Freidren Castle

Elyon Fitzdreiden
Bastard son of the old king, has been serving the royal family's interests since birth; advisor and messenger of the new queen.
Muted court dress, half-mask covering his eyes, the only part of him that resembles the old king.
--

He looked in the mirror , tugging at his hem. Black embroidery on black clothes, the dullness cut only by silver threads that ran through the cloth like tears. Dark eyes-- his father's eyes-- stared back at him for a moment before he raised the mask to hide them. He took a few more seconds to tie the ribbon that held it on his face, before slipping outside. The first thing to do today was to find the princess, and call her to breakfast. Somehow, he didn't think she'd be in her room.

Elyon's hunch was proven correct when he saw her personal guard all but hammering on the princess's door. "...Her Highness is not present?" he inquired neutrally. Next to Zev, Elyon looked even more slender than usual.
 
Not know a single thing about this bastard son, being new to castle life, Zev peers down at the dark clothed individual. Tightening his eyes for a second, he peers at the man, his own thoughts running ramped in his mind. "I don't believe so, sir." Comes the appropriate response, gathering from the extraordinary nettle-work that this man is one of some importance. Either that or he is very well payed in his current position. Straightening up, the Knight gives a formal bow before continuing. "I was to meet the Princess at dawn so she may go about her usual business." Eyes darting back to the door, he tightens his jaw in inner frustration. "I ..." He starts out but pauses, looking back to Elyon, noticing his dark eyes but not thinking anything of it.

"And, may I ask m'lord, what is your business with the Princess? I am Zevir Evanstone, newly appointed guardian to her highness." The rich accent comes to Elyon's ears, his hand resting on his southern styled Falchion blade. The handle would be gleaming, the knight taking pride in both his armor and looks. Their eyes clash once more, his tropical blues against Elyon's shrouded ones. "Do you happen to know where the Princess might be residing? If not her chambers then perhaps the dinning hall?" As he speaks, Elyon may be able to detect worry within his words. First day on the job and he has already lost the Princess. With every sound coming in through the hallway, Zev's eyes are quick to catch movement.
 
I know who you are, he thought with a mental roll of his eyes, though outwardly he remained placid. "Well met, Evanstone. I trust you have been doing your duties well." There was neither censure nor praise in his level tone. "Though Her Highness is known to rise early on occasion, she has not been to the dining hall." This Elyon said with completely confidence; after all, he'd passed it on the way here.

This was troublesome, however; with the death of the king, the princess was the heir to the throne. And while Elyon bore her no ill will, her disappearance would be troublesome for the entire castle. The young courtier clicked his fingers, then tried the door. It swung open easily to a huge but empty room, confirming their suspicions.
 
Zev bows his head low to the man again, keeping his mouth shut if he has nothing productive to say. "Yes, m'lord." Comes his voice, face still lowered to the floor. "This is my first assignment actually in the castle grounds. If you must know, it's my first day on duty to be Her Highness' personal guard. Coming here to find an empty room is distressing." Taking in a deep breath, his hand moves to the ornamented hilt of his blade and he readies himself for what may lie in the room. Silently, he hopes that the Princess just happens to be in bed or on the balcony and unable to hear his knocking. A quick sweep of the room and Zev frowns, no Princess in sight.

"Shall we check the dining hall? M'lord, I don't think it's wise for me to leave this area. Perhaps she will return? What are your orders?" Straightening up, his hands clasp behind his back and he -just- barely enters the room, glancing from the insides to the hallway once more.
 
"She will not be in the dining room, and 'tis too early yet to call a full search and cause unnecessary alarm." Elyon tapped the fingers of one hand against the other. "The king's death is but recent..." He trailed off, remembering the distant father who had been kind to him, more a lord than a father, but one that Elyon had served with all his heart nonetheless. "Her Highness may be in the throne room. Search there, and be keen in your observation on the way there. I will look elsewhere."
 
