A Long Day's Knight

[captainb]

Fook

Fook had no questions for Arista, at least none that needed asking at the moment. Questions would arise as needed, he knew, and the answers would be revealed in their own course. He exchanged brief pleasantries with Liam on his way back to the east tower, then continued to prepare for the journey. In his spartan room, Fook packed a small satchel and filled his pockets with roots and herbs. His robe had numerous small flaps cleverly sewn into the red and gold silk. Though each pocket could hold up to ten times its physical size, the weight and shape of the robe never changed. He stood still and meditated briefly, letting his spirit wade at the shores of the ether. He had lost track of the years he had been at this castle. At least four kings had come and gone, possibly more. He didn't remember details well these past few decades, but that was no matter. The experience he gleaned soaked into his soul, where it melded with the rest. He had served each master faithfully, not only helping to heal the wounded but, more importantly, bringing his special wisdom to bear in times of trouble and uncertainty. Sadly, not everyone could see things as clearly as he, and despite his extremely clear analysis of the problem at hand, many simply would not try to understand. Well, he sighed, even melon grown in shade will ripen in the end.

His nightly ritual included a visit to the Royal Gardens. Fook loved seeing the lunar tulips open their petals in the moonlight, and this was two nights before the full moon. He walked along the base of the wall until he came to the corner tower, starting around to where the gardens were. At a sound he turned around, then looked up. He raised his eyebrows. I haven't seen a princess climbing down a tower since...hmm, who was that? Mirial? Or the flighty blonde, oh maybe three kings ago...he snapped out of his reverie as a few bits of gravel bounced down the side of the wall. He peered closer. Ah, and she is tied onto the same statue, too.

"Princess Ariana," he called. She stopped her uneven descent and bounced against the wall as she stared down, trying to see who it was. He bowed while trying to keep looking up, nearly tipping off balance. "Your humble servant wishes to suggest that you return to royal bedchamber. Sometimes hasty decision like hind leg of mule...kick backward."

 

[Neale]

Arcanus Magister

Arky busied himself in his workroom, gathering spell components and minor magic items. "Ah yes, sulfur, saltpeter... yess... must be sure to have plenty of that... Always said no spell works quite as well without those... heh."

 

[Lady_Siren]

Ariana heard the voice below her. Muttering a cruse which any proper princess would never dream of saying she contemplated what to do. Deciding that who ever it was below her they could do nothing to stop her she continued downwards until she reached the ground. Brushing dirt and dust off her dress she squinted to see who was there. Recognizing Fook she gave him her prettiest pout. "I'm just out for a small stroll. Now be a good man and run along" forcing a smile to her face she headed towards the back of the garden praying that Fook would not follow her.

 

[Darklord]

McBubba

"Bloody fricking gardens" thought McBubba as he ran into another thorn bush as he tried to wend his way in from the back gate where he had snuck back in. "Damn woman made Liam dump my brandy so I had to go drink with the commoners. Now here I am lost, cold, in need for a piss, GOD do I hate my life. I hate (OW!) fucking gardens more than that woman, not much but (OUCH!)" were his thoughts as he blundered through the queens prize roses. As he stopped for a minute to get his bearings (even though all of his were defininetly greased beyond all help) he opened his breeches to relieve himself.

Of course as luck would have it, Ariana at about this time ran into him, literally. She had been so worried with Fook she hadn't seen where she was going and knocked McBubba to the ground falling on top of him. Now this isn't a smart thing to do when a man is pissing, especially a drunk man since they tend to keep going no matter what happens. Well the princess learned right then and there the hard way and got an abrupt christening. Looking at her McBubba calmly spoke "Oh excuse me Darling, I didn't know I was in the ladies privy." after which he promptly passed out over her legs.

