14. Northward Bound by Zachary

(Open RP; Kelzen’s ship headed for the Northen Wastes all aboard welcomed to join in.)
It all was a blur in her mind now. Elly looked over the railing of Kelzen’s ship as it cut through the icy water heading north. She pulled Zeschin’s old lucky jackey closed over her shivering form. She could hardly remember how she got here. At the moment she was alone of the fore castle of the ship. It’s crew seemed to give her space, why she didn’t know. Kelzen seemed strange. It seemed he practically dragged Elly onto the ship. She knew Alondra hadn’t sent word to him since she left all those month’s ago after the ambassador’s ball. His demeanor seemed vacant and fortified. What was going on in the world. She was so wrapped up in loving Zeschin, being with him she unwittingly neglected to keep in contact with Kelzen or at home. But what a true friend Kelzen has been. Despite the neglect when the world came crashing back in a tidal wave over Elly, Kelzen was there to pull her to safety.

Elly’s eyes drifted away from the view of Proudglaive to the east and lowered to the waters below. Tears frosted and stung her eyes as she couldn’t help but wonder if this was the very spot where Zeschin lost his life in horrible White Squall that ripped him under to his death a month or so before.

“It’s all my fault. I’m sorry.”

She whispered to the icy waters. Her cold lips brushing over the raised collar of the only thing Elly had left of Zeschin, his lucky jacket.

“Wine is sweet but the results are often bitter.”

Sat, Nov 9th – 1:53AM

zachary

Zach took the glass from Kelzen’s hand and returned it to the nightstand after refilling it “Will there be anything else, m’lord?” The room was warm, at least warm for how cold it was outside. The creaking of the ship and the howl of the stiff wind seemed to make his lord sleepy.

Kelzen yawned and stretched before settling deep under the thick quilts piled high on the narrow bed. “See to Elly before retiring.” He answered with a drowsy nonchalance.

“At once, m’lord.” Zachary bowed shortly before leaving Lord Starsunder’s room via the door to his own cramped quarters he shared with Curtis. By some small miracle Curtis was not there, Zach took his cape from a hook by the door and clasped it around him. Zach cast a wry look towards the messy pile of belongings piled on and around Curtis’s bed, he was such a slob, why his lord put up with him was a mystery.

There was no answer on Miss Elly’s door, something had told him there wouldn’t be. He drew the cape closer to him and started down the narrow hall towards the stairs.

The night was bitterly cold when he stepped out onto the deck and Zach braced himself, the wind was like a slap in the face and ripped the breath from his lungs. He found it hurt to breath as he searched for Elly and he lowered his face into the cape, taking the air through the thick wool helped. He found her leaning against the railing at the front of the ship, there was something so forlorn about her slender silhouette huddled in the large coat.

About to step forward he decided against it, instead he turned and made his way back to his room below deck. He knew his Lord well and what was expected of him, Lord Kelzen would not want Miss Elly to catch her death of a cold. Zach grabbed the quilt from his bed, armed with that he returned to the frigid night and the lone woman who had captured Kelzen’s attention for the moment. He approached her quietly but slipped and nearly fell on small patch of ice.

The sound drew Elly’s attention and she looked over her shoulder at him. Zachary smiled from within the folds of his cape, “Good evening, Miss Elly.” He walked to her side and placed the blanket around her narrow shoulders, feeling her shiver kept his arm in place around her, trying to warm her up, his hand moved quickly up and down her arm. “You’re freezing, Miss Elly.” He didn’t think of the properness or lack thereof of his action, he just did what he’d do to anyone that was shivering with cold. A faint movement drew his attention even before Elly could speak, the shape of a large man loomed into focus, the smirk very familiar. Curtis was lurking.

Tues, Nov 12th – 9:59AM

Elly
Status:

Elly gratefully wrapped the quilt tightly around her shoulders. Another chill jolted through her body. “Thank you…” She had seen Zach many times by Kelzen’s side but she couldn’t place his name. Her eyes went towards the water again momentarily drawn to Zach once more as he rubbed her arms and kept huddled to her trying to keep her warm.

