Unapologetic [Durion]

[Miriel]

Miriel smiled at the words… small and plain indeed. She still had no understanding of why her brother liked the girl in the first place. Any lovely woman on the sixth tier would have fallen to him had he given those attentions to them, rather than to the servant. Why had he chosen such a wretched woman? They would be highly unlucky in their children… the poor dears would be hideous, she was quite certain. The thought though, sent Miriel into a bit of anger. Their children. Would they go so far as to be wed? She would stop her brother on all accounts from doing such a horrible thing if she could. Oh, what stupid decisions he made!

“Oh the proper evidence will make it turn out quite nicely. It would be quite lovely…” she started a sentence, grinning to herself and almost stopping to laugh. “If you should find some soldiers from her father’s ranks... Would not he adore to hear such news of his daughters harlotry of them? And see his own men show up on his doorstep? Oh how treacherous, he should send his own daughter out on the streets after such news!”

“That is… if their whole family should not be out on the street for it. I highly doubt with the cut in salary that the little harlot can afford to keep her family even on the third tier,” she mused. “Faeldor will be highly upset, oh, he will be so angry. And there will be nobody for him to blame but himself, for being caught with the girl in the first place. Perhaps he will learn a lesson from all of this. And he would not see after a homeless beggar, I am quite certain.”

Miriel mused for a moment on the issue of her brother being caught with the servant girl. They had been embracing in the cleaning closet. What a place to be caught! However, for a moment she blushed secretly. Her brother was a proprietous man, and inwardly she knew that that he had done no act further than embrace the wretched girl. What Miriel had just done herself; well, that was quite more degrading. At least though, she would not be caught in the act as Faeldor had been caught in his. Durion would not speak of it to anyone, would he?

She looked at the man for a moment, her gaze questioning. Though, she did not ask. If news of her own promiscuity made its way to the palace halls, Gilwen would not be the only one caught up in rumors. However, the rumors of Miriel would be truth. She felt a bit disgraced at the fact; oh that her family should not find out!

[Durion]

Soldier's from her father's ranks? That was positively horrid. Ingenious. He smiled outwardly, and looked down at Miriel next to him and nodded. "To hear such news of your own daughter would truly break any father's heart." His handsome eyes flashed in agreement to her plans. Perhaps the whole of the army should like to know. He mused.

How that would please the beauty beside him! Especially if he surprised her with orchestrating such a grand scheme! Inwardly, he smiled. Oh! Surely if the girl’s father was disgraced in such a way, he would be let go. Especially if there was reason to believe he had sent his daughter into such a profession! Durion’s eyes danced happily at the thought. Oh, to bring such disgrace and dishonor on the poor family; it was far to enjoyable of a thought to let go right away, even as Miriel prattled on. Something about the poor wretch ending up homeless and in the streets; he did not really pay much attention until he heard these words.

“Faeldor will be highly upset, oh, he will be so angry. And there will be nobody for him to blame but himself, for being caught with the girl in the first place. Perhaps he will learn a lesson from all of this. And he would not see after a homeless beggar, I am quite certain.”

Oh…Faeldor upset? However dreadful. Durion thought sarcastically, grinning physically for a moment; before looking down at Mirel who seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. Did he see a hint of regret in her eyes? It amused him slightly, though did not show it and simply looked down at her with an expression of concern. “Lovely, is there something wrong?” He asked softly, the velvety sound of his lilt finding its way back into his words.

Surely nobody would know. Aside from guesses. After all, Durion had quite the reputation. Perchance the repercussions would fall upon her anyway. As a gentleman, though, Durion would hardly speak such things aloud.

[Miriel]

"To hear such news of your own daughter would truly break any father's heart."

Miriel smiled at the thought of it. She had never met Gilwen’s father, nor had she any idea of who he was, or what kind of man he was. In fact, all that he had heard of him was from the little woman herself at that amusing dinner party. She and Rosiel had sure put the girl off, it was quite the pleasure.

However, the green-eyed woman’s thoughts turned for a moment. Such news would break a father’s heart. She caught a lump in her throat as she thought on her own father. Would he be highly angered at Miriel? He was always a gentle man, and even if he thought the reputation of their family was at risk, he never would have taken such measures as to hurt a person, to bring about the change.

And then her thoughts turned to herself, and again to what she had just done. To give herself away so easily, just for the sake of momentary comfort, and closeness. And perhaps mostly, to simply please the man that had amused her so with his words and actions, and his desire to spur on the evil thoughts she had. That would break a father’s heart as well. Oh, her father would have been highly displeased. She would not have heard the end of it, and she would have been castigated for such a matter. Oh, she felt utterly filthy.

“Lovely, is there something wrong?” “No, it I am quite well,” the woman lied, not wishing to worsen the situation. If she had said something otherwise, she was quite sure the man would abandon her at her doorstep, and she would not hear from him again. If she was going to let him have his way with her, at least she would not allow it to be this one brief encounter. If he was going to have her, she was going to have him.

They had almost neared her home, for Durion’s house was very close to hers, and Miriel had more to say; she slowed their walk, looking at him eventually once more, her green-eyes readied for what she was about to say. “My Lord Durion, I must tell you now, a handsome man such as yourself is well talked about in the palace halls. I have heard well of your ways with women.”

