He wasn't sure what had happened, but his eyes suddenly snapped open.
The Prince was leaning over him, and it took a few moments for Evan to realize that his dress had been opened.
He flushed violently.
"W-What... I don't" he stammered, truly and utterly confused as to the turn of events.
He had heard rumors about the Prince being a sly Casanova of sorts.
Surely he hadn't meant to have his way with Evan right here in the gardens. Why, it was unlikely... He was a man as well...
A remnant wave of dizziness and confusion washed over the smaller male, and he felt his head thump back against the ground.

he pulled his hand away as the boy woke up then promptly fainted again. he figured then that it was not the dress at all though it obviously did not help. at a loss for what else to do he stood up and left the garden, as he passed by a female maid he directed her to the garden to fetch out the boy. he figured this would spark numerous rumors but it was better than nothing at all. he left to go to the stables, it was time for him to over-see the marshal as he directed the knights and horses and pages. he did not look back to see if the maid understood

"Wake up Milady" Constance hissed,nudging Evan to consciousness.
He blinked and looked around. "The Prince... " he began. Constance nodded.
" He showed me to where you lay, you must have fainted" Constance said, as she reached out to touch Evans forehead. She drew back with a slight frown. "You've got a wee touch of a fever" she noted.
Sighing, Evan allowed her to help him to his feet.
" I didn't sleep well last night" he admitted.
" A chest came in from your Mother today" Constance announced, as they walked quietly back to his quarters, once the door was opened, the chest was within sight.
It was a large chest made of red oak, and had settings made of brass.
"It is probably your wedding gown" Constance noted, as Evan wordlessly sank to his knees to open the chest.
It was indeed the wedding gown.
It was a gorgeous creme and gold colored gown with quarter length sleeves, composed of heavy silk, velvet and taffeta. The skirt was slashed to reveal pale green silk, which was pulled through and pinned in place with small emeralds.
A french wheel would help produce a large hoop skirt, and a heavy duty corset made with whale bone would give him the ultimately geometric form that was all the rage these days.
The dress was embellished with gold threading and fresh water pearls, the neck was modest and high cut, with a neck ruff made from stiff lace.
Inside the chest, accompanying his dress was also a set of creme colored shoes made of the finest silk, a long strand of pearls, and a set of pearl earrings.
Even as a man, Evans breath became caught in his throat as he lifted the contents out of the chest as if they were made from the tears of God.
His throat tightened.
Would he really be able to go through with this wedding...?
So much of him was terrified that he'd screw it all up.

(oh good job^^ your dress is nearly perfect)

when he finally returned from the stables he went to ask about the child. no one seemed to know but he was told instead that a chest had come in no more than an hour earlier and it looked to be a linen trunk. he ignored the useless information and left for the boy's quarters. when he knocked on the door noone answered, knocking again had the same result so in a fit of incivility he let himself in, as far as he was concerned it was /his/ wife he was visiting and short of his brother noone had more authority than he.

( The Elizabethan era gowns are so pretty, but probably a pain to wear).
Both Constance and Evan swung around to face the sound of someone entering the room.
Both paled nearly white as a sheet as they took in the sight of the Prince standing there.
"Y-Your highness!" Constance stammered, bowing her head low, and avoiding eye contact with the man.
Evan was torn between bowing as well, or making sure that the gown stayed immaculate.
Such hard decisions.
Carefully setting the gown to the side, he rose gracefully to his feet, and executed a curtsy that would have put most of the women at Court to shame. " Your Highness, forgive me... I did not hear you knock" he said gently.

he stared the other down "i am sure" he did not turn towards her but his words were intimidating enough "woman, leave now."

Constance spared Evan a lingering and almost pitying gaze, but did as she was told and left the room without a word.
Evan felt suddenly very nervous, and began to fiddle with his hands, trying to avoid the Princes gaze.
" How may I be of use to you Your Highness..?" he stammered.

his face remained stern and commanding but his voice lost some of it's edge. "you were unwell before. you are alright now?" he did turn away for it would be a sign of surrender but he felt somewhat ashamed for wanting to know. he covered it well with his next comment "you cannot fulfill your end of the bargain if you fall ill."

