A Late Arrival [Andarial]

[Andarial Featherstone]

She bit her lip as she watched him bow and she felt her heart soar into unknown heights at the answer he spoke. He would take her! She almost squealed like a teenager who had their very first crush reciprocate the feelings. She stood with him and suddenly she began to run through scenarios in her head. She wasn't worried about him embarrassing her, but he seemed worried about embarrassing himself! He was so self-conscious. She narrowed her golden eyes as she eyed him critically and then laughed, she had no idea why he was so worried about it. What happened would happen. It would all work itself out.

Smiling she said, "Well I know how to make you learn the ways of the court." She walked over to her wardrobe and pulled open one of the drawers. Inside were a few books. She pulled a thick one out and smiled as she handed over to him. "Can you read? I hope so because otherwise I have to teach you all the stuff myself and you'll have nothing to refer back to. I will probably teach you how to dance, but I can't teach you how to bow right and who to bow to right away. It's better learned from studying and then I can test you."

She held out the thick volume and smiled encouragingly at him. She hoped he knew how to read. She knew some peasants never learned. That they could barely speak proper elven. Writing wasn't something she was worried about, though perhaps he should learn that later on. She could always teach him that pretty easily. Language was one of the studies she enjoyed. She seemed to take to it like a fish took to swimming. It was so easy for her and she was bright enough that she remembered almost everything after a couple lessons. She was a lot smarter than people gave her credit for. Though she only saw her beauty and war tactics as the good things about herself. The rest wasn't that helpful in the world of the Queen. That's what they had scholars for.

Words: 367
Muse: Rambly
Song: Body Language- Jesse McCartney

[Reyn]

Reyn stood there as nervous as he had ever been in his life. What had he just agreed to? He refused to think about it anymore. What was done was done and besides, it wasn't as if he could take back his acceptance. Andee was, after all, the Dark Queen. Showing such disrespect would probably have some consequences, even if they wouldn't be violent ones. Reyn was sure that it would probably irritate or upset her greatly if he did revoke his acceptance to attend the ball with her. As she grinned and buzzed around Reyn stood virtually motionless as he watched her. "Read?" he asked, feeling his stomach not.

Uh oh

"You mean like words and books and letters?" he asked as he eyed the massive book that she currently clutched in her long black fingers. Reyn's experience with reading was virtually nonexistent. He'd never read a book in his life and only knew how to spell his first name and not even all of it. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and frowned. "Actually, I don't know how to read. Mother and father never really had the means or the time to teach me." he said in a hushed voice out of embarrassment. Judging from Andee's room she read fairly frequently. He wondered what the books contained within them. Judging from her reputation they were probably most about war. For the first time since meeting her Reyn looked upon her as a soldier would a superior officer.

He wondered what exactly ticked behind those golden eyes of hers. What thoughts and plots she formulated. A desire to know what she thought of him popped up and he pushed it down telling himself his usual bit of lies that made it seem as if it would be impossible. A new portion had been added to lie. A thought that sprang forth telling Reyn that the only reason Andee thought to bring him was to make the negotiations easier. He just couldn't get it through his skull that she had similar feelings for him. He wouldn't dare ask her and the thought of telling her made Reyn weak at the knees. No, there was no way he could ever just come out and tell her, at least that's what he thought.

"I've got a good memory though!" he quickly added, in an attempt to salvage his only chance to be out in public with his friend. Even if his mind told him lies of how it was for appearances his fluttering heart made him believe that it was a true gesture of kindness and possibly more...

[Andarial Featherstone]

She frowned, not in disappointment, more like confusion about how they would go about this. Andee thought it was incredibly unfair that only she, the nobles, and the scholars got to enjoy the wonders of the written word. It made her quite frustrated because that was really only a handful of people who were able to escape from this world into another one that was completely different. One full of conquests and magic, mythical tales and court drama. She just shook her head and her hand withdrew the book and placed it lovingly back into the wardrobe drawer. What could she do now but teach him.

