The One We've All Been Waiting For! (KRJ+NB)

[Nathan Brown]

(Alright, this is going to take a lot of typing and a lot of reading every little word to make sure you have the right person! I hope I made it as simple and straightforward/non confusing as I could!)

Nathan entered his father's study, where he and his uncle were sitting at a large table to the right, looking over some financial papers of some sort, his uncle holding a quill with a very disgruntled look on his face. His father, not a very kind spirited man, looked up at him and without a word, motioned for him to sit if he wished. Nathan bowed to him and did so. "Hello, father." He said as politely as he could. "I recognize that tone," he replied. James Brown was not one to dilly-dally and beat around the bush. He got to the point. "What do you want?" Nathan took a deep breath. "Father, I wish to marry."

"Who?" He asked nonchalantly, continuing on with the papers. "You would only come to me asking for marriage if there was someone in particular. She had better be good, mind you."

"From the Jackson family, sir. Their youngest daughter. Kaitlin-Rose Jackson. I wish to be married to her."

His father looked up suddenly at him. "Why?" He asked. "Have you known her?" He seemed suddenly angry. Quickly Nathan replied, "No sir. Not at all. I love her quite dearly." The words did not seem to register to his father but he continued. "I have of course been in the company of her for a while. We both serve the King and Queen, God save them. We have spoken on numerous occasions, all in good humor, all in good respect. But nothing other than that. " He was telling a lie, but he was doing it well. "I know that you of course have wished to marry me soon, and I only wanted to come and beg that you hear me out. This is who I wish to be united to me. And I hope that you will only take it into consideration. The Jackson's are a very respectable family. They are just as good, as rich, as well known as us. You know her father. Very respectable man."

"Very respectable indeed." His father agreed. His uncle stopped his writing, and looked to his brother. "James, did you not have Kaitlin-Rose's older sister on the market for Nathan? Why not have the older one marry him?"

Nathan's heart almost stopped but he regained control. "Sir, she is too old for me." He did not know if that was true or not, but he went along with it anyway. "And she is bound to be getting married to someone else soon. I know of many men who are attempting to court her and win her affection along with her families. Her family already has plans for her. But why not take Kaitlin while noone is going against us. There is bound to be another, even richer family wanting Aalina. And," How he hated talking as though Kaitlin was even worth any amount of money here on earth, as though she was an animal up for bid, but that would be the only way to convince his father, "Her parents will be eager to not have to pay a rich price for someone to take their youngest daughter. It will be much less of a hassle to take Kaitlin. She is a good natured girl. And I do believe that she will consent to marry me. Not that that would be of any use, but it will be nicer to have a girl wanting to carry through with the marriage."

Nathan was begging. Nathan was begging so terribly hard for this to work. His father looked at him, "I suppose I can arrange something with her father. Good man. I know he will be easily persuaded. And you need to be married. I will arrange it Nathan." Nathan's uncle looked to the servant who was waiting by the door, "Please go ask for the favor of the Jackson family, Kaitlin-Rose and her parents. Be kind and respectful please, don't just demand that they come at once. Let them know they can take their time."

The servant left. And Nathan waited.

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin-Rose Jackson sat on her stool looking at her reflection in her mirror. Her maid ran a brush through her hair ever so gently. Her light brown locks gleamed in the light. It fell a few inches shy of her waist. It's gentle pleats from wearing a braid so often, softened the texture. She watched as her big brown eyes tried to maintain an unreadable expression. On the outside she looked poised and put together. But on the inside her emotions were everywhere. Tonight was the night. The night that her and Nathan Brown told their families about their love for each other and how they wanted to marry. She didn't know what would happen. She didn't know how things were going inside Nathan's apartment. The whole situation was nerve racking and she couldn't do anything but wait.

She watched her maid twist her hair into an elegant, but simple, bun on the nape of her neck. She curled her loose strands with an iron, framing her pale, but beautiful, face. Then it was time to dress. She stood, her back perfectly straight and walked to the three gowns her maid had laid out for her. All were nice dresses. Not too plain, and not too fancy. She chose a soft pink gown with white embroidery decorating the front. Her sleeves touched her wrists and the soft lace flowed over her hands. Her maid's work was done, and she left, leaving her alone.

Kaitlin turned and looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She looked like a woman of high stature. She looked poised and proper, but underneath it all were secrets. Dark secrets that could never be found out. The one's about her and Nathan and what they had done. What they had done at night alone with each other. The memories were very nice, but the knowing that if it were to get out was nauseating. They would be ruined. Not only would they never be allowed to marry, but also both their name and reputations would be trashed.

There was a soft knock on her door.
"Yes?" she called softly, keeping her tone even,
It was her maid. She said there was a servant of Master Brown waiting to escort them to his apartment along with her parents. So this was it. She nodded to the feeble middle-aged woman and walked out the door. Her heeled slippers made a light noise as she stepped. She met her mother and father at the door and together they followed the servant to Nathan's apartment.

Kaitlin tried to keep her breathing as calm and soft as possible. It was extremely hard due to the fact her heart was nearly beating out of her chest. She saw the unknowing on her parent's faces. They had not the slightest idea of what was bound to happen. Well, they might have some clue. But in their eyes, who would want to marry this daughter? Why wouldn't her sister be married first? In their eyes she was nothing but a reject.

They stopped in front of the apartment door. She could hear faint voices on the inside. The knowing that Nathan was inside caused her heart to race more. She tried to calm it down, but to no prevail. The servant knocked a few times before entering. They all stepped inside. She only noticed but one person in the whole room; Nathan Brown. Her eyes found his. Her face showed little emotion, just like a lady's should. She smiled politely, but hardly repressed the urge to run into his arms.
"You must be Master Brown." Her father said. "I am Gerald Jackson. My inquiries to why we have been asked down here?"

