The Lady Knight (Collector and Ava)

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora Fields had worked hard for her knighthood. She was a young woman of common birth who had lost her parents at a young age. When her brother, Daniel, had died in the war with Delgran, she took his sword, shield and identity and went off to fight in his place. To Nora's surprise, she found that she was surprisingly good at fighting. In a few short years, she rose up in the ranks of the military and personally lead the final charge against Delgran, all the while keeping her gender a secret.

She was hailed as a hero when she returned and was to be given land and a title. It was at this point that Nora knew she couldn't keep her gender a secret any longer; she was to be fitted for a personal suit of armor, and there was no way that the blacksmith would have missed the absence of a penis or her breasts. So Nora publicly revealed herself as a woman, sparking several months of debate. The king couldn't execute Nora or publicly punish her: she had served as a symbol of hope for the kingdom throughout the war and the peasants still admired her, even after they knew her true gender. Finally, the king decided to give Nora her knighthood, but instead of giving her the land that went along with her title, King Radcliffe assigned Nora to be his daughter, Princess Abigail's, personal bodyguard.

---

Nora let out a frustrated growl as she was lead to the Princess's chambers. She hadn't worked so long and so hard to be nothing more than a glorified bodyguard. She deserved land! She deserved to have her own soldiers under her command! She knew nothing of the princess, nor had she heard anything about her, so Nora didn't know what to expect. All she knew was that she'd rather be doing anything besides babysitting a royal brat.

Nora stood at 5'10" with short brown hair and dull green eyes. Her body was hard and toned from the years she spent wearing armor and swinging a sword in the army. She had several scars across her torso, although they didn't show unless she had her shirt off. Nora's face was very angular and gaunt, but her eyes betrayed very little emotion and her features were generally non-expressive. She wore a brand new suit of platemail armor that shone in the morning sun, an attribute that Nora found more annoying than helpful since it reflected the sun into her eyes. She had a long sword at her left hip and carried a large shield on her back. The shield was on a sling that would make it easy for her to quickly access it if necessary.

Having finally reached the princess's door, Nora paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and knocked.

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

"But Lydia..." A soft voice sounded with a disgruntled sigh.
"No but's Princess... you should be grateful to have her as a body guard." The plump lady word her hair in a tight, clean bun as she ran an ivory comb through the young woman's hair as she sat before her vanity. Abigail's features reflected back at her as she stared idly as her long silken black mane was combed. Emerald eyes staring back at her and stood out from the ivory color of her soft skin. Soft pink lips parted in yet another reluctant sigh. Lydia was her head maiden. Always taking care of Abby as though she were her own child. Which was no problem since her mother had come to pass three winters ago from a sickness. Her figure was lithe with subtle curves visible through the green velvet gown that hugged her body. Arms covered with a modest bust line. A ruby hanging from a necklace sat nestled in the valley of her bust. A gift from her mother.

Abby was not too thrilled about a new body guard. She had perfected her elusive skills with the old one. Then again he was rather old and she was fairly sure he was losing his hearing. Her curious side was peaked though. This knight... was a woman. Abigail had never heard of such a thing. A gold circlet adorned with emeralds was placed atop her head as the door knocked. "Enter!" Lydia shouted. Lydia was good at that.

"Ah! Here she is." Lydia clapped her porky hands together and helped Abigail stand up from the bench before her vanity. "Good luck eluding her. Looks like she would have no problems keeping up with your, my princess." Abby's brows furrowed at the lady.

"You speak as though I am prisoner, Lydia." The short fluffy lady paid no heed and simply went about straightening up the vanity as Abby observed the knight before her. She was a woman, there was no doubt about that, and a knight at that.

"She will be with you at all times." Lydia chimed as she idly cleaned. Abby's eyes grew wide and she looked at her head maid.

"Lydia, surely you jest... will I not have one moment of peace to m-" Of course Lydia cut her off short.

"You are the only heir to King Otho Radcliff. The ONLY heir. Now you mind your tongue. Your father only wishes the best for you." Now Abby felt bad. Lydia always had that effect on her. It was the only punishment she had ever known. Guilt was a horrible punishment. She'd rather take something physical that would be done and other with. Guilt lingered. She looked at the Knight and nodded her head to proceed. "Excuse my rudeness. Get use to the quarreling. That is how Lydia and I tend to speak." This was certainly going to be interesting.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora observed the Princess bickering with her handmaiden with a detached annoyance, although none of that reached her eyes; her face was, as always, blank. When she was addressed directly, she gave the Princess a formal bow before looking up and around the room.