"Alright," she sighed and rubbed her neck a little stuck in her thoughts. "Well you have a lot to learn, do you want to start now or wait until next time?" If he had a good enough memory as he claimed to then perhaps they really could pull this off. Perhaps he could make himself proud, because really she liked Reyn just the way he was. But he seemed to want to know. He seemed so determined to know that he would risk being caught by coming here more than just a couple times a month. That she worried about, she didn't want him to get careless.

"Don't worry Reyn, this will work. You will be the perfect gentleman when I'm through with you," she said with a small grim smile. She didn't want to change him. She liked his awkwardness and his obliviousness. Andee only wanted him to change enough that he would be able to pass in the ball room. So that meant bowing to the right people, eating with the right utensils, dancing the right dances, speaking right and so on. She hoped he wouldn't change too much. That she hoped with all her heart, that he would still be the Reyn she... liked.

Words: 319
Muse: Good somewhat Repetitive
Song: Next Contestant- Nickelback

[Reyn]

"I'm pretty sure it'd be better if we started now. Like you said, I've got a lot to learn and the sooner I start the faster I can get it all down and be ready for the ball." he said. The likelihood of Reyn changing over the course of his training wasn't all too likely. Despite his good nature and innocence when it came to certain things the boy was a stubborn as a mule and he was stuck in his ways, something his father always told him would be his downfall yet his mother always praised as his strength. Almost nothing could change Reyn from being the awkward young youth that he was, nothing save time and certain experiences. War, for one, had changed the boy. It had robbed him of the childish delusions he had about knighthood and being a hero yet some childlike optimism still remained pent up in his mind.

Reyn gave Andee a strained smile when he saw her's. Despite her words Reyn wasn't too confident about becoming a perfect gentleman, but then again he didn't have to be the perfect gentleman. He just had to be able to fake being the perfect gentleman. Ah, now that was an idea. As long as he could play along and follow the cues he'd do fine. It eased his nerves and he gave a nod feeling slightly more confident in their plot to pull this off. "Well then," he said as he placed his hands behind his head and looked around, taking in the appearance of Andee's room. "What should we start with?" he asked, his crimson colored hues inspecting the circular stone room.

Reyn, now that he was given a chance to look was throughly enchanted by it. He had never been in a room this lavishly decorated before. His entire house could have probably fit inside the room. He pursed his lips together as he remembered the small one room shack that he had grown up in. He then glanced over at the bed and blinked at how large it was. Reyn had grown up sleeping on a small straw mat that often kept him up itching all night. He walked over to it in an absent minded manner and then touched it. It bounced, something he had not expected. He blinked rapidly as he looked around looking at what else was in Andee's room. "Wow, nobles live a lot differently than we do." he mused aloud, not even realizing he had spoken.

[Andarial Featherstone]

She watched him touch her bed and make the absent minded comment. Really they did. She had seen the differences her people lived in. The squalor most of them put themselves through. Andee was a harsh ruler when it came to fighting and war, respect stuff like that, but she never taxed much. So why did her people live so horribly. She often wondered if it was because they chose to do that, buying too many things for themselves, like drugs and sex. She wondered how much her sister taxed. The image of him standing near her bed was suddenly replaced with him on top of it and her on top of him. Her eyes widened for a couple seconds and she shook her head, chasing the rebellious thoughts away.

She thought hard for a second on his question mean while throwing a statement his way, "Yes, nobles have many more luxuries that we don't really need. But I am sad that almost no peasants can read, its a joy that should be spread. " Where should they start? She narrowed her golden eyes. Deciding to understand what he knew about the court, "What do you know so far about the Court system? Like the necessities of blending?"

She needed to understand what he knew for they had little time if everything went as planned and nothing should be retaught unless absolutely necessary. She watched him with a nervous eye. Hoping to whatever deity was out there that those images and scenarios would not pop back into her head, because if they did, being as real as they felt and stayed for anymore than a couple seconds she might have no will to keep herself from acting them out. And she really didn't want to scare him away. That would definitely scare and scar him. He seemed so fragile to her. Like a little hummingbird with it's tiny wings that could be torn so easily, it's little chest that could be broken with one gentle push. She could hurt him deeply, whether it was emotional or physical and she feared doing that more than anything in the world.

