s t r o n g but s i l e n t

♞ Adrian Lance, Royal Guard of the Princess Sophia, of the Kingdom of Nore ♞

[thequiethuntsman]

"Who goes there?"

[themasterbatorium]

It's rather quiet today

[themasterbatorium]

Yes, of course. 

Please, don’t let me disrupt your day’s routine. I do not believe I can find it within me to go back into a deep sleep. I think I would like to… explore around for a while. Until the others have awaken. 

[thequiethuntsman]

"Well... if you need anything, just ask. I'm sure anyone would be willing to help you, m'lady."

"Oh Gods, my apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Adrian Lance, huntsman of her Majesty, Princess Sophie of the House Caddock."

[themasterbatorium]

It's rather quiet today

[themasterbatorium]

Is this so? 

Wow. I must have not slept well then. What art thou doing up ‘tis early?

[thequiethuntsman]

"I am a huntsman, m'lady. We and the rangers are some of the earliest people awake."

"Would you like me to fetch you something from the kitchens? A hot tea, perhaps? Or... there might still be some mulled wine to heat up, to help you sleep."

[themasterbatorium]

It's rather quiet today

[themasterbatorium]

The simple fact that there doesn’t seen to be anyone out of bed at the time. The silence it’s frightening compared to other days, dear huntsman. 

[thequiethuntsman]

"You are awake very early, m'lady... The sun won't rise for a few hours yet. The servants are sleeping."

[themasterbatorium]

It's rather quiet today

[thequiethuntsman]

"What makes you say that, m'lady?"

[miss-marion]

A-against that time, if ever that time come,

When I shall see the frown on my…my defects, when as thy love h-hath cast h-his utmost…utmost sun?

[thequiethuntsman]

Adrian followed the sound of her voice, wandering behind the main street to find a quicker route home, when he found Miss Marion, reading from a book. He was unsure of what her words meant, they didn't seem to fit together... but they were beautiful words. His feet crunched against the snow as he appeared around the corner. "...Miss Marion?"

[love-the-eyes]

"Have you been keeping yourself busy enough?" she asked, stepping closer with a distinct sway that was lost in the furs of her coat. "A ranger such as yourself surely must have such little time with all that’s going on."

[thequiethuntsman]

"I'm not a ranger... I'm a huntsman." Adrian replied, watching her approach with a watchful eye. The veil suited her more, now that she was a young woman. The dark glasses had always been slightly.... odd.

[ravenspeaker]

Oh, you can't go zhat way.

[ravenspeaker]

Ursula hopped off her box and stood in front of him in a huff. She was tired of people pretending not to know who she was. It wasn’t as though she was the only proper doctor in this entire frozen kingdom. “Miss? Adrian, I am older zhan zhe king’s grandfazher, I do not want to be called Miss.”

[thequiethuntsman]

"You've aged far more gracefully." Adrian commented, a hint of a mischievous smile, a ghost of his past boyish self, sweeping across his features before it was gone. "What title would you prefer... Madame Spindle?"

[ravenspeaker]

Oh, you can't go zhat way.

[ravenspeaker]

"Oh no, not today it isn’t! Zhe palace is not zhat way, and you mustn’t go zhere." Never mind the fact that the road lead straight to the palace, and always had. When a witch is bored, trouble must be caused.

[thequiethuntsman]

Adrian glanced down the road, which undoubtedly lead down to the palace gates, as well as the side road to the guards entrance, then looked back at the dark haired young woman before him. "I have to go, miss. I'm sorry for troubling you."

[love-the-eyes]

"My thanks to ye, Sir." She grinned, as though he was just another man that she could bring into the whore house for the night. "Are you warm yourself, brave Sir?"

[thequiethuntsman]

"I am, thank you, miss." Adrian said, wrapped up warm in his fur lined coat. It was standard uniform for a huntsman. He knew who she was... he was sure of it. There was no one else who looked quite like her, with her dark tinted glasses.

[love-the-eyes]

A peck of silver, a flash of mine eyes, and I have me now a new coat for the winter.

[thequiethuntsman]

"Good to hear you'll be keeping warm." Adrian said, standing a few metres away from her in the market place.

[ravenspeaker]

Oh, you can't go zhat way.

Zhat way is zhe wrong way.

[thequiethuntsman]

"What--" Adrian turned towards the sound of her voice, looking perplexed. "What do you mean, this is the wrong way? The palace is... always this way."

[caradocwystern]

It’s quite pretty up in the sky, isn’t it?

It’s almost worth being outside in the cold at night.

[thequiethuntsman]

"I-- I beg your pardon?" Adrian asked, truly wondering if she was talking to him. He just happened to be passing by... but encouraged by her words, he looked up at the sky and admired the stars. They were beautiful... sometimes it was so easy to miss them.

[lyricunsung]

She almost jumped at the sudden approach, turning quickly resembling very much a startled animal, wide eyed and a bit startled. However, Lyric recovered herself well enough before glancing down to see what the man was speaking of. Blast, he had seen her let it slip to the ground! She had let it go on purpose, thinking to perhaps try this little experiment out, but it seemed the wrong person had picked it up, her little square package wrapped in paper, old runes drawn on in precise detail. She would have to deny it…who knew if It would be watching.

"Why…I didn’t drop that. You must be mistaken."

[thequiethuntsman]

"Oh... Scholar Lyric." Adrian's eyes widened at the sight of the one who tutored the princesses, one of whom he was sworn to guard and protect. Adrian had always felt strange around the women who controlled fire and ice - perhaps it was her otherworldly quality, how she seems ageless and how she glided, not walked but swept across the floor, like her feet didn't touch the ground. If it weren't for her footprints in the snow, Adrian would be like to believe it.

"Forgive me, I--... I could have sworn I saw it slip from your gown. I... must have been mistaken. My apologies."

[natashacast]

[thequiethuntsman]

"Excuse me." Adrian called across the street, following someone and tapping them on the shoulder. "You dropped this."

[butloveisalwaysselfish-blog]

She sighed, and grimaced. Her entire demeanor changed, in that moment, and she kicked the ground in frustration. “That doesn’t explain why you’re so tiresome about it. Do you not have the money? Is that it?”

[thequiethuntsman]

"I'm sorry, Miss. It's more of a... moral issue then a financial one." Adrian explained softly, letting out a sigh and looking down at her. "Forgive me for wasting your time. You must be frustrated..."