This was just another piece of himself. Familiar. Normal. The idea that it was strange was not even a blip on his radar, actually if anything, he might have noticed that she found it unusual. Though unsaid, there was something about his ability to sense things that felt on a different level in such a form. Likely useful for danger or what have you.
The stiffness was noticeable even as she clamoured aboard and he rose to be certain that she wasn’t about to go tipping off the side. Perhaps the only way he might grow properly uncomfortable about this was if he was wrangled like a horse.
The bit, bridle, saddle and blankets. Then that would have caused some level of discomfort that would be hard to ignore. In this case, those were lacking. And he was flipping the pointed tips of ears backwards to indicate he was listening to her when she expressed she thought she was ready. Straightening and adjusting the movement of gait to be slow. Steady. Easy at first as to encourage the means of just relaxing. Even if she expressed she was not that well versed in the means of riding. Had he a mouth, he might have pointed out that bareback riding was different than saddle.
One had to be acutely aware of the horses movement all the more. And move with it. Without the security of being in one particular spot. Yet he found her comment about how the equine sorts were wilful with their own personalities and would do various unpredictable things, there was a internal amusement at this. It all depended on the rider. How the horse was trained and their relationship. He knew this.
For now, she merely gave him another pat as he made the effort of aligning their direction in the way they needed to go. Starting in slow methodical walking that would only develop into a trot when he was sure she was okay.
Repeating the process each time from one speed to another only after that sense or verbalizing of her status was completed. Eventually having a full gallop committed and the world around them was no more than a welcomed blur. Easing a lot of his own tensions to feel the distance being created from the Imperial lands to that of a new plot of kingdom.
It would take a bit. Before the smell of the air subtly changed and his speed was made to slow. Where lands of forest became plains. Prairie like grass that was thick, green and swaying in the subtle breeze that came from the horizon. A plain of glittering waters from the sun’s reflective light making it obvious it was water but still well out of the reach of themselves to see it as the ocean. Only that the city of Essurn was dappled along the sky with its towering buildings and pointed rooftops. He slowed as to walk once more to allow Araminta that chance to become a swivel with eyeing their surroundings.
Araminta herself was having to figure out what was required in comfortably riding bare back, finding that trust did most of the work. Knowing Theon wasn’t about to go toss her into the bushes made the means of relaxing take far less time. The rest was a matter of paying attention to subtle differences in movement so she could keep her balance as needed. She might still think riding a man-horse was a silly thing, but… it was actually quite nice.
The only really trouble was disorienting landscape changes due to fae travel, for which there was no help for. Any moment Araminta felt a little dizzied by it she just closed her eyes for a few moments and was fine.
She knew when they’d arrived close to Essurn when his pace change to a leisurely canter, giving Araminta the chance to get herself reoriented back to the world and actually look around. The line of glimmering blue on the horizon – still too far to properly see – was her immediate interest and sparked up such a sense of excitement it was hard to keep it contained. Surprising too was the size of the city from this distance. Not nearly as large as the Imperial City, but then… Araminta was not used to such large cities at all! So many people in such a busy place seemed thrilling.
…and likely a nightmare for Theon, she recognized. Thus she leaned to give him a reassuring stroke on that equine neck.
Naturally he wasn’t that comfortable around people in limited sizes. To a city, it was like a cage. A ugly reminder of many things that were pushed deep into his mind to be ignored like a blight there. However, he was not about to make such things known when they could cause any number of problems for Araminta. She was a friendly person that seemed to charm those around her one way or another. Or those she couldn’t, she made at least hospitable gestures too that expressed she was neither to be bowled over or thought little of. She was a threat in her own gentle way and it was likely in those efforts that people thought nothing in reply.
As he came to a walk to come and allow them a chance to be able to see all the way around, hooves stopped. Looking amongst the presence that he had seen before but barely offered a considering observation too.
Essurn was a city. Busy and bustling but it was small compared to the Imperial City. It had many pointed roofs and a noticeable church presence that seemed to act like it was the castle of the town. Although he knew they worshipped the deity of Isyn. The goddess of the sea, merchants and something else in which he couldn’t remember. They were considered inferior in the ways of religion, he knew this. That didn’t lessen their commitment. What was likely the second largest structure was the port tollhouse. The place that managed the harbor, the trade coming in and out and whatever ships were registered there.
It was stationed out of the way of the ocean view that he spoke previously there were a few inns that made it their place to be on the waterfront property. As people came to see such a place, it was a perfect sight to have. And cost likely a pretty penny to stay.
Head was given a light tussle before he worked his frame downwards. Rather than making the equestrian bow, he plopped completely down. Adjusting legs to be tucked beneath as he literally laid there. Seemingly giving her an ease of dismount while allowing a moment of his own rest. Admittedly, his nights of frequent cat napping was starting to sneak up on him.
Still, he awaited her before he would even think of changing forms once more. Unsure if she wanted them to go directly inside the city as is or for them to travel on foot the last bit so she might have a chance to oogle everything around.
He’d become a full horse loaf! Araminta could easily make a few guesses to the why, as the man barely slept more than a pretending closing of his eyes if anyone could even call that sleeping at all. Throw on injuries and travel and magic and honestly…! Sometimes Araminta didn’t know how he could make it through a day at all.
She slid off his back easily with only a little bit of wobbling to her step. Between fae travel and horse walking it took a moment to get used to solid ground. Taking advantage of this horse loafing too, Araminta didn’t waste a moment to stroke those flicking ears ad steal an extra pet. Whatever little voice that was supposed to exist in the back of her mind to scream this isn’t proper! you’re petting a grown man!, did not appear to chime in fast enough to stop her if it even existed at all.
“Do you want to take a break before we head into the city?” she asked curiously. “We could take a break now, or we could rush straight to an Inn and then contentedly be vegetables for the rest of the day?”
Naturally his gaze followed over to her. As she weeble wobbled a bit after her feet returned to the solid earth. Observing and seemingly ready to act in some way should she need him to steady her in quick haste. In a moment she had regained her balance but seemed to turn all her attention on to him. Wasting little time to adorn her grasp to him. Petting and flitting in ways that likely would have turned his face into the same colour as a beet. Not only to be petted but the fact there was such a physicality to it that it was liable to make him pop like a over ripened tomato.
Grateful then and there that he was unable to blush at all.
Merely accepting and waiting a few minutes more while it seemed she was debating the action forward.
He’d wait even longer then. Before allowing the mist to come and go with the means of returning to a far more upright appearance. Though his features were angled towards the city with due consideration. Debating her various options with the same cryptic energy as if he were being tested on a dire event that was literally life and death. “Inn.” He stated then surprisingly soft. “Then, if you wish to rest you will have a room to do so. With proper furniture and perhaps the option to find that bath with bubbles as you wanted.”
“Yes,” the tiny little jubilant exclamation was completely unnecessary, but she hadn’t thought about the bath part and now that she was reminded this was indeed the best choice. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted a good bath, Theon! I have been dreaming of baths…”
An exaggeration… or was it! The only downside was that she’d have to put back on her filthy clothes, but not even that could damper how glorious a hot bath would be. Well worth the money they were about to spend on a nice room and extra comforts. Theon with his sparse lifestyle would have a chance to experience these things, but having not always have them he likely didn’t understand what it was like to be used to certain simple comforts and then suddenly be thrust out into the wild.
Araminta didn’t hate it – the outdoors were lovely to be in – but a hot water bubble bath and a feather bed? Everyone should have such things.
She might’ve ran all the way there had she known what to look for.
Thus pleased as could be and a renewed sense of energy, hooked her arm with his to happily make the walk into town. At least having the sense not to be bouncing like some silly young girl. A princess was meant to conduct herself with a little more reservation… but as well she didn’t want to bring attention to them both just because she was so excitable.
It seemed he had found something in particular she wanted and he was just glad he remembered at all. Which she certainly made it clear that it was exactly the right choice. Apparently having been dreaming of such things.
Well suppose he had better be more attentive to such things as he figured she might appreciate it move often. Sure he could figure out better routes to take so she could have hot water for cleaning instead of using cold streams as he would.
In mere moments he was shortly looped up her grasp. Where they were indicated to lead forward and he felt a strong budding discomfort rise with each step closer. Behaving like a turtle in the means of retracting his head to keep safe. Watching certainly but not so much willing to interact with the slowly growing sight of people. “Inns… will be upon the right side upon entry. Not close to the entrance of the city but a little further in. Which place you want, we will go.” Although he wasn’t sure what sort of place he was to stay in. Wondering if it might be better for him to just go elsewhere or just camp outside the city while she felt the comforts of a warm place without animal heads all over the walls.
It didn’t take the princess long to catch on about his discomfort, though her own excitement made it difficult to pace them properly. She kept his arm to give him an encouraging squeeze here and there when they’d drawn closer to actual people and it was no longer just the two of them walking along the road. Finding some amusement in knowing that with places like this she was the shield rather than Theon.
Suspecting he might try to flee out of the city itself the first chance he got. Araminta had to carefully think if she’d let him do such a thing… She didn’t want him to be uncomfortable or too anxious to actually rest and enjoy what the city could offer, but she also didn’t want to be alone without him nearby. Unlike small villages where everyone tended to know each other and looked out for another, larger cities were a little more… unpredictable. He had good reason to be nervous about such places!
“As long as there is hot water and a nice bed, I’ll be happy. So really it’s just a matter of whether you’d feel better with a single room for the both of us of if we should get two rooms. You need to actually sleep in a proper bed and I would feel better if you were close.”
People were just so… conniving. They looked one way but had other intentions that often made him truly uncomfortable. Granted this wasn’t the Imperial City and he was no longer the imperial prince. At least, he was pretty sure about that. Not that any of that information brought a sense of relaxation. If anything, he worried that people might realize he was the former prince and seek to dole out their sense of punishment. Although he wasn’t sure why they would do this, so he could fathom he was feeling the first sense of him being well… exposed. And if he was exposed then Araminta was in turn.
Honestly, he would have been very content to just wait for her to enjoy her trip here on the outside of it. To come along when she requested it necessary but ultimately to be a doll simply waiting for when it was her convenience.
Of course the gentle squeezes weren’t ignored. He noticed but he was cautious of the presence of so many new and unknown faces. Unknown to what they were thinking.
In turn, Araminta seemed to be quick on that draw once more. Speaking up as if she knew exactly what he was up too in the endless plains that were his forever thoughts. “It is what you wish. You are a young female and the city is better than the place we had been at before. I would not impede your comfort or privacy.” He didn’t think he ought to do anyways, she wasn’t helpless! He knew this.
“I will be fine wherever is best.” Although he might not know what the hell to do with a feathered bed! Liable to poke it and just plop down on the floor to do his cat napping thing with the knowledge that she wanted him nearby to be readily shepherded. His gaze veered to look at the various buildings alongside the various people while they walked. Trying to determine a suitable place for the fallen princess and one that would accommodate her wants.
Funnily enough, Araminta had similar thoughts about people, though in a much less darker sort of way. Just the fact she was indeed a young lady and these larger cities people weren’t as openly kind or easy to trust. It was easier to be anonymous and disappear into a crowd, which also meant it was easier to get up to no good! And maybe a tiny part of her was a little spooked by that awful rest stop. And the trouble with the fourth trial. Matilda’s warnings to be wary about the Queen’s agents wasn’t something to be ignored. Anyone here could be a danger, even the most friendly of faces.
“To be honest…” she started slowly, not sure if she should even confess these fears. In the end, Araminta figured it was better for the both of them if he knew what her thoughts were. “I’m a little uneasy to be by myself here? This is different than a little village, with more potential for different sorts of trouble. I’ll sleep easier if you’re close by, even if it’s the next room over.”
His attention piqued. Turned and addressed her with the due focus that was to be afforded at three little words. To be honest. Suddenly the bother of people all abound promptly disappeared and he was no more than a hound with ears pricked up. Waiting patiently of course for her to find the strength to continue but never minding the fact that she wanted to sort what came out.
In such a case came to be a reveal that she felt uneasy to be alone if he were to slip back to the wilderness to be a feral beast that was perhaps more fitting for his secluded nature. Mentioning how a city greatly differed from that of a town where people likely knew everyone. That he could understand.
Requiring no deeper processing to that to fathom that well, she would just be more at ease if he was present. Even if it was a room next door.
“Alright.” If there was a chance to offer a rebuttal, it never came. Merely the acceptance that she felt it important enough to reveal her worries to him. Pointing out there would be relief if he was present close enough that it would be easy to access if anything needed to be addressed.
The deal was done and he wouldn’t seek an out for that. Rather tilting attention up as they wandered and indicated forward to her decision, “Which would you wish for?” There were now appearing a few different inns that could be selected at her leisure. And admittedly, this might be over his head for selection anyways.
Araminta didn’t hide her relief that he’d stay close and not run off to the woods. Knowing pretty confidently, he’d be alright once he got used to the extra crowds and they could spend most of their time in privacy anyway.
On given this sudden option of choice to Inns, however, Araminta had to do some looking and thinking. When it came to villages you rarely had more than one choice, and it wasn’t as if Araminta had done a lot of city visiting even in her own country. She sure didn’t have the coin to stay at any in the Imperial City! Araminta was, just as Theon, learning some of this as they went.
So Araminta took Theon for a casual stroll down the road, carefully eyeing the buildings themselves and the sorts of people that came out of them. Some were at a quick glance very obvious on the state of them. Whether it was pretty half dressed ladies lounging in windows, or smokey dens men were stumbling out of. She knew immediately where nobility would make their stop at if they were looking for a place they didn’t want to be recognized or noticed, but still wanted comforts. That one was tempting, but it’d also be the first place someone would think to look for a trial taking princess.
In the end, Araminta chose a place that looked like it had seen better days but still appeared to be in regular upkeep. There was a young boy pretending to sweep out on the steps, but he was actually busy watching some pretty girls that were chatting up a street vendor. There didn’t appear to be many people walking in and out, which meant that it should be relatively quiet.
The boy didn’t even notice them when they passed up the steps to enter the place, too entranced by the girls, which delighted Araminta.
