wrist watch time, slowing as she goes to sleep

[commandsthewind]

Who: Elizabeth Tudor (commandsthewind ) and you~!
What: Intro things, and one very very annoyed and exhausted Queen.
When: August 15th
Where: The Foyer
Rating: G

It was the shock of it that left her reeling, that was all, or so she told herself. Elizabeth was after all a brilliant liar amongst her other sins, especially to herself. Though this would take skill... One minute, getting ready for another hard days ride back to Court, another day closer till when she was free of this blasted armour. She knew it was safety, they had idea what soldiers were still left on the country side... but she longed for her own bed. Another day going past the wary faces of her people, under grey skies to pass the good news along was dragging her down. They wouldn't forget though, and neither would she. This victory came at too high a price.

But it was a victory, and Elizabeth swallow the bitter taste in her mouth for it -- and prayed her people would forgive her their sons and brothers now gone, for she never would.

Though those thoughts would not help her right now, so she rubbed a hand over her dry eyes in an effort that this strangeness would some how disappear as suddenly as it came, that this was all a product of her now apparently deranged mind. Give her another assassin, she might even welcome the relief if nothing else, but this? The dim pre-dawn light turned suddenly bright and she was inside where she'd just been about ready to mount a horse. Not here, this was no Estate in England, she had made a point of knowing them all well.

"How fitting, I defeat my greatest foe, only to find it's sent me mad..." Though it was more of a mutter to herself, her dry tone not lifting even now.

But still, she forced herself up right, and tried to make sense of this illusion, she was strong for her soldiers in the face of death she'd be strong for herself now... no matter what this was. She could pretend after all, that she was not wearing that same haggard look she had for months now, that her face not so sunken, the ache suddenly building at her temples was usual, her voice not so perpetually tired and the shake in her hands was... well, they stayed curled at her side for the time being.

She'd face this, whatever this was, like the daughter of a king she was raised and the sovereign she had been for the long years already gone. Not graceful for the clunk of metal that echoed as she walked, but determined with her back straight.

Comments

[persequor]

Arya barely sleeps on a good night. These past few nights have not been good. She has become used to watching the sunrise. Women in armor, however, remains a strange sight even in a strange castle with stranger things. The direwolf behind her, almost as tall as the girl, narrows her yellow eyes in dislike of the sound.

"Who are you?"

[commandsthewind]

It's the wolf that catches her attention first, she looks frankly alarmed. Wolves aren't things she sees often, not even on hunts, except when they wandered in close for food in winter.

But she's working on importance really. Though there is a faint moment of surprise when she's simply not known. Usually, it's not questioned. But if they weren't in England, then it stood to reason, she supposed. Not that she'd hold a grudge against a child.

"Elizabeth, Queen of England. And yourself?" Not that she spoke down to her, she'd hated as a child and made a point never to do the same.

[heal_theworld]

Martel is wandering through the lobby, minding her own business when she hears the clink of metal on the floor and turns, startled, at the sound. She wasn't sure what she expected, but not a woman in full battle dress that at first glance reminded her strongly of Galadriel.

"...Are you all right?" Martel can only ask the woman.

[commandsthewind]

Whether she was alright or not, didn't matter, so Elizabeth just ignored the question, not even bothering to shake or nod her head. Her concerns were rather pin point at the moment.

Find her guards, find her ladies, get back on path to England.

"Tell me, lady, what manner of place is this?"

[inafadingcrown]

The sound of metal was the first thing that caught Galadriel's attention. How could it not, her Elven hearing being what it was? And she knew well the sound of armor. But when she came face to face with the woman, two things stood out immediately.

First, and most obviously, her face. It was strange enough to see Celeborn's face on a mortal- but her own! If she had not been in the castle for over a year, it would have been enough to make her stop and stare, manners be damned.

However, she has been here long enough that that does not faze her for long. Instead, she cannot help but see the weariness etched into this stranger's familiar face. That expression too, was familiar to her. She has worn it herself. And so she set aside her personal curiosity for her healer's instincts.

"You are not well." It's not just an assessment. The offer of aid behind it is unspoken but plain.

1/??

