…odd, but they were Serenian…

He was distracted enough that he didn’t notice the way Mikhail kept glancing at Gavriella’ or the slight flexing of his fingers against his thigh, like he was trying to stop himself from getting to his feet—or possibly reaching out to her as Reina had done.

Gavrielle gave a weariful and thankful expression to Reina, as if she just felt some sort of freedom from her.

"You haven't the slightest idea," she laughed in earnest, "That's all the world up here talks about."
And although she could ignore it due to her position, it affected her in other ways. "Reina.. is it?" she asked, daring to get a little bit closer to her as she set down her tea.
"It's a nice name. Is it one that's been in the family? My name came from my great grandmother on my mother's side," she pointed out.

"Oh you could say that," Reina laughed, setting her own tea aside to lean a little closer. "Like most Serenian noble houses, we claim a certain amount of faerie blood, you see? And my mother—dramatic romantic that she is—was always partial to the story that claimed a young queen of what was once the Summer Court fell in love with a human lord and gave up her immortality to wed him." She smiled, blue eyes sparkling. "Reina means Summer Queen."

She held Gavriella's gaze for a moment, then snorted and rolled her eyes. "Ridiculous, I know. But Gavriella's a family name? It's lovely. Is that a common tradition out here? Misha, move."

Mikhail started slightly. "What?"

"Move," Reina repeated, shoving his shoulder. "If you're going to be a grump, switch places with Lady Gavriella so I can talk to her better." She looked toward the young lady with another smile. "You don't mind, do you?"

Gavriella was already adoring the story about Reina's name when the other young lady suddenly asked for her brother to simply move. Gavriella tried to tuck back a smile, the way she treated her brother... it was not unlike her own. She stole a glance to Mikhail before looking away, spying her brother who appeared to be absolutely seething. And she knew just exactly WHO he was seething at.

Grumbling, Mikhail allowed his sister to bustle him into Gavriella’s place, and rolled his eyes at how she beamed happily when that left her seated beside the young lady and both their brothers awkwardly shoved next to each other on a low chaise.

“Much better,” she enthused, and took Gavi’s hands in her own again. “Now, tell me about yourself, won’t you? I know we’ve a lot of time to get to know one another, but I’m just so curious about you. You know, Misha and I had never been to Connlaoth before this trip.”

Andreas, for his part, tried to act as though the man beside him simply didn’t exist, turning his attention pointedly toward their parents’ conversation. Mikhail huffed and let his head fall back, staring listlessly up at the ceiling.

Reina clearly liked her—even if she was only being so effusive about it to irritate him.

Wonderful.

"Oh, but I don't know what there is to tell! I..." she blushed through a smile. "I wasn't expecting such questions as this." Although her eyes curiously went to Mikhail... wondering if he too, was curious of her at all.

If Mikhail was curious, he certainly didn't show it. And if his sister was asking the questions he wanted answers to, well, surely that was just a coincidence.

"Oh, tell me anything," Reina urged easily. "Do you have a favorite book? A particular pastime you enjoy?"

She cut her eyes toward her brother sidelong for a moment and smirked at the way he was looking in literally any direction but theirs.

"Well, I do like to read," she admitted, all smiles now, even her eyes seeming to glow as she went on. "I've ready quite a number of novels, some other history and science books too, but..." she shook her head. "My favorite book is an old one, written by a Serenian, actually, titled Peace From Rocks. Have you read it?"

Perhaps not surprisingly, it was a love story. The characters were actually written quite deeply that the reader could truly feel their pain, although in the end the woman sacrificed herself so the man could live, because her love had developed so strongly it gave her the strength to protect him the only way she had known....

"The ending is a bit sad," she admitted. But the writing and the way the author had you feeling and sharing in the intensity of their growing love...

Gavriella sighed in recollection.

Uhg. A romantic.

Of course.

Swallowing a groan, Mikhail propped his arm on the back of the chaise and rested his chin in his hand, staring blandly out through the window at the city street. Andreas continued to ignore him, frowning slightly as his father and their mother seemed to be moving more toward the point of this whole ridiculous charade.

