Royal Courtyard

[Amaria]

Aurora had slept well that night. She had forgotten to close the baclony door, so the slight breeze and small rays of the sun kissed her cheeks. Aurora enjoyed awaking in that manner though, it was peaceful. She opened her eyes slowly, they adjusted to the light for a breif moment and then she streched gently upon her bed. The softest of sighs escaped her lips and she stared at the ceiling before getting up out of the soft silk sheets. Aurora slipped on her slippers and walked to the wardrobe and took out a simple gold gown with tan, it had simple gold swirls imprinted on it. It took her a few moments, but once Aurora finished she went to the vanity and re-did her hair. She again did the soft curls at the end. Her hair was still silky smooth, and ever so shiny. It was half up and half down, connected in the back with a gold pin. She sprayed light perfume on, nothing strong, or anything extravagant of the sort. It smelled of a clearing full of sweet flowers. A rather smooth smell. Aurora slipped on her shoes and walked out, walking towards the princess' chambers, knocking lightly before she entered. The door opened and she went in.

"There you are..." Said Saphira "I hope you've picked out something nice for me to wear, as for you, I wish not see you all day, for I shall be busy and I do not wish you seen here in the castle, so this day is yours." Aurora went and picked out a very fancy looking gown for the Princess and helped her dress in the dark green and gold dress. Her delicate fingers tightened the back and adorned her in jewels, did her hair, and sprayed her with perfume. She answered yet again her usual response. "As you wish it My Lady.." The princess was all ready in about an hour, yet Saphira stormed off as if she had somewhere better to go, but Aurora head her speak to her from the hallway. "Now dissappear from here like I asked you too."

Aurora sighed softly and so took this opportunity. She went to her chamber and looked at the book shelf in the corner of the room. She blew softly as a bit of dust puffed from the shelves. These books had not been touched in ages, which only fascinated her more. Her small hand grazed over a few before she picked one she thought would be interesting, and then left the room. her silent steps made no sound on the stone floors of the castle. She went to the stables in the courtyard and saddled up her father's warhorse. Speaking to him as she did, and then placed the old book in the saddle bag on his back. She herself had to stand on a log before she could get on. Sure enough though she managed. She squeezed the horse's sides gently and he walked off out of the stable and went to the clearing before the castle. She had seen the warning in the hallways though of leaving the castle. It seemed that the prince wished for no one to leave. It was alright, she was still in the castle, only in the clearing near the courtyards edge.

Aurora found a single tree, huge and filled with lucious leaves. They were all this beautiful dark green and not a single one was on the floor as grass surrounded the bottom of it. She thought it to be a wonderful spot, the sun was shining and there was silence other than the knights who were practicing before her. She looked down to the book though. King Arthur and His Knight's of the Round Table. A smile crossed her rosie lips and she dismounted letting Erendil graze around the tree as he wished. Walking to the tree she went and sat at the base of it, looking around once, she thought that the noises of the knight's would let her drift into the story further for it was about knights after all. Her thumb grasped the cover and her hazel green eyes looked down as she started to read. Her golden hair falling over her right shoulder from her head being tilted downward slightly as her back pressed neatly up against the trunk of the tree. Such peace she felt at this moment. Like nothing could go wrong.

Her dress molded around her as it hugged every curve of her body. The bottom of it in a disorganized circle, her legs could not be seen. In but a few moments, thoughts of Saphira, and the rumors, and everything bad had drifted off as she became more and more focused on the book. She could see it playing in her mind like a movie. She read fast, if she was lucky enough to stay here all day she would be able to finish it. Although, she didn't want to think of that right now. If she thought about her not being able to finish the story then she would have stopped reading it. If she didn't finish, who knows when the next time she would be able to touch it would be. It had happened before, which was why she had learned to read so fast. Aurora continued on though, reading and when the story became interesting, the soundof the clinging of swords and the grunts of men made her bite her bottom lip in suspense to see what won. Which knight would come and be victorious. Amazing story it was to her, yet she had never heard of it.

[Apoc]

Apoca Trivendus stifled a yawn as he rested his head against the cold stone wall near the grand doors that opened into the visitor's entrance. Visitor he was indeed, his work was being partially funded by the King, so it was time for the monthly check of his progress. Apoc felt good about his work this time. He had made a breakthrough with a material conversion that would save mass amounts of time and effort. It was getting harder and harder to conduct alchemy nowadays. With countless laws up that restricted use via magic, it was completely necessary to find loopholes and shortcuts through these laws in order to do anything mildly efficient in the trade. If one could even call it a trade.

