((These posts are based upon live role-play logs with "tienne's player. Merci, mon cher ami, de me permettre d'emprunter votre g"nie!))

The chateau of the Comte du Rietz was nestled in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, some hundred miles or so from Paris. It was mainly a wine-producing estate, and as such, the house itself was situated at the crest of a hill, with miles and miles of grapevines covering the slopes of the surrounding hills. The house was nearly empty now, staffed by only a few servants - a cook, two stable lads, a chambermaid, and a butler the only people who'd remained after the Crown had seized the property from its owner, a Chevalier de Templier, who had been imprisoned, arrested and charged with heresy.

R"my, the youngest son and only surviving heir of the elder Comte who had died five years ago after a short though painful battle with la grippe, had inherited all of his father's properties. Of course, at the time, R"my had been on the isle of Crete, defending it against the Saracens. Philippe Le Beau, King of France, had repaid him for defending the Holy Land against the Infidel by allowing R"my to linger in prison, tortured until he'd signed a confession of heresy." The Crown had then released him, returned his title and lands to him, gave him a pat on the head and left him to his own devices. R"my had slunk home, tail tucked between his legs to lick his wounds." He stewed himself in wine, mostly his own vintage, consoled himself in the arms of a succession of women, and plotted revenge, drunkenly cursing Philippe Le Beau and his Inquisitors.

This night found him secreted in the Great Hall of the chateau, surrounded by three German putains and a cask of very excellent red wine." He was dressed in breeches, soft boots and an ermine-lined cloak against the biting November cold. The women, a buxom blond, a raven-haired lass and a fiery red-head, were sitting in R"my's lap or kneeling at his feet, their hands and mouths and tongues visiting exquisitely pleasurable torture upon the body of their Lord and Master." R"my, for his part, was bored, more interested in the effects of the wine than of the women." He wanted to fight, to reclaim his good name and that of his brothers." He was tired of hiding away in the country, ashamed of signing the confession, ashamed at leaving his brothers behind.

There was a sudden burst of white light in the middle of the Great Hall, blinding R"my and les jeune filles. The light faded slowly, coalescing into the shape of a tall, slender man, his face obscured. The women screamed and hid themselves behind R"my's chair, babbling incoherently in their native German tongue." R"my sat up, knocking over the goblet of wine that sat on the table in front of him, spilling its contents across the wooden surface like blood across the torturer's table, and attempted to draw his sword, forgetting for the moment that it was still in the dungeon in Paris.

As the light faded slowly, the figure took on a familiar form. R"my staggered drunkenly to his feet, squinting against the glare of the sudden light." Finally remembering that his sword was a hundred miles away, he drew his boot dagger and stumbled around the table. The man in the light fell to one knee, catching himself from falling on his face. The helmet he had tucked under his arm clattered to the floor.

?"tienne?" R"my slurred in surprise." "C'est impossible!" Il ne peut pas est tu! T'es mort!"

"tienne lifted his head, and blinked to clear his vision and focus his eyes on the other man's face. "R"my?" he asked." "C'est tu?"

R"my fell to his knees, the dagger tumbling forgotten to the floor. He hung his head and wept, not certain if this was a dream induced by too much wine, or if he was witnessing a miracle. "tienne pulled himself to his feet and stumbled toward the kneeling man. "R"my, mon fr're." C'est moi."

R"my climbed to his feet and threw his arms around his brother-in-arms, kissing his cheeks and crying against his shoulder. "tienne returned the hug, kissing both of R"my's cheeks, tears of joy upon his face. "You are still alive," he said, his voice full of wonder. He smiled at the other man, hands clasping his shoulders and holding him out at arm's length to look him over.

The women, still huddled behind R"my's chair, slowly poked their heads out of hiding, eyes wide at what they were witnessing." The blonde, still an observant Catholic despite her profession, crossed herself and began reciting an Ave Maria. "I'm still alive?" R"my said disbelievingly." "You are the one who is dead, mon petit chiot!"

"tienne's smile widened." "I am alive, mon fr're." God delivered me from prison." He laughed. "Oh, I have so much to tell you!" He flicked a glance at the trio of women, just realizing they were not alone. His smile faded and he grew quiet as he put two and two together.

R"my wiped his face with the hem of his cloak and held "tienne out at arm's length, looking him over carefully." The young man seemed hale and hearty." In fact, he seemed better than that." He glowed with an inner light." He looked relaxed and happy." "You are in love?" he said, with an experienced lecher's intuition.

He looked back at the man, ignoring the women for the moment, and grinning from ear to ear, his eyes gleaming. "How do you know?"