Reina's eyes lit up and she leaned a little closer to Gavriella, slipping further and further from teasing her brother as she found an unexpected but genuine connection. "Oh, I adore tragic romances," she laughed softly. "Mother says it makes me melancholy, but I just find them so much more interesting. But you said science--what areas have you studied?"

It was unlikely Connlaoth allowed women to be anything so ambitious as an alchemist, but even a basic understanding might be interesting to talk about. Besides, Reina herself often found she chafed under her parental expectations when it came to her more scholarly interests; it would be nice to have a friend to talk to about such things.

"Oh, just little things here and there of interest. But the books I've tried to get into escape me. They can be so complicated." She smiled. "Chemistry, but mostly botany. I was always interested about the magical truths behind plants."

Reina's smile widened. "Oh, little sister." She squeezed Gavriella's hands lightly. "I think you and I are going to get along just fine."

"She's not your sister," Andreas snapped, unable to ignore this anymore. Then he seemed to realize what he'd done and cleared his throat, glancing away. "I mean—not yet."

Reina raised a hand to hide her small smirk. The two boys were really more alike than she thought either of them wanted to admit. "Of course, my apologies."

Suddenly standing, she clasped her hands in front of her body and said brightly, "Would you show me the house, Gavriella? I think the heads of house will be at this for quite a while, there's no reason for us to die of boredom with our brothers." Smirking, she added innocently, "Unless you'd like to come along, Misha."

Just as she'd planned, her mother caught that last part and clapped once, beaming. "Oh, you should! Get to know each other better, yes? And I assure you, Reina will serve as an excellent chaperone," Milana added to Gavriella's parents.

Andreas opened his mouth to protest, but nothing came out. As the eldest child—and Gavi's brother—it was his duty to start with their parents while the arrangements were finalized. He hated it, but he knew he'd catch hell from their father if he tried to insist on going with them.

The idea made her smile and as she rose to her feet, she stiffened at the suggestion her intended join them. She tried her best not to let it fluster her but forced smiles and agreement had her ignoring where her feet where going, as she tripped over the nearby piano... which was very obviously in her way!

To her credit, Reina didn’t comment as she caught the other woman’s elbow and helped her right herself. “You should show us your favorite room in the house,” she encouraged with another bright smile as they made their way out of the parlor. Then, over her shoulder, “Shouldn’t she, Misha?”

Mikhail sighed and shot his sister a sharp look before offering a polite smile to his betrothed. “I am at your disposal, my lady.”

"Oh well, the sitting room is a lovely place to sit and read, located in the southern most wall facing the garden. It's conveniently beside the library so one mustn't travel far to enjoy the two. I suppose I could show them both? If it isn't too much trouble. " Naturally!

"That sounds lovely, Gavi. May I call you Gavi?" Reina linked her arm through Gavriella's as they walked, leaving her brother to trail along behind them, looking simultaneously bored and annoyed.

Idiot, she thought fondly, shaking her head at him over her shoulder before turning her attention back to her companion. Leaning in a little closer and lowering her voice, she added, "A word of advice--if you refuse to use his full name, he becomes much easier to manage. He'll act as though he hates it, but he likes being Misha when he can."

Gavriella stole a glance at Mikhail, briefly.
"Oh? So Misha is his nickname. " she thought it over as they walked.  "If I might ask, how did he get it? Is it just a known nick name to Mikhail? I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar of his name's origin."

"It is, but almost no one uses it anymore," Reina replied with a chuckle. "It's incredibly old fashioned."

"I heard that," Mikhail drawled from behind them. "Just what are you telling her?"

"Nothing you need to worry your pretty head about, dear brother," Reina chirped with a bright smile thrown back to him, which he returned by muttering something uncomplimentary in an old Serenian-Fae dialect under his breath.

"Oh?" How curious! Perhaps he aimed to make it in fashion?