Opening his eyes once more, he pushed his body from the wall and decided he might as well take a walk while he waited for the King to ready himself. It was still relatively early in the morning, and the King could take some time in his preparation for the day. He glanced at the master architecture throughout the castle (or is it a palace?) Ivory, granite, even some iron inside the large building. A fortune it must have cost.

Strolling idly through two towering pillars he was pleasantly surprised to feel a nice wind about his face. Absentmindedly following a worn pathway, he found himself taken by the thoughtlessness of his feet into what seemed to be an orchard. A leaf floated in the wind in front of him, drifting as aimlessly as his feet were. They also seemed to be driven by some invisible force. Gently he caught the leaf between is index and middle finger. He walked onward a little more when something caught his eye.

Something shimmering, soft, and overal pleasant to his eye even in the beautiful orchard it still seemed to draw everything to it. Investigating a little farther down the path, Apoc found that the hair belonged to a younger woman who was reading with her back to a tree seperated from the rest. At first site he felt that their was an aura around her that was almost tangible that seemed to speak of beauty that had lost its voice and was just quietly waiting for something.

Softening his step, Apoc put himself in a position of where he could see the heading at the top of the book. Losoam Travels it read in clever font. On the opposite page, the heading showed the chapter title. Apoc remember the book well, it was an adventurous book with great detail and amazing use of imagery. That particular chapter led to the climax of the book where both Protagonist and Antogonist clashed in an epic battle.

His eyes flicked back to the leaf still clutched between an abnormal combination of holding fingers. He reached into a travel sack he kept with him most of the time and pulled out a small razor sharp knife. With a careful prick he drew blood from a finger and dabbed it onto the leaf into a complicated little leaf. He folded the lead, cupped it in his hands, and concentrated hard. The leaf immediately shot inward and the blood flowed through all of it. He opened his hands and watched as it twisted and turned itself into the unmistakable shape of two knights clashing swords. The young man concentrated even harder as he filled in small details and came to the most difficult part. Slowly but sure, a shiny black substance seemed to enveloped the leaf. Finally the process finished and Apoc was holding polished black figurine of two knights clashing in an epic pose.

"Good morning madam," Apoc said as he resume slowly walking toward the tree. As he neared the spot of ground that was occupied he gently placed the figurine on the ground in clear view from her position. "How fairs the book?"

[Amaria]

The morning was beautiful and the sun was just perfect as it lit up the pages for her to read. She was so into this story that she had completely forgotten where she was at the moment. Her massive horse still grazing on the soft grass the covered the entire orchard. She thought that she was alone seeing as the people were always too busy to enter a place like this just to sit and think, release the worries of thieir life into a few moments of nature and silence.

Her green eyes shifted from side to side as she read each line, she had made herself quiet comfortable against the trunk of the tree and the grass underneath her small form was nice, the day was cool so she was not drowning in her own sweat seeing as her gown was long. They always had to be, it was unheard of to show anything other than her chest and sometimes her arms. As her eyes reached the end of the page, Aurora's gentle fingertips reached up and took hold of the corner of the page and turned it easily as she immediatly becaome sucked into reading the page behing it once more. It was getting exciting, this knight had followed the other knight into a cave. It was as dark as it could be so that the knights could not even see their own hand before them. It was becoming intense as the book described noises and some trickery in the cave, she was worried for the poor knight who had followed the other, but that was when something startled her.

"Good morning madam," came a voice from the orchard. Her shoulders jumped lightly as she had been so into the story that this had not only brought her back to the real world, but also scared her for she felt as if she had been in the cave with the knight as well. She smiled lightly to herself though, she was slightly embarassed and she thought it was completely silly for her to have been scared there for a moment. Who knew how long he had been standing there. She closed the book, but kept her place with her finger. Aurora knew that it was rude to be spoken to and have things before her that could easily distract her. She looked to him and gave him a warm smile. She had straight, pearly white teeth and her smile was one that could melt the heart of pure evil itself should the times come for it.