 

[Mr. SlowHands]

Sir Ronan MacGlyde

Ronan had been so surprised when he'd lost his balance and ended up face first in Arista's dinner, that the embarrassment of it didn't set in until he'd left her room. He could feel himself blushing through the residue of gravy still on his face. If there was one thing a knight hated, it was to do something stupid and clumsy in front of another knight. He'd not only done that, he'd done so in front of the lovely Arista! Hobbling down the hallway, his ass cheek throbbing, he continued muttering to himself about the incompetency he'd just displayed.

Spotting a pair of guards posted at the intersection of two major hallways, Ronan notified one of them that the Lady Knight, Arista, was in need of a tray of food to be brought up to her. Dispatching one of them to locate one of the kitchen maids, Ronan stood his watch until the guard returned. Then he asked for directions to a healer's room, since the infirmary would be closed already. One of the guards recommended seeing Fook, and gave Ronan instructions to Fook's room in the East Tower.

Ronan sighed. The forkin' East Tower. Longer walk from where he was now than anywhere else in the castle. Figured. Resignedly, shoulders slumping a bit more, he began trudging toward the East Tower, limp after painful limp.

Numerous times along the way, Ronan passed by the living quarters of various castle personnel. He was amazed by how many of them were still seemingly awake, at least from the sounds of loud panting and beds creaking. Shaking his head each time, Ronan silenly cursed, thinking that the sounds of fleshly gratifications were NOT what he needed to hear after being away fighting for two years. However, it did give him something else to think about than the pain in his wounded butt.

Finally, achieving the East Tower, Ronan paused to look up the stairway. His wound was more of a dull ache now from all the walking. The winding flight of stairs appeared more like the scaling of a sheer cliff than a steady ascent to him. Sighing heavily again, he began taking the steps one at a time, letting his right leg do all the work.

Arriving at Fook's room what seemed like half an eternity later, he rapped soundly on the door. No answer. Ronan rapped again, more loudly. Still no answer. Realizing that Fook was quite advanced in years, Ronan pounded his fist against the door like a mallet. The only reaction Ronan got from that, was that the next door down the hallway was opened, and Arky's head poked out, looking both directions.

"Ahhh, damnation!" Ronan thought silently, "now I've awakened Arky, and he's the one person Arista told me to avoid." It took only a moment for Arky to spot him, and then the eccentric wizard stepped into the hallway.

"Ronan! Ronan, lad!!" Arky bellowed. "You're home? Is the war over? Where are the others? Did we win? When did you get in? Why did you need to find Fook? Isn't Fook in his room? How have you fared, lad? My, my, you're looking a bit sallow, are you feeling ok?"

Ronan made a mistake then. Thinking that he'd never tell Arky about his ass wound, for fear the mage would want to attend to it, Ronan took a step backward, limping as he did. This of course drew Arky's attention to the knight's left leg.

"You're hurt, lad!!," Arky whined. "Is it the leg?"

Ronan groaned audibly. "No, Arky, just a bit of an arrow wound, and I'll be fine, really!"

"Not fine enough," Arky stated emphatically. "You need medical attention, and I insist on looking at that wound! Now, just where is it?"

Ronan closed his eyes, and leaned against the wall, letting his head drop against the hard stones. This wasn't going at all well. He'd be lucky to have an ass left by morning.



[Edited by Mr. SlowHands on 05-28-2001 at 09:59 AM]

 

[captainb]

Fook

Fook bowed as the princess swept away from him, musing on the impulsiveness of youth. Another trickle of tiny rocks scattered down the side of the tower, and he edged away from the sheet still tied to the staue far overhead. It wouldn't do to stumble into that in the dark. He'd need to check in the morning if Ariana had pulled it in.

A raised voice in the garden? Fook glided slowly through the lunar tulip bed, but his pleasure in their gleaming white petals was marred by movement in the rose bushes. Someone was fumbling through the prize flowers. Several names came to his mind, along with a sigh at how easily they did so. Two cries suddenly sounded, a male and female. Fook nodded sagely, and moved forward to chastise what he was sure were two random lovers who had foolishly picked a thorny place for a moonlit rendezvous.