At the siblings exchanged, she was reminded of how she and Andreas would bicker over silly things. She even laughed about it and flushed while tucking back her lips to hide her smile.  Thankfully, they were now before the sitting room as she drew their attention to the unlit room.
"The sitting room is in here." She hesitated before deciding against stepping inside and gestured for the pair to follow.

"The library is over here." Just the next door over.
She stood before it, door open and inviting as she gushed over the walls covered in neatly stored books. The maids ensured of that, or rather their parents who were constantly enforcing the need for tidiness.

"Come, let me show you around."

"Please do!" Reina took her arm again and beamed at her before looking around.

Alright, so she was mostly having fun at her brother's expense. Still, she would never say no to a good library.

Mikhail stood in the doorway, leaning up against the frame and appearing disinterested in the whole affair as the two young women entered the room.

As they strolled beside the wall of books, Gavriella gushed over this one and that, and began to go over fond memories in this place- like how a chip from the mahogany paneling came about from her and Andreas playing a game of 'escape the mage'. And another singe on the floor where she had dropped a candle in her youth. She sighed at the thoughts before finding herself returning to the door and staring at Mikhail, who appeared too preoccupied elsewhere.

And then she realized she was smiling and dropped her gaze before looking back to Reina.
"Shall we continue?"

But Reina had disappeared among the stacks, leaving her brother and his fiancée alone.

Damn her.

Mikhail sighed and looked down at Gavriella with one eyebrow raised. "I would not be adverse to continuing, my lady, though propriety demands we wait for a chaperone." His lips twitched up on one side. "Of course, I was rather under the impression that you don't care much for propriety. At least judging from our limited interaction last night."

Oh, that was stupid. Why did I say that?

He really wasn't trying to be an asshole, it just...happened. He was no more thrilled with an arranged marriage than he imagined his hapless fiancée was. Still, that didn't give him license to take it out on her.

He sighed and closed his eyes, then pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment before opening them again. "I apologize. That was unkind."

Gavriella's face fell. Infact, her face went from white to red before she tried to search his eyes for the meaning behind such a statement, but then he was apologizing and she was already moving past him.

"Your right." Her back was to him as she walked away. "We should rejoin our parents."

Shit.

"My lady—Gavriella, wait." He reached out to take her arm, lightly enough that she could pull away if she wanted, but still certainly trying to keep her from leaving.

"I—" He gritted his teeth, then sighed. "I am sorry," he muttered, almost sullen. "About last night. I shouldn't have—I wanted to meet you. Just you, without all...this." He gestured vaguely, seeming to indicate the townhouse at large. "But I was...I was quite determined not to like you, you know. You rather ruined that expectation."

He tried for a smile, and it was the first since entering the house that seemed to be sincere. "I understand if you don't want to accept my apology. I was...I am a bit of an ass. Ask Reina. But I didn't..." He paused, sighed again, then dropped his hand and shook his head. "You are not the only one who was not consulted on this marriage business," he muttered. "I'll admit I—it was a poor, juvenile form of rebellion. It was unworthy of you, and I'm sorry."

He looked away, mouth a tight line and a muscle ticking in his jaw, clearly uncomfortable.

He wasn't the only one uncomfortable. After all, since the ball... she had been having very steamy thoughts about losing herself to the strange ball goer prior to her arranged marriage and ran off with him instead. Now the man she just fantasized about only last night (aaaand, a few times in the morning- a deed to help ease the tension and... she never knew she had it in herself to please herself so much in a day!) Was here... her betrothed!

And of course that reminder came now of all times....

But did he mean it? That she was... something more than he expected?

She hated that the heat on her face ( and unfortunate heat elsewhere) were only growing. Maybe if she and Mikhail just disappeared into the back room and...

What was wrong with her?! Why were her throats all about bedding the man all of a sudden and why.....

"I need to excuse myself a moment. " She moved away, only pausing, her back to him to add through a sigh. "Alone." She didn't wait long for an answer, just moved in any direction but his.

"Of...course."

Mikhail watched her go, a confused furrow between his brows. That had been...odd. He didn't know why he was expecting, exactly, but it wasn't that.

"So? Did you apologize?"