Words: 370
Muse: GREAT
Song: Innocence- Halestorm

[Reyn]

Reyn nibbled on his cheek as eh tried to call up what he knew about the courts. Like he had said earlier he had lived relatively far away from the castle and never interacted with anyone who was higher than a merchant. He had heard a few rumors though and within the year he had been in the military had learned a few things about etiquette in the court. "Well, I was taught that I'm supposed to salute to anyone that's a higher rank than me." he said as he began to explain the few manners he had picked up. "Use big words and not to eat with my hands." he paused for a moment as he attempted to recall various other memories that could be useful. "And to keep my mouth shut if I can." he added with a nod to signal that he was done.

"... I have a feeling that's not right though." he said as he rubbed the back of his head and let out a nervous fit of laughter. Reyn's experience in the courts was limited to him hearing stories from the knights that often commanded his unit and what various rumors he heard about town. "I guess I've got a lot to learn, don't I?" he asked as he looked toward Andee. He had missed the strange look she had given him while he was examining her room, namely her bed. It was probably for the best for it would have only added more confusion to this odd day. Reyn had expected to meet up with Andee and then simply talk as they had before. He never would have thought that she would have asked him to a ball.

He let out a sigh as he remembered the strange incidents that followed their first meeting. "Do you make a habit of surprising your friends with odd requests?" he asked as he began to move around again, still looking over the various decorations. "The first time we met you asked me to come and meet you here and now you're asking me to go to a ball with you." he said before turning his head and smiling at her. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you just enjoy asking me to do all of these crazy things."

[Andarial Featherstone]

She nodded about the comment of him having a lot to learn, "Well first don't use big words. You might use them wrong and that will just make the situation... awkward. Secondly, as much as I love when you cuss don't do it around nobles besides me because otherwise its seen as rude. I wouldn't keep your mouth shut, people will be very interested in you, taking me to the ball so you'll have to talk just stick to topics you know. I'm pretty sure since you are off duty you are supposed to bow, especially since you are with me. Not eating with your hands is good, you are supposed to eat with each correct utensil during each correct portion of the meal." She shifted and rubbed the back of her head. What was she to do about the dancing thing. Dancing with him, it would be lovely. But she wasn't sure if she could teach him by herself. But she would have to.

"There is also dancing, which will probably be the hardest. I don't think there is much else. I mean you are going to be with a lot of other citizens too. Not all will be nobles, so you won't have to worry about making too big of impression. If I remember anything else I need to teach you I'll definitely tell you," she gasped and clapped. "I'll have to give you some money to buy a costume it is hopefully going to be a masked ball after all."

She looked at him sharply when he made a comment about her making odd requests. Most would be happy to be accompanying her to the ball. She didn't want him to feel obligated to going. "You don't have to go if you don't want to. But no I don't because I don't tend to have many friends so I don't know what is proper etiquette when it comes to asking questions and making requests," she said the last part like it didn't mart and it really didn't to her, she was used to it.

Words: 374
Muse AWESOME
Song: Why don't you kiss her?- Jesse McCartney

[Reyn]

Reyn listened with studious intensity as Andee told him of all of the things he would need to learn. He repeated what she told him several times within the confines of his mind, making sure that he would have a list of subjects to look back on and ask about. He figured he could fake most of it, except for dancing. The thought of him on the dance floor only served to make his knees weak and once he imagined Andee with him a strange fluttering in his stomach sprang forth, which didn't help him in the least. He shook such thoughts from his head and instead focused on the other subjects she had named off. "Don't curse and don't use big words, got it." he said, finding that one to be the easiest. Reyn's vocabulary while in service usually consisted of him swearing every other sentence but he could easily go with out it.

"Andee, the only topics I know about are taking care of armor, making spears, farming, and the weather. I'm pretty sure that no one's gonna want to listen to me ramble on about the fall harvest or how my armor's rusted to hell." he said as he crossed his arms over his chest and thought about what he usually talked about with his friends. The more he thought about it the more he found that most of his conversations wouldn't be what most would consider court appropriate. The notion that he should keep his mouth shut was becoming more and more appealing by the second. He knew he wouldn't be able to though. Like Andee said, everyone would be interested in the scarred elf that Andee was taking to the ball. He grimaced as he realized he might have to talk about how he got his scars.