Sitting at the counter reading from well worn book sat an older woman with a head full of dirty blonde curls tinted with grey in a very becoming style. The second they entered and they weren’t people she recognized, she was sitting up at attention with a warm beaming smile.
“Hello there, I’m, Mary Beth! How can I help you lovelies today?” she said.
Araminta was happy to greet her with an equal smile. “I have to ask, do you have running hot water?”
Mary Beth laughed, “Most of the time! Can’t say it’s always consistent, but we can always send up some basalt stones to toss in the tub for ya when it’s not?”
“That is good enough for me!” exclaimed Araminta. “I need two beds, two rooms will be fine.”
“Our top floor is a quaint little suite with two rooms and a lounge if you’d like a pretty view?” suggested Mary Beth with a hopeful lit.
Araminta wrinkled up her nose. “That sounds expensive…”
Mary Beth gave a little shrug. “I guess it is more than the cost of two rooms, but cheaper if you stay more than two days and it’s the nicest suite you can get here in Essurn for the price. You can ask around! I’ll even throw in a little room service too?”
The woman was doing her very best to upsell the suite and Araminta couldn’t help but admire the attempt. Considering she did want to stay in the city for at least three days at the barest minimum to give them a chance to rest and recover properly, while also ensuring no one knew where they were headed next, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
She also quite liked this lady. There was a niceness about her that made Araminta comfortable!
“…I’ve got some lovely fresh produce, would you be willing to trade for some bath supplies? Whatever you have would be fine, I’ve just been looking forward to a bath for ages. We might stay for a week, maybe a little less.”
“O- Of course! Absolutely, yes! Anything you want, you just say the word and I’ll bring it right up. Or send my son Jacob, the dunce out there,” she gestured with a hand towards the door just in case they hadn’t noticed the entranced boy. Mary Beth was so happy about this sale she didn’t even wait to see if they had enough coin, simply told Araminta the price and was already going through her ring of keys to find the right one.
Araminta shared her enthusiasm counting out the coin to pass over before she dug into her pack to pull out some of the tubers and crabapples that Matilda didn’t need. Mary Beth seemed impressed by these things just as much as she was about the money. Only pausing after she handed over the key.
“Oh, will you sign the guestbook? It’s ridiculous family tradition, but I do love collecting the books,” she asked kindly, pushing over a ledger that had a few other guest names scribbled on it already. With a flourish of lovely script the princess wrote Araminta and Ghost.
“Ghost?” she questioned, looking Theon up and down and seemingly not being able to make the connection through appearance alone.
Araminta just laughed. “You’ll never hear him coming and going.”
The woman looked completely bewildered at first until she realized she was being teased, then she erupted into a joyful bit of giggling and waved her hands at them both. “I’ll bring some items up for you here in just a few, you make yourselves right at home. Welcome to Essurn!”
There was something entirely and absolutely enthralling just watching Araminta interact with people who actually wanted to be interacted with. Never mind the fact that he was still trying to determine whether or not the child out front ought to be left as he was. Gawking at others with intent that was actually swooping over his own head to realize it was both natural and currently harmless. Allowing him to shortly be swept up into that of Araminta’s impressive skills that were practically echoed back by Mary Beth.
Although this whole effort of the room and such entirely missed the mark for him to gather exactly what was happening. Only that it sounded like it was two rooms nearby and apparently had a price tag attached that became more reasonable with the length of the stay. Something he was still uncertain to how long it all was to be. Something about a week or less if he picked up Araminta’s words correctly. Between that of trade.
Standing back with a sort of silent intrigue, he didn’t seem to be really that motivated to interject anywhere. Nor would it. Instead assessing the inside of the building to be approving of it all. It wasn’t terribly posh but it wasn’t run down as where they had been before. He didn’t feel a need to be on guard before Mary Beth either. Doubting that the woman was about to be a problem to her guests when she was currently being impressed about traded goods of food stuffs. Shorting asking about signing something that was deemed a guestbook. Leaving him to tilted curiously to look at the ledger that was moved forward. Shortly pressed with that of Araminta’s name and the handle that she had deemed him originally.
Seemingly spurring the clerk into wonderment that turned jovial at Araminta’s charismatic reply. It took him a moment to realize that he had been attentively observing the fallen royal’s mannerisms and how he found her to be really rather mesmerizing. Her tactics and the clout of merriment that followed her easily was hard to ignore. Though in that manner he wondered if being a ghost was wiser to be seeing as he didn’t really add much to anything besides being a body. It was an odd introspection that caused him silent contemplation.
Moving to indicate that he was willing to follow the way towards the paid for place that seemed to be at the top tier of the place. Which funnily enough it seemed after a few moments of them wandering to their allotted space, he realized that it was two rooms in one area. One door. Leaving him to pause and attempt to decide if he ought to be wisely cautious about overstepping boundaries of the situation. Silently keeping such things to himself but playing the known part of himself of being patient to follow her lead all the more. He could rightfully leave the room when Araminta was ready to relax as she wanted. “This is… suitable?” Theon asked shortly to make sure that this was exactly what she had been wanting.
“Let’s find out,” she responded with a soft smile. When there wasn’t any overt danger, he seemed to be incredibly concerned about her privacy, which was surely appreciated. But Araminta herself didn’t need as much as he seemed to think she did, and well… She could always just ask for the time if she truly needed moments alone! With as attentive as he was, Theon would eventually figure this all out and finally give himself the room to relax a little.
On letting them inside the suit, they were first met with a large lounge space, with a stone fireplace and whitewashed walls giving it an open airy feel. The furniture was old enough to be considered antique and beat up, but sturdy and clean in a way that made it feel like a lived in space and not some abandoned mess. A fluffy chaise and a couple of wooden chairs sat around a low table, which was where Araminta set down her packs and her staff next to.
The bedrooms themselves were less of actual rooms and more just designated spaces, where instead of a full wall from floor to ceiling to close it up, there were sliding wood partitions painted in a bright cheery blue. Leaving a small gap at the top, but otherwise still plenty enough of a private space without taking away from the airiness of the suite. Much to Araminta’s joy there was the same for a fully tiled washroom, with a rather large tub, a little shower spout if one didn’t want to sit and soak in the water, and a wood burning stove likely meant to heat those basalt rocks if the water wasn’t heating the way it was meant to.
Finally, the promised good views came in the form of an open balcony hidden behind wooden shutters and heavy curtains that could be dragged across on cold nights or stormy weather. While not nearly the highest point in the city, there was still a picturesque view of the tops of the cityscape and out towards what looked like the open markets. Of course out farther there was nothing but gorgeous azure blue and the white billowing sails of ships.
It seemed to Araminta this place must’ve once been the master bedroom to a wealthy merchant’s personal home before it was converted over to an Inn. They’d gotten more than a fair price for the space, leaving the princess to suspect that the competition with all the other Inns on the street was tough. Especially if they didn’t offer the vices that other rowdier places had.
The smile she gave Theon confirmed she was pleased before she’d even said anything.
“Better even than I was expecting. More than enough space for us both and we can both easily have a nice bath without either of us having to be banished out into the hall. It’s nice and open too! Not claustrophobic so it’ll be comfortable to be cozy here when we’re not out fetching food and sight seeing.”
As those door swung open, he was on scouting duty. Looking over every part possible while finding every second moving forward, had his thoughts being soothed. Somewhat. The place was certainly not at all what he had expected. Although, he wasn’t sure what he expected either.
It looked like it ought to belong in some upper noble’s home rather than an inn with both its view from the large window and patio expression, to the way the side rooms were quartered off. With sliding panels instead of actual doors. Leaving him to be a bit curious about that but gravitating around to look over the furniture with vague interest. The place itself was highly a step up from the room they previously camped out in. Granted, most places were likely to be a step up in comparison.
Sliding over to investigate the right side of the allotted sleeping space, it too seemed to be very posh for what they had paid. Certainly no bail of straw on the floor with a blanket thrown over. More like a plush bed that would have taken most commoner’s a lifetime to afford. If they ever did.
While not a four poster bed, it was a sturdy frame with curtains that could fold over the window. Barring light.
With a turn, of course he was about to ask. Finding that he must becoming very obvious for her. Speaking up about how this was more than she had been expecting and it dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s for her delights. Yet there was a light twitch to his brows as a puckered thought appeared to be resting there. Gone in a manner of seconds to allow head to bobble in acceptance.
A glance silver gaze moved around once more before he indicated something, “I will stay stationary while you cleanse at your comfort.” Theon pointed more so to the floor of the room than anything else, “When you are ready for other things of… sightseeing?” The word felt so strange on his tongue, “I will be ready.” He could make use of the time to remove armour and check it over for any repairs it could use.
With such a statement, Araminta was almost afraid he’d just stand there like a statue in the middle of the room waiting for his next orders! But surely this was a much calmer space that’d allow him to at least move about his leisure without feeling it necessary to bar the door or stake out the window or just generally be on guard duty.
A knock at the door prevented her from making any statements about it, however, the princess moving quickly to answer it and finding with surprise that it wasn’t Mary Beth waiting, but the boy instead.
“Hullo, welcome to the Merchant’s Rest Inn, your home away from home…” said Jacob, in the most bored monotonous way. Clearly something his mother had drilled into him for greeting guests, as it was automatic and rehearsed at this point. Over his shoulder he carried a very heavy looking sack while in his hands was a large wicker basket with such an assortment of things that Araminta quickly stepped out of the boy’s way so he could unload it on the small table. The sack of basalt rocks he carried past the partition to set near the washroom’s wood stove.
“Mum says you looked like a jasmine sort of lady and there’s a bar of cedar soap for the sir, and Mum says if the bath runs too cold you just chuck the rocks in the stove and then toss ’em in the bath. But don’t get in the bath with the rocks or you’ll burn your ass off–” He seemed to realize immediately that cursing in front of a lady was a no-so-polite thing to do and turned a bright shade of red. “And uh.. uh there’s towels and a robe and a bottle of honey wine and Mum says she’s downstairs if you need anything at all until the moon’s up and then Uncle Joe takes over the desk and then he’ll help ya out.”
“Thu- thanks for choosing Merchant’s Rest, miss… sir!” he blurted out, still good and red in the face while offering a few apologetic bows and scurrying right out the door.
As soon as he was out of earshot Araminta laughed and closed the door behind him. She shifted over to the large waiting basket to curiously pull out and examining all of the goodies their Inn host had thought to sent up. This was a family business for certain and Mary Beth seemed quite excited to have guests!
“I may just spend all day in the bath if I can get away with it. I suppose I need to wash my clothes too and they’ll need the time to dry. You might want a bath yourself too? After that we’ll go out for a nice dinner and then a visit to the sea?”
He had every intention of beginning that means of peeling away the armour piece by piece, unaware of her worries. He wouldn’t just stand there but he would likely sit on the floor rather than any furniture. Both from discomfort and well, dirtiness. However, the door was rattled upon and shortly having the sound of a young boy making his effort to speak in the ways that were likely trained.
Momentarily causing him to pause the swoop of fingers to start unbuckling the parts of the armour even before he removed the cloak pin. Watching curiously for two reasons. One, he really didn’t interact with children and now that the boy was up here he could get a better look at him. Teenager and seemingly bored even as he trotted in with his various goodies in two. Secondly, he was fascinated to observe someone else other than Araminta who was for all intents and purposes, new.
Much of the boy’s commentary wasn’t heeded till his mouth seemed to run into trouble about cursing in front of a lady. Wouldn’t the boy just loose his mind if he knew Araminta had a worse mouth than him. Still, the boy responded and bloomed into pure red embarrassment. Stumbling in effort to speed through the rest before rushing out the door that there might as well have been an afterimage of him standing beside Araminta.
He blinked a few times. Turning to see how Araminta giggled about it all while allowing him to return to unbuckling.
For him to look at her as she spoke her thoughts. “I will leave and find a river to wash in.” He stated so factually especially after her expressing she wanted to spend all day in the waters here. So he wouldn’t even fuss about it. Though his features somewhat twisted with that mention of food, but still, “If that is what you wish, then yes.” Theon turned then with the straps freed and now unpinned the cloak from shoulders. Considering it then before hovering, “I can take your attire if you wish to wash while I depart. So you may enjoy yourself unhindered and I will do the means of cleaning so you do not need to leave.”
“Don’t find a river, Theon. If I actually stayed in the bath all day it’d be the cleanest most shriveled up hag anyone had ever seen,” she said both with amusement and exasperation. The man was always so determined to go about things in the most complicated difficult ways possible! As if there wasn’t plenty enough time for him to get a good long bath for himself, or even just a fast shower if he couldn’t stand to sit still longer than fifteen minutes.
At his next statement Araminta almost scoffed and said she could easily just wash her clothes with her in the bath, or even before she climbed in at all. She pulled out the soft robe Mary Beth had sent up in the basket, finding the thing was large enough for even Theon to wear, so no matter what she’d be able to lounge comfortably. But the real problem here was that Theon liked to be useful, and he’d probably not enjoy just sitting around doing nothing while she and her things got dry. Even in cleaning off his own armor and having a bath himself, that was too much time for him to be idle!
Then she had a curious idea – unsure if giving Theon such a task was a wise thing to do… but it would be a boon for her and make the day run a little smoother.
“I wouldn’t have you washing my clothes, but…” she started, still debating if it were a good idea at all. “If you could find me something simple to wear here in Essurn? A dress or a tunic and pants? Nothing fancy at all and the fit wouldn’t matter as I can sew it up if needed. It’d just be nice to wear something that isn’t near to falling apart while we’re here… Then when we visit Matilda’s friend later I’ll get a proper new set of traveler’s clothes.”
He’d just blink at her. Unsure now what she wanted. Did she want to stay in the bath water all day or did she not want too because she was saying she would be clean and shriveled. Leaving a lot of confusion on that end with no obvious answer to correct it after.
Personally he had no troubles leaving to use cold water in some river –likely to be nearby with how the ocean would eventually flow inland- but there was something lingering in that state of deep conflicting uncertainty to what he was supposed to do then. By no means was he going to even make a peep in asking for hot water, it wasn’t that necessary for him. Nor would he wish to be a pest by doing so when this had been her desire.
