All That Glitters Is Not Gold [Marius & Isa, MT Sam 20]

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir smiled as she mentioned names that he was most familiar with. "I saw Elaine just the other day, she has become the official wedding poet. I was not sure if you ahd heard that already. It is quite a honor, one that she deserves quite well. I have not seen Fauna in some time, probably not since the Ball that we attended. I believe it is the one where we first met. It seems so long ago." He looked at her with friendly, yet still hungry eyes. "Elaine is being escorted by a Purple Guardsman named Ulder, who is too serious but a good person. She should be around the palace most days, if you haven't found her yet."

Vanir was obviously uncomfortable talking about Silk. The very idea of the man disturbed him to no end. It was quite clear to Isabella, even without her empathy picking it up. The priest had no idea of shielding, which showed through most of the time. "He is not a man, but a beast, my dear. A heartless fiend hiding among decent people, yet he is quite well protected as well. The less you know of him, the better your life is. I have been instructed to leave him be for the time, yet he will pay for the crimes he committed in the dungeons. Let us speak of happier things."

Vanir quickly moved the subject back to her and her hopes. "Lady-in-waiting? I don't know much about it, nor what Aesa would want in such a position. I suppose I could ask her more about it during lunch, although I am not sure if she would want to talk about it. She can be quite complexing sometimes, so I will do what I can for you. I would do it to help a friend, but even if not, I would do it to see the look on Andolin's face. He believes I am out to seduce every last one of his pages, when my interest lie in only a rare few." The hungry eyes of Vanir locked onto hers as he ran finger across her neck. "I simply think he is jealous that I don't have to hide my affairs and may pursue who I wish." He laughed softly and stepped back from Isabella. "None the less, we have come to some small agreements in order to get along better. I pledged to pursue no more of his pages and he would allow me some manner of accessing the palaces for Temple matters." Vanir looked at Isabella and grinned playfully once more. "However, it is good you are no longer a page."

[Isabella Florentina]

"Ulder?" Isa asked innocently, not realizing she had met the man in passing "What does she want with a Purple Guard. They have been the source of much of our suffering."

Isabella filed away the name Silk for further investigation. If he is the source of my trouble he will pay, she thought firmly...though.. if he was that powerful, controlling him for her own ends might even be more fun.

What Vanir told her next warmed her heart. What better way to flatter a lady but to threaten another man over her attentions. Her heart skipped a beat, befor rebeliously thinking but he doesn't rule who I am to see, and who not to see. Isa did not for a moment consider there could be other pages Andolin was interested in. The thought was ridiculous. Spontanously Isa kissed Vanir on the cheek "You are such a good friend." Then she blushed when Vanir gave her one of his obvious looks again. stepping back "I.. I am sorry.. I do not want to get in the Lady's way."

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir smiled as she thought the same thing he had thought at first. "Yes, I was a bit worried too about the idea of the Purple Guard, although Ulder is quite different. He seems to actually want to fix the problems that allowed those arrests to occur. I already know what the problems are and that it would take more than him to fix them, but his heart is in the right place. She is quite safe with him, although....nevermind it is a silly thought." She seemed very comfortable with him and he with her. I wonder if there is more between them than simple friends. It would be good to see Elaine open her heart to another, so perhaps it is true.

Vanir laughed softly and grinned at Isabella. "The Lady's way? Which Lady might you be referring to, Countess?" The teasing was obvious by the way he used her other identity. "I hope you are not implying my impurity with the Caesar's betrothed. I have enough enemies in the palace without the Caesar among them. It may be hard to believe, but I am not out to seduce the Lady Aesa." It was true to some extent, since he did not want to seduce her, he wanted to love her. It was a forbidden romance, but such fruits were often the downfall of men. He was not yet ready to reveal to anyone his interests, so he decided to subvert her attention with another attempt at seduction. "The only lady I am trying to seduce is you, my dear Isabella, although it seems I am hardly doing well in that area. You already know about my interests in you though, as I have made them clear before. Perhaps this time you might indulge in a pleasure you passed upon last time?"

Vanir moved closer to Isabella and slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. He lowered his lips close to hers, although not partaking of a kiss. "Does the good Countess still have an interest in what she has missed?" He had not intended to pursue Isabela completely, but if he had not she would have seen through his intents with Aesa. The panling took the easiest, and most desirable, of the paths before him.

[Isabella Florentina]

He tried halfheartedly to seduce her, but somehow his heart was not in it. His heart. That is it.. where first his thoughts were overflowing with emotions he is now deliberatedly moving away from it. Isabella giggled about the trick Vanir was playing with her, going with the flow for a moment, leaning into his embrace and allowing him small liberties on her person.

