AU - MAGNI & LAKSHMI

[mahalakshmi]

if you'll be my light, i'll be your shelter

i. first meeting | a non existent engagement and a hasty marriage ii. a tempertantrum in a thunderstorm | sticks and stones may break my bone but words will leave me with crippling anxiety (and a headcold) iii. a kindness of intimacies | nsfw, sometimes, love is like falling into an icy lake iv. just like the battle of troy, there is nothing subtle here | when the world conspires to consistently make you insecure about your wife.

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A MEETING ROOM NEGOTIATION.

[villieldr]

A rival jarldom, suffering in the wake of a fire that had devastated part of the forest that wrapped about them, and travelledthrough one the township that relied upon the Jarl for its safety. Worse, though, was the impact it had had on the agriculture. For all that there had been many losses, the people were starving with the loss to their crops.

Talonhold was fortunate, both that it had control of the great lake and roads surrounding it (and a portion of its wealth came from the levies and tariffs that came with that) and because their crops had been plentiful these past years, and they had a generous surplus stored in case of difficulty as well as what as sold. For all that people had doubted them, her father and grandfather had tried to approach the Jarldom with a fresh mind and to build on the wealth that was already there, and they had done well - in part due to the advisors that aided.

They sit, now, in a meeting room with the advisors. Lakshmi at her side, as she had started to be these past weeks, as they discuss several matters. Amongst them, of course, what was to be done about Jarl Lindqvist's predicament. Magni had sat silently as the situation was discussed. All of their suggestions and advice conservative, remembering past tensions, and Magni looks—

much as she ever does. Serious, closed off, thinking and not protesting their lack of offered aid. It is a dilemma, in truth, because they do not know what their own yield will be come the autumn, and if they should offer up to much of their own supply, what if it go wrong? What if Talonhold's people go hungry? She chews the inside of her cheek, uncertain, and does not voice protest to the lack of assistance that the advisors push for, outline as the most sensible approach, given history.

[mahalakshmi]

Lakshmi sits quietly, through the meetings, and she knows - that they unsure about her. Being here, the ear that Magni now deliberately gives her out of more than just the flutterings of early love and affection as they suspected. Lakshmi is not here just to sit at Magni's arm as a pretty bauble, and they would learn it, one way or the other.

Sooner than she expected, as she sits there, listening to them. Talking about people - living people - and caring more about their own position than the suffering of those around them. Happy to keep enemies than make friends and build out further out of good merit.

"My Jarl - " alarmed eyes darting between them and inhaling a deep breath. " - This cannot be a serious proposition? We would leave people, innocent people, to suffer from famine for a meagre short term advancement?"

[villieldr]

Magni is tense and deeply uncomfortable. Discussing decisions that could effect the lives of people that she had never met seemed so... cold, somehow. Like it stopped them from being people at all, when they were discussed in these terms. The conversation feels like its a decision already made that is being brought up for the sake of briefing rather than debate, and she's turning that over in her mind as well. Did they not expect her to be involved? Or was this so much an established course of action that it was perfectly reasonable for it all to be presented thus?

Lakshmi's words snap her focus back.

"We—" She pauses, inhales. "Must ensure that Talonhold's people don't starve through the winter. Lindqvist has sought to undermine us, as did his parents before him."

One of the advisors, a man with a thick grey beard with bolts of black still streaking it, nods his agreement. His manner is polite, rather than condescending, his features chiselled, and he wears a medallion that marks him as a senior amongst the advisors. With all respect, Grevinne, this isn't short term advancement. Ensuring the longer term good of Talonhold is essential.

[mahalakshmi]

"Then you would remember - " she strains on the words, talking to Magni but not at all talking to Magni, and it shows, how she meets each of their eyes, and though it sharp, it's a smile on her lips, so sweet it looks like it could cut, " - you should all remember, that famine breeds one thing when left too long. Refugees. Disease. That spreads along travel routes."

Direct, she pushes forward, "Travel routes as their neighbours, we share." And in particular, she looks up, at the worst of the conservatives as she saw it. "With all due respect."