She hadn’t realized how long she was out here all alone. But now that she had company the moments seemed to stretch into eternity. Usually a warm and friendly person taking friendly embraces from complete strangers Elly became uncomfortable under Zach’s warming strokes. Maybe it was the pain of warm blood melting her icy skin as he stimulated her circulation. Maybe it was because this was the first time an elf had ever shown so much compassion. Every Elf she had ever met were rather above warming a human wench. Elly managed to offer Zach a genuine smile until it was interupted by her chattering teeth.

Her body was racked with a temendous chill. She didn’t care much about her well being. But Zach looked so frail. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea for her to lead a group of elves used to the moderate temperature’s of the Mainlands off to an icy wasteland.

“I don’t wish you to catch your death. Let’s go down below. Your Lord might be calling.”

It was only then, when she turned back to face aft that she realized Zachary and herself were not the only other guests on deck. She recognized him as another of Kelzen’s attendent’s but again she did not remember his name.

“Good evening me’lord. What brings ye out into this cold? Looking for your colleague mayhap?”

She tried to speak clearly through the chittering of her teeth. It wasn’t this cold out here when she was lost in her memories…

“Wine is sweet but the results are often bitter.”

Thurs, Nov 14th – 6:58AM

curtis

Curtis didn’t mean to stumble upon Elly and that brat Zachery. Despite the cold, he had been out on deck getting some exercise. After all, his gorgeous body wasn’t built on just luck. No, he was constantly sculpting himself toward perfection. Something he knew Lord Kelzen admired.

Unlike that Zack, whose scrawny ass just lounged around the house all day. Oh, and he played the timid shy roll to the peak of perfection. Lord Kelzen fell for it every time too. What a wuss.

Spying Zack playing Elly, Curtis knew he wouldn’t let the brat get away with that. If he went running to Kelzen, he’d look like a tattletale. Turning to look at his ruggedly handsome face in a nearby well-polished porthole, he checked himself out. Smoothing over his violet hair, dyed that way on a whim, he kissed at his reflection. He knew he was hot. Hell, he’d do himself.

Boldly sauntering up to the pair, he smacked Zach upside the back of his head as he passed. The wicked gleam that was directed Zach’s way warned him that he knew just where his hands were moments before. Then he leaned against the railing so he could look Elly right into her pretty eyes. He couldn’t help but wink, sure that it added to his charm.

“I hope the pretty boy wasn’t bothering you, Lady Elly. Honestly, he must think he was put on this planet to pester everybody.”

Thurs, Nov 14th – 12:16AM
Elly

Elly drew the collar closer around her ears trying to block them from the chilled winds. She gave Curtis her best smile. She had met his type many times in her profession. Her training and long years of experiance helped her see striaght into a persons soul. And there was something in Curtis that she just did not like.

“No, not at all. I’m quite thankful of his pesterings as you may call them. Though I like to think of it more like saving my life. What a silly girl I was getting so lost in thought out here. And please it’s just Elly. The three of us are equals. Or duties is to serve others. We are the same.”

Her blue eyes sparkled behind a thin sheen of frost that glazes them over until she blinks and then it returns once more and the cycle continues.

She offered a warm smile to the both of them and hooked a blanket shrouded arm around an elbow each. And in the middle she led them towards the aft deck and the door that leads down below.

“Come we will all walk together and keep warm.”

She leaned over to softly whisper to Zachary.

“And to make sure there is no more falling.”

She re-assuringly gives his elbow a soft gentle squeeze and continues along the main deck.

“Wine is sweet but the results are often bitter.”

Thurs, Nov 14th – 7:34PM

kelzen

Kelzen quietly closed the door, he’d only had it opened a tiny fraction to see the trio walk by when he heard their voices.
A faint smirk crossed the elf lord’s lips as he turned back to his bed. Crossing the distance he sipped his firewine and set it on the nightstand before slipping beneath the covers once again. He had hoped Curtis and Zachary would provide the entertainment for the voyage and it looked like he wasn’t wrong.
The smirk was replaced by a frown when he considered Elly, he didn’t need his boys getting attached to her or vice versa, the only reason Kelzen had even bothered with the human woman was the sure fact that if he didn’t have her on his ship when it docked at their gods-be-damned destination he would most likely be burnt alive in his ship for being excessively elvish.
With a sigh and a frown he fluffed up his pillow and leaned back, watching the latern over the bed swing in time with the motion of the ship’s rocking. Before letting sleep claim him he muttered softly..”Try to hold onto a sunbeam….and be roasted alive…”