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 Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:04 pm
For the first time in a long, long time, the king of the Mwezi'Johari was looking for Nerit. He was feeling much more anxious than he had in a while, a different kind of anxiety than he had when Alcmene had been in danger of losing her spot or her health. There was a touch of excitement, but he had no reason to be optimistic so it was shoved aside. He had no idea where to find Nerit, he had been avoiding her for so long. All he had to go from was the direction she had gone when he had sent her back to her den on the night of the new moon.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:18 pm
Nerit meandered slowly, no other lion seemed to be around and she was finished with her current given task. The only thing left to do was report she was finished and wait for the next errand to run or person to help. The weather was nice and she allowed her mind to drift to exciting things, like if Indu would take up an apprenticeship, or perhaps find if her young spoiled daughter was finding love amongst the pride members.
She recalled finding love fondly, the gazes, the unexpected feelings, but she also remembered the ending of their relationship, each of them had a duty to the pride, and she was glad to perform her tasks.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:25 pm
Nerit was surprisingly easy to find, standing out well enough in the grass in the bright sunlight of the afternoon. Unyezi hesitated once he spotted her, despite the distance he knew it was her. He stood and watched her for a moment, knowing he could not delay the confrontation forever. He was about to ask for forgiveness, for a second chance.. the high class lion would be sorely tempted to beg, if necessary. He wasn't sure what to expect anymore. Nerit had a daughter but she had no mate, what did that indicate? She had hesitated in their last meeting, or was that only his mind playing mean tricks on him?
He would find out.
Hesitating no longer, he approached. He did not carry himself the same way he had before, he was more submissive now, not playing up to the same expectation of a king anymore. He wasn't here as a king, he wasn't here as a member of the high class. He was just Unyezi.
"Nerit," he called when he was within earshot.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:31 pm
Nerit was jarred from her thoughts, something easily enough to do she had needed to always be available to anyone that might need help with a task or have something for her to do. She was not expecting the lion who called to her however. The chocolate lioness turned toward Unyezi, her shoulders dropping submissively. Before she dropped her eyes she instantly realized his posture was different.
Concern spread over her face, was something wrong? Had something happened? He did not look himself, well at least not like King Unyezi and she feared the worst. "Y-your Highness," she answered with an awkward bow and she walked towards him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:46 pm
Unyezi was used to being respected, especially by those this much lower in society than him but it was not what it wanted now and it almost hurt when she greeted him with a 'your highness' and bowed. She knew something was up, he could see it in her face. And suddenly he wasn't sure exactly how to say what he needed to say, to ask what he had to ask. She was accidentally making it more difficult with the formalities, it was a sharp reminder of what he had done, the differences between them.
"Nerit," he repeated, hesitating again to think of what exactly to say, "Before the war, when I was young and carefree, when I was still trying to impress my brother and not thinking about the job I had been born to do, I fell for someone I couldn't have. Had my father survived the war, had I had the boldness to stand up to him, things might have been different but I lost her. I have fulfilled my obligations to my pride, all I have left is the obligation to my heart."
He lowered his head, though keeping his eyes on her- it was a fortunate habit he had developed out of necessity as a ruler, to look someone in the eyes even if you wanted to look away.
"I want her back," he said finally.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:14 pm
Nerit listened intently not quite sure where his story was heading, of course she knew the story, and she'd hoped he would have wanted her after the war. Unfortunately the war had ended and Unyezi was king then and in her mind he was the only thing really keeping the pride together. They were scattered to the winds and he was something of a beacon that kept them together and organized.
Gasping she sat down abruptly; wanted her back, wanted Nerit back! Nerit's eyes shot up to meet his. Anger and anxiety flooded in. This wasn't right, he was king with a queen no less!
"You broke that lioness' heart a long time ago, and she's not..I'm not able to go back to that place...I don't think I am," she answered quietly
"What of your Queen, your family? Your young heir would be stepping into the throne?" She wasn't extraordinarily bright, but she was observant, and surely being made king in young adulthood put strain on him. To willingly do that to his daughter?
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:27 pm
Unyezi was not expecting it to be easy, her quietness worried him but at least she wasn't speaking to him the same way as before. It was a very personal conversation. He was tempted to sit down as well, but he stayed standing up.
"I didn't have a choice once my father died, there was no one to take my place," he muttered, though he wasn't sure how well this excuse stood up, "I couldn't abandon the pride when it was so broken up, and even if I had I'd have been the only one to prepare a replacement.."
He trailed off, feeling as though he were only spouting off meaningless excuses.
