The Introduction of Casiopa Stone

The Introduction of Casiopa Stone - RP Log Submitted by Casiopa Xue

Raven Midal smiles as she spots Casi. "Ah, there you are," she murmurs. "Rhys did not lie when he said that I would not mistake you. You match his description perfectly." She bows. "I am Maara... Rhys and I have long been friends. How was your journey to Highgarden?"

Casiopa Xue looks at the imposing Commander. She shifts from foot to foot a little nervously. "It was quite a journey but thankfully uneventful. Highgarden is a lovely city....ummmm. Ser." Catching herself quickly, a look of confusion rippling across her face. :"I..I mean m'Lady." Sighs in frustration.

Raven Midal laughs warmly. "Please, call me Commander... or simply Maara will do. I am not highborn, and have never gotten used to the affectations." She smiles. "I don't want to keep the Queen waiting... shall we go? Are you ready?"

Casiopa Xue smiles warmly, her body relaxing a little. "Yes Commander. Please I do not want to upset the Queen either. Please lead the way."

Raven Midal takes the knee at Queen Ginevra's feet. "My Queen, please allow me to present the acquaintance of Rhys's that I mentioned a few days ago, Miss Casiopa Stone. She has come to seek an introduction and your guidance in her placement in Highgarden."

Casiopa Xue curtsies low, holding the position. Her heart beats so fiercely she wonders if the whole room can hear.

Raven Midal rises once she's said her piece, and steps off to the side just slightly to allow the girl her audience.

PrincessGinnie nods at Maara, smiling at her lightly, and motions both of them to rise. Then she lets her gaze move towards the young woman. She watches her for a few moments, letting her eyes wander over the dark haired woman's face. "Thank you, Maara. I remember." After a short pause she motions Casopa to step a little closer. "Good day, Casiopa. What brings you here?"

Raven Midal enjoys watching the Queen conduct business when she isn't the sole guard in charge of ensuring her safety. The Kingsguards that are present fulfill that purpose. Untasked, she has the luxury of observing both women present, and a very slight smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as the Queen asks her question.

Casiopa Xue tries desperately not to fidget. Burying her hands into the folds of her skirt, her fingers twist at the soft fabric, trying to dispel the nervousness she feels. "Your Grace. Thank you kindly for this audience. Your guardsmen, Rhys Nieuport is a friend of my uncles. My uncle thought it best that I find placement in a House outside of Lannisport and charged me to Ser Rhys to come to your fair city. He instructed me to seek audience with Your Grace for that purpose."

PrincessGinnie listens to the tale, seemingly calm and relaxed. At one point she exchanges a small smile with her Queensguard. When Casiopa has finished, she sits quietly, not taking her eyes off the young woman. "Ser Rhys ..." she smiles a little. Then she sits up a little more, and continues, "I see. And who will I make displeased by accepting you here?" She smiles, sweetly.

Raven Midal smiles wryly, recalling the first time she stood slackjawed in the presence of a princess, when only minutes before she'd been fidgeting with boredom, wondering what the big deal could *possibly* have been. The rest is history. Introductions such as this always take her back. She clears her throat gently when the Queen counters with her next question. "Your Grace, I should let it be known that Rhys takes full responsibility for this girl, and I think highly of him. As one of my guard, I also consider his obligations mine own." As to the rest of it, she'll let Casi answer that.

Casiopa Xue whimpers a little, bowing her head, lowering her eyes. "Your Grace i mean you no displeasure, I am a simple person only wanting to find some duties that will allow me to live in peace and to serve with honor. I wish no trouble."

Casiopa Xue nods toward the Commander in thanks for her kind words"

PrincessGinnie smooths some fine fabric on her exquisitely stitched long sleeves, and narrows her green eyes. "Casiopa ... Stone ...," she draws out the last word a little. "If I take you in the service of the court or find a position for your skills, you will surely understand that I expect honesty from you. A simple request. A simple answer."

