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Married In	By : healerrennie8503 Category: +S through Z > WW: World of Darkness Views: 3449 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own WW: World of Darkness, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Marianne
mainly kept to her rooms during the week before her wedding. Her dress, a wine
red gown with black and silver trimmings, rested the whole time on a formed
stand while Marianne occasionally took a needle and thread to it with some
imagined fault in the stitching. If Catherine or her nurse pointed out that
Marianne seeming nervous, she adamantly denied it.
Catherine
had gone into a form of denial. She�d been told everything that Marianne had
been told about the world they were suddenly immersed in, yet she seemed to
think it was all some sort of joke. Whenever Marianne brought it up, Catherine
laughed loudly.
The
nurse wasn�t much better, having slipped into apathy. Anytime Marianne talked
about anything beyond the normal world, she grunted and shuffled about what she
was doing.
Marianne
quickly felt herself growing isolated. No one from the court thus far had
acknowledged her, though some expressed outright contempt at her presence
there, and the two people that she was supposed to be
able to confide in were in varying forms of disbelief. She didn�t feel
comfortable the one time she ate in the dining hall so she took to having her
meals sent to her rooms where her nurse and Catherine would join her.
Unfortunately for Marianne, this only proved to isolate her more, alienated
from her own country folk.

It was
October twenty-ninth when her door guard (an older man whom she�d never gotten
the name of) announced that she had a visitor while she was reading a rather
good part of a book she�d found in the library. She was surprised and beckoned
that he should allow whoever would visit her to enter.
The
rather plain woman that entered had two children with her. The smaller one was
resting against her left shoulder and the other one was walking in hand on her right.
�Hello,
Marianne� That is your name right? Oh good,� the woman said as she entered.
Slightly stunned, Marianne nodded that the woman had been correct in naming her
and remembered her manners belatedly.
�Oh!
Please,� Marianne said and gestured to the few chairs around a small table in
her sitting room, �have a seat. I�m afraid I don�t know you so forgive my
rudeness in asking your name?�
�You�re
not rude, although Nick is for not telling you that we�d be arriving.
I�m Alayna Chechov and these two scamps are my sons, Alexei and Christen. My
husband, Alexander, is Nicholas�s older brother,� Alayna answered quickly,
deftly placing her two children in a chair while taking one for herself. She
seemed to be buzzing with energy and life to Marianne, who was still very
confused.
�You�ll
excuse me if I�m at a loss as to what to say. I�m afraid I�m rather out of my
depth right now and that was even before you arrived,� Marianne responded,
sitting indelicately in a chair across from Alayna.
�I
gathered you would be. Anywise, I just thought I�d introduce myself and welcome
you to the family, not to mention take a look at the French girl that has
everyone either spitting or laughing,� Alayna said, the kind look to her
softening the words she spoke.
�I
don�t belong here. I barely withstood one meal with them. I�ve yet to mention
that Catherine and my nurse both either don�t believe or don�t care. I can�t
talk to anyone here and �� Marianne cut herself off, feeling all the pent up
emotions threatening to overflow and break loose. Alayna, though, saved her
that small embarrassment by standing up, taking the few steps to Marianne and
pulling Marianne to her feet and into a hug.
�There
now� It�s all right, little one,� Alayna said soothingly, slowly and steadily
stroking Marianne�s back. Marianne felt her resolve crumble and the tears
started falling to Alayna�s shoulder. It was the better part of five minutes
spent like that, with Alayna whispering soothing nothings in Marianne�s ear
while she cried herself out.
�Well
now�� Alayna said as Marianne�s tears trickled to a halt, leaving her eyes red
and puffy, �It seems as though I have some things to talk to Nicholas about as
well. I knew about your Lady and your nurse before you even spoke of them. They
seemed to think that I was �normal like them� and they were more than willing
to talk to me. Your nurse isn�t one to worry about. However, your Lady,
Catherine, is. I�m afraid she may do something rash if she�s not brought around
soon.� Marianne opened her mouth to say something but Alayna cut her off before
she could do so.
�Now
now, Marianne, it�s not your fault so don�t you dare try to apologize. I�ll see
to it that everything is sorted out right quick,� Alayna added, quelling
Marianne�s preemptive apologizing and touching a gentle hand to each cheek.
�Alexei, Christen, we�re going to see Uncle Nick. Come along now,� Alayna said
and was out the door with her children in tow faster than Marianne could
rightly sort out.