R"my's brow arched and he smirked." "I know.?" He took "tienne's hand and dragged him back to the table and poured him a goblet of wine. The women slowly came out of hiding, the red-head going to perch on the edge of "tienne's chair, the blonde and brunette settling down with R"my. "tienne arched a brow at the redhead, who, though she was a redhead, was nothing like his Aliss. He turned back to R"my, a look of horror on his face. "Can we not speak in private?" he asked.

R"my grinned broadly and swept the blonde into his lap." "This," he said, indicating the blonde, "is Brigitte" This lovely girl," indicating the brunette, "is Greta." And that is Katerine.?" The red-head giggled and slid into "tienne's lap, winding her arms around his shoulders and nuzzling his neck. R"my began kissing Brigitte's bare shoulder, his hands moving over her breasts.

"tienne cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably, sliding out from under the redhead and to his feet. Katerine pouted prettily and lifted "tienne's hand to her mouth, sucking provocatively at his fingers." R"my was oblivious - Greta's head was in his lap and Brigitte's tongue in his ear. "tienne jerked his hand away." "Mademoiselle! S'il vous plait! I am engaged." He turned to R"my then and said angrily, "What has happened to you, mon ami" You are un Chevalier de Templier! This is disgraceful!"

R"my opened his eyes, a haze of wine and sex in them." "Haven't you heard?" Les Chevaliers de Templier are no more!" Philippe Le Beau," he turned his head and spat on the flagstones of the floor, "has done away with us, confiscated our monies, our lands, our titles for his own greedy needs." He shoved the women from his lap and stood, roughly taking "tienne's arm, the wine goblet still clutched in his free hand. He pulled him into a secluded alcove, away from the ears of the whores. "I signed their filthy confession," he hissed.

"tienne let R"my pull him along, halting in the alcove. He shrugged out of R"my's grasp, arching a brow at his friend. "Is this why you are drunk?"

He snorted and raised the goblet of wine to his lips, draining it and then throwing it to the floor with a loud clatter." "I am drunk because I cannot face myself, mon ami." I am...un b"te d"go"tant."

"tienne's eyes flashed with anger for a moment, and then his expression changed to one of compassion. "What did they do to you?" he asked, laying a hand upon his friend's arm, his voice soft, full of compassion and caring.

R"my slid down the wall, huddling on the floor at "tienne's feet." "They...they tortured us." Flogged us, burned our feet over hot coals, raped us...?" His voice broke and he began sobbing.

"tienne knelt down in front of his friend and reached to take him in his arms, holding him like one would a brother. "I am sorry. So sorry. It is not your fault, mon ami."

R"my clutched "tienne, trembling like a leaf caught in a tempest." "I signed their confession, "tienne." I left Alain and Thierry behind," he sobbed.

"We will save them." He held his friend close, his heart going out to him. He felt a stab of pain at the mention of the others' names, but for now, his only concern was for R"my. R"my cried until the tears were spent and then he let "tienne go, wiping his face with his cloak's hem." "I am sorry, mon ami." I am...so sorry."

"tienne shook his head. "You are alive." That is all that is important."

He waved his hand, dismissing "tienne's protests." "Of course I will come with you." He tried to hide a yawn behind his fist and shook his head to clear it." "It has been a long day, mon ami." Full of surprises and shocks, for us both."

"I am glad you are well. I have been worried." It was the only way he knew to tell the other man that he had thought of him and missed him.

"Bah," R"my said with a smirk." "You have been too busy in Aliss's arms to worry about me."

He smiled a little at the mention of her name." "I have still worried. Tu es mon fr're."

He returned the smile." "Oui, et tu aussi."

"Is my room still empty?" "tienne asked, not bothering to hide a yawn.

He chuckled." "Non." It is les jeune filles room now." Though I'm sure they'd welcome you in their bed," he said, his voice and expression obviously teasing.

"tienne clucked his tongue." "I will sleep on the stones, then."

R"my rose unsteadily to his feet." "Non, mon ami." You shall have my bed and I will suffer the embraces of les filles.?" He attempted a courtly bow and nearly fell over.

He moved to his feet and caught his friend. "You are impossible. You will have to say penance for that." He slung the man's arm over his shoulder, taking most of his weight.

R"my blinked drunkenly up into "tienne's face and smiled." "Oui, c'est vrai." Je suis impossible." R"my delicately and deliberately disengaged his arm from "tienne's grasp and shrugged his shoulders, settling the cloak across them." "Mon Dieu, je regrette...?" He frowned in thought." "Je regrette....I cannot remember the rest."

"No filles for you tonight. It will be all right, mon ami." You will see."