"Oh, hello." She said softly. She had a tone of friendliness and innocence about her. She had never seen him before, so she was somewhat shy. Her horse perked up his ears though as he now heard people speaking, his ears in the direction where the two were. Once he realized it was nothing he should be alarmed to, he placed his neck down and once more started to munch on the grass before him. Aurora felt her cheeks flush a light pink for a moment she knew that he must have seen her jump slightly when he greeted her earlier. She wasn't very good around others when she was alone, she rarely even spoke. Only when someone spoke to her, so usually it was the Princess or...no one.

Her gaze went back to his as she could feel the light strands of hair over her right shoulder now; soft side bangs lighty framing her face. "I...I hope I'm not in your way My Lord...should I be, I shall take my leave at once." She was still sitting on the ground still, the book now closed on her lap. She had not seen the figures that he had made and placed on the ground near her. In her eyes he looked like a knight, or at least he had the slight build of one, he himself had amazing eyes, but she would not stare, which was why her gaze had now gone to her horse.

[Apoc]

"No no no, fair Lady, your presence is a blessing to my own. I only glimpsed a few strands of your fair hair blowing in the soft breeze and went to investigate." Apoc gave her a reassuring smile and spoke once more, "My name is Apoca Trivendus, more commonly known as Apoc the Alchemist. To what may I have the pleasure of addressing you?" As the words left his mouth, a castle maiden scurried into the orchard and beckoned Apoc.

"Alas madam, I must deal business, but I shall return here within in the hour should you feel I am worth your time." Apoc gave her another smile, his insides mixed up with happiness that he couldn't quite title. It felt foolish in his mind to label what he felt for this simple maiden as love, but he felt something. Her presence just seemed to make him happy. That with the perfect morning weather and the progress of his work, his whole soul felt elated above the clouds. This was indeed one of those times where one feels blessed to be alive.

With one last glance in the un-named maiden's direction, Apoc swiftly followed the other maiden through a long procession of passageways which Apoc payed no attention to. As his feet moved forward in a systematic and monotone way his mind wandered. Finally when he reached his destination and entered, his mind returned to earth.

A half an hour later Apoc removed himself from the premises of the room as his update with his sponsor in the place of the king was completed. He felt almost as happy as when he had entered, and when his mind returned to the maiden, his mind elated even more but was hit by a twinge of anxiety. Would she be waiting for him when he returned? He prayed to whatever force governed the world that it would be so. As he made his way back to the orchard he convinced himself that the lady would at least do him the justice of giving him her name and entered through a pair of arches back into the orchard, his eyes scanning for life.

[rytas]

As a wealthy merchant in silks, spices, and rare exotics his business often brought Master Rytas to the castle. He had traveled far and wide to far away places and seen strange and wondrous things, and sated himself on both the divine and mundane. But in all his travels he had never seen anything like the haunting beauty of the maiden in waiting upon the Princess Saphira. Her image was never far from his thoughts and whenever at the castle would make a point to seek her out and watch her and when the moment was right, would stop to make conversation and bring her small gift.

In the morning he had arrived to meet with the Duke of Nordumbria (the Chancellor of His Majesty's Privy Council) on a matter of business, when he sighted A making her way through the gardens and into the orchard groves. He watched at a distance, and followed her as she settled herself against a tree with her book. He drank in every detail, the blush of her cheek, the full pout of her red lips, the glint in her eye. The folds of her robes as they draped over her form left only a hint of her form except for the swoop of her neckline revealing the upper mound of her breasts which slowly heaved with each breath.

He watched as a young alchemist, hardly more than an journeyman, approached and startled her as he spoke. He noted with amusement how he used his skills to fashion a charm and presented it to her. After a short conversation he departed and she returned to the world in her book.

Taking the gift he had placed in his purse that very morning for her, he opened the silk lined box and noted it with satisfaction. He approached with an easy gate, he feet falling lightly upon the dewy grass.

"Good morrow fair Aurora, tis good to see thee again." he said as he approached, hoping not to startle her. Nevertheless, she gave a small start and her attention was once again pulled suddenly from the work in the book. "I'm very sorry my dear, I did not mean to startle you. Thy book must surely be engrossing to be thus lost within it's leaves." He approached and took her hand and raised it to his lips, and while looking her fixedly in the eyes, kisses that tender hand with his lips, tasting the nectar of her skin. "Please my sweet Lady, accept this gift as a trifling token in recompense for disturbing your revere." He hands her the box and opens it, and pulls from it a necklace made of chains of the finest wrought gold, encrusted with small brilliant gems that glitter in the morning sun like the dew upon the spiders web.

