A Song of Ice and Roses

[Varik Ice]

Varik Ice​

Equipment: Lightsaber - Armour​

Location: Talravin Spaceport​

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Varik sat quietly in his seat, glancing out the window as he saw blue skies approaching now. The transport they were in was comfortable, he supposed. He wasn't really used to it. Talravini military escorts flew down alongside them, guiding them to the surface. It was something he'd imagined as being very stressful for such ship's captains. This transport held both him, who many saw as some sort of important figure, and the heir to Talravin's very throne. It was an important vessel, he supposed.

He glanced around the room he'd been given. It was sizeable, though he felt a bit too much. He didn't need luxuries, even if it was a relatively long trip going all the way from Wild Space to here. It was, however, a trip Roella had made multiple times already he was sure, so he had no reason to complain about it.

That brought his thoughts to the Princess, and what she must be doing; whether in her own room or elsewhere. Most likely training with her sword, though not under his direction. He'd thought about it, but decided it better to put her training on hold until after this visit. As he saw the green of Talravin approached, something felt like it was seeping under his skin. There was...something here. A darkness, somewhere.

Varik decided not to focus on it for now, at least until after the diplomatic part of this visit was over.

[member="Roella Arwyn"]

 

[Roella Arwyn]

Talravin
Transport
Personal Quarters

The Princess of Talravin, Heir Apparent to the Talravani Queendom, knelt in her quarters aboard the transport taking her and her Sovereign to her home. In a rare occasion, she was clad in crimson finery, with the sigil of her House, a rose, on the back. It had been a long time since she had worn anything but her armor, the gilded golden steel. But that armor had been shredded by the Balyeg, and she had little else to wear. The young Princess had her eyes closed, her sword held in front of her, hand grasping the songsteel barbs around the hilt tight, the spikes of metal tearing into her skin, re-opening the wounds that she had acquired from wielding the sword, crimson blood leaking out between her fingers.

But of course, she paid no mind, already used to such things. Roella was praying. For safe travels, for pleasant weather, for the good health of herself, of her family, of her Sovereign. [member="Varik Ice"] was in the transport with her, in his own quarters. Somehow, she was. . . nervous, to show her home to him. Talravin held a place in her heart, and always would. It was beautiful, it was high-class, civilized. As much as she enjoyed her time away from home, it was always a relief to come back.

But if that was so, then why was she so nervous? Why had she spent so much of their journey praying to the Seven Sisters of Song for guidance? For everything, from guidance to divine intervention. To showcase her home to her Sovereign? Once more, her inner feelings confused her.

But time was out. They were landing.

Roella emerged from her quarters, as the ramp on the transport lowered. What qualified as the royal spaceport was a clearing in the woods, large enough for ships. At the bottom of the ramp, was their escort. Fifty Talravani knights in golden armor, bearing the Rose sigil of House Arwyn. One held the reigns to two horses.

She awaited her Sovereign, giving him a small smile.

"Do you ride, Your Grace?"

 

[Varik Ice]

Varik Ice​

Equipment: Lightsaber - Armour​

Location: Talravin​

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Varik continued to look out the window as Talravin came more and more into view. He tapped his fingers on the arm rest as he watched the green, lush landscapes come into view. He supposed when it came time to show his homeworld, it wouldn't be as presentable. He stood up, looking over the things he'd collected with him in one of his drawers. Taking his lightsaber, he clipped it onto his belt, trying to make sure it didn't seem overly obvious. He didn't need to appear an aggressor, after all.

He felt...unusual pressure for this visit. Why was that? He was simply seeing Talravin, possibly meeting the people that were important to meet. That wasn't a big deal. Was it? He continued to ponder what the issue was, and that odd sensation came to him again. The one where he had been talking to Roella, the one he couldn't describe. Perhaps he was just tired; it had been a long trip, and extended times cooped up in a starship was not his ideal environment.

Regardless of whatever it might've been, Varik headed out of his quarters and towards the ramp, wondering if he would look very odd according to their tastes. As he looked at Roella, she was adorned in red and gold, almost opposite colours to the quiet blues and purples of his robes. It did...suit her, he supposed. He found himself appreciating the robes, which was odd, he never cared for clothes or their looks - why did he now?

