♔ cinq || a queen of england will be burned

[ensorceler]

[Micheletto]

You will say nothing.

[/Micheletto]

[Morgana]

My lady.

[/Morgana]

[Sherlock Holmes]

The gospels preach forgiveness, and I would hold it out to you with my own hand. I so rarely offer a third chance, but scholars are much needed in any court. I know wit when I hear it.

If you offer your allegiance, not to England but to your temporary home and territory, then you will be gently handled and well paid for your sharp mind and sharper insights.

[/Sherlock Holmes]

[Spike Spiegel]

Do you, sir, desire for another attempt to win my favor and affections?

[/Spike Spiegel]

Comments

[scinlae]

[ She remembers the ways of court, she remembers the flattery often bestowed upon her. She remembers the men who possessed more skill with their swords than they did with their words and she smiles.

For her words Morgana gives her a bow of the head, it is all she is willing to give. She was once Queen, no one will make her bend knee.

(her blood runs red with Pendragon colors, as much as she loathes it, she is royalty in her own right)]

You flatter me greatly. I shall allow Your Majesty to gaze as long as she wishes.

[ She almost glides across the floor to her seat, seating herself gracefully before she tilts her head. Regarding Anne with sharp green eyes. ]

[ensorceler]

[ The bow of the head is enough, and when Morgana sits in the chair next to her (there must always be an adjoining throne ready for her daughter when they are in good relations, and her husband should he ever show), Anne reaches out to place one hand over the younger woman's, offering it a light but affectionate squeeze. Her other drifts to just beneath Morgana's chin, tilting just enough so that the queen can lean over for a chaste kiss on the lips in proper greeting. It is a gift, an honor, a blessing, even for a friend, whether the other woman appreciates it or not. ]

I must admit I am gladdened by your hasty response, Lady Morgana. Sometimes I find the nights too long to bear, even with so much to do and somehow never enough time. My thoughts, they are too loud, and not as organized as I would often wish.

[scinlae]

[ The greeting stills her for a moment, though it is only brief, before a smile finds her lips. She knows what it is certainly, she understands the meaning hidden in the silence and lines of her mouth. What stilled her is the reason behind it, she wonders what gears are turning in the queen's head. ]

A feeling I often share, Your Majesty.

[ She turns her hand to return the affectionate squeeze. ]

Without friendly ear to voice them to, silence becomes quite painful.

[ensorceler]

[ She's nothing if not polite. ]

Often? What pains do you need to voice, my lady?

[scinlae]

They are of little import. [ For they are hers and hers alone. Anne has yet to be deemed "friendly". ]

I am here to speak of your pains, not my own. [ A beat. ] Am I not?

[ensorceler]

I would say yes and no.

[ Pulling back, she reaches to the silver tray on the small table rested next to her, pouring wine into two silver and gold rimmed goblets before handing one over to Morgana. ]

I wish not only to talk of pains, but of opportunities and...remedies. Why dwell?

[scinlae]

[ She accepts the goblet with a smile and a short incline on her head, piercing green eyes focused solely on the other woman as she brings the wine to her mouth. ]

Opportunities and remedies. [ That has her curious. ]

Tell me of them. [ She makes sure not to sound as if she is demanding, but requesting as humbly as possible. ] I want nothing more than to dwell on them instead of pains.

[ensorceler]

First I have a question for you.

You know of betrayal; of loss. If you could create a world where none but you remembered the destruction, and all were at peace and full of love, then could you forgive?

[scinlae]

[ She stares at Anne in silent, the question spinning around her head. ]

Tell me this first before I give my answer: Would I remember the truth? Would I remember the betrayals and loss endured?

[ensorceler]

Yes, lest you fall to the same fate as before from lessons unlearned.

[scinlae]

Then no, I would not. For I would know it is a falsehood, it would give me no satisfaction. I would not be able to forgive.

[ensorceler]

[ She turns her head away, though looking at nothing really. ]

...Even then, might you choose to live in that world over your own?

[scinlae]

[ She sighs. ]

I do not know. [ A beat. ] Would you?

[ensorceler]

I suppose it is the question of the hour. I find myself in a quandary. I wish to be merry, as much as you, but when my thoughts cannot be pulled away from such heartache, my smile falls short.

[scinlae]

That is quite a quandary. [ One she knows quite intimately. ] Heartache is a poison to smiles, to merriness. Would that I knew the cure for it, I would cure you without hesitation.

[ensorceler]

Perhaps you do. Your knowledge of magic must be vast.

[scinlae]

It is. [ But she cannot say for certain if there is a way to cure heartache. ]

What is it you want me to do, Your Majesty?

[ensorceler]

Could you not...erase a person's memory if you so chose?

[scinlae]

[ Morgana blinks. ]

Erase completely, I do not know... but shroud and block it I may.

[ensorceler]

There is no way to...change a memory, then?

[scinlae]

There are ways to twist it, to convince the subject that things transpired in a different way. [ This is dangerous ground they tread. ] But it has risks, the subject may break free of the enchantment if their will is strong enough, or it could cause great damage to them and their mind.

[ensorceler]

But are your skills not legendary? If anyone should be able to do it, would it not be you? Or Merlin?

[scinlae]

[ She frowns. ]

Your Majesty, magic is not without risk. What you ask is no simple matter, even for sorcerers like myself and Merlin. [ She does not want to mention how dangerous Merlin's magic is, how big the price is for him. ] Magic is powerful, magic can level cities and burn countrysides, but magic is not infallible.

[ensorceler]

[ Doesn't care. The castle sure doesn't pay for anything when it messes with them. ]

What would be required to accomplish the task? To ensure that it is the most successful and safe in measure?

[scinlae]

[ The castle is an asshole. ]

Knowledge of the one you wish me to alter, time, patience, reasons why you wish this done.

[ And a few other things she can get for herself, should this go forward. ]