Steitz Fortress

The Berengar Siblings arrived comfortably in the middle of the Lords and Bannermen that were called to the monthly meeting the Archduke of Steitz imposed. They were a small duchy, but they were a wealthy and an efficient one, no doubt due toward the House Steitz reputation and tradition of monthly meetings and communication with trade.

The land Steitz owned was small, but its trade -- its legion of ships and businesses -- spoke for much.

Ruther helped Catalina from the carriage and the servants already knew what to do and where to go for the unloading of trunks into rooms. This was the first time Ruther had brought Catalina, although he had made the trip at least a dozen times and his servants knew the servants of Steitz well.

It ran like clockwork, which, no doubt, is what the Archduke intended.

"It's... rather imposing," Catalina said, her face tipped up to look at the façade, and then around her as they entered inside.

"By design, I imagine," Ruther said with a bit of amusement in his town. He put Catalina's hand at the nook of his elbow. "You'll want to freshen up before dinner."

"I'd rather explore," Catalina said as they passed a corridor and she craned her head, even stepping away from her brother. "What's down this--"

"Catalina, you really must not wander. The Archduke enjoys his privacy," Ruther said sternly. "I've brought you because you were curious, but you must obey me."

"I always obey you."

Ruther gave her a look.

"Almost always. I've at least never made a scandal," she reasoned, falling into step with her brother once again, one hand lifting her skirts as they descended up a staircase.

"Mm. Let's keep it that way. I WILL lock you in a tower," he told her.

She behaved herself. She explored their rooms, and she looked out the window, and she unpacked her things along with the one maid her brother could afford her. She bathed, she dressed, she played a game of cards with Ruther, she tried so hard not to be bored.

"Are you sure my gown isn't too much?" Catalina asked, her gaze on her cards. She was comfortable in her scarlet gown, her dark hair piled artfully, but she worried that it might be... brazen.

"You'll want to be noticed. I've already seen that the stables are not as filled as they should have been."

"Mm, marriage again," Catalina said with a sigh as she put down a card and swept up a few others into her hand.

"Indeed," Ruther said, his tone the same, his concentration on the game as well.

"What about your marriage?"

"Perhaps another woman tonight will catch my eye, one who isn't related to me," Ruther said with a smile for his sister.

"I think most of them are back at the capital," she said with a bit of an edge on her voice. She did not like this new Emperor, and well Ruther knew it. Still, she knew better than to speak her opinions plainly.

A knock came to the door and Ruther rose, extending his arm. His sister took it and they were led down to the dining room. True to what Ruther had suspected, they saw that it was not as full, although even to Catalina, there were still plenty of people there.

And plenty of people watching, especially with surprised as House Berengar was led to the front table with the Archduke. They paused before the dais, and Ruther bowed while Catalina curtsied, the gold on her gown glittering beneath the lamplight, the House symbol of a silver crow gleaming over Ruther's breast in his dark velvet tunic.

"Your Grace, you honor us," Ruther said before the table. "My sister, Lady Catalina. This is her first visit to Steitz," Ruther said and gestured to Catalina. She offered a brief and fleeting smile, her gaze not quite meeting the Archduke's, before they were made to sit beside the Archduke.

Obviously, Ruther would be sitting beside him, and Catalina beside Ruther.

Dress reference:

Ruther smiled at the compliment paid to him by the Archduke, and Catalina lowered her lashes, making them fan against her cheeks as she made her smile turn up like she was also pleased with the compliment paid to her.

They sat, wine was poured, and then the Archduke leaned forward to speak to Catalina herself. Ruther also turned to look at her, his gaze expectant that she'd humor the man that ruled Steitz and its coffers, and her gaze only very briefly flickered to Ruther before it settled on the Archduke's grinning face.

"Thank you, Your Grace," she said, aware that there were eyes on her that wouldn't have, perhaps, lingered as long were it not for the fact that she was sitting at the table with the Archduke himself. She was lovely, yes, but there was at least a handful of other women present that were lovely as well (however, most of them were spoken for or married).

"Your home is intimidating and daunting," Catalina spoke to the Archduke with honest insight, and Ruther choked a little on his wine but caught himself admirably, only clearing his throat. "I am very intrigued by it. I would like to explore it, but my brother informs me that you enjoy your privacy."

"As do most in their homes, Catalina," Ruther answered as the food was being display. He turned his gaze back onto the Archduke. "She's always been too curious, hence why her childhood name is Cat. I think, perhaps, my mother might have known what she was doing when she christened my sister." A joke. A charming and smooth one at that. No apology made, but a lightness to accompany more direct words so one wouldn't feel slighted.

She was chilled by his reaction to her direct words, although she was not intending to be rude but honest. The way he spoke... its almost as if he had forced such an affliction onto someone before, and knew of it from experience. She hid her reaction by turning her lovely face away and drinking wine, keeping her gaze lowered because she could still feel that she held the attentions of others in the room.