[commandsthewind]

Elizabeth had seen many things in her life after all, more then you would think a Queen would, but it was true -- and politics had taught her to cover worst of it. She'd joked to Bess after all, when did she smile, let alone meet anything beyond the same straight face that she wore for almost everything.

But God help her, Elizabeth just stared at this. Who was this woman? Why did she have her face? The eyes that were so famously her mother's staring right back at her?

Her mouth opened as if she were going to say something --

2/??

[commandsthewind]

-- the thought better of it to pause, close her mouth and swallow down the question.

There might be a likeness, that was truth, but this woman, if she really was a woman and not just the strangeness of her mind too far gone, was certainly... not like her completely. Whoever she was she made a mockery of Elizabeth's feigned divinity. This is what the people imagined when they spoke of Gloriana. That type of ethereal serenity that belonged in a painting and that Elizabeth knew she'd never possess.

For one thing, Elizabeth was not so... youthful. The Virgin Mary herself could not look so serene, and the only person she knew to be so tall was her father. This woman... whatever and whoever this woman was, made her feel like a imitation of herself, all too human.

Her mind, it seemed, wasn't done tormenting her with that which she strived to be and exposing all her failings otherwise. Was this some kind of purgatory? Where she had to face her own lies? All the things she'd never be, but tried to imitated regardless. She drew in a breath and tried to swallow down on her already dry throat. Find words that were not so coarse, that would be useful.

3/??

[commandsthewind]

... Words would come in a second, she was sure, she was never at a loss for them. She'd been queen too long for that.

Any moment now.

"... My lady..."

How did she even address a woman bearing her own face?

Done!

[commandsthewind]

Or she could just be her usual self, and be firmly resistant.

"I'm quite well and it is not my concern at present." A sharp clench of her nails into her palm. "I would be in your debt if you told me where exactly I am and where I could find my men."

[unnaturalpause]

Cooking is one of the few things that James willingly does after time in the clinic. Doing it on the first floor just lets him know if there are any new arrivals in need of help before he goes up to the sixth to relax. Which is why he hears the metal on stone as he's stepping out with a sandwich on a plate the woman (well he hoped it was and the castle wasn't bringing particularly feminine men in to mess with his observational abilities).

Seeing as it is rather rude to stare at a lady however, even if all he is seeing is her back, he feels the need to say something. Especially with the way she is walking. "Ma'am, I do believe the chairs over to the side are especially comfortable if you would care to take a seat."

[commandsthewind]

She turns at the voice, immediately on the defensive. That wasn't any member of her guard, and her state of mind left everybody as an assassin. So her gaze was accusing... and then he offered her a seat. She sighed, shaking her head.

"I've not the time -- tell me where is this place? And have you seen my men?"

[pompous_today]

Time had become a blur for Simon since his sister had vanished. He still didn't want to believe it was true, but the more time that passed without her contacting him, the more he had to accept it- she was gone, he had no idea if she was going to come back, and even with the Doctor's reassurance that she was stopped in time and would be waiting for him... he still missed her, worried for her, the emotions like a small but constant pain deep in the pit of his stomach.

He spent a lot of time wandering the castle, knowing he was neglecting his offer to help Dr. Beckett, but not really caring at this particular moment, in a haze of sadness.

So he had to stop and look twice when he saw what appear to be a suit of armor- no, a person wearing armor- walking around.

[commandsthewind]

Elizabeth cared only so much as information mattered, which since there seemed to be no one else around, she approached the man that was staring at her blatantly. Not that she cared so much about that, it came with the territory so to speak. Besides, it was trivial compared to the rest of her concerns.

"Excuse, sir, forgive me for speaking to you without proper introduction? Could you tell me exactly where I am?"

[biggestdreamer]

Tonight Takato had claimed an overstuffed chair in the lobby. He'd been there for a while now, cheerfully sketching in his notebook as he watched people come and go out of the room. When he hears the familiar sound of metal steps, the boy looks up in surprise and hastily climbs to his feet.

"Um, are you okay?"

[commandsthewind]

Elizabeth blinked wearily down at the child that was in front of her. Despite her irritation, she kept it down.

