A Gift of Life and a Curse of Death

Tellural

Tellural

Starstruck
@A Knee

Gabriel stood stiffly in the courtyard, looking rather out of place amongst the verdant greenery and colourful blossoms that lined the stone paths. The stark contrast of his dark travelling clothes clearly labelling him an outsider even if his obvious discomfort and the way he had physically distanced himself from his hosts had been miraculously overlooked.

Gathered around one of the impressive marble fountains a few dozen people were grouped and talking quietly amongst themselves, every so often looking his way then averting their eyes just as quickly. He had been briefly introduced to the most important of them upon his arrival, their names remaining in his memory only for the brief moments between one introduction and the next. Any offerings of handshakes he met with cool inclines of his head, the combination of their ignorance and the warm weather causing him to feel ever so slightly ill. It would only get worse the longer he was away from Winterswood but it was manageable for the time being.

He had, however, yet to catch sight of the King or of his daughter. Of Sonnet. The reason why he was here at all.

He could imagine well enough what she might look like now, but the image of her in his head stubbornly remained of the half-drowned girl he had pulled from the water. It had been years since that fateful day, and yet he still couldn’t say for sure what had possessed him to turn down the road along the water's edge rather than continue on his usual less travelled route through the woods. What made him leap from his horse at the frightened scream in order to pull her from the depths.

In the long years since he had succumbed to his curse, Gabriel had grown accustomed to fate having its way with him. To loss and death, the spectres that loomed over his head. Perhaps it was because saving Sonnet had been so much a contrast to the rest of his life that it stood out so strongly, that he was here to make good on the ‘reward’ that had been offered to him at all. Or perhaps he was just morbidly curious as to what fate his cursed touch had left on her after all these years if it was not one of death.

A commotion followed by a hush from those gathered around the fountain caught his attention and Gabriel pulled himself from his thoughts, standing up straighter in order to take note of what might have caused it.
 
Sonnet stared at the small candle on her nightstand. The flame danced in the air, flickering in all directions, seeking for something else to grasp. Fire had always interested her. How could something so small manage to destroy as much as it did? It was destructively beautiful. She offered the flame a weak smile before she gently blew it out, a small trail of smoke wafting into the air.

Sonnet fiddled with the hem of her dress as she thought. Her eyes slowly glanced through her old bedroom, her personal belongings all packed away. Today she was supposed to be happy. Today was her birthday. But this day also marked the beginning of her new life.

It was hard to think she would be leaving Ravenwood castle for good. This had been where she was born and raised. But a promise had been made. A promise she would be a fool to break. She sniffed back some tears before rising to her feet from her somber spot on the floor. She straightened up her posture, taking in a deep breath of air, her hands anxiously messing with her hair.

Sonnet shook the emotions from her body as she took a deep breath, stepping from her bedroom and down into the throne room. There her father sat proudly in his chair, a somber smile rested over her face. She sniffed and slowly walked towards him.

She knew he wasn't taking her separation well. After her mother had passed, she was all he had left and now... Here she was. Leaving him. Off to marry a stranger. A man she didn't know. As Sonnet stood in front of her father, she felt held back tears welled up in her eyes. She did her best to maintain control and keep her emotions in check, but once one tear dared travel down her cheek, the rest followed.

Sonnet quickly embraced him, tears beginning to flood her face. "I wish I could stay." She sobbed into his shoulder. She hugged her tightly in return, trying to hold onto the last of his family.

Sonnet slowly pulled away with questions sniff. She gave him a small smile, his hand gently resting against her cheek. "I love you, remember that." He said softly with a sniff.

"I love you too," She sniffed, her entire body trembling.

At the sound of the great hall’s doors opening, Sonnet watched as her old life slipped from her grasp. One of the maids came to fetch her, leading her away from the world that she knew into the courtyard where a carriage was to be expected. Her maid gripped her shaking hand tightly, offering her an encouraging smile.

Sonnet wished she had her courage and compassion. But all she felt was mountains of dread and fear. God she didn't even know what he looked like. Only that he saved her and she had a debt to pay. Sonnet inhaled sharply, releasing her maids hand. She inhaled sharply, trying to fake the confidence she lacked. She raised her head, holding her head high, a stern look pulled across her face. Her eyebrows knitted together to form a thin line as she stepped out of the castle. Her maids were quick to follow behind her, giving her as much space as she needed. Sonnet stepped out into the courtyard, pausing as she spotted him. That's when a bit of confusion rattled her. She believed he was going to be much older then her, but he surprisingly looked to be about her age. Maybe a little older, but certainly not twice her age. Hell, he barely looked a day over twenty-two.

