Take on the world {Rhaella Medici}

A few weeks have passed since the event that took place with her fathers in the forests of Navarre. A few weeks that she have had the change to get a straight line in her thoughts again. But nothing turned out the way she wanted. Every night have been a living hell ever since. Those nightmares that seem to have appeared about her father thriving a sword through her heart, his hands around her neck his eyes ablaze with fire. And when those dreams appeared she could finally feel how weak she was. As if she was that little girl again from many years ago. Even though she had left them in the forest that day. Barely alive. She could feel that he would not give up so easily. He wanted her dead for what she did to him. And if he would find his strength back he perhaps was able to do so. Especially in the emotional state she was in right now.

A red curl was pushed away from her face to be placed behind her ear. And her red eyes trailed up towards the stone walls. Seeing the large stone walls of the city was something she would never get used to. The walls made her feel somewhat secure but also very captured. But she managed to move herself around in the city anyway. Seeing the market stands, the people that were busy selling their goods. It made her feel that she at least did something right for other people. This way she had made sure Aeron Medici would not harm any more innocent people. And even though her actions had broken her heart she knew it was better this way. Now her only hope was that the man was never able to walk again, and that made her worry.

What if he was still alive?

Rhaella bit her lip slowly as she entered the large training area the city had to offer. Perhaps she could be of use here while she was staying inside the village. Train with some other benders for example. Although she doubted if anyone wanted to talk to her. But now that her animals were back home she could get bored easily and get lost in her thoughts again. It was something she wanted to avoid. Almost immediately her eyes crossed with the figure of the chief she had talked to a while ago. He was clearly not on this earth right now seeing by the movements he made and how focussed he seemed to be. And focus was something you needed when you were working with fire. It could be so beautiful when tamed correctly but it could also destroy everything around you. But the way he moved around on the field was to be called; perfect. Every movement was well calculated and seemed to be thought about up front. Rhaella decided to linger on for a few more moments. He would not mind right? She found a decent spot to look at the man and how he managed to turn the fire to his hands. Her slender body was leaning against the fence and her arms were crossed while she followed him around with her eyes. Carefully saving every movement that he was making. He seemed to be taken away within the moment but she saw how he kept his focus on the environment and slowly she shook her head. If he would ever face her father it would be done within a few seconds.

For a short time she leaned against the fence but when she saw a moment of pause in the man his movements her hands go up slowly while she clapped them against each other. Nice moves, my lord. she managed to bring out while  Her eyes slightly blinking creating a wall of sadness behind them. Nobody should know, and nobody would care anyway.

Once her red orbs have been placed on the too wel known figure she decided it would be worth to stay for a while. After all, he was a master in what he was doing and she had just learned things from her father. Although those things were quite handy and she became well skilled with controlling fire and sometimes even lightning she would never be as good as the man on the field. The way he positioned his body with every muscle that reflected his movement was too precise. Even for her. And in one way or another you could say that she would not complain if he would teach her some things. Not that she would ever dare to ask him that in an instant. They have not spoken that much to each other, so for now. Observing was a good distraction and a good distraction to look at as well.

Seeing him move around over the training field like that reminded her of how things used to be. When she was able to train with her father. When they actually started laughing, chasing each other while the other one made a mistake. It was just before her mother was killed that her parents learned she was gifted with a fire within her that was brighter than any other. And while her father was making her ready for whatever reason her mother was just being scared that the girl would set herself on fire. Little did she knew that no flame would ever touch her pale freckled skin. As if she was almost immune to the heath, immune to it’s power. And she loved it. She loved to see a good fire bender at work with the flames and the heath it would produce. That is also the reason why she was leaning against the fence. To just watch him. But to also distract her weary mind from fall into it’s former state again. The state of sadness and desperation for what would happen to her and her loved ones.

But inside this city she felt somewhat safe. Hidden behind the large walls Aeron was not able to reach her. Or at least that was what she hoped for. Seeing how well guarded the city was made her sigh for a second. Telling herself that she should not worry too much about it.

The flames around the man seemed to disappear as soon as they came.m Leaving tiny flames around him that vanished into thin air. And as he turns his body towards her she holds her breath for a second or so. And a glimpse of an elegant smile flashes across her lips while he threw a grin towards her. Rhaella tilts her head a little and answers with a hint of sarcasm drooling over her lips. Something lingered in my mind. For a few days now, my lord. she glances back at him while he came closer. I could not think what it was at first. But then I realised... You owe me a drink. She leans a little bit forward and lets her hands rest on the wood of the fence. With a soft and subtle grin on her lips. Tentatively she raises her head and looks at him once more. His presence makes her feel unworthy, like the black sheep, as if she is not good enough.