"You play a dangerous game, my confessor," she breathed in his ear "I have several men interested in my person, not the least of which is the master of protocol. Counts and lords seem to line up, just to smell my perfume and they'll gladly smite you, friend of Aesa or no."

Isa laughed softly "Isn't this a very oldfashioned panling courting? Lately My Lord has been more interested in the Twilight with me, plunging me deeply in my empathy and my darker side. Surely he didn't leave you alone either. What path has Pan wrought for you, Vanir?"

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir was used to the games of panlings, especially those of Isabella. She enjoyed the interplay of words, before the interplay of bodies. It was one of her most attractive qualities, the ever forbidden fruit. He still wanted Isabella, as he had on the first night they met, but it was not about the challenge to him, simply a desire to share himself with one fo like mind. She was his equal and his opposite, they used simliar methods to get very different things.

Vanir was aware of her use of Andolin and their relationship to get him to slip more information. It was a clever trick, but the bard was a clever panling. He decided to indulge her game with some of what Pan had told him. "Pan has a different path for me, Isabella. It seems I am to be your opposite, delving further into the light. I am to assist those that may help the Caesar recover and heal the city as a whole. The time of Joy may have passed, but there no reason two cannot share a passion for their own pleasures. No stuffy noble or fool-hearted Lord could offer you what I do. They may try to buy their way into your life with promises of money or power, but I offer a much simpler gift. I offer you the deep pleasure that you want so badly, to feel the passion inside of you exploding from a mere touch. If you were not interested in such a gift, you would have led me away from it mch earlier." He moved in closer and whispered in her ear.

"With but a simple nod, I could show you pleasures that only two of our kind can share. Two skilled lovers simply enjoying the pleasure of one another in the garden of the Casear. No Count or lord would ever measure up to such an event, no matter how much they tried. I have more powerful enemies than even you can imagine, but none have the courage to smite me, not even your former Master, Andolin. Would you deny yourself this pleasure you desire just because it is dangerous? The danger adds the excitement, does it not?" The bard decided upon a bold move of raising his head to softly grope her breast. He then stepped back once more to make her decide.

[Isabella Florentina]

Isabella groaned softly, for a moment tempted to give in as he fondled her breasts. Yet the temptation with Vanir was to resist. To give in was too easy. She had done it so ofte. It heightened the pleasure to be hard to get, just this once. Trying to come up with a reason to delay the seduction that Vanir was applying so masterfully, Isa gasped "So how is Leafwhisper these days?"

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir smiled as he knew that he was getting to Isabella. He moved closer and then walked behind her, giving her a soft grope of her bottom. He spoke in a gentle, teasing voice. "Now, you change the subject, but turn it to my lovers. I have decided to avoid seeing her as it would put her in danger of my enemies. It is a very dangerous secret after all and one that must be kept for the sake of our friend. I have assigned a young woman to look after her, one that is blessed by Pan. She will take care of Leafwhisper and still be able to pass any messages without fear or suspicion."

Vanir moved closer behind her, slipping an arm around her waist once more. He held her tight against his body and let his free hand move across the bare skin of her neck. He let his fingers slide across the top of her cleavage softly, barely touching the skin. "it would be too dangerous to discuss her at any lengths here, but perhaps we may speak of her at a later date. Now we have our own dangers to worry about, my sweet Isabella." He kissed her softly on the neck, where it meets the collarbone.

[Isabella Florentina]

Shivers ran through Isabella, and it was the dangersigns that created her moral indignation "For Pan's sake.. the woman is carrying your child,' she hissed as Vanir's hand reached for her bottom, "How can you not FEEL anything. It surely is not something you can simply turn off. " Isa shuddered as she felt so much more, and it was forbidden. He was a priest. He was the one person that Andolin could never forgive. Without another thought she leaned into his embrace, arching her neck so he could reach her soft spot all the better.

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir breathed softly into her ear as he spoke. "It is also Pan's child and Pan's will. It may sound like I do not care, but I am only protecting Leaf and the child. If anyone else knew, they would both be in danger of their lives. I can assure you that it is hard on me as well, but I must not show weakness for my enemies to exploit. I do not care if they hurt me, but I would never let them hurt her.

Vanir let his hand slide down to fondle her breast once more, only this time he did not move his hand away quickly. He kissed her again on the neck, moving his kisses up to her earlobe. "I feel plently, Isabella, but that is not the question. The question is do you feel anything? Do you feel want you want here," He touched the skin where her heart was with the groping hand. " and here?" The hand left her breast and traveled down, until there was only fabric between his fingers and her soft curls. "Do you wish to feel me in both places?"