Marianne
rushed to the door quickly and called out to Alayna. �What did you mean when
you said they thought you were normal like them?� Marianne asked.
�Fret
not, Marianne. I�ll tell you when I get back.�

But
fret Marianne did. She couldn�t forget what Alayna had said, nor could she
forget how the woman had treated her, as if she had every right to be upset at
her treatment here, as though it was all right to expect some sort of courtesy.
It was
probably an hour later when Alayna returned, this time without her two boys,
though Marianne could see them from her sitting room window playing out by the
fountain in the snow. Alayna was balancing a tray of finger foods in one hand
and carrying a pitcher of some liquid and two mugs in the other. She smiled and
set them on the table.
�I
figured you�d be a little bit hungry after what happened earlier. Now no
blushes for that Marianne,� Alayna said, bringing Marianne up sharply
mid-blush. �You had every right to be upset. Honestly, at least Nick was
receptive to common sense when I met with him. I�m sure that boy hasn�t even
seen you since your first day here� And judging from that blush, I�m right yet
again.�
�He�s
probably been busy�� Marianne said weakly, taking a small biscuit from the tray
on the table. She was about to take a
bite of it when she heard Alayna �tsk-tsk� at her.
�Defending
him already, even though the way he�s treating you is less than you deserve.
Marianne� I don�t know if this has been absorbed yet but you�re in a different
world than the one you grew up in. Your place is not to be a pretty arm
ornament, nor meekly stand behind the man that dragged you into this world. Now
you�re going to have to get used to that, Marianne. You�re going to have to
speak up on your own behalf.� Alayna smiled kindly at the younger girl.
�There
are more than just the Garou and the other Fera in the
world, my dear. I�m of the Kithain, or fae, as you would know them. I know of
vampires that wander the nights, and I�ve heard of mages. This world is a
dangerous place, but I�m sure you�ll manage. You�re strong in your own right, you
just don�t realize it yet,� Alayna said gently but firmly, staring with brown
eyes into Marianne�s storm gray.
Marianne
felt drawn into those eyes that seemed to hold only the truth. Something felt
repressed in Marianne�s mind, like something long forgotten straining for
release, but the gaze broke before any hint of what could be buried within her
could be revealed.
�Come
with me. You�ve kept yourself cooped up here in these rooms and that�s no way
for a young girl to spend her days!� Alayna dragged Marianne out of the room
and into the corridors, past various residents of the court who looked at the
fae and her companion with a mixture of annoyance and confusion. Alayna only
paused long enough for her to don her own cloak and throw Marianne�s at her before
they were off again, Marianne struggling to get her cloak on before they burst
outside into the cold wintry air.
Christen
was the first to notice his mother and Marianne coming down the steps to the
courtyard, which he promptly notified his brother of. Alexei whirled to see the
pair. As one, they started charging towards their mother. Just before they
would attach themselves to her skirts, she scooped them both into a hug. She
quickly set them back down on the snow packed ground. Christen promptly returned
to building the mound of snow into something he could carve hollow and use as a
fort. Alexei, though, turned to Marianne and cocked his dark-haired head to one
side.
�Who�re
you?� he asked in his childlike way. Marianne couldn�t help but smile and kneel
down to face the boy on his level.
�I�m
Marianne. I�m going to be living here now, with your uncle,� Marianne
responded, leaving unsaid that she would be his aunt in little more than three
days time.
�With
Unka Nick?� Alexei
asked incredulously.
�Yes,
with �Unka Nick�,� Marianne confirmed. Alexei grinned broadly at her and ran
off then to join his brother.
No
sooner were the two boys reengaged in their activity than a ball of snow hit
Marianne�s cloaked shoulder. Marianne whirled to where the snowball came from
and saw Alayna already packing another snowball in her hands. With a shout of
surprise, Marianne quickly scooped up some snow and returned the courtesy.
Alayna exclaimed her shock at the favor being returned so quickly but quickly
threw her new ammunition. With shouts and shrieks and sharp peals of laughter,
the two girls had a snowball fight out by the fountain before the front
entrance to the mansion.
Soon,
the two boys joined in, throwing snowballs indiscriminately. Marianne and
Alayna always wound up missing the more agile and fleet-of-foot Alexei and
Christen but they seemed to have no trouble at all getting a snowball to hit
the older women.

The sun
was behind the tall trees before the four snowball-fight participants staggered
back inside. Alexei and Christen ran off down one corridor while Alayna and
Marianne headed back to Marianne�s rooms.