"I'm fine, child. Tell me, do you know where this place... and if there is a Lord of this castle?"

Because if there was she could find out whose authority she was being kept by.

[excalibured]

He'd hate to admit to himself, but the first thing he notes is the sound of armour. And the thing he can focus on next, is that it belongs to a woman. Too large and bulky, in his opinion for what appears to be a slender, if not tall frame. He's no stranger to women with fighting capabilities, whatever his opinion of them, and his immediate reaction is to stiffen his shoulders, and place his free hand upon the hilt of his sword.

Then he notices that she honestly, looks like she's about to drop where she stands, and is moving along by sheer force of will. So against his better (more paranoid, cold not new and improved) judgement he moves towards her. To avoid causing her any alarm, he stands a few paces away.

"Do you require assistance?"

[commandsthewind]

She's glad he kept his distance, strange men in her personal space was not something she could remotely appreciate right now. So she looked him over, everything about him told her soldier, which she appreciated even less in her current frame of mind.

"It depends, who do you serve? And do you know by whose authority the Queen of England is kept?"

[save_the_souls]

Allen was sitting in the foyer, relaxing on one of his breaks from the clinic. He liked being down here because he could see people that were not House or sick. It gave him a chance to see friends.

But today it seemed it would be another turn of welcoming a new person. It's hard not to notice a woman in armour that seems to have suddenly shown up. One that does not look well, none the less. So he'll get up from his spot and approach with concern.

"Are you all right, madam?"

[commandsthewind]

... If this was an hallucination, she honestly didn't know where her mind liked to stray most of the time. What strange markings... She blinked again, trying to see if it would make him disappear.

"I'm well enough." She cleared her throat, deciding that he apparently wasn't going anywhere, much to her frustrations. "Could you tell me where I am, sir?"

[doublethefun]

Crazy is as crazy does, especially when there's a blue winged unicorn stretched luxuriously on a rug in a patch of sunlight. A book lies open in front of the mare, but the yawn and the drowsy shake of her head may belie her current endeavors.

1/??

[commandsthewind]

Stop. Stare.

What?

[commandsthewind]

Alright no the more she stared the less sense it made. Insanity, that was it. No really, congratulations Phillip, she may of won the battle but he had won the war.

So she did the only thing that made sense right now. A mythical beast that was reading, the only thing better was Anjou in his dress -- and since this was apparent hallucination, she didn't care to hide it.

Done~

[commandsthewind]

Which said laughter died in a moment and she took a deep breath.

"Well, at least for a mythical creature, you can read. I suppose why not in the end?"

She didn't really care if it replied or not, or if it could understand. Because nothing could be more absurd then a unicorn... pegasus... whatever, reading like it had every right to.

late, but welcome~~~~

[chrysalis_ex]

She first heard the metal clinking, and thought it merely odd. It wasn't often that Lenalee watches a sunrise, but she hasn't found much to occupy her time yet. Watching the sun's path wasn't a bad way to pass some of the time.

Her curiosity gets the best of her when she sees a woman in armour. Tall, and with a strong stance. This is someone you respected.

"Hello." She says with only a bit of hesitancy. "Are you all right?"

omgbby <3

[commandsthewind]

"Fine." Her tone is curt, and very much dry, looking the girl over, and she'd never seen a woman dressed in so... little. It was a shock in and of itself, most especially because of what a woman would be called. But she swallowed that down, because there were things that mattered more. "Tell me, my lady, where am I and have you seen my men anywhere?"

[confidente]

He's been here far too long, John decides, when he walks into the lobby and sees another stunned new comer and he doesn't surprise in the slightest. What does get him is her dress and the way she stands. As many traces of a soldier as there is something else.

"You alright, ma'am?" Paper bag of groceries in hand he peers at her curiously. He's already new looking forward to the welcome speech he imagines he'll have to give. It's never been a fun speech.

[commandsthewind]

Elizabeth looked up at him, taking the odd way he was dressed first. But she doesn't dwell on it too long. Just sighs tiredly, at that blasted question. 'Alright' was such a broad term.

"Well enough for the time being. Could you tell me where exactly I am and by whose authority I am kept? If it's for ransom, there will be war first."