"Aureole is my best friend, I love and value her but not in the same way," he said with a sigh, "She knows my intention but my daughter will not be informed needlessly. She will take the throne, she is as ready as I was but she will have more help available to her than I ever did. Alcmene is ready."
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:44 pm
"I would not want our pride to die so that you and I could be together, as cold as that sounds, Unyezi." as a slave she understood her place and the importance and safety the pride brought to her and others, she was not blessed with the great lion's eye on her and it would mean death alone, she was sure of that. "I am not glad you took on your duties, but I do know the importance."
Nerit's mind was reeling, she had deep down inside dreamed of this day coming, although not even to her daughter would she admit it, not even to her self. She never in a million moons would think he still harbored feelings.
"This is foolish...it just isn't..it can't." She held back tears and anger welled in her as she watched him through blurry eyes. She was just starting to feel slightly normal, like life could go back together and he waltzes in and expects her to accept, just like he left.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:57 pm
Aureole had never been as confusing as Nerit was being right now. She knew how important it was for him to have taken the throne when he did but.. was not glad. He didn't know what he was supposed to say, if there was any real defense. He had done what he had to do, and he was here. He hadn't ever forgotten her, he had to avoid her, he had to train himself not to think about it.
"I did what I had to do, it wasn't what I wanted to do but I had to do it," he muttered, lifting his head again as she argued. He wasn't smiling, he was worried, he was scared, "But I'm here, I'm here now. I need you, Nerit. I'm sorry for pushing you away, for avoiding you, for coming back and hoping for forgiveness. But I have to try, have to hope."
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:04 pm
"I'm sorry it's all very sudden," a piece of her cracked she wanted this to work, even if she was angry, scared, excited, and worried all rolled into one. After the war they all sort of just assumed a role and as they aged they aged apart. Nerit wasn't sure what to make of any of it. She understood what he did, but wasn't happy with it, she wanted him but was too angry to say yes.
"I can't forgive, not yet..but....but I am here for you, I always will be." she answered quietly she did not want to see the king..no she did not want to see Unyezi the way he looked now, not ever again.
"Where do we go from here?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:19 pm
He wasn't surprised by what she said, he had always had a plan in the back of his mind, or so it seemed to him, but there was no way she could have kept hoping the way he did. It was most beneficial for them to have moved on, but Unyezi had more liberty with his sentiments and actions because of his status. A status he would give up in a heartbeat for Nerit now.
He looked at Nerit quietly, trying to determine what exactly she meant. She was here for him, he could only hope this mean he was being given the opportunity to earn her forgiveness, trust and love once again. And the thought was enough to bring a small smile back to his face.
"I- I would like the opportunity to earn your forgiveness, your love," he said, "I will step down from the throne on the next full moon, when my daughters and sons are to be welcomed officially to the high class. I only need to know that there is hope."
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:44 pm
It was an odd overwhelming feeling to know that a male would give up the status as king of an entire pride just for hope, just for her. Nerit watched as he smiled and she flashed a smile as well. A king that would become a slave, she wanted time to digest this and looking at him now she was sure he'd give her time, afterall all he said was he needed hope.
"Unyezi...please...if you come back don't leave again," she spoke in an almost whisper not wanting to seem so weak.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:51 pm
Her smile was reassuring but her words were painful. He had given his apologies, he had made his request, she was not denying him outright which gave him the hope he had asked for. He took half a step forward, wanting to be close, to reassure her but he did not have permission. He did not want to push his luck.
"I won't," he promised, "Nerit, I love you."
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:07 pm
She could not answer with a direct ' i love you' it felt awkward to say, he was the only male to hear it from her before, and she felt that he would hear it again, but not yet. She card immensely for him, no matter how much she tried to hide it, no matter how much she wanted to forget their life before, she cared for him..and yes loved him. But her emotions were too burned out from before and saying those three words again would pull so much more into this. What if he doesn't tell them come the full moon? Of course Unyezi was a lion of his word and would.
Nerit stood and stepped towards the white and blue male, she did not move close enough so that they touched but they were just about fur to fur, "Unyezi...I..I..know you wont."
(Bleh, not sure what to dooo!)
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:29 pm
He breathed deeply, Nerit was so close, his resolve to remain perfectly respectful was wavering. But he had to hold back, she did did not seem certain. He was asking a lot, he put himself all the way out there and she wasn't pulling away, that was all he needed to be encouraged. Taking one more deep breath, he spoke decisively.
"Y-you think about it," he said, "On the night of the full moon, come to the ceremony if you'll accept my apologies and allow me the chance to prove myself. You don't have to stay, to stand out.. I only need to see you, and I'll step down." That would give her time to think, time to decide and he would have the time to figure out what to tell Alcmene.
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