�I�ll
introduce you to Alexander tonight, that is if you�re
willing to come to dinner with the rest of us?� Alayna said, questioning the
French girl as they approached her rooms.
�I�d
like that very much Alayna. Thank you,� Marianne responded.
�My
pleasure, Marianne,� Alayna replied as Marianne reached for the door handle
with a nod to her guard. �See you at dinner.�
�Yes,
I�ll see you � Nicholas!� Marianne was startled to see the man by the window in
her drawing room. �What are you doing here?�
�This
is my home. I can be wherever I want to be within these walls,� Nicholas
responded coolly.
�I�m
sorry� I was just startled is all,� Marianne quickly explained apologetically.
�And
you�ll be seeing whom at dinner?� he asked, prompting her response.
�I�m
going to see Alayna, your brother�s wife, at dinner, whom, due to your charming
lack of information, I didn�t know about until she was at my door,� Marianne
responded, more sharply than she ever had in her life. She averted her eyes
after saying that, fearing what she�d get in her home for speaking so harshly.
�It
seems as though she�s already started on bringing you out of your shell as
well. That�s at least a small relief,� Nicholas stated simply, causing Marianne
to look back at him quickly. She was unsure of why she had been allowed to
speak so freely without censure. Was this what Alayna had meant when she�d told
her she�d have to speak on her own behalf?
�If-
ahem� If there�s nothing I can do for you, Nicholas, I need to find my nurse
and Catherine,� Marianne said firmly, but bracing herself again for censure.
�Oh
will you stop acting like I will strike you down? You will get no censure from
me for speaking your thoughts� The Fenrir, maybe, and, more than likely, the
Shadow Lords will as well, but not me. As for there being something you can do
for me, there is something in fact. You can come with me. There�s something I
wish to show you.� Nicholas stood now five feet away from Marianne and already
she felt her pulse rising in anticipation. She kept her eyes to her skirts,
fearing what looking into his face would do to her.
She
barely quelled the initial jump of surprise when Nicholas�s hand abruptly came into
view, and looked up to meet his gaze. For an unguarded moment, she saw the
longing for companionship that hovered behind all the sense of duty and honor
in his gold-and-green eyes. As quickly as it was there, though, it was gone,
and Nicholas had her hand in his. It was obvious that he wouldn�t do more than
silently plead with her until she assented, and she admitted only to herself
that she was curious as to what her fianc� could want to show her.
Marianne
was only slightly wary of her fianc� now, when she'd seen that unguarded
expression. She noticed now, being so close to him, that
his hair was so black because of the brown, dirty blond and deep auburn strands
sprinkled throughout it. Curiosity
finally winning out, she nodded her silent assent to go along with him and see
what he had to show her.
They
left her apartments with Nicholas leading the way. Anyone of court that the
pair passed on the way kept their sneers and snickers to themselves in the
presence of Nicholas. Her nurse passed them going the other direction and
Marianne stopped long enough to tell the elderly lady to inform Catherine that
she'd not be having dinner with them in her rooms that evening.
"Only
this evening?"
Nicholas asked as they resumed their trek to wherever they were heading.
"It
depends on many factors whether it will be a practice I will continue. My first
night at the dinner table wasn't exactly pleasant if I recall correctly,"
Marianne responded noncommittally.
Nicholas
nodded slightly with a grunt for an agreement. "You're behavior in the
face of that animosity was admirable though," he added. Marianne quelled
the blush that threatened her.
"Keeping
my composure in the face of adversity is one of the few things Lord and Lady de
Pottier allowed themselves to take pride in me
for," Marianne stated blandly, though, to anyone nearby with any lick of
empathy, it was flowing with resentful undercurrents.
"And
what else did they take pride in you for?" Nicholas asked, coming to a
stop in the middle of the hall, ignoring anyone passing on either side.
�So few
I could list them on one hand. Diplomacy was the first, as previously
mentioned. My singing is the second and instrument playing the third, as the
Lord and Lady I have the supposed honor of calling my parents seemed to think
it was entrancing. Women aren�t allowed to sing in church choirs and the Lord
and Lady, my parents, wouldn�t pay for a voice tutor. I taught myself how to
play a few instruments, like the harpsichord and the lute. I had the luck
though to be caught singing by a Spanish composer and he trained my voice free
of charge. He left for Venice
last year though. He wrote once, begging me to follow him and claiming that I
could make a name for myself there with him. Obviously I didn�t�� Marianne
explained at length.
�Why
didn�t you?� Nicholas asked, interrupting.