 

[Isolde]

Arista glanced up at the hourglass which had been marking time the whole of her conversation with Ronan. Damn! She was late. If the princess was true to form, she would be on her way to one of the secret ways away from the castle. The one in the garden was the closest so that is the way Arista headed.

Putting speed into her step, she left the castle and entered the garden. She begin to curse as she didnt see any sign of her royal brattiness and headed toward the hidden door in the hedges when she heard a loud groan.

Oh great! The princess had somehow hurt herself and the king was going to make sure Arista paid for it as she did have the responsibility of keeping his daughter safe. Hurrying to where the moans came from, she stopped short and had to keep herself from laughing.

There, laying on the ground was the princess with McBubba pinning her legs to the ground by his drunken weight. The smell of piss and alcohol lingered in the air around them and she knelt down to stare at Ariana with a smile on her face.

"Well, well your highness," She said, the laughter clear in her voice,"No wonder you didnt want to go see the prince. It looks as if you have your hands full with more than enough man of your own. I think I will leave you two lovebirds alone-I am sure your father will be more than pleased to know you have finally picked someone more than worthy of you. I guess I should go tell him about this little scene and set his mind at ease."

 

[Neale]

Arky

"Ronan, boy! I told you to show me the wound, dammit!" Crackles of lightning sparked from his fingers, "Or should I just remove your clothing magically? We'll get you in fine form in no time. Now, where did I put that sulfur... gotta cauterize, boy! No sense in taking chances with the wound going sour!"

 

[Mr. SlowHands]

Sir Ronan MacGlyde

Looking something like a lone rabbit surrounded by a pack of ravenous wolves, Ronan watches in horror as Arky's fingers spark with magical energy. But rather than answering the mage's question, he turns back to Fook's door and begins to pound against it with both fists and feet flailing like a crazed demon.

"FOOK!! ... FOOK!! ... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!... THE SAINTS!!... YOUR HOMELAND!!... OUR BLESSED KING!! ... AND EVERYTHING YOU HOLD SACRED!!... OPEN THIS DOOR!!!!"

ZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!

Ronan realizes with beastly urgency that Arky has just released a bolt of energy intent on removing every shread of clothing he has on. Fortunately, Arky's aim was off once again, and the bolt blows Fook's door to smithereens. Ronan doesn't wait around to watch the now powdered door settle to the floor in a heaping pile of ash. Suddenly forgetting that his ass had ever been violated, (*ahem*), Ronan ran down the hallway with the speed and grace of a cheetah, bounding down the stairway 5 steps at a time.... until, upon reaching the halfway mark, leapt up on the stone banister and slid the remaining yardage to the bottom, where with an utter lack of his former moments of grace, he ran crotch first into the stone lion standing guard at the banister's very bottom.

The force of the testicular impact not only made the terrified Knight howl with pain, which must have been heard through a better part of the castle, but also flung him off the banister onto the cold stone floor. Landing squarely on his back, Ronan's breath was knocked from him with a solid wheezing expulsion of air, and left him looking something like a gasping fish that's been pulled from the water.

Arky's pursuing footsteps and rustling garments could be easily heard descending the stairs as well. Realizing that the blast that had left Fook's door incinerated would have turned most of him to mist, and sent any remaining chunks hurtling past Orion's frigging belt, the imperiled war veteran mustered every ounce of strength left in him to stand. Hearing Arky closing on him, Ronan ran best as he could squatting over from his unfortunate crotch mishap, and limping on his left leg from his now pulsing ass wound. The ending result looked something like a clumsy,mismatched pair trying to complete the sack race at carnivale.