"Y-Yes your Highness... I am well enough, I am not used to the stiffness of whale bone... I fear that I did not sleep well last night either" Evan admitted.
He felt very silly for having fainted, especially in front of the Prince.

the boy was looking flush again. the prince took four steps toward the other and sliding his hand under the fringe of hair laid his hand upon the boy's forehead but he could not tell if the other was warm or not so his did what his nanny used to do, he pushed the boy's hair out of the way and leaned down to touch foreheads. he could feel now that the other was warmer than he should be. "you are wrong, you are sick. rest." he let go of the other and straightened up. he stared at the still sitting child.

( Poor Evan is very naive, he's never understood the relations between people. LOL)
Evans heart shot to his throat. The pounding of it almost drowned out the Princes voice.
"Y-Yes your Highness... I'll do just that" he agreed.
He slowly rose and went to sit on the edge of his bed, feeling the Princes eyes staring him down.
It was slightly awkward.
Quietly and gently, he removed his wig and set it gently on the stand beside the bed. He ran his fingers through his hair to help fix the issue of wig head.

(it's ok the prince's education is rather spotty too)

he stared unblinkingly as the other removed his wig, the long locks he had adopted were lovelier for sure than the scruffy pile left on this head but it did not look half as soft. he wondered if it was horse or maiden hair.

Looking up finally he gulped. " Your Highness, I was wondering if I could ask you something" Evan asked shyly.

"yes?" he all but drawled coming out of his musings

"I was just wondering what you were expecting of me as your b-bride..." he stammered.
Feeling slightly uneasy he continued. "Yesterday you mentioned that I would be a suitable bride... I don't understand..." he admitted.

( I'm going to have to log. I have someone stopping by to work on my carpeting tomorrow morning, so I have to be awake early.)

(basically he is condemning you to widow-hood and ostracizeation)

"you are to do what all brides do. you are to manage your women and keep your home managed. you will of course be moved to a suitable manor in one of my territories. i will see to it that you are taken care of for as long as you are needed." he huffed slightly "you are suitable in that you will not make undue presses on my time and you will follow me with no question. you are perfect because you are useful and you do not make me a target of my brother's wrath"

Something akin to disappointment welled in Evans chest, though for the life of him, he could not understand why.
He shoved the feeling back into his stomach and smiled brightly at the Prince. "Yes Your Highness, I understand" he said politely.
He stifled a yawn with one of his hands and felt embarrassed when the noise bubbled forward and became audible.
His cheeks colored.

the prince laughed though he still did not move. he continued staring at the other though he knew he now had no reason to

Having no idea what to say, Evan merely laid down in the bed, and allowed his body to relax. "I suppose I'll be taking that nap that you suggested Your Highness" he yawned with a sleepy smile
Before too long, the boy had fallen asleep, breathing gently.

when the other was asleep he left. the nanny, who had been at the door almost certainly the entire time, went in as soon as he left. he meandered down the halls until he was found and carted off by an adviser

