Memories (Adara and Michael)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael wandered down to the lake, feeling extremely light, he had been ever since being with Dare by the forest. He had spared a few thoughts for Anna, sending silent comfort to her that he told himself she would receive, then going right back to reliving his time spent with Dare. He sat down on the shore, looking out over the lake, for once not drawing, just enjoying his memories.

[Adara Snow]

When Adara had left the Headmistress's office, she had begun looking for Michael immediately. She did not know whether she should confide to him, but he was as close to Emilian as she could get, and she wanted at least a small part of that connection.

Adara found Michael beside the lake, looking out over the water. He looked so peaceful, that she did not want to interrupt him and spoil his happiness. Still, she needed the comfort, and after their conversation in the gardens, she knew that he could give her that.

Adara approached Michael and paused at his side, considering a moment, then giving in entirely and sitting beside him uninvited. She was still holding her silver quill, and she twirled it absently between her fingers, her lip working its way between her teeth. She couldn't think how to begin, so she remained silent.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael had felt the presence at his side and looked up, smiling when he realized it was Adara. The smile quickly died, though, as he watched her and saw the worry etched in her expression. His eyebrows came together and he pushed away the pleasant thoughts of Dare to concentrate on whatever was bothering Adara. "Hey, Adara. What's wrong?" he asked, tilting his head at her. He wondered what could be bothering her that she would need to speak to him about, shouldn't she work out her worries and problems with Emilian?

[Adara Snow]

Adara took a deep breath, trying desperately to sort her thoughts so that she could speak them. "I cannot see Emilian," she said, so softly that the words were beyond plaintive. Adara took another quick breath, then went on. "My father has forbidden it, and I cannot not risk going against him!" There was so much more to it than that, but these were the most pressing issues at the moment. "Emilian left me with my father, and I do not understand!"

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's eyes flashed slightly, he had seen how much Emilian cared for Adara, and he knew Adara's feelings for him, he couldn't imagine. "You haven't spoken to Emilian? Surely he had a reason to leave you." He couldn't see Emilian willingly leaving Adara, something had to have happened. "What happened?" Michael made a silent vow to go and speak to Emilian, if only to get his side and report back to Adara. Why couldn't they see each other anymore? He had questions, but would wait to hear what had happened before asking.

[Adara Snow]

Adara recounted events as she had seen them, as they had occurred, uncolored with her own thoughts and feelings. "My father has come from Germany to see my progress, and told me that he was arranging...a marriage with a close neighbor. I told him of my friends, and asked that he might meet Emilian, and so Emilian and I went to see my father together. I am unsure of what happened. I...left the room so that they might speak freely, and after a time, Emilian came out. He was upset. I thought that we might leave together, but Emilian left without a word, and Father said that..." Adara paused, closing her eyes, struggling with the words. Her mind wanted to retreat rather than think of them, and she wavered before pushing them aside. "I must stay in the castle," she said instead.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"You know Emilian's temper," Michael said, sliding over to put a comforting arm on her shoulders. He could only wonder what had happened in that room between Emilian and Adara's father. "He doesn't really think right when he's angry." He must have fought with the man, Michael knew that much. If Emilian had known that Adara was supposed to be marrying someone else, then it only made sense that he would argue and fight with the man who had the control.

[Adara Snow]

Adara curled into Michael, despite the probable impropriety, and tucked her head against his chest, bringing her hand holding the quill up beneath her chin. "I know," she said softly, squeezing her eyes shut tight. She had seen him angry before, and he was completely unable to listen, only reacting until there was no longer anything to react against. But still, it hurt, and she could only think, "If he had taken me with him, everything would be different." She would have gone, without question, knowing how furioius her father would have been. But he would not have been able to make his threats, his ultimatums, and she would be with Emilian.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael brought his other arm around to hold Adara, knowing that she needed the comfort and not sparing a thought that it may have been wrong. "He may have thought that it would be better to not make your father angry." If he had been thinking at all. "He was probably trying to think what was best for you." He looked out over her head, trying to think of any reason Emilian would have left her. If he were angry enough to leave her, though, he may have been afraid that he himself would have done something to put her in danger.

[Adara Snow]

Adara nodded against Michael's chest, grateful for the solid warmth of him, even as she missed Emilian's cool strength. "I wish that I could speak with him," she said softly. "I sent him an owl, but it was so quick, so short, and I could not risk warning him. Anything I send, my father will know about. He always knows, and I will not allow Emilian to be hurt by my misconduct." Her father's words almost exactly, though she did not realize it. She had only been half aware of herself at the time.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

No matter what Michael said, he honestly thought Emilian had just been too angry to be with Adara at that moment, but he kept silent on that thought. "Emilian is strong, he can take care of himself," he assured her. "You'll get to talk to him," he said, "He won't let it go for too long without contacting you." Or, at least, that was what Michael thought, Emilian could be hard to predict at times.

[Adara Snow]

"Thank you, Michael," Adara murmured. She contented herself with leaning against him, with closing her eyes and trying to pretend that it was Emilian's arms around her. But though his warmth was soothing, he did not feel the same, did not smell the same, and she could only miss Emilian all the more. She did not know when she would be able to see him again, and she only hoped that it would be soon, before her father tried to call her away.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare had meant to look for Adara first, but after what had happened outside the Jewellery Shop, he'd needed to see Michael first. He'd headed off across the grounds, scanning as he went, and when he saw a familiar silhouette beside the lake, he headed straight toward it. It was only as he neared that he saw the smaller form wrapped in Michael's arms.

Dare stopped in his tracks, his mind momentarily blank. He didn't for a moment believe what he saw, but all the same, he saw it. He stood frozen for a moment before telling himself it was all in his mind, there was an explanation. Still, as he drew closer, it didn't look any better. It was Michael, and there was most definitely a girl in his arms, curled against him, eyes closed in a posture that said she needed to be where she was. They looked close, painfully intimate. Dare breathed deeply and continued on his path, not stopping until he was in Michael's view.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael felt Dare's eyes on him before he even caught a glimpse of him. He met Dare's eyes, his lips opening in shock as he realized what Dare must have been thinking. His arms loosened from around Adara as he shook his head, somehow trying to wordlessly tell Dare that it wasn't what it looked like. He debated for a minute and then whispered he'd be back to Adara then stood. He walked over to Dare, "That's Adara," he said. "She needed to talk about Emilian." He kept eye contact, no matter how much he would rather have looked away, hoping that it would prove to Dare that it was nothing.

[Adara Snow]

Adara sat, all at once missing Michael's warmth and feeling guilty for missing it. Her head inclined as she watched him a moment, then diverted her gaze, sure that whatever was happening, it was private. She looked down at her hands instead, fingers working lightly over her feather.