He sighed, turning to face Reina where she leaned casually against a bookshelf. "Don't pretend you planned all that."

She quirked an eyebrow. "And how could I possibly have done that? It's not as though I've been dealing with your bullshit since I could walk, and I know how very little remorse it takes to turn you back into a complete sap."

"...Fuck you."

"Language, brother," Reina laughed as she stepped around him, meandering back to the parlor.

She wasnt sure she wanted to return yet or not. Returning meant accepting her fate... and she still felt reluctant of it.  So she found her way towards the southern hall, whose tall windows reached near the ceiling and the view stretched for miles of rolling terrain. She stopped there for a long moment, knowing she shouldn't linger for long but also internally struggling with too many truths.

Her eyes fell to the stables.
Maybe she should run away....

"...Gavi?"

Andreas had gone in search of his sister and run into Reina returning to the parlor. He'd instantly been worried about the idea of his sister left alone with Mikhail, but apparently Gavriella had gone for a moment alone.

He supposed that was something of a relief.

Still, he found himself shifting awkwardly as he tried to approach her quietly but without startling her. "Are you...alright?"

She tensed but didn't turn to him.
"I want to be alone. "

He thought about arguing the point, but after a moment backed down with a sigh.

"Alright. Just... You know where to find me."

Unsure what else, if anything, he could do, he turned to leave her to her thoughts.

Gavriella waited a long moment, torn between returning to the parlor or considering the alternative- childishly leaving with one of the horses. She could see the stable now, her feet carrying her towards the door where she hesitated before turning the knob to open it with a slow creak.

Reina, Mikhail, and Andreas all wound up back at the parlor at roughly the same time, though none of the three seemed to be particularly happy about it. The two young men barely even looked at each other, which left Reina rolling her eyes and forced to play something of a mediator as she swept back into the room and took a seat beside her mother.

She wouldn't sit idly by while her parents married her off to foreigners! She'd be shipped away, this live as another's pawn to a life of Serenian nobility... but she decided No. She would remain here! And threw open the stable door and made haste to their fastest horse. Never mind the best could be unruly.

She opened his stable and walked him towards the open door before stepping until the stirrups and lifting herself up and onto the seat, legs aside.

She gave one last look to her home before giving a sharp kick to the beast's side and it took off towards the backwoods trail.

The younger set of nobles quickly grew bored with listening to their parents negotiate, though Reina and Andreas at least tried to pretend to be paying attention.

At least until Mikhail glanced out the window and raised his eyebrows fractionally.

"It seems our dear lady is making a break for it," he drawled lazily.

Well. That was certainly one solution, he supposed. No bride, no wedding, after all.

Their parents, who were so engrossed in their conversation, turned their attentions to Mikhail as their mother asked, "I apologize, Lord Mikhail. You had said something?"
And just as she had asked, a frantic looking maid appeared in the doorway, asking to speak with the Duke and Duchess in private.

Meanwhile, Gavriella was disappearing into to woods.

“You could at least pretend to care,” Reina muttered to her brother as the household promptly seemed to lose their collective minds.

Well. The Duke’s household, at any rate. Their mother just seemed vaguely amused.

“I do care,” Mikhail replied blandly. “I’m worried they’re going to make me go after her.”

Reina snorted. “Oh please. Connlaoth is far too rigid to transgress proprietary so blatantly. They’ll probably just put you up in a room here until someone collects her.”

Mikhail dropped his head back with a theatric sigh, eyes closed. “Wonderful.”

The wild, freeing feeling of the wind whipping through her hair helped blossom the largest smile upon her lips. She couldn't believe how exhilarating this was! She had never gone against her parents wishes, not once- and kept to her duties as any young lady ought-

But here she was, giving it all the finger as she coaxed her horse out of the manor and into the wilds, laughing inwardly to herself for how much trouble she knew she was in once she was got.

If she was caught. But what was holding them back? And what advantage did a shelter, spoiled noble girl really have?

For now, she had at least a head start-
and it felt amazing.