Evan woke refreshed a few hours later. He stretched his long, thin arms and sat up, rubbing his eyes and trying to fix his bad case of bed head.
It was then that he noticed Constance pacing the room, pale as a sheet.
"Constance...Whats the matter?" he asked, slipping out of bed. He stood and shook his skirts out.
" T-The Prince... He knows doesn't he?!" she hissed suddenly, and grabbed his arms for support.
Evan instantly felt guilt sink to his stomach. "... Yes, he knows" he admitted.
"What will he do with us...?" Constance asked weakly.
"Don't fret Constance... All will go as planned. He has accepted me as his bride, as long as I am a suitable bride to him, we all escape execution" Evan soothed.
The smaller, gray haired woman sighed and pressed one of her aged hands to her chest.
"Why would he do that though?" Constance asked slowly.
Evan sighed himself. "I don't know... But we should take this opportunity and do whats best for everyone. I will be a proper lady, and a proper and good wife until he has no need or want for me any longer" Evan reassured.
Constance shot Evan a sad look. " My Lord... You have the kindest heart of anyone I know... None of this was even your idea, but you'll go through with this and make everyone else happy...Haven't you thought about your own happiness in all of this?" Constance asked gently.
Evan smiled, though it was not bright or exuberant, it was a rather accepting and peaceful smile. " I have. I think that I will be happy here with Prince Alric...I don't think he's even half as terrible as anyone says" Evan admitted.
A bell rang signifying it was meal time.
" Ah, allow me to help you change into another gown, this one is rumpled" Constance replied.
Evan stood still as she reached into the pannel and loosened the laces, and then began to undo the buttons.
Soon her deft fingers were finished, and the gown slid gracefully -albeit heavily- to the floor.
She picked it up gently and laid it on the bed for the time being, as she reached into on of the trunks that lay near the bedside.
It was a two patterned gown with a high cut, square shaped neck. The top of the sleeves were ruffled, as they were part of the patterned gown, solid colored sleeves were attached inside these. There was a stomacher as well.
The whole thing was in shades of golden yellow -the solid part- and grass green. The designs were diamonds embroidered in gold thread with small but cut and polished citrines pinned in the centers of the diamonds.The sleeves were creme colored, and had a gold thread embroidery as cuffs.
Once it was laced up, Evan involuntarily wheezed. Constance shot him a distressed look, and loosened the laces a bit. " I still don't think this is good for you, especially with your condition" she admitted.
She silently brushed out the wig, which was made from human hair. And placed it atop his head and fished the gowns matching gable hood out from the trunk and fixed it atop the wig.
Standing back, she gave Evan a wistful look. " You look just like your Sister you do..." she said. She sighed. "I wonder how that girl is doing... Troublesome little fox...".
Evan smiled brightly. "Knowing her, she's off having a merry time, she was always so adventurous... I always admired that about her" he chuckled.
Together they exited the room, and walked towards the dining hall.

he was pulled from tending to the horses by the sound of gossiping. he did not understand the appeal of it but sometimes interesting things were said and so he did not prohibit it. he looked over the mare's flank and saw the edge of a leg 'all the way up, i am not surprised the prince has already had his way with her, if i had a girl that pretty-' he cleared his throat and the leg jerked, two men hopped up and about-faced. he stared at them blankly his mouth a hard line. "pray tell what are yo two talking about when you should be currying the horses?" the taller of the two looked ready to piss himself 'ah, ah, um, your wife, lady eveline is in the gardens. she is the talk of the castle right now. it is most improper" he threw the curry brush at the shorter "finish her" he turned away and stalked off towards the gardens

( I've decided that Evan has chronic obstructive respiratory disease, which causes him to faint constantly. His condition isn't helped by the stiff corsets).
In the garden, Constance knelt next to Evan and was tapping his face gently. "Wake up" she pleaded gently, face stricken with worry.
They had been passing through the garden when Evan had began wheezing. His face had gone pale as a sheet, and his eyes had rolled up in the back of his head before he toppled over.
Constance had quickly loosened the bindings of the corset, and he had started breathing, but his face was still very pale and he hadn't woken yet.
She had begged her Mistress not to send Evan to do this act, as he had suffered terrible breathing problems since he was a young child.
Setting Evans head comfortably in her lap, she sat and waited for the young man to wake from his latest spell of fainting.

he was angry all the way up until he opened the garden door. he took one look at the woman with his bride in her lap and stalked over. he roughly pulled the boy up into his arms and stalked back off, he could hear the woman saying something but he did not stop to listen. he was greatly upset that the other was acting so scandalously, it was bad enough his men had seen enough of the little lord to make lewd remarks and the maids saw enough to spread rumors but to have them validated as well? he felt like spitting. he continued down the halls ignoring everyone he passed by, he was intent on getting the boy to his room if nothing else