Their conversation was very briefly and fast. When she wanted to visit the city at first she was held up at the gates because of his guards that did not wanted her to enter the city. And she could understand that. She could understand that a medici should not be trusted. But having the feeling that no one could put their trust in you was frustrating, tiring and it kept her away from other people now and then. Too scared to confront them. Although she could definitely understand the reason why. Half of the kingdom was destroyed by the hands of a medici and that was not even the worst of all. A medici was currently ruling the throne, creating chaos for the people in this kingdom and they had to obey under his demands. It was not a secret that she was not fond of the current king or any other member of the medici clan. Most of they were fuelled by hatred, revenge and cruelty. Something Rhaella was able to hide away. Although she had a part of that rage inside of her, thanks to her father. A part that was shown only a few weeks ago. A part that she want to hide away for the rest of her life.

Rhaella leans a bit forward towards him while her hands were still around the wood of the fence. A soft and subtle grin was fancying her lips while she pointed out that he promised her a drink. Something they were not able to share the last time they met. You actually did. Right after you showed me the thins this city has to offer. Her head was a little raised while she spoke her words in a steady way. Making sure to throw every word towards him with the same precision as always.

But before she could even accept his offer he clearly had something else to say. Her face was frowned a little and her eyes curious. She saw the smile on his face and could not help but to curl her lips a little up showing him a subtle smile. Now you make me curious, my lord. she points out in a subtle way. Hoping he would continue his words soon enough. Perhaps he wanted to talk about her family again or any other matter of business. But when he pointed out that she was a fire bender herself and that he was wondering about her fighting skills she chuckled. He face slightly turned away from him but found it’s way back before long. My fighting skills, my lord? she tilted her head a little bit but made sure to keep her eyes locked into his. Wondering why he was even interested in her skills all at once. Perhaps this was all one big joke to him, perhaps not… she actually did not knew what to think about all of this. For what do you need to see them? was the next thing that came from her mouth while she rearranged her hands a little.

She clearly got what she hoped for. He asked her to train together. Something she was just dreaming of a little while ago. But it was also something that scared her. She has not used her fire bending ever since the attack on her father so before she could answer him she kinda hesitated in accepting his invitation. But in the end she decided to do it anyway. I would love to train together, but I don’t know if I will be good enough in your opinion. she sighs softly biting her lip immediately frustrated by her own weakness.

Remembering things and above all memories from the past is always dangerous. The past is such a worrying and anxious place. Memories can be so treacherous. One moment you're lost in a carnival of delights, with poignant childhood aromas, the flashing neon of puberty, all that sentimental candy-flossé the next, it leads you somewhere you don't want to go. Somewhere dark and cold, filled with the damp ambiguous shapes of things you'd hoped were forgotten. Memories can be vile, repulsive little brutes. But one cannot live without their memories either. They are what our reason is based upon. And if she could not face them she would deny reason itself. So when she would find herself locked into and unpleasant train of thought again heading for places that are too dark to reach out for. She had to remember that madness would always be an option. The kind of madness that her father had possessed when he burned down half the kingdom. She had so many similarities with her father. Although she would never crawl so low as he ever did. Wiping out a nation because you are too jealous of your brother who sits on a golden throne, drinking the best wine in the nation and ruling over people who are innocent. She saw it in I’llyria how hard working the people were and same could be said of the capital city.

She heard the words of the man. Words that she would probably not want to hear or just want to wipe away from her shoulders. She wanted to ignore them but the man would not accept it, so she thought. I indeed needed to leave sooner than I thought. Carefully she let the words roll over her lips. Hoping that the man would take enough with the words she just spoke. Hoping he would not see trough her wall of well meant lies. I’ve had some unfinished things that I had to take care off. little did he knew that she actually had an appointment with her father. Which turned out not the way she wanted too. Normally he would discuss his plans with her and how she could be of use. Not against the people of Navarre but against the king, her uncle. It started as some simple tasks of planting some bad evidence against the man. But sooner or later it turned out to be more complicated. Making her father more thrived to get his throne back. Or at least to get his daughter on the throne. A throne she never cared for and never wanted. All that was on her mind was her small estate in the forest and her animals.