"I am Sir Fields," she said. The title irked Nora: even though she was a woman, they insisted on knighting her "Sir" Fields, as if giving her a masculine honorific would somehow make the problem of her gender vanish. "I can assure you that I am more than capable of keeping up with you, Your Majesty, as well as dealing with anyone who might threaten you."

Nora looked about the Princess's room, which she had to admit was rather impressive. Growing up, she had lived in a small hut with her family: all four of them squeezed between four wooden walls. They hadn't even had a door, so they each needed to sleep with knives under their pillows in case robbers or wolves decided to sneak in during the night.

"If I might make a suggestion," said Nora, doing her best to remain polite, "I believe that the best way to protect you, Princess, is to teach you how to defend yourself. That way, if we are somehow separated, you will be able to keep yourself alive until I am able to get to you. I have already requisitioned a pair of training swords from the armory and they should arrive tomorrow morning, just after breakfast. We will train for two hours each day for now, although that time may increase or decrease as I see fit. For now, though, I think it would be best if we got to know each other; it would certainly make my job easier if I knew your daily habits."

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Abby was still having problem's getting pass the 'Sir' part of her name. She couldn't really expect her to call her that, could she? There was no way she could address the knight as such. She observed the knight as she seemed to be occupied with scoping out her room. Her favorite part? The four poster mahogany canopy bed. With curtains drawn back, since, obviously, no one currently occupied the bed. A warm fire roared beneath a large mantle. Before the fire, there were various seating options.

Abigail's jaw almost dropped to the floor when the idea of training was brought up. Abby looked at Lydia, just as the portly lady Looked at Abby. Silently telling her to hold her tongue. Green orbs turned back to her guard. "So be it. And as for my... daily routine." Lydia busted out into a laughter.

"Daily routine? Let's see... studies when she awakes until mid day, though that is shirked at times and you can find her in the gardens. Archery lessons, her favorite. Though it is beyond me why. A trip to the falconry to work with Eola. Just before sun set she can do as she pleases, as long as it is within the grounds. However, she somehow finds ways pass the guards and into the village. It has decreased in time. I think she's finally come to understand that her duty is to her people rather than for her own self entertainment." Now if that was not embarrassing, Abby did no know what was.

"Lydia... are you done? I think you are done here." Lydia took the hint and bowed in a casual fashion before dismissing herself. Abigail's feet remained planted where they were as she continued on with her own words. "It is as Lydia says. Although I no longer sneak pass the guards anymore. Actually, I am to head down to the field to practice my archery. Please, join me..." She could not say it, but their titles were clear and they were almost law out in public. "Sir.. Fields." The hesitance was evident. This would take some getting use to. "The only reason I snuck out of the castle was to give away the bread that was going to be thrown away. However it was selfish of me to risk my life, by feeding a few villagers. Or so my father says." Her back remained straight and her eyes set forwards as she walked. She was no child to be coddled, but a queen in the making.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora nodded when she heard the Princess's schedule. She was glad to know that she had at least a little training with some form of weapon, even if it would be impractical for her to carry a bow and quiver with her everywhere.

"I ave some training with a bow and arrow," said Nora, "although my specialty lies with the sword and shield. I'll talk to your tutors and see what we can do about fitting in some sword lessons during your studies. If you like, we could practice out in the gardens." A hint of a smile quirked at the edge of Nora's lips, "I personally prefer being outside."

The Princess wasn't quite as bad as Nora had expected: most of the nobles she was used to dealing with were snobbish, condescending oafs who hadn't worked a day in their lives. The King seemed a decent enough man, but even he had scoffed when she had revealed her true gender and requested that she still be knighted, and it was the King who had given her this assignment. Nora took a breath and relaxed her muscles; she hadn't noticed it, but she had clenched her hands into fists at the mere thought of her predicament.

"Do you hunt, Princess?" she asked. "Or do you simply practice archery with targets?"