�I�m a
lady of the Court, Nicholas. You may call me selfish if you wish, but I would
not risk my standing just for a chance that I could sing. While he had shown
nothing but kindness to me, I have nothing more than a fond place in my heart�
for his teachings. Women own nothing, and the only way they earn a profit is to
sell their bodies to anyone that will have them. I will not lower myself to
that, ever, even if it meant I could sing for the rest of my life.� Marianne
was breathing heavily at the end of her tirade. She had attracted a few stares
but she didn�t notice, fully focused on Nicholas. �What does it matter anyway?
Signor Delgrande was a kind man, yes, but��
�But?�
Nicholas prompted but Marianne found herself at a loss for words. How could she
explain that she found her new life among the werewolves more enticing than
that which she could�ve lived in Venice?
What words were there to tell him that she felt that she belonged there?
�I � I
don�t know�� Marianne stammered, staring at Nicholas� face. It wasn�t hard to
just lose herself there, staring at him, memorizing every feature and every
scar, but he called her back to her surroundings quickly enough.
�Marianne?
Is anything wrong?� Nicholas asked, worry plain on his voice if not on his
face.
�No�
Nothing�s wrong� I just got lost in my thoughts for a moment,� Marianne
responded with a weak smile. �Shall we continue? You wanted to show me
something?�
�That
can wait. I�ve got a different idea� Come with me,� Nicholas said and, taking
her hand in his, started away at a faster pace than before in another
direction.

�Close
your eyes,� Nicholas said, his hand resting on a doorknob. The part of the
house they were in now was quiet and deserted. Marianne could only guess that
this was the area of his private rooms, where she would live after the wedding.
Marianne quickly quelled the flutter that that thought brought up and proceeded
to close her eyes as ordered. She heard him open the door and there was a small
pause as he wandered a few steps down the hall and returned shortly with a
candle, she assumed, since candlelight was now playing across her face. He went
into the room, his footsteps echoing against the walls, presumably to light the
sconces in the walls. When he came back, he didn�t have the candle. He took her
hands in his and pulled her gently and slowly into the room. When he stopped,
she almost stumbled into him and opened her eyes on reflex, but her strongest
reflexes kicked in and she managed to avoid both. He moved behind her and
placed his hands on her shoulders.
�Open
your eyes now,� Nicholas whispers in her ear, leaning close to do so. Marianne
felt herself go weak in the knees from the hot breath on her ear but opened her
eyes despite the other emotions rushing through her at that moment.
The
sight that greeted her was one that set her to marveling. A harpsichord was
arranged next to a new instrument that Marianne had only heard of vaguely as a
piano. There was also a harp and various stringed instruments carefully
arranged around the room. On the wall with the door were shelves and shelves
with books that were undoubtedly filled with sheet music on precious paper.
She
slowly took reverent steps forward and sat before the new piano. Carefully, as
though afraid the slightest touch would dissipate this room she was surely
dreaming of, she opened the cover and gently pressed down a white ivory key.
When no sound issued forth, she struck the key again, only this time a little
harder, and a pure note hummed through the frame.
Humming
softly a pitch, she struck other keys until she found what she believed to be
middle C. She found also that the softer she struck the keys, the quieter the
sound that issued from the piano, so she took to quickly striking them and then
moving on, hearing the notes blur together in the melody that had no name.
Slowly
as though loath to leave her, Marianne�s passion faded and the notes ringing
through the air and her fingers diminished into a hum only heard in her head.
As loathly as her passion for the new instrument, she slowly stood and closed
the cover over the keys. She turned and was surprised to see Nicholas still
standing there and staring at her.
She
suddenly felt very revealed and bare to staring eyes. She�d never let anyone
but Signor Delgrande see her play or sing and that had only been because he
taught her.
�Where
�� Marianne�s voice faltered and so she cleared her throat to try speaking
again. �Where did you get all these? Why do you have them?�
�My
aunt, my mother�s sister, used to love playing for the children. She taught us
all music here. She loved everything that came about in the music world. The
piano was the last thing she had brought in before she passed away,� Nicholas
responded, and suddenly Marianne felt aghast at herself. She cast a glance back
at the piano behind her. It was dusty with a few years disuse as was everything
in the room. There were chairs stacked over in a corner. She could just see a
gaggle of children sitting in those chairs and listening reverently as a woman
played something from those books on the wall.
�I�m
sorry. I didn�t �� Marianne stutters but Nicholas made a dismissive gesture
that cut her off.