[rytas]

She pulled the necklace from the box, draped gently over her delicate fingers. The little gems sparked brightly as they passed through the light, in little flecks all the color of the rain bow. Her gaze was fixed upon it lost in a cacophony of color.

"Oh, my Lord, I cannot accept such a gift. This is a charm for the fair necks of the ladies of the court. I have no place the wear this and have no need for jewels, for I am only the maiden-in-waiting to Princess Saphira. Pray Sir, give this fair gift to my Lady for it would do her justice and make her the envy of the court."

"Please my Lady, do me the honor of accepting this trifle, for it will fill my hear with joy knowing it be about thy neck. But if you cannot wear it at court, keep it in your treasury for the day you marry, and wear it upon that blessed day."

Looking reluctant and confused, she put the necklace back in the box and closed the lid. After a moment she looks up at him, "As you wish m'Lord, I will treasure this." She slipped the box into her small pocket in the front of her dress. He leans over and kisses her gently upon the forehead.

"My dear, I have taken up tp much of your time already and I must meet with the Duke. Please return to the revere of your biook." He bows politely, though his gaze drinks in every detail of her appearance and he noted with satisfaction the heaving of her breasts mounded up below her neckline. He then turnd smartly and marched off to the castle.

[Amaria]

Aurora looked down to the small bulge in her pocket now, seeing as she had the trinket in there. She didn't understand why he would wish for her to have such a costly thing, but she dare not argue with him. She sighed once more as she finished the book she had in her delicate fingers. Shleaned her head back against the tree so very satisfied that she had done it. Now watching her father's horse grazing still around the grass at the base of the tree. A warm smile came to her soft rosie pink lips as she now stood to go back inside. Yet as she did so, her hand touched something next to her. She gave a look of shock and her hand gently picked up the slightly pointy object.

When she brought it before her hazel green eyes, she opened the palm of her hand and there it was. They were the most beautifully crafted figurines. two knights if she was not mistaken. They must have belonged to the Alchemist who had been there not long ago. Maybe he dropped them? She didn't want him to lose such a gift so she took them carefully along with her book and began to stand up. Her dress unfolding each of the wrinkles as she stood. She straightened herself out by dusting herself off and flattening the front of her gown and then walked over to her horse. Taking his reigns she placed them up and over his head and he instantly knew to follow her. She held the book in the warm clutches of her hands as she took him to the couryard square. A knight so curtious offered to take her horse for her and she gratefully accepted so that she would be able to depart to her chambers quickly. She still had the rest of the day until just before dinner where she would have to get the Princess ready for the night's events.

The Alchemist, Apoca Trivendus, seemed to have wanted her to meet him in the orchard again. Seeing as she was so used to doing what she was asked, she wanted to go. Aurora went to her chambers as quickly as she could and so once inside her cozy room, she placed the book back on the shelf with the many others there. She went to the mirror and so took a quick glance at herself, she didn't know how much more time she had, but she was running a little late. She took a brush to her hair and brushed it out quickly and o them placed her long hair over her shoulder before she nodded and walked out into the stone covered hallways once more.

Her steps were quick and light as she was about 10 minutes late. The time had moved by so quickly.Aurora was even starting to doubt that he was even there. The figurines that he had made were still in her grasp, yet she held it gently so as not to ruin them. She finally reached the gate, and her gentle hand pushed the rod iron gate slowly, peeking inside to make sure she wasn't intruding on anyone. "Hello?" She called out gently. Her voice soft and merely curious as to see if anyone was there.

[Apoc]

OOC: Sorry for the delay, I've been busy...

Apoc glanced at a sun dial on the edge of a windowsill, he had gone over the time he had promised. He bit his lip in frustration, this woman was something else. All sorts of women flocked over the city, not to mention servants that were female. Still, something about this woman. His work had kept him busy over the years of his adulthood he had never even courted a woman. The idea was so foreign to him, perhaps courting was not an area he should pursue, not to mention a woman he had met for five minutes. Well, he was getting ahead of himself, first he would see if she was still there, then he could pay a little more attention to his dreams. Dreams? Was he so rabidly obsessed with this woman within an hours time his dreams were about her? Was this what love was? It was no wonder entire kingdoms were shattered over it.

Through the final archway he went. The orchard was mere feet away, his anticipation over the last hour was about to be decided. And there she was. Looking slightly out of breath yet none less just as beautiful, nay, even moreso. She had come! His spirit lifted, yet fell once more as possibilities took over his mind once more. What if she had come to tell him to leave her alone? He slowed down his pace. He had no idea what to expect, from others he had heard woman were the most complicated living thing on the planet.