For a moment her eyes trailed away from the man his face. onto the training area that was behind him. But her red eyes darted their way back into the sparking eyes of the man. A man she became rather curious about. She could see the smile on his face and she returned a soft smile on her rosy lips towards him even if it was just a subtle one. Still wondering what his reasons were to see her skills with fire bending. But he seemed to be clear about what he wanted and how he wanted it. She hesitated a little and came up with an excuse which he seemed to bash away in an instant. It made her straighten her back while her hands found their way down to rest next to her body. If you say so.. she quietly speaks while moving her body to the other way of the fence. Her eyes were slightly focussed on the ground but made their way up into his once again while her fingers were moving over the fabric of her dress. Watching him how he got into his position she pulled a curled lock behind her ear and raised her hands a little. Not entirely sure if she should point the attack straightly on him yes or no she could feel how the fire was warming up her entire system. Slowly her breath was getting a little more heavy and she could feel the warmth of her breath flowing against her pale but freckled skin. She took a step back and bends her knees a little her hands raised in her fighting position and with every breath that went trough her lungs the heath became more intense. I hope you know what you are asking she speaks soft almost as a whisper. He could be experienced enough the encounter her strike. But she did not knew if she could control it now that she hadn’t used it in weeks. And with those last word being said Rhaella flashes a stroke of fire towards him. Making sure to leave no trace of the path towards the lord untouched with the orange and hot clouds she created. She knew what her target was and she aimed for him, because he wanted her to.

In a way you could say that she was curious about the man in front of her. Wondering how he has lived his life and how he became what he was right now. He seemed to be stronger than the rest, more hardened but in the same time kind and helpful. And although their first encounter went a little strange she could see that he meant no harm in any way. Or at least that was what she thought.

You could say that after all these years she was getting used to the way her life was being lived for her. Her father calling out for her sending her the most gruesome letters on how he wanted the world to burn and how they were going to achieve it. Together. And what could she do about it? She was terrified of him and he started to hurt her more and more with his words now that he knew how he could break her. And while she was growing older she came to the conclusion that breaking her wasn't even that hard to do. All he had to do was infiltrate in her head, talk the most gruesome things about her family, threat her with the fact that he was going to kill her. And linger on with those words for a while until she started to believe it. And believing him in the actions he was going to take against her was something she was very sure of right now. Even more than before their last encounter.

She had attacked him perhaps in the most angry state one could ever see her in. And he had almost burned her to death with the acid he brought. Something that kept her reminding that you should not play games with any medici. For hatred could make a monster of the most decent men. It could twist a mans brain into madness until they are in a state of not knowing what to do anymore. Or what to feel.

He told her about surprising him which made her wonder in what way she could surprise him. There was no way she could startle him while she was standing in front of the lord. That was something she could not deny. He could see her attack coming and every movement she would make before releasing another shot at him. So the surprise would be gone even though he asked for one. Sometimes she could be a perfectionist as well so if he asked for one she would do her best to give him one. Slowly her eyes trailed away from his handsome face towards the training area if any objects could be found that she could actually use to attack him with. But she decided not to. Her red eyes found their way back and she inhales deeply before moving her hands which actually started creating fire. It surprised her at first since she had sworn not to use it anymore. But still. It was there. Bright and hot as ever. And with the fire flowing out off her hands she was able to throw him an attack. Not as defending as she would normally do. But it was a good start. And with that the memories came back on how she nearly burned her father alive and how desperate and broken she felt after. She was still able to feel the wet ground underneath them and how she caressed the still untouched skin of the man. She swallowed on time and managed to hide her true feelings behind her veil of smiles. There was no way she would ever be open towards him. She had to keep her distance, make sure to not let her guard down. And as he seemed to block her attack with the same easy pace as Rhaella just saw him train a little confused she looked back on him. His words seem somewhat of a distraction to her as he pulls her out off the state she is in. She blinks a few times and looks back at him from behind her long lashes. It isn't as good as it was before she looks up, her voice is barely a whimper, almost overwhelmed by the sound of the wind. In all honesty, I haven't used it in a while.. her hands were lowered while she straightens her back again. A little confused about this whole encounter but still curious about his intentions. If he wanted to continue this she had to be smarter about it and not afraid to lose herself again.

Rhaella met his hazel coloured eyes just briefly and knew he felt comfortable and confident here. This was his place, something he controlled, kept safe and worked hard enough for to achieve. He did not seem to be the type of man that leaned back into a chair and see where life would bring him one day. No, he seemed as a man with duty, honour, plans for the future but perhaps a little stubborn at times… And for some reason she was drawn to that. This man possessed a curiousness that she wanted to know more of. But dared not too ask. So her opinion was just based on things she recently saw in him. From the first encounter at the gates to the small talk they had now. She always had been drawn to a certain  type of curiosity. The curious type always wanted to know more about anyone and she could compete with that. But there was more to this man than just curiosity. He thought things out so well and in such a precise way that he had to have more on his sleeve.