[Andolin]

It was not like Andolin to be up early in the morningtide, but he was not sleeping well. He was worried about the Caesar's health. If Anochrim passed away, Andolin's influence at court would drop significantly. True, he had sought the favor of Rioja, Silk and Marius, but only Anochrim truly liked him. He could tell.

Then, there was this business about Kitya's parents that had him annoyed. He did not need to prove himself to anyone. He had begun to think of late that Etain would be the better wife, and that he would keep Kitya as a lover instead. Problems problems.

His dreams were haunted of late. He was dreaming of his father and the secrets that lay in his tower. He dreamed of Isabella often, but in each dream it seemed as if she were with a different man. In some of the dreams he had murdered her lover, and it made him content when he awoke. If only he could kill someone so easily in the waking world. Perhaps it would help him forget about his troubles.

To the garden he had come to forget about his troubles. He needed an audience with Aesa so that he could advance Isabella's interests, but he needed to await a summons that she was available. In the meantime, he might waste away some time in the garden. If he creeped about, perhaps he might surprise one of the faeries that resided here.

Creeping about, Andolin thought he might have heard some voices in the garden. Being one that enjoyed eavesdropping on courtiers unaware, he hoped he could sneak closer and determine if someone else was in the garden. If so, he would attempt to overhear their conversation.

[Isabella Florentina]

There was actually a lot of fabric between Vanir's fingers and the goal he tried to reach, Isa being dressed in an expensive and elaborate dress, with lots of underskirts and chemises hindering his access. The point however was impossible to miss and with a soft moan she pressed her hips back against Vanir's, swaying softly.

For a moment Isabella was tempted. The lady was hardly made of stone, and that nights hot dreams had left her with a heightened awareness of her passions. It was so nice to control so many gentleman. The power made her giddy, and decidedly flustered. On top of that Marius had left her with a sense of triumph.

Yet it was the thought of Marius, possibly lurking in every corner of her mind that brought her back to reality. A countess needed discretion to survive court, and a lady in waiting certainly shouldn't be seduced by the amour of her regentess. Very bad form.

"Vanir," she protested, trying to step away a few steps before she turned around to face him "We can not do this, not right here, right now.. in the gardens no less. I am a Countess now and people set a different standard of behavior. Such public wantonness is just not done." Isa sounded breathless, before adding " You are in her high regard, so you too are vulnerable. What if the vultures whisper in her ear she is not the only one. She is not a panling Vanir. She will not understand."

[Twilight]

As he crept through the gardens, Andolin became aware of the presence of others. Approaching them, he could discern two voices; one of a man, the other of a woman. Yet he could not quite catch their words, only the resonance of their voices. Birdsong covered their words, and a slight breeze blew away their meaning. From the direction he had come, Andolin would not be able to get near enough to the pair to overhear them without risking being seen.

Still, the voices seemed familiar. As he listened, it took only flickers to recognise the voice of his lover. It took a few burns, however, to place the male voice. Yet its persuasive quality soon triggered recognition in Andolin’s mind. He had come across Isabella and Vanir, conversing in tones that he could only interpret as more than casual conversation. Beyond that he could not yet determine.

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir could not deny the truth in her words, even if he was rarely scared by such scandals. It was the thought of protecting Isabella's new reputation that actually made him stop. He leaned close, holding her body against, and whispered softly in her ear.

"You are quite correct, my lovely Isabella. We shall not do this here and perhaps not even now, but it is something we should do soon. We owe it to ourselves to indulge in pure pleasure at least once. Meet me tomorrow night around gravetide. The shadows of night will keep our secret and I know how much you love secrets. I have decided when, so it seems only fair that you shall choose where. Name the place where we shall meet in private." There was a seductive tone as he told her when to meet without asking. It was unlike the bard, but he knew the game Isabella liked.

[Isabella Florentina]

Isabella frowned for a moment. Vanir felt too smug. Yet she wanted to keep him interested, and there was something tantalizing about the constant delay of the consumation of their passion. It was a game that Isa enjoyed to continue playing. She leaned back so she could see his face properly, trying to find a good place for such an indulgent meeting. "The temple of Pan," Isa finally whispered "for to us it will be a religious experience, non?"

[Andolin]

Hoping to overhear some juicy scandal, Andolin was disappointed that he could not make out the words. Still, the voices seemed familiar. Rather than reveal his position, he kept his distance and tried to learn the identity of the couple.

With great disappointment did he place Isabella and Vanir together. His intrigued smile melted into a frown and his thoughts turned dark. Last time he had encountered Vanir here, the rogue was all but copulating in the open during Caesar's ball. A malevolent smile crossed his face as he recalled pouring a bucket of water on Vanir so that it would look like he had an accident. Unbidden, his head turned to the familiar garden shed and he wondered idlely whether he should go fetch it, and some water.