Sonnet approached, her eyes scanning quickly over him, her arms crossing over her chest. She opened her mouth to say something, that signature look pulling across her face. Her maid was quick to slap her over the hand, indicating she was to remain silent. Sonnet clamped her mouth closed, her lips pulling into a fine line. She turned sharply, approaching the other side of the carriage. "If you're expecting to meet with my father, you're welcome to go inside. Though I doubt he will have much to add to this conversation. After all, father's aren't too keen on talking with the men who-" She started, her maid quickly rushing over once again to silence the young woman.

Another maid hesitantly approached Gabriel, a quiet sigh escaping her throat. "You'll have to excuse Sonnet... She's working on holding her tongue..." She spoke quickly, her eyes finding Sonnet's at her last words, the look she gave her spoke louder then anything the maid could've said.
 
Had he not been so well versed in schooling his expression Gabriel might have had the grace to look startled by Sonnet's appearance. It wasn't that he found her to be unattractive, quite the opposite in fact. Had he been a normal Prince under the usual circumstances she just might have been the loveliest woman he'd set eyes on. However, when he had been expecting some sort of lingering illness or disfigurement as a result of his curse and found none it served to shock him into silence as she approached.

In a bid to regain the precious few seconds of composure he had lost, Gabriel inclined his head and bowed slightly to the small group of women. Even affording a partial nod of acknowledgement to the maid who was so quick to jump in and cut off Sonnet before her tongue was like to get her into trouble. He was more amused than offended by the show of personality in any case, though a small part of him mourned what might happen to that spark when she realised the dismalness of the situation he was here to lead her into.

"I would remind you Princess, that it was in fact your father who was the arbiter of this arrangement in the first place." He noted, tone cool but overall spoken as though he were an indifferent observer to the whole situation rather than one of the main players. "However, if there is something you wish to say to me, I bid you speak your mind. A songbird kept from singing seems as though it would be rather quite the pity."

The latter statement was spoken with something of a challenge to it as he made a point to meet her eyes when he spoke. She had already proven to have a lively and bright physicality and the bit of verbal sparring was meant to bring it out more than anything else even if he wasn't fully aware that was the reason he was doing it.
 
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Sonnet shot the maid a knowing look, a smirk crossing her face. The maid responded with a stern look, her lips pulled into a thin line as she clasped her hands in front of her chest. Sonnet glanced towards him, catching his eyes before looking away. "Half expected you to be a crumbling old man," She snorted, rolling her eyes. "Wonder if you have the tension span of one..." She mused, looking him up and down once more before shrugging. "I guess we'll find out."

She yanked open the door of the carriage, helping herself in. "By the time we get there, you'll be begging to return me." She muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

She bit down on her bottom lip, her foot tapping against the floor anxiously. At that particular moment, she was damn near terrified. She had never dated anyone, much less had any amount of romantic experience. And here she was marrying a man? Needless to say, she wasn't quite sure exactly what to do. She let out a shaky breath of air, forcing down her fear as she straightened up. If she could make her maids hate everyday of their job, and make multiple governess' quit after a few hours, who's to say she couldn't make him hate her. It would just have to be a new challenge. A challenge she wasn't going to pass up.
 
" I suppose I should be pleased to have exceeded your lowest of expectations," He replied, though he averted his eyes from hers at the mention of his age, or lack of visible age rather. It was something that he would have preferred to have been able to say he had lost track of as the years passed him by, but that couldn’t have been more to the contrary.

Gabriel stepped back to allow Sonnet her space as she climbed up into the carriage, choosing to ignore the barb. If he had retained a single virtue over the years it was patience. He hesitated for a moment as he prepared to shut the door, gloved fingers idly tapping against the wood as though he was deciding on something.

