The Warrior Maiden

Arianne Umber || 29 || Warrior || Heir || Northerner || Aello the Amazonian

[arianneumber]

I return only to pledge my house to the New King. So let me pass.

[arianneumber]

The food is not much better down here...

[alyciacromwell-blog1]

"Of course, I can’t argue with that. Often, when we forget to pay attention, we miss the most exquisite sights. Why, on my first night at the Keep, I traveled to the tops of the tower to watch the sunset, but I got distracted by the vines covering the walls. Beauty will distract from beauty, I suppose." Alycia’s smile widened at the sight of the crimson cheeks. "I hope you don’t mind me joining you then."

"As are the best things in life. Speaking of, would you care for some wine?" She motioned to one of the servant girls running around and had her pour two glasses, not bothering to wait for a response. 

[arianneumber]

Arianne smiled, nodding her head ever so slightly "An interesting philosophy Milady" she admitted, lowering herself back into her seat but not taking her eyes from the woman in front of her. As Alycia came forward, Arianne stared up, her blue eyes wide and almost childlike in their wonder of her. When she said, Arianne's gaze followed her, smiling slightly at the offer of wine. "You're very kind, thank you Milady" Arianne said, nodding toward her glass. She picked up a half eaten plum and started on it again, content with the plain, unsugered food. "So you are not from here originally Milady?" Arianne finally asked after swallowing down a bite and trying to keep her voice as even as she could.

[arianneumber]

The food is not much better down here...

[alyciacromwell-blog1]

I’m sorry if I startled you then. Beautiful women shouldn’t dine alone. There’s something wholly wrong with the scene.

That sounds positively dreadful. Have you never had the sweet fruits offered by the Keep then?

[arianneumber]

"No No Milady, i wasn't paying attention, which i should have been." Arianne blushed fiercely and ducked her head slightly. "I'm used to it now Milady, it's nice being alone. I come from a big family."

Arianne nodded, making a slight face "Yes Milady...they were...sweet, very sweet." Arianne quickly caught herself and cleared her throat "-but still enjoyable"

[arianneumber]

The food is not much better down here...

[alyciacromwell-blog1]

What a pity! The Keep is supposed to be all about luxuries. If the food isn’t grand, then however shall you go on? 

[arianneumber]

My Lady!...Forgive me I..I didn't think anyone was there...

I am not sure My Lady, im not used to such...sweet things i suppose. We have a choice between meat and more meat in the North. 

[arianneumber]

The food is not much better down here...

[illiasrivers-blog]

"Glory? Is that what they call it?"

"My father as well. He was a firm believer that you shouldn’t use those skills unless necessary but that you should know them nonetheless."

[arianneumber]

"Apparently so."

"A wise man, mine taught a similar lesson. You better of looking at a sword then looking for one." she shrugged "I never quite understood it but then again, my father was never truly a smart man, not in the literary sense anyway."

[illiasrivers-blog]

"I’m beginning to wonder just how many are native to the Keep.”

"I can’t argue that fact. Where did you learn to fight?"

[arianneumber]

"I doubt very few are Sir, it's a sigh in itself how many will clamber into the lions den for a chance of glory. "

"My father taught me, though he had help from our Master-at-Arms. Where did you learn to fight?"

[bilosan]

[illiasrivers-blog]

"Away from here. Are you a knight as well?"

[arianneumber]

"How interesting, as am i."

"No, i'm no Knight Sir, though i can wield a blade better than many who are."

[arianneumber]

North and South || Arianne&Theron

[the-savage-queen-deactivated201]

The man, small-faced man with a long mustache who was said to have fast hands good with knife, spoke something in that undecipherable dialect heard beyond Northern Mountains, beyond civilized peoples. This man smiled and held up an iron buckle for his queen to see, this that could be melted down to make good arrowhead.

She that was his queen, she that stayed on horseback, nodded appreciatively to him. Then did she turn back to woman with blonde hair—”…People from beyond Northern mountains, called Amayat or Amazol.”

She gazed down at the woman, looking over body like hunter that looks at beautiful animal—”…You are warrior yet you are woman? I do not think you are of summered lands, for no women here fight, more wear dress and laugh and dance in high courts like tall trees.”

[arianneumber]

Arianne stiffened as the woman looked her up and down. She felt like a prize, like a goat ready to be sold. Arianne tilted her head up arrogantly, meeting the womans gaze full on. The accent caught her of guard "Northern" she said aloud, with out meaning too. She caught herself then and licked her lips "I'm from the North, Hearthheart is my family seat. I trained their with my father." 

Arianne had to smile, she took what the woman had said as a compliment and not as a snide jeer. "You're not of the South either, are you?" Arianne asked, nodding toward the woman and then inclining her head to the pair behind her "You're wildling."

[arianneumber]

North and South || Arianne&Open

[alyciacromwell-blog1]

Alycia’s attention had been diverted between the woman and the one remaining bandit. She was in awe of the woman’s movements — the grace and power captivated her. At her gentle word, Alycia returned her glance to the bandit, and without hesitation, she pulled the trigger of the crossbow. The bolt impaled itself into the man’s chest, and he fell to the ground with a hard thud.

The crossbow dropped from Alycia’s hands, and she flashed the woman a shaky smile. “Well, that was a bit of an inconvenience.” She glanced around the wreckage, releasing a pitiful sigh. “But I thank you.” Stepping over the fallen bandits, she walked to the woman’s side and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “I don’t believe I ever learned your name.”