"I'll have to give you some money to buy a costume it is hopefully going to be a masked ball after all."

He instantly thought of purchasing a mask to cover his entire face. He then wondered what sort of costume he needed to get. He rubbed the back of his head, Reyn had never worn a costume, he'd never had a reason to. He wondered what it would look like, what he would look like once he had it on. He pursed his lips together as he began to think of what he would purchase with the allowance Andee was going to give him. "You probably shouldn't worry about getting me armor if you're gonna buy me a costume. I'd feel like I was taking advantage of you if you did." he said as he uncrossed his arms and his lips pulled into a slight frown. Reyn was brought up on the old adage that one should never be a lender nor a borrower. He already felt the need to pay Andee back just for offering to buy him new armor.

He rolled his eyes at her as he strolled through her round room, closing the distance between them. "You really need to learn to lighten up." he said as he jabbed a scarred finger into her side playfully. "I was kidding. Y'know, making light of the situation. I'm glad you asked me to go to the ball with you, really." he said, giving her a wide grin.

[Andarial Featherstone]

She squealed slightly as his finger connected with one of her ribs. Dancing away from the attack, she narrowed her eyes at him, "I always take things seriously if it could insult someone. I am a diplomat after all." As she thought she kept a safe distance between her and Reyn. Careful to make sure he couldn't poke her again. What cold Reyn talk about? The farming would be of interest of course, because it would be part of his past, but the most interesting thing he could probably talk about would be the battles he's been in. And of course the fighting tactics he knew.

"Perhaps, if you could avoid insulting anyone and the gore, you could talk about the war and battles you've been in. Your opinion on the truce, the fighting tactics you know. Stuff like that. Everyone will be interested in what you say no matter what it is, you are on my arm after all," She frowned as some thought niggled in the back of her mind. Then he eyes seemed to grow wide and she had a mortified look on her face, "Oh my God, do you know how to duel?"

She knew what would happen at this ball. Well something that could happen. Something that would absolutely and completely wonderful and yet nerve-wracking. A duel could break out over Andee's heart, with one of the nobles who was trying to court her. Reyn fought with a spear, had her even touched a sword before? Nobles from all over the Dark Citadel would be there, vying for Andarial's attention and she knew she would only have eyes for Reyn. One of them would be bound to get jealous and challenge him. There would be rules and regulations, the battle would be honorable not like it was in a war.

Words: 312
Muse: Good
Song: Helpless when she smiles- Backstreet Boys

[Reyn]

Farming? Interesting? Apparently Andee had never been on a farm for an extended period of time or known about Reyn's attitude toward it. Reyn, in all honesty, thought farming was the most dreadful and boring thing a person could do. The only reason he put up with it was to help his family through the hard times and even then he jumped at the opportunity to get off of the farm. Though, homesickness had made the memory slightly more pleasant. Once he got back home he would remember how much he disliked being elbow deep in muck pushing seeds into the ground. As Andee squealed Reyn couldn't help but laugh, a cheerful smile replacing the grim expression that had been present on his face no more than a few minutes ago. "I don't think I ever expected to hear a sound like that come from the terrifying Dark Queen." he said, rolling his blood red eyes playfully. The comment elicited another laugh from him.

"My thoughts on it all?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Tactics? Andee, I'm a soldier. My thoughts on the matter don't matter and as for tactics," he thrust his arm forward as if he were holding a spear. "Stab and pray to the gods that no one stabs me back." Reyn knew little of tactics but his mind seemed to pick them up rather quickly and he was quite capable of coming up with a variety of his own. "I just do as I'm told." he said as he hunched his shoulders after lowering his extended arm. The thought of him talking about what he had done in battle sent a motionless shiver through his body. War wasn't what he honestly wanted to talk about. Leaving out the gore was something that would be impossible. Several flashbacks ran through Reyn's mind and he suppressed the urge to let out a weak cry. Why the nobles would want to talk of war was beyond Reyn.

