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| Author | Topic: Preface |
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Sophira (Moderator) |
posted 5/24/03 6:59 PM
Tiercel Celyn Boscawen Short straight brown hair, soft and baby fine. Dark brown, piercing eyes. Logical with hidden passion. Sixteen years old, nearly seventeen. Sleek, fast, beautiful. Falcon-like. Follower of Ambriel. “Protect and serve.” Julia Nanon Maisano Shoulder length curly black hair, thick and unmanagable. Dark, midnight blue eyes. Rash and bold. Just turned sixteen years old. Playful, beautiful. Daughter of the Padrone Claudio Ambrogino Maisano and Padrona Arianna Napoli Maigny, rulers of the future Milan. Born when her mother was twenty-eight years old. Sixteen years old when she went back in time to be raised by both of her parents. Claudio Ambrogino Maisano Chin length curly black hair, fine and baby soft. Dark, midnight blue eyes. Eternal Guardian. Padrone of Milan, wed to Padrona Arianna Napoli Maigny, both rulers of the future Milan. Arianna Napoli Maigny Waist length curly black hair, thick and unmanagable. Dark brown eyes. Padrons of future Milan, wed to Padrone Claudio Ambrogino Maisano, both rulers of the future Milan. Claimed in name only when she was five, claimed in truth when she was twenty-three, broke free later that year, came willingly when she was twenty-six. Died giving birth, when she was twenty-eight. And now, to our feature presentation... http://www.geocities.com/sfs6891/ Simplicity, my homepage. [This message has been edited on 05/24/2003] |
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Sophira (Moderator) |
posted 5/24/03 7:00 PM
Il Padrone did not stand when his daughter was brought before him. Padrone of Milan, Claudio Ambrogino Maisano, was the father to a wild and willful child. She was untamed, but sweet in her complete innocence. He would have preferred to keep her that way. Unfortunately Julia was thirteen already and she had grown curious. She wanted to know what was outside, what lay beyond the small world she had always known. He could not put her in danger, would not. She had the wildness of his late wife. Julia’s mother, Arianna Napoli Maigny, a French-Italian from Naples, had passed on the fire and cuore of the French. He was sure that his wife would know what to do because they were so much alike. He motioned his daughter closer. She moved closer to him, staring up at him with those eyes, lit with blue fire. The blue she had inherited from him, and that alone it seemed. He stared down at her, then pulled her up and into his lap. She was thirteen, but small as her mother had been. Claudio was one of the Eternal Guardians, he would age slowly and be reborn every fifty years or so. He never truly died, as was the way of the Guardians. He had watched Arianna grow, had discovered her and claimed her as his own when she was younger than Julia was now. Not that she had known that, he had kept himself hidden from her until she was three and twenty years of age. He had appeared to her then, drawn from the shadows of the streets of Naples, Italy by the dulcet tones of her voice. He had truly claimed her then, giving her no chance to escape him and believing that would be then end of it. He had been arrogant enough to believe she would not fight him because she couldn’t. The binding of an Eternal to his or her mate was permanent and irrevocable. No one in the history of the Guardians had ever managed to break free. But she had fought, even after he’d told her. And he had thought her lost from him, forever, because she had done what no one before her had managed. She had had the fire in her even then. He had fallen in love with her for it. He had loved her for her beauty and above all, her heart. It had changed him when she came to him, he had come close to the brink. Even though Eternal Guardians could not die of sickness, nor of age, and even though they were proof against most injuries, he had been at death’s doorstep once. For her he had darkened the threshold of death, for no one else would he have ever considered risking so much. He fought for her honor, he fought to save her from his enemies. He would have lost, though, if not for her. Arianna saved him, by binding herself to him when she could have been forever free of him. He valued that. He loved her for it. Many years passed and he loved her even more as each passed by, the binding had enabled her to age almost as slowly as he had. After binding herself to him he had persuaded her to let him court her properly. She had reluctantly agreed. He had won her heart, though he had had his share of help. His daughter had come to them many years before she would even be born and had told him of the future he must plan for. He would send her back in time, to finally know her mother, when she turned sixteen. But she would go with a protector, he remembered that. He had seen this protector again, very recently. He was nearly a year older than Julia, he was Tiercel Celyn Boscawen. It was all