Still, she seemed to be pondering and shortly it seemed that she was not on board for him helping in the means of cleansing the garments but rather, he was given the task of finding her items to wear and interchange.
He paused the means of removing his gear and hummed. Taking it in and then nodding promptly. Agreeing to her asking. “Then I will do that for you.” No sense in dismantling if he was to be out and about once more on a new mission. It wouldn’t be difficult to find things, he was certain. Essurn was large enough and if this was what she wanted him to do so she could relax, then the deal was done without a single word to offer complaint towards.
Merely pulling straps back to be rebuckled and the means of cloak sorted and pinned again. Lightly feeling around the belt and items collected there before stepping forward. “I will knock before entry,” Theon declared as not to impose himself on her a second more. Even pausing momentarily at the door to nod before sliding out as if he weren’t about to hear anything more. He had a task to do and was going to be very prompt about accomplishing it.
Oh no, now Araminta truly was worrying this was a bad idea! He’d so quickly taken on the task and bolted out the door before she could be sure he was comfortable with even doing such a thing! Not even a proper goodbye at that! Well, at least it was promptly confirmed that Theon needed to be kept busy with something. She would just have to be a little more thoughtful and careful about how she delegated or he’d simply do it before she’d even decided if it were a good idea or not.
With an exasperated sigh, Araminta decided not to waste too much time worrying after Theon. As a grown man he’d surely be fine doing a little shopping without her keeping an eye on him. She knew as well he could haggle some decent prices, so at worst he might just slightly offend a few people before he finally realized he needed to apply a little bit of charisma to his askings.
So she directed her full attention to means of having her very much desired bubble bath with all the lovely accoutrements sent to her by the kind Mary Beth. Amused that the woman had designated Araminta as a jasmine sort of lady and left the cedarwood soap all for Theon. Luck was with her that the water seemed to be running properly and heating up to a good temperature – though Araminta did fire up that wood stove with a couple stones just in case. She’d closed up the partition wall on the chance Theon did return before she was finished so the poor man wouldn’t be scandalized.
At first, Araminta sank all the way into the bubbly fragrant water up to her nose and contentedly just stewed there until the heat soaked through her skin and right down to her bones. The princess truly could’ve sat there for hours, but she was so concerned that Theon might actually go wash in a river she eventually surfaced to get to proper washing. Starting with soaping up the long strands of ebony hair and rinsing out what surely had to be weeks worth of filth! That alone required her changing out the bath water so she wasn’t bathing in a murky mess. Then she got to soaping and scrubbing her skin until she no longer felt so grimy and itchy. Araminta even took the time to make sure he wound was properly cleaned, and with that was so glad there was a standing shower too as it allowed her the chance to make sure she’d rinsed every bit of black ooze that might’ve dared to try and cling to her skin.
She even cleaned up the space too so poor Mary Beth wouldn’t have to.
Once cleaner than she’d been in months and wrapped happily in the fresh robe, Araminta settled herself down on the chaise lounge to wait for Theon’s return. With such a satisfying bath and a low fire in the stone fireplace, it was all too easy to doze off to the smells of jasmine and faint crackle of wood.
It may come to be one of the things she could regret. Giving him a task and him already swooping down to snatch if as some trained falcon. Grabbing the idea to literally go with, he did not particularly pause or wait for much of anything. Already organizing thoughts into his mind out of familiarity. Having travelled for practically ninety percent of his life and lived outside of the palace, his knowledge of functional items for travel was actually immense. Although he commonly didn’t bother with the means of haggling, he knew mostly what items were worth.
It helped that he didn’t have obviously that approachable personal or aura that would invite strangers to come sidling up to him. Doubly so with a mission fresh in mind and speculating many things that would help Araminta. The problem was, with him having no scope of what she might want, it meant he would do what he felt would suit.
By the time he reached the bustle of clothier’s in the stony marketplace, he already had a mental list. And approached the very task much in the same way he would when he was contracted to maim and murder. Generally silently and directly. Seemingly knowing that he made one of the particular clerks at the first abode that looked very promising, incredibly uncomfortable. Though they settled through it when he seemed to have begun to pile up things that he knew would be suitable for Araminta. Cloaks and belts. A new larger pack that would make travel easier. Settling with darker hues of navy or brown or green. Though he took due care to assure the fabrics were lighter with a breezy charm as he had spent enough time around Araminta to know there was a functional use due to her ability to climb up trees and sprint around in the dirt. For a princess, she was delightfully wild.
The first shop was beset with him picking out two outfits. Promptly paying and settling for a third stop that was more armour based. Items he thought best that Araminta wear considering the trials were only to grow harder and it would do her well to have some protection. Light armour of course. Worked leather that was soft instead of hardened like his own. With a few adornments of metal particularly around hands and wrist. To protect the rotating points of her being. While purchasing that of leather packs to sit at her waist with a scabbard that ought to work well for her bone dagger. To be preset for ease of use.
It took time. Though she was correct that he would veer rather drastically in his mission after the abundance of items collected. That he detoured drastically to in fact do as he said. To bathe in the nearest water source as not to intrude further upon her being. Having no desire to be particularly frustrating when he was more than abundantly aware the bath of hot water had been something she had been very avid about.
By the time he finally returned, he was sufficiently cleaner and needing to hold the various items with due care. Barely seeming to notice the way Mary Beth had eyeballed him upon his return with the collection. Merely compiling by his former statement that he would knock at the door rather than entering the place so rudely. And stood to wait for her allowance into the place once more. His arms were full enough as is anyways.
Araminta had forgotten completely that he’d meant to knock first to be let back in, so the person she expected to see at the door was that young boy, possibly with some new message from his mother. So it took her a sleepy moment to register that it was Theon himself, and then a slow almost concerned realization to find his arms full of far far more than he was actually tasked to bring back. A dress or a top and pants. Just something simple and clean, it was all that she needed! Now she was picturing him single-mindedly terrorizing the market with those intense stares and short curt statements. Sending shoppers and clerks alike diving out of his way.
And he looked refreshed – that blasted man had gone and jumped in a river anyway, hadn’t he!
Covering her mouth with a hand, Araminta quickly stepped aside to allow his entrance and closed up the door behind him. Struggling both not to laugh or to tell him this was too much. After all, she might as well inspect what he’d gathered up before making any judgements.
“I see that you have become a master of markets,” she did finally say instead, following close behind him. Curiously finding this was for certain more than just a few items of clothing to switch between. “I’m not sure what all of the extra is for, you’ll have to show me.”
Notably, there didn’t seem to be a single thing for Theon himself. Seemed Araminta would need to remedy that.
As the door parted to allow entrance once more, he’d do so after a moment. Assuring that she was at least unbothered by that of his return before stepping in with a gracious bob of head and a softened bit of verbal gratitude. Making over to arrange the items upon that of the table so it would be easily accessible. Actually putting things he knew that had gone together, together.
Settling down the leather parts to that of a chair while features tilted to look upon her at the comment of the master of markets. “No.” He hadn’t haggled, actually they didn’t even attempt too. Much to his own preference honestly. Simply allotting him a price and him seeming satisfied with it to assure that what was got, was paid for.
“Extra?” Theon selected her word curiously before looking at what was gathered. Seemingly thinking heavily about this as if trying to find the magic explanation that would make one hundred percent. “The items you are wearing currently are worn. You stated to Matilda, threadbare.” The man glanced at her then, “Likely to be at the end of their use. The items here are interchangeable. Lighter fabrics as I’ve come to know you like the freedom of movement. So run, climb, play… so forth.” He pointed between the two ensembles, “One set for wearing and another ease of changing. The third set is for trials. They will be harder each time and I think it would be beneficial for you to have some protection. I assured it was light and pliable as not to hinder your mobility. Minus that of the pieces that are placed over your forearms, wrists and hands. While having other items like a belt with pouches for smaller items as to alleviate the need to carry everything in a singular bag.”
Something seemed to settle then, brows lightly tensing. Though he didn’t seem to explain why that was the case. “If this is unfitting, then I will return what you do not wish and leave you to your preferences and follow what you would like to be done. I am sorry if this is not what you wanted.” He considered a moment while chin gave a forward motion. “I can always hunt more if it is coin you are worried about. I did not intend to offend.”
“I think you’d actually have to try very, very hard to actually offend me,” she remarked first. That amusement in her tone was back and she was stuck somewhere between giddy laughter and that exasperation. This was a bit backwards than what she had intended – thinking she’d have something light for their stay here and then getting the actual traveling items when they’d met up with Matilda’s referral. But now that he’d gone this extra mile to ensure she had not only what she needed for travel, but the trials as well… Araminta wasn’t going to complain at all! Perhaps she could use that referral to get something nice for Theon now. She bet he’d look awfully nice in a tunic of that cerulean blue.
In the meantime, Araminta supposed she would need to go over everything thoroughly, so he’d know she was actually content with all of these items and not just placating him to avoid the fuss.
“These are nice colors,” she murmured first about the clothing sets themselves, finding them more than suitable as they appeared to be comfortable enough to wear. None of that awful scratchy fabric that made her itch! It was the leather armor that gained the most of her attention though, as she examined some of the pieces in her hand and tested to see exactly where it was supposed to place.
“I’ve never any sorts of armor before,” she murmured. “You’ll help me put it on properly when I need to?”
He wasn’t sure about that. The suggestion that he would have to try rather hard to offend her. If he was looking at this from the limitation of his point of view, it seemed that his attempt to go over the means of what she might need was in a sense, offensive. Merely because as he stood there, he supposed he did misunderstand what she asked for. He was thinking longer rather than just immediate for here. Granted, maybe that was his confusion. Why would someone want something for just here when it could be used in the future and afford her the chance to switch back and forth rather than one singular suit of clothing to be overworn and made to be thin due to extensive use.
However, he could see where he overstepped.
Dually acknowledging that he wasn’t that good at this whole friendship thing. Actually, it was rather difficult to make sense of. Suppose he was just going to have to pay better attention and make stronger mental notes of what he was meant to do. Ought to do. How to do it. The means of doing the task she asked him to do was going to need some serious overhauling as to stay within the expected limits of what was asked.
Visually he didn’t allow the downtrodden thoughts to play on his features. Keeping that cool collection of stony stoicism all the more. Watching as she felt through with a murmuring of colour. “Yes.” A simple answer to her question of whether he would help her with the armour when it came to dawn in.
A look around the room seemed to be made then as he sidestepped. Peeking a second out the window till he fully pivoted to move towards the room that he thought would at least be acceptable for himself to occupy. “When you wish to go, I will be ready.” Just that he stopped, “Unless it is now. I took too long to incorrectly complete the task, so the time has moved further than intended.” Theon hummed softly, “You wanted a meal for yourself then to walk to the ocean.”
Oh no, his wheels were turning again in that way where he was getting everything all muddled, because he always seemed to expect that what he did was the wrong thing if it wasn’t specifically somehow exactly the precise correct thing that was requested. Which was such a crazy thing to expect out of anyone! Yet, Araminta could see his vicious mother finding every little way she could to punish and torment the man. Ways to weasel words to different meanings for whatever aim pleased her most.
Then he’d confirmed it by saying he’d incorrectly done the task, which she for certain DID NOT say out loud! Araminta had even been very careful not to do so, for this very reason!
“It’s not doing the task incorrectly when you had the foresight to think of things I hadn’t,” explained Araminta easily. Trying not to make a big deal about it, so it wouldn’t feel like a chiding or a lecture. “I’m only surprised! And it’s a pleasant surprise because no there is nothing for me to worry about getting later.”
Now Araminta had options for clothing, and she was quite delighted now to pick out the pieces she wanted to pair together. Opting for the dark blue and gathering it up in her arms to go change.
“…though I would’ve rather you hadn’t jumped in a stream, Theon! I can easily wait while you have a hot bath yourself, you might even actually like it.”
There was a pause. Thoughtful as it was turning over the information she had provided but still snagging on the whole it wasn’t to specifics. Identifying that his efforts weren’t what was asked for and in turn it was done incorrectly. Though she said foresight and he wasn’t too sure on that. Or it was the attempt to try to nurture a better outcome. That was a little more alien for him to wrap his mind around. Negativity was common. Berating and that oh so familiar acts of disapproval, were common. This, wasn’t.
Granted he wasn’t prone to reply in tandem either. Allowing it to brew like a simmering stew in his thoughts in hopes that it all might cook into comprehensive understanding.
She selected something in the navy hue to add on about jumping in a stream and hot bath for himself. “I wasn’t going to impede your time.” Declared with an authenticity that his efforts not to be a lurking larry, were done in honest faith. He had wanted to leave her be; and would not linger around till she felt like she needed to leave because he was present. Suggesting that he thought her time and comfort was highly important.
That might be the gist of it. The consideration of her was so high on his totem pole that his own was nonexistent. Fitting the bill of manicured accepted neglect. “I will wait for you in the room here,” To give additional privacy.
“I see. Then you might like to have one when I have gone to bed,” she countered, entering her own little partitioned room to go about exchanging cozy robe for the clothing he’d picked out for her. Finding she was rather glad for this style of rooms, as it afforded her a chance to still talk to him in ways he couldn’t dash away for her privacy. “At least you could try the soap Mary Beth sent up for you, it does smell nice.”
It only took her a moment to pull on the fresh clothes, finding herself all the more pleased with the softness of the fabric and for the first time in a very long time actually having the opportunity to wear a long skirt. Pants were nice and useful, especially as she traveled and found herself in trouble, but Araminta had always been a girl keen on the way a dress or a skirt felt when she wore them. She couldn’t remember the last time she actually felt more like herself.
When she’d stepped out of her designated room, there was a bounce in her step and a little twirl to go with it. A skirt had to be tested, after all! Araminta then made sure to fetch the faerie brooch from her cloak, now using it as a means to help braid and hold her dark ebony hair out our her face. The top would need a little sewing to help it fit a little better on her smaller frame, but otherwise Theon had made an excellent choice on her behalf.
“It’s safe for you now. No scandalous undressed princesses about.”
Brows temporarily pressed at the comment of both how it could have happened when she went to sleep – a mite bit uncomfortable with it for some reason or another that he couldn’t even label- to the suggestion that he ought to try the soap that was brought up for him. Something that thankfully was kept on the opposite side of the door. There was suddenly a lot of unusual discomforts popping up that he couldn’t even loosely identify!