Nora's voice was deep and a bit gruff for a woman, which was part of the reason why she had been able to pass so well as a man. As she walked, Nora held herself with good posture, although she looked a bit awkward and more than a little stiff. Where Abigail held herself confidently, Nora both looked and felt out of place. While she was able to keep pace with the Princess, she kept glancing about her, as if someone would jump out at any moment and call her out.

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Half a smile sat on her lips as she walked the halls. As her newly appointed guard continued to speak, there seemed to be a bit of a silver lining to this entire thing. Training would not be so bad. Her last guard did not let her out as often as she wished. Chalking it up to him being lazy. "I love being outside. Day or night. It's better than being trapped the walls of your own home." She spoke in a hushed tone. There was really no need for everyone to have to listen to her small complaints.

"Sometimes I hunt. Not too often. I often prefer hunting with Eola. She was a gift from my father. She brought back her first rabbit yesterday. While I do love cute and fuzzy animals as much as the next girl, they are vital for human sustenance." She easily explained.

Within moments they passed through an arched doorway and were greeted by warm sunlight, the smell of the outdoors, and the sound of swords and shields clashing on the practice field. Two bows and a quiver of arrows was plucked from the armory. She felt no need for a special bow. A bow was a bow, in her opinion. She could gather her own things. More lie preferred gathering her own things. It was just plain lazy to order someone else to do such a simple task.

"We're going to get along just fine." She said out of nowhere as she got back onto the corner of the practice field devout to archery. Taking a moment to aim down her sights. A gust of wind playing with the stray tendrils of her hair and indicating the direction of the went before she let the arrow fly and it was just slightly of of the center target. Goes to show, she was not perfect, but she was fairly good.

"Although, I must admit... I see no reason to call you 'Sir' when you are... well... Is there any other name or title you go by? Are you fine with such a title?" She asked curiously.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora nodded as the Princess spoke: had she not been dressed so well, Nora would have assumed that Abigail had been brought up toiling in the fields like she had. She accepted the bow and watched the Princess take her shot. As she did, she found her eye drawn to the way Abigail's hair waved in the breeze, much like the standard she had carried in battle. Growing up, she had wished for long, luxurious hair like the Princess's, but now she knew that long hair was a hindrance: it could easily get caught in armor or on branches and it offered an opponent something to latch onto; she was more than satisfied with her short hair.

The thunk of the arrow hitting the target snapped the knight out of her thoughts. She was impressed by how accurate the Princess was with the bow: she was certainly much better than Nora was. Nora raised her bow and took an arrow out of the quiver. As she drew the arrow back, Abigail could tell that Nora really wasn't familiar with how to use a bow. Her elbow drooped below her ear and the arrow wasn't quite level with her eye. She let the arrow fly and it only barely hit the edge of the target. A hint of a frown tugged at the corners of Nora's mouth, but she waited patiently for Abigail to take her next shot.

"To tell the truth," she said, her voice quiet as she looked about her to check that no one was listening, "I find my title foolish as well, but I worked hard to earn it and I'll bear it with pride. As for other things you could call me, my name is Nora."

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Half a smile remained on her lips and eyes kept focused on the task at hand as she listened intently. "Lovely name, Nora. In our company alone I shall call you Nora. In the presence of others I shall call you by the title you've proudly earned." The arrow was lined up and it was it hit the edge of the center target. Much closer than her first shot. Green orbs turned from the target to look at her body guard. The pose that she held when aiming. Abby took two step to the side and placed a finger beneath Nora's elbow and pushed it up a bit. "You're teaching me swordsmanship, the least I could do is give you a hand with your archery." Abigail was unlike any other princess she had come to know.

She loved climbing trees and did not mind getting dirty. She first came to love the earth's soil when she planted flowers and fruit in the garden with her mother before the sickness over came her. A scratch on the knee or a little blood shed was nothing to cry about and she lived off of her mother's logic. A Queen is not a Queen without her people. Abby had payed close attention to them. Sneaking off and playing with other kids in the village. They did not know who she was. Rarely did she get to leave beyond the walls that surrounded her home, so very few knew what she even looked like.

Something vile did lurk within her though. The price of being a princess was costly. The was no Queen without a King. This was a secret fear. No word of an arranged marriage had surfaced thus far and she hoped to keep it that way. One more arrow was shot and she nailed it dead center. Now she dawned a bright white smile, being proud for every time she succeeded. "I think I am good for now. What do you think? A little time in the garden would be nice right about now." She could used the shad of her favorite tree and Nora's constant company was not bad... for now.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora allowed Abigail to adjust her posture and, with her arms properly positioned, she found aiming to be a bit easier. Even with her adjusted position, though, Nora was only just able to place her arrow inside the first ring of the target. She had a lot of work ahead of her if she was ever to be any good at archery.