The woman stopped walking, turning to the man now, and looking him in the eye. “But I am not just any woman. You have told me such. And I will not be treated as any woman. If we are to continue with our plans together… and if I am to continue to… visit you in your home.” She had hesitated to even say such out loud, but her look was quite determined. “Then you will not find yourself with no other women in your bed. I will not be treated as any whorish prostitute.”

“And if that be the case… then I shall visit you often,” she said, forcing a smile to her lips. The thought of repeating such acts with the man again almost made her blush, but she held her firm gaze. If only he would embrace her again and agree, she would be glad. She was a jealous woman though, and would not stand to be thought of as a second, or one among others. As much as she enjoyed the fact that Durion was scheming with her to make such dastardly plans, she also wished for some sort of commitment, that he would hold to them, and to her.

[Durion]

Durion was twisted. He was conniving; he was avoidant of outright confrontation. He was many things. But Durion was not foolish. He could see through Miriel’s lie, but said nothing. It would do no good to draw her attention to it; he was beginning to be amused by her. And he did not want to drive her away completely.

”My Lord Durion, I must tell you now, a handsome man such as yourself is well talked about in the palace halls. I have heard well of your ways with women.”

He smiled, despite the fact that a true gentleman would do no such thing. His reputation was something he took too much enjoyment in. Even for all of the foul things his escapades should warrant, he was untouchable. Miriel had stopped walking and had turned to him, so the man stilled his steps too, wiping the physical smile from his features to return her gaze.

So she had full knowledge of his ways, and still succumbed to his advances. Before he graced her with some sort of vocal acknowledgment of her words, she had continued. An ultimatum.

Durion’s inward smile faded instantly. Perhaps it had been a mistake to play his game with this one. For a moment, he almost frowned, but kept composure well. He was quite silent and for a moment stared into her pretty green eyes.

To change his way of life? Durion had never sought commitment; if Miriel knew his reputation, she would know very well that he would never promise such things. Still. She dangled the other source of his ministrations as bait.

If he refused her, he would lose his chance to meddle in Faeldor’s happiness. To make use of his power and manipulation. “Well, then, Lovely,” he began lowly and slowly. “I shall look for your visits often,” he finished, taking his hand and brushing her cheek, and then tracing down her neck and along the neckline of her pretty dress. After all, once his plans were finished, if he so desired, he could change his mind. Until then, she had quite a lovely face and had quite the charming personality.

[Miriel]

Miriel watched as the man’s smile faded away. Such was the effect she often had on men, after they had come to know her, at least. Though, she had not expected it from Durion in the least. She wondered if he could manage such the request that she had given him, and if he would deny it of her. His answer though, when it finally came, pleased her.

“Well, then, Lovely, I shall look for your visits often.” She smiled to herself. He had given in so easily to her. Did he adore her already? Or was he simply in adoration of the treacherous fun he would play on her brother?

When the man touched her skin, she faltered for a moment, and almost gasped. That was what she had adored; the gentle touches and affections. Perhaps it would be manageable, to visit him often, if he was to pay her in such gentleness. No… she chided herself for even thinking words of ‘payment’. She was no harloting wench. He would not pay her, but gift her generously with the affection she desired.

“And I shall look for yours as well,” Miriel added. She would not simply go to Durion’s doorstep daily and ask if he had need of her. No, that was not the way in which things would work. He would call on her as well. She would have him as a caller. “My mother is having a dinner party, three nights from now, and I should like for you to attend. It shall be good company,” her smile returned, and she grasped the hand that had trailed along her skin, placing it back down to Durion’s side; in case anyone should be looking.

She glanced back up at the man, and placed her hand in his arm. Then she began walking again toward her home. “Perhaps though, I should even visit you tomorrow eve. I would like to hear on the proceedings of our little plan. And if you can find some men that would be willing to say they had dealings with such a nasty little servant girl,” she grinned.

[Durion]

Miriel was instantly overcome and taken aback the same amount Lord Durion had been earlier. It seemed that both of the individuals that stood together on the darkened streets of Minas Tirith had the same effect of throwing one drastically out of each other’s comfort areas. Though, Durion did appear to have the upper hand.

The way Miriel took his hand away from her skin let him know that his physical attentions gave him a power over her. And for the woman who seemed so strong, it was quite a feat to accomplish. She tucked her hand back into the crook of his arm and began to pull him once more toward her house. “And I shall look for yours as well.” My, what a brazen woman. She was quite intent on trying to keep herself with the upper hand. Actually, it seemed quite the idea; to breeze into Faeldor’s own home to see his sister as she was going to certainly be coming to see him. He smiled down at her, but not from the words she had spoken, but the thoughts that came after.

She extended an invitation to a dinner party and immediately the man’s attentions perked. “A dinner party? That seems quite the honor,” his velvety voice agreed quickly. “And whatever kind of gentleman would I be if I spurned such a lovely invitation from such a beautiful woman?”

She began to speak once more, and Durion smiled crookedly in the night. ”And if you can find some men that would be willing to say they had dealings with such a nasty little servant girl.” She was quite intent on making this poor woman miserable. It was utterly precious! “I dare say, Lovely, if you offer enough pay to the wretched creatures, a destitute man will do absolutely anything.”

And it was the truth. Surely there was no easier way to get things done! Come tomorrow, men would have been paid off, and the plans would be underway. He would be able to tell the green-eyed beauty that they were beginning their dastardly plans, and have quite a lovely night for the second time in a row. Perhaps such an arrangement was not so horrible after all.