Only able to pick out that he felt embarrassed by it all. Unsure if it was associated with the suggestions or not, or if it was looped into some hidden away part of himself that was wriggling around because it was unable to stay silent.
In such a means, those lack of replies were his best means of acceptance. Taking to sitting down to that of the floor of the room, as he worked on removing some of the more burdensome pieces from that of waist. Various items that were either collected or bought for their various usefulness. Categorizing them with meticulous care.
Till he was beckoned and wasn’t sure what the means of scandalous undressed princess comment was about? Merely organizing the items that were deemed unnecessary before returning to the lounge room. Seemingly she was more aglow with a nice soak and new attire. Something that seemed to be suited for her though he still felt rather guilty for making that whole scenario at all. Gesturing softly to the door, indicating he was her follower once more. He knew where to find attire but food that she would like, that was outside his wheelhouse.
He’d returned to his usual silence, which could’ve meant a lot of things, but Araminta was trying to trust that he wasn’t becoming a turtle again to hide in his shell and that’d he’d work it all out in his own head. So when he did appear back to the lounge he received nothing but her warm smile and that animated way she had of talking when she was oh-so-excited about something. Opting not to grab him by the hand and drag him away just yet, and instead leading the way out the door with a flounce of navy skirts.
Aramina very much felt so much more Princess Araminta this way, instead of the wild feral thing she’d been.
“Since it’ll be a sort of torture for you in a restaurant or tavern, we should try street food!” Taking the stairs down possibly far quicker than she should’ve, especially when she’d nearly missed a step and nearly gave herself (and likely Theon) a heart attack in the process. At that point she slowed her pace immensely, but hadn’t stopped her talking at all.
“Anything on a stick or in a pastry would be nice, and we can take it off to the ocean to watch the sunset — Goodbye, Mary Beth!” she paused in the middle of her statement to wave goodbye to the older women, who cheerfully gave a wave to them both right back.
“And perhaps we can see if there is anywhere nice along the beach to go fishing tomorrow! We could catch our own fish for a supper and then you’ll have had Essurn food as what is more Essurn than an Essurn fish?”
None of it sounded even remotely appealing. Feeling insides twisting in an unnatural resistant rend at the very idea of food prepared by other hands. Where he couldn’t see what they were doing from start to finish. Only that they would serve up and there would be a strong forever embroidered sensation of what could have been tampered with. And apparently, after he nearly leapt after her if she tumbled down the stairs, there was food on sticks? That had to call in some questionable things, did it not?
Though in Araminta’s ever so chipper way, she was still talking and having a fun moment with her idea at all. Leaving him to recall that she had mentioned the tarts which seemed like it was on par for that of a pastry. Although the thought came, it deflated almost as swiftly. Not about to make the same mistake again about his efforts of trying to do something more for her than being a presence. Glancing back at Mary Beth as he gave her a cordial nod. Appreciative for her care thus far.
In a manner of seconds they were outside the inn exposed to the world once more. Where it wasn’t just him any further being the only one migrating through crowds but her as well. In which warranted more of a cautionary watch though he found it was almost immediate the sort of attention that veered from wanderer’s of the male variety. Seemingly catching a quick look of subtle intrigue at Araminta now that she was fresh, clean and vibrantly gleaming in her oh so charismatic way.
“Have…” he was quieter then previous, “You cleaned a fish before?” he asked her then seeing as well, it was a good thing to ask. “To eat?”
Immediately Araminta stopped dead in her tracks on the street, now herself having that sudden churning to her stomach. Having not thought before that if you caught a fish with intent to eat it, you were going to have to kill it and slice it up in all manners of ways.
“N-no…” she stammered out, now a bit meek in tone as she glanced up at him. “…I hadn’t thought about that part.”
Slowly, very slowly she started to walk again, now having that concentrating expression on her face again. If anyone were staring in Araminta’s direction, she surely didn’t notice. First so focused on the things they were going to do and now on this fish problem, that keeping her eye out for the people around them wasn’t on her mind.
“You’ll have to show me how,” she sounded grimly unsure about it, but bolstered herself up. “…or I could simply catch them and you can do the cooking. They’ll be for you anyways, as I’d very much like to make sure you can eat something nice here and you’re not just forced to watch me eat everything myself!”
There it was. He knew how she felt about killing critters for the intent to eat. She would eat them of course but she couldn’t be the one that hunted them to that point. And while the fishing at the blighted village wasn’t with the intention of gutting and cleaning the creatures, it seemed she did have a moment where that realization came together. That it would require a lot more graphics than she likely would have been comfortable with. So much so that her features were crunched up into consideration once more with due thought. Pulling through any and all ideas till it seemed she set on something.
Once more popping up in the visual sense that he was quietly observing. About to point out that he would not want her to sacrifice her comfort to learn something that clearly made her green around the gills –no pun intended. With Araminta promptly closing that discussion with that very same thought that he could just handle it.
“It would not be forcing.” Attempting to assuage her thoughts. “Nor would I expect you to think of such things. It is my own oddities that cause such a thing. I can eat the bits I have prepared still.” Dried things, fruits. Meats. Some grains that were on his person for that very reason. “I do not think you need to fish here unless you want to do it for your enjoyment. A catch and release effort.” Theon shrugged indifferently. “I would not wish for you to have a negative idea with fishing and cleaning associated with Essurn or the ocean.” He meant that. “Please do not think of it as a problem. I am fine as is.”
“I’d like better for you than just fine as is,” she said softly, but inevitably having to sigh in defeat. “If we need to catch and fetch things ourselves here in Essurn so you can have a good meal too, I’d be happy with that. I don’t have to watch the preparing parts.”
Linking her arm with his so they could properly walk together, Araminta tried to remind herself that he never expected her to do anything than just exist and be Araminta – but being Araminta meant also doing nice things for him. He was going to have to let her at some point.
“What if I do all my fishing for fun but I save one good fish for us both to eat that day? I fish and you cook, and we’ll have made the meal together? It’d be quite special.”
Araminta was liking this idea more and more, but was trying to make sure she didn’t let that turn into her urging him into it. Especially as she’d very much like to have a full meal together, and she was fairly certain even if he did agree to this arrangement, he’d wait to eat until she was out of sight. She couldn’t have everything she wanted – which was kind of ironic when Theon tried so hard to give everything to her!
“I don’t understand why.” It came out swift cradled in obvious uncertainty to why she was so invested in trying to insist there was better than what he already knew. If he was going to be privately blunt to himself, the fact she tolerated him as is was so far beyond what he already knew as amazing. There wasn’t much in the means of redeeming qualities to himself. Generally blasé and unlikeable as is, and yet she put so much effort into what was probably akin to slapping makeup on a pig.
It just didn’t seem worth the time or effort.
Still she was on the means of trying so much that even if he was uncertain how to feel, he could see it brought her delight. Something he wouldn’t even dare to lessen. Rather, he listened as usual. Letting her lead on while he intermittently looked around to see whom was watching. Unsurprised that there was attention every so often this way. He might not fathom much but he wasn’t so dull that he couldn’t tell there was something absolutely remarkable about Araminta. And it oozed out in a radiant glow that might as well been honey to flies.
She came up with the idea of wanting to fish for her enjoyment. Lo and behold, he wouldn’t stomp on that want. Simply hearing her grand plan and just easily accepted this was what she wanted to do. Still struggling on the why aspect. He might be struggling on that for days to years to come. “Okay.” Simple. Easy and willing to align with the decision she made. It was clear and the way she said it would be special, he was hardly about to be any sort of villain that said otherwise.
“Okay?” she repeated, immediately being unable to hide how excited she was by the prospect. Even hugging his arm quickly with an extra bounce in her step. That was enough! He didn’t have to do anything more. One meal made together could easily turn into many more in the future, and it truly was going to be quite special. A very strange fishy dinner tradition for the pair of them.
She’d wanted to explain to him the whys, for all of those reasons he didn’t understand, but Araminta was certain he wouldn’t quite believe her just yet. For the moment just glad there was something she could do for him during this trip, so it wasn’t always just Theon carrying the weight of caring for her all solely on his shoulders.
They’d walked down the road until they’d reach the open market, with Araminta making good use of her nose to seek out where food carts and stalls might be setup between all of the usual wares. She hadn’t been kidding about the wide array of foods available on sticks, though, there were also things like roasted chicken legs, baked sweet potatoes, and more recognizable things.
Araminta, though, was after items she’d never heard of before, especially sea faring items. Willing to try the fried fish that didn’t still have their heads and eyes attached to be staring at her. Immediately balking at the hawker with giant tentacles on skewers. She was delighted with the sea scallops and shrimps, coming away with two skewers of those, happy to eat them herself without sharing with Theon. Raw oysters on the other hand, turned out to be something Araminta never wanted to put in her mouth again.
Once she’d claimed a nice variety of snacks on sticks in her hands she gestured with a grin for Theon to lead the way to the ocean. She could snack and walk!
There was never going to be anything quite like watching Araminta not only sniff out the source of food but to indulge in it. Although he was mentally gawping at how people milled about taking things from carts that they had no idea how it was prepared or cooked. Grateful there was no insistence for him to eat because he likely would turn actually green at it! More disgusted by the lack of knowledge. More than aptly aware his oddity was trauma based and didn’t seem like it was ever going to fix. His only remedy being him being the one that did everything to know it was safe.
This was like a biohazard of the highest degrees!
But—
It made her happy. Where she certainly was very adventurous by that of one’s palate. Being wise not to try to snack on things that had eyeballs looking back at her such as fried fish with those everlasting stares. Instead trying one without and seemingly satisfied. While he was internally abhorred by all of this, watching with a thousand comments on the inside! Yet she met it all with such a gumption that he had to wonder how she found him a comfort. He was quite literally the opposite of her and found all of this to be very mentally taxing. Though that might be also because he was incredibly tired already.
Still, it seemed she had managed to find herself an arrangement of various seafood treats on sticks for him to take that lead towards the ocean. Readjusting their direction to face the east towards the ocean that wasn’t too far from the open market. Because being nearby was beneficial for such things. A gawk and wander. Finding it almost relieving when the bustling sounds of people calling and giggling and speaking all at once to be weight off his ears, the smell of salt was growing more pungent.
And he would eventually slow when the road turned from flagstone to thick hard wooden planks with the port opening wide like a maw to showcase towering vessels with sails collapsed currently to avoid drifting even while being tethered to shore.
He paused to look at her then and found his stare wandering almost immediately to the change of personnel presently. Dockhands and ship tenders that were the sort that were evidently well worked but showing with lithe frames that might as well have been a wistful damsel’s dream. And boy there were a few that were working some of the ropes to one of the ships that took direct notice of well, Araminta.
And he, found this curious. Waiting a moment, before indicating that she had a few interested eyes upon her. Though only with a gesture rather than word.
Araminta had only ever seen boats like these in books and made in tiny miniature sizes somehow stuffed inside of bottles. They were so much larger than she could have ever imagined! Somehow these giant boats could sail out on open water so far that they’d surrounded by nothing but sea from every side, and only be manned by the crew to keep them afloat. It sounded so terrifying, while being amazingly adventurous all at the same time. The princess even debating if she’d one day want to risk a trip out to see just to see what it was like, or if the prospect was too frightening even for her.
At his gesture, Araminta looked, though a bit confused about what was supposed to catch her attention. At least until she met eyes with a sailor or two and realized that Theon was likely worried about all the attention. As long as none were leering at her or making rude gestures, it was easy enough for her to ignore. Men tended to do that sort of thing around ladies, especially if there was no one nearby to cuff them on the back of the head. Araminta knew she was a pretty girl, and somehow that just made men think they could get away with all kinds of things. As if being pretty somehow made her stupid and willing to follow any man that made kissy noises at her!
“They’ll do that at any pretty girl,” she explained to Theon. “It’s nothing to worry about. But if one starts flashing his bits around, you’re more than welcome to sock him in the nose and toss him off the deck.”
This, Araminta meant full heartedly. She may not like violence in most cases, but she wasn’t about to be harassed by scoundrels either!
He gave her a look then. A very strange look against that in which was hardly expressive at the suggestion that not only that they would do that to any pretty girl –she knew she was at least- but the mention of flashing bits around. Which, caused him that means of concern. “Flashing bits?” What sort of life did she led that not only could she say that so causally but it was just a common thing! And that she was unfazed at all.
“This is common to you then?” He asked in all sincerity. It was starting to seem that Araminta found practically nothing so unfamiliar or worth a sense of embarrassment then.
And he was wondering if that was normal or was it just another thing that he personally didn’t know much about. Leaving him to do a think and apparently just enough of an invite that whomever of the particular pair of sailors, grew bold enough to challenge this.
Pulling his attention swiftly to consider the dark haired man. Idly adjusting parts of his shirt while strolling up with barely a secondary glance at him. Although he did take a step back as he knew well enough that this was likely one of those romance efforts that well… he never really knew too much about. “Welcome to the port side, mademoiselle.” There was a slight bend at his voice indicating an natural accent, “It is not often we are blessed with such a beautiful sight that could rival the sea!” He grinned brightly and infectiously. Making his entire face light up with a charming influence.
Common to her? …oh no! Araminta flushed a bit red, realizing that must’ve sounded as if she’d spent every day watching men twirl their privates around! It honestly hadn’t happen that often, maybe a few times enough for her to be wary about it. Some villages just had denizens that were cruder than others and of course, there had been occasional issues when she’d been traveling alone.
She was right in the middle of stammering out a whispered no! to Theon when the stranger approached. Catching her off guard due to Theon’s misunderstanding and her being just a twinge embarrassed by it.
…and now Theon was taking a step back too, leaving her to deal with this poor interloper that had no idea what he’d just stepped into.
“Thank you,” she said immediately, relaying on years of etiquette training to know exactly what to say. “It’s been a pleasant visit so far!”
His charms, well, Aramina was used to these sorts of things too. There were always some high born noble or chieftain’s son throwing out compliments as easy as they could breath. At least this man seemed friendly and didn’t have that leering sort of stare at that always made her feel so uncomfortable.