"Thank you, Princess," said Nora. "It's been a long time since I've heard anyone call me by my actual name; I had to take my brother's name in order to fight in the war."

Nora took a few more shots, but didn't fair much better than she had earlier. While there was a bit of improvement in her aim, it was so slight that it was hard to notice. When Abigail decided that she'd had enough practice, Nora nodded and motioned for a nearby squire.

"I need to stay by the princess," she said. "Could you go out and retrieve our arrows?" The boy nodded and Nora pulled a copper coin from her coinpurse and handed it to him. She would have given him more, but she really didn't have much money. She put away her bow and followed the Princess to the garden.

The garden, while beautiful, was a bodyguard's nightmare. Attackers could be hiding behind or inside any of the topiary and any tree could contain an assassin. Nora's dull green eyes were constantly flitting about the place and her ears were constantly alert for possible signs of attack. She was glad she had decided to leave her helmet behind today, since the metal only served to narrow her vision and muffle her hearing. Her right hand rested on the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it at any moment to defend the princess. When she was finally satisfied that there were no assailants hidden in the garden, Nora eased her grip on her sword, but did not relax her posture.

"The garden is... quite nice, Princess," she said. Nora knew little about plants besides what she had grown with her family, and those had been mostly vegetables. She knew nothing of the language of flowers and couldn't name any of the ones she saw. The only way she could distinguish between them was by their color. "It's very... bright."

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Abby watched as Nora paid the squire to retrieve their arrows. It was a nice gesture. One well noted. She wasn't a true hard ass like some of the other knights that seemed to harass those beneath them. With their bows put away she headed from the practice ground, quite a ways away from the field and past a pathway lined with flowers to a garden with a massive oak in the center. A sweet bouquet hung in the air. Various flowers in bloom in many different colors.

She had heard the tale. How a woman took up her brother's identity, making her way up the ranks and all the way up to knight hood only to finally reveal her true identity. "I bet your brother would have been so proud." It took a moment for her to decided whether or not it was okay for her to voice her opinion.

She took a seat upon a stone bench and patted at her side in a silent offer for her guard. It would have been no surprise if she obliged to stand, but the offer was on the table. "Thank you. My mother and I planted this garden. My father's mother before her, started it. I think it's even more beautiful at night. One of the reasons I love to come out at night. That, and it is far more peaceful. I use to hide in that tree. Who;d expect to look for a little princess in a tree, no? Eventually they caught on." The shade was cooling and it was wonderous to be inside after spending countless hours with her face to a book.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora decided to stand, although the edges of her mouth twitched up when Abigail offered her a seat. Most people would have missed the tiny expression, but those who knew Nora well could read the volumes of emotion that her subtle expressions told. Even when saddened, as she was when Abigail mentioned her brother, Nora's face didn't change all that much.

"I'm not sure if he would have been proud of me," she said, standing beside the bench and looking out over the garden. "Daniel was the town's doctor; he'd never refuse anyone service, even if they couldn't pay. He always said that he wished to see a single day without sickness, violence or death. Unfortunately, he was born during the war and never lived to see it. Both of our parents died of the plague, which was why Daniel became a doctor in the first place, and Daniel himself was killed when our village was raided by the Delgran army. He treated even the wounded Delgrans, but he overheard something he shouldn't have while treating one of the officers and they killed him on the spot.

"I doubt he would have wanted me to avenge him, but I'm not as kind or loving as he was. Once I finished burying him, I set off and joined the army under his name. He probably would have cried if he saw me doing that: he probably did, if he was watching from Heaven. Still, different people remember their loved ones different ways; Daniel remembered mom and dad by treating the sick and injured, and I remembered him each time I cut down a Delgran soldier."

As Nora spoke, her eyes took on a far off look, although they continued scanning the garden for threats. It was hard to tell what she was feeling at the moment: her voice was flat and even, but her left hand was clenched into a fist as she rested it on the pommel of her sword. There was the slightest of frowns on her lips, but it was hard to tell if she was actually sad.