“There is a cloak under the seat. We will be arriving at my home past nightfall and I suggest you make use of it. It wouldn’t do for you to freeze even before we arrive.” He motioned in the direction of a silver-handled drawer that was built into the seats across from her. None of the trunks he had watched be packed into the back of the carriage seemed heavy enough to hold proper cold-weather clothing, however, used to it and not particularly affected by it as he was he couldn’t find himself bothered enough to elaborate on it any further.

With that said he closed the door to the carriage and walked around to the front, climbing up onto the bench and taking hold of the reins, leading the horses around a loop before they once more faced the road away from the castle then setting them off at a brisk pace.
 
She frowned at his words, glancing towards where he was pointing. She crossed her arms over her chest, looking away with a quiet sigh. But once he left, she reluctantly reached forwards and yanked back on the drawer, the soft click of the latch indicating it was opened. Sonnet kneeled down on the carriage floor and leaned towards the door. Her arm extended into the drawer hesitantly, almost yanking back at the feeling of something soft. After all, she didn't exactly trust him yet. She allowed her hand to grasp the soft cloak. She slowly pulled it out from the drawer before unfolding it.

Sonnet shook it once or twice before swinging it around her back, clasping the latch in the front. The soft black fur hugged against her body, the large hood hanging off the back. She adjusted some of the ties in the front, ensuring her body would be appropriately covered from the cold. She let out a shaky breath of air, quietly sitting back down as she gazed out the window. In silence, Sonnet watched the castle fade from view, her old life slipping from her grasp. A pain shot through her heart, her eyes beginning to burn as hot tears started to roll down her cheeks.

It was final. There was no going back now.
 
With the castle of Ravenwood receding into the distance, Gabriel felt some of the queasiness that had been building inside of him begin to fade. He’d yet to determine what caused it, but it happened without fail every time he left Winterswood and only worsened until he returned. Most of his theories revolved around it being a part of the curse, meant to keep him there but the fact that he was able to leave at all put that up for debate.

The hours of travelling passed in relative silence on his part. The noises of the horses and the wheels of the carriage fading into the background as Gabriel directed them along the familiar path back to the place he called home. Before long they had crossed over what appeared to be a natural border and fully entered into the snow-covered territory on which the once verdant kingdom of Brightwood. It had been years since he had heard it called by that name, even longer since he’d thought of it that way but it wasn’t difficult to miss the way things had been in his youth.

The physical maladies that had plagued him outside of the borders receded fully and comfortable with his relative isolation, Gabriel allowed himself to relax. This proved to be momentary as his thoughts once more turned to Sonnet, tucked away in the carriage behind him. He hadn't been sure if he had made the right decision all those years ago in asking for her hand and time had done little to clarify that. Even having made his decision he wasn't sure to what end it would bring him.

One part of his decision in the first place had been a selfishness, to have real company for the first time in years. Even if that company wanted nothing to do with him. A smaller part of it was hope. Hope that she might hold some key to breaking this curse over him, she had lived this long with no adverse effects after their first meeting, that had to count for something. However, eclipsing that hope there was an inevitable dread, that it had all been a fluke. No sooner would Sonnet set foot into the castle that she would take ill and perish in much the same way everything around him inevitably did. Regardless of his reasoning thinking too hard on it right now would only delay their progress for the time being.

“It only gets colder from here Princess. For your sake, I hope you took my advice.” Gabriel called back over his shoulder, raising his voice and rapping his knuckles against the top of the carriage to get her attention. The thought that she might have been sleeping only occurring to him after he had already done it. The sun was only just beginning to set, casting long shadows and reflecting its pinks, oranges, and violets against the blank canvas of the snow. It was a beautiful sight for anyone who had never seen it before. Another few hours more and they would arrive at the castle grounds.
 
She had fallen into a deep sleep, enjoying the relative silence in the carriage. The soft click of the horse hooves calming her anxious mind. Well that was until she heard his voice. She quickly shot up, panic shooting through her heart before realizing where she was. Hell, she had almost forgotten the days past events. She let out a small sigh, relaxing somewhat before looking out the window.

The sunset greeted her, the beautiful colors dazzling the sky. A small smile crossed her face at the sight. Sonnet had always loved the sunsets and sunrises of Ravenwood. She prayed it would still be seen from her new home. She ran her fingers through her hair, a small cloud of air leaving her mouth. She frowned slightly, the cold air reacting almost immediately to her warm breath.

How cold was his home?