A head start for a girl in skirts on horseback really wasn't much of a head start at all when it was her brother--who'd grown up in the saddle as much as on the ground--was the one sent to fetch her.

Andreas wheeled his mount out as Gavi left the estate grounds, riding in a wide arc to cut her off, trying to vaguely herd her back.

Once he was in earshot, he slowed his horse a bit and gave a low whistle to his sister's own mount. The animal was headstrong--much like his rider--but had a bit of a soft spot for the duke's son. He figured it wouldn't take much coaxing to get the horse close enough for him to grab the reins. Not if Gavi wanted to keep her seat.

He looked at his sister with a mix of exasperation and pitying understanding. "What exactly did you think this was going to accomplish?"

Frustrated, Gavriella snapped at her brother, "Out of my way, Andreas! I refuse to go back there! I'd rather die than let this marriage humiliate me!"

"You know I can't do that, Gavi."

He was close enough to grab her horse's reins now, and he did so, pulling the animal to a stop.

"What do you mean, humiliate you?" he asked quietly. "I know you're unhappy, sister, but...by all accounts, this is a fairly average arranged match. I'll admit Mikhail is..." He pursed his lips. "Very Serenian. But if he was truly any danger to you or your reputation, Father would never have agreed to the marriage."

Gavriella's eyes flared with rage.
"All father ever talks about is how truly Connlaothian we are! How are blood runs thick! Now he's expecting a marriage likethis for his daughter!?"

"Gavriella."

He stared at her, caught between anger and disbelief. "He's trying to save your life. There's a war on, in case you'd forgotten." He shook his head, looking away and adding in a lower voice, "And while Father may cling to the title of our blood, I'd never thought you'd be so short-sighted as to do the same."

Gavriella opened her lips to protest, but no words came out as she cast her gaze downwards,  unable to look at her brother as tears threatened to fall.

"But i.. I don't know the first thing about living in Serendipity. And it's so far away from you and.. " She tried to brush away the falling tears with irritation, but they continued to fall.

"Gavi..."

He sighed, feeling horrid and just wanting to help her but not knowing how. He reached across the space between them to try to take her hand.

"I know," he whispered. "Don't think I don't hate this. If there was anything I could do..."

She shook her head, moving her hand away and tried to jerk the reins free as she kicked at her horse,  tears now spilling down her face in a feeble mess.

"Just let me go, Andreas! Please.." Her lips quivered, her entire body shaking as she clutched the reigns with white knuckles and attempted to coax the horse to run again.

"Go where, sister?" he demanded tiredly. "What exactly was your plan?"

Gavriella grimaced, clenching her teeth as she avoided his gaze.
"I could hide at a relatives," She began. "Aunt Felena would take me."
But even she wasn't so sure about that statement 

He sighed again. "No, she wouldn't. Or she would pretend to, and then send a message back here to Father so he could come and collect you, and that would be the humiliation." He shook his head. "Gavi, even if she did, what then? You can't expect to just hide from this."

Gavriella looked hurt.
"So you'd be okay? Just to let father marry me off? To send me away? Out of the country?"

“At no point did I say I was okay with this,” Andreas retorted quickly. “But what do you want me to do? I’ve been trying to talk Father out of it for weeks.”

Realizing his slip, he snapped his mouth shut. No one had told Gavriella of her engagement until just over a week ago—and as far as she knew, he hadn’t had any idea either.

Gavriella was shaking- partly from the chilly wind that picked up, but also because she was still crying. She had no idea how to handle all of this, too scared and ashamed to have any desire to return, but her brother's logic wasn't something to argue with-
If she turned to family for help, they'd simply bring her back and her fate would remain the same.
If she continued on her own... It was a foolish pipe dream. She had no idea how to live outside of her means, and part of her was more fearful of living empoverishedly than living Serendipitily.

After a long moment, she drew in a shaky breath.

"I don't know what to do," she whispered, lashes hanging low and her head, unable to rise from her shame and fear. "I've.. embarrassed us... and I... I don't even..." she turned to cast her gaze against elsewhere, wiping at her tears as more hot ones slipped down her cheeks.  She sighed and finally looked up at her brother, the image of him blurry, through her fresh tears.