The Sovereign only caught on a couple of seconds afterwards that she said something - his helmet hadn't been worn, so she had probably seen him examining the finery. That would look odd. "I have. Not these, though." Regardless, he approached on. He was used to highly volatile and easily spooked predators, when you could get them to allow you on. He had no issue climbing on, and found he could calm the animal quickly. Animals were always easier to understand.

[member="Roella Arwyn"]

 

[Roella Arwyn]

Talravin
Spaceport
Astride Horse

Roella of the House Arwyn felt. . . exposed, without her armor. With only finery on her form, she felt almost naked. The young woman had spent a very long time in her armor, very rarely removing it but to sleep, and sometimes not even then. It had become a part of her, an extension of her skin, of her body. And now, it was gone. Only when the adrenalin high from killing the Balyeg had cleared had she realized the extent of her folly.

That armor had cost her family a fair amount of money. It was a sign of responsibility, of trust. And she had thrown it onto the floor of a cave in shredded pieces. It dug at her. She was normally the responsible one of her many siblings, not the one to lose things or break them. The weight of Thorne at her side was a reminder of that at all times.

And without the aforementioned armor, she had no protection from [member="Varik Ice"]'s gaze. She could feel it on her for a few seconds after she spoke to him, examining her. There was no hiding from those icy cold eyes. They pierced her, seeing through her, picking her apart and studying her secrets. She shivered under it. Then he looked away, approaching the horse.

He was a natural at riding, it seemed. She was impressed. Not many off-worlders were. She swung onto her own horse, a chestnut mare. It had been too long since she had been in the saddle. She whistled and kicked the horse's side, spurring it into action. She rode near the front of the column, their escort falling in behind them. Their path took them through the trees, lush forests teeming with wildlife. Birds, elk, squirrels, rabbits, and all manner of other creatures wandered here, though staying well away from the thunder of hooves.

She spent most of the ride in silence, until they came to a hill. She smiled, bring her horse to a stop. This was the opening to a valley, and ahead, lay the Royal Palace of Talravin.

"Welcome to my home, Your Grace."

 

[Varik Ice]

Varik Ice​

Equipment: Lightsaber - Armour​

Location: Talravin​

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As Varik climbed atop the horse, the creature didn't make almost any fuss. He moved his hand down the horse's neck, something to relax it. He didn't show affection to anyone (even animals) very often, so it was an odd sight, he imagined. As Roella took off on her own mount, Varik followed, his horse trotting along behind hers. His eyes darted around the landscape, and at the odd creatures they went past. They weren't like any he'd encountered before, and certainly nothing like the ones back home.

Roella was quiet as they moved through the forests and towards a valley, which was an odd feeling for the Sovereign. He wasn't much of a talker, so she tended to compensate for that. In a way, he found himself enjoying the silence. As he watched her ahead of him, that feeling came back, that odd...sensation that prevented him from talking, from finding the words. It climbed up into his chest as he tried to think about it, and tore his eyes away to focus on what was in front as they approached the crest of a hill.

When their horses finally reached the top, Varik stared across the valley to the magnificent building situated in the heart of it. Covered in towers and battlements, it had clearly had much more time to be added to than the Citadel did. The thought crossed his mind of how old this palace must be, how long it must have stood here against attackers from outside, and the most dangerous ones from within. He glanced over to Roella as she spoke.

"Impressive." He didn't think he had to say more than that - it was simply how he felt about it, and he'd wanted her to know that. That was all. Adjusting his grip on the reins, Varik prepared to follow her horse again.

[member="Roella Arwyn"]

 

[Roella Arwyn]

Talravin
Outside the Palace

The ride took approximately three hours. Three hours to get to the bridge, cross it, and approach the palace. The walls teemed with archers, ballistas, catapults, trebuchets, and other defenses. To pass, the bridge and the winding road up the hill were the only way into the palace. This place was truly a fortress, in all manners of the word.

Roella stayed silent, wondering how her mother would react to her bringing [member="Varik Ice"] to the palace. A male ruler. Such a man had not been on the planet for over twenty thousand years. Would she reject him? There was only one way to find out.

When they arrived, her mother was standing out front of the large doors, in a crimson dress embroidered with the rose of the Arwyns. She smiled at Varik.

"Hello. Welcome. I am Queen Theodora."