The man was a darkened by the kiss of the sun to compliment both hair and eyes whilst he unknowingly approached the woman when she was in a state of embarrassment. Although he on the other hand moved aside seeing as he was guessing all this was normal for Araminta. Alongside parts being whipped out to be showcased that it was so atypical that he ought not to worry at least about her. He might not feel so obliged to some man having his bits out himself but it was unlikely he would react so long as she didn’t.
Right now, he moved aside as not to interfere with the sailor approaching the fair dame while he made his effortless wiles spoken. Shortly growing in a grin that was pleased she responded to him at all. “Ah you are not from around here. One can never be too sure, but merely taking a chance.” His features brightened considerably as he gave a placement of hand to his chest and a slight tip of body that was a very loose bow. If it could be called that. “Then it is the first time you have come to the sea, yes?” He darted a look at him for a moment. Up and down seemingly determining all he needed to know.
“Essurn is certainly a magical place, beautiful, no? Have you been sightseeing much, mademoiselle?” Then he paused and lightly gasped as he pressed the heel of his palm into his brow. “Ah apologies, I have been so rude. Distracted by one’s grace yes, I am, Alain.” He opened a hand to ask for her own in genteel introduction. “And you, pretty one? May I be blessed to have your name?”
He took that as a clear indication then and there. Making more room between the two of them till he was still within earshot but clearly not about to hover when there was one making the efforts to praise and flirt with that of the fallen princess.
Araminta could practically feel every step Theon made away from them, and if it weren’t for her decorum she would have hissed over her shoulder to stop that foolishness! He was going to give this man the impression that Theon wasn’t anything more than her personal guard mean to stand there and be silent. Which was not what he was has her partner or her friend.
It would also make everyone on the dock think she was a high born rich lady (she was, but they didn’t to know that!) which would end up drawing even more attention to them.
Well, she wasn’t going to be rude to this man just because Theon was being silly. If anything it was a good opportunity to learn some things about the city.
Araminta gave his offered hand a look, and then him a look with a smile that very plainly and purposefully conveyed the flattery doesn’t work here, yet still openly friendly all the same.
“I’m Araminta,” she willingly offered her name. “It’s my first time seeing the ocean, yes! I grew up in the mountains so this is quite a different sort of sight.”
She squinted a look over her shoulder towards Theon, trying to telepathically tell him to stop being ridiculous and come back where he belonged, but it seemed that faespeak talent couldn’t come from her end.
“You must be a sailor, I assume,” she asked, finally turning back to the man named Alain. “Do you spent a lot of time in Essurn? I was thinking of doing some fishing ad would love some recommendations on good spots to catch them? Or I suppose it might be a silly thing to assume every salor also fishes, you’d likely be sick of fish!”
The fellow seemed to notice the moving distance of the one clad in armour. Quite the strong dissonance of attire was enough for Alain to pick out that the lovely miss was that of someone higher class. Important enough to warrant a guard that was smart enough to offer space when his lady was getting the attention she deserved. At first, he hadn’t been sure but this movement was enough to form the understanding that there was nothing between the two of them. Merely a protective service offered to a very beautiful woman. There needed to be no further interest in the stony gargoyle of a guard.
Happy that she took his hand and he offered the politest of brushing lips over feminine knuckles. Not enough to actually kiss but to acknowledge he understood she was higher caliber. Even if she was seemingly not responding to his well intentioned words of complimenting.
But he got a name. And the truth that she was not from around here. Which was hard not to believe. She was certainly a fair dame that herald from somewhere else rather than the ocean side if he was to look at her appearance. Which she gladly expressed she came from the mountains. And he released her hand but instead took a closing step to non-verbally express she now had his attention and he was wanting to be her focus only. Noticing how she glanced at her guard over shoulder and he took the chance to slide just enough to show that he was looking for her focus. Not her guard’s.
“Ah yes. I’ve come from over the continent to Essurn on that of a trade vessel. But Essurn is like a second home to me. It pales my homeland considerably with its pleasant atmosphere.” He smiled broadly while she seemed to ask a question and then added on some silly notion about being sick of it. “Fishing hmm? I mean if you wish to fish, then you came to the right spot. But the best place to fish is hardly on the shoreline, Araminta.” He put a curl on her name for purposeful means to sound endearing, “The fish are ocean fish. They cluster around the docks in the evenings but it is hard to fish amongst the grand boats. If you wish to fish, then perhaps I could entertain you to come on that of a boat and we can fish together?”
The man was bold, she’d give him that! Enough to insist her attention was on him alone, which very much triggered that subconscious royal instinct in her to stand a little straighter even despite her attempts to remain casual. As long as she didn’t feel unsafe and Theon didn’t attempt to sneak off back to the Inn without her, then it would all be alright.
“That is quite the offer,” she responded with a considering tilt of her head. Not that Araminta had any intentions of accepting! This visit to Essurn was meant to be a chance for her and Theon to relax and recover from the trauma of the trials. Theon wasn’t going to be able to relax if he was worried about keeping an eye on her amongst strangers.
Besides, she quite liked the idea of making a little fishing dinner tradition for them. It wouldn’t be as special if some stranger was involved.
“I appreciate the invitation, but I have my own plans,” she decided, at least giving him a bright smile to soften the refusal. “Wouldn’t be such a prudent thing to join a stranger I’ve just met – charming as he may be – on a boat out to sea. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding pleasant company, though. The few people I’ve met here in Essurn so far have been lovely.”
Initially he had puffed at the suggestion that she was truly considering the offer. It was hard to refuse after all, surely any girl from the mountains would want to board up on a grand vessel and perhaps forget the fishing part. It would not be difficult to set up the scene to be intimate either. The crashing waves, the gentle bobbing of the ocean tide. It was magical and he was already certain that it wouldn’t take too much to assure this little thing was swept up in what could be promised.
However, where he thought this was going to be easy, apparently she wasn’t leaping upon it. Causing Alain to pause in a mental stumble as she suggested she had her own plans. Rather than getting swept up in the affair of spontaneity that he was offering. “You wound me. Was is someone but a strange unless you give them a chance to be more.” He feigned putting a hand to his chest as if she actually had harmed him. “Surely such a pretty thing as yourself wouldn’t wish to miss such an opportunity?” He asked carefully keeping his tone light and playful but internally curious to why she was turning down such an offering.
“Unless you have a beau that you are waiting for?” Alain asked then, giving her a bit of a look then.
Araminta laughed, a soft breezy sound not at all at his expense but… He was quite theatrical! The princess herself had her moments of being dramatic, so at least she could appreciate his attempts at trying to charm her, even if they were never going to work with her. In another time, she might’ve been enchanted with the entire idea of meeting a handsome sailor in a seaside town and it turning into some romantic adventure.
Just that… it was missing that magic moment. The butterflies, or the sparks, or whatever it was that happened when you met that right person. Perhaps too that romantic things were no longer for Araminta, as she’d become far too practical to even entertain the idea. What time did she have for such things, anyway?
“It’s nothing personal, I assure you!” she finally answered with that amused smile and rocking on her feet. “And it truly is a lovely offer. But I’m here to spend time with my friend,” she pointed over her shoulder where Theon better have still been waiting. “We’ve only a few days here and I’m hoping we’ll have the chance to see what all Essurn has to offer before we set back to the road again.”
Surprise crossed his face and even looked at the guard that didn’t seem like he was even paying attention at all. Distant from that of his attendant while looking outwards at the ocean with a uncomfortable sort of staring that seemed perfectly unnatural. Nothing to the person besides maybe a breath here or there. “You mean that of your guard?” Now it was his turn to look at her and feel a bit slighted at the idea that she was even suggesting any of this.
If she really didn’t want too, she didn’t have to make up stories about being friends with someone’s personal hire. “I am a little offended that you would say such things but I suppose that is what it is. It is sad you would waste such time with another but it is your wish, Araminta. However,” Alain grinned faeishly then, “When you are bored of your bodyguard and want to have a proper time in Essurn, I will be here! You are welcome to return and I will be certain to show you all it has to offer.” He offered a look between them but kept a smile no less. Then bowed somewhat before turning with a polite enough wave to depart back to the other fellow that had been his comrade previously.
Oh, Araminta hadn’t meant to offend the man, even opened her mouth ready to say as much! But it seemed now that he was turned down, he was quick to be away from her. Perhaps a little rude even at Theon’s expense – as if guard didn’t also deserve to be treated to a good time! Even if he had been a hired person, Araminta wouldn’t have treated him any less, and would want him to enjoy his time in Essurn with her regardless.
Well, there was no sense in her shaking a fist at the man and shrieking in Theon’s defense. She was never going to see this man again, so what he thought didn’t really matter at all!
Thus, with a bit of a vexed sigh, it was a turn on her heel to rejoin Theon’s side. Debating whether or not she should fuss at him for dashing off to leave her trapped in such a conversation, and how she might do that without him falling into his usual gloom.
“Well, he didn’t have any useful knowledge about Essurn at all,” she decided to say instead. “For someone who supposedly visits here often, he might’ve at least given me a nice recommendation for us to tour. But he did say the fish like to collect around the docks, so we might try to wander the beach a bit and see if there are any docks with less boats.”
It was her approach that determined him to turn to pay visual attention. Oh he was listening. Had been in case the other man had done anything that was crass or particularly very aggressive that he would need to be involved with. Only most of the conversation was the fellow attempting to make doe eyes at Araminta for things to be covert between the two of them. Of course, had she wanted to go, he would have advised caution but little else.
Not about to stand in her way. If that wasn’t already abundantly obvious.
Yet she had declined. Unsure of why, the sailor had seem interested in her genuinely. And he ought to wonder if he should have distance further as to give the sign that he would not interfere even remotely. Wanting yet again for Araminta to be comfortable and free as she generally was. But here she was. Mentioning how the man had no useful knowledge which funnily enough in his own head, he knew why he wasn’t giving out anything useful. Because the gentleman wanted to take her to see such things himself. Rather than give out the information. Though he personally doubted she needed to hear such things, likely already past that leaf of understanding.
Instead, Theon turned to look along the aligning buildings that made the docks a little more personal to come too rather than just a place for sailors and traveling ship fairing merchants to visit.
“We would need fishing poles.” He stated then to her, “There is the minstrel place nearby as well for when I heard them last time. If you would prefer.”
There was an immediate intake of breath and her verdant eyes going wide.
“I forgot all about the minstrels!” she exclaimed, and if that wasn’t enough of an affirmation of where they were headed next, her linking her arm with his and that beaming smile would’ve been the signal.
“We can get proper supplies for fishing tomorrow. That’ll make for a lovely morning.” She was eying him carefully again, attempting to see into that brain of his and decipher what he’d been plotting all too himself while she spoke with the man, Alain. What might a Ghost have inferred from her interactions? He knew she enjoyed chatting with people, but she–
Oh no, she remembered how she landed in that conversation to begin with. That very unfortunate mishaps of words with Theon and flashy male bits! That faint hint of pink returned to her cheeks again, and she just HAD to make sure Theon hadn’t been standing here thinking she was some sort of wilding woman that didn’t give a wit about men dropping their trousers whenever she walked by!
“About our conversation before,” she attempted, poorly to bring it back up. “…I may have given you some very poor ideas of me – as such things are certainly not common at all, only that– Well. There are things ladies have to deal with– Not that men are stumbling in the streets throwing their pants off and– I am not the sort of lady who– Hmn.”
Araminta was bungling this so badly, and she didn’t even understand where all the embarrassment was coming from! She was blessed enough to come from a family that value her education and was honest about the relations between people! While she was perfectly aware of what couples did together, that didn’t mean at all she had any sort of actual experiences herself.
The mere mention of the minstrels was enough to pull her away from expending unnecessary effort in the idea of fishing this evening. Somewhat settling his thoughts about himself and allowing his own wagon of consideration to venture back that he would just mill a bit through the dried bits he had in his own packing to munch if he felt like it.
Being wrapped up by arm once more as he merely agreed to her idea of getting supplies in the morning. Now that she had a new idea in mind that was the fantastical musical sounds of those who were gifted in such ways and liable to make Araminta flush with happy glee. Although if he was about to observe her for that, it seemed that there was something on her mind.
Which involved a former topic. That was making her stumble all over in an very uncharacteristic way. Leaving him to listen acutely with a gradual acceptance. Apparently the means of men dropping pants to be a bit more crude than he could imagine was not that common to her. Even if she had said it in such a way that it sounded just that. “Okay.” It was simple as that. He didn’t need her to force herself to say much else.
Instead pointing a finger to a noticeable little seaside tavern that had quite the header of a building with that of a wooden carved mermaid beckoning one and all inside. Grinning in such a way that it spoke of numerous things. “That is the place for minstrels.”
Araminta wasn’t sure if that Okay meant that he did understand and didn’t need to know more, or if it meant he’d already made up his mind and now thought she was a peeping hooligan. Finding herself too embarrassed by the whole thing to even pursue it any further. Hoping with all of Theon’s cleverness, he wasn’t about to let her fall into strange situations because he thought she was used to such things.
Instead shutting her mouth on the whole subject and just quickly nodding her head in affirmation about their chosen direction. At least the jovial looking mermaid sign made the place seem like it would be an enjoyable space for them to spend an hour two with music. At the very least Araminta would order a hot drink to round off her evening of seaside snacks.
She almost wished she’d brought her lyre with her, not that she intended to be the means of entertainment for a tavern full of people. Only that it might’ve been a nice thing to have for their stroll on the beach afterwards. Soothing music and the sound of ocean waves seemed like a wonderful way to cap off the evening.
While his skin figuratively crawled upon the step through into that double wide open entrance, the amount of people here was as one might have expected, many. The minstrels weren’t anything unknown or a well kept secret. Actually, they were boosted about to assure they brought in as many people as possible to lavish their lyrical melodies and wistfully plucking fingers to entice those who were wandering by, indoors. To spend coin in favour of sticking around and of course lining that of the host and performer’s pockets.
He felt not only out of place but so uncomfortable with the bustle of bodies that even as they approached, it was evident that any where to sit was nearly out of the question. Standing shoulder to shoulder might be the only place left, and he privately worried that Araminta might not be able to get a show because there was so many around.
