A request

[Fiamma Bella]

Trembling fingers took hold of the quill and scrolled it along the surface of the parchment. Since Kiante did not wish to leave the planning and implementation of Kalyssiens funeral to anyone else, she felt it was up to her to get it done. Such was the price one paid for loving. Eventually there would be loss. Her speech was nearly done. Kiante was particularly proud that not a single tear had been shed as it had been written. Small triumph for some, but a great triumph for her. Perhaps that meant that she would be able to speak it without her sadness taking over.

Kiante then stood having sent several servants out earlier to get the necessary decorations for the funeral. Throughout the evening, they would be working with the gardener to get the space in the gardens ready for it. Luckily he had been gentle as ever with Kiante. His kindness reminded her of the day that she returned to Camelot. Having left Kalyssiens side shaking and nearly in tears, the gardener had helped her to her room. Standing there staring at the wall, she nearly had to sit back down again. Yet she steeled herself and took a deep breath.

She had not been civil to the king this early morning. She knew at some point she had to return to see him. Perhaps if she asked him permission to go through Kalyssiens things either with or without him around, then she might be able to have the chance to show Luther that she was respectful of him even though this morning she had berated him in his own thrown room. She didn?t know this man who now held Excaliber. She had no idea if he was a good man or a cruel man and how he would rule the people of Camelot she loved so dearly. Only time would tell and she chided herself for not being more compassionate to him upon his first real day holding the reigns of the kingdom.

She called to the servant outside her door who for some reason had never left. Perhaps the people of Camelot were concerned for her, or perhaps it was just some of the servants. She knew not. The gentle woman came in and smiled. ?How may I be of service My Lady?? Kiante returned her smile. She needed to send the girl off to find the king.  ?Would you please go to the King and ask an audience with him on behalf of me? I would like to meet with him at his earliest convenience and of course, wherever is best for him. Simply inform me of his decision once it has been made so that I might accommodate his wishes. If he has no place in mind, then here or the gardens would be appropriate.? The woman nodded and curtseyed before leaving to find the king wherever he might be.

[Luther]

So many things to consider, so many things had been allowed to fail in the time since he had taken his rest. He held no blame on Kalyssien, there is after all only so much can be done in a given time, and it was obvious Kalyssien's heart had been on the restoration of Camelot.

He was upon a high balcony overlooking the area, his mind distant as he remembered the distant past when in some ways things were easier, ones enemies were more straight forward and he had ruled. Perhaps not as wisely as he should of, but laying in reast for so long had given him valuable time to reconsider some of his options.

He knew perhaps he seemed unfeeling and cold to those in this realm, but aloofness was his defense and until he was sure as to whom he could trust he would hold this position. A servant coughed to his left and he turned "Majesty, the Lady Kiante would seek audience with you" He nodded then spoke, fetch her now, this is a more relaxed place then the throne room, bring some chairs and some wyne as well, for this afternoon is pleasent and a quiet moment is something to enjoy. I shall wait here." The servant bowed then hurried off to make the arangements. Luther turned back to look over his realm, waiting but thinking as he did.

[Fiamma Bella]

The servant returned to Kiante just after she had finished dressing. "My Lady, His Highness King Luther wishes to see you in the upper library balcony. There will be chairs to sit on and wine served." Kiante turned to look at the woman and smiled softly nodding. "Thank you my dear for your help. I shall be there shortly." She turned without wondering where the servant might go to next and looked in the mirror. She was incredibly pale and wearing black didnt help. Her deep blue eyes remained troubled. She brushed her long curls and left the tendrils down to flow about her face. Perhaps it would soften her look enough so that she didnt look quite so haggard. Her auburn hair had always looked so soft people tended to reach out to touch it. Kalyssien had loved her hair. She sighed softly and applied a little bit of shade to her eyelids and a little bit of color to her lips before turning from the mirror and making her way to the library, up several flights from her room, grabbing a cloak to wrap around her if it got to chilly on the balcony even in the warm sun.

The balcony she knew many a time had been wonderful to look out over the land from after reading a good book because it was the best view of all of the land. Many hours had been lost in thought overlooking Camelot. The library had been one of her small pleasures of returning home. Chairs were brought out and wine was set up on a small table just outside the doors to the balcony. The servant girl entered before Kiante had and announced to the King that his guest had arrived before taking her leave. As she stepped into the massive room filled to the brim with books, she moved along one wall, her hands gliding over the shelves as she looked at title after title. Part of the reason she did this was to for a moment enjoy the simple pleasure the library had to offer, the other part was to collect herself before facing the King.