"Dueling? You mean fighting with rules?" The thought of that already chafed against Reyn. War had hardened certain aspects of him. One of them was that when you fight you tossed away all elven decency and fought with all you had. Honor, as a great general had once told him, had no place on the battlefield. Reyn frowned as he thought about it. "I'm a soldier, I fight for a living." he said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Just not with rules. As for the certain aspects of dueling, I kind of know how to use a sword. I've got one and I've messed around with a few times. The damn thing's just too rusty to actually use on the battlefield." Reyn's skill with a sword wasn't completely negligible but if he were to fight with someone who had been around them all of their life he would have a lot of difficulty defeating them, especially if their were rules.

[Andarial Featherstone]

She sighed. She had so much to teach him! Would they possibly be able to get it all done in the time that they had. She shook her head, this all seemed so impossible. But she wouldn't let him down, she couldn't. When he said that his thoughts didn't matter she felt an incredible urge to smack the boy silly. To beat it into him that it was his and only his thoughts that mattered to her. She figured though that violence would not help and would only confuse the elf.

Shaking her head and her visage softening extremely she walked up to him, braving another poke, and place her hand on his scarred cheek. Thin with an extremely sincere voice, she said, "I think your thoughts matter more than anyone will know. I believe you only do as you're told because it is what you are used to. Because you don't believe you can do anything better than what you're told to do. I on the other hand think you can think for yourself, Reyn, I believe you have a very good mind. You have more of a mind than anyone will understand. Don't just do as your told, don't be a mindless slave."

She let her hand linger there on his cheek for longer than needed. Far longer than needed, but as the time came around she dropped her hand all the same. It didn't matter how long it took it would always happen. She would always be separated from him. She turned from him, rubbing at the goosebumps that had appeared on her arms from looking him in the eyes.

"If need be the guards will always have swords you can use. But you still need to learn how to use one properly in a proper duel," she turned with a bright smile, it was just a bit to happy.

Words: 313
Muse: ok
Song: N/A

[Reyn]

Reyn held Andee's gaze as she placed her hand upon his cheek. He didn't know what to say to her in that moment. She probably wouldn't have understood, or so he thought. She was a Queen. She was born into power and didn't have to respond to anyone. She was the law of the land and she could do as she wanted with out repercussions. Reyn, on the other hand, was a mere pheasant. Tantamount to being nothing when he was compared to her. He did as he was told because that was how the world worked. He did as he was ordered because if he didn't he would lose his only source of income or worse, his life. Even know he was following orders, or soon would be. He would have to follow the orders Andee placed before him.

Reyn nodded though, acknowledging what she said. He didn't seem to notice that her hand stayed on his cheek longer than it should have, he didn't even notice that he had been staring back at her, meeting her gaze. When she moved her hand from his face a sudden rush of cold hair made him almost painfully aware of how close she had been to him. He let out a deep exhale, forcing the more depressing thoughts from his mind. They clung to his mind, staying toward the back. Every so often a thought of his complacency and Andee's inability to understand springing forth like the flashbacks that haunted his dreams. "Why?" he asked, referring to the fact that he needed to learn how to fight with a sword. "Why can't I just take one of their spears and fight or better yet just turn it into a fight?" he asked as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "I kinda like the idea of starting a fist fight with one of your suitors." he said with a soft laugh.

"You nobles have to complicate everything with rules." he said in a playful tone. Reyn honestly didn't want to get thrown into a duel. He figured two things could happen. One, he showed up a noble because of his training on the battlefield or two, he got his ass handed to him and possibly died. He glanced toward Andee and then blinked when he caught sight of her smile. Why was she so happy to hear about him fighting. That was when he stopped and thought of her reputation. For the millionth time Reyn had forgotten Andee's reputation. He had learned that some of it was false but there had to be some shred of truth behind it. Remembering the image of her after battle suddenly brought forth one of those rumors. Andarial, the Dark Queen, loved battle. Reyn slammed his hand to his face as he remembered that little tidbit of information. There's no way in hell I'm fighting a Queen.