"Bah." Les filles are for every night." Greta can do this thing with her tongue...?" He smiled slowly and sighed." "C'est si bon, mon ami."

"tienne blushed furiously. He held up a" hand. "I do not want to know."

"I will bring Greta and she will teach your Aliss and you will thank me.?" R"my said this with the slow enunciation of the well and truly drunk.

"Non, you will not bring Greta." He took the other man's arm and started leading him toward his own room.

"Non?" Brigitte has...?" R"my held his hands out in front of him and looked at them." "Fingers and...she can hold a man just so and...?" He frowned." "This is not the way, "tienne."

"Sleep, mon fr're." Not....les filles."

"You will bring them to me?" I need them, "tienne." They stop the screaming," he said, his voice soft, barely above a whisper.

"I will stay with you." He knew only too well what that screaming sounded like, he heard it echo in his own ears sometimes at night.

R"my suddenly clutched "tienne tightly." "The screaming, "tienne." Always the screaming." Screaming for their mothers, their wives, screaming for God to save them.?" He sat down hard on the steps, shivering. "Thierry...he cursed me, "tienne." Called me a filthy coward when I left. I couldn't stand it any longer." The torture and the screaming and the whispering in the dark." I...?" He looked down morosely and whispered." "Thierry is right." I am a coward."

He shook his head sadly." "I prayed for Death. You are stronger than I."

R"my shook his head vehemently." "Non." I am not stronger than you." I am afraid of Death, "tienne." I am a sinner, a horrible, base sinner." Hell awaits me and I..." I'm terrified of the fire."

"Then perhaps this is a way to redeem yourself, yes?" He shook R"my's arm, as if to shake him from a spell.

R"my looked up, dark eyes bloodshot, face red and blotchy." "Do you think I am not beyond redemption?"

"I think no one is beyond redemption. I have seen Michel. He came to me." We are chosen, mon ami. You and I and the others. How can you be beyond redemption when you have been chosen by an angel?"

R"my nodded and sighed." "I will put my faith and my eternal soul in your hands, mon fr're."

He smiled." "For tonight, I ask only that you rest. We will talk in the morning." He stood up and offered R"my a hand. "Come, I will tuck you in like a petit enfant." He smirked teasingly at his friend.

He took "tienne's hand and climbed to his feet shakily." "Will you wipe my arse, too?" Put me in a fresh clout and nurse me at your breast as well?"

"tienne laughed. "I will do whatever it takes, mon ami." R"my reached for "tienne's chest, cupping his hand as if the man had breasts, and made sucking noises. "tienne shoved the man's hand away. "To bed, imbecile. Maintenant."

R"my pouted and down the hall, headed for his bedchamber with a longing look down the hallway where the sounds of giggling women could just barely be heard. "tienne gave him a little shove toward the empty room. He sighed and shuffled into the empty room and flung himself face first down on the bed." Soft snorting noises soon followed." He was still wearing his boots.

?tienne took off his sword, mantel, and mail, and laid them aside. Snagging a blanket, he curled up on a chair to watch over his friend while he slept.

His hand finally settled on the back of her chair and he tried to summon up a smile for her." "Beneoit, "tienne's monk, saw them, just a few days ago." He said they are alive." "tienne and I...we are planning a rescue, Lisette."

She lifted her chin, looking back at him again, a questioning look on her face, almost afraid to hope." "A rescue?"

He nodded." "Oui, exactement.?"

"How?" she asked, almost disbelievingly." "There are guards and..." At that moment, les jeune filles decided to flounce down the steps to breakfast." They were arranged in a variety of clothing that left little to the imagination about their bodies...or their professions. Greta, the raven-haired putain, gave Lisette a critical eye and settled into R"my's lap, wrapping her arm around his shoulder and saying in German, "She's a pretty thing." Your wife?" Lisette jerked her head at the whores, her eyes moving over them, her cheeks turning flame red. She was on her feet in an instant, tears stinging her eyes, her face red with shame." She thought she had known him. "I see you are too busy to write letters, to think of old friends." she said icily.

"Non, she is not my wife," R"my answered in French and pushed Greta from his lap. The whores tittered, whispering to themselves in German. He drew himself to his full height and glared down his aristocratic nose at them." "Aus," he commanded in German, pointing to the scullery." "Jetzt."

Greta pouted and held out her hand to him." "Our payment, m'lord?" she said in heavily accented French. He gave them black looks and moved slowly over to a locked wooden box near the hearth." He drew a key from the bunch in the pocket of his cloak and fumbled it into the lock." He took out a small, clinking wash-leather bag and carefully, deliberately counted out three gold coins.