Kaitlin was nervous. Extremely nervous. This could break everything she ever wanted. Or it could make it better. Either way she hated the pauses. It was more time between the final answers.

INVOLVING: Nathan Brown, Kaitlin-Rose Jackson
STAUTS: completed
WORD COUNT: six hundred fifty
NOTES: so sorry for the long absence. =(

[Nathan Brown]

Nathan had to catch his breath when he saw Kaitlin. The last time he had seen her was but the previous night when the wolve had almost attacked her. It seemed odd how long ago that seemed, but Nathan needed to remember that none of that could ever have happened. It did not exist. He had never been anywhere too near her before. This marriage was for family matters. Yes. Of course. His father stood and bowed to them, so did his uncle, then Nathan bowed as well. The servant left the room, leaving them in peace.

"Please," His father said, "Do have a seat. I hope this is not an inconvenience. I only wished to see if we could have the honor to arrange a marriage between my son Nathan and your youngest daughter, Kaitlin-Rose." He smiled his courtly-smile at Kaitlin, "Lady Jackson it is good to see you again." He turned his attention back to her parents and sat down in his own chair. He called for a servant to pour them some wine and continued speaking. "Of course, I'm sure that we will both be able to give each other a nice leg up with this marriage, and I think it will be good for Nathan to marry into such a profound family such as yours. I also believe that Kaitlin will gain something from the connection aswell, along with her family. I would appreciate it if we could come to this conclusion soon. We will have so much business to attend to when the summer months truly begin." He drank his wine, and his uncle chatted with him for a while, letting the Jackson man of the household decide. Not even considering to think twice about Mrs. Jackson, or Kaitlin-Rose. He payed no attention to them.

Nathan caught a glance at Kaitlin from where he sat a few feet away. He sat up straight. When had he last combed his hair? He had just come in from a hunt, his attire must be disheveled. He could do nothing of it now...

He waited for the men to stop talking. Well, the older men. It was up to them to sort this out, but it was taking ages for them to decide on what was to be given and taken and so on.

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin Rose did as she was told and sat down at the long table in Nathan's father's study. Her father sat down next to his father, Nathan's uncle on the other side. Then her mother after her father, then herself. She was one seat away from being across from Nathan. She kept her eyes down cast like a lady should. Her back was perfectly vertical, her shoulders squared. She took small light breaths, for as not to cause pain from her corset. The men discussed many things that marriage would involve. Who got what, what would be traded, how many feasts there would be, the actual ceremony, it just seemed to go on and on.

She noticed that her and her mother were completely out of the conversation. They both sat there like they were display dolls. Both women were looking breath taking tonight. Kaitlin did get most of her good looks from her mother. Dainty soft features were shared between the two. While Alani got her fathers strong exotic features. There was clearly a night and day difference between the two. It didn't seem to matter to her at all though. She liked having softer features. It made her more lady like. She shifted her eyes ever so slightly to her mother and saw an expression on her face that she hadn't seen in a long time. Pride. She was proud of her youngest daughter. She smiled ever so slightly to wards her youngest daughter and turned her attention back to the men.

Kaitlin felt like beaming. The last time her mother had been so happy with her was when she finished the most elaborate piece of embroidery in the castle. It hung proudly in the throne room, over the king's throne. It was the royal family's family crest. It had taken her months to complete, but when she had finished it, the Queen insisted that it be displayed. Her mother had never looked so happy in her life. Now, the look on her face shamed the other time. Her face practically glowed.

She shifted her gaze to wards Nathan. Her breath caught in her throat. It did every time she saw him. His eyes enchanted her. He had been looking at her. She kept the flush coming to her cheeks down. His hair was slightly rustled. It made her want to run her fingers through it. He looked like he had just come back from a hunt, which made him seem so daring. She wanted to touch him so badly. To reach out and draw him to her. But to do that would go against all principles of being a lady. She hated these rules so much, but she was in front of some of her future in laws. To mess things up now would be disastrous. Completely disastrous.

INVOLVING: Nathan Brown, Kaitlin-Rose Jackson
STATUS: completed
WORD COUNT: four hundred sixty-nine
NOTES: sorry there's no dialog. I didn't know what she could say

[Nathan Brown]

Nathan wondered what would happen if he leapt across the table and snatched her away from these terrible men, talking about her in such a demeaning way. Well, that was the way it was. He shouldn't complain. He was a man. But he did not like the way he spoke of his love. His dear dear Love. They kept at it for a very long time and he remained quiet. He was the child still in this situation and it was not up to him. But soon he would finally be considered a man. He would make the decisions for himself and his wife and his children. He shuddered at that last thought, but it was well expected. Marriage was for money and children, and status if they could help it. They would have a boy. Two boys and a little girl. Or just a boy and a girl. Or just the two boys. Well, there would definatley be a boy! He cracked a grin at that thought, suddenly liking the idea, but then feeling odd about it. He quickly got rid of the smile, hoping noone had seen, and put on a serious face again.

Finally it ended. "Nathan," said his father, "Escort Miss Jackson to dinner tonight. We'll consult the King and make sure these matters are in his favor aswell, make it seem as though we came to his approval first," he glanced at his uncle and smiled in a menacing way, "He'll prepare a feast with dancing most likely. But go ahead and make your betrothal public. You will be wedded and bedded in a months time."

Nathan stood, now smiling for all to see, and walked around the table and pulled back Kaitlin's chair gently, took her hand, and led her from the room, straight to the great hall.