[Andarial Featherstone]

Her dark skin didn't change colors yet she could feel the heat of a blush rise to her cheeks when he said he'd like to fight her suitors. Her hopeful heart pinned it on love while the pessimistic side of her assumed he just liked showing off like all men did. She shook her head, clearing it of the buzzing thoughts that moved through her mind and she pressed her fingers against the bridge of her nose and squeeze. She relaxed slightly, this was going to be so much more complicated than she had originally thought. Glancing up at Reyn she said, "I don't think spear against sword will work. I'll just have to teach you how to fight at least decently with a sword."

She watched as he hit his head with his palm and frowned in confusion. Why was he hitting himself? Surely something wasn't upsetting him? She hadn't done anything to upset him. "Are you ok Reyn? You aren't upset at me are you?" she asked him. Why did she suddenly feel so insecure. IT had to be the damn sentence he said earlier. The one that had made her blush. She suddenly felt the need to please him, she shifted uncomfortably. That was weird.

She shook her head, the submissive in her was coming out. And why not, she had an attractive man in her bedroom and she always acted submissive in the bedroom. But they weren't doing anything lustful. She was confused, maybe it was trying to tell her something, her submissive side. Like get this man into bed right now! She chuckled at that thought. She knew it would never work like that, if she wanted him it had to be on his terms.

Words: 302
Muse: Confused but good
Song: Rude boy- Rihanna

[Reyn]

"I can try." he muttered under his breath. Reyn had taken on plenty of men on the battlefield with swords and he had fared pretty well against them. Only a few of his scars had been caused by men with swords. He glanced toward his covered arms and picked out several he knew were from swordsman. He thought back to those men and frowned. Even on the battlefield they appeared more regal than he did. He hated to admit it but his spear was exactly a noble weapon. It was a stick with a pointy hunk of iron on the end. He rubbed the back of his head, finally deciding that it was only right for him to take it upon himself to learn how to use a sword well. That would just have to be one of the things he would need to learn to do on his own.

As he rubbed the back of his head he heard Andee begin to speak rapidly. "Huh? No, no!" he said as he brought his hands up and waved them, attempting to calm her. "You didn't do anything wrong Andee. I was just... thinking of something." he said as he looked away. He wasn't going to admit to her that he thought she was going to fight him. For one, he would have to admit that he would refuse to fight her and secondly, he would have to tell her the reasons why he wouldn't fight her. The first reason was common enough. She was a Queen, capable of seamlessly melding the art of combat with the magic of their world. How any normal elf could stand against that was completely beyond Reyn's imagining. The other... well that one was much more personal and private.

Reyn would never admit it if anyone had asked, he scarcely admitted it to himself, but the young man felt a certain way about the Dark Queen. Ever since their first meeting in the forest she had often been on his mind, which was why he wanted Crim out of it, and he had counted the days until he would be able to see her again. The fact that she had asked him to attend something like a ball made his heart soar and terrified him at the same time. His inexperience in relationships blinded him to the subtle, or sometimes not so subtle, hints that Andarial dropped at times. That and his denial that anyone like her could feel something for a man like him.

[Andarial Featherstone]

She sighed, he obviously wasn't going to tell her exactly what he was thinking. Just being a regular man, impossible to understand. She tilted her head and thought for a second. Where should they start? She glanced toward the window. They still had several hours of night left. But that meant she could only start teaching him something that would take a little while. She frowned, fighting with a sword would take several nights to get a hold of and that they should start they minute he got there.

They could always start dancing, but that was completely and terrifyingly wonderful and she wasn't sure if she could take that tonight. It would make her heart race and practically kill her as it did every time he touch her. So she wasn't positive they could start that. That was probably something that she would put off for as long as possible no matter how good it would make her feel. They could always just start the next time she saw him. So she could put together some things she needed to teach him. Almost like a program.

She stood there for a moment,looking lost which was very much unlike her. IT was her room after all, her ball and her castle she shouldn't feel so confused. But this man always sent her heading spinning. He was so nerve-wracking to be around because she had to hold back most of her natural instincts. She shook her head again, love struck stupidity wouldn't help her now.

"I have no idea where to start," she whispered. "Where do you want to start, Reyn?"

Words: 285
Muse: Getting there
Song: N/A