"You've met me here," he said, the relief coming out in sighs as he spoke. Then noticing the figurines in her hands he spoke once more, "A-and, I see you've found my little gift for you." He finished this sentence with a smile that could cheer the destitute.

[rytas]

After departing the presence of the young maiden, he proceeded through the garden and into the palace and made his way to the chambers of the Chancellor of His Majesty's Privy Council. The guard noted the passage of this expensively attired merchant as he proceeded into the ante-chamber where he met the Secretary to the Chancellor.

He walked briskly to the young man and took his hand firmly and shook it. "Hello Charles, tis good to see thee again. And how is thy young wife and your young son?"

"Hello Mr. Rytas, tis good to see thee again too sir. Thank you for asking, sir. My heir grows hail and hearty and is almost two years of age now. My wife is with child and we are expecting out second in the spring."

"Gracious me! Has it really been that long? Ha ha! Well I am truly delighted for thee and thy lovely wife, congratulations! Is thy Lord Duke of Nordumbria in his chambers? I believe he is expecting me."

"Yes indeed, he is expecting thee." The secretary went to the large ornately carved doors and opened them. "My Lord, Mr. Riccard Rytas" he announced, bowed and stepped aside.

Rytas entered and bowed formally to the Duke. "My gracious Lord, you honor me."

The Duke made a slight bow in return. "Mr. Rytas." then looking at the secretary, "you may go Charles."

"Yes m'Lord." The young secretary bowed and backed out of the room and closed the doors.

Once the doors were closed, the Duke strode boldly forward, "Riccard, tis pleasant to see thee once again. When did you get back?" They two men embraced and heartedly beat upon the others back.

"Wilfred, tis good to see thee again too. I docked last week and arrived here only today, I came straight here. I returned with some wondrous treasures of spices, silks and exotic treasures."

The two men talked long. Speaking of families, old times, new treasures, and news of the day and of business. For long years the two men and their families had been good friends. Raytes presented an exotic precious ring to his good friend.

During the long conversations, Raytes happened to look out the Dukes window which overlooked the orchard. He saw the young maiden Amaria and noted she was in earnest conversation with the young alchemist he saw before. "Hmm" he thought to himself, "this young alchemist could be just the thing I've been looking for. I must speak with him later."

[Amaria]

Aurora had heard the gentle tone of the alchemist who had joined her in the orchard earlier. She smiled warmly, and then looked down to the figurines in her grasp. As she was about to return them to him, he had said that tey were a small gift for her. Aurora, now slightly confused as to what the occasion was gave him a slightly puzzled look. " A gift...for me?" In turn he returned the warm handsome smile that framed his face, and it touched her. "They're truely amazing.." She spoke up after a small pause of silence. "Did you make them on your own?"

The two beautiful little knights looked like the ones from the book she had been reading earlier that day. They were in the palm of her small, gentle hand as she looked to them more closely. The detail on them both were stunning and the fact that he had made it for her when she had only just met him was all so mysterious in a sense. She didn't even know what it was that had motivated her to come here. Whether it was the charming smile, the attire, how he carried himself, even that ran through her mind at the moment.

Her green hues looked up to meet his once more after she had studied the figurines more closely. "I..I thought you had left them near the tree in the orchard by mistake, I was going to return them to you." Her voice soft and sweet, innocent, of course though, she was special. They both spoke for a long while, yet she never did remember to give him her name, she would be too embarassed to anyways, she was merely a servant girl, a good one, but her name was not important. he made her laugh and his conversation of his chemistry and such was so intriguing to her. She didn't know that most of those things even existed, yet what Aurora didn't know was that she was being watched by Lord Rytas from the room nearby, she had felt eyes on them for a while yet couldn't really place her finger on it.

Looking down shyly once more Aurora hear the yelling of her Princess from the halls and her eyes widened. It was almost time for dinner and she had not been there for her. "oh no!" Aurora said quickly as she got up from a bench in the orchard. "I must go...My lady will be furious with me as it is. It was a pleasure My Lord...truely it was" With those final words she rused off quickly. The soft steps the last thing he would hear from her until it would be time for all of them to dine in the great hall of the castle.

