Not far from the large pavilion in shades of blue wherein King Ambrose rested, surrounded by his various courtiers, was a slightly smaller pavilion in a rich purple, striped with silver. In front of the pavilion, the standard of Ashton blew gently in the warm summer breeze, the purple banner emblazoned with a silver lark and the words "Together We Stand." Under the pavilion's shade, the courtiers of Ashton gathered to talk with one another about the day's matches. Some of the lords placed bets with one another about who the winners would be. Some of the ladies gathered in smaller clusters, speaking in hushed (or not so hushed) tones about the successes or failures of their champions, or worrying about their safety. Still others, the more ambitious sort (which described many among the Ashtonite nobility), took their turns attempting to gain the attention of Duchess Lucy...when they were not aiming at a still higher prize and seeking the favor of King Ambrose himself in the next pavilion. Although to some of the Ashtonites, this last was not even a desired prize. A good number of them, while they would never have admitted it aloud, still supported Duchess Lucy first and foremost, to the point of almost resenting the new King's arrival.


Yet this would lead to quite a conflict for many of them; for indeed, Duchess Lucy herself was only occasionally even present in her own pavilion. In between events, her time was divided between the Ashton pavilion, and the more elaborate pavilion of King Ambrose, at his invitation. But when she could be found within her own pavilion, she was the living symbol of Ashton. Wearing a new gown of light, shimmery silver-colored silk, with a deeper purple bodice lined with pearls, the golden waves of her hair loosely confined within a simple silver hair net (strung with additional pearls) against the light breeze, the young Duchess could almost be called a living statue (though some would even dare to call her cold as a statue's stone). Around her neck, the living symbol of Ashton wore the true symbol of Ashton in the form of her silver lark pendant. She had considered wearing King Ambrose's gift, but had decided to wait for the actual coronation instead.


For the moment, Duchess Lucy could actually be found within the pavilion, waiting for the first event of the day to start. She had just spoken to her cousin Nicholas and wished him the best of luck in his fencing match. Nicholas would be her champion for the duration of the tournament...though others may have wished for her favor, it was Nicholas who had received it, Nicholas who would be fighting for her honor and for the glory of Ashton. She was eager to see his match, along with several of the other matches; but at the moment, the young Duchess was preparing to make her way to the next pavilion to make her greetings to King Ambrose. Oh yes, this tournament would be quite the affair.

Lady Victoria was on her way to the King's Pavilion when she saw the purple and silver of the Ashton Pavilion. She stared at it for a moment, then decided it might help her standings, and getting known, if she introduced herself to all of the other duchy leaders. She turned her direction toward it, and put a smile on her face. She was a little nervous, but it was not too big a deal. The only thing she worried about is that if she did not make a good impression, Ashton might not react well to Pemberton. Every thing she did needed to be good for her duchy. She took a deep breath.

She wore her brightly colored pink and red skirts, and bodice, that brought out the deep of her green eyes. She touched her light brown hair, which she had top top layers of up in an intricate pattern, that looked much like a rose; the lower layers were naturally curled about her shoulders. She walked into the pavilion, and bowed her head to some of the courtiers, and curtsied slightly to a few others. When she rested her eyes on the woman she guessed was Duchess Lucy Rochester, she came up, and gave a low curtsy. "Your Grace, I am Lady Victoria Carstairs or Pemberton. It is indeed a pleasure to meet you." She slowly stood back up, waiting to be accepted there before she continued. She was worried that she might have interrupted something. She held her breath, not knowing what else to do. This meeting with the Duchess was a spur of the moment thing, she had not planned any thing. So... she would have to continue to wing it, hoping not to offend any one.

Vee sighed, resting her chin in her hand as she watched the men try and bash each other silly. It was a stupid tradition, she felt, harkening back to the days of the Roman Empire's illustrious history. Colosseum bouts were held, where men fought other men, and frequently, at the favor--or disfavor--of the king, depending on which one you were--the winner would be given the sign to kill or spare the loser. Really this wasn't much different, only less fatalities.

