Page 373: Suspecting the Expected
Suspecting the Expected
Summary: Aleister and Cherise have a small chat in the stables about the Terricks
Date: 29/7/2012
Related Logs: Is That Food or Swords? and The Dangers of Pride
Players:
Aleister Cherise 
Stable and Kennels, The Four Eagles
The Tower's Main Stables are nestled into the corner of the courtyard near the portcullis to facilitate quick, easy exits when required. The rear of the structure is backed right against the interior wall of the castle with the heavy wooden roofing gently sloped down towards the slate out front, the floor of the stables kept to dirt. Thick wooden beams are plunged into the ground and serve as a base for the walls between each stall. Hay serves as most of the flooring in the area with a large stack of it off to the side. Each stall has a thick layer on the ground to serve as bedding, with most of the space dedicated to horses though a few have pens of dogs and hounds. An enclosed structure at the end serves as dry storage for riding equipment and saddles.
Sun Jul 29, 289

Cherise's ashen grey mare was brought out, lead by the stable boy to meet with it's owner near the entrance. The proud creature bobbed it's head after giving a shake or two of it's white and grey mane. Once within distance the Lady Charlton extended her hand, ungloved so that she may comfort the creature by flesh to muzzle. "Has she given you any trouble?" Then stable hand answered by shaking his head. "Good. Two hours then? See that she is prepared for riding after a suitable meal."

Having remained in their provided chambers for a little bit longer, Aleister had finally cleaned and dressed and then ventured off from the Tower. It hadn't taken him long to locate Cherise, for a servant was able to tell him where she had gone and once the courtyard is reached, he's making his way over and into the stable, eyes flashing about before settling upon her and then her horse, "Planning on a ride, my dear?"

The mare was guided into turning sideways for the lady's inspection, before she made a sound of approval Cherise spun her attention over a shoulder. A smile greeted her husband. "Soon." She answered firstly. "For all the strife and hunger the Eagles endure, our uncle is right. The countryside is pleasing." A flick of her wrist gave the silent order for the stable hand to carry on or make one's self sparse. Her mare was returned to it's stall and she drew closer to Aleister. "Have you met with Lord Jarold?"

Offering a slight incline of his head in her direction, Aleister allows the hint of a smile to dance upon his lips as he offers, "Oh, our uncle is quite right in that regards, my dear. The lands that the Roost sits upon are quite lovely and remains so, even after being ravished by the Ironborn." Stepping a bit closer as the stable hand is dismissed, he's then giving a shake of his head, "No, I have not yet spoken to the Eagle Lord. Though, I imagine I will in short order."

As they were somewhat out of sight from passerbys Cherise took the liberty of laying a hand upon his chest. Once there, it gave a small tug to his doublet as her eyes were lowered. "He would have no choice." Her tone was carried out lowly. "I know well the struggles they face. A lifestyle of uncertainties where you had plucked me free from."

When her hand comes to settle upon his chest and then gives that small tug upon his doublet, Aleister is taking a step closer to her, one hand lifting to settle upon her waist as he gives a nod of his head, "No, he doesn't. But he may proxy a meeting to one of his sons. Or even his daughter." The smile remains light upon his lips before it's broken by a chuckle, "Indeed. Things are quite similiar. It will be interesting to see how the Roost will fair from such events."

"Lucienne?" Her eyes raised, verifying this particular daughter and not the other by marriage. "We had become familiar with one another during our time with the bandits." Cherise's head cants sidelong a little as she settled into the limited affections their standing forms could allow. "She is reasonable. I would think you may find a common ground with her Aleister." Her words had been chosen carefully. "They have but two choices, starve or open the doors of friendship. From what I know, the marriage with the Naylands had faultered, they have little of a dowry to offer for to prominent house."

There's an incline of Aleister's head at the mention of Lucienne's name and it's followed by, "Yes, her. I have no desire to speak with Lady Anais about things. Until such time as Lord Jerold cede's his throne to his son or dies, she has little to no authority." Fingertips gently ease against her waist before stopping, "A difficult thing for them. It will be quite interesting to see just what path they decide to take."

"I should wish to be present, when you speak with the Lady Lucienne." Cherise requests politely. "Unless, of course, you may find be better suited elsewhere?" A dark blonde brow arches skyward, probing at the plans turning in her husband's mind. "And what if they choose to decline our friendship?"

"If she is the one who I wind up speaking with, Cherise, then you are welcome to be there, of course." The smile remains for the moment upon Aleister's lips, though it's broken again by the question of friendship, for a chuckle begins to escape past his lips. A shake of his head then follows and when the chuckle ends, a smirk begins to work upon his lips, "My dear .. I full expect the Terrick's to want nothing to do with us."

"They never have." She tells him so matter of factly. "Though I wish for the sake of their people…" Cherise shakes her head, no use trying to steer the bull that won't budge. "Let us not waste too much of our time here Aleister. I would feel amiss if this was all for nothing."

Giving a quick nod of his head and a chuckle, Aleister then follows those with, "I do not intend for us to spend too much time out here, Cherise." Tilting his head down, he presses a slight kiss to her cheek before straightening back up again, "I will speak to them, get a feel for what they wish and then we shall take our leave."

Cherise wore a small smile, deepening in the cheeks after he pressed a slight kiss upon one of them. "They may soon discover we are good on our word. Not to dangle toys before them then snatch them away." Like some other houses. The lady Charlton reached up, stroked the palm of her hand along his cheek before withdrawing it away. "We were undeserving of such hostility upon our arrival."

"Let us hope that is something that they realize, sooner rather then later," comes the reply from Aleister, along with another chuckle. It fades when her hand lifts to stroke against his cheek, his head tilting into the touch before it fades away, "You are correct, my love. We were undeserving of such things. But, I have decided to let the slight pass by, for the time being."

Cherise was not so forgiving as it was readable upon her features. "I should return well before you are to meet with the Terricks." Bringing the topic back to her original purpose of being in the stables, ordering the preparation of her horse for a ride. "Wear your best smile Aleister." She teases just before stretching onto her toes and landing a small peck on his lips. She'll linger a touch longer and afterwards the Lady Charlton heads for the keep to change into her riding attire.

A soft laugh escapes his lips as Aleister gives a nod of his head, followed by, "If I am to meet with them today, at all." The mention of wearing his best smile goes unanswered, for he's returning that small peck upon his lips and once she's lowered back down and moves to head out of the stables, he's lingering a moment longer before turning to make his way back towards the keep and their room, no doubt to await word that someone within the Terrick family is free to meet with him.