She of course had been scolded. All she replied was Yes My lady, it will not happen again My lady, forgive me. Picking out a navy blue gown for her Princess she helped in dressing, hair, makeup, shoes, everything until she was ready. Her own attire being so much more simple. Only a dark green with a gold trim. No jewelry or anything like that. Although before she left, the gift that Lord Rytas had given her was placed gently into a jewelry box which now had one thing to guard. In a moment, she was standing behind her Lady at the dining hall as some started to arrive.

OOC: you can say what your character did up until the point where they're at dinner so do not worry about the time change

[Apoc]

As she left, delayed words escaped his lips in no more than a whisper. “Truly my Lady, the pleasure was all mine.” As the last bit of new world slipped around the corner, he realized his breath had been held, and he forced himself to relax his body. Was this what love was? He almost disliked thinking of it as that… he had always criticized people in his head for falling in love so easily and having their entire souls devoured by it. However, here he was with these same types of feelings. His entire body ached to return the following day, to make conversation with the maiden once more.

His head spun with all of this, he needed to rest… maybe a small drink. Yes… just a small one, to help him sleep. Perhaps this woman was only being polite. He would wait for a little while at least; if she sent word to him he would know this was not in his head. If not, he would simply meet her once more when he next visited the castle. The spinning in his head slowed down as he reassured himself of this.

[Amaria]

The dinner was a simple one, one of routine and no importance whatsoever. This....alchemist though, his handsome face, and kind voice still on her mind throughout the night and well into the morning. She woke up with a sigh, her lady had told her the night before that she would be busy in the halls and would not require her assistance. Yet still she was up and early and dressed in the most simple yet flattering gown of light green and gold, a light brown belt around her small waist, her hair in loose curls and half up half down as it usually was, just because it was easy to do. Again, she had gone to the dusty book shelf in the cormer of her room and taken out a book of dragons. The figurines that this mysterous alchemist had given her catching her glance, it made her smile. She thought about it for a while, her heart longed to see him again, so she wrote him in beautiful handwritting.

I feel a connection to you...something about you draws me in..and I want to know more about you. My Lord, if you should have it..can we see each other again? Even if for a moment? Yes, this is bold, but I've never been so very fascinated by what you do, and the figurines they are just stunning. Thank you for those..very much. You know where to find me should you wish to comply.
~Your Maiden

She signed it so for she wished to tell him her name in person. The dots were pauses of shyness and her looking for words to write without looking so disrespectful, but she did get the courage to slip it under his door, and she continued with her horse to the orchard outside. Where she loved to be, wished she could be at all hours of the day.

Aurora was simple. Some call her boring yes, but who culd blame her. She knew little of interaction, the Princess of course did. In but an hour she had finished the book. She hadn't even realized what fun it had been to read and she was saddened when it turned to be the last page. A smile passed her lips now as she leaned against the tree and looked out to the knights practicing before her. Skilled indeed they were. Erendil came to her and with his soft muzzle he pushed her gently and she couldn't help but chuckle and rub his nose with the palm of her hand. She took care of what little she had with her. Especially her horse. He was all she had left that reminded her that anything loved her. She didn't know what love was like, or what it felt like. All Aurora knew was that it existed. Aurora stood, her gown now straightening out. She fixed it up slightly, using her hands to flatten out the part covering her stomach.

Aurora walked over to Erendil and then pulled the reins over his haed and held them firmly in her right hand. She let him graze for a moment or two more before she started walking back towards the castle. On her way however, she went behind the archery ranger, far behind it though for she was smarter than that. An Arrow though found it's way right before her stomach, grazing her only for all she felt was the wind of it as she stepped back startled. Her horse whinnied and reared, but Aurora didn't let go. She breathed for a moment before she heard heavy footsteps come to her. He was a young man, practicing, older than her of course.

"My Lady! My Lady are you alright?!" He asked so concerned yet she was so calm. She gave him the warmest of smiles with a light chuckle as Erendil's nostrils flaried and huffed and puffed slightly. "yes, yes My Lord, I'm alright. Nothing but the wind of it grazed me." He seemed to sigh in some relief. "I'm terribly sorry My Lady, it will not happen again I can assure you" She chuckled lightly once more. "worry not Sir Knight. I would trust any of you with my life anyways, but your concern is greatly appreciated." He smiled back to her softly. His big, but gentle hand caressed her horse for a moment. "He's an amzing animal My lady...is he yours?" He asked with a clmer tone now. She nodded lightly. "yes, he is" He seemed somewhat impressed. "A massive horse for such a young lady...yet you handle him with ease. Do forgive me My Lady, but I must depart, I'm glad you are not hurt" She smiled to him. "Thank you, I wish you well on your training." She smiled to him once more before she went across the courtyard and into the stable. She tended to her horse for a good while. Making his coat shine like the sun itself. She had set the book down on a stool and so she picked it up once she had locked the stall door and walked out.