She was a generally soft-spoken woman, however--though that wasn't to say she was simple; her mind was always working on complex ideas and wondering how to make her rather lofty goals come to fruition--and so she clearly wasn't the type to stand up and shout 'this bores me to tears! Let us be done with this nonsense!' which, of course, was exactly what she wished to do.

However, it was an excuse for the nobles of the country to gather...a time when she could make some lofty connections, except for one problem. She already had most of the lofty connections she wanted or needed. Her cousin Lucy was the Duchess, and what seemed to be her second cousin on Lucy's father's side--which meant no direct blood relation--Nicholas Fleetwood...why, she'd babysat him as a child, so she knew the Fleetwoods rather well too, and next to the Duchess Rochester, they were the most influential family in the duchy.

The only further up she could go was to the King himself, and she had no desire to go and flaunt and frolic around him. Besides, though his position was high, she actually found him to be a rather boorish and ugly man. Despite his young age, Nicholas was much more becoming of a man. Entertaining and handsome both. He'd not been so nearly as much back when she'd babysat him, of course, but once he'd burned off all his babyfat and learned some social graces, he naturally became most people's favorite...and that included the Duchess Lucy, whom Vee pretended to wholeheartedly support along with most of the rest of the family.

In fact, it was his bout was the only one she was interested in watching, because his success--or failiure--was very important for them all...the Duchess herself had given him her favor, proof of the regard she held for him.

Nicholas was skilled with a blade, there was no doubt about that, but the true test would be to see how he matched up to this Lord Villion he was supposed to face off against...a man she'd heard nothing about. And at the moment, Vee was insanely bored. She almost wished for one of her blackouts which had been happening more and more recently...at least it would make the time go by quicker.

In the goblet in her hand was wine, but she only sipped at it to keep her throat wet and to keep the stench of so many bodies collected together from making the bile in her throat rise.

Today she the Lady Veronica Carlyle was dressed in her finest;a lavender long-sleeve, tight-bodiced velvet gown for balls and public formalities. Slashings on the sleeves reveal her white undergarments. She also wore a wire hair net, purple slippers, ivory silk gloves and carried a fan.

The fan was of particular use, as it was open and flapping slightly at her face, trying to keep a regular flow of cool air. By God she wished for something eventful to happen. She glanced to Lucy whom she realized she'd not yet spoken, and smiled softly, whispering a soft "Greetings, cousin," as she passed the girl by, wondering when, something interesting would happen. Hell, she'd almost take the book of Revelations over this.

...Almost. The only reason why not, was that she knew exactly which direction she'd be headed if the Apocalypse truly came to pass. But the sheer fact that she had ample enough time for her thoughts to roam such an annoying direction proved just how damned boring it was.

C'mon....please...something happen...

Genevive was seated quietly away from everyone else in the pavilion. Only her foot, tapping impatiently on the ground, gave any hint to her exasperation. Yes, the dueling was romantic and heroic and everything, but when there wasn't a Lord trying to earn your eye or favor, the whole affair was really quite dull.

Genevive pulled out a fan decorated with black lace and opened it, fanning herself out of sheer boredom. Well, it was hot- but she just needed something to do with her hands to keep herself entertained.

With an exasperated sigh, Genevive got to her feet with grace and ease (she had practiced this movement often when she was alone) and shyly approached Duchess Lucy.

She slipped into a curtsy and bowed her head respectfully before the Duchess of Ashton, saying as she did, "Greetings, fair Duchess." She straightened up and smiled. "I am Lady Genevive Veliare. It is indeed an honor to meet you."

She hoped she wasn't being too intrusive, but she was so bored that even if Duchess Lucy decided to take offense at Genevive's greeting and start a blood feud, at least something interesting would have happened.