coming together. Past and future entertwined, irrevocably. He smiled at his fiery daughter. “Figlia amata, how would you like to escape from my inner sanctum without fear of capture or reprecussions? How would like to be free?” he asked her. Instantly the fire in her eyes died down, replaced with a wary sort of hope. “Sì, Papà. Amerei che molto,” Julia said. Yes, Papa, I would like that very much. He almost laughed, when she thought she might get what she wanted she could be very polite. It never lasted long, though. She was so like her mother. “Well, I saw a boy very recently who was very smart. Just like you. Would you like a playmate as well as your freedom?” Claudio asked. She shrugged. “As long as he doesn’t try to kiss me, Papà,” she was not trying to be syrupy sweet now. “If you agree to keep this one playmate with you, at all times, you may have your freedom. If he stays with you, always with you, then you will always have your freedom. Do you understand?” he asked her. “I understand,” she said but he did not like the look in her eyes. It was one she had inherited from him. So, she had more than just his eyes. “And do you agree?” he asked, just to be certain. She looked less pleased, “Sì, Papà.” “And if you break our agreement, our pact, then you will lose all of your freedom. You will never again taste fresh air,” he told her, “I will make certain of it.” She looked very unhappy now, “Sì, Papà.” He smiled, she would be safe now. He looked to the hall, hidden behind the elevated thronelike seat. A man there bowed and disappeared. “Buono, piccola,” he said, “Now, would you like to see the companion you will keep with you always?” A boy, barely fourteen, appeared with the manservant leading him. A lock of short straight brown hair, soft and baby fine fell over his eyes and he brushed it away impatiently. Dark brown eyes, eyes that were as intelligent and as piercing as he remembered stared at him and the young Padrona. “Come here, Tiercel. I summoned you. I have talked with Flora Firenze Tiziano. We have decided you will serve Milan best by taking Julia, my daughter, as your charge. You are a Follower of Ambriel, the angel of protection. You have sworn to serve Ambriel by becoming one person’s angelic protector and honored servant. Will you take my daughter, Julia Nanon Maisano, as your ward?” “I will take the young Pardona Julia Maisano, daughter of Arianna Napoli Maigny, as my one and only charge. I swear, on my oath to the cheribum Ambriel, that I will protect and serve my charge for the rest of my life,” Tiercel said. “I was better off when I only had one overbearing, domineering, and arrogant male to fight off. Now I have two,” Julia said, still sulking. Claudio laughed, “You can not get rid of this one, Julia. But he will not interfere with your affairs unless you are in danger. Then he will defend you, and kill any who threaten you. He will also serve you if need be, if you can not find food or your way home he will find it for you. Isn’t that right, Tiercel?” “It is within my oath to Ambriel,” Tiercel said stiffly. “You will also be less formal and rigid when you make your greatest journey together,” Claudio said, enigmatically. Eighteen years before... Claudio, who had only recently become the Padrone di Milano, stared at his reluctant mate. Arianna was sweetness and spice, but right at this moment she was all spice. She stood in his office, hands absently stroking the hilt of one of her knives. “What are you saying? That if we are not united then what? Milan can not fall. It is impossible,” Arianna said. "You are the Padrona di Milano, Arianna. If we are not as one, if you will not stand beside me it will be seen as a weakness. If worst comes to worst I will be killed by our enemies and that enemy will take my place. You will not be spared, as my mate you will either die with me, be killed, or enslaved by the invaders,” Claudio told her. This would be an important decision, he risked death if she did not join with him and he dared not try to force her. She had earned her equality with him, she deserved better than what he had originally thought to offer her. “I will not become your mate. I do not love you,” she said fiercely. It had been years since they’d first met. Years since he’d tried to force her to him, and still she did not trust him. “You do not know me, piccola,” Claudio said gently, “If you would mearly allow me to court you properly, while we present a united front. Let me show you I am not as much of a monster as you believe,” he said, with centuries of practice at hiding his desperation. “So, we’ll date,” Arianna said warily. “Sì,” he said. “How do we present a united front?” she asked. Claudio shrugged, not sure she would like his answer, “The public would have to be shown a happy couple. This would not be a secret relationship, caro.” “Fair enough,” Arianna said, “So, now what?” “Now? Now, you go home. It is late, and I will be picking you up tomorrow night, after the sunset,” Claudio said. He needed time to plan the date, order