"I apologize, Princess," she said, after a moment of silence. "I have little experience speaking in the presence of nobles: I'm sure you don't care to hear my experiences during the war."

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Abby was a very curious and observant girl. She was not immediate with her guards lack of expressing emotion, but in due time she would come to learn. She could only imagine the sorrow Nora felt when avenging her brother. Thinking him disappoint as he watched over her in the heavens above. Her brother sounded sweet. Very few would do such a thing. To heal both your allies and your enemies. It was unfortunate that his end came in such a manner. In silence she listened as Nora spoke.

"I doubt your brother cried. You were grief stricken and showed your love for him in the only way you thought you could. Making a difference in his name. You fight to save the lives of innocent people. It is a noble cause Nora." The entire time Nora spoke Abby's eyes stared at a primrose that had not bloomed yet. A beautiful sight taking its time to present itself in due time. The apology caught her attention as she looked at the guard with curious eyes.

"You need not apologize. You yourself are an example of the non usual sense. A woman can become a knight and fight in battle along side her male companions and a noble, even a princess can care about another person's life and stories. If you have not noticed by now... I am not as many expect in a princess. I do hope to change things when my time comes. Nothing too big. So much blood soaks the ground. Flowers nor grass dare grow in the battled fields. Only to be rained upon by blood shed from both sides. I hope to cut down the body count. We will always have our disagreements... but does it really need to cost us a life? It is a foolish thought. Yet, if my husband be willing, I would see more women in our troops. Who is to say you can not fight because of your chosen sex." She looked down into her lap with a reluctant sigh and a small little laugh to herself. "My father would deem me daft for voicing such dreams. My mother... she would praise me." She missed her mother so.

"All that aside. You love your brother and I doubt your brother would have ever stopping loving you so... keep doing what you do. And... if you need someone to talk to, well... you'll always know where I am, seeing as how you are my guard. It won't kill me to listen. I promise." She jested with a lax smile.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

"If I may be blunt," said Nora, "I doubt you'll find much luck finding a man who will agree with your views; if the controversy over my knighthood has taught me anything, it's that the men of this kingdom all view women the same. Even my own men, whom I lead in battle, turned their backs on me while the nobles debated what to do with me. If I hadn't lead the last charged against the Delgran forces, I have little doubt that I would have been burned at the stake. People fear change, Princess, and they will fight to keep things the way they are. If you're going to try and change the world, make sure to gather support, otherwise it's just you against everyone."

Nora didn't mean to be so negative, but she genuinely didn't want to see the princess hurt. If things continued as they were, Abigail would be Nora's first true friend since her brother died. To Nora, friendship mean honesty, even if that meant being brutally honest. She decided that the best way to prevent the princess from getting hurt emotionally would be to tell her the truth of the world beyond the castle walls. The men of the world wouldn't listen to a woman's voice unless she had many supporters to back her up. Perhaps they'd listen to a queen, but Abigail was still just a princess.

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Abby nodded her head in agreement. She had rattled her mind and weighed out the facts. Her dream was, in fact, a dream. "You are right. People fear change and men see women as the weaker sex. There is little I can do to change these things, but that does not mean I can not try. I am ready for the disappointment that will most likely come my way, but at least I will have tried. Even as a Queen I will have little influence and my King husband's word will always weigh more than my own. Unless his ruling is not in favor of the people then he can be over thrown and my word would be law until I am wed once more. Yet another dream I love to dwell upon. It does not kill to have a little hope."

"The world we live can be so cruel. You would know that first hand. Having worked so hard. Just as hard as any of your male companions and her you stand, a guard for a princess. I over heard your trials. No land and no soldiers beneath your command. It is ludicrous." The tone in her voice was laced with the anger that Nora failed to show. She would not foolishly voice such an opinion in her father's presence or anyone who would send word to his ear so quickly. The garden was only one of few places where she could keep away from prying ears. "Tonight I will dream... I am Queen and you... you Nora are my head general. How does that sound?" Her smile grew a bit at the thought. It was just a dream, afterall.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora's lips twitched slightly, hinting at a smile when Abigail mentioned her dream that night. The princess was certainly ambitious, Nora would give her that, but she was also realistic. She could tell from the way the girl talked that she wasn't fond of the prospect of marriage, not that Nora could blame her. Nora had never been fond of boys growing up and her recent experiences hadn't done much to ingratiate men in her eyes. Marriage to her meant that she'd lose everything she'd worked so hard to earn; by law, her husband would take control of her property, if she was ever given any, and would make decisions on her behalf. If she had to marry any of the men she had met so far, she had little doubt that the marriage would end with her killing her husband in his sleep; perhaps publicly if he was too much of a nuisance.