Pushing from the cool shade of his pavilion, Ambrose stalked out into the harsh summer sunshine. He was not alone of course, for a king should never be alone in public, but the attendants and courtiers hurrying along behind him were minimal. He was just paying a quick social visit in between matches -- nothing that required a large entourage. Purple and silver, the Ashton pavilion rose upon the green, beckoning to him as seductively as any prostitute trying to gather customers for the evening. It had been some time since he had last laid eyes upon the lovely Duchess Lucy Rochester, but the letter she had sent to him just a few days ago reassured him that his advances would be well met. True, she could just be putting on a pretty show in order to appease him... but even if she was not sincere, a woman could surely be bought.

He had to just use the right currency.

As he passed into the canvas shade of the Ashton pavilion, the courtiers within bowed and murmured their greetings. Dressed in an outfit of midnight blue with sapphires stitched onto the cloth and a circlet of gold upon his brow, Ambrose surely looked the part of a king -- for once. With barely a nod of acknowledgment to those that greeted him, the king prowled forward with his attendants close behind him. His piercingly blue eyes were trained upon the figure of the young duchess. She looked absolutely beautiful in an outfit of silver silk and pearls. "My dear duchess," he murmured, finally coming to a halt before her as he sank into a shallow, respectful bow. His fingers were immediately closing around hers, pulling her hand to his lips so he could kiss her knuckles gently. "My day has just brightened tenfold."

Rising from his bow, Ambrose reluctantly released the young woman's hand even as he motioned one of his attendants forward with a quick wave of his own. "For you." It was stunning -- a bolt of the finest cloth-of-gold with flowers stitched upon it in threads of silver and lavender. "I would have just had a dress made myself, but I'm afraid I do not know your measurements, Your Grace."

Lucy had been on her way out of the pavilion, when she was stopped by a young lady who curtsied and introduced herself as Lady Victoria Carstairs of Pemberton. She stopped, nodding politely to her. "The pleasure is mine, Lady Victoria," she replied courteously. The girl seemed pretty enough, with her light hair done in an intricate arrangement. Clearly younger than Lucy herself, that much was obvious. Then Lucy noticed the shade of red in her gown, and remembering that she was of Pemberton, instantly realized that she must be a relation of the Duchess. But what relation? She knew Duchess Esabell had no children; she had only just gotten married, after all. And she didn't think she had any sisters that much younger...perhaps a niece, then? Yes, now that Lucy thought about it, she was sure she remembered hearing about a niece of the Duchess who had come to court. "How are your aunt and your new uncle doing?" she asked, hoping she was right.


Just then, Lucy saw her cousin Veronica, fondly known as "Vee," passing by, and heard her murmuring a greeting. "Good morning to you, cousin," she replied with a smile. "Enjoying the festivities?" She was fairly certain what the answer would be, having already noticed Vee's apparent boredom; but it was only polite to ask. Lucy had not spent as much time as she would have liked with this cousin lately, so she was attempting to rectify that now. She usually spent most of her time with Nicholas, her cousin on her father's side; but Nicholas had already left to prepare for his fencing match later that day. Lucy and Vee had never been all that close; their difference in age preventing such closeness when Lucy was a child. And now, of course, Lucy had no desire for a "friend." Still, Vee was family, and that was something Lucy could not easily brush aside.


After a few moments, Lucy saw another young courtier approaching her, another young lady she did not recognize. It seemed that every time she turned around, another new young Lord or Lady had joined the ranks of the Ashtonite nobility. The girl who approached her now was young, younger than Lucy herself, or so it seemed, with blonde hair similar to Lucy's own, though slightly paler. Lucy smiled politely and nodded as the girl curtsied and introduced herself. "Delighted to make your acquaintance, Lady Genevive," she replied kindly. "Are you enjoying the tournament?"