Aurora walked through a long hallway, wondering what to do. To be honest she was slightly bored. And a little hungry, but she dare not ask for anything. And she knew that servants didn't bring other sevants food. Somewhat hungry though, she passed by the gate to the small orchard once more, and she went outside, looking around, now instead of reading she was admiring the beauty of it. The flowers especially as she kneeled down to take in the sights. Her delicate hand on the delicate flower so she could smell it without hurting it. She hoped that he would come.

[Apoc]

Apoca went to bed early that night, after his small drink he decided rest would be the best thing for his mind. When he awoke early the next day, his mind felt clearer than it ever seemed to have been. First light barely broke the surface of the horizon, and after a quick breakfast he decided he would make up for some lost work time of the previous day.

Not far into the morning, when the sun had not even done half of its path, he noticed something new in his home he had not noticed before. By his door was a piece of paper, beautifully adorned a folded neatly. A letter? Or merely a piece of paper that had slipped off one of his desks? It had been a couple of hours of straight work, he could spare the break.

Curiously Apoca moved over to the door, where the parchment lay. With gentle hands he picked up the delicacy of writing and opened it with careful fingers. Silently he read the letter, then re-read it, then re-read it once more. So she had cared? The letter was nothing short of bold, yet the way she wrote it and with the heart she seemed to write it with, her boldness was not excessive in any extent.

A quick glance out the window reminded him how young the morning was, and yet another glance to his workstation reminded him of how efficient he had been in the hours of his work. What harm could come from spending an hour or two with the fair maiden? Yes… no harm. None at all. With this thought firmly in mind, he adorned his travelling cloak, and thought once more. Should he bring something to her? Would she think yet another gift would be too excessive? Or would she react as she had the first gift?

His head began to spin again with these new thoughts, and he shut his eyes firmly, blocking them out. No… he would bring the materials with him, and if she brought up the topic he would simply show her how it was done. If she did not, they would remain hidden in his bag for another time.

The door opened and closed, and the young alchemist set up the street to the Royal area. He silently showed the guard at the gate the letter and was allowed entrance once more into the vicinity. Would she be the orchard once more? Or would she be in her quarters? Best to try the orchard first, wouldn’t hurt if she wasn’t there.

With graceful swiftness, he entered the Orchard, immediately feeling the tiny breeze in the air that rustled the leaves of the trees. Coming around a corner, he thought he spotted a person at the far end. “My Lady?” he spoke with caution in case he was wrong, yet a small bit of excitement tinged his words.

[Amaria]

Aurora was enjoying her time outside in the orchard. The sun was beautiful, the sky was clear with beautiful puffy clouds. She again found her spot against the rough bark of the tree. Her dress around her like it was part of her, the waves and creases natural and beautiful. Erendil, not with her today, but happily in his stall. She was nervous and she didn't understand why. Probably because this alchemist saw her as a servant, or, too forward. She couldn't stop thinking about it. Did he know? He didn't know she was a servant. If he came, he probably thought she was some Dutchess or something. It dampened her spirits, she even thought of leaving.

She had the figurines that he had given her. They were cradled gently in her palms as a warm smile appeared on her lips. She looked to them carefully and enjoying the sunlight on her delcate skin. A gentle fingertip grazed the figures. 'Beautiful...simply beautiful..' Aurora spoke to herself. It was silly though, the simplest things fascinated her. A voice came from the other side of the orchard though, her heart seemed to stop in fear. Thinking about it though she couldn't turn back now.

The footsteps grew closer. 'Should I stand? Stay seated? Tell him...oh no...what do I say? Run? No! I can't run!' She got up though, the figurines still in her hand.Her gown falling genly over her form again, relieving it of its wrinkles and creases. "Yes. I'm here" She was surprised she was even able to say that with her nerves how they were. She walked towards him until finally she was standing before him. "I see you recieved my letter." She still had her charming smile. Her eyes going from his handsome form to the ground in her shyness.