Evan did not wake in the Princes arms, in fact, he slumped and jostled around with each step that the Prince made. He was for all intensive purposes as graceful as a sack of bricks dressed in a fine gown.
Constance attempted to scurry after the Prince, but it was apparent that he was too upset to hear her. She tried warning him of Evan's condition, and begged him not to be angry at him.
But, she was a woman pushing late into her 50's, and could not keep up with Alric's pace, and quickly lost sight of them.
Puffing and wheezing, she had to stop to rest for a moment, bending forward slightly at the waist, she brought a hand up to rest on her chest.
She prayed and hoped that Evan would be alright, and that the Prince would be lenient.

if he was not already known for scaring maids he would have been by now. both ran out as soon as he made it through the door. he paid them no mind and laid out the boy, from the looks of him he had already been loosened so he set on the next course of action, finding water and rags. he knew no more of medicine than what little had been practiced on him but he he wanted the boy awake and so he searched

( :| Keeps logging me out while I'm typing my replies. )
Evan lay on the bed, pale as its sheets and breathing uneven.
His lips had a slightly blue tint to them, and his breath sounded labored.
His eyelids fluttered in a restless sleep, eye brows creased.

he found water and a rag, he went over to the other. the boy's face which had been lovely in it's pallor before was downright unsafe looking now, he seemed to be turning blue. he applied the cold watter to the boy's face, he watched in hopes of the other rousing though only the sound of the door behind him opening could be heard

Constance had knocked on the door, several times in fact, but had gotten no response.
So, she cautiously opened the door and saw the Prince preparing to administer medicine for Evan.
"Y-Your Highness... Perhaps I could help you, I have experience with Evan's condition" she offered quietly.
She knew he knew about Evans identity, and made no attempt to skirt around it.

he stepped aside and crossed his arms. he said nothing to the woman but he did not turn her away either. it would be a poor turn if the boy should die on the first day of his wedding

Constance moved past the Prince quietly and reached into a chest for a few items.
First she drew out a small silk satchel, a vile of sage green liquid, some clean rags, two bowls and a glass jar of honey.
She set to boiling the water first, and then mixed the honey with a few drops of the deep green liquid in the vile.
The smell of oregano filled the room.
Taking the small satchel, she pressed it beneath Evans nose, and he breathed in sharply before his eyes snapped open.
The smelling salts were made from kosher salt, peppermint oil and lemon grass oil. They were quite pungent.
Pulling the bowl in front of Evan, she rubbed his back gently as he had another coughing fit, and urged him to spit.
Coaxing him to lift his tongue, she put a few drops of the honey mixture underneath his tongue. He grimaced, the mixture was still spicy despite the honey.
Constance turned to face the Prince. "Your Highness... I think that you should know... Evan has suffered from breathing problems since he was a wee tot" she said quietly.
Evan began to cough violently, and she helped him to spit phlegm into the bowl in front of him. Once he was finished, she helped him to settle against the bed again.
" His condition becomes aggravated under certain conditions. When the air is too dry, or too moist... When he's under stress..." she began, and then sighed.
The water had begun to boil nicely, she dipped the rags in the hot water, and then wrapped those in more clean rags to form a hot compress. She settled the compress onto Evans chest, hoping that it would break up his blockages.
"I believe that the Ladies Fashions in court are also aggravating his condition... He's never fainted this many times in two days as he has here..." she replied.
Looking eyes with the Alric, she gave him a pleading look. " He must leave this place soon... He needs a place that is peaceful and quiet, where he doesn't need to bind his ribs in..." she said honestly.
She leaned over Evan and smoothed his hair, looking very much like a Mother with her child.
For all intensive purposes, he was like her child to her. She had taken to caring for Evan and Evangeline when they were but 4 months old, and had been with them ever since.
She reached up and wiped the sweat from her brow, and ran her fingers through her frazzled gray hair.