Granted he swiftly shot down that very thought considering he knew she was very charming. Likely to speak up, speak out and get herself close enough to be enveloped by the sway of chords without a second to guess back.
“Find a place to stand if you must,” Some maid holding a tray called at them, “If you can find a seat, best be quick about it.” She slipped swiftly behind the bar and he lightly patted Araminta’s fingers to indicate she was free to go at her leisure. So he might slink back as to avoid getting too intermingled but ready to be at her beck if she needed him to help with something.
This was not what Araminta was expecting!
Even for her being used to people, this was still a lot of people all crammed into a tiny space. Which spoke well of the talent of the minstrels and the quality of the drink but… Araminta felt a bit like a small mouse trapped in a barn with trampling horses! Liable to find herself lost and squished with the crowd. She could only imagine what sort of inner shrieking Theon was likely doing!
Leaving Araminta to debate quickly how she could best serve them both. She didn’t need to see as much as she wanted to hear, so there was no reason to have herself or Theon crushed up shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of spectators – as well if there was any dancing, Theon might have himself a heart attack if anyone attempted to drag him into it. Better to not be an easy victim to such things!
Grabbing Theon’s hand and tugging him close behind her (he made an excellent imposing figure to help part the crowd, whether he realized it or not), Araminta made a quick weaving through the people until she spied the perfect setup of a table and chairs in a nice little corner where both she and Theon could be comfortable.
Of course, it was occupied. Two surly looking gentleman with grisly beards, likely fresh off a day’s work on the docks.
“Hello! What might I tempt you with to give up your seats?” she asked cheerfully, with the most charming and winsome smiles she could offer.
“Have a seat on me lap here, missy, there’s plenty of room!” said the one and both had a hearty laugh about it. “Eh! A kiss maybe, that’ll do it!”
“Oh but that won’t last but a second. What if I have a maiden bring you both a drink – at my expense! An ale? A lager? Or something good and strong and hairy?” she offered instead.
Now that was a tempting offer no drinking man could refuse. Both exchanging a glance before the first piped in.
“Make it a bottle o rum and the table is all yours!”
“A bottle!” she exclaimed, wrinkling up her nose. “How about the cheapest bottle of liquor they have on the shelves, though that’s still robbery and you should be ashamed of yourselves!”
The men gave a good cackle and one a slap on the knee. “Aye, it is isn’t it! No shame in us, missy! You best not be tellin’ us any lies then, we’ll be waiting for that bottle and watchin’ the doors.”
With a huff she nodded her head and flicked her hands at them to shoo them away, to which they obliged with all of the sarcastic dramatic flourishing they could muster, with rising from their seats, dusting a chair off for her, and the grand bows to allow her to sit. They hadn’t even noticed Theon until she pointed at the second chair for him to sit, and then they seemed to shape up juuuust a smidgen to find themselves a new place for themselves.
“You have to sit,” she told Theon quickly before he got any ideas of escape. “Please don’t leave me here by myself or someone will want to join me, and I think they are all a bit rowdy here…”
He was starting to wonder just how these things happened. By one grab and tug, they were moving through the crowd to that of a table in which Araminta was doing that thing again. Being so forward with the same sort of grace as a golden deer that had been eating some fermented berries so she wasn’t entirely overflowing with regime and majesty. Yet making him practically feel the overwhelming urge to want to disappear as if he were the jester on display. Idly twisting attention around to note who was were, what they looked like, how they spoke, how close till he was certain that the thumping he heard was in fact his own heart.
Waiting to break through the bony prison that was his chest.
It made it a bit hard to focus on how Araminta went about handling the older men. Just that she did in her own way and he was starting to truly be convinced that there was likely no one besides his mother that could refuse her. And there was something truly terrifying about that.
He barely gave them a look as they rose up. Sliding away to give up their seat so long as they got what Araminta had promised them with a smile. She probably could have made a perfect shady hawker by how she seemed to persuasively got people to do what she wanted so easily. And he was by far no exception.
Even as she told him to sit down –compiled with and awkwardly shuffling in the chair to where he truly felt like the odd thumb sticking out. Angling a look to her then as she expressed that she didn’t want anyone else to approach her. Which boggled him for being such a people person. Though he if was about to get any idea of saying something, a new maid was sweeping in. “Drinks? What do you need love?” She looked at Araminta as if she had already known what happened, a slight tug to her lips indicating she had been watching the entire scene unfold. “Or do you wanna wait to see how many gents send you a drink?”
Poor Theon looked a bit pale in the face, so Araminta knew she had done her job well in finding them a good corner. Now he wouldn’t need to worry about people shuffling into him – or her! Hopefully, once they had a few moments of this public privacy, she could help ease him down further with some good distracting conversation.
Only being paused in that thread of thought by the maid, whom had Araminta flushing again at the thought of gentleman sending her drinks. That hadn’t been something she considered, well… she wasn’t alone, who would dare?
“Send those two bearded gentleman the cheapest, worst tasting bottle of something you can find. It’ll serve them right,” she instructed first, to make sure she made good on their arrangement. They thought they could needle her with a bad deal, well, Araminta could be zesty when she needed to be.
“For myself I would just like something nice and hot, a cider or a mulled wine? And should anyone actually try to send me a drink, you keep that money for yourself and claim you did, I’ll have none of their nonsense.”
Her mouth cracked wide open into a airy guffaw at the whole fact that she was to send some of the worst tasting liquor they had to the old farts and to do so in a whole bottle. “Got some fire in your belly hmm, alright. I’ll be sure to follow through with that.” The maid was playful and only seemingly growing more so at Araminta’s suggestion of giving the men something not so delightful.
Tipping her tray over to rest between arm and hip, she gave a nod to the mention of what various drinks she would want. “Which would you prefer, we’ve got a couple mulled wines if you want. Or a cider, though the apples for that weren’t the best. So I would suggest the wine.” That grin was on full view at the addition of any drinks coming this way were meant to be halted and the money pocketed. “Careful now, you give that sort of favour and I’ll have my coworkers trying to take over serving just so they can get those coins.”
She was pleasant before he found her looking at him and he gave no more than a shake of head to express he was not partaking in anything. Apparently earning a furrowed brow and a up and down. But no commentary, “I’ll be back momentarily, kick your feet up honey. We’ve got some peppy tunes tonight.”
“A mulled wine would be lovely,” Araminta decided quickly by the woman’s suggestion. Giving her a wide cheeky smile, and not concerned at all that there might be a scuffle between servers today over coin. Certain this woman could easily keep a hold of her own tables!
Once the maid had scurried off, Araminta turned in her seat to lean on the table, giving Theon he full attention. Reaching a hand across the table to rest, as if she’d been meaning to put it over his own hand or arm were it there.
“Have you ever taken a sailing ship elsewhere before?” she asked Theon, hoping the question would draw him out of his turtle shell and to start thinking of things beyond the crowded tavern. “To visit an island or a kingdom beyond the continent here?”
She’d recalled he’d been all over the twelve kingdoms, though he’d never spend any leisurely time anywhere. But the world was vast, and surely the Imperial Queen had no intention stopping at twelve if her own interactions with the woman were a hint to that. That woman still had ambitions to spread even farther, which meant Theon himself might’ve been sent to all sorts of places to unfortunately pave the way.
…maybe this was actually a bad question to ask. Araminta quickly started pondering some back up topics!
Watching the way the maid made her way through the crowded bodies to complete the exchange of drink order, it seemed that Araminta had a new wonderment on her mind. Posed at him. Momentarily earning a couple blinks as if he was having trouble trying to lay her question to ground. Only that he was more so searching over the annals before nodding a bit subdued.
“Once.” He adjusted awkwardly in chair, “With an older sibling.” Surprising exposing there had been other siblings, or at least one so far.
Of course the older sibling had been set up. Where they had gone in the means of a diplomatic envoy with vain thoughts that perhaps this would work out. The Imperial Queen had other things to take care of so to send her children was meant to be a show of trust. Save the fact that the entire thing had been orchestrated to have the elder sibling accused of great misdemeanour. And when they had returned back to the Imperial Kingdom, they had been put to trial. And he, had recalled being confused before that had been his first show of expected ending of life. That the Imperial Queen would not tolerate one of her own being a weak link in the chain. That their actions had casted shame upon her and that alone was grounds enough to see the other come to an end.
And a perfect chance for him to be the holder of the rope. As if sparing his hand from sword but holding the guillotine rope was a act of kindness.
Theon glanced away, “It was fine, I believe.”
“A sibling,” she repeated with a great deal of surprise.
And realized quickly that she had chosen the worst of questions. For as far as she had heard, the only child the Imperial Queen presently had was her son… and it wasn’t hard to come to the conclusion that if there were others, they very likely weren’t alive anymore. At the very least in no position worthy of city gossip that could’ve reached her ears.
While Araminta did want to know more, she wasn’t about to have Theon talk about such things in a place like this where he was already uncomfortable and feeling very much out of place. Now she was wishing their chairs were closer together, where she could at least hold his hand and offer him some means of comfort!
“You can tell me about it later, only if you want to.” she remarked, already floundering for another subject. “Tell me instead how far you think your speedy steed might be able to travel. Across the continent? Across the ocean? Do you need to have visited a place before or can you go anywhere you please?”
It was highly unlikely he was going to even mention this to her even later. It was hardly anything anyone ought to know about. The bloodstorm that had been orchestrated by that of the Imperial Queen to see which of her children would be the most compliant. The one who wouldn’t go stirring up anything against her desire. That lives were just numbers and easily cut down whenever necessary. It was hardly something he wanted to even tell Araminta to dampen her spirit.
There was subtle movement that was the waitress sweeping by to set down Araminta’s drink with a mild word that she had delivered the bottle to the older gents. But was gone before any conversation could be sprung.
Which seemed to give the princess a chance to suggest another topic that was about his nokken ability. A few questions all formed into a sentence. “As far as necessary.” He stated with a matter of fact, “It depends on how I feel.” Basically if he was tired or not. Even still, he would push bask such boundaries when he had been expected to do something in a particular time allowance. Just that she asked him a question that drew him to pause for a moment. Really thinking about it. “Anywhere. I have not found a place that is limited as of yet. If I was a full Nokken, I’d likely be able to cross across water in such a form. But, I am not.” He stated though his attention shifted somewhat at the rustle of the crowd seemingly getting ready as a couple of colourfully dressed men and women appeared with various instruments.
Grinning and lively as they organized themselves around to seemingly waste no effort in introductions. They appeared to be well known enough already that once they had their instruments settled, they began to pluck. Drum. Whatever have you and he shuffled to be observant but silent.
Araminta had so many questions now about Theon’s childhood. Was he raised with his siblings or were they separated? They couldn’t have had much interaction or he’d at least have some manner of basic social skills before he’d been brow-beaten down to this quiet stoic ghost. This certainly explained his curiosity about her own siblings, in that he must’ve wanted to know what it was like for a normal family (or well, as normal as a royal family could be) to interact with each other. Only imagining the worst of things the Imperial Queen might’ve put all her children through until there was none left but Theon, who clearly had such a depth of will to survive and somehow still have a sense of compassion in him.
Even when the music started, it was hard to tear her eyes away from Theon, still finding herself so flabbergasted that one man could be so strong. So strong and so good inside, with the ability to go anywhere and do anything, and somehow didn’t think he deserved it.
Eventually the draw of the music did pull her attention away, unable to resist picking out the melodic sounds of lyre from viola from drums and pipes. More different sorts of instruments than she’d been expected to play in such a lovely organized band. Taking the time to sip her drink and truly enjoying the mood of gentle music, but still occasionally shooting glances at Theon with that faint admiring bewilderment that ever so often wanted to linger.
There was plenty about his childhood that would explain a lot of his mannerisms now. If one wanted to look or to ask, while he might not enjoy reliving such things he would reply. Explain. Give an answer to any query that was reasonable and did have a answer. The things he did, did not come from quirkiness. It came from behaviours of private survival.
It seemed the crowd had been very thrilled with the arrival of such a band of musicians. Each knowing the drill and each barely offering a second for anything new to pop up between. Although he was hardly one of the musical ear, he could tell by the first few chords that the music was probably a little more high tier for this place. Not that it mattered, the tavern got a good bit of coin and in turn it must have responded well to the minstrels.
There was a jovialness that felt otherworldly to him. Idly wondering if these minstrels were to play in the Enchanted Forest, would they also be beset by countless faelings. Demanding they play until the wee hours of the night? It seemed likely.
Though they were inviting the crowd for a while to just the ambience, it seemed after a bit one of the dark haired woman grew ready to put her voice to mettle.
One couldn’t be sure if music could soothe Theon’s soul, but it surely did wonders for Araminta. Despite seemingly like the energetic sort that’d love to jump and bob and dance, Araminta found herself too clumsy and too awkward when it came to dancing. Instead, the notes and tones and simple vibrations of sounds sank right through her, under the skin and down to her poor aching little heart.
Thus a haunting melody with sorrowful words sung by a woman whose talent in bringing an entire tavern full of people to a rapt audience was extraordinary! Drawing Araminta to rest an elbow on the table an her chin in her hands, to close her eyes and simply listen to the lyrically spun tale. What an amazing skill to be able to add that lonely anguish to her singing in such a way that Araminta could feel it. If she’d spoken to the woman herself and was told she’d never experienced it before, Araminta wouldn’t believe her. As it was all there in that beautiful song.
Enough to bring the girl to tears even and having to make a very quick swipe at features, lest Theon start thinking something was wrong, rather than the fact Araminta actually loved this for everything that it was!
He could watch. Gauge and attempt to make sense of any of what was happening on no educated guessing. Observing faces to each song and how people seemed to react. How Araminta reacted. Leaving that large question mark over his head. Sure it all sounded pretty but anything beyond that and to ask him about it would likely be met with a strong shrug of shoulders. He had no idea.
Only taking some acceptance that this apparently was exactly something the young woman needed. Even if she was sweeping at lashes for some reason.