"It would be my honor, Princess," she said, a tone of wry humor entering her voice. "A knight lives to serve their lord, and your father assigned me to look after you. If I can watch over you in your dreams as well, then I must be doing my job very well in deed." The slight smile vanished and her eyes took on a curious look as she gazed at the princess out of the corner of her eye. "Speaking of sleep, where shall I rest my head tonight? Do your quarters come with a guest bedroom or am I to sleep in a chair?"

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Indeed, Nora would be doing a great job, even in Abby's dreams. To think that not long ago Abby whined of having another person following her around and never having any privacy. Abby rather liked Nora's company. She was neither a nag nor a pompous knight that did naught but complain about the duty of having to oversee the princess as she went about her daily duties. Again, she did as she always had and allowed her mind to wander in the peaceful sanctity of the garden until Nora's voice caught her attention once more. "Ah, yes. Let us head there now." With a relaxed sigh she stood and her feet led the way back into the the castle and up various steps to get to the wing where her bed chambers resided.

"Yes, you will have a room of your own. It resides just off of my parlor." From the hall they walked. One guard stationed outside of an ornate carved door that stood out from the rest. Something Abby thought was rather stupid. No one would have issues finding out where she lay her head, with it so plainly marked. The armed guard opened the door at the sign of Abby's presence and she led the way into her parlor. Roaring flames rested beneath the mantle. Various seating arrangements before the fire. The room was fairly large. Even with the four poster wooden bed the took residence in the center of one entire wall. One door, held the knight's suite. Abby led the way and beyond the door there was a nice sized bed with a chest at the foot of the bed, a weapon's rack, a table with a chair, an archer's window, and a wardrobe closet. "I hope nothing is amiss... I would not be surprised if the knight before you decided to help himself to something that was not his." She really had no favor for the man.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora followed the princess back into the castle, keeping watch all the way. When they came to her room, her eyes went wide, although the rest of her face remained mute. The room was one of the most extravagant things she had ever seen and it was meant for her. She shot a suspicious glance at the princess, expecting that this was some sort of joke and that she'd be sent to a servant's quarters. This room was fit for a noble, not a woman of common birth! Nora suddenly let out a silent snort of amusement; she had forgotten that she was a knight now. Even if she was only a glorified bodyguard, she had a title and authority: if nothing else, she was entitled, quite literally, to some nicer accommodations.

"It's perfect, Princess," she said. "It doesn't matter to me if your previous bodyguard ran off with something that wasn't mine to begin with."

It hit Nora at that moment that she didn't actually have anything to put in this room besides some spare clothes. She carried all of her possessions with her in a small bag that she had left in her room in the local inn. Once a servant retrieved that, she'd have everything she needed. She exited the room and closed the door before turning to Abigail.

"If I remember correctly," she said, "your handmaid said that you usually visit with your falcon at this time of day. Shall I accompany you to the aviary?" Nora paused, realizing that she didn't actually know where anything in the castle was. "Where exactly is the aviary anyway?"

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Abigail had gotten so caught up in her relaxing day she had almost forgot about her new companion. "Oh! Eola, yes. The aviary is in the back of the keep. Just on the border of the lands where the forest lays." She was rather pleased that Nora was fine with her accommodations. A happy knight was a hard working knight. Or so she had told herself, countless times. Hopefully Nora would prove her theory right, and so far, she had. Yet again she led the way out of her bedchambers and down to the end of the hall and down a flight of stairs. "To the backside of the castle is the aviary. The forest begins in the middle of the back and the other side is a cliff. Very far down. You can hear the crashing of the waves at night. It is a far venture, but the thought of an ambush from behind is very minimal. They would have to come around, sneak through the forest... which is home to some pretty nasty animals, and work hard to get pass the park of the keep the houses most of our knights on duty."