 

[Varik Ice]

Varik Ice​

Equipment: Lightsaber - Armour​

Location: Talravin​

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As he and Roella approached the large structure, Varik's eyes couldn't help but examine the defenses. Something in his nature meant he had to take note, think about how they would be against an attacking force and how they could be dealt with. Talravin had a powerful fortress, that much was obvious...was there much protection from above? He wondered how a fortress like this would fare against an orbital bombardment. Perhaps it was best not to think about.

It was still very...surreal. There was something odd about this planet. It was serene and pretty, nothing like him or his home. It was like Roella. Was this true of everyone's homeworld? Did they reflect it, carry it with them wherever they went in the galaxy? In a way, he hoped not. He had no interest in carrying the bitter winds and death with him for the rest of his life, if he could help it.

Reaching the large front doors, Varik somehow already knew who the woman in red was. She seemed familiar - true, he had most likely seen a picture of her from back when the Talravani were first turning up in his territory, but still. Now it almost seemed like he had known her. It didn't matter now, though. It was a fleeting feeling, and nothing more. "Varik Ice."

Ice bowed his head slightly in greeting, though it was the same form of welcome he gave to anyone - Queens, Kings and peasants all seemed the same to someone who had grown up in a hut with no such idea of the structure, and that idea was something Varik kept close. Greeting the Queen, his footprint in the force became more obvious, as he made no attempt to hide it. It gave the ideas of the cold, biting wind, of the harsh calm of a ball of ice floating in the void. Yet behind it, there was another presence. Something more warm, overseeing. Like that ball's very sun.

Though he didn't know, Varik had assumed Theodora most likely had the same talents as her daughter. He'd heard that she said it was simply a fanciful idea, but perhaps that was just to keep her daughter focused on her duty; children always had one to fulfill, whether they realized it or not.

[member="Roella Arwyn"]

 

[Theodora Arwyn]

Theodora Arwyn, Queen of Talravin, Protector of Talravin and All Her Peoples, looked upon this man. This [member="Varik Ice"]. The High Sovereign. A man in power. Such a thing had not been seen on Talravin for twenty thousand years. But that was not the most disturbing thing about this man.

Underneath the guise of Theodora Arwyn, Darth Rozalia lurked. Beneath eyes of crystal blue, burning yellow examined from behind the facade. Simple Sith magic, really. The Sith Lady reached out with her senses, and found what she was looking for: this man had the Force. Most interesting. Could have been the one to awaken the potential in her daughter? The possibility was both intriguing and disturbing.

Still. Being rude was far from what she should be doing in this situation. She had not forgotten her social graces, after all.

"A pleasure, Lord Ice. Thank you for coming all the way from Wild Space. I understand it is quite the journey."

She gestured Varik and her daughter inside. Roella fixed Varik with a nervous smile, and followed her mother. The entry hall was huge and long, and it would take a few minutes to pass through it.

"Lord Varik, how goes activities on Eadu? I find it surprising for such a man to take such a dreary world as his seat of power."

 

[Varik Ice]

Varik Ice​

Equipment: Lightsaber - Armour​

Location: Talravin​

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Varik stared right back at Theodora as her gaze met his. He didn't look away, blink or even seem to move. As he continued to look back at her, something about her interested him, or rather...put him off. There was a difference in her, compared to her daughter. Not just a difference in her experience in life, her attitude, her personality...there was something else. A swelling, something beneath that was ready to burst forwards. For many, this was simply due to keeping up appearances, being more polite than usual. For some, it was more.

"To you, as well." His introductions were usually far less formal, and far less talkative. His people had never been great conversationalists, and his own attitude didn't add to that. What interested him the most was how polite she was - many would have found him an offensive idea on this planet, he had no doubt. But then again, The Sovereignty had said much. He was proud of his people, and of their achievements. He consider them theirs, rather than his.

"They go well. My people are proud of Eadu, as am I. It's their home. I'm sure you can understand that." He doubted it was that surprising. He was hardly a joyous ray of sunshine himself; always thinking about work, about what he could do next, rather than enjoying himself at all. He was no good with people either, that visit only proved that. Varik looked over to Roella as she gave him the nervous smile, and something about it genuinely reassured him. That..again, was odd. Yes, he definitely didn't understand people.

[member="Roella Arwyn"] | [member="Theodora Arwyn"]