They played a while longer before expressing a need for a break. Igniting the tavern back into volumes that were nearly startling. How it could go from rapt attention to buzzing hive noises. Leaving him to stand his figurative ground by not sucking away into his shell but rather, “Is this good?” He asked softly as not to offend anyone that might be trying to eavesdrop on anyone’s conversation. “The minstrels?” Looking to see that this had made her happy.
“Oh, it’s very good,” Araminta emphatically confirmed, turning in her seat towards him again. Tapping her fingers on the table top along with the melody that was still playing in her head. There was a chance it would linger with her and she’d end up trying to play the song herself once they returned to the Inn.
Araminta examined his features, noting that he’d relaxed a little – at least before the noisy hum of the tavern kicked back up again. He might not have connected with the music in the same way she did, but it was nice to know he could sit through and not be tortured by the sound. Unsure what she would’ve done if he hated music altogether.
“They’re incredibly talented, I’d say the sorts that’d be invited to play for royal audience.” Araminta herself had the joy of listening to individuals that were gifted with instruments and songs, but never a group as large as this. There simply weren’t that many in her small mountain valley country. If one did have a talent for music, they often still had other more important jobs. So few ever had the chance to play as their sole job.
“This place alone is worth the visit,” she added with a grin. “I can’t wait to see what else we’ll find.”
“Oh.” To hear that they would have been the type of quality that a royal court would have like to have was actually interesting. He’d had no idea that such a level existed and to think that what they had listened too was such a high level, he supposed Araminta and other royals would know the importance of such musical gifts.
Perhaps at one point in his life, he might have had an avid appreciation for such things. Now? Obviously he didn’t. Needing to defer to her knowledge to tell him if it was good or not. “Is it common to have minstrels then?” His curiosity was piquing somewhat, gentle and timid with the bustle all the way around them. Though he noticed that she almost seemed to have forgotten the drink the maid had brought her before the musicians began. Leaving him to question it at least in the silent sort of way.
“Hmm. This is all I knew you would like. I do not know any other place. Though I do not think it would matter, you’ve got a winning personality that bids you to be invited anywhere.” Theon spoke to her idea of what else could be visited. Offering his honest point of view that was intending to be complimentary, she was hard to ignore and people obviously fell in love with her one way or another.
Araminta had indeed forgotten her drink for the moment, with all of her attention now focused on Theon. Seeing as she was in no rush to be anywhere, it didn’t matter too much. Simply enjoying the evening as it were was more than enough for the princess.
Yet there he was with his inner wheels turning, causing her to curiously watch and rest her chin in her hand.
“There’s always music for holidays and celebrations. Sometimes even for important banquets and visiting guests. Even without the entertainment value of it, when there is a soft bit of music playing in the background, it can help ease people into a gentle calm.”
A good example of that was her lyre playing for the fae. Although she hadn’t meant it to capture their attention so strongly that they demanded her to stay and play them off to blissful sleepings!
“Does it bother you, the way I talk to people?” Araminta asked sincerely. “I know I can be frank with words, sometimes… it’s not always what one expects from a princess. I may have lost some of the polish?”
There she paused, doubting that was it. Theon himself tending to be straight to the point, though not with the colorful bits of language she’d picked up from villagers.
“…or is it because I draw too much attention?” That seemed more like it. He spent all of his time having to be the Ghost, and here was Araminta tearing through the country side without a thought or care to what she was doing and who might be staring.
There was a lot of thought being put into her response of music. How it was expressed that with her former past, there had always been music. All sort of events although he wasn’t sure if he could agree or disagree with the easing people into a gentle calm. He’d found the music here nice, but did it calm him? He couldn’t be too sure. Liable to chase that thought around like a rogue runaway ball that was refusing to come back to hand.
It would need more of a experience he supposed to fathom if he found it soothing or not.
Curiously he found his attention rising to rest upon her. Blinking in the same method of intrigue when it seemed his commentary about her having a very inviting personality to be worth more of a questioning. That whether or not he found it bothersome the way she spoke to people. Upon quick searching, it was a resounding no. He didn’t think it was bothersome. More so intriguing. Due to the fact that so far, he had not seen her fail at her attempts with well… anyone. Making the entire thing incredibly curious to watch because he had never bore witness to such things. However, it seemed Araminta may have reconsidered her query.
Adjusting it that it was whether or not she drew attention. “I am not comfortable around people and they around me. But that is fine.” He wasn’t about to start throwing a tantrum about it, “You are. You seem to thrive well and people come to you much like a bee to nectar. To be offended or upset about it would be a waste of time and a insult to you. I wouldn’t think of it.” There was nothing he was going to do to shame her into being reserved or hideaway like himself. She was vibrant and full of life. She was free to do as she wanted. “I will leave at any moment you request it so my presence does not dampen your own.” Theon nodded assured of this fact, declaring he had no intention of making her do something she never wanted to do. He’d be willing to be shooed away before he ever thought of making her uncomfortable.
With his discomfort around people, Araminta wasn’t so sure if it were in fact fine. She’d remembered before, promising him she’d tried to be less of herself so she wouldn’t draw so much attention in the faerie wood. It seemed she was failing greatly at that promise, at least here in Essurn where it seemed people were happy to approach her even if she herself wasn’t seeking them out.
Araminta didn’t even know what it was about herself that drew people to her. If she could figure it out and turn it off, just for Theon’s sake so he could rest a little easier, she would’ve done so in a heartbeat. But for now, the best she could do was be his shield. To find him quiet spaces and be the buffer of socializing so he wouldn’t have to.
“You never dampen anything for me, I like you as you are,” she admitted with all sincerity. Leaning forward on the table with her elbows to make sure he could hear her proper. “Did you know that they say opposites balance each other? You’re calm and reliable, and I know if I falter with someone and can’t handle something you’ll take over for me. You did so with that bully inn keeper.”
The two red lines knitted up at the suggestion of opposites balancing each other. Having actually never heard such a thing before and of course trying to align it in his own mind to make it digestible. Not sure he really understood how that worked either. Wouldn’t opposites simply making things harder for the other due to the fact that there was a lack of even vague similarity? Yet in turn Araminta wasn’t about to half comment but included her explanation as to what and how with an example.
Mentioning the inn keeper which he did give her a bit of a sceptical glance. “You did not need me until the presence of the animal.” Theon pointed out considering all up till that very moment, Araminta held her own perfectly fine. It was just when the Inn keeper callously pulled out the hare that she weakened. Which that was just plainly rude for because who did that in front of polite company?
Well then again, that man was more than cracked around the edges. Incredibly rough.
“I will try to help when I can. It is the least I can do.” As if this was a transaction rather than learning the niches and grooves that it took to be a friend to another.
He really was determined to diminish his own contributions to their budding partnership. As if he himself wasn’t doing the brunt of the work while Araminta went through her usual chaotic nonsense and by luck, accidents, and miracles and seemed to somehow be alright.
Yet, what had he said before? That she was a tactician? A fancy and underserved title for a young woman who didn’t do a whole lot!
Araminta was tempted there to insist that so far, he’d done all of the helping and she was basically as useful as a cup of smile. At least slime could feed snails! But she recognized just as quickly that sort of fussing wouldn’t do them any good. They were having a wonderful evening so far, there wasn’t any need to ruin it by being insecure in her own role.
“Would you like to stay and listen to another music set?” she asked instead, giving him a soft smile. “Or should we head down to the beach so we can watch the sunset?”
By now she’d remembered her drink and very quickly took a few swallows while it was still warm!
The lingering watch remained as she asked what their next course of action was. To stay and continue to listen to the minstrels or to wander towards that of the beach in the want to watch the sun fall into the horizon. Neither seemed to be eliciting an excited response from that of himself. Rather a introspective turn of visage to express the length of consideration happening.
Seemingly taking stock of her drink then being appreciated before he seemed to settle. “You are enjoying the music. And the drink.” It seemed he was not about to offer his own personal insight –likely due to having none for this matter. “When you wish to continue on to what you wish to do next, then I will be ready to go as well.” He nodded as if the action was a visual period to the end of his reply.
“I can’t wait until we discover what catches your interests,” Araminta responded with a laugh. “That’s going to be an incredibly exciting day.”
Live music wasn’t for Theon – at least not live music in a crowded tavern. Luckily for them both there was a great wide world to explore and all the opportunities for new interests to be discovered. Even Araminta herself might find something new to fall in love with as they tried new things to tempt Theon out of his box.
Araminta decided to stick with his choice of staying, not concerned at all about missing the sunset. There were still several days in the city and ample opportunities for such a stroll along the beach. Taking the opportunity to shift the small table enough out of the way so she could scoot her chair close to Theon.
When the music started again, if there was something particularly notable, she’d lean close to whisper why it was so unique. Whether it was the use of a particular instrument to set a mood, or a clever bit of wording in a lyric. Down to murmuring when an instrument would start in a song so Theon himself would know the differences of each.
Even if he never truly appreciated music the way she did, Araminta still enjoyed the chance to teach the tiny details.
Well there was a soft dread to that. What if he never discovered anything that caught his interest! Was she going to be upset with him for being that utterly broken that nothing in the world seemed to draw even a minor bit of tugging curiosity to him. Such a thought was nearly too much to have, so he would be personally grateful when there was a return of the minstrels to start re-igniting the tavern in the melodies that they strummed together.
Seemingly inviting Araminta to grow particularly enthused with the soft utterings of education that probably weren’t very important for him to have but he considered them like gold. Merely because she was taking that due care to say anything, teach him anything. Sharing her delight for the musical concord around them with how an instrument started and telling the differences. Because these were things important to her. Little nuggets of information that were such a piece of her that she wanted to share. Warranting his attention with every bit of care he had stashed away behind that protective outer shell.
And it seemed many people appreciated the minstrels. They played for some time before they finally called it quits. Unsure of how long they had been seated here but long enough that the sunset was missed. Leaving him to peep out the nearest window with a internal bother that they had missed another thing she wished to do.
Instead he just seemed to pull out the little bit of a wallet to pull coins out to offer to Araminta. Leaving it a vague amount she could determine how much would pay for drink and bottle sent to the men prior. Quietly observing in his typical way though if he was going to be very honest with himself, he was exhausted. Feeling a obvious droop in his less than stellar personality that was trying to rally up so he could not impose upon Araminta’s next adventure of where ever.
Araminta herself was starting to feel the pull of fatigue from chores and travel and delighted joy. Even for a restful day, there was only so much one could do before the call of sleep came beckoning, and she wasn’t nearly drained by social company the way Theon was. As she accepted the coin and eyed him carefully, it was very easy to see it in the way he carried his shoulders, despite how he was trying very hard to be present for her.
“You can go wait outside for me, okay? I’ll take care of paying for things and maybe get a treat to bring back to the Inn. I won’t be long.” Rising from her chair, she gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. He could use the breath of fresh air to calm his poor nerves, and it wouldn’t take her but a few moments at all.
Pause. A nearly dramatic one at that with the mention that he could go outside to wait for her. Before shaking his head, “I would prefer not to.” Looking momentarily uneasy, “If it is acceptable I would prefer to stay near.” Evidently that whole time where he wandered away to look for a place to sleep in the blighted village had done its work. The idea of leaving her exposed in a crowded tavern didn’t seem any better than a village that had no populace. Considering that something happened where there was no one and there was little to tell what could happen now that they were surrounded by people.
Surprisingly enough, he was expressing a want. A comfort to be present while she went about her business to merely mend potential unease with the slight chance that something could occur. Though he seemed to realize that might be unnecessary clingy, “If… i-if it is allowed.”
That request was surprising enough to give her a moment of wide-eyed blinking pause, only to quickly soften into that natural smile. Araminta didn’t verbally reply, instead leaning down to grasp his hand and tug him up out of his seat to join her. Keeping him close by means of hand held tether as she wove them back through the crowd towards the waiting bar.
The exchange there was quite quick, as promised. Just a simple exchange of paying for their tab, as well as a nice tip for both their maid and the minstrels themselves. Only needing to wait a few minutes as her request for a jug of the mulled wine was fulfilled, which might have seem like an exorbitant amount of wine for one person but Araminta easily explained that it was last for the whole week.
Once she’d gotten her jug, Araminta was surprised by the size and weight of it – needing to hug it with both arms just to hold it. Leaving her to gesture with a tilt of her head that it was Theon’s turn to lead them safely on their way.
It was a great relief to be unhindered by that of paying and leaving. Never mind the lingering heat of embarrassment that came after Araminta entertained his silly clinginess. Not entirely sure why he had done as such but noticed the hard to refute relief that came from it. Although now he was visually curious about the bottle she had bought. Suggesting it would last a week.
He’d never drank himself before. Having no need to do so or even think on it. But wondered privately if the drinking of such substance was also a part of her former life as a royal.
Guessing somewhere that it made a lot of sense.
With her holding her newest item, the leas back to the inn was generally uneventful. Eyes were still present. Some more leering than previous, likely influenced by their own fermented drink, and one boldly calling out broadly some things that were well… descriptive. At Araminta. It earned a quick turn on his part that was no more an the blank stare on his features but it apparently suitable enough to have the man scurry slightly away. Leaving him to wonder a but about the suggested commentary and what it meant.
By no surprise should it be that he had no relationship with such things. Intimacy didn’t exist for him.
Parting the inn door open for the princess, the sounds of the inn were welcomed. Quiet and certainly less busy, he awaited her. Seeing as Mary Beth was present and he figured rather quickly the two would chatter before either retired.
While Araminta didn’t always understand local colloquialisms or more colorful phrases, she always knew it meant something filthy when it was being shouted at her by some leering scoundrel on the street. In most cases she’d simply ignore it, in other situations when she was feeling bold or surly, she might shout something sassy back.
Tonight, though, she was with Theon and he had received her full permission to go thumping people if necessary. Allowing her that measure of peace in not worrying about it at all. Albeit, glad that Theon’s stony stare was enough to prevent anyone from trying their luck!
Mary Beth was in the middle of a yawn when she spotted them, but brightened immediately at her returning guests.
“You’ve both been busy today, I see! Did you have a good one?” she asked.
“We went to see Essurn’s very famous minstrels and I wasn’t at all disappointed!” exclaimed Araminta with cheer. “One of the women had a voice that could charm an entire army, it was gloriously beautiful.”