He asked her why she did not used her fire bending in a while but she already imagined in her head that he would continue to ask her things that she actually did not want to tell anyone about. Not even her closest friends. If she had any of them. A little painful she bites softly in her rosy lip before answering his question. It’s nothing. I have had no reasons to use it anyway. Besides it is very unpractical to bend fire in a forest.. she pauses and let her eyes trail away from the lord without finishing her sentence. It was partly a lie but partly based on the truth. She could not let her guard down now, would she? Telling him everything that has happened with het father and all the stuff she had to do for him would only open new doors that would lead to more drama and stress. And what if he did not believe her. What if he would lock her away imagining that she went crazy and that madness was driving her insane.

Things became quiet between them again and for a moment she could feel how the wind made some of her curls fly up, Rhaella pushes them away behind her ear while her eyes linger on a few people on the training field but then look back towards Keaton again making up her mind wether she would tell him things yes or no. But she decided not to do so. Too scared for what would come out off it. Can we just continue were we started, my lord? and then there was that serious part of her again. The part that just wanted to finish things and get the hell out off this city. But her heart told her other things. It told her that she had to stay. Not only because it was safer here but because he was around also.

While he seemed to accept her answer or to be more clearer; a subtle lie, about it not being very practical to use her fire bending in a forest she was able to calm down for a bit. But those feelings disappeared when he told her that he was taught not to neglect his fire bending and how the energy would build up into your body. Ready to explode with the next moment of using it. And she knew that he was right in some way. Fire had to be controlled all the time. Impulsive and reckless behaviour with it could turn out into a disaster. Even when using the smallest flames it could turn out very dangerously if you were not able to control it enough. She had experienced it when she started using it. Almost setting herself on fire and also her father with it. And perhaps it would have been better when they got burned alive that day. At least she could have prevent him to burn down half the kingdom. A mistake that she was able to place on her shoulders. Carrying it around with her for the rest of her life.

His calm behaviour definitely seemed to have it’s effect on her and the reassuring glance that he gave her only made it clearer for her. But she still felt somewhat uncomfortable give the recent circumstances that he did now knew anything about. Perhaps no one had found the burned man. Perhaps someone did and was now helping him. She did not knew what happend after she left. But she did knew that it had caused her sleepless nights. Too afraid that he would show up at her house. Burning the place down with everything he had left. And sometimes, his red taunting eyes seemed so close that is almost strangled her. And the fire seemed to remind her about everything.

After her meager attempt to create a flame out off her hands Rhaella wanted to change the subject into the training they were doing. But he did not seem to accept them to continue. At least not now. Her head tilted a bit while a question mark was placed on her face. Play with it, my lord? she asked him slightly confused. But the answer Rhaella was waiting for did not take long to appear. But before that he threw a quick wink towards her and she could feel how her cheeks turned a little more rosy. — She flushed. Hoping he was no able to notice it her red coloured orbs trailed away from his face towards his moving hands which created a small flame into the palm of his hand. Her eyes grew a little more wider. Almost immediately captured by the mesmerising tones of the flame. The way it moved into the light it turned from a golden shine towards an orange sunset into a deep blood red color. It reminded her of a certain set of eyes she was so familiar with. It reminded her of the storm that was always being held there, even on the good days he had. Her fathers eyes seemed to light up at all the time. As if a fire was still consuming him from the inside. As if it has never left.

The redness on her face seem to disappear when he moved himself a little only to create a larger stroke of flame. She could feel how the heat was radiating from it and a little too long she stared into the flames. mesmerised by it’s cruelty and things it could do. As if she was able to see a play into the flames. A play between her and her father. And with that her weary mind seemed to wander off from the reality again but it came back once the fire extinguished. She blinks a few times and slowly moves her eyes up towards Keaton his face again. Asking her if she should try that. Only to make her feel more confronted with it as he walked closer. She wanted to take a step back and create a larger space but her body seemed to be frozen to the ground. So instead she took a deep breath and decided to make the best of it. If I must. she whispered while a sigh caressed her lips. A little shaky her hands where moved up, placed open towards each other as she concentrated herself on the place were she wanted the flames to appear. Trying to concentrate herself on the growing heath in her hands and the shape she wanted to form And after a few seconds, A small flame came out off nowhere and started dancing between her hands. Slowly shaping it’s form it became slightly bigger until a circle was formed between her hands. Something like this? she murmured.  Scared of what could happen she held her breath. The flames seemed to continue their dance between her hands but she could not hold her breath for much longer. So when she slowly started breathing out it turned smaller, fading into thin air realising what had just happened and how she managed not to set herself or the surroundings on fire.