Abby was schooled in the ways of battle and found it fascinating sometimes. It was not all about waving a weapon and hoping you struck someone just by running towards them. It took some good logic, skills, and tactics to prove successful in a war. Once they exited the castle walls a tall tower stood in the distance. Barred windows winding to the top. The forest's edge just a few feet behind it. A young lad exiting a single wooden door leading to the tower with a bucket of dead mice in his hand. The lad bowed low enough that his nose nearly grazed the grass. Only when she passed did he continue on.

The tower was dimly lit and comprised of nothing more than a winding stair case with beams that a few various birds nested on. Feathers and dust stirred when they entered. Up a few steps she grabbed one of two thick gloves that sat on the wall and slipped it on before offering her arm out before a falcon with a hod over her eyes. Claws deadly sharp and a beak to match. "Eola..." She chimed. The bird sought out her arm and perched there and trusted her owner to lead her outside of the tower where she gave the bird a moment to adjust to the wind and the sounds and scents before taking of the hood. "This is Eola... I've been training with her for over a cycle and we've done so well. Right Eola? No doubt she had be fed a little and needs some freedom." Abby gently launched the bird from her arm and Eola instantly took flight. Circling a few times before flying over the canopy of the forest. "Hopefully she finds something." Green orbs turned from the sky above and looked to her knight.

"Maybe we can get my lessons in first thing after breaking the fast with my father before my studies." It would have to be discussed. He would have the final say as to whether or not she could. She fought tooth and nail just for archery and then she had her mother to help her argument.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora followed Abigail to the aviary, but paused at the door when the princess went in. Just looking up at the spiraling stairs and beams gave her vertigo. She pinched the bridge of her nose and waited for the spell to pass before moving further in to the building, almost bumping into the princess as she came back down the stairs. She watched as Abigail let the falcon fly and listened to her concerns about her father.

"I'm sure that your father will agree that the best way to keep you safe is if you're taught how to defend yourself," she said. "Although I will be by your side most of the time, I can't follow you everywhere. I am just one person: if we are attacked by multiple opponents, I won't be able to fight them all at once. Your father cares about your safety: I'm sure he'll see reason."

Or so Nora hoped. The king appeared to be a fairly rational man, but she didn't know him as well as his daughter did. For all she knew, he'd scoff at the idea and turn them away. Not that that would stop Nora from instructing Abigail: she had been instructed to keep the princess safe and that's what she intended to do, even if her father didn't like her methods.

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Abby did not look forward to the morning. She had an odd feeling that something was going to happen and her instincts were usually on the money. It could just be a simple argument or something she forgot, but it would probably nag her until the time came. "It's not enough to have me guarded by the best. Why stop there when I can be trained by the best. It makes sense." A simple observation.

Green orbs caught the sight of something out the corner of her eye and there was no mistaking it. "Sir Deon... father's right hand and trust adviser. Never too far, ready to whisper my days events to my father, no doubt. Little can be done, that he does not know about. I do not like that man... nor do I trust him as my father does."

Her attention was caught once more when Eola sounded and lowered to the ground with a dead rabbit as her prize. A reward well earned for the lovely animal. Eola held the rabbit in her beak and climbed onto her master's arm once more. Abby would put her back in the tower that she called home and allow her to feast on her earning and then put the glove away before leaving.

"Well, the remainder of the day is mine to do as I please. I think I would take supper in my bed chambers. Care to join? Father has been too busy to join me at the table as of lately and it just gets rather... dull eating at a vast table on your own." She meant to say lonely.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora took note of Sir Deon's face, making sure to remember his face in the future. She had not heard of a knight by that name, but it was unlikely that he ever would have taken the field during the war since his duties would keep him at the king's side. Unlike other knights, Nora understood that valor on the battlefield wasn't the only thing that could earn one a title. If this man hadn't earned his rank on the battlefield, there was a chance that he had earned it some other way. She remembered her brother telling her a story of a doctor who had been knighted for curing the royal family of the plague. Granted, this had been several generations ago, but it had happened nonetheless. Then again, there was always the off chance that Sir Deon was simply a noble who had been born into his title.

"It would be my honor to dine with you, Princess," said Nora. "If we are going to remain indoors for the rest of the evening, though, I think I would like to remove my armor before we eat. I would be grateful if you would call up some servants to assist me: removing plate armor by myself is difficult, but a few extra hands would make the process much quicker."

