hiatus Forgotten and Buried in Sand

[Phoebe202 1057]

 

song
“You should fashion yourself with the esteem you deserve, and take it with you through life in remembrance, like the flower you are. Countess Fiorelle.”
– Prince Owyn Rostova

Home didn’t feel the same since the death of Papa. The day Haense captured him, it felt like a piece of the soul of Ravenmire went with him. Again and again, Alicent fought back tears as she passed the empty apartments that once belonged to her parents.

Once, it was a place of solace. It was filled with laughter, smiles, happiness. Now, it was silent, painful to behold. Like a monument to the weals and woes that come with the passage of time.

But, more than that, Alicent felt like a ghost in her own home. Sure, she was a Princess of Ravenmire and a Countess in her own right. But, she felt ignored and unheard. Overlooked, even. The only one who she felt listened was Owyn, who was busy making sure Ravenmire didn’t burn to the ground. 

It felt to Alice that every shoulder she had to cry on would eventually leave her. First,  it was her godfather, John of Balian. Then, Papa, and Mama followed him in her grief. Uncle Constantine was last.

She remembered vividly the tears of her youth; the hands stained red and blackened curtains and garb donned throughout Eastminster Palace.

Her bodyguard Honglie had left, too, unwillingly–only he came back. But it was too late by then.

Once, Owyn had said to her:
“You should fashion yourself with the esteem you deserve, and take it with you through life in remembrance, like the flower you are. Countess Fiorelle.” 

Only esteem never came. She worked herself to the bone attempting to form the Corvid Courts, the work her mother had spent most of her time as Princess Royal and Duchess of Eredmar completing; granted, construction had halted it for the former half and the war in the latter. Alice’s siblings and the rest of her family all had their own duties and projects to complete, leaving her utterly alone in it all.

 

And what’s more? The very same day that her ascension to the role of Princess Royal of Ravenmire was to be announced, her brother was slapped and punished by the Burgundian king for the transgression of attempting to honor their mother’s name. She heard the whisperings of other courtiers. Stupid, all of them. The sovereignty of her kin was tarnished.

For what?

Her lip trembled, a gloved hand balled into a fist. What was meant to be her day was utterly soured. Alicent stormed out, never to be seen in the public eye again. 

song
“John.” – “Once, I called you Uncle. Once, I wished to save you and my kin within Balian. I was ignored, ridiculed, admonished, for wishing to save those I loved. I am sad to say that the girl who felt that way is dead, John. Just like my father. You expect mercy? You are too late. For months on end, I prayed and plead you would see the light. You know I hate to say it, I told you so!”

Once, there were many mirrors veiled in black velvet, and a girl who dreaded seeing her father’s reflection staring back at her. Somewhere down the line, the face staring back at her was not the golden prince of Ravenmire but something uniquely her. And it hurt.
 

Alice couldn’t recognize the girl she saw in the mirror anymore. Long gone was the carefree, rambunctious girl who lit up every room she entered. The girl who spoke her mind as freely as water poured from a knocked-over glass. She had been replaced with something less than sugar and spice. Something bitter. Something that felt like a punch to the gut. Though it was she who had locked herself in her apartments, this self-imposed exile gnawed at the very core of her being. A princess no more than a caged animal. She needed to get out.
 

Alice found herself unraveling a little day by day. She didn’t even know when the point of no return reached her. Was it when the letters started to pile outside her door? Was it when people stopped asking where she was? How she was?

“Ma’am, I know you’ve been unwell lately, but I really must ask when you’ll be well enough to start planning your debutante ball. I recount your exuberance–” Chimed a voice at the door, a servant’s. 

 

“CANCEL IT.” Alicent roared from within. “CANCEL EVERYTHING. EVERY. *******. THING.”

 

And that was the last time Princess Alicent Elena was burdened with royal duties. 

 

Chairs upturned. A balcony door practically torn from its hinges. Was this how Mama felt?

 

Her sole source of comfort was the construction of her yacht, the Periwinkle. Once intended for brief excursions and parties by the shoreline, now it would be the conduit of her escape. 

 

Owyn stopped by every few days to provide updates on its progress. His presence alone was all Alice could stomach. 

 

 

song
Alicent, my daughter, I am sorry to have left this world before seeing your 18th birthday. I am very proud of the woman you are showing yourself to be. I pray you go far in the future my dear child. – Final letters of Prince Thorin Rostova
We will figure it out, Alicent. These things… just take time. – Princess Isabel

 

The day was fast approaching. Owyn, always a man of science, had insisted upon a voyage to research various facets of the ocean. Sea life, salinity of the water, trade routes, and other such boring things. Alicent had begged to go along, to give Periwinkle a proper maiden voyage. He had agreed. They would be away for a quarter of a year, ample time to rest their ailing psyches, and who but Owyn deemed research a vacation?

 

They boarded long before the morning light could reach them. Waves crashing upon the shore provided all the serenity of an orchestra and the peace of a church choir as the siblings took turns on the oars. A gentle fog creeped over the horizon, soothing the fears of the younger.

