Scandal in Lordaeron - Part I
Feb. 11th, 2009 08:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
amarthielScandal loves to lurk like a well-fed lapdog around the heels of the well-born, just waiting for an opportunity to draw attention. Some attribute it to the detrimental effects of leisure on moral character. Others see it as an unfortunate side effect of being in the public eye; liasons and indiscretions that would go unnoticed among normal folk are magnified and distorted, brought to light much more easily when they occur in the courts of the well-to-do.
Sir Victor Aurefion was a minor noble of Lordaeron, possessed of a title but no land. He lived in the capital city itself, not a permanent member of the King's court, but certainly involved in the noble society. His wife was a charming woman, dark-eyed and dark-haired, named Aranel. Though it had not been a love-match, their marriage was happy enough; Victor was kind, accomodating of his wife's wishes; Aranel had simpler taste than many of her sisters. It was rare that strife touched the family, and due to the harmony and generosity of the couple, the Aurefion household was recognized as one of the most hospitable and welcoming homes in Lordaeron, if not one possessed of great clout.
However, even the noblest people, with the best intentions, are the pawns of chance. It was at one of the Aurefion's huge dinner parties that Aranel first met Ilfirin Snowsong, a young Paladin, but recently come to the city and Order. Those who knew Lady Aurefion say it must have been fate, must have been love at first sight; certainly Ilfirin wasn't the only handsome young man who'd come that evening... And many say he wasn't even the finest. But something passed between them and, when the company broke up into smaller groups after dinner, Aranel found herself wandering in her gardens, accompanied by the young knight.
To her dying day, Aranel swore that nothing untoward happened between Snowsong and herself, either that night or any other. Nevertheless, their fondness for each other's company grew, and the young paladin spent more time than most considered seemly at the Aurefion residence. Victor was not thrilled that his wife had taken such an interest in another man, but he trusted her to uphold the honor of his household; for a long while, her assurances that she and Ilfirin were merely friends kept his discomfort at bay.
As to the true nature of Lady Aurefion's relationship with the knight, we have only her word. She never denied that she was madly in love with Ilfirin- indeed, much more so than with her husband- but claimed that because of her own sense of duty to her husband, as well as the paladin's disciplined devotion to the ideals of his Order, their affair was entirely an emotional one. She called it a matter of fate- an undeniable attraction they could not resist.
It was not until Aranel became pregnant that her lord's suspicions were truly aroused, more by the stress of caring for his wife in her delicate condition than by reasonable doubt. Whether or not she had been physically involved with her young lover, Aranel had been faithful to her duties as a wife; there was every reason to expect that the child was her husband's. Victor, however, couldn't shake the suspicion that his wife was having Snowsong's child; the affront to his honor was too much to bear. It came to a head one day when he challenged young Ilfirin to a duel, publicly accusing him of seducing Lady Aranel, and demanding vengeance for it.
The paladin proclaimed his innocence, and, remaining level-headed, suggested that they settle their disagreements without bloodshed. Aranel was nearly due, and Ilfirin was confident that the child would bear no resemblance to him. The nobleman would not be appeased; he insisted upon trying his sword against Snowsong. The paladin accepted the challenge, but refused to do more than defend himself. Aurefion, well-trained and talented in fencing, rained blows upon his adversary, but could not break the knight's defenses. Eventually, disgusted, he spat in Ilfirin's face and stormed off. The younger man was disappointed, but unsurprised; he stayed away from the Aurefion household for weeks, afraid of rousing Victor's ire.
Aranel wilted somewhat, deprived of her love's presence. Finally, Victor himself came to Ilfirin. He did not apologize for his actions, or his suspicions; but he did request that the paladin come, for the sake of his wife's comfort. Ilfirin was surprisingly understanding (and moved by the thought of his beloved in pain,) so the two made a sort of uneasy truce. Snowsong moved into the Aurefion household to help care for Aranel, several weeks before the child was born.
Sir Victor Aurefion was a minor noble of Lordaeron, possessed of a title but no land. He lived in the capital city itself, not a permanent member of the King's court, but certainly involved in the noble society. His wife was a charming woman, dark-eyed and dark-haired, named Aranel. Though it had not been a love-match, their marriage was happy enough; Victor was kind, accomodating of his wife's wishes; Aranel had simpler taste than many of her sisters. It was rare that strife touched the family, and due to the harmony and generosity of the couple, the Aurefion household was recognized as one of the most hospitable and welcoming homes in Lordaeron, if not one possessed of great clout.
However, even the noblest people, with the best intentions, are the pawns of chance. It was at one of the Aurefion's huge dinner parties that Aranel first met Ilfirin Snowsong, a young Paladin, but recently come to the city and Order. Those who knew Lady Aurefion say it must have been fate, must have been love at first sight; certainly Ilfirin wasn't the only handsome young man who'd come that evening... And many say he wasn't even the finest. But something passed between them and, when the company broke up into smaller groups after dinner, Aranel found herself wandering in her gardens, accompanied by the young knight.
To her dying day, Aranel swore that nothing untoward happened between Snowsong and herself, either that night or any other. Nevertheless, their fondness for each other's company grew, and the young paladin spent more time than most considered seemly at the Aurefion residence. Victor was not thrilled that his wife had taken such an interest in another man, but he trusted her to uphold the honor of his household; for a long while, her assurances that she and Ilfirin were merely friends kept his discomfort at bay.
As to the true nature of Lady Aurefion's relationship with the knight, we have only her word. She never denied that she was madly in love with Ilfirin- indeed, much more so than with her husband- but claimed that because of her own sense of duty to her husband, as well as the paladin's disciplined devotion to the ideals of his Order, their affair was entirely an emotional one. She called it a matter of fate- an undeniable attraction they could not resist.
It was not until Aranel became pregnant that her lord's suspicions were truly aroused, more by the stress of caring for his wife in her delicate condition than by reasonable doubt. Whether or not she had been physically involved with her young lover, Aranel had been faithful to her duties as a wife; there was every reason to expect that the child was her husband's. Victor, however, couldn't shake the suspicion that his wife was having Snowsong's child; the affront to his honor was too much to bear. It came to a head one day when he challenged young Ilfirin to a duel, publicly accusing him of seducing Lady Aranel, and demanding vengeance for it.
The paladin proclaimed his innocence, and, remaining level-headed, suggested that they settle their disagreements without bloodshed. Aranel was nearly due, and Ilfirin was confident that the child would bear no resemblance to him. The nobleman would not be appeased; he insisted upon trying his sword against Snowsong. The paladin accepted the challenge, but refused to do more than defend himself. Aurefion, well-trained and talented in fencing, rained blows upon his adversary, but could not break the knight's defenses. Eventually, disgusted, he spat in Ilfirin's face and stormed off. The younger man was disappointed, but unsurprised; he stayed away from the Aurefion household for weeks, afraid of rousing Victor's ire.
Aranel wilted somewhat, deprived of her love's presence. Finally, Victor himself came to Ilfirin. He did not apologize for his actions, or his suspicions; but he did request that the paladin come, for the sake of his wife's comfort. Ilfirin was surprisingly understanding (and moved by the thought of his beloved in pain,) so the two made a sort of uneasy truce. Snowsong moved into the Aurefion household to help care for Aranel, several weeks before the child was born.