Beth took off her robe and laid it across one of the chests, kneeling to the ground. She brushed dust off a small wooden box and opened it. Inside were interesting drawings and maps. One caught her eye in particular and she tucked it into her night dress. It appeared to be a map of the castle. Beth heard something behind her and whipped around, but there was nothing. She had half expected to see the magic man and as she turned around she wondered if she wanted to or not. Don't be irrational. You will never see him again. She looked out the window and saw the sun rising over the castle wall. Time to go, thought Beth. It was probably not worth worrying, but she preferred no one knew where she went in the mornings and with this new guard there was a chance she would be discovered out of her room. Beth put on her robe once more and tied the velvet cord. As she cautiously opened the door to the corridor, she was shocked to see Zev and Elyon standing outside the door to her room. Swearing under her breath she pulled the door shut and pressed herself to the back of it, breathing heavily. Not only would they see her wearing nothing but a robe and lace nightdress, but she would have to explain her absence. Unless I can get across the hall unobserved. Beth eyed the door to the spare room next door to hers. It was directly across from the attic staircase and she if she could just duck in there... Just then Zev turned away and appeared to be examining Elyon and she bolted, opening the door to the spare room and then closing it so fast she was afraid it would make a noise, but it didn't. This was the room that her young cousin Celia stayed in when she visited and on one of her first visits, they had discovered the passage that connected the two rooms behind the wardrobe. Beth pushed it aside and made a mental note to return and push it back into place later, then she crawled through the short tunnel and emerged in her own room, replacing the heating grate behind her. There was a pounding on her door. Quickly and silently, she unlaced her boots and shoved them under the bed, then she took two dresses out and laid them on the bed as if she had been choosing between them. She put a third on quickly and then a cloak so they would not see she hadn't done up the corset. Then, calmly, Beth opened the door.

"Yes? Sorry I didn't answer sooner; I was washing."
 
Shutting Beth's door behind him, turning out to be much in Beth's favor, "It will be done at once, M'lord." Zev bows his head low to the ground, placing a fisted hand over his chest as a sign of respect to his superior. Within the next second, he is walking down the hallway only to hear the door click. Not registering the sound as Beth's door, Zev keeps moving with one hand on his prized possession. It wouldn't be until he heard her voice that he freezes mid walk. Trying to act as natural as possible, he spins on his heel, nearly crashing into one of the servants rushing down the hall. With nimble fingers, he grasps a hold of the wobbling girl by her arms and steadies her. Blinking in shock, the servant turns beet red, muttering apologies to the unique looking knight. There is no doubt in Zev's mind she will swoon over his touch later but who cares! His focus is on the Princess right now. Nodding his head to her, he releases her arms and strides past her, moving to Beth's door.

"B-" He starts to say her name but pauses, first introducing himself with a low bow. "Princess Beth, I hope you have slept well." Once picking up his gaze and settling it on Elyon, he searches for any sort of reaction the bastard may have. Didn't they just search her room? She had not been there nor did he hear any shuffling around in any of the surrounding rooms. The knight raises a light brow to the Princess, his eyes asking her where she -truly- was. Gazing right through her lie, Zev soon starts to smirk without registering what he is doing. The distant look in his eyes soon fade with a few blinks, straightening up again he rightfully asks what is on his mind. "Will you need a few more minutes to tidy up?" Taking a moment to glance over her features, he can see nothing wrong with her. Then again, he may have his doubts internally. She did just lie to him. "Or shall I escort you to your breakfast? Or... wherever you wish to go." Grinning, he can't help but feel very foolish. Soon, he knows, he will understand her schedule but as of right now, he is completely unaware of how she lives her daily life.
 