Ronan had been away for 2 years in the war, so how could he have known that the Queen had gone on a Castle remodelling splurge? This is why, limp-hobble-squat-running around a corner pillar, Ronan rammed headlong into a stone wall that used to be an open corridor. As sounds of cute little parakeets tweeted in his clouding brain, and the knight's surroundings faded quickly to blackness, any spectator with a teeny weeny bit of compassion would have forgiven Ronan his groaned plea for, "Mommyyyyy...," before he passed out stone cold.....

 

[Rockingham]

"...for love is crowned in the springtime, the only pretty ri-ing time, when birds do sing."
Rockingham stopped singing. He couldn't hold a thought in his head for more than a few minutes. How clumsy of him, the princess was trying to sleep. He opened the door apologetically.
"I'm sorry princess."
The window was open, he saw over at the bed. She didn't seem to be moving at all. The poor dear was so cold, he quickly moved over to window to close it. There were some sheets going down the window. How could sheets have possibly made their way down here. They must have tried to escape, look how they used each other to get down.
"We'll have none of that," he pulled the sheets back in, "Bad sheets. Look's like your going to get an extra washing for that."
A muffled scream made him look down at the garden below. There was a man and a woman down there. The man had his pants down. What an awful sight, and in view of all those roses too. He motioned for some guards.
"Guards, come quickly, those people are trying to steal the queen's roses in their pants."
The guards gave him an odd look but then ran down to where the people were. Oh, there were more now, he thought he saw Arista. He waved kindly. Why would she want to steal the queen's roses in her pants? He honestly never thought of stealing roses in his pants before, but he would try anything once. Perhaps on this journey some rose stealing is in order.
He closed the window, seeing the guards had closed in on the criminals. Grabbing the sheets he made his way back to the door.
"Sorry princess, I won't disturb you anymore," he nodded towards the bed. In spite of all that yelling she hadn't moved a muscle. She must be really tired. He closed the door quietly.
"I can't leave the princess, especially with rose theives on the loose, so you're gonna have to stay with me."
He sat on the sheets, making sure none of them could escape.

 

[captainb]

Fook

Carefully walking around the rose trellises, Fook stopped at the wondrous sight revealed to him. The princess was struggling to her feet, mud and other liquids staining her virginal-white dress and shoes. Another figure lay face down in the mud, emitting a softly bubbling snore. McBubba was always easy to recognize. Near them stood Arista, who was trying to hide her mirthful expression.

Fook bowed low and said, "Princess Ariana, forgive this servant for disturbing your small stroll. However, Queen's roses are delicate, and do not respond well to disrespectful treatment. Most humbly suggest that strolls and moonlit liasons take place on grassy knoll behind gazebo." As guards suddenly swarmed into the area, wrecking even more of the rose bushes in their haste to see what was going on, Fook turned to Arista with a sigh. "Opportunity to receive many volunteers often brings cream to surface." They all stood in silence for a moment, watching McBubba settle deeper into the mudhole.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Ariana struggled against the drunk man trying to ignore the fact that he had pissed all over her new dress and failing. When Arista showed up Ariana let out a groan of distress. Damn that woman she always seemed to be sticking her head where it didn't belong! So she was going to tell her father, thinking fast Ariana looked at Arista but before she could speak Fook showed up talking nonsense about liasons and grassy knolls frowning at him she was about to speak when yet more people arrived, a bunch of angry soldiers to be exact. Everyone began talking at once feeling her temper rise Ariana took a deep breath and screamed "Get this no good drunk man off of me before I have you all imprisoned!" soldiers scrambled to obey dragging the man off of her. Ariana climbed to her feet and stood there with as much dignity as she could seeing that she had piss on her. Smoothing out her dress or at least trying to she glared at everyone before looking to Arista "You will not tell my father anything, I will go with you to this prince and I use the word prince loosely. You do not have to tell my father a word" then turning to Fook "And I am not having a liason with this.. this.. this thing!" and last to the soldiers "I don't know who sent you but you were misinformed please returned to your stations. Now if everyone will excuse me I will return to my room now" she sniffed hautily (OOC: dont think that is spelled right) and headed back towards the castle.