he nodded. his own mother had issues breathing the damp of the castle too and in the cold of winters she was always followed by a cough. "i understand, and i am arranging to have him sent away as soon as the ceremony is complete, that will be in nine days counting this one, that is part of the bargain." he turned as a knock came at the door "speaking of which, is he well enough to eat? it would not do for him to miss the first night of the wedding"

Constance sighed with relief. Perhaps what Evan had said about him was true. He didn't seem to be such a cold hearted man after all.
"Thank you Your Highness... Evan is a good boy, he has the sweetest and most giving heart you will ever find" she replied.
She coaxed Evan to open his eyes and he did and nodded when she asked him if he felt like he could hold down food.
Evan looked up at Alric with a slightly flushed and hazy look in his eyes. " I'm terribly sorry for causing so much trouble Your Highness" he apologized sincerely.

he was angry at the woman's words, how dare she assume he was doing this for the benifit of the boy. haughtily and with no feelings he spoke "women should know their places even false ones. i don't care for his heart only his face, you both would do well to remember that" he turned on his heel and stormed off, the small feeling in his gut telling him that it was wrong to say that was crushed under his pride. he did not look back

Evans face crumpled at the harsh words and all that they implied.
Constance however gave a slight frown as the Prince swept out of the room. She was an old woman, and she had seen many things in her day. The Princes behavior was not all that surprising.
Evan however ate his meal in silence, rarely lifting his eyes from the food before him.
When he rose from the bed, he allowed Constance to dress him for dinner, and walked quitely beside her.
At the table he acted the perfect lady, pushed his food politely around on the plate, and spoke only when spoken to.
Nobody noticed but Constance that he refused to look at his intended Husband.

he paid no mind to the boy at the lavishly set table or his wretched nanny lurking near the wall with the rest of the servants. as long as the woman was there neither would be in his good graces he kept up his cold demenor through the wash break, the second course and the show, by the end he had actually forgotten the boy was even there

That evening Constance was beginning to feel unwell. Evan kept a careful eye on her, even as she tried to convince him that she would be just fine.
But, he did not believe her one bit. She seemed short of breath, pale, and would grab at her chest as if in pain.
"Its nothing Evan... Don't worry yourself with the likes of me..." she tried soothing him.
With a frown on his face, he refused to relax.
By the time they had actually fallen asleep that night, he was utterly exhausted.
He slumped into bed and rolled over.
When he opened his eyes, it was morning. The room was quite chilly, and more quiet than usual.
Walking quietly down the hall and to the servants quarters, she was greeted politely by the women who resided there, whom informed her that Constance was still ill and in bed.
Evan walked to her bed, and gently touched her shoulder to rouse her.
But, pulled his hand away in shock, her shoulder did not yield the way it should have.
Pressing his fingers to her neck, he found her skin clammy and cold.
A cry of surprise and grief bubbled past his lips, as he turned her onto her back.
Her face was peaceful, but her lips were blue.
She was dead.
Tears streamed out of his eyes as he jerked his hands back. One of the woman servants noticed the spectacle and screamed.
Soon the room was a flurry of chaos, and Evan could not make a sound as his tears leaked down his cheeks and soaked the collar of his dress.

he did not find out about the nanny until the morning meal but by then the sun was high in the sky and day was nearly half passed he understood the wedding would be moved back two days so as not to mar it with misfortune. he wondered idly while the castle buzzed about preparing for a funeral on top of the wedding, if the boy was upset. he went to check the boy's rooms but thought better of it and tried the garden first

Finally escaping the maddening heat of the mourners, Evan escaped to the one place where he felt peace.
Careful to hide himself behind one of the bushes, he allowed his mind to wander to the fond times he had as a child, Constance at his side.
He tasted the familiar salt of his tears, as he sniffled silently from his hiding spot.
He was sure everyone was trying to be kind to him, but he found the attention overwhelming.
Part of him was bitter too. Why should all these women mourn Constance anyhow? They did not know her...