"Sortir, putains. You have your money." Lisette said with such obvious disdain. She glared over at Remy as he fetched them their coins.

"Lisette, please," he said. He was desperately trying to diffuse the situation and Lisette's haughty commentary was not helping.

"Please, what?" Lisette said." "You owe me no explanation." I heard the rumors about your fall from grace, your whoring and your drinking, but I believed in you."

The red-head giggled at Lisette and then they flounced out, but not before Greta grabbed R"my's crotch and stroked it once or twice." Then she winked lewdly at Lisette and left. He shuddered at the woman's touch, either out of revulsion or arousal, and then glanced over at Lisette, his cheeks just now beginning to burn with shame that she had to see him so low.

"I hope they were worth it, bastard, " she hissed and raised her hand to slap R"my again.

This time, though, he caught her hand and squeezed it in his fist." He could feel the delicate bones of her wrist grinding in his grip, and part of him was filled with revulsion at this awful display of his temper. "You will not strike me again, mademoiselle," he said in a low, scary voice. He drug her to the table and thrust her into her chair. She clenched her jaw, refusing to cry out in pain, refusing to show any weakness." Her only reaction was the tears that filled her eyes and the paleness of her face.

R"my leaned down to her, bracing himself on the table and the arm of her chair, his face inches from hers now." His voice was still low, scary, as he hissed between clenched teeth." "Yes, I drink." Yes, I rut." Yes, I gamble." But you," his eyes narrowed dangerously, "you child...do not know the tortures visited upon me in that place. You do not hear the screaming, smell the burning flesh, feel the bite of the knives. Do not judge me, Lisette. Do not dare."

"You are despicable. I detest you!" she screamed at him.

He straightened, still glaring down at her." "Then leave, Lisette." Take "tienne and Beneoit and begone!?" He whirled around, turning his back on her, and stomped up the stairs.? The loud slamming of his bedchamber door echoed through the house.

After R"my had a bath and attended to some business matters, he met Lisette in his mother's rose gardens. When he found her, she was dozing on a bench in the sun. He stopped in mid-stride, his breath caught in his throat. A beam of sun had fallen across her face, turning her skin golden. He allowed himself just a moment to look at her, his eyes moving hungrily over the lines of her face and the lush curves of her body. With a sigh, he moved closer to her. "My lady?" he said gently.

She awoke and blinked up at him, a smile spreading across her face. He returned her smile and bowed, making a leg. "Will you walk with me, my lady?" His voice betrayed his teasing. Somewhere in the alcohol-soaked recesses of his brain, despite obviously growing up and becoming the beauty in front of him, Lisette was still the snot-nosed kid he threw into the duck pond when she wouldn't leave him and Alain alone.

"Oui, my lord." She moved gracefully to her feet and took his arm. They walked and talked, discussing nothing of consequence. The sun sunk lower on the western horizon and Lisette was shivering, having left her cloak in the chateau.

"We should go inside." Do you still play chess?"" R"my turned their steps towards the house, knowing they could get hot cider and warm themselves by a roaring fire.

"I have not played in years." You might find me a poor adversary." She smirked at him. "Alain says you're a poor loser. Is that true, monsieur?" Not deigning to answer this, but instead giving her a disgusted look, he led her into the Great Hall where he called for some warmed, mulled wine and set up the chess board in front of the hearth. There was a merry fire burning and he allowed Lisette to choose her side.

She settled herself on a chair, arranging her skirts just so. "Hmm..." She appeared thoughtful a moment. "You would most likely expect me to choose white, yes" A lady would choose white," she smiled at him, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

He dropped himself into the chair opposite her and sighed, rolling his eyes." "The plotting and scheming starts after we have chosen sides, ma petite chaton."

"Oh, no, that is where you are wrong, R"my," she said with a grin. "The plotting and scheming has already begun." She turned the board, choosing black. "You are a Knight. You should be white."

He sighed again and took his king." One corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk and he laid the piece down on its side in the middle of the board. She arched a brow at the gesture. "You give up so easily?" she asked. "I had hoped for more of a challenge."

"What can I say, my lady." I pale in the face of your...plotting." he said, still smirking.

"Oh!" Her cheeks flushing. "I forgot to pick some roses for the table."

He waved his hand." "You are prettier than any rose and bring a flush of beauty to my table."

"You have a sweet tongue, monsieur." I wonder if it tastes as sweet as it speaks," she said, arching a brow.

He blinked in shock." "Lisette! You should not say such things, my lady." You aren't a low-born harlot."