[arianneumber]

Arianne jumped slightly, surprised by the sudden thwack of the crossbow. She had not expected the woman to actually open fire. When she had dropped the crossbow, Arianne sheathed her sword into the belt around her waist. "You're...welcome, Milday are-" Arianne was cut off when Alycia kissed her. Arianne seized up and flushed pink "I'm....Arianne." she said before catching herself "-Milady". Arianne gulped back a quick breath and glanced past her toward the wreckage. "Are you alright?, that's one hell of a crash." she said, her stare flickering back to the blonde in front of her. Alycia was close, awfully close and it threw the warrior somewhat. 

[illiasrivers-blog]

"It’s not for everyone," he said simply, shrugging. "That I am — relatively new to the scene actually."

[arianneumber]

"Yes?" she replied, arching both eyebrows. "Where did you come from then?, if you don't mind me asking Sir" 

[eva-argo-deactivated20141025]

"No need to forgive those who are already forgiven." She smiled lightly. "Well the weather is too dry, the people are too kind.. And I am sure my soon to be husband isn’t too interested in me, which I could careless for. But that bit can stay between us, hm? Honestly I can’t wait to visit home, that is if I am ever able to."

[arianneumber]

Arianne nodded gently, knowing all to well how she felt "I understand Milady, and i won't share." she smirked then, crossing her arms over her chest "If you don't mind me asking Milady, who is your husband to be?, some fancy southern Lordling?"

[arianneumber]

North and South || Arianne&Amos

[knightofcromwell]

His frown turned down further when the other man rushed at the woman. Though she regained her footing, his aim remain on the other mans head, allowing her to handle it herself and not wanting to overstep his boundaries. At her grunt, he chuckled and swung his leg over the saddle and landed easily on the ground. “Either of you continue to be idiots, I will put an arrow through you faster then you can blink.” With one last scathing look at the two men before lowering his bow and getting his handkerchief. Holding it out to her, he nodded. “Any idea what happened?”

[arianneumber]

Arianne narrowed her eyes, not having realized that she was bleeding in the first place. She reached up and cupped her nose, scowling slightly upon feel the wetness of her own blood. She then begrudingly took the handkerchief from him and dabbed at her nose

"I don't know. I heard a scream and when i rode toward it, i almost lost an eye to this idiots arrow." she said, nodding toward the slimmer of the pair. Arianne rubbed at her nose one final time before tucking the piece of fabric into her belt. "You're far from home Sir Knight" the woman then scowled. 

[vampireweakend-blog]

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[arianneumber]

North and South || Arianne&Theron

[the-savage-queen-deactivated201]

Arrows, those that are shot from strong recurve bow by rider on fast horse, struck with great force, and deathly precision, into flesh. And two that were once living were no more: they that fall to the ground and are soon named crow-feast and worm-food.

Three riders, one man, two women, all with strong arms made hard by use of bow, slowed and trotted to the carriage. Two dismounting: one, the man, searching through bodies, as other, one of two women, picked through the carriage. She who stayed on horse, having bow in hand and arrow drawn ready, gave great wariness to woman with blonde hair.

These were a people that saw this as their finding and would take from it as it were theirs. For what can corpse own? We need, they do not need for they are dead; we take. This they were taught as child in land where is little.

Their Queen, she that was called so because of great skill in war—she that had said: “Go. See what screams.”—came on horse into clearing with seven on horse behind her. For they had come from Keep, on road, to see land which they did not well know—they that had come from distant place far beyond Northern Mountains, far beyond territories of Argo, far beyond Seven Kingdoms. Where much snow is on slopes and good grass for horse on steppes, this they named home.

She that they called Queen gazed down at the woman with blonde hair, speaking in primal way like beat on taut drum.

"You scream?"

[arianneumber]

Arianne had not even managed to get to her feet when the arrows stuck. She heard the thwack and then the thud of both bodies hitting the ground. Stunned, she stood up and brushed her hair from her eyes. Her horse whined and proceeded to back away, as if sensing something was off. Arianne patted her neck gently, shushing her as she drew both her sword and shield from the saddle. She trapped the circle shield to her left arm and gripped her sword tightly with her right. 

The sudden, sharp thud of hoofs on dirt had the Northerner whirling on the spot. She took up her stance but the woman on horse back did not move to attack. Still, Arianne held her position, staring up at her, unblinking and stony faced, The question made her bristle "No" she replied  sharply, whoever she noted the accent. Wildling, she thought, Arianne had never met a wildling, let alone 3. She glanced to the other two, that were currently thumbing their way through the upturned carriage. "Who are you." Arianne asked, turning her attention back on wildling on horseback. 

[arianneumber]

North and South || Arianne&Amos

[knightofcromwell]

He’d left the Keep early that morning, instructing a few others to inform his ladies and take care of them in his leave. He’d needed a break from the suffocating walls. So after saddling his horse, he’d taken from the walls and moved into the forest, wishing to put his aim to good use. It was the scream however, that caused his trek to detour.

Turning to the sight he rode up upon, Amos gave his head a shake, easily stringing an arrow and letting it loose. “I truly do hate people who are rude.” Before the words had even left his mouth, the arrow embedded itself deeply into the shorter mans leg, earning a rather loud scream. Unhooking the long dagger at his waist, he tossed it to the woman on the ground. “I suggest you drop your weapons before the next goes into your head.”

[arianneumber]

Arianne had fumbled to her feet at this stage, reaching for the dagger he had thrown her. Her sword was still strapped to her horse, which was getting dangerously close to bolting. Arianne said nothing as the larger man came running at them both. She stepped smartly to the side and with the size he had thrown at her, he tumbled slightly. However he found his footing quickly. Arianne however, had darted toward him and sliced at the back of his knees throw the thin wool of his breeches. He fell with a scream, unable to stand. Arianne backed away, keeping out of his reach as she glanced to the man on horseback. She grunted, the closest thing to a thank you he was likely to get from her.