"Couldnt you and I just run away... together?" it was a sad, pathetic, hope broken voice that asked. Her trembling smile revealed the obvious- that she knew his answer. But part of her wished he'd entertain her-
Just take her by her hand and run with her-
Far, far away from here.

"Gavi..."

She had no idea how much he wanted to do just that.

And maybe, if he'd been anyone else, raised any other way, he might have. But as it was, he dropped his eyes and shook his head slightly, guilt clawing at his chest. "I can't," he murmured. "You know I'd can't. The two of us wouldn't be able to hide any better than you would on your own, and this... It'll be enough of a scandal just trying to fix this."

He gestured around them, at the horses, the stretch of ground they'd covered from the townhouse.

Then his head snapped up. "What if--?" Well...it was a longshot, but if it would get her back inside... "What if I went with you? To Serendipity? For the first month or so, just--just to get you settled. We could tell Mother and Father that's why you ran, you didn't want to go alone, but if I went with you, we could..."

He shrugged helplessly. "It might buy some time, at least?"

She trembled, eyes now down cast. She chewed on her lower lip at his idea.
It would make her feel better...
But guilt still ate away at her gut. She moved uneasily upon the saddle.

"Isn't.. there some... less lame excuse for me to... hide this embarrassment?" she asked, weakly smiling but her eyes still not lifting to meet his.

"Unless you want to argue a temporary bout of insanity...nothing I've got off the top of my head," Andreas replied, trying to joke.

Then, sobering a bit. "Gavi...it would make me feel better. And that's what I'll tell Father. He can't object if it's just for a little while, and if I say I'm going to make sure you're safe."

She didn't want to smile through her tears, but she couldn't fight it, either. She felt ridiculous.
She tried brushing at the tears.

"I feel foolish."

"Don't." He leaned over to cup her cheek in his hand for a moment, giving her a small smile. "You're not foolish, Gavi. You're human." And I'm so sorry I can't stop this happening.

Settling back into his own saddle with sigh, he turned his horse, clicking for hers to follow, but not urging either forward yet. "Ready to go back in?"

Gavi was quiet, her eyes cast down again. She said nothing. But after a time, she did nod. And she felt her fate sealed.

"...Come on, little sister." Andreas leaned over to kiss her temple, squeezing her hand once before he kicked his horse into a trot and hers started after.

---

Miraculously, the whole negotiation party had wound up back in the parlor over the course of the whole affair, and when Andreas approached the door they seemed to be...having tea. And chatting.

...What?

Gavriella blushed at the kiss. If only she could just marry her brother and stay here...
A silly, foolish notion.
But it would keep her home...
away from... whatever unknown fate was in store for her in Serendipity.

The war...
ha..
A petty excuse to be rid of her.



Once back home, Gavriella refused to return to the parlor immediately without fussing over how she looked. Once she felt confident she looked less like she had been crying and riding a horse for the better part of an hour, she returned with her brother and she too, was surprised to see how amicable the families were.

She shifted uncomfortably beside Andreas.
Well, she certainly wasn't going to interrupt.

Andreas shot his sister a wide-eyed look, but before he could say anything, Lady Bartok had caught sight of them and waved them into the parlor.

"Oh do come in, both of you! Gavriella, my dear, I apologize for my son's abysmal behavior."

She shot a glare at Mikhail, who was hovering beside the chair where his own sister sat and winced slightly, not looking at them.

"Mikhail explained that he had convinced you to show him the grounds, but seeing as he is not an accomplished horseman, backed out without actually telling you." She glowered at her son, who winced again. "Foolish boy."

"My apologies, Lady Gavriella," Mikhail murmured with a slight dip of his head in her direction.

Andreas had to work not to tape at him. That...how in all hells had he convinced them of a story that wouldn't embarrass his sister? And why?!

If Andreas was surprised, Gavriella was positively stunned. At first, she stared stupidly, too surprised to think or act before she realized her silence had lasted longer than was appropriate as she forced herself to smile, slipping back on the mask she was taught to wear so many times throughout her life.

