(no subject)
Apr. 7th, 2009 03:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ordinary_sortsStefan has no idea what Amy could possibly be searching for in her wardrobe at a time like this. Nor does he have any idea why it should be necessary for her to go inside it to look, or why she's been in there for more than two minutes. He can't hear a sound, not a rustle of fabic of anything, and he's just about to throw the doors open and pull her out when he hears her voice.
"Just through here, please, and mind the shoes." Amy steps back out of the wardrobe . . . followed by five other people.
"Lord Stefan," she says, as if this were a perfectly unremarkable turn of events, "I believe you've meet Lord Ostium, and Baron von Echolls. I should also like to introduce Laura, Comtesse d'Exe, Lady Meghan Ford, and Sir Alec, Landgrave of Gilette and Greater Seattle."
"An honor," Stefan says, managing a bow, because certain things are just ingrained, and it doesn't matter how bizarre the circumstances are.
"This is Lord Stefan, Viscount Wrennford, and Commander of the Palace Guard. I trust him implicitly, and you may do so as well," Amy tells the assembled group.
Stefan can't help it. "Majesty, where -- how -- ?"
"I will explain later, Lord Stefan. When there's time. For now, you need only know that these are my friends, and they are here to help. The Baron and Lady Meghan are going to see if perhaps outside eyes can spot the traitor here in the palace that you and I have not seen. They'll need anything you think even potentially relevant, and they can use my parlor for now. Put a guard you trust at the door."
"As Her Majesty wishes."
"And send word to the stables, to saddle Summit, and Tinker, and Dark Glass, if your father-in-law will permit."
"I dare say he will," says Stefan.
"Good. Lord Ostium and Sir Alec and the Comtesse will be riding out to rescue His Majesty and Lady Parker."
"The Comtesse?" Lord Stefan asks. "Surely . . ."
He gets a long blank look from the Comtesse, and then she says, "It is okay. I am good at what I do."
Stefan, oddly enough, does not find this completely reassuring. He would object further, but that is when Lord Ostium cuts in with, "Your Majesty, perhaps we had best get going."
If anything, this is even more extraordinary. One does not expect near-strangers to dictate to the Queen. But Amy doesn't bothered or surprised by it, just nods.
"If you will escort them to the armory, Stefan? They are welcome to whatever they like. I will stay here and draw up the letters and documents they'll need. I'll be fine," she adds, before Stefan can object about his leaving her alone. "Once they're armed, we'll go to the stables, and you may resume keeping an eye on me."
Stefan sighs, but bows. "As Her Majesty wishes," he says, again.
She smiles, a little. "You can complain to Perry about how hopeless obstinate I am when he gets back."
"And Her Majesty may rest assured that I will," he says. "Not, Amy, that it will do any good." He turns to the highly improbable trio being sent to rescue his king and best friend. "Comtesse, my Lord, Sir Alec, if you'll come with me?"
"Certainly! Lead on, my fellow," Sir Alec exclaims. Stefan is not at all sure he approves of the somewhat mercenary look on the other man's face as he looks around at the riches in the palace. This one may need watching. "I am totally ready to be charmed and impressed by your undeniably authentic offerings," Sir Alec adds.
This one may need a lot of watching.
"Just through here, please, and mind the shoes." Amy steps back out of the wardrobe . . . followed by five other people.
"Lord Stefan," she says, as if this were a perfectly unremarkable turn of events, "I believe you've meet Lord Ostium, and Baron von Echolls. I should also like to introduce Laura, Comtesse d'Exe, Lady Meghan Ford, and Sir Alec, Landgrave of Gilette and Greater Seattle."
"An honor," Stefan says, managing a bow, because certain things are just ingrained, and it doesn't matter how bizarre the circumstances are.
"This is Lord Stefan, Viscount Wrennford, and Commander of the Palace Guard. I trust him implicitly, and you may do so as well," Amy tells the assembled group.
Stefan can't help it. "Majesty, where -- how -- ?"
"I will explain later, Lord Stefan. When there's time. For now, you need only know that these are my friends, and they are here to help. The Baron and Lady Meghan are going to see if perhaps outside eyes can spot the traitor here in the palace that you and I have not seen. They'll need anything you think even potentially relevant, and they can use my parlor for now. Put a guard you trust at the door."
"As Her Majesty wishes."
"And send word to the stables, to saddle Summit, and Tinker, and Dark Glass, if your father-in-law will permit."
"I dare say he will," says Stefan.
"Good. Lord Ostium and Sir Alec and the Comtesse will be riding out to rescue His Majesty and Lady Parker."
"The Comtesse?" Lord Stefan asks. "Surely . . ."
He gets a long blank look from the Comtesse, and then she says, "It is okay. I am good at what I do."
Stefan, oddly enough, does not find this completely reassuring. He would object further, but that is when Lord Ostium cuts in with, "Your Majesty, perhaps we had best get going."
If anything, this is even more extraordinary. One does not expect near-strangers to dictate to the Queen. But Amy doesn't bothered or surprised by it, just nods.
"If you will escort them to the armory, Stefan? They are welcome to whatever they like. I will stay here and draw up the letters and documents they'll need. I'll be fine," she adds, before Stefan can object about his leaving her alone. "Once they're armed, we'll go to the stables, and you may resume keeping an eye on me."
Stefan sighs, but bows. "As Her Majesty wishes," he says, again.
She smiles, a little. "You can complain to Perry about how hopeless obstinate I am when he gets back."
"And Her Majesty may rest assured that I will," he says. "Not, Amy, that it will do any good." He turns to the highly improbable trio being sent to rescue his king and best friend. "Comtesse, my Lord, Sir Alec, if you'll come with me?"
"Certainly! Lead on, my fellow," Sir Alec exclaims. Stefan is not at all sure he approves of the somewhat mercenary look on the other man's face as he looks around at the riches in the palace. This one may need watching. "I am totally ready to be charmed and impressed by your undeniably authentic offerings," Sir Alec adds.
This one may need a lot of watching.
