[Open Post: A Flower That Blooms but Once]

[mobled_queen]

There's a woman walking slowly through the gardens of the Mansion: red-haired and beautiful, even in her fifties; the sun strikes fire from the emerald necklace at her throat and the flyaway strands of her hair. There's a warmth in her eyes that invites you in, that says she could be a confidante and a friend--and, too, a shrewdness that seems to see through you as though you were a clear lake. She touches each late bloom and spray of tawny grass with careful hands.

A part of her knows that this is only a temporary visitation, more than a dream and less than a miracle. She wears a queer little pocketwatch on a chain around her neck, and it ticks down the hours until she must depart again.

Comments

[mobled_queen]

"Lead the way," says Gertrude, offering her hand again (to be taken, or kissed; it seems to be dealer's choice). "Have you ever seen the sea, Aleksander? We had some fine views of the water, in Denmark. I think you'd like it."

[temnota]

Aleksander kissed her hand as a proper courtier ought to then took her hand to place on his arm. "I have but not for a long, long time. My land is bordered by mountains on all sides except the one. The True Sea is to the west but the way is currently blocked by a mass of shadows. It's split the country in half which is... less than ideal, shall we say. I remember the sea being beautiful, though."

[mobled_queen]

"Well, that's not a typical geographical feature," she says with raised brows. "I imagine it posed interesting logistical concerns for your supply lines."

[temnota]

"Oh indeed," Aleksander agreed as they followed the path out of the garden. "Light does not penetrate the Shadow Fold and while you could bring a light source in, it only illuminates a very small area. But. Bringing in a light is inadvisable because the volcra - think winged monsters - will immediately attack. We came up with sandskiffs and a team of Squallers to provide the wind but it's an imperfect method."

He smiled wryly. "I was trying to bring it down when I came here but my methods were... also imperfect. I own that mistake and the others I made getting to that point but I was so sure. There is nothing to be done about it now."

[mobled_queen]

She suppresses a shudder at the thought of an impenetrable darkness, haunted by bat-like monsters. That place is far away, and here the sun is shining (weakly, but it's shining) on the lake. "Not here, no. There will be other mistakes, I don't doubt, but you can't let that drop you into despair. What matters is that you face your mistakes bravely."

[temnota]

"I find that difficult at times," he admitted. "It's easier to ignore them or act as though that was your intention all along while you secretly try to fix it."

[mobled_queen]

"Oh, I won't say I'm any better at that than you are," she says, nudging her shoulder against his. "In Denmark, we've made a national pastime of pretending everything's all right and we did exactly what we meant to."

[temnota]

"I rather suspect there are more similarities between the Denmark court and the Ravkan court then there are differences," Aleksander said, amused. "If I did not need to get things done, I admit that I would avoid court as much as possible."

[mobled_queen]

"It's where all meaningful action goes to die--still, the social connections are irreplaceable, and nothing can be done without them. It's a conundrum that I'll admit I haven't solved." They're close to the water, now, and the wind off of the lake is brisk; Gertrude leans in a little closer.

[temnota]

Warm enough in his kefta, Aleksander hadn't considered how chilly a stroll down to the lake in winter might be for someone arriving unprepared. He quickly unfastened his kefta, shrugged out of it and settled it around her shoulders. The cold was bracing but nothing he couldn't handle.

"That is true. And the connections are even more important for the Second Army. You would call it magic, I think. In my world, we practice the Small Science. We are feared for what we can do but the Tsar is happy enough to make use of us in his wars. It is a fine balance to tread."

[mobled_queen]

"I imagine you have to watch where you tread very carefully--any misstep might spell disaster." She nestled into the warm shell of the kefta, then takes his arm again. "Thank you. That was very kind of you. You're sure you're not too cold?"

[temnota]

"Yes. And not just for me, but for every other Grisha. A heavy responsibility but one I am glad to take. Or was glad, I suppose, seeing as how I am here."

He smiled reassuringly at her. "Not at all. It is rather brisk but nothing I can't handle. If you get too cold, tell me and we will head back up."

[mobled_queen]

"We'll just have to huddle up close," says Gertrude, with a teasing lift of her brows.

[temnota]

"Indeed," Aleksander said. He smiled warmly at her and covered her hand with his for a moment. It was a courtly gesture but more could be read into it, if she so chose.

"I would like to hear more about your Denmark if you would not mind sharing."

[mobled_queen]

"How much time do you have?" she says wryly. "Under my late husband, Denmark suppressed Norway's rebellion; it held all of its territories and gained even more. Our coffers filled up with plunder and tribute--which is, as I'm sure you know, just plunder by another name. Now ... now, we'll have to see whether Denmark can win the peace as handily as the war. It's not guaranteed. Old Norway's son has been posturing for a second revolt for months, and my best diplomat is here, so I make do with what I've got."

[temnota]

Aleksander made a face. "I imagine there are factions who would prefer to keep fighting, never mind the costs or lack of manpower or supplies... I do not envy you your task especially without Claudius and his silver tongue to smooth things along."

[mobled_queen]

"Well, my envoys can't measure up to Claudius, but I'm sure they'll do well enough," she says. Cornelius and Voltimand are not particularly inventive or adaptable, but they're solid public servants who've done perfectly good work for decades, and she trusts them (mostly because she doesn't have much other choice). "Do you have any advice on quelling a belligerent faction? Or were you mostly throwing fuel on the fire, since the war machine keeps a general in business?"

[temnota]

That was a difficult question to answer. His own cause was best served by the others arguing with each other and thus too busy to scrutinize what he was doing with the Second Army or to think about why.

"The Tsar is not interested in my advice unless it involves positioning the Second Army to support the First. And I fear the presence of the Second Army at all is a factor against diplomacy. We share borders with Shu Han and Fjerda and both countries treat Grisha poorly. Shu Han experiments on us and Fjerda burns us for witches. Neither are willing to negotiate with a country that, for the most part, treats us like people."