As she watched Nicolette and her sister talk to their guests Reana began to think about joining them... but the baron's return put an end to that idea. Based on their brief conversation earlier the man clearly did not like her – and it mattered not whether he disliked her in particular, or mages in general. Trying to join the group uninvited would likely by seen as an unwanted intrusion – definitely not a good way to improve the baron's opinion of her. Mother should have been the one to come – she already knows the baron. Or sis – she would at least get along with Nadine. Not me. Reana sighed, suddenly feeling out of place in the large ballroom, surrounded by people she didn't know. I need some fresh air. Let's see, the castle must have a garden... She headed towards the nearest exit from the room, on the way stopping briefly to ask a servant for directions before continuing.
"Beaten my daughter did you? Ha! I knew when I saw you that you are skilled!" The baron laughed. "A lucky strike." Nadine grumbled as she took a cup with wine. "I did beat him during the second encounter." "Sometimes, one strike is enough." the baron whispered "Sometimes, you are just not given a chance for the second encounter." the baron finished lowly, more to himself, then to anyone else. He shook his head. "Let us drink and be merry." He got up and raised his glass. "A toast!" All present raised their glasses. "For my daughter! Let her have a full and long life!" He said loudly. "Long Live!" All present guests intoned, before dinking.
‘True, my liege, sometimes you don’t get a second chance,’ Albert nodded somberly. Seeing the Baron call for a toast for Nicolette, Albert stood with him and raised his glass for the toast, he smiled at Nicolette, ‘Long live!’ And drank from his cup.
"Long live!" Viola followed suit and raised a glass. She put it to her lips for a few seconds, and nursed a very light sip before putting it down. She never did inherit her parent's tolerance for alcohol and chose to tread lightly.
"A toast! For my daughter! Let her have a full and long life!" Came the baron's loud voice from inside the ballroom, followed by "Long Live!" a moment later. Fortunately for Reana she was already outside, out of sight, and walking away. Being the only person there with no glass and thus not joining in the toast would have been really embarrassing... I definitely need some fresh air... and maybe a drink, too – later. She thought to herself as she walked towards her destination.
After her talk with the baron, Lily returns to the ballroom. "Long live!" Just in time to hear the baron, his daughters, and the other lords and ladies toast. She sighs, shaking her head. "I need some fresh air." Lily said to herself, her meeting with the baron proved to be more stressful than she expected. Leaving the young noblewoman exhausted. She approaches the nearest servant to ask where so could do just that.
As everyone drink a toast to her honour, Nicolette smiled brightly. As everyone finished, she got up. "Thank you, father!" She turned to the crowd. "Thank, all of you, for coming in this, how important day to me. I am sure that free food and wine had absolutely nothing to do with your decision to come." She added smiling, making all those present laugh. "For a five-generation, house Castex has stood guard of this land's traditions, culture, history and people." Nicolette started seriously. "I do not delude myself - I am not as skilled in military tactics as my father, I don't have my mother's intelligence and a knack for politics, nor do I have my sister's love and talent for martial arts... yet I have a talent of my own, my lords and ladies. And swear to you, I will continue to guard this realm, as did every Castex-" "MY LORD!" a loud voice sounds around the room. A ragged man runs through the room, pushing anyone who would stand in his way. "My lord!" he exclaims loudly, tiredly. He is covered in sweat, tired after travel. He stands in front of baron's table and promptly kneels. "My Lord, Lady De Guignes rebelled!" "What!" The baron barked as he stood up. "Lords Trottier, Bossuet and Lady Massé joined her." The ballroom became perfectly quiet. Lords Arnaud Trottier and Lou Bossuet as well as Ladies Rachelle De Guignes and Laëtitia Massé were the only lords absent during this party. That meant that almost half of the realm rebelled. The baron's face grew red as he squeezed the cup of wine.
Albert was smiling at the young woman giving a speech to the court, she wasn’t bad at all and had some talent with words, when suddenly a man stormed in and informed them of a rebellion. He couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing, starting a rebellion on the Baron’s daughter’s birthday was extremely distasteful. The young man didn’t dare to interrupt his liege and looked to the Baron for guidance.
Viola's mood at enjoying the festivities a lot. Things were looking good and the plan to finally get a chance to eat and possibly dance was dashed quickly by the sudden interruption. It put a damper on everyone's mood and she had to remain quiet to just take in and observe things. She took a quick look to Ingrid to access her reaction the announcement, but stayed rooted in place, not willing to be the first one to say anything.
