Your Obedient Servant (Noku)

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Part of Aveline never wanted to come back.

Somehow she had known it would end this way, when Roland never came back, leaving her alone in that manor. Even with the help, without him it felt emptier and lonelier than the palace. Because she knew what it was like to not be alone now, she figured. Even if she wasn’t entirely alone, anymore.

But she had wanted to come back, a stupid hope she realized now, no matter what her mother and her had experienced in the past she still loved her. Hoped that maybe now, with a new grandchild on the way, that she might find it in her heart to perhaps not love Roland, but at least tolerate him for the sake of their child. A child she was wholly unprepared for, when she had the courage to admit that to herself. There was no way to repair the damage she had done to Roland in just the short time they had been together, and undoubtedly now she was about to do more.

This wasn’t the freedom that she had wanted. Not with his child growing inside her. And now he was trapped, once again because of her. And the only person she could turn to was the man she once feared the most.

King Noku was the only person she could turn to now.

Aveline approached the royal study dressed in a simple white brocade dress and furs, her usually braided hair loose in a softer cascade of cloudy tight curls that brushed past her shoulders. The only adornments she wore were her rings and a plain ribbon that twisted in a braided headband over the crown of her head. As she approached the guards at the door turned, opening the door a crack to alert the King that she had arrived. Aveline stood and waited, feeling faint at the sight of the doors as she tried to steel herself.

Anything it took to get her husband freed, she would do. Anything at all.

[Noku Noru]

Noku sat at his desk re-reading the letter he had received the day before. His thumb tracing over the inked lettering of the name of who sent the tiny parchment. A frown pressed on his lips as he slowly closed the letter in his hands and sunk back into his seat. At this time, the door cracked opened.

Sitting in his chair, he wore his royal garments that were stain silks and a heavy lavender cloak hung lazily over his shoulders. His crown nestled neatly on his head, keeping his hair flat against his frame in a draped manner. He turned his head sharply to the guard give the name of who wanted entrance. His eyes widen at the name and he looked down at the closed letter in his hands. She had already arrived? Noku sighed and waved to the guard to allow her to enter.

When Aveline would decide to enter the study, she would notice how neat the room was kept. Though it is obvious that the study is also being lived in. To the side off in front of the window, a elegant oak couch with green leaf padding could be seen off to itself; A heavy bear hide blanket and feather down pillows that were stacked neatly onto the couch could also be noticed. Meanwhile the rest of the room was lit by a fire that was next to the entrance of the study and two candle tear stands. The entire room smelling of ceder and lavender.

Noku sat in his chair with his hands clasped together in his lap; the letter tucked safely away in his desk. He looked at Aveline with a gentle smile and nodded to her in respects as she entered. A different aura about him as he gestured Aveline to take a seat. He seemed a little less irritated and seemed to have more color in his cheeks as he looked directly at Aveline. Even his eyes looked like pools of honey as he opened is mouth to speak first to her. “ Good to see you alive and well; How do you fair Mrs.Walker? I’m curious to hear your plea, were the claims your mother made true? “ Noku asked, a obvious sound of concern in his voice. Though he was curious to hear what she had to say as his smile slowly faded and he became more serious.

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Aveline swayed in her spot as the door swung open to her, folding her hands in her sleeves to hide their shaking. As she stepped forward, memories flooded her- when she as a young girl first met her king, a tall and severe young man, a pillar of ice, terrifying and impenetrable. That hard look on his face was one she was quick to recognize and expected that here- she knew how to deal with it. The smile that she saw on his face when she walked through the door however was one that she didn’t recognize at all. Her King looked… happy. Kind and healthy, like a man instead of a statue, for once. Warmth and anxiety skittered through her chest as she numbly nodded and curtseyed in return and found her seat across from him.

“I am-” Aveline swallowed, trying to find her words, unable to look at him directly. “I am well enough, your Majesty.” The concern that she could hear in his voice baffled her- she was not expecting kindness. Perhaps his Majesty was like her husband in that way, cold at first, but warmth underneath. But like her husband, she couldn’t help but suspect resentment lying underneath that warmth.

“My mother was worried about me, which is of course natural.” Aveline still couldn’t look at him directly, gaze fixed on his folded hands. “But-” she bit her lip. Telling this truth would harm what her mother had worked for, for so long. But her husband needed to be freed. At any cost to her. Any at all. “I’m not… I’m not enchanted, your Majesty. I love my lord husband and left of my own volition. It was my foolishness that kept us from returning sooner, and my lord husband was so caught up in my happiness and my desires that we delayed returning. I was the one who pressed for elopement. I am to blame for this, your Majesty. Not him.”