�Don�t
worry about it. It�s good that this room will get some use again. It�s been
abandoned ever since my aunt became too ill to play. No, there�s no need for
apologies, my dear Marianne. You enjoy it as much as I remember my aunt
enjoying it. As far as I�m concerned, and I�d say that I�m concerned very much
since these are all mine now, this room can be yours� If you want it, that is.�
Marianne
was stunned in the wake of Nicholas� offer. This room could be hers?
Everything, from the piano to the last sheet of music, could be hers if she
just said she wanted it? What affirmative could express her absolute jubilation
at such an offer? She settled for vehemence carrying her message through.
�Oh yes
I would! Oh thank you! Thank you!� she proclaimed, practically running at him
and throwing her arms around him. She couldn�t stop beaming at Nicholas, even
as she somewhat sheepishly distanced herself from him. She didn�t back away as
far as she thought she would�ve, staying well within arms length from him as
though unwilling to leave him either.
�You
are very welcome, Marianne,� Nicholas responded, his hand gently touching the
side of her face, coming to a rest while cupping her cheek. Despite herself,
she leaned her head into the caress, her grin fading to a smile that shone
still brightly in her blue-gray eyes.
She had
seemed to shun touch but her acceptance of it now was unexpected, and made her
surprisingly more tempting than before. The brown hair that was tucked up
neatly into a pillbox hat, the stormy eyes shone like the sun breaking through
the clouds to bring a rainbow forth with her happiness at the gift she�d
unexpectedly received, the fair completion with just a sprinkling of freckles
from her Irish predecessors, the red and white dress with silver crosses
stitched onto the white as glimmering shadows, the way she simply stood there
staring at him and allowing his touch; her entire visage was incredibly
tempting to behold for Nicholas now, causing his reserve to slip more than it
had while she was playing the piano.
Marianne
beamed at him, unsure of what else she could possibly do to show her
appreciation of this gift. Her eyes sought out his and found the confliction of
admiration crossed with desire in the golden green depths. Without truly
thinking about it, she stepped back towards him. She reached up slowly, as if
unsure, and brought her right arm up to rest around his shoulders and then
relaxed against him, unwittingly dragging him down slightly. With that small
gesture, he took an unspoken cue, tilting her face up to his, and kissed her.
At
first shocked, she inhaled sharply. Unversed in the ways of intimacy, she
didn�t realize that she�d just given him a cue to allow him to explore her
mouth with his tongue. She moaned slightly into the kiss, finding it
unexpectedly pleasant, and leaned against him to keep herself
upright. Even though occupied, he was able to compensate quickly by wrapping an
arm about her waist.
Marianne
felt like she was drowning but she didn�t care. If this was just what kissing
was like then how would she withstand the pleasure if things progressed? She
felt like she was floating as it was.
�Your
Grace? Ah! Your Grace! Lady de Pottier!� the query and subsequent request for
attention brought them back to their surroundings abruptly and Marianne
practically sprang away from Nicholas, blushing almost fit to match her dress.
It was only his arm about her waist that kept her from actually doing so.
�Yes?�
Nicholas responded, the barest hint of impatience in his tone. The man in the
doorway to the room looked suddenly very embarrassed to be there.
�Forgive
me, your Grace, milady, but it�s almost time for the evening meal to be
served,� the man said quickly, blushing to his hairline.
�Very
well� We�ll be down shortly,� Nicholas responded curtly, and waved his free
hand in a dismissing gesture. The man quickly took his leave. �Come, milady�
You have a meeting with my brother�s family to keep, I believe,� Nicholas said
now to Marianne, but not releasing her from their partial embrace.
�Yes I
do. I should like to keep it,� Marianne responded, though a hint of
disappointment came through on her words. Nicholas chuckled at her.
�Then
keep it you shall, and we will have other times to explore things such as
this.� With that he kissed her again, though not as fully, nor as long, as
their first, and they went to dinner.

Werewolf: the
Apocalypse is property of White Wolf Publishing, which I unfortunately don�t
have any sort of part in so I don�t own the basis for this story� However, I do
own the characters within. *grins* Marianne Goddard de Pottier, Catherine
Dathyra, the nurse, Nicholas Elexei Chechov (a.k.a. �his Grace�), Alayna
Christovich-Chechov, Alexander Chechov, Alexei and Christen Chechov are mine.
Whee� Lemon stuff will probably be next chapter. It�s the Wedding Night, you
know� Please R&R.
~Unknown
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