Brother Dearest

[Lady Isolde Carlisle]

Isolde brushed her hands down the front of her gown, glancing around at the throngs of people that she passed. It was the summer festival, but Isolde wasn't really feeling up to celebrating. There was one person and one task on her mind that she needed to complete. It had become a time sensitive subject for Isolde. If only she could find her brother. She'd been given a tip that he would be here, but she had yet to spot is tousled blonde hair. Green eyes drifted from side to side as she stepped lightly though the streets, her stomach twisting into knots as she continued her search.

It really shouldn't have been that hard to find the man, it wasn't like he exactly blended in, and Isolde never forgot a face. She was sure, however, that he had just grown older and it would be harder to spot him than it had been in the past. Slowly settling her hands behind her back she ducked expertly between people, careful not to dirty her favorite gown.

Isolde had just arrived in the capitol and was just starting to get her bearings. She hadn't made her first appearance in court yet, and she wouldn't until she spoke with her brother. He had no idea that William was dead and that Isolde had promptly taken the title that her twin had held. Even the court itself had no idea of the Lord's death, and Isolde had made sure to keep the news close to her heart until all of William's immediate family was told.

Isolde ducked past yet another person, her eyes still searching for her brother. To say she wasn't growing irritated would be a complete and total lie. It was a simple stroke of luck when Isolde finally spotted the familiar but oh so different figure of her younger brother. She paused for a moment before she approached him.

"Edward."

Lord Edward Carlisle

[Lord Edward Carlisle]

To say that things were tumultuous in the court at the moment was an understatement. Edward was highly tempted to gather up his younger cousin and take him for a drink. Tristans temper had been tested in that council by the dragon of St. Claire. Edward still wasn't sure if the young man would speak to him after having cast his opinion that a royal marriage be removed from the table. Eyes flicking towards the young princes pavilion and towards that of the foreign royal contingent, Edward wondered what would happen. Only time would tell, he supposed and he would support his cousins, whatever they decided.

The festival was by the lake which he supposed was somewhat soothing. Away from the city and all that which allowed for easy escape into the forests surrounding them. Running his hand through his hair as he considered going for a ride, Edward was deterred from that by the sound of a feminine voice addressing him. Getting up from his seat and turning to face the speaker, the young man tilted his head to the side as he recognized the woman. He had not seen her in about a year and quite frankly did not know her as anything other than a sister by name. She had always seemed to close him out, both her and William though her more than William had. William had never made him feel less than dirt by whining that he wanted Isolde rather than him for company whenever he thought to speak with him.

When William had started his training, Edward had not been enough to keep her company and his mother had helped along his belief in the thought that his sister disliked him. Of course, then he had been sent off for his education and was rarely ever at their home in Meirin so it did not matter soon enough. She was little more than a stranger to him. "Isolde? Is father with you? Better yet, William? Has he finally come to save my hide from dealing with the lions alone and stand as our Duke?" He asked with slight humor, slightly eager despite himself. William may have been a prat but he was the only member of the family that had ever taken a bit of time out of everything for him.

Lady Isolde Carlisle

[Lady Isolde Carlisle]

Isolde paused as she watched her brother, remaining silent as he spoke to her. All of a sudden she felt like a complete and total prat herself. She'd always pushed her younger brother away, too absorbed by her own frustration with her parents to pay much mind to her younger sibling. She took the few moments of silence to gather her thoughts, trying to figure out how exactly to break the news to him. She wasn't exactly known for her tactfulness and didn't know exactly what to tell him about William's death.

Glancing around, she shook her head before staring at him once more. "No, father is not with me. He won't be coming as far as I know," she said softly, her hands knotting nervously in front of her stomach. She chewed on the inside of her cheek, trying to find a way to escape this confrontation. She took a slight step back, letting out a small sigh, keeping her cool even though all she wanted to do was fall back into her solemn routine. "William isn't coming, either, Edward," she started softly.

"He isn't coming. Ever," she said lightly, trailing her gaze up toward the sky for a moment before holding out her hand to him. "Brother, we need to talk," she said softly, "But we will not be talking here. What I need to tell you is far too private to say in public. At least for now." Isolde stepped backward another step, her heart sinking into her stomach. Her anxiousness was starting to get to her and she was ready to run off before he could accept her invitation to find somewhere more private to talk.

Lord Edward Carlisle

[Lord Edward Carlisle]

Edward watched curiously as Isolde seemed to have to gather her thoughts, a feeling of forboding trickling down his spine. He was not surprised that their father was not joining them. He was more inclined to stay with their ailing mother and he was pretty sure that no one would blame the older man for that. Taking note of her body language, Edward knew that he would not like what he was about to be told.

She was beating around the bush which was something he disliked but he did his best to be patient with her. The news was obviously something that tried on her nerves. He knew what the news was as soon as she said that he wasn't ever coming. There was only one reason a resident duke would never come to court. Death. "My pavilion, well, ours now, would be the best place," he informed her, taking his sisters arm and leading her to the tend that beared their Carlisle colors. Speaking to his servants, he set them to preparing Isoldes part of the quarters for her stay and dismissed the guards so that they might have privacy.

"How did he die?" He asked bluntly, mind thinking past it to the impact it would have on the rest of the court. "Did father pass you the duchy? If he has, people may whisper that you had a hand in it." For himself, looking at his sisters face, while it would be something others would miss, he did not. Through the eyes of a brother, he could see the lines and look in her eyes that told him that she had no part to their brothers death. "Be prepared for it, sister, for the looks people will give and the whispers." He sighed, speaking the reality that he knew would occur. Wanting to make sure that she knew he knew her to be innocent, Edward gently touched her shoulder. "We'll get through this. And you know me, I'm no duke so if father has passed you the duchy, I swear my fealty to you."

@isolde