“Oh, isn’t she just wonderful? My dear brother is head over heels in love with her, but I fear she has such a following of beaus, he may as well be chasing dreams,” returned Mary Beth with a wave of her hand. “I’m headed to bed myself and he’ll be taking over soon. Would you like anything else today?”
Araminta quickly shook her head, grinning wide.
“We’ll be alright tonight. Sleep well, Mary Beth.”
“Same to you, miss and sir! Pleasant dreams to you both!”
With such a simple exchange, Araminta headed up the stairs, finding with every step it seemed further and further away. That so many stairs seemed exhausting after such a long day and carrying such a heavy jug. For a second thinking twice about her purchase, but knowing she was going to be glad for it all during the week when they’d get to enjoy plenty of quiet time in their suite and not needing to run out or visit another tavern. Thinking they’d had enough of crowded social places and their next few activities could be much more solitary.
Once back in their suite safe and sound, she set the jug on the little table and plopped herself onto the fluffy chaise with a heavy, relieved sigh. No trials to worry about, no creatures lurking around corners… just peace and quiet for them both.
In that moment he stole a chance of people watching. Particularly Mary Beth. She had a similar mannerisms to Araminta, he noticed. Abundantly pleasant while being eager for conversation. Not so much to twirl It around herself but just inviting the means of friendly communication. Her personality was fit for a inn and he wondered privately if Araminta would be a good inn keeper as well.
New faces. New stories and with her shining personality, likely to have quite the name for herself. It was strangely fitting, he thought. Though it did make him curious to what sort of man Mary Beth’s brother was like. Was he similar or incredibly different?
Rather than risk finding out so soon, he was quick to follow the young miss up the flight of stairs. Stealing a peel back down merely out of habit. Noting how many windows, doors and the likes. For obvious safety reasons.
The door was tightly shut behind them once they had successfully made It within. Naturally letting his gaze toddler after Ara, till she released her bottle of wine to take residence in that of chair. Giving him a short moment to case the place visually before allowing some of his guard to drop. Indicating by motion that he would finally remove the armour from himself. Within the alotted space of room before returning after once more dressed in the tunic and trousers.
His head turned right. Then left. “Araminta, you should rest. I will remain here to assure no entry of unknown entities via door or window.” Theon stated in a matter of fact way. Apparently not about to take it too easy. Not when they had to always be cautious. One could never be too sure after all.
While he was busy removing his armor, Araminta had made herself comfortable on the chaise and pulled out her lyre to tune the strings. And on his return she gave him a thoughtful once over with those green eyes of hers.
This was going to be another Theon Door Stop situation, Araminta thought. With what happened at the fourth trial, and then today with so many people in every direction, he actually had a genuine reason to feel overwhelmed and concerned. Thus Araminta didn’t want to disregard that… but she also didn’t want him spending the entire week on guard and not getting some actual real rest in himself. He couldn’t survive on cat naps forever!
“I will go to bed…” she agreed, certainly not going to argue on that front. “…if you promise to have at least one hot bath this week and one full night of actual sleep in a bed.”
Araminta wouldn’t let him escape it this time. These were things he needed even if he didn’t want to admit it!
“If you’re worried about leaving me out of sight too long, you can come lay down in my bed with me? It won’t bother me in the slightest! Honestly, knowing you’re close by just makes it easier to fall asleep.”
It was quick how he looked at her. Starinh really as she made her terms clear and he, began to fidget. It was starting to get more apparent each day that he wasn’t very good at the means of comfortable rest. Using the means of keeping guard and watch as reasons to “cat nap”.
Avoiding comfort. Preferring to be at the state of alert to be ever ready for what possible.
Surely it had made her wonder why his own little shack in the woods was devoid of a bed. And how he avoided the bedding she got. Stubbornly refusing her generosity then and again at the crappy inn they had stayed at.
Even now, he had no intention of sleeping in a bed. And he was running out of excuses to continue to evade it. Especially when she was saying she would find comfort with him. “I–” Theon looked towards the floor. Embarrassment growing, “I cannot.”
He wasn’t sure he could even form the words on how to explain even vaguely why he didn’t sleep normally. How did someone casually explain that even comforts came with trauma. Or explaining that he had slept in closets, wardrobes, other rooms and corners of places in the palace to avoid being hunted in the night. He had inferred about how he had an older sibling that was killed, what he didn’t explain was how they were put against another. All of them, he had a few after all and he only survived because he started hiding. Sleeping in places you wouldn’t look and staying as alert as he could till he couldn’t. Often hiding at tyat point typically in a closet. In as far back as he could to stay safe. Using clothing to hide in till morning.
“I… don’t want to disappoint you, Araminta.”
“You’re not disappointing me, Theon, I just worry about you,” she responded softly. With that simple I cannot, Araminta knew immediately this was a situation similar to his issues with eating food. He’d grown up around people who had no issues with poisoning a child, so why not make it impossible for him to sleep soundly as well! Jumping at any sound in the night because it could be someone sneaking up on you!
Araminta shifted to sit up properly on the chaise, setting her lyre aside to tap her fingers to her chin with thought.
“Then lets figure out how to at least make it a little easier,” she suggested, already glancing around the suite for ideas.
“We’ll set up noise traps around all the doors and windows,” was her first thought. If anyone did tried to get in, that’d wake them both up quickly, even in the deepest of sleeps. “And you can lay down next to me for a nap, only an hour or so, while I keep watch? I’ll play a lullaby and even if you don’t fully sleep, it’ll be more restful that propped against a wall.”
This was truly not her problem. Although he wasn’t about to go into verbal detail to why he had such a strict removal of himself from a place that ought to be secure enough for him to sleep, she didn’t press him for it either. Simply looked at him in such a way that he wondered if she knew what she was doing. Not in a sense of insanity but consideration. Knowing that there was no reason for her to even afford even a bare scraping of thought towards him in such a way.
Yet, here she was. Setting aside her lyre in hopes to figure out a way to make this work. Which was apparently setting up noise traps which he was a little uncertain on how to do. It wasn’t as though they carried around a lot of things that clattered and clanked like mad. But she was hardly finished. Mentioning that he could lay down in her proxy while she kept watch.
Which had him considering her then and there, “I know you are far more susceptible to rest than I am.” Theon pointed out. As if she needed him to say he was alert to the fact that she seemed to fall asleep and stay asleep a lot faster than he ever could. “I wouldn’t ask this of you. The means that you would care enough to even try is enough.”
“That’s the nice thing about friends, Theon, you don’t have to ask me, it’s something I want to do.” With he himself doing the kind things he did because he wanted to, he could at least understand that explanation from her!
Thus Araminta slipped up from her seat and did a small walking inspection of the suite herself. Using whatever it was in that head of hers to think about things in some wildly different way. The smaller windows were easy to deal with, in that the princess just lined the sill with rearranged objects confiscated from other areas of the room. Things that would clatter, shatter, or clang should anyone make an attempt to get inside. She put a chair up under the doorknob as he had some himself before.
The balcony was the real trouble as it was an awful lot of space to cover. After a bit of pondering she closed up the shutter doors first, then pulled the heavy curtains closed. Two chairs were place at the opposite ends of the doors, each with a tall precariously sitting vase in the seats. As her final touch, Araminta took her staff to balance between the two chairs down below the seats on the wooden leg supports. A trip hazard one wouldn’t think to look for if they dared coming through the balcony.
“We can stay on the chaise,” she pointed back at the fluffy sofa. “You can put your feet on my lap so you’ll know I’m still there. And it won’t be any trouble to me, as I’d like to play music for a little bit, anyway? I’ll just nudge you when I’m ready for bed?”
There was so much to learn about being friends. Something he could ponder over liberally as she seemed to be with an idea about how to arrange the room in an order that they would be alerted to anything deciding to enter. Which did pull him to watch out of pure interest. How her mind worked and articulated itself outwards for him to heed, was really something to learn from. As previously mentioned, she didn’t work in normalcy for such things.
Eventually he seemed to accept how this kinship worked before he was watching her all the more. As she pointed out they would stay on the chaise. Pointing to it in case he may had forgotten about it. Only that he gave her a bit of a look to think his feet would be in her lap. “That seems awkward.” Theon pointed out but she made a point. That she wanted to play for a bit and well, she could nudge at him. Although he was going to find it strange to be present at all, yet he wasn’t about to find fault either. “However… I will accept. This is just… new.”
Araminta was surprised he was even entertaining this idea so far, having expected him to refuse and then go make himself a bed of rocks. All the more pleased that he wouldn’t be an that maybe Theon could actually have a whole ten minutes of actual sleep.
Before sitting down, the princess went to quickly fetch a blanket from one of the beds and poured herself a very small mug of that mulled wine. Showing she didn’t intend to sleep herself until she’d at least finished the drink. Then she finally sat back down in her spot, where she had everything she needed easily within reach and arranged the blanket over her lap.
Araminta pat the spot next to her.
“You can give me whichever end is less awkward, but you may not want a lyre strummed in your face?”
Eyes followed as they typically did. Letting every movement filter into his mind to be collected as though he were a rat finding cotton for a nest. Silently arranging the collection of thoughts that made more and more of a understanding that was for him, of Araminta. Filling in every bit of her second by second.
Till she was settled with a small mug, lyre and the motion that he was to come and plunk down. Temporarily earning a look that was slightly beyond description. Yet he found his willpower. Moving inwards to come and sit down with maybe a glance to the softness that was the chaise. As if it was too strange for him to fathom.
Or it was how she pointed out that he was supposed to give her an end. Drawing a look at such a selection of words but ultimately didn’t find a reason to refute and he wasn’t so bold to plop his head down in her lap anyways. Feet weren’t much better but he didn’t want to just start a fuss because he felt awkward. Shortly accepting that feet it was. Though less so in her lap, he wasn’t that forward.
Never mind how the fatigue felt like it was three times heavier the moment he settled downwards to lay down! As if it were a weight and he was just baffled at how that worked. No wonder he usually sat up because it seemed to keep him awake!
Though he sighed at the effort and found himself quietly trying to will his brain to calm itself. That there was a lot of things setup to avoid anyone creeping in unaware. “Is… this suitable?” he asked as to make sure, as if he needed to be sure!
The entire thing felt like trying to charm a barn cat and it took a lot of her willpower not to start giggling, which surely would’ve made him feel too silly to even try. So Araminta simply kept her mouth shut until he finally settled down. Covering up his feet and only his feet with part of her blanket since he hadn’t quite been brave enough to rest on her.
Satisfied that her was tucked in enough, Araminta herself settled back and plucked gently at the strings of her lyre, not quite playing a song just yet, but seeming to test a few notes a if trying to remember how a song was meant to go.
“This is nice and cozy,” she confirmed. “Now you rest your eyes and don’t think about the windows. Think about…”
She paused there, wondering what might be a calming thing for him. Sometimes it was hard to know when even simple little things seemed to hide hidden traumas! After a beat she seemed to settle on just the thing, slowly plucking a fresh set of strings, this time with a little more purpose. Reminiscent of the songs they’d heard earlier, only slowed down to a sleepy sort of tempo.
“Think about a nice misty morning where the sun hasn’t quite come up yet. You are the speedy stead and you get to run through a valley all covered in mist, and you’ve got no where to be and nothing to worry about. You get to trample through mud puddles and stomp on crunchy leaves.”
He was unconvinced about the nice and cozy comment but he was trying. Attempting to push a plethora of thoughts outside his mind as to stop thinking about here and now. Still there was something to be said about her plucking the strings and how his attention deviated swiftly to that. Not quite gathering the focus for such a instrument but still finding it pretty no less.
Perhaps he was more fae like than he thought. Liable to be similar to her former audience that had wanted her to play while they snoozed. Although to say that outloud was purely embarrassing.
Theon shifted and tried not to let his mind wander either. Suddenly plucked like a chord of her lyre when she seemed to suggest him to think about… being a horse apparently. “I think you find my travel form very interesting.” He murmured as if calling her out more so than himself. Then again, he was aware now more than ever that Araminta liked cute animals. Ones she could pet. A lot. However, he wasn’t about to complain at her for this and simply listened.
Not so much thinking about her idea of being a trampling playing horse –it was outside his comfort level of course- but allowed the plunking sounds of her picking to be that distraction. Focusing on it rather than anything else. Not entirely sure when he allowed himself to drift a little beyond the typical cat nap state. Just it did happen after a bit before he seemed to be further past the point of alert. Breath evening out till he seemed to be not an active participant in the world currently.
The fatigue was real and apparently, he needed this more than he could have thought when there wasn’t an abrupt leap up to be at the ready nor dreams tugging obviously at one’s mental state.
There was a soft giggling at finding his traveling form interesting… which wasn’t a lie! Anyone would be interested and curious about such a thing, and Araminta was certain he really didn’t have much of a chance to explore what it really is to be fae. Fae were supposed to be wild, untamed beings and Theon had be trapped tied to a tether for far too long.
“If I could change into an animal, I think I’d be a chipmunk. Using little toadstools as umbrellas and making tiny dresses out of flower petals…”
She may have said a few more things after that. About chipmunk homes in trees, or how horses might run in a forest. Strumming along her song softly, with only a small peek at him here and there, until she was certain that words were no longer necessary and that the music was enough.
While Araminta could’ve easily stopped playing the moment he started breathing deeply, she didn’t. Taking her role as nap guard quite seriously, staying acutely aware of the room itself and letting her fingers keep playing in that lazy practiced way. Keeping her own thoughts occupied to keep her awake, and not having a lack of things to think about! Where the trials might take them and how she could give them the proper amount of time to recover in between them.
That stamina wouldn’t last forever, but Araminta was determined to give him as long as he could to actually sleep. Pausing here and there to yawn and rest her own eyes, but confident she could always sleep plenty herself later.
To be honest, she probably could have stopped entirely and dozed off herself. It was unclear how long he had been only on the cusp of rest each day, even prior to their unlikely alliance and kinship. Regardless there was a level of deep exhaustion that once it was breeched, he was unlikely to get up. Liable to contest her for having the hardest time arising! As if that was a contest to even have!