[villieldr]

Sir Octavian Dolmar's brows furrow, and he smooths over his beard, displeased. Forgive me, Grevinne, though his tone grants little apology,but if Bundelkhand prospered as Talonhold does then perhaps these cautions would hold more weight. You are not yet familiar with the north.

She is only the Grevinne, after all, and not the Jarl. Moreover, she was the Grevinne to the Jarl who no one expected. Dolmar looks to the other advisors, and leans closer to Magni. Jarl, you cannot consider squandering the work your father and brother did to secure the safety of Talonhold.

Magni feels paralysed. Hears the truth of what Lakshmi says, and feels torn towards the safety of what has always been.

[mahalakshmi]

He dared. The chair scrapes underneath her as she stands, planting both hands on the edge of the table. Oh, she was having none of that. "If Talonhold prospered liked Bundelkhand prospered, you would not need the honour of my name." It's snapped, unforgivingly harsh.

Which was too harsh, undoubtedly, but she had begun now. "This is the honour of your hold, your people, your Jarl, that you compromise."

To that - she looks askance at Magni, watching, waiting, what she might say or do.

[villieldr]

There has been no need, he starts. Talonhold does not need, does not rely, does not need the strength of any other, he might suggest. Talonhold is powerful enough in its own right.

Magni stands as well. For all that she is uncertain in the matter at hand, one thing she is very certain of, steadfast.
"Out, all of you." Not Lakshmi, her gaze says, as she looks to her wife. This was a measure to stop Lakshmi's temper from doing irreparable damage to the council of advisors as much as to dismiss Dolmar and the others for a time in reprimand for speaking so of Lakshmi's home and family.

Affronted, Dolmar and the others leave, and it is only when the door closes behind them that she looks to Lakshmi. "You said that if you came to these meetings you wouldn't lash out."

[mahalakshmi]

Lakshmi straightens up, eyes fixed up, watching them leave her shoulders as straight as a soldier. Angry to say the least. Her jaw clicked shut as she works something bitter against her teeth. Until the last of them is gone, the door shut behind them.

When Magni speaks, she turns, takes a moment to pry her mouth apart to say something at least civil when she wants to go shout at Sir Dolmar for another good few minutes. But she takes the breath, at least, to not just shout it Magni.

"I said nothing that should not be said."

[villieldr]

"I need their support if I'm to rule," and doesn't hiss it but there is harshness in the whisper. "A Jarl without the favour of the advisors is—" incapacitated, surely. Blocked and sabotaged at every turn. She gulps, and looks at the door as she exhales, breath ragged.

"What do you expect me to do?" She is still a newcomer to this position, young and inexperienced and poorly looked upon by these people, in some regards. "You can't tear at their honour like that!"

[mahalakshmi]

"As they did at mine!" It is not quiet, stepping closer to Magni's chair, feet planted squarely, body rolling in the smooth step that elongates as she goes.

"Was I supposed to let them speak ill of me and my family because they do not like what I have to say?"

[villieldr]

"Of course not!" Immediate and frustrated, now. Heat rolls off her words, bitten out. "But you can't—"

Can't— what? What can be done?

"How do you expect me to help anyone, let alone those in other jarldoms if I don't win some faith with the advisors? I need to establish myself with them before I can do anything controversial."

[mahalakshmi]

"I am not saying, anyone! I am not saying some beggar off the street, I am talking about a whole land, a whole fiefdom, think of your people - what if they needed help, and you turned to them and they would rather let you starve!"

This is not like their last argument, it's something that mattered far more, and to it, she wasn't interested in flouncing off, walking away.

"We can change their minds, we can. We can appease them, I know we can, but we can't let them hurt innocent people for their pride."

[villieldr]

"That family has harmed these people in generations past, if I take from my people's mouth to feed theirs then what does that say?" What possible resolution is there to this? How in the name of all the gods is she to do the right thing? She looks to Lakshmi desperately, begging her to understand.

"I—" Magni licks her lips, chewing on the lower one now that she isn't before the council and is free to give in to her uncertain habits. "They helped my father make Talonhold as strong as she is now, flawed as that is I don't want to— I don't want to make a mistake that hurts all my people. They are innocent, too."