She finally found herself in the doorway leading out to the balcony, looking upon the king's back as he was lost in the same view she had so often lost herself in. She slowly walked until she reached his side, speaking as she did so. "Camelot is such a beautiful land. Sometimes it is hard to remember that there has been so much ..... death when one looks at such beauty." She ended up next to him, looking out among the city, the forest, the rivers, the people bustling, though they were far too small to really see from so high.

[Luther]

Luther turned and looked as she approached , his hearing sensitive and aware of the differing nuances of the way people moved. He nodded as she spoke then gestured for her to sit, shaking his head when she tried to wait for him to sit first. "I'm really not that hard a man, nor that brutish a king, Priestess, or woulfd you rather Kiante. This morning, last night were all for show, so that anyone watching wouold see someone whom refuses to allow emotion to overide necessity. Here, sitting alone, I am allowed to be human."

He lifted a goblet and drank, his face thoughtful, "It seems I owe an apology as well, servants talk perhaps more tehn they should, and had I realised you and KAlyssien were so close, I would not have laid the awkward duty of his funery rites at your feet so hastily... Forgive me and if I have done the wrong thing, allow me to make other arrangements so that you may allow your grief its place."

His hand raised and he gestured to the lands over the balcony "Much has changed since my time, but the twists of diplomacy remain the same, something I was never overly thrilled at. Strength was how this land was forged, not begging or telling lies, but the strength to keep my word, to force the issue if needed and to protect those under my rule. I return to discover the armies gone and a strong man having been king, gone because of the weakness of the past having caught him. Such htings are never easy to accept."

[Fiamma Bella]

She took a seat as he gestured for her too, her movements as graceful as ever even with the slight tremble to her body as though she was going to shatter into a thousand pieces if anyone touched her. Her eyes did not leave his form as he spoke. She took in the words and listened with the patience inherent in her these days. IT must have been hard for Luther to say these things. His apology meant a great deal on so many levels. For a moment she simply sat in silence. The last thing Luther needed to see was more tears.

?It is nice to be human for a little while. I believe and have always acted as though one of my jobs was to be advisor to the king in his most human of moments.? She turned her face away as a single tear fell down her face. It was more than her grief she cried for. Relief that Camelot had a good king to care for it, meant more to her than her grief. It washed over her visibly calming her. "I prefer Kiante Your Highness," she spoke through a shaky and soft voice. She didn?t know what to say in regards to everything he had. She was speechless, a rarity for her. She stood and moved to look out over Camelot taking time to collect her mass of thoughts as the wind caressed her face and fluttered through her hair.

"Perhaps I was hasty in my judgment of you. I was unkind this morning. I could blame it on my grief or my fear that Camelot would once again suffer for the change of King. I am sure it has not been easy for you to awake in the midst of such chaos and have to take over when so much has changed here. You had to make some quick decisions. I don?t blame you for giving me the duty of Kalyssiens Final Rites. Your apology is not necessary, but is appreciated very much. I already finished most of them." She turned to look at him and smiled softly. "I was wondering if perhaps you would speak on behalf of him at the Funeral. I thought something from the perspective of the crown might be appropriate. He took the duty so very seriously.? She turned once more to look out over Camelot, her home. Only a week had passed since she had arrived back here. Only a few scant minutes with Kalyssien had been attained during those few days. It was not nearly enough for her last memories of him. Her eyes glistened with tears but she closed them wishing for the little drops not to fall.

[Luther]

His wyne raising to his lips as he spoke, seeming lost in thought yet focused entirely on her words, nodding then speaking as his goblet lowered, "Advisor eh, weli it would be a small plaeasure to have one whom has seen what occurs to advise the crown again should you be willing. And Kiante it shall be. Don't worry about being hasty this morning, most find me abrupt and focused on the business at hand, the kingdom above all, has always been my motto, it never worried me if I were liked, loved or hated as long as those living in the kingdom, knew they were safe and looked after, and that they would not be mistreated by any within my rule, it was enough for me."

Standing to move and place a hand on her shoulder, "I don't know much of the man, but the birden of the crown well do I understand and it shall be so" refering to her request for him to speak for Kalyssien, "Tell me Kiante, when you look out over the land, what do you see, what catches your eye in this vast picture before us, it may be an odd question, but it is important."

[Fiamma Bella]

When he offered for her to once again become advisor to the crown she simply nodded, knowing somehow his eyes were on her. As his hand came to her shoulder she turned her head and smiled softly, somewhat relieved of her concerns in the last few minutes in his company. It would be nice that someone besides herself would be speaking to the masses that would likely gather in the gardens tommorrow. Her hand went up to her shoulder and gently stayed over his as she looked out over the land she loved so much.