She laughed almost girlishly at him. "Oh, I see....it is fine for a man to say such things to a woman, but never the other way around. Besides, I do not say them to every man I meet." "You should not say them at all, Lisette." What would Alain say if he heard you speak such things?"

She sighed and leaned back in her chair at the mention of her brother's name, worry shadowing her face. "My brother must understand that I am no longer a child and that I have a mind of my own," she said firmly.

"You may not be a child, Lisette, but you are still a lady." You must act like one." For your own sake, and that of your family's."

"The sake of my family's," she repeated dourly." "What family would that be, R"my' Would that be my parents, God rest their souls" Or my dear brother who is..." Her voice broke.

He clenched his jaw against the sudden rise of annoyance and stood up, grabbing the iron poker from the rack near the fire and going to the hearth." He squatted next to it and thrust it into the logs, stirring the embers. "You need a husband, Lisette," he said softly, speaking to the embers." "Someone to provide for you, someone to protect you." You need to act like a lady."

She stiffened, flushing with anger. "As you need a wife, R"my?" Her words were sharp and dripping with sarcasm. "I have had this conversation with my brother, and I will not be forced into a marriage of convenience. A loveless union." To wed some fat, boring, slob of a husband just so he can rut with me and I can grow fat bearing his children."

He laid the poker aside and shook his head." He stood and turned to her." He licked his lips and shook his head." "You will make a good wife and a good mother, Lisette." You have much to offer." I have nothing to offer anyone. Who would marry me, Lisette?" I am a lech, a drunk." I am a vice-ridden, wretched sinner.?" His voice broke and he clenched his jaw." "I am a self-confessed heretic and a blight on the Order."

"I do not believe that. Any of that."

He chuckled." "Regardless, it is true." He shook his head." "I think perhaps if...?" He closed his eyes and turned from her, whispering now." "...something happens during the rescue and I...don't return...it may be better for everyone."

She blanched at his words. "Please don't say that," she whispered.

He threw the chess board across the room, scattering the pieces over the floor, and cried out in anguish, giving voice to the demons in his head that taunted him with his weakness." "I am nothing, Lisette!" Don't you understand?"

She flinched, startled by his outburst. She slowly stood, her skirts swishing as she went to him. "You are a good man, R"my," she whispered. He fell to his knees, broken sobs wracking his body." He put his arms around her waist and buried his face in her skirts, gripping her tightly and pouring out his soul through his tears.

She looked down at him, stroking his hair, trying to soothe him. "I believe in you." She held him close, her fingers tangled in his hair, whispering soothingly. He cried himself dry, feeling a little like he did when he was a boy and being held by his mother against her skirts, running her fingers through his hair and murmuring softly to him.

"You are not nothing." You are a knight." She crouched down in front of him and cupped his face in her hands, lifting his head to face her.

He looked up at her, his face red and blotchy from the crying." He felt miserable and it should stand to reason that he looked that way, too." "Lisette, please," he whispered." "Don't be nice to me."

"Why should I punish you? You are punishing yourself enough." She gently brushed the tears from his face with her fingers. "It does not matter what Order you belong to or what title you bear." You are a knight in your heart, R"my." And you always will be."

He pulled away from her and sat on the cold flagstones of the Hall." "I hate this," he said, sniffling pathetically. He gave her an ironic smile, more a lifting of the corner of his mouth than an actual smile." "The temper tantrums and the weeping like some silly old housewife." His expression turned darker and he looked away from her. "The nightmares and the constant physical pain...and the pain in my soul," he finished quietly.

She frowned at him with pity and compassion. "I wish I could help you," she told him softly, reaching out to touch his cheek. She pulled his hand away from his face and looked into his eyes, really looked, as if searching his soul.

He scrubbed at his face, the signet ring on the middle finger of his left hand making a soft rasping over the stubble on his cheeks. Her touch burned beneath his skin. The urge to entwine his fingers with hers and pull her into his lap was overwhelming." She was so beautiful, so sweet-smelling. He acted, taking her hands between his own and lifted them to his lips, kissing each of her knuckles delicately. He leaned closer to her, filling his nose with her scent - roses, clean linen, woodsmoke, and under that, a soft muskiness that he knew was just her." He felt a stirring of desire and slid his hands up her arms, feeling the silken texture of her sur-cotte and instinctively knew couldn't compare to the silken texture of her skin.

"R"my, I -"

"When is dinner" I am starved!" A voice bellowed behind them.

R"my immediately let go of her and scooted backwards on his behind, looking for all the world like a startled crab. He stumbled to his feet and smoothed down the front of his clothing, adjusting his belt to hide the tell-tale signs of his desire for Lisette.