"His apology is accepted. But I did rather enjoy my brief run. It's a lovely day outside. It's a shame he had to miss it. Our grounds are quite lovely."

Mikhail gave her the smallest hint of a smile, and for a moment he actually looked sheepish. He inclined his head to her, then Reina gave her a much brighter smile and patted the seat beside her.

"Come sit with me? Mother and your parents haven't moved into proper negotiation yet but it's only a matter of time, and I find your conversation much more interesting."

Andreas found himself just hovering in the doorway, entirely unsure just what the hells was going on.

Gavriella blushed and moved towards her side, motioning for her brother to follow, as she had linked arms with him.

"I must admit, negotiations can be quite boring- trivial really when it's already all been decided."
she hoped some of her spite didn't come out too much in her forcibly sweet words.
Her grip on Andreas' arm tightened a little, but she smiled just the same.

"I hope I wasn't missed terribly."
she tried not to steal a glance at Mikhail, but when she did, she was quick to avert her gaze any where else in the room. she didn't even know where her eyes ended up- her vision swimming inside her head as the conversation drawled on between their parents.

Andreas found himself helpless to do little more than nod along as his little sister pulled him onto the chaise next to Reina's chair--and then the duke and duchess and Lady Bartok were talking again, and once more the two pairs of siblings seemed to have been left to their own devices.

Reina was eager to draw Gavriella back into conversation--and she reached out to take the younger girl's hand as she did, voice lowering slightly as she whispered, "Neither of us can blame you for wanting to run. I'm not sure if it helps to know, but...he does too. He's just more of an ass about it."

At that revelation, Gavriella released a long sigh. She smiled over at Reina.

"Will.. you be living at his home once we are wed?"
It would be nice to have the company..
Even if Andreas would be there.

She dredded being alone with her new husband. She hardly knew him. What if she truly ended up despising him?

"Oh, sweet thing." Reina smiled wider and patted her hand. "Misha doesn't have his own residence--you'll be staying with us in the summer house. And yes, I'll be there too, as long as you'd like. I love the grounds, and it's the only place I can get any real work done without our parents hovering."

Gavriella stiffened, her face red again.
"Oh, I'm sorry I thought-"

Right, Connlaothian customs are not the same as Serendipity customs.

"I apologize for not knowing. I suppose I'll have to brush up on my Serenian knowledge." She gave a sheepish smile, but there was a bit of sadness to it.

"Oh, no one is expecting you to know everything, don't be so harsh on yourself," Reina said casually. "And I'll be there to help you along, don't you worry."

Mikhail thought about pointing out that he would be there too--but given, well...everything, he ultimately decided to just bite his tongue.

Their parents conversation distracted her from Reina's. She heard her father insisting about the wedding being here, but then her mother chiming in, saying it would only be appropriate to have the wedding in Serendipity.

"As is tradition. We have always had the groom host and shouldn't rush the wedding now. Let them get acquainted before their wedding night and in a month's time or two, we can join them and celebrate our family's union together."

Mikhail arched an eyebrow as he tuned into their parents' conversation. A month or two of Gavriella living with them before the wedding? It wasn't unheard of, but it wasn't exactly common either. Although...he supposed part of the point of this whole ridiculous show was getting her out of Connlaoth as the conflict of the civil war closed in.

"You're sure to be the talk of all high society," he drawled quietly, and neatly dodged the elbow his sister threw back in his direction. "What? That's a good thing—people will be happier to know her than me. She'll be the exciting new debutant with all the news from Connlaoth, won't she?"

Reina glowered at him. "Not. Helping. Misha."

Gavriella wasn't sure what to say. She looked to her brother but wasn't sure he'd be any help. And with haste, turned to Reina to add in her own, "But why couldn't those few months be here? If I'm staying in Serendipity, wouldn't it also be equally advantageous for my groom to be introduced to my own family as well?"

She knew her argument was moot, and it made more sense for her to leave,  but she couldn't help but say it- not that their parents were paying them much, if any, attention.