"That would be the simplest question you could ask me Your Highness. In my perspective A land, no matter how beautiful or serene, is nothing without the people who occupy it. IT is the people that determine what the kingdom truely is. In masses, they can react without thinking, like any group of people, but individually they are all hard working, good folk.  They go about their daily lives trusting in the promises given to them that thier King would take care of them."

Her eyes looked off into the distance but the look in them was more like she was looking deep within. "When Arthur commited treason, after leaving the people to suffer for so long, they depended greatly on the Goddesses priests and priestesses occupying the city to guide them and hear their concerns. Vlad took the crown and all but dissappeared. Again they looked to us. With Kalyssien, I was torn between duty and love. It is some place I wish never to be again. I knew Camelot was in good hands with him, so I did what I had to, I withdrew to Avalon, only coming home when I was needed. So did the priests and priestesses of the Goddess. I suppose it was in some ways a cowardly thing to do. Then I returned in time to see him for a few short moments before he left this world. The Goddess works in so many mysterious ways. I wonder what her plan was for me."

She suddenly blinked realizing she had been going off on a tangent. "I apologize Your Highness. I did not answer your question very simply." She also realized her hand was still upon his. She slipped it down into her other hand and entwined her fingers together. "Camelot is a place filled with people who work towards the values set forth so long ago: love and brotherhood, peace and wisdom. That is what I see when I look down over the land and what I also have fought along side them for. It is an idea, a value that we hope we do not fight in vain for."

[Luther]

He looked at her, the hand having rested on his not being missed, and slowly he withdrew the hand from her shoulder. NOdding as KIante spoke, Lutehr allowed his gaze to wander across the view before him. "So the goal, the dream that I set to build so long ago have survived despite the whims of those ruling, indeed that is good for the charge given by the goddess has retained its impetus through thick and thin. So many before believed a kingdom depended on the ones ruling, yet a kingdom may retain its heart when kings fall, and rulers change."

Moving back to sit and take another drink, his gaze still wandering, "It seems at least the dream sustained itself, now to strengthen the reality in fashion returning the name Camelot from obscurity to glory, giving her back her strength so that those whom would see us fall, may at the very least take pause."

[Fiamma Bella]

"The dream has not been lost Luther, but the people are greatly worn down. I am unsure how much more strain they can take. Thus far they have been amazingly resilient." She turned her back upon the view and turned her head to look at Luther. Kiante watched him with a thoughtful gaze. The people of Camelot held a special place in her heart, as well as the land. Since she had come to Camelot, she knew this was her home. Avalon had become a second home. She split her time as best she could when Arthur was king and then when Vlad took the crown.

Kiante moved forward and took up a glass of wine, bringing it to her lips as she contemplated. Still with her back to the land, she turned once more to look upon Luther. "What does Glory mean to you Luther? How exactly do you envision we will get to glory?"

[Luther]

He turned his head to study Kiante pondering before answering "Glory, glory to me is a kingdom where stability and safety are paramont, where people are not opressed, where the rule of law is a constant and acknowledged thing and all men are truly under the law be they common or noble. How to return Camelot to glory, well as yet I have not been here long enough to fathom her problems, to discover what the underlaying ailment is that has brought her down is, but I do suspect that various leaders have not assisted, being more for there own agenda then the goals of the kingdom"

[Fiamma Bella]

"So glory to you is not a popularity contest. Glory does not come to those kingdoms who become parasites and try to take over every kingdom around them. Yet so many do that very same thing for their definition of "Glory" It is sad really." She sighs softly and moves to the table, picking up a glass of wine. She so rarely indulged but a few sips wouldnt hurt and perhaps it would calm her frazzled nerves a bit. She found herself drinking half the goblet before putting it back down.

"I hope you retain such ideals Your Highness. Such things are the dreams that carry Camelot through its roughest and toughest times. THough I have to admit, I have not seen it this bad in all my years here." She bit her lip and looked away for a moment, trying to decide. Then suddenly, she was on her knees before him, her hands clasped together tightly towards him. THe look in her eyes pleading, "I beg you Luther do not let us down. Do not let it fall from grace again. IF there is ANYTHING I can do, Please do not hesitate to ask for this is my home, my most beloved home and I would not see it fall to ruin again. Protect Camelot, shelter it, support it, bring it back to the beautiful life that matches its beautiful spirit." She hung her head then and closed her eyes, unable to continue her plea. There was too much to say and not enough words in any language in which she could express them.