Raven Midal's cheeks flush just faintly for some unknown reason, and she glances aside, not so comfortable with basking in Casi's undoubtedly now-extreme discomfort.

Casiopa Xue raises her eyes, the green in them twinkling with the light of the room. Her nervousness turns into a tinge of fear as she struggles for the right thing to say. "Your Grace. If you find it in your heart to grace me with a position anywhere in your city, you will never have to worry about disloyalty from my heart. I would find it the deepest honor to be allowed to serve here."

PrincessGinnie sits straight for a few more moments, motionless, with her long golden hair flowing over her shoulders and almost make her appear like a statue of old. Then she sighs softly and leans back. The silence fills the room, and only the occasional clicking of some metal on other metal or hard leather, issued by small movements of the guards, break it. The queen keeps her eyes locked with Casiopa's, apparently waiting to hear more.

Raven Midal takes pity on Casi and leans over to whisper, "Be honest with her, girl. Her Grace will understand. Tell her what matter brought you here."

Casiopa Xue looks at the commander, bows her head in despair and lets out a long sigh. Turning back to the Queen, she bows her head. As she speaks, her voice is soft, almost a whisper. A blush begins at the tip of her nose, spreads over her cheeks. "Your Grace, my uncle, Renegar, served in the House of Vladstern for many years. He is the high servant of the House and was kind enough to take me in when I was orphaned. Lord Valdstern is a very prominent merchant in Lannisport. Once I became old enough I served the house as well. But...." hangs her head in shame

PrincessGinnie raises her brow with the hint of a smile as Maara whispers to the dark haired woman, and the Queensguard commander straightens and turns to look away, assuming a watchful position again, scanning the room. The queen nods at Casiopa now, "You served the house well ... or part of the house?"

Casiopa Xue blushes, her brow furrows as she ponders the remark. Something hints that the Queen knows more that she lets on. Casi straightens a little and continues. "Your Grace, i served the House. Seamstress. aided the nurse in her duties, helped in the kitchen. Where ever i was needed. But then something unfortunate happened. The Lord's son, Micah, he....well he. " sighs in frustration.

PrincessGinnie lets her eyes wander over the flushed cheeks of the young woman, and after a while leans back, making herself more comfortable in the large chair. "Come to the point, good woman," she comments in a level tone and sends one of the guards off to fetch her some watered wine.

Casiopa Xue nods, lowering her head and her voice. It becomes soft in tone as she remembers Micah fondly. Micah and i were only a year apart. He the older. We grew up together and were very close...like brother and sister in some ways. But as we grew older, he made known to me his affections for me." Looking at the Queen her tone becomes pleading. "I tried to dissuade him...i did. But he was so persistent. We became...lovers." The last word comes out hushed. "It was eventually found out. He told his father of his intentions to wed me. This did not go over well. I was commanded to cease. And i did. But Micah would not let it go."

PrincessGinnie watches the woman with a gaze that could be well indifference or also interest, her face does not betray it. She accepts a goblet of watered Arbor Gold from a servant and waves her away absent-mindedly. After taking a sip of the wine, she keeps quiet for a few moments, turning the goblet in her elegant hands. "Most men will always follow their passions, when they are allowed to," she finally says dryly. "What happened then?"

Casiopa Xue nods. "Lord Valdstern gave my uncle a choice. Either i was to be put to death to end it...or i was to be sent away. They both decided that as long as i was out of the way, Micha would eventually find another more suitable Lady to avert his affections toward. That was when Your guardsman, Rhys Nieuport ran into my uncle on his visit to Lannisport. They were friends from the past. Ser Rhys kindly agreed to bring me here as his charge and to petition You for sanctuary and a position here in HighGarden Your Grace."