Ruther's dark brows lifted a bit when the Archduke gave Catalina permission to explore, as well as access to his library. Lord Ruther still hadn't been given access, but then, he hadn't asked. Now was not the time to piggyback off his twin, however.

"No, Your Grace, they are not true," Ruther responded, feeling his heart kick up a beat although outwardly he remained calm. It was a trick he had picked up in dealing with so many of the debtors and the merchants who came to call at the news of his fathers debt. "If my house were in such dire straights, I would not be here tonight. Although it is true there had been strain on the coffers, the orchards and wheat harvests have stabilized them, along with Catalina's greenhouse. She has been making herbs and poultices and read for all manner of ailments that have increased in popularity. But... there is always more that could be done. I've come to seek your council in this, Your Grace."

He hoped it was answer enough. Enough to show that he had handled his business, enough to show that without help he had balanced his books, enough to show that even as a young lord he could handle his estate... and enough to show that he still remembered to thank his piece in his coming success and had ambition to do more for himself and the Archduke.

As the men talked and ate between words and sentences, Lady Catalina pushed food around her plate. There was a sort of... darkness... of the place that seemed to fray the ends of her nerves, even if she was in a well lit, well decorated, and well populated room. She ate the fruit, mostly, and the cheese, and when she did look up she caught a large, redhaired and bearded man watching her with a knowing grin on his face. She also saw a pretty blonde girl sitting with what had to be her father and brother casting doeful looks at her brother.

Marriage, indeed. She stabbed a piece of fruit and bit into it.

No doubt like the Archduke expected, his words did indeed help kindle the fire in Ruther's breast to keep going, making the bonds between the Archduke and Ruther just a little stronger.

"I would be very honored, Your Grace, for your assistance," he said to him as Isenbardus leaned back to take up his wine. Ruther ate a little, drank a little. He leaned toward Catalina to share a small joke, quietly said under his breath, at the expense of a man wearing an unfortunate colored tunic.

It made Catalina choke a little, and then laugh, her face lighting up in a true smile, her eyes warmed and her smile enchanting. The redheaded man finished drinking his wine at the lower tables and then made to finish his meal. He planned on getting up in a moment, but would have to wait until there was some sort of signal from the Archduke that people were free to move about the cabin, so to speak.

Ruther sat up again, and caught the eye of one girl. He knew who she was. She wasn't married, the daughter of another lordling. And if rumor was true, she wasn't as virginal as they were 'supposed' to be. He grinned to himself, and drank from his wine when he saw from the corner of his eye that Isenbardus was leaning toward him. Ruther leaned as well, and then looked at Isenbardus with mild shock.

"Would you? In truth, I had begun to entertain the thought for my sister. I am more aware of the men of nobility than I am of the women and their daughters. Unfortunately, my knowledge of the noble houses has failed me while I've been caught up in matters of my estate. In fact... Your Grace, I hope I am not too bold, but I would like to ask you for a sea-faring ship."

"I would like access to the coast lines, Your Grace," Ruther said as he continued his business discussion, for the moment not paying any attention at all to Catalina for the moment. "Many of the other lords of the other lands put taxes on the use of their roads and their rivers. If I could get to their towns another way, then I would up my profit. Of course, you would be entitled to a share of the profit as well, Your Grace. It my hopes that it would be a lease of your ships, and that I might be able to buy them from you."

Ruther drank his wine and tried to figure out how he felt about looking for a prize from a House above his. It was one thing to marry a sister or a daughter into a more powerful house. They could afford to marry for beauty or for fertility. It was quite another for a daughter to marry lower than her station.

"I am grateful, of course," he said to the Archduke, but didn't further any conversation in regard to Ruther's marital situation. Instead, it seemed attention turned onto Catalina.

The nobles had taken their cue from the Archduke and at least two men had stood up from their chairs to make their way over to Catalina. One stopped, however, when he saw the burly and broad-shoulderedness of the Redhaired man. He was not of a wealthy house, but he was known to be ballsy and with a temper. He was the Heir of House Coswoldt, his father still alive, and he was known to be a bit of a bear. In fact, "The Red Bear" was his nickname, and when he saw Catalina, he knew what he wanted.

Catalina had risen from her seat and had just made her way down the dais when a hand was put almost in her face. She looked from the calloused palm to the face above it, and she gently pushed the hand away. "No, thank you, sir," she said politely to him and made to move past, but he caught her hand and brought her into a dance.

"I don't take no for an answer," the man said gently to her as the music began, and Catalina was forced to dance or make a scene.

"Yes, I noticed," Catalina said to him before they parted in the dance and came back together again. He was not a very good dancer, but that didn't seem to bother him. He was focused on Catalina.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Perhaps you should have discovered that before--" Her words were cut off as they parted again.

"You're of House Berengar, but I don't know your name," the Red Bear said again.

"Lady Catalina," she answered begrudgingly, and when she turned to dance with another partner, as the dance dictated, she saw the smiling face of the second man that had been about to approach until the Red Bear had horned in first.