The baron stays silent for a long time. None of the gathered crowd dared to utter the word. Crack! The cup, that the baron heled cracked, as his hand tightened around it. "Sent the messengers..." The red-faced lord of the castle started quietly - yet his determined, heavy with fury voice, sounded around the room for all to hear. "Gather all of levies and armies at the castle." CRACK! Finally, the chalice gave out and broke under pressure. Not even acknowledging that fact - or anyone else, the baron got up, and left the room.
War. Just great. This night keeps going from bad to worse, Reana sighed mentally as she quietly moved closer to the table in order to check on Nicolette. A war starting right on one's birthday was likely to shake a person.
Albert gulped as he watched the Baron, his unbridled rage filling the room. The young knight wasn’t prepared for this, a rebellion was not on his mind, when he came to pay his respects to the Baron and his young daughter. He looked to the Nadine, ‘A rebellion? What madness has taken hold of them?’ He turned to the messenger, ‘What of the usurpers, have they gathered their forces already?’
With the news of treason, Lily stopped in her tracks. The rebels certainly had a knack for timing. She turns around to approach the baron's table, just in time to see the baron leave. Lily decides to approach the table, her fellow vassals would probably seek to quell the rebellion to get the baron's good graces.
Rebellion?..ah..jeez. I'm not really cut out for war but....not everything I can do is just for show... Her whole family creed had heavily banked on the idea of never letting things get to this stage. Now that it was here, it wouldn't be quelled by just inviting people to tea and sharing food. Taking a look at Nicolette, Viola debated getting up to leave at this point or if she should stay where she was. Deciding to take a look around the room, she surveyed for the reactions of all the people in the room while remaining seated and trying to ignore the growling. Looks like they weren't getting to eating anytime soon.
The messenger turned to Albert hearing his question. "It is unknown what forces they have gathered as of now, mi' lord." The messenger bowed in fear "I only know that the rebels gather at De Guignes' ancestral house - Palais du Perpivers."
(OOC: Time to find out if Reana finally did something right, or if she screwed up again...) For the moment everyone seemed focused on the messenger that had delivered the bad news and no one was paying any attention to Nicolette. Reana used this chance to get close to the young woman. She lightly touched her hand to attract her attention as she leaned in closer. “I am sorry to intrude,” Reana spoke quietly in Nicolette's ear so as to not bother the other people present “I realize this must be very hard for you, my lady – such a thing happening on one's birthday can shake anyone. Perhaps you should take a short break? You've been seated here for a long time meeting with all the guests - that must have taken its toll on you. How about a quick stroll through the gardens, to get some fresh air and help clear your head? I'll be happy to keep you company, just in case you need help with anything.” She suggested, trying to make it obvious she was worried about the younger girl without coming off as pushy.
‘Very well, go to the kitchens and get yourself some food and water, you’ve earned it,’ Albert said and then turned to Nadine, ‘We’ve all heard the Baron, we must gather our forces.’ Then to Nicolette, ‘I’m sorry your birthday has been ruined like this, I hope your father repeats the festivies once everything has calmed down.’ Seeing that one of the other nobles was taking care of Nicolette, he looked to the others, ‘Whoever needs to ride towards château Lautréamont: meet me at the gates, we should ride together for protection, there might be rebels waylaying the roads.’ Albert walked towards the stables, looking for Josephine to give her the bad news and instructions to ride immediately.
Nicolette looked first at Reana then at Albert, then sighed. "You are right." She slowly got up and addressed the present. "My lords and ladies. I apologize, but it seems that we have to cut our party short. Send your messengers and to sleep today, for tomorrow we prepare for war." She then turned to Reana. "I... I think I will take you on your offer." She nodded and started walking to the garden. The messenger bowed deeply and left, Nadine sat, deep in her thoughts, not really taking note of her surroundings.
“Well, I guess we'll see each other tomorrow. Good night, everyone. Good night, lady Nadine.” Reana nodded to each of the other nobles present and to Nadine, the quickly followed after Nicolette.
"Ah...what should I do?" Viola had only really talked to Nicolette and now with the sudden mood change, most people were going to be too on edge for talking. Getting up from her seat, she decided that she would need to find someone else to talk to. Her eyes quickly scanned to see if Gregorie was nearby, in case she would need him. If she had her mother's abilities then the party wouldn't have died. Even that time where a man was accidentally set on fire wasn't enough to ruin a party when she was there. Viola didn't quite have that same skills and was left looking for anyone not busy to speak to.