Yet, his jealous rage needed confirmation. If he heard kissing and clothing removed or put back on, there was going to be a price to pay. His mind was not rational at the moment, as all he could think of was murder. Had not Vanir promised to leave his people alone? The technical arguments of who was a page and who was not, were not likely to sway him when he was in this mood.

Straining his ears, he hoped to catch snippets of the conversation. Already he was protecting his mind towards the couple, hoping to read the top most thoughts of Vanir. He knew Isa would have shields, but he hoped Vanir did not.

[Isabella Florentina]

Isabella laughed softly as she rearranged the white voile over her face again, softly caressing her dress to remove any awkward creases. Her hand stopped for just a flicker as her being was overwhelmed by an intense feeling of jealousy. In surprise she looked up at Vanir, at the same time realizing the Panling priest was incapable of such an emotion.

With a sharp intake of breath Isa took two steps back. "Leave me Vanir,.. leave me now. We shall meet later." Folding her hands in her lap, Isabella remained standing, waiting for the source of such overwhelming emotions to reveal itself.

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir noticed the sudden change in Isabella, although he did not know why. She stepped back and spoke in such an unusual way for the panling. He knew something must have spooked her and it wasn't him. The priest nodded his head and realised she may have spotted one of their enemies.

A calm, regal voice came from the bard, despite being against his nature. "Of course, Countess, and I thank for your time. I shall be leaving now for prior engagements, but I shall speak highly of you to others." A quick flash of a grin revealed his meaning, before he softly mouthed the word 'tomorrow' for her to see. A quick bow of his head and the priest walked in the direction of the palace, casually to avoid suspect from any enemies.

[Isabella Florentina]

The twinkle in her dark eyes was hidden by the voile, but it showed in a slight tug at her red lips as she gave him an equal regal nod "Until we meet again, Master Alfheim."

Isa waited till Vanir was out of earshot as far as she could determine. "You can come out now," she called out in a calm, commanding voice, wondering why the feelings she was being washed in felt so familiar. For some reason it was almost pleasant, a heady feeling of power.

[Andolin]

He was having a difficult time attempting to overhear the couple speaking, when suddenly one exited the scene. Ducking for whatever cover he could find, Andolin wondered which one had left. He had hoped it would be Isabella, but only after he heard the slapping sound of a hand striking the face of that cheap seducer.

There was no sound of a slap, but he heard Isa's distinct voice. Cursing silently, he wondered how she could have known he was there. He knew she could not mind read, especially with his amulet; but, what about Vanir? Might he have the ability? He knew Isa was empathetic and he began to worry that she might just sense his presence. That would take all the fun out of a surprise visit to see if she had a secret lover. He would need to shield himself well. But, who could teach him? Amchi.

He was about to come out from his hiding place, but a part of him wondered if she detected someone else. Perhaps there was another spy. So, Andolin chose to remain silent and unmoving for a burn to see if someone else would reveal themself. Meanwhile, he worked as best he could to calm himself and see if he could block his emotions. If she was using her empathy, he did not want to make it easy on her.

[Twilight]

Andolin could read the usual sensual thoughts in Vanir, but, surprising, Isabella was not the woman who was uppermost in the unshielded Bard’s mind. The sounds his jealousy drove him to suspect did not come to him, and neither did the form of the words the two spoke. The distance was still too great.

As Vanir made his departure, a wave of nausea swept through him. It had no obvious source, but walking seemed to make be exacerbating it. At the same time, his chest began to feel quite strange, and the fabric of his shirt seemed to be irritating his nipples that were only flickers before hardened by his ardour for Isabella. These odd sensations were accompanied by listlessness, a sudden desire for a nap.

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir was unsure of what had come over him, yet it was a powerful sensation and subtle at the same time. It had been quite some time, before he had felt nausious, not even his time in the dungeon had invoked such a feeling. The last he remembered such a feeling was when he first arrived at the Citadel, when he had been teleported by Pukka.

Vanir reached out for a tree to hold against, unsure of what he was feeling. He breathed deeply and spoke softly to himself. "What is this? Did Isabella's enemy do something to me or have I just become ill? It is too sudden for that, but what else could it be? I have not felt this sensation since Pukka brought me here. I doubt there are any faeries in here to play with me." A weak laugh escaped his lips as he thought of the silly idea. He just needed a moment to gather himself, before going to see Aesa. He still had plenty of time before he was expected in her chambers.