 

[Darklord]

McBubba

"Why do people always have to shout when I've just gone to bed?" Thought McBubba as the princess began shouting about going to see the prince. "OW! Now they're kicking me, it must mean it's time to go.." was his next thought as he he rolled over somewhat. Prying open mud caked eyes McBubba behled a sight not many people will ever see in their lives. The Vitginal Princess Ariana covered in piss and mud, Fook admonishing her, Arista laughing so hard now that she was rolling on the ground holding her sides, and a group of Castle guards all grinning and making bets with one another. At this point he undertook some thinking, which was a truly new concept for him, and came up with one thing to say as it dawned on him that he had pissed on the princess.

"Oh MY GOD! This ISN"T the ladies privy! Oh BLECH!" as he promptly added another layer of filth to the lovely princesses velvet slippers. As soon as he finished he stumbled to his feet and pulled his belt tight as Arista now had tears streaming down her cheeks and Fook looked extremely perplexed. The princess, well thats another story...

 

[Isolde]

Arista got onto her feet, a smile still on her face. Gesturing to two of the guards, she said,"Take this gentleman,"indicating McBubba,"And make sure he has a COLD and invigorating bath and then put him to bed. I want him drug out of bed two hours before dawn and nothing given to him for his hangover. I want him to feel every bump and jolt of the journey."

To Fook, she said,"Ancient, I believe that Ronan is looking for a skilled healer. I would suggest you find him before Arky does." Her gaze then turned to the Princess' back as she was heading towards the castle.

Running a bit to catch up with Ariana, she came up to walk by her side. "Let me escort you, your highness, just to make sure of no more mishaps." The smile stayed on her face until the young royal was in her room and had slammed the door in Arista's face. "Oh, tomorrow is just going to be glorious isnt it," She muttered as she turned to go to her own chambers.

It was as she was making her way back that she saw Arky standing over a prone figure. Hurrying forward, she saw Ronan laying unconcious on the ground. She had gotten word to Fook too late. Interceding quickly, she said,"It's okay Arky, I have it now."

Grabbing two guards, she told them to take the knight to her own room and place him on the bed and to send someone to fetch Fook and steer him to where the patient was. Patting Arky on the back and telling him to go back to gathering his supplies, she followed the guards as they made their way to her chambers. This was going to be a very long journey. Very long indeed.

 

[Ask For More]

Puss

Puss made his way to the castle, seeking out a way to hitch a ride with the human convoy. Once inside, he headed straight to the stables and waited until someone started loading up horses and bags for the trip; when no one was looking he sneaked into a large bag, and went to sleep.

OOC:will be away for a bit....have fun!

 

[captainb]

Fook

The soft moonlight played over the ghostly scene as the guards dragged McBubba off to the castle. Fook followed, noting the princess's muddy footprints ascending the main staircase. He glided through the dim hallways to the far section of the castle. Trampled roses, torn trellises, teetering statues, muddy carpets, drunken soldiers, and a soiled princess. One of the quieter nights, he mused.

He stopped at the bottom of the east staircase, noting the stone lion lying on its side. He frowned. This was deliberate vandalism, nothing short of a major impact could have knocked this marble statue over. The Yellow Court was never like this, he thought as he started to slowly climb the stairs. A guard called when he was halfway up. "Healer, Arista has requested your aid for Ronan. He is in her chambers."

Fook sighed quietly, turned and slowly descended. He followed the guard through more corridors to another staircase and began to climb again. At the top of the stairs he leaned against a pillar, reached into a pocket and brought a pinch of orange powder to his nose. A quick sniff, and a wash of energy flowed through him again. He'd have a headache later, but there was powdered root for that too.