Beth noticed his sly grin. He knows I wasn't there, concluded Beth, nervously. And what of Elyon? Had he come to see her or was he just passing? Then, Zev asked if she wished to go to breakfast immediatly. Beth could have laughed if she wasn't stuck staring at Elyon. She reached her hand up to her hair and said, "I'm afraid Marcia would never aprove of my coming to breakfast without my hair fixed." She knew that Elyon was Marcia's personal slave. He let himself be pushed around and she loved to do it with anyone she could get her hands on. Beth generally made it a point not to speak to the bastard, although she often wondered his age... and what he thought about her father. However lovely it would be to have someone to talk with, it couldn't be him.
"Cecile comes at seven to do it, generally. Would you send for her?" She asked Zev. "And that's when you can come, too. Before seven I am usually indecent." Beth said poignantly, hoping he would understand.
 
Elyon eyed her without a word, his sharp gaze sweeping over her clothes and the dresses. Did he know? As always, his face was unreadable, though as ever, his mind ticked on quickly. He had been trained since birth to serve and guard the royal family-- did she think the secrets of the castle passageways were hers alone? He knew perfectly well the maids hadn't brought up the washing-water. In any case, he said nothing of her adventures and mistruths.

"You seem to be present and awake after all, Princess," he observed instead, giving her a short, courteous bow. "Good-morning. Cecile will be sent for, as you request; I will see you at breakfast. Evanstone, stay and guard the Princess." He'd have to keep an eye on the secret ways from now on. How troublesome-- as if he didn't have enough to do already. Elyon turned to go.
 
Zev, bowing to Princess Beth, opens his mouth to speak, only hearing Elyon's words come from his throat. Blinking, he straightens up and points his chin high, listening intently on what Elyon has to say. Swallowing, Zev wonders, most likely along with Beth, what is going on through Elyon's mind. It's as if his face has been etched into stone, unchanging and therefore unreadable. The fixed gaze, taut lips not showing a smile nor a frown in Zev's eyes. The man before Zev gives no -emotion- to his thought. What an odd Lord. I can tell he is pondering something, perhaps something of disappointment? Passing ideas? The Knight ponders internally, not trying to turn his raised brow gaze at Elyon for too long. Within the next few blinks, Zev's attention is back on the Princess.

"At once, M'lord." Comes his booming voice, saluting to Elyon before turning a more tender gaze upon the Princess. "Would you--" He starts to ask her in his usual vowing tone. Stopping mid way, he can only flash a grin before lifting his head up. "I shall wait outside for you to be ready then, Princess." Turning to look at the hallway, he has to stop himself from letting out an exaggerated sigh of dismay. Waiting until seven? I could have easily slept in another full hour! Or at least not have had to rush all the damn way here. Giving a reassuring smile to Beth, he waits until she gives him his orders. In a way, he seems happy to see her, his eyes giving him away. She is kind, or at least gives one good act on being so, comes his conclusion. She is, after all, saving his backside by letting him trail by her side. Protection. Not even in the castle are they safe anymore after last nights events.
 
Ada,
Long black hair, green eyes, pale skin, thin frame. Personal maid to the princess.
Wears a white cotton dress under a dark red sleeveless cover that ties at the sides.

Ada pushed through the halls running as fast as she could to the Beth's room, her lungs struggling to keep up with the energy she was using. She isn't late very often but she had been sick for the past week and unable to attend her post. Due to being sick, Ada had stayed in bed and messed up her sleeping schedule. If it wasn't for the rooster escaping his pen and running past her house, she never would have woken up.

"I do hope m'lady hasn't replaced me with someone else. I'm not sure if my message made it's way to her. It's not very often a messenger boy is willing to give word at one-tenth his price." Though Ada was a direct servant to the princess, she did not earn very much money and couldn't afford to send messages at their asking price.

Just as she neared the door, Ada ran into someone she wasn't expecting to be there. Falling to the ground she immediately jumped up and went to offer her hand to the man she had just knocked over however, being late took priority over proper manners. A quick "My apologies!" and a quick wave was all she had time for. She smoothed out the creases in her dress and slowed her breathing. Knocking loudly on the door she spoke, "M'lady? It's Ada, my sincerest apologies for being late but I have returned to work." Ada waiting for permission to enter the door, hoping she wouldn't be scolded for being half an hour late.
 
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