[Noku Noru]

Noku stared at Aveline with a blank stare while she spoke, her words filled with anxiety and she couldn’t even look at him directly. His lips pressed tightly together as he sat back and listened. Her words hollow, like a script. She was nervous and still rejected the idea of looking at him while she spoke out against her mother’s claims. Noku’s rose one brow in amusement of the answer. His lips curling to make a small smirk as he twirled his thumbs together in his lap with his legs crossed.

“ You are not on trial here Lady Aveline. I know that you are a Zoe, I’ve seen your abilities to speak and like your mother you are very smart. “ Noku paused, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he leaned back into his chair. “ I know that you have the courage to look at me like you had the courage to walk into my office demanding your husbands freedom…..I am…human after all Lady Aveline.” Noku spoke calmly, his heart pounding in his chest but he kept his composure as he stared across the desk at her. His golden eyes reflecting her image as he stopped twirling his thumbs and pressed them together.

“ So what you are telling me is that your mother was wrong? Am I hearing that correctly? Also forgive me if I’m wrong, but did I also hear that you a woman of the court who has no reason to know of the Guard’s strict oaths; is saying that she is to blame for Roland’s negligence for not keeping his oath when he took his position as my personal Guard Captain? “

Noku asked, his tone serious but not harsh or raised. His brow slightly furrowed in confusion, though he also understood the reasoning for a woman to beg for their lovers safety. He had seen it several times in the years of his rule. He understood why Aveline was here, but he didn’t frown in front of her. In stead he just kept a blank face, barely showing any emotion other than a bit of concern.

“ Aveline, your Husband is being questioned for possible information leakage. He’s been placed in Breton’s care for the time being until it is confirmed that this is false. Normally I would not do this, but he the amount of time he has been absent and the recent siege has me concern for not only your husband but my kingdom. “ Noku sighed, opening his eyes to look over to the window that was behind her. “ Your mother was worried about you deeply, however if you stand by what you say then I will listen. I promise to wait for Breton’s report to give my final answer…However, I hope you don’t mind me being blunt, but are you sure your okay? You sound like you are here, but yet your words sound far off and distant….If you wish to be the blame, then what is it that you have done wrong for him to stay behind so long? “ Noku asked curious of her answer, his voice calm yet serious.

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You’re not human, Aveline wants to speak, You are King, and that is something altogether mighty. She could not allow herself to be tricked by his kindness- he would only be able to use it as a belt to beat and strangle her with later. But she does lift her eyes at his request, her normally timid near-black eyes no longer brimming with the threat of unshed tears.

“Lady Melania requested that he take a vacation, so to speak. We did not return sooner because- because I am with child, your Majesty.” Aveline presses her hand over her stomach, not able to manage a smile. It would be impossible to hide it for much longer, once spring came. But in the icy stretch of winter, her furs and robes could hide her growing stomach. “A boy, if the gods are willing. I-” her voice falters, “I am going to call him Jeon. Returning during the siege was- it was too unsafe. My Lord Husband has never known a family, your Majesty.”

Aveline’s gaze drops back to his hands, brows pinching as Noku’s question run through her mind. Her mother was concerned? What sort of poison had she been feeding to the King? “I-” her gaze lifts back to Noku, dark eyes steely again as her voice steadies. “My Mother’s love for me complicates her actions, your Majesty. As you can see, I am the crux to this- this madness. My husband neglects his duty for my protection and my mother-” her voice cuts, remembering that night in the temple. The rage and helplessness sweeps over her again as her teeth grit, anger so very rarely seen turning her expression. “I collared my husband using my wedding ring to him. I gave him my father’s ring and some sort of magic infected him. It chained him- as soon as the ring was on his finger a band choked his throat and he said- he said it was a collar to bind a dog. I don’t know the truth of the magic behind it, but I know that it was a trap. My Lord Husband would never betray you, your Majesty.”

“I took the risk of incurring my mother’s wrath and went through with it anyway. Roland is suffering for my stupidity and selfishness now. You are suffering from my actions as well, your Majesty. If my mother had not been so occupied by my childishness and my impulsivity, perhaps she could have given you information that would have stopped the siege. Instead she- she formulated some plot to imprison my Lord Husband.” Aveline bends her head finally, hands curled tightly together. “I do not deserve forgiveness for this, your Majesty. I have been given too much leniency as it is. I only ask that you give mercy to my husband and that I may take his place in whatever punishment you bestow. If it means your mercy, your Majesty, I will do anything. Anything you desire.”