A Dark in the Light?

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

The dark cloud looming over the camp that was once the Summer Festival showed little signs of lifting and every sign of escalating into a rival for the fall storms that were even now starting to gather in the west, threatening to send torrential downpours and dangerous lightning if something wasn't done soon to divert them. Knowing that one source could be helped, Vivianne took the initiative to seek out her patron in the hopes of persuading him to lend a hand.

Deciding to corner him when he couldn't do much more than swim away - especially as she sat on his clothes - she waited on the shore in the wee hours, listening for him to splash back to shore. If he'd been with someone, they would part before reaching the shore to ensure discretion, she knew, so not a shred of guilt assaulted her as she continued her watch with a towel draped across her lap. 

Little did the Master of Shadows realize he was about to become the light in the darkness. The irony of the situation was not lost on her in the slightest, setting the corners of her mouth to tugging in a wry smile. Lord Rupert probably wouldn't see it that way, but oh well. Desperate times called for desperate actions before desperate plans turned into rash folly. 


Lord Rupert de Vere

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

Indeed, he was with someone, but like always, the other person vanished into the night before Vivianne could figure out who it was. Rupert knew Vivianne could find out if she put all of her faculties to doing so, but he trusted her discretion in this matter. It was sensitive to him and frankly, none of her business. He was not surprised to see her upon the shore as he made his approach, though he did find it curious. Obviously, she had something important to share with him.

Once he reached shore, he straightened to walk toward her, not bothering to cover his obvious nudity. She could look or she could not, it did not bother him either way. "I am growing amused at the increasingly random times we encounter each other. Either something has happened or you really enjoy keeping me on my toes." A hand extended as he drew near, obviously wanting the towel upon her lap.

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

His tendency towards casual nudity didn't affect her, seeing as he did it to test her nerve. Smothering her desire to smirk, she merely held out the towel and averted her face in a gesture of respect. "There's nothing random about this, my lord." Vivianne's tone was cool and firm as she rose to her feet, her eyes finding his even in the darkness. "I came to you because if I didn't, I have a very real fear that something dreadful is going to happen to a certain young lady. And I believe you can stop her before it happens."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

With the towel in hand, he proceeded to casually dry himself but he did frown in concern at her statement. It didn't take him very long to know just whom of which he spoke. A sigh escaped him. "I trust our dear princess has not done anything overly foolish just yet? Tell me. What has happened?" The drying continued as he moved a bit more hastily.

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

Brushing sand and other debris from her skirts, she shook her head. "Not yet, but if the look on her face was any sort of signal as to her mindset, it may not be long. She had a rather... noisy conversation with the Crown Prince that didn't go well, and it certainly didn't end well. Our dear Crown Prince is trying too hard to be the diplomat, and I fear she's feeling..." Vivianne hesitated, trying to find the word before she sighed in resignation, "betrayed by not only the coward, but her own family."

Looking up at him, she was unwontedly somber. "She's hiding a great deal of pain under the hard face of anger, my lord. And if someone doesn't head her off, she's in danger of bleeding to death from the inside."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"I see," he finished drying himself off and went for the trousers first. "I had a feeling our Crown Prince would take that route. It's unfortunate, but expected. He means well, I am sure." The trousers were secure, "But that's not what emotion and hurt demands. Emotion demands validation and hurt demands justice." He paused.

"I'd have his throat slit if it made her happy again," he said honestly and watched her reaction.

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

She considered it, then smiled faintly. "Tell her that, and you might crack the shell. Much as I'd love to send Lady Natalie after her, I think this calls for a man, not a woman. You soften her up, then let Natalie patch her up. I can go talk to Natalie, see about getting a sleeping draught ready for when you're done. A good, long sleep will be just what our Princess needs after today, then I'll escort her to Meirin, Triadon, anywhere she wants to go."

Vivianne shook her head slowly. Men really could be such prats, as she'd heard Prince Tristan called prior to now. "Unless you need me to stay? This will get her out of the reach of those would-be kidnappers too."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"Very well. I'll go talk to her," he nodded in promise and then pulled on his tunic. "I'll go find her now. I'll let you know of the results once it is finished." And then he arched the brow at the would be kidnappers. "Mm. Good point. A good thing I have my daggers on me, then, hm?" He didn't think anything would happen, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

"No, I'll be fine. You are free to sneak about elsewhere. Thank you for coming." Once he was fully dressed, he paused, "Just direct me to where they were on the lakeshore."

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

Vivianne couldn't help the grin as he dismissed her, knowing full well he knew she'd skulk after him. She wasn't an idiot, after all, and this promised to be an interesting discussion indeed. "I believe the path begins just there, my lord," she replied sweetly, pointing to the fallen log on which she'd last seen the Crown Prince left sitting while his sister stalked into the woods. "Happy hunting."

With that, she waited for him to make his way after Emma, torn between eavesdropping and going to find Natalie.