If Lady Bartok heard her, she didn't seem to think the comment worth a response. Reina gave Gavriella a sympathetic look, but kept quiet--in fact, she seemed to be becoming a bit distracted, glancing toward the parlor door every so often as though...worried about something.

Mikhail simply arched an eyebrow at the young woman and noted quietly, "I was rather under the impression a main driving factor behind this engagement was to remove you from the country as quickly and safely as possible?"

Gavriella turned her nose up and away from him.
"Only because my parents are being unreasonable. You have been here long enough. What true danger is there from this war?"

In the other chair, Andreas went stiff and tense. Mikhail flicked his gaze toward the other heir apparent, and some sort of understanding crossed his face, gone in a flash. A muscle in his jaw twitched and he dropped his eyes.

“…Will your father even let you go to Serendipity?” he murmured to Andreas after a long moment.

Andreas shot him a cold, emotionless look. “…For a time.”

Mikhail nodded, looking away again. He thought about saying something to Gavriella about minding her tongue about the dangers of the war around the people who would actually be sent to fight in it, but thought better of it. Clearly her brother hadn’t told her, and he wasn’t about to do so in this parlor.

The tension in the air was palpable. She fought back a reaction but felt numb for it. She sensed something off from her brother and frowned before she looked away. That's when her eyes absently fell upon Mikhail and once she realized it, she made haste to avoid actually meeting his gaze.

Mikhail sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face. He was making an effort on his own part to avoid his betrothed's eyes, though it was more from exhaustion than embarrassment.

"How much longer do you think they'll keep us here?" he muttered, low enough that their parents wouldn't overhear.

Both Reina and Andreas did, however, and gave him matching sharp looks that under normal circumstances he might have chuckled at.

It was about that time Gavriella stole another glance at her intended. His eyes were averted, so she felt less inclined to hide the fact she was studying him. She supposed she ought to get a good look at the man if she were to marry him. He was good looking enough, having a 'pretty' quality about him- but that might have been due to his more slender, serenian features and dark lashes. It was his eyes that made her a little uneasy. They were just so pale. She supposed they were pretty in their own right, she was just used to seeing people with more depth in their eyes. And he seemed very distracted, aloof, and more concerned with anything else than being here.

That made two of them.

"Perhaps we should order some wine."

They needed something to break the tension. Otherwise, she'd run away again just to break the mood.

Misha snorted, quickly raising a hand to smother the noise. He looked at his bride-to-be with a sudden new spark in his eyes, something almost...admiring.

"You're funny," he noted quietly, offering a small smile.

Gavriella couldn't have jumped from her skin when he finally addressed her. She'd just assumed he'd continue to look elsewhere. But she did her best to remain composed. But then at his comment...

Her brows furrowed.

"Did I say or do something to amuse you?"
She couldn't think at what. Was it the comment about the wine? Perhaps serenians were.. less to take to drink?

"Oh, well—" He found himself fumbling, which he didn't often do. "Wine improves most situations, I find, I just didn't expect—"

"Mikhail."

He sat up straighter. "Ah, yes, Mother?"

"Your opinion?" When he just stared at her, she sighed and elaborated, "On travel arrangements."

Oh.

Right.

Gavriella hadn't expected the man to.. well, react like that. It took her off guard that he seemed to have been offguard. But for what? She chewed on her lower lip but quickly halted her terrible habit and returned her face to neutral. Even though she was young, her mother always reminded her girls should smile less- not because they are unhappy, but because it cases lines on the face and a woman should always take the utmost care of her face to preserve youth and beauty.

Even still, Gavriella's blue eyes often gave her away, and she could be quite expressive at times. It was one of the things she struggled with on as acts a lady ought to carry. She hoped she wasn't too obvious now.

As Mikhail was distracted with his parents inquiring on his opinion, she sighed inwardly and studied them with an attempt at neutrality. She would have to get to know these people as well. They would be her family soon enough.

But even still..
she had a hard time staying focused, and her eyes strayed back towards studying Mikhail...