It was early in the evening when Madara slipped into the castle of Balgrad. Though she normally would not need to sneak into the castle, tonight she had come of a matter of grave urgency, and of grave secrecy.
She quietly made her way to the prince's chambers, covering her passage with the powers of her blood. None of the usual ghoul retainers saw as she slipped into a room next to the prince's, where she had positioned a small peephole into the prince's room.
Tonight was the night that the prince would meet with the Countess Katerina. Every week, at least once, the Countess had met in secret with the prince at the castle. What went on there, the prince had refused to share, but tonight, Madara planned to find out. She settled into place, still cloaked by her blood. She could hear the prince rising for the night, still getting ready for his duties as prince. He passed in front of the small peep hole where Madara waited, still not fully dressed, and Madara felt a slight rush of blood to her cheeks. The prince was a handsome man, and something deep inside her compelled her to watch him closely. Madara shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs from her mind, when the ghoul guard at the door anounced the arrival of the Countess Katerina.
The Countess, regal, and beautiful beyond compare, strode confidantly into the princes room without waiting for his invitation. She looked exquisite in her black satin gown, which was the height of fashion in the parlors of France. Madara found herself staring at the Countess now, unable to drag her gaze away.
"Greetings Reynold, I fear I am pressed for time tonight. I have urgent business back at my estate. So shall we be done with our business?"
The prince nodded and she held her wrist out to him. Suddenly, the Countess stopped, even from her hiding place Madara could see the Countess' eyes narrow. She looked around the room, searching for something. Finally her gaze came to rest on Madara's hiding place.
Surely the woman couldn't see through brick walls!
Just as suddenly the Countess pulled her hand back.
"Reynold, I fear we have some prying eyes watching us tonight." Katerina said, never taking her eyes from Madara's hiding spot. "I suggest you learn to teach your servants some respect. I will return later, when we can have some privacy."
With that, the Contess turned on her heel and marched out of the room.
Reynold waits a few minutes and then closing his robe, turns to the wall the Countess was looking at, "You may come out now..."
Madara feels her heart flutter in panic for a second, but-- knowing that there is nothing to do but come out and face the consequences-- she activates her Celerity, Obfuscates, and zooms unseen down the secret corridor behind Reynold's room and out the second opening so that she is standing in the main common hallway outside the Prince's room. She slows down, drops her shadows, opens the bedroom door, steps inside, shuts it, and turns to face the Prince only seconds after he had summoned her.
"It was I that the Countess sensed, my Prince," Madara says, bowing deeply before Reynold. "...merely doing my routine patrol to ensure the safety of your royal person. It seems I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, my lord. I apologize for being the cause of her condescending words to you." Madara mutters something about not being a "mere servant" as she bows again.
Reynolds nods looking at her again and sizing her up, "I forgive you, Madara. You were doing as I asked and being a very watchful bodyguard. Perhaps when you know it is the countess who sees me, you shall let us be, however."
Reynold once again looks at the blossoming Madara and smiles, "Anyone else of course, watch all you like..."
Madara can't help but blush a little again, and looks away respectfully as she again becomes aware of Reynold's state of undress. "And who else should I expect to see in your chambers, my lord?" Madara can't mask the trace of a disapproving tone in her voice.
Reynold smiles and pours a glass of blood from his private stock, he walks over to the fire and holds it over for a time. When it is finally warm he brings it to Madara.
"Here, you will find it is an excellent vintage. I have it bottled from my own personal herd. Sit, Madara," he say motioning to a chair.
"I wish to discuss somethings with you..."
Madara looks nervously at the blood-- thoughts of the Prince drinking from Katerina making her nervous to accept anything from him-- but he is her Prince and commander, so she accepts it and thanks him, having a preference for warm blood, herself. When he tells her he has something to discuss, she eagerly takes a seat.
"Is the kingdom running to your satisfaction, my Prince?" Talk of business always calms her down and quiets the voices in her head.
"It is," he says as he warms up a glass for himself, "I wanted to say how much I appreciate your work. You have made the castle and the city safe for everyone."
He stands up and wanders over to a chest. He opens it and pulls out a finely-crafted sword. Walking over to Madara he hands her the sword.
"It is yours."
Madara's eyes get huge and she almost drops her glass of blood-- barely catching it as it is before it can tip and spill its contents. She hastily sets the glass on the table next to her chair and stands quickly. She cannot believe what she is hearing-- the sword is one of the finest, most-beautiful swords she has ever layed eyes on, and the Prince is offering it to her! Over the many years, she has seen her companions all return from various studies and missions with newly-acquired swords that emminated some kind of incredible power-- feeling jealous at their fortune-- and now it was her turn to own a sword at least as beautiful!
"My...my lord! I, I don't know what to say!" Madara approaches slowly with her hand laying limply over her heart. "May I hold it? Where did you get it?" Madara is nearly breathless with gratitude, but approaches to accept Reynold's gift.
Reynold chuckles, "Hold it? You may have it, my friend, it is yours. I bought it a long time ago, when my sire and I traveled to Spain. It is made by the finest craftsman in all of Toledo." The Prince hands her the sword and smiles watching Madara's admiration of the blade.
Madara takes the sword by the hilt, and as she takes a couple of steps backwards she hefts it in her hand to test the weight. When she's sufficiently far back from Reynold she makes a few test-swings and lunges to see it's balance and performance. Then she sheaths the sword, smiles-- her cheeks pink from the exercise and excitement-- and bows again.
"It is the finest sword I have ever owned, my Prince. I do not know what to do to repay your kind generosity and compliments, except to continue to make your safety and the kingdom's happiness my only priorities!" Madara smiles one of her rare radient smiles as she comes up from her bow.
Reynold looks at her and smiles, "When you smile as such, you are very beautiful." He walks towards her, his robe falling open, and puts his arm around her and pulls her to him. Taking her chin in his hand he kisses her passionately.
Madara stiffens in panic-- thoughts whirling through her head-- but he is so quick and catches her so off-guard that he is kissing her before she can get away...but when she tells her body to flee, it doesn't obey her. Something isn't letting her leave. And then that familiar voice echoes joyously through her head crying, "oh Reynold!" and she finds herself kissing him back energetically, throwing her arms around him! They continue like this for a few moments until Madara is finally able to wrestle control back from "Giacova" and fling herself backwards. She stares at the Prince for a moment in disbelief-- feeling that he's compromised or betrayed their professional relationship by this action-- and, not trusting the awakened "Giacova" around him, she turns and runs from his bedroom and out of the castle.
Reynold watches her run from his chambers, he takes a slow sip from the blood and smiles, "Oh you'll be back...they always come back..."