 

If you asked Alice to point out where she was on a map, there was absolutely no way she could answer with any accuracy. She knew they were somewhere tropical. A beautiful little island where the locals had offered them friendship and shelter when the rainy season came and the seas became too rough to return home.

She missed Allerick, Alysanna, Bo, and everyone else–especially Einin–but she knew they’d be alright even with her absence. This was where she belonged now.

 

song

Letters

 

MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF ROSTOVA

 

 

Spoiler

To my family,
 

If you’re reading this, then I have run away from Ravenmire. For a long time now, I’ve felt that whatever sickness mama had in her final years has settled on my shoulders, and like her, I have escaped the clutches of royal life. Heavy is the crown, as they say. Owyn and I have gone off on vacation (for me) and a scientific exploration (for him). We thought best not to make a fuss of it, but we shall be back in a quarter of a year if all goes according to plan. And if not, well, you know what happened. Given the specifications I instructed my staff for the delivery of this, assume the latter. Given how Owyn is ever the optimist, I doubt you can receive such from him, but you deserve more than to be left in the dark.

Know that I love you,

Alicent Elena,
Countess of Fiorelle, Princess Royal of Ravenmire

 

 

EININ

 

Spoiler

Einin,

 

I’m sorry I never got the chance to properly thank you for saving Bo that day, and that for all our lives I haven’t exactly been the best friend. When we met, you said that friends shouldn’t have secrets, but there is one I’ve carried for the entirety of our friendship. You see… I’ve always found men repulsive and women to be like aenguls walking among us. I know what the church thinks of such things and so I’ve never spoken of it for fear of scandal, or in your case, fear of losing my best friend.

I’ve gone on a scientific expedition with my brother Owyn, and if you are receiving this you can safely assume I will not be returning.

I’m sorry, please forgive me,

 

 

Your best friend,

Alicent Elena,

 

HONGLIE

 

 

Spoiler

Honglie,

If you’re reading this, my trip with Owyn hasn’t gone well. Smoke one out for me, buddy, and have a good one.

To the only parental figure that didn’t betray me or die on me, 

Thank you.

 

Alicent Elena,
Countess of Fiorelle, Princess Royal of Ravenmire

 

 

 

Spoiler

Welp! Firstly I’d like to thank javvy and aehmi for giving me the opportunity to play alicent, and thanks to everyone else who came along for the ride. I’ve been on lotc since march 2021 with a couple breaks here and there, but lately I feel I’ve only been involved in politics rp (which is very draining) as well as just… growing up, finding more interest in other stuff. With my fear of commitment we’ll say I’m on hiatus rather than leaving entirely, and I’ll be hanging around in a few lotc discords in case anyone wants to catch up.

It’s been a good one gamers.

 

[confusedjester 811]

The letter came as a shock.

 

Einin had naught a clue what ailed Alice's mind, let alone, how Alice had truly thought about her, in a way that Einin did not...

 

Alice had been her best friend for over a decade, and despite Einin making friends wherever she went-.

 

It was Alice, who she could gossip with, Alice who she could share her woes and achievements, Alice, who she could always talk to.

 

The letter made her stomach churn. Einin lowered to the corner of her bed, curling her hands and hoping, praying that Alice may return one day. In the meantime,

 

Einin mourned.

 

Spoiler

IMA MISS UUUUU I LOVED THEIR FRIENDSHIP BRO THIS IS SAD :((

 

[Navigator 4260]

Miguel stared at his copy in mild disbelief. Truth be told, the copy was likely Alysanna's, sent to them for her, but he had given himself the 'right' to look into the letter once he saw who it was from. Part of him thought it was a disownment or disinheritance for their abandonment of Ravenmire.

 

Once the contents were revealed to him, Miguel crashed back down to his seated position on his bed. He spared a glance behind himself, to the sleeping Alysanna, a warm smile taking over his face momentarily, before he stared ahead again.

 

"Seems you inherited your mother's good side." He murmured to himself, in reference to the woman who slept soundly beside him. Promptly, he reached for a piece of paper of his own, and a letter was written back to Alicent; one she'd likely never receive, for there were very little birds who knew of the little island she now called home;

 

Spoiler

"Alicent,

 

I regret that life was driven not only you, but it now seems like all the Rostovas, to abandon their home. Though I'd like to pin it all on the ambition of men, the game of blame is a snarky and treacherous one, and a pointless one as well. Off Alysanna's siblings, you and Allerick had always had a special place in my heart. Though I do not speak for Alysanna, despite being her husband, I'd like to make you an offer. An offer of solace and safe roof. So long as it is your wish, you will always have a home with me and my family. But if it is your desire to be away from it all, to finally find the peace that the realms of men will never offer, then I can do nothing but respect your strength immensely. 

 

Live well, Alice. I only wish we had been closer, that we had truly been siblings, if not by blood then by bond. I will miss you, just as I will miss Owyn, Allerick, Cosima, Bo and all the others. I damn and curse those who forced this fate upon us, but I know that the bittersweetness of justice will eventually get to them.

 

Regards,

Miguel"