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Abby led the way back inside. Listening as Nora requested a few more hands to assist with taking off her armor. Abigail found herself imagine a well tones body beneath the constant weight of the armor. Why her thoughts came upon such a thing was beyond her. Conveniently on the way back up to their rooms, she asked Lydia to send two servants to the parlor of her bed chambers to assist Nora with the removal of her armor. After that was said and done they finally reached their destination of choice. It was not long after their arrival that a few knocks sounded upon the door and entrance was granted as one young lad and a young lady entered to assist Nora with her armor.

Meanwhile, Abby sent word to the kuchens that she and her guard would be taking their supper in her quarters, so that their food could be brought up and her father could be informed. Once supper was done, she would change into more comfortable attire, even before going to bed. It was only a matter of time before their food arrived. The princess sat upon the sofa before the fire and the platter of food was served on a table before her. She found it ironic how rabbit was part of the meal. "Thank you." She said as the servant parted with a bow.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora went into her room, followed by the two servants, and set about the process of removing her armor. Even with help, it took a good five minutes to remove all of it. Underneath, she wore a simple tunic and a pair of trousers, although the tunic was a bit small on her and exposed a little of her midriff. With the armor safely stored away, Nora belted on her sword again and walked back out to dine with the princess. She had wanted to give the servants a little money for their trouble, but she had given her last coin to the squire earlier in the day.

Without her armor, Nora looked a lot thinner. Her arms, which were exposed by her sleeveless tunic, were well-muscled and her abdomen was taught and hard. Abigail had once heard a guard the term "a stomach you could bounce a coin off of", and she finally understood what that meant. While Nora wasn't bulging, her muscles were well defined and toned. She walked barefoot, having left her heavy boots back in her room.

Nora sat down at the table across from Abigail. Before the princess could dig in, Nora held up a hand and sampled a little bit of each dish before nodding.

"Everything appears to be safe to eat," she said, placing some food on her plate. Abigail noticed that Nora didn't take an excessive amount of food. The knight was used to surviving on rations, so even the comparatively small amount of food she put on her plate was practically a feast to her. She waited for Abigail to start eating before digging in herself.

 

[Lady Bloody Ava]

Abby watched as Nora emerge from her room and was surprised as how thin the woman was. Although she clearly see the definition in muscle down the length of her arms and what little she could see from her stomach. The last guard had not done what she witnessed Nora do. Sample the food before she did. The idea of poison in her food slipped her thought, but Nora was clearly one knight who saw true to her duties to the fullest extent.

"Thank you." She said with a hidden smile as she placed a bit of food upon her plate. A pitcher of water for the two and a goblet of mead for the knight. Abby was never one for drinking and she did not know if Nora enjoyed the taste as so many others did. "How are feeling about your new post thus far? I know it is not what you rightfully deserve, but I hope you are content for the time being." There was nothing like being around an irritable person who found no interest what so ever in what they did.

However she genuinely hoped that Nora did not wish to leave her post as her body guard. Abby picked at her food. Her appetite was rather small, but she did love food. It was simply easy for her to fill up. No reason to over indulge in precious foods. It was not long before she was done eating and had set her plate aside. She would have some one retrieve it for them when she knew she was absolutely done and before she would get dressed in more comfortable clothes for the remainder of the night. For now, conversing was a comfort she liked to indulge in.

 

[Collector of Rarities]

Nora did her best to eat politely, but she had never actually been taught proper table manners. She sat hunched over with her elbows on the table and would often place more food in her mouth before she was done chewing the first bite. However, she did her best to eat slowly and chew with her mouth shut. She drank mostly water, but downed the mead in a few short gulps once she was done eating. She had come to enjoy the taste of mead in her time as a soldier: the honey-based alcohol was much better than more bitter drinks such as ale or beer. Nora was no lightweight when it came to drinking, so one goblet barely even gave her a buzz.

"I admit, this job isn't as bad as I thought it would be," said Nora, leaning back in her seat. "Then again, I haven't even spent a full day with you, so who's to say how much I'll enjoy it in the future? Still, I've got good food, a roof over my head and a comfortable room; that's really all I need. Sure, I'm getting paid, but what is there to spend it on when I'm provided with everything I need to live? Also, I'll be at your side most of the time, so it's not like I'll have much of a chance to go into town anyway. Unless you plan to travel anytime soon?"