Rise of the Archmage Alister

Oh shit, thought Maple, this was DEFINITELY about what she figured it was. “...If you so insist, Queen Isabella,” Maple said warily, internally screaming. “What ever need we discuss on such a personal basis?” she asked as she scanned the room. Not even so much as a guard. That said much about Queen Isabella’s trust and confidence in Maple… and also her interest in keeping this quiet. Not even her spymaster was watching.

Fuck. Her Majesty was good at this. She came ready for this to be kept quiet. The question was… how would this conversation go?

“Please, Lady Maple, don’t be so anxious,” Queen Isabella said as she patted the table across from her in a genteel invitation, “So… shall you tell me how things happened? I do have my report here, of course, but those so often leave out little personal details that can make all the difference in the world.”

“Ah, you see… Lord Takrok, he approached me quite out of the blue and stated he had a message for me from the Allmother. Knowing his tricky disposition, I wasn’t quick to buy it, but… he followed this up by saying she had told him to stop dallying and make his intentions known. He then declared that he wanted a relationship with me,” she mumbled, eyes glancing away from the queen’s own. “I… might have assumed he was following Mare tradition and declaring a first date at the moment of petitioning. So his lack of preparation upset me… a bit… and I told him off for lazy courting…” She huffed, crossing her arms as she sat opposite the queen she once served. This was bizarre… it felt like such an intimate conversation, just something between the ladies, “He then made me aware that it wasn’t his intent to declare a date at that time, and I became aware of my faux pas. Following this, I set damage control in motion and opted to come see you…”

The queen nodded, eyes full of mirth and entertainment. “And why come see me concerning the matter?” She asked as she leaned back into her seat.

Once again, if Maple could blush, she’d be positively scarlet, “...Because I supposed this… well, this involves you rather intimately, does it not?”

Isabella laughed, resting her head on her hand. “Oh goodness, is that why you came in nary a moment sooner than I finished reading? What kind of response were you expecting?” she asked in amusement. “Neither he nor I have pretended for a moment that our relationship resumes beyond the one night stand I intended for any reason other than Westley. We didn’t even know each other’s true identities the night we first shared,” she said with a casual shrug. “In truth… how I feel about this little thing he’s declared?” She said, leaning forward and theatrically whispering, “I’m rather pleased with it.” She sat back in her seat again, letting the words process in Maple’s swimming head.

“Yo-you’re… pleased?”

“Of course! He’s such a handful to deal with alone. You know this, the way he seeks you out every opportunity he gets. His constant badgering. It’s not something you’d expect of such a long-lived dragon, but… I suppose you do pose the potential of eternity with him, don’t you?” she realized, clicking her tongue a bit. “Ah, a factor I hadn’t considered. You will not age. He will no doubt tire of me and the position he holds here in what even we elves would call a short time, just long enough to ensure the good of our child. Nevermind the rest of my life, and certainly not the rest of his. I can see why his interest is so strong,” Isabella said with a nod, “Well, all the best to you and him, I say. You’ve both been such a blessing to this nation from the start, even when off serving another.”

Maple stared as the queen spoke so giddily over this particular thing, it left Maple curious… but also deeply embarrassed. If not even the Queen of Mare was saying it was a problem, perhaps she really was just stressing out over nothing? Well, maybe not. "As I’m sure you realize, there is one additional complication. In a pairing it is my responsibility as a lady to bear their children. I am unable to do that, for a few reasons.”

This was quickly waved off by the queen, “Please, as if that would be his concern. Either he has no problem with that, or he has a plan to fix it. That’s the kind of man he is. You’re already accepted in that regard either way, even if his plan doesn’t work…”

That just made the archduchess squirm. Every excuse so far had been shot down, and it seemed her majesty was actually in Takrok's favor on this one, "Well… what if I just don't want to be partners with him?"

"Then that's all the reason you need to say no… but is it true?"

There was no zone of truth, but the interlocutor of the conversation made Maple feel more introspective and truthful all the same, "I suppose with my standards the odds of finding someone who isn't quite so… quirky…"

"You mean forceful, brash, proud, belligerent, and chaotic?"

"...Quite. Anyway, I suppose my odds are low of finding anyone normal…"

The queen reached out and took Maple's hands, which she could actually feel through the minute film of slime she kept on the outside of her armor, "He's a good man. He's good for your people. He'd be good to you. Besides, think of it this way; you won't have to fear for his safety, and you're encouraging his interest in Kitharn. Let me tell you, as much as he can be a handful, he's quite a powerhouse to have at a negotiating table… he's good at getting what he wants."

"...I suppose you're right. It is foolish to play this game. But what am I to do about it? I can hardly just accept, not after that… display.”

“Oh of course not. I would be disappointed if you did. Though he views it as a hunt, that does not mean you have to be prey. If he wants to make a game of it, fine; treat it as such."

Maple cocked her head a bit, confused, "What? Take his serious pursuit as a game? I could hardly imagine… it's my responsibility… but I suppose the obligation is to have feasible victory conditions for the kind of man I want… not necessarily one that could be cleared by just anyone."

The queen laughed softly, "Precisely! You have something he wants, and will forever have to come to you for it! You can make deals for things like dates or the like in exchange for things that YOU want. That way, you still control the situation, get gifts or bargains for your affections, AND he's got a great sense for dates so you'll have a great time too."

That got a skeptical look from the slime woman, "That feels… manipulative."

"Mm… I suppose I can see how it feels that way. But understand that playing the game as such is merely a translation of complex desires and constructing places for people in your life. Your happiness will depend on making a good choice, you know; you don't need a man to be happy, but a bad choice of man can make happiness impossible. So you verify he contains the qualities you want… and remember your worth as you bargain. No single person is worth the moon and stars, not even yourself, but a nice platinum ring will reflect those moon and stars just fine, and he can make lovely company for your nights, even if you don't always want him at your negotiation table. All that in exchange for spending your time with him and accepting the occasional odd surprise. It's a wonderful deal if you think about it."

Maple gave pause, considering the words. There was much truth there. Politically it made sense… But something about it didn't sit right with her when she phrased it as a deal. "I want… better than that. Sure, it comes with ladyship so it shall be played as expected, but if I've learned anything… less plausible things have happened than meeting someone to my standards that I actually want to spend my future with. I know that the idea is mostly from the fairy tales of commoners, but I've seen fairy tales come true. I don't need to rush this."

This got a mixed response from the queen. She felt almost pity for anyone so naive in her position… not just as archduchess, but as one who took the social obligations of being a lady seriously. Normally that would have been enough to get Maple on board; every rational and political reason to go for it. Yet she didn't, because of some idealistic notion of romance in love. It was downright silly, especially from an archduchess, but it reminded Isabella of herself. Most days she didn’t get the chance, but where she could she tried to make it a precedent to grant women more social power. Just recently she’d gotten it legalized for women to be in theater and finally got a few important pro-rights archbishops in some of the greater churches.

"...Alright, Maple. That's a fair response. I can hardly begrudge you using the power you've accumulated to get a better fate than some others. Just remember, use the carrot before the stick. Men like encouragement better than chastisement."