PrincessGinnie throws a glance at Maara, who at some points has seemingly found interest in the conversation again, but generally keeps on her post, looking stern. The queen turns the richly carved goblet in her hands, apparently watching some of the patterns or perhaps the wine inside, then takes a small sip again. "Rhys has been a loyal guard in the Lannister elite Guard for many years. This has been the first time he has ever asked anything, so I suppose you must be important to him. See to it that you don't become ... too important to him. I do not want feuds or discord over a woman here." She narrows her eyes a little, waiting for a reaction, before she continues.
Casiopa Xue bows her head, a deep crimson rushing across her cheeks. "Your Grace, Ser Rhys...he...well he is so kind. I owe him my life. But he is like a father...i could not....well it would just seem incestuous. Truly."

PrincessGinnie lifts her chin slightly, and pursing her lips looks about the room and at the ceiling. Then she nods and says, "Good." She turns her intense green eyes on Casiopa again and inquires, "What are your skills, good woman?"

Casiopa Xue takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly to still her trembling. "Your Grace i have some skill in healing, though only as an assistant. My pastry and cooking skills are good. I have made dresses for various ladies at times. I know how to keep a secret, which i am told is a good skill. Pretty much any part of working in a house i have done." Looking at you with all the sincerity her face can contain. "I simply want to serve somewhere Your Grace. I want purpose. And will humbly appreciate any position You feel i can assist with."

PrincessGinnie watches the woman while she tells her story, looking for any small signs that would give away any more hidden meaning. Eventually she nods again, almost imperceptibly. "Very well ... Casiopa ..." she draws out the name a little, speaking softly and in a gentle and low voice, which would force the dark haired women to listen very attentively or to move a little closer. "Where shall I put you ... there are many, who can sew, and even more, who work as scullery maids ... You say, you have basic skills in tending wounds and sicknesses?"

Casiopa Xue does move a little closer, but keeps a respectful distance. Her eyes stay fixed so nothing will distract her from the Queens words. "Yes Your Grace. some would say a little more than basic. Whenever the nurse of the House needed a second set of hands, i would assist her. This included some of the injuries on the docks for the Captains of the ships employed by the Lord."

Casiopa Xue lowers her head and blushes a little. "i was also taught the art of healing massage Your Grace. The Lord had a back injury from battle. I would help him with that when it flared up."

PrincessGinnie keeps her eyes on Casiopa, taking notice of her manners as well and her apparently increasing courage now that the immediate danger seemed over ... She almost smiles to ehrself, and the ghost of a smile steals on her lips. "Very well. We have an infirmary outside the walls. It used to be run by several expert healers, but the war has taken its toll, and most left with the army and have not returned. I wish to have the infirmary run properly again, as there are still many small folk flocking outside the city gates, and i do not want to risk a disease. Your task for now will be to find the building and talk to the lesser healers and nurses there and help clean up the place. Once we have found a maester or a well versed healer to take it over, you will assist him, should your craft be good enough ...And tell me ... the union with the young lord ... is there a child?"

Casiopa Xue feels a small smile cross her lips. Her heart lifts with finally have a purpose. As the Queen asks the last question, her face clouds, the shimmer of tears forming in the corners. As her lips begin to quiver, she bows her head, swallows hard. "There was one Your Grace. The ghost of one." A single tear trickles down her face. "i..was...not...strong enough. It did not live long enough to come to birth." After a moments pause, a whisper falls from her lips. "I cannot have children, Your Grace"

PrincessGinnie listens to Casiopa's reply, her eyes take in the change in the young woman's attitude and an almost kind expression settles on her before beautiful mask-like face, and there is a soft shimmer in her bright eyes for a few moments. "I am sorry," she finally says, and involuntarily her thoughts wander to her own baby son. Then she clears her throat and adds, "Maara will find someone to show you to a place where you can stay." She motions for Maara to see to her command, then continues, "As you said yourself, being able to keep secrets is a valuable skill. Learning some is almost as good. You will hear many people talk there. Listen and learn. I can be very generous to those, who serve our House well."

Casiopa Xue curtsies low, sensing the audience is over. "Thank you kindly Your Grace. i will serve you well and loyally. If any "gossip" should come my way, you will be the only one to know." Turning to follow Maara, she gives her a soft smile of relief.