From where Ruther and the Archduke stood, it seemed that Catalina was more appreciative of this second man than the Red Bear, but this second man was of an even poorer house than Coswold. Still, the man's house was an old one, if not ancient. Other men might have been interested in dancing with Catalina, but they were either intimidated or not interested in being involved with anything to do with the Red Bear and most likely would bide their time. They had several days, after all.

Ruther ran a thumb down his bearded jawline. "I need my sister at the moment for the herbals she creates. She has a way with plants, and with people. Certain people, anyway." He turned to look at the Archduke. "It would be easier to marry her into a family than it would myself. I may need a few months or even a year to gain a bit more prestige in my exploits. She, however..." His gaze turned back to his sister. And he frowned, not letting his sentence finish.

Ruther almost choked on his wine, but he caught himself and swallowed. "Five? Your Grace, I'm not sure I have enough wares to fill five ships... but of course, I will endeavor to try. Catalina's remedies will no doubt fare well over there, as well."

The dance ended, and before Catalina could step back towards her seat, she swept up in another dance. The music was light and jovial, at odds with the intimidating building they were in. As she danced, however, her mien began to get lighter and lighter, until she was laughing as she danced with the maidens and as she danced with men who either found their courage or decided that her low rank was of no importance, especially given the amount of time that the Archduke spent speaking to Lord Berengar.

She was lovely and alive, and as she danced there almost seemed to be something unnaturally drawing about her. She was not the most beautiful woman to ever live, but something drew the eye, as if enchanted toward her. It could have easily been explained as the wine, or the mood, or ones emotions or feelings. Or, it could have been explained as something else.

Ruther, however, did not have trouble looking away from Catalina to put his attention on the Archduke. "You humble me, Your Grace. If you think it wise that I marry soon, then I will follow your instruction. I'll make my own subtle inquiries as well. I do not deny that I'd be grateful for a more prestigious house, but I'd also want to make sure the lady is... compatible. And with my sister, hm. Well, a dowry comes into question." Ruther sighed and rubbed a hand over his jaw. "I'll need time, Your Grace. I've stabilized our House, but I need it to show signs of flourish. I am honored by your faith in us, and your favor of House Berengar will indeed go along way, but I have my pride as well, Archduke Isenbardus."

As he spoke, a laughing and beautiful Catalina came towards the men, a smile on her face that made a dimple appear in her cheeks. Her eyes were sparkling as she looked upon Ruther and reached for his hands. "Brother, come dance with me," she urged, before she turned her gaze onto the Archduke. "With His Grace's permission, of course."

Ruther bowed his head to the Archduke.

"Your Grace, I am humbled by your faith in me. I shan't let you down," the young lord promised, and his word could most certainly be believed. The man was ambitious, and he was proud, and perhaps in the future these were things that could be used against him, but for now, they could be tools to create him into a mold that the Archduke could use.

When Catalina came over, merry and bright, Ruther smiled at her. She was a weakness of his, clearly. She turned her bright eyes onto the Archduke and although they dimmed a little, she nodded her head and courtsied to him as he left. "Good evening, Archduke," she called after his back.

Catalina drew Ruther into the dancing and the revelrie of the night, enjoying themselves until the early hours before Ruther helped a sleepy Catalina to bed, and then retired to his -- alone.

-- - - - - - - - -

Catalina rose early as she always did, and she dressed herself, brushing out her dark hair and securing the top half of it from her face with the combs her mother had left her when she'd died. It was the only thing her mother had that her father hadn't sold in a bid for more money.

She was humming to herself, happy enough with the morning in her wine-hued gown.




The archduke had given her permission to explore the night before, which she of course remembered. So early in the morning, she doubted any of the other lords and ladies would be awake. The castle was dark however. There must have been some storm brewing on the horizon, so as she traveled the halls, she brought with her a candalabra to further light her way as she explored the halls and reached for the handles of doors...

She took her time, curious as she was, and she explored most. She smelled the soaps in the bathroom and marveled for a moment over its plumbing. She moved to the other sitting rooms and circled around to look at the knick knacks and decorations. She hesitated over a suit of armor and peeked in through its visor, lifting it and then closing it. She touched the jewelry so the gems would turn and shine differently in the light. She studied tapestries, and she studied paintings, even touching some wehre there were strokes of dried paint still on the canvas, reading artistic signatures in the corners, or even gazing at the borders themselves.

When she found the library, she gasped for a moment and stepped inside. She set her candalabra aside and blew out the candles, and her gown whispered quietly against the carpets and swirled around her legs as she turned. She moved to the book cases and she ran her fingertips over the titles -- all of the books were new, or at least, newER, with lovely leather backs and etched phrasing on it.

She of course traveled high -- she enjoyed high places -- if only so she could approach the bannister of the fourth floor and lean over to gaze all the way down at the large globe at the bottom, her dark hair sliding over her shoulders as she leaned so...