Back in Ravenwood, the coldest weather they had was a cool fall. This definitely would take some getting used to. She continued to look out the window until she drifted off once more, her cloak wrapped tightly around her body in an effort to preserve her body heat.
 
The remaining hours passed with relative silence, the terrain growing more and more familiar to Gabriel as they skirted around the remnants of farmers' fields and large snowdrifts that held abandoned houses. It began to snow lightly in the time it took to get up the hill that the castle sat upon, most of the tiny flakes seeming to vanish before they reached the ground.

The high stone walls of the massive keep rose high into the dark sky, frost covered and looming ominously in the dim light from the torches outside of the front gate. If one knew where to look in the day, the now frosted over motifs of a sun with a halo of rays radiating out from it could be seen carved overtop of arches and cut into stained glass windows. Reminders of a time since past.

Gabriel guided the carriage around to the large doors before slowing to a halt in front of them. Taking a brief moment to stretch out his legs he stood and jumped down to the ground, snow crunching under his boots as he landed. He inhaled deeply, the cold clear air stinging his lungs. However, the exhale that followed it lacked the usual cloud of white that warm breath normally provided.

Fixing his own woollen cloak tighter about his neck Gabriel knocked on the carriage door before taking hold of the handle and opening it, glancing inside as though he were almost unsure his passenger would still be in there. Catching sight of her bundled up in the cloak he very nearly huffed out a laugh before catching himself, features remaining stoic all the while. “It will be warmer inside.”
 
It progressively got colder and colder as they neared the castle. Sonnet slowly awoke as the horses began to slow, recognizing their home once more. She yawned, stretching a bit before looking out the window yet again. There she caught sight of her new home. What looked to be a large and really quite frightening castle. It was not as nearly as welcoming as her own back home.

She gulped down a nervous breath, her head swiveling as the carriage stopped. She followed the sounds of his footsteps, her eyes trailing the sound until he reached the door. The moment the door opened, the cold air hit her in full force. It was incredibly cold. She spared him a look before hurrying out of the carriage and jumping out and into the snow. She had heard of it before, but never had she seen it. This was quite a sight. As much as she wished to remain and explore, the need for warmth kept her preoccupied.

Sonnet didn't waste a second more as she hurried inside of the melancholy castle, pulling her cloak closer around her body. A red hue danced across her face as she desperately tried to warm herself up. If this was how it was going to be everyday, she didn't know how long she'd last.
 
The cold flush across Sonnet’s nose and cheeks as she stepped out into the frigid air captured Gabriel’s attention for longer than he would ever willingly admit, the clouds of her breath leaving a misty trail as she hurried to the door. He followed at an even pace, making sure to close the door behind them so as not to let any drifts in, the falling snow only growing heavier as the evening wore on.

Once inside he shrugged off his cloak, shifting so that he was carrying it draped over one arm. It wasn’t quite warm in the empty entry hall where they stood but it lacked the bite of wind from outside. “Come. The fireplaces in this wing aren’t lit.” He noted before starting off across the space and into an adjoining hall.

Without offering any further explanations Gabriel led Sonnet through several long and winding passages. They passed no one along the way, and other than their footfalls silence seemed to drape over everything like a heavy blanket. The lack of any reaction Gabriel had to the emptiness of his home might have seemed strange, though the lack of worry he held himself with seemed to insinuate that nothing was amiss.

Eventually, they arrived in a large hall at the heart of the castle. It was well lit compared to the rooms they had been through thus far, several fires crackling in carved stone fireplaces. Braizers and sconces with candles lining the walls, casting shadows up into the high ceiling. He paused momentarily as though in preparation to say something but instead just shook his head before setting off once more toward a grand staircase, motioning for her to follow.

“There will be time tomorrow for you to look around, it’s late.” He offered as though that would answer any pressing questions she might have.
 
She followed after him, nervously glancing around the hallways. She wanted to ask about the lack of... Y'know... People? But she held back. They're probably just asleep. She told herself before hurrying after him. Slowly, she unhooked her cloak, slinging it over her arms. She paced after him, her eyes widening as she looked around the beautiful great hall. But then she spotted the fire. She hurried to the nearest fireplace, offering her hands out to the warm flame. She let out a sigh of relief, pausing as he talked to her once more.