He bowed again to Arista as he entered her room, then turned to the bed where a battered Ronan lay miserably. Fook clucked pityingly. "Too much drink again? Bar should have padded tables, would make for softer impact during brawl." Ronan seemed about to object, but his words turned into a yelp as Fook found the arrow wound. Powders, salves, and ointments seemed to appear magically in his hands, and his fingers unerringly applied the healing herbs and potions despite the long curving nails. Ronan settled back, a look of contentment melting his face. Fook straightened and turned to Arista. "Man who punishes himself never short of help. But his mind will sleep now while body finishes healing process. Have you any pains that need removed?" She shook her head ironically, and he bid her a restful night. He traveled back through the castle and finally stood before his room, staring at the charred remains of his door.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Ariana angrily slammed the door in Arista's face. Damn that woman and her amusment. "Amusment at my cost!" she muttered. She opened her door and look at Rockingham "Rocky can you please have a bath brought up" without waiting for an answer she shut her door. Looking at herself in the mirror Ariana wrinkled her nose disgusted with her appearance. She knew that she was quite an attractive woman, she stood at about 5'8 with long blonde hair, her eyes were a sparkling clear blue. Now her blonde hair was an ugly shade of brown and usually creamy complection was marred with dirt and other things... sighing softly she sat down on the edge of her bed and awaited her bath.

 

[Rockingham]

Rocky watched the door closed soundly. He sat there a second, dumbfounded. Two princess? She looked just like the first one, he had sworn it. One time one of the maids had dressed up like the princess and walked around barking orders. Everyone laughed, although Rocky didn't quite get it. She looked pretty, but nothing like the princess. This person even talked like the princess.
Rocky opened the door, looking inside. He saw her simply sitting on the bed, her dress all tattered and stained. She had a rose in her hair, she must have been one of the rose stealers. Why in the world would the princess want to steal roses in the middle of the night, she didn't even have pants to put them in.
"Ummm, how many are going to use the bath?" he asked. His brow furrowed as he glanced around. There was no other princesses. Somehow there were two, and now there is one.
He saw the confused look on her as well.
"Nevermind, I sometimes see some crazy things at night," he closed the door, walking down to the kitchen. A few buckets of water were brought to a boil as he hauled a few more up to her bath. The sun would be up soon, he saw that it would. That sharp hue in the eastern sky proved it was coming. It always came before the sun.
He poured the cold water in, went back, and then poured the hot. It was her perfect temperature, just right for a fitting princess.
"The bath is waiting," he said, yawning as he looked outside, "I will get started packing for your trip. I left you the soap and some oils just how you like it."
He bowed gently.

 

[Darklord]

McBubba's Bath

When Arista had said invigorating, the guards decided to have a little fun with the now comatose McBubba. Taking him to the blacksmith's shop they hauled out the quenching barrel and proceded to dunk McBubba's head into it then place it into the other barrel containing the water that had been used earlier that day which was still extremely hot. In a few quick dunks McBubba was quite awake and spluttering like a crazed stutterer. The guards then tossed him into the horse trough and brushed him clean. Finally they dragged him into his room and left him on his floor to sober up.

At about two hours to dawn they returned and took him to the kitchens where they propped him up in a corner and had breakfast. "Hells Bells!" thought McBubba "Those scoundrels are having breakfast and refuse to let me have any! And the NOISE! My gods the NOISE!" as he curled up into a fetal position to await the arrival of dawn. "Thank the gods I got Liam to pack me before I left for the tavern." were his thoughts as he tried to block out the noise...

 

[Lady_Siren]

Arian smiled gratfully at Rocky when her bath was finished "thank you so much" she said and as soon as he was out of the room she stripped quickly and climbed into the bath sighed as the warm water relaxed her. Leaning back she closed her eyes. A few minuttes later she finished washing and changed into a nice clean night gown. Climbing into her bed not even bothering to clean up the bath she fell into a deep sleep.

 

[Mr. SlowHands]

Sir Ronan McGlyde

Whatever it was that Fook administered to the very wounded, very battered, and