[Isabella Florentina]

Isabella frowned behind her voile. The feelings had become weaker, and somehow.. less familiar as if coming from far away. Whoever it was, this person was shielding.

The darkhaired lady tried to reach out and identify whomever was hiding somewhere in the greenery, trying to pinpoint a location. "Do you fear a mere woman in broad daylight?" Isa taunted as she took several steps in the general direction she thought the feelings had come from, "come out and show yourself."



OOC: Since Vanir's experiences don'tt seem to be emotion related I have refrained from including them. Feel free to add them to the spectrum if I was wrong

[Andolin]

It was not that he had many options at this point. He could skulk off, or he could confront her. Better to do the latter than act frightened.

"But are you a mere woman?" he taunted her as he stepped into view with a smug expression. "Personally, I prefer you in the twilight, no?" He had his arms crossed across his chest as he regarded her. He was torn between giving her a disapproving gaze or a confident one. He opted for the latter.

As he walked towards her, he spoke lightly, hoping to reach only her ears, "you know what makes a mere woman Comtess? It is one who is content with the common. I would never ascribe that trait to you; yet, I encounter you fraternizing with a commoner that has shared Pan's Joy with every page in our Office, countless of common girls and servants. To succumb to his ... charm ... or even to make him succumb to your charm is to make one ... common. He is no challenge and of little use. What respect would you have for me if I bedded every pretty palace servant I could? None, I would hope. No need to say more." It was the only way to chasten her. It was one thing if she wanted to become Anochrim's lover. He would encourage such, he supposed, but not with a man who excused himself from an Imperial Ball to copulate with a lowly page in the open area of the nearby gardens. Utterly lacking in class. His Isabella was better than that.

"May I escort you somewhere Countess?" he asked politely as he offered her his arm. There was no need to carry on a conversation in the gardens with the faeries listening.

[Isabella Florentina]

Isabella's chin rose, refusing to feel guilty for something she had not done. Not yet anyway. And he was a fine one to talk. No matter how many men she slept with, the fact that Andolin was persuing other women burned inside her as a hot jealousy that at the very least matched his. So as long as the person you sleep with is aristorcatic it is fine? You'd be surprised at my collection, she thought acidly. Isa allowed the thought with the accompanying feeling to slip past her shields, wondering if her lover would pick up the little barb or ignore it. While Isa could not read minds, the thought that at least she could send as she had with Marius was tantalizing.

"Tsk tsk," Isa admonished the master of protocol as she accepted his arm, dropping her voice to a breath of air "such ugly words. Such thoughts do not become a man of noble blood. Whatever will your intended think of such an open display of jealousy that was not on her account."

Isabella sighed and added innocently " I was merely consulting with a priest on the matter of some friends and some .. ahm.. religious issues." She looked at him, a teasing smile spreading over her face "Perhaps now I will not tell you what I have learned. It seems Pan's Joy is spreading to unexpected places..." She dangled the information in front of his face as the stepped into the palace once again.

"Where would you prefer to withdraw, milord," she asked politely "Your office perhaps, or my new furnished appartment?" Isabella opened her fan and fluttered her eyelashes at Andolin.

[Andolin]

Yes, he noted the acidic feeling she let slip through her shield. Rather than wince, he smiled even more brightly. "It would not have disturbed you if the activity was truly innocent," he pronounced softly.

"Ugly words?' he feigned insult as they walked. "I never use ugly words on such a beautiful jewel. I was merely lamenting the prospect that my favorite jewel might be mounted on such a ... plain setting." He smiled at his own wit. No, his Isabella should be mounted on a regal crown, rather than adorning a simple belt. But, he assumed his point had been more than clear. Let her feel shame for such lack of ambition.

"Ah yes, religious issues. Perhaps I should seek Eilish for similar instruction," he teased. "At least she is blood of the God, as opposed to a priest who administers to beggers." He did not know that Vanir preached to beggers, but he was willing to guess that if a begger was pretty enough, he'd have her on her back before you could utter Pan's Hooves.

It was her later tidbit that caused his willingness to drop the subject of tormenting her. If she played with Vanir, she would know he would be more than angry, he would be disappointed.

"Oh, has Pan's Joy come to some scandalous use I hope? You will have to tell me more, but let us wait until we reach ... your quarters. The garden has ears." Many of them. He could sense that his love was gloating about something. She would be able to hold it over him for the five burns it took to reach her quarters. Along the way, he was trying to guess how she was able to procure such quarters. What had happened to Jacob? Had she found a new patron at court to protect her? He could not afford to show her his anxiousness to hear her news, so he tried to calm his thoughts and his steps.

"Lead on," he suggested, not knowing where her quarters were.