Sonnet turned before nodding slowly. She reluctantly left the loving warmth as she followed after him up the long stairs. "Will... Will I be staying with you? O-Or will I be in a guest room?" She asked quietly, her voice faltering a little.
 
The question gave Gabriel pause. It seemed foolish that he hadn’t thought of it earlier but he hadn’t bothered to check through the guest wing to see the state the rooms were in. Not to mention the fact that he hadn’t been to that end of the castle in years meant that it was more than likely none of the fireplaces had been lit.

“A guest room. You’ll have your own room tomorrow, I’ll have your things brought up once it’s ready.” He replied, taking note of her reluctance to leave the radiating warmth of the fire. It had been a long time since he had consciously bothered to think about comfort, once he had gotten used to the cold it had ceased being such an issue for him. However, watching the way Sonnet reacted to even the slight changes in temperature had brought back memories he hadn’t bothered with in years. Memories that brought out something almost sympathetic in him, the feeling so alien he wouldn’t have been able to name it had he tried.

The only room likely to have a proper fire at this time of night would be his own which wouldn’t be a problem in a practical sense, he slept in his study more nights than not. However, in the sense of keeping some sense of dignity on both of their parts he decided that it wasn’t something she needed to know for the time being. Aside from his clothing in the wardrobe, it held the same level of decoration as the more elaborate guest rooms. With any luck she wouldn’t pick up on it or ask too many questions about it and by then he would have her set up somewhere more fitting.

After reaching the top of the staircase he led her down the hall to the right, passing by only one set of elaborate double doors before stopping in front of the next. He glanced back at her briefly before pushing the doors open and motioning for her to enter.
 
She nodded slowly, releasing a sigh of relief. She stepped into the room, glancing around with a soft sigh. The whole castle was very macabre, the decorations lacking severely. That was something she was definitely going to have to work on. She approached the bed, tossing her cloak on a nearby chair. She then sat down on the corner of the soft mattress with a huff. She turned towards him, opening her mouth to say something before stopping herself. "I guess I'll see you in the morning then," Her lips were pulled into a thin line.

"If you need me... I guess you know where to find me." She shrugged simply, looking out into the room once more. She silently unpinned her hair, allowing the blonde locks to fall down onto her shoulders
 
Watching Sonnet make herself comfortable as she moved around his room was a strange experience. Even after just moments of her inhabiting the space it seemed to take on an entirely different atmosphere, one that he wasn’t sure quite how he felt about just yet.

“Breakfast is served an hour past sunrise. I will wait for you in the hall at the bottom of the staircase tomorrow.” Gabriel cleared his throat and straightened up, smoothing non-existent wrinkles from the front of his overcoat. “Good evening.” He concluded, the words coming out slightly stilted. It had been so long since he’d had any use for little niceties of that type, getting used to using them again would prove to take some effort.

With that he pulled the door to the room closed, lingering only a moment longer before turning and walking back along the hallway past the stairs and toward his study.
 
She waited until the door closed to lay back on the bed with a sigh. She raised her feet, reaching back to loosen the straps on her heels before kicking them free from her feet. She allowed her feet to rest back on the floor as she stared up at the canopy, her arms outstretched to her sides. God. Being respectful was exhausting.

He talked to her as if she was a business partner or a parent. Far from his fiance. Well she already knew her first act of deviance. Sure it was small, but still annoying enough. She'd be late or just skip breakfast entirely. After all, she didn't eat breakfast too often anyways. She would definitely have to test how attentive his staff was, and how they would react to her general mannerisms.

Sonnet did enjoy the art of combat, with archery being one of her favorites. Her 'watch-dogs' at home were far from accepting of her hobbies, but she still continued to enjoy them. Hobbies that she intended on continuing.

Sone rested for another moment or two more before pushing herself off of the bed. She proceeded to remove her outer dress, remaining in her undergarments. She glanced around the room, pausing as she saw a flowerpot, wilting and dead flowers peeking out from the rim. Dead petals surrounded the vase, only contributing to the sad feeling of the room. She immediately approached, reaching out to them. She took one quick glance towards the door, shrugging off some anxiety. "No one's here to tell me no," She muttered, allowing her fingers to touch the dead bulbs.

She let out a slow breath, a small smile crossing her face as she released some of her magic into the plants. Within seconds they perked up, the life returning to their crippling bodies. Once she was satisfied with her work, Sonnet took a step back, a small grin pulling over her face. "That's better,"

(Time skip?)
 
((Sounds good!))

By the time the light of the following morning began to creep through the frosted glass window panes the threat of snow from the previous night had abated. It was a bitterly cold morning, balanced by the brightness of the sun as it reflected off the perfect blanket of snow that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Gabriel had slept little, less than usual. That was hardly saying much when his usual was only a few hours on average. Much like how he had stopped feeling the cold as strongly it was something he attributed to the curse. Less time sleeping meant more time stuck in his head or wandering the empty halls of the castle, remembering times past. Regardless it had been enough to set him slightly off routine and had left him more restless than usual that morning.

The sun had only been up for around twenty minutes when he left his study in search of breakfast, claiming a small plate of food from the kitchens to pick at while he waited for Sonnet. Without access to his room he had settled for just removing his overcoat and jacket, comfortable enough in his shirt and waistcoat, gloves remaining a staple as per usual.

The presence of a small table and chair that waited for him in front of one of the fireplaces on his way back from the kitchens was suspicious but not unwarranted by any means. If anything he took it as a sign to get comfortable as he waited for Sonnet to wake and come down the stairs.
 
She had awoken quite early, the maids finally coming to greet her. Even though they were different. She couldn't exactly put her finger on it, but they certainly weren't normal. They led her to the room that was to be hers. Immediately the group got to work, making it a little more 'womanly'. They promised to help her find more furniture to better suit her style, along with appropriate clothing for the seasons.

Sonnet was quite pleased with her room, the drapes pulled back, the sun dancing into the room. Her items were neatly stashed away, allowing her to change into her heavier winter clothes and boots. She paired that with her cloak from earlier, arming herself with her bow and quiver. She then happily hurried down the stairs, pausing to grab some food before heading out towards the back gardens. She didn't spot Gabriel, but then again, she wasn't exactly looking for him either.

The cold winter morning air nipped at her nose as she stared up at the sun peeking above the clouds as it started to rise. A bright smile crossed her face at the sight. Happily, Sonnet walked along the paths, aiding some of the dead plants with life, the garden already looking more alive. She walked out back towards one of the larger ranges. A beautiful frozen-over lake stretched out over the property, barren trees surrounding the pond.

She armed herself with an arrow and drew back. She aimed towards one of the trees in the distance, and within moments of finding her target, she released, the arrow soaring forwards and plunging itself deeply into the wood.
 
Gabriel only waited there in front of the fire for another hour before deciding he was probably wasting his time. Though she had been quiet since they had arrived back in Winterswood, he would have had to be a fool to forget the pointed show of personality she had put on as they were leaving her family’s castle. Though whether the boldness of that had just been in order to gauge his reaction was still up for debate. Her lack of appearance this morning certainly seemed to support it.

He returned to his own room first, knocking just in case she was still in there but when he received no answer resolving himself to enter regardless of that. Nearly everything was as he had left it and after changing into fresh clothing Gabriel was just about to leave to look elsewhere for her when he noticed the splash of green against the otherwise monochrome decoration. It looked so out of place that his instinctual reaction was that it didn’t belong there, that perhaps Sonnet had brought it with her and forgotten it.

Not wanting to approach it for it to wither from his presence Gabriel instead turned and left the room, resigning himself to walking the halls until he eventually found where Sonnet had run off to. He would mention it to her then.
 
She spent the morning shooting until her hunger, and the cold, begged her to stop. So, reluctantly, she retrieved her arrows and hurried inside. She wanted to prolong the confrontation as long as possible, but at this point, she wasn't all too sure what exactly could be done. She hadn't the faintest idea how upset he would be, or if he'd be upset at all. The amount of emotion this man had expressed so far was next to nothing.

She stepped inside the warm castle, brushing the snow off of her cloak and shoes. She then paced towards the kitchen, poking her head inside. Sonnet spotted exactly what she was looking for. She hurried in, quickly thieving an apple and some bread... And maybe a pastry or two. Sonnet found herself yet again, sitting next to the fire as she ate hungrily, her bow and quiver resting at her side.

Her shoulders relaxed as she ate, her stomach growling with satisfaction. As much as this castle was awful, the food was damn good.
 
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