But at that moment, Lucy heard a slight commotion at the pavilion's entrance, and she glanced over to see none other than King Ambrose himself entering, trailed by a few attendants. A slight smile formed on her lips as she watched his approach, her eyes almost instantly locked on his intensely blue ones. "Your Majesty," she murmured, sinking into a graceful curtsey as he reached her. "What a delightful surprise!" Well, it was not a complete surprise...not after the letter she had received a week or so before...but saying she had been expecting him would have been far too presumptuous. And after all, she was surprised that he had actually come to her own pavilion, instead of waiting for her to come to him as she had been about to do.


Almost before she had risen from her curtsey, the King had taken her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. "Your Majesty gives me too much credit," Lucy replied with a demure smile, a light flush darkening her cheeks. "Indeed, you quite outshine the day yourself!" And she meant it; in his magnificent midnight blue outfit, with the sapphires and his gold circlet around his head, he certainly appeared more...royal...than she had ever imagined him. But this only added to the impression of strength she had received from him on their last meeting, and to her need to have his support at all costs.


As the attendant came forward and presented the gift, Lucy's eyes widened, her lips turning up in a delighted smile. True, King Ambrose had spoken of further gifts during their previous conversation; but she had certainly not expected for his first act upon seeing her again would be to bestow another splendid gift. And splendid it certainly was. "Your Majesty, it is beautiful," she said softly, reaching out to trace a finger along the delicate embroidery. A teasing glint appeared in her eyes as she looked back up at the King. "But if you wish to appear as anything but a generous king, then I fear you are falling sadly short." She laughed lightly, remembering King Ambrose's comments on the subject at their last meeting. "But thank you, and I shall have a dress made right away...this is perfect, exactly what I needed!"

Victoria smiled as she was given the greeting, that she was sure every one else got. The way the Duchess' eyes looked over her, she felt as if she was bing sized up to every one else. It did not matter. She would not be here long, and it would be a while before she was in Ashton, so she had nothing to worry about. She was indeed surprised to hear the Duchess' ask of her aunt and uncle. That meant that she knew who she was, which was good, because it made it so that Victoria did not feel she was boasting her family name around every where she went.

"Aunt Esabell and Uncle Edmund are well. They seem to be rather happy." For all she could tell, is that her aunt and uncle were getting along well. The looks she had seen pass between the two was that there might be more than a business relationship building. She did not tell every one else that though, because it was just an observation. She loved both of them dearly, and she only wanted to see them happy. And as long as they were, she was too. A kind smile graced her face at the thought of them, and the possibility of them living a happy life together. It made her hope for a relationship that turned out similar.

She looked out at the tournament that was currently taking place, while the Duchess was suddenly surrounded by several other people. She noted that it was an event that she had been wanting to see. As her aunt and uncle often did, Lucy seemed to get busy, with out even intending to. Victoria was going to make her good-byes, when the stunning figure of the king came into the pavilion. Victoria had been on her way to his own pavilion before she had stopped here, so she was a bit surprised to see him so soon. She slowly shied away from the rest of the group, not yet ready to make her introduction to the king. Besides, he seemed to be preoccupied with Duchess Lucy.

Lucy breathed a quick mental sigh of relief, as Lady Victoria's words confirmed that she had been correct about the girl's identity. She had been fairly certain, but one could never be too careful, particularly with regards to a duchy with whose leaders she was not on the best of terms. Oh, there were no open hostilities, or anything of that sort; she simply did not know enough about Duchess Esabell, despite their brief meeting at the Pemberton ball. And the new Duke Edmund...she knew even less about him. All she knew was that he came of Benthey, but that itself was enough to make her quite nervous. Benthey, with their great military prowess...and their Duchess Elspeth, whom Lucy had also not yet met...oh yes, the thought of a potential alliance between those two duchies was very much a threat to Lucy's peace of mind.


But then she noticed the girl's second comment, about the couple's apparent happiness. Lucy remembered noticing the same thing at the ball celebrating their engagement...well, well, could it be that it had been a match of affection after all? She laughed inwardly at the very thought. If the Duchess of Pemberton had ignored all considerations of status and power, all chances to further advance her duchy, to settle for a lowly Lord of Benthey, simply because of her feelings toward him, she was far more foolish than Lucy had realized.


Still, there was no sense in alienating young Lady Victoria. Clearly, she was still too innocent to have learned the way the world truly worked...Lucy would certainly not be the one to wake her from her dream. That could wait until the girl's own marriage was arranged, which surely must happen soon enough. "How lovely for them," she replied, her tone pleasant and sincere, though internally she meant nothing of the sort. "True happiness is so hard to find these days." Even Lucy herself had not found it yet; nor would she as long as her blasted advisors continued to press for her own marriage.


Just then, Lady Victoria began to inch away, clearly intimidated by the large number of other courtiers beginning to surround Lucy. She could not let their conversation end there, though. She had to make sure this girl took the right impression of Lucy herself, and of Ashton, back to her aunt and uncle. So Lucy followed, casually, not wanting the girl to feel that she was being chased...just enough to move into a less crowded area of the pavilion. "So tell me, Lady Victoria, how are you enjoying the tournament?" she asked kindly. A girl of her age would surely be bubbling over with excitement for the festivities, Lucy had no doubt. "And, if I may be so bold, which of the brave young Lords was lucky enough to be graced with your favor?" Of course she would have a champion, would have bestowed her favor upon someone. Even if Lucy had not already suspected as much simply from the girl's age and status, the way she kept glancing out at the tournament told Lucy that she was waiting for someone special to compete.

Lady Victoria noted how Duchess Lucy seemed to be kind and sincere enough, so Victoria managed a smile up at her. "My father used to tell me that 'happiness was not something you merely look and search for, but it is also what you make of it'." Her chin was held high, and her eyes were confident as she shared her bit of wisdom, but then she was again the shy girl she had been, not knowing if the duchess would like that bold outburst too much. "I know that my aunt and uncle did not come together out of love to begin with, but who is to say that they will not learn to love one another?" She managed a small hopeful smile.

Victoria was actually glad when the Duchess also came away from the courtiers some. But, Victoria knew it was surely so that Lucy made she she was well seen in the eyes of one of the members of Pemberton's finest family. That usually was the case, so Victoria was used to it. She was proud of her family name, both from her mother and her father. Any girl would be. There were times, though, she must admit, that she wished people wanted to talk to her, for her. Not crave her attention for the fact of who her family was. This is part of why her best friend was her maid, some one who knew how she acted when glitz and glam was not required, and also knew how hard it was to step into the silks and jewels. This, was not talk to have with a Duchess, however, so she let the Duchess find some thing else.

The talk was directed to the tournament, which Victoria had again just glanced toward. "Indeed, your Grace. The tournament is like nothing I ever saw." She smiled brightly, admiring all of the family banners, and duchy colors that brightened the tournament field. "I do not think I will forget this day." She said mostly just thinking aloud. She almost did not hear the next question.

When the words hit her, Victoria looked at the Duchess with a bright blushing smile. "I have given my favor to the Duke Alden Brighton of Marcheford." as she said this she was sure that her cheeks were now as red as her dress. In her mind she was recalling the meeting between the Duke and herself. His bright smile filled he mind. Oh, how she could not wait to see just what happened when he was to compete. She felt confident that when he did she would be proud of him no matter if he won or lost. Surely things would work out. Her mind drifted, almost leaving Duchess Lucy behind.

Victoria shook her head and cleared her thoughts, looking back from Lucy to the tournament. "What about Your Grace? Surely there is some gentle Lord who has the honor of being the favor of the grand Duchess Lucy Rochester of Ashton." Her question was not purely out of curiosity, but a way to get the topic off of her. She did not like to dwell on things of her own life, her life was open enough without having to tell every one about it. The Duchess of Ashton more than likely had a much more interesting life, any way.