flowers to be delivered. He almost gasped. What was he going to wear? There was never enough time to do anything properly. Something, or rather two someone’s, landed with a thud on his floor. It seemed as if they had simply appeared. They were a girl and a boy, both teenagers, about sixteen if he could still accurately judge a human’s age. The girl lay sprawled out on the floor and dazed for a moment, while they lay in a pile of tangle arms and legs. The boy was up first, and quickly. He moved like lightning, sleek, fast and beautiful like a dancer. His face was all arches and edges, falcon-like with intense dark eyes that drilled holes in Arianna. Then a look of soft astonishment flowed over his face and he gave a low, courtly bow. Claudio stiffened, would these intruders be friends or foes? “Padrona Arianna Maigny di Milano, mother to my charge Julia Maisano, my most sincere apologies for our abrupt and rather rude entrance. I must tell you that -” the boy was interupted. “Oh, Tiercell, do hush. I am her daughter let me see her!” the young woman said, pushing her self-proclaimed guardian out of the way. The girl stood before Arianna, suddenly unsure. She seemed to gain her bearings, standing up a little straighter to speak. “I am Julia Nanon Maisano. I am the daughter – um, future daughter, to the Padrone Claudio Ambrogino Maisano di Milano and his lifemate, the Padrona Arianna Napoli Maigny,” she said formally. She continued, less formally, “Papà sent me back here, to this time because you died right after I was born. I never got to know you and for my sixteenth birthday I was sent back in time, to a date long before I was ever born, to be raised by the two of you.” Arianna was shaking her head, her eyes wide and her mouth parted. Claudio thought she looked beautiful, but did not like what she said next. “Oh, no. See? Do you see Claudio? This is what happens when I am near you. The entire world goes insane,” Arianna said. “I have proof,” Tiercel said. Arianna turned to him, the fire lit and buring bright in her eyes, “What proof?” “I was told to give you this when you questioned the validity to our claims,” he said, and handed seperate letters to them. Two for Arianna, one old and one fairly recent. One for Claudio, also fairly recent. Claudio’s note read as follows: Ah, my dear past self. You have much to learn and I can only hope you will see fit to learn with our daughter. She is the light in my life, my fire, the only piece I have left of Arianna. When my other half left this world she left behind a precious gift, Julia. You and I will know who she is named after. Our jewel, our long ago love. Before Arianna there was another. One who lit up our life with gentleness and compassion. How would anyone but you know this? It was so many centuries ago, before you even became a guardian. You must now believe that she is truly your daughter. I am content now to raise my daughter alone, to keep with me the memories of the love and laughter I shared with the two great loves of my life. When she departs from this world I have chosen to go with her. I no longer wish to keep going. I would like to go quietly into the next life, to seek out the souls of my lost loves. But I can not let Julia grow up alone, with only myself and Tiercel, her guardian, to keep her company. Even the freedom I have given to her is no substitute for a mother. I can only assure you that you will find peace and joy in the years to come, and to hope that you cherish our daughter as I would. If not for herself, then because of who’s daughter she was, and who’s namesake she is. Tiercel nodded once, sharply. “I am Tiercel Celyn Boscawen. I am a Follower of Ambriel, I am an alexein. Our motto is, ‘proteggere e servire.’ Julia Nanon Maisano is my charge and we will live and die together,” he bowed to Claudio, though not so deeply this time, “My lady and I await your decision.” Julia waited, watching him expectantly. Aranna looked to him and shrugged. Teircel stared at him as well. Claudio looked down at the letter, at the elegant scrolling script at the letter’s end. He sighed. “I will keep them with me. Leone Arcangelo Fulvius is my most trusted advisor and friend, he will prepare rooms for you and help you with anything you need. Arianna and I need a while to adjust to this new development. We will speak again tomorrow, after I bring Arianna back from our date,” Claudio said. Arianna looked irritated and amused, “You’re determined to date me, aren’t you?” “Oh, yes, piccola. Nothing could keep me from you, especially now that fate has intervened to show you the error of your ways,” Claudio’s smile was smug and triumphant. Arianna was no longer amused, and was even more irritated. “Whatever.” Claudio laughed. http://www.geocities.com/sfs6891/ Simplicity, my homepage. [This message has been edited on 05/24/2003] [This message has been edited on 05/24/2003] [This message has been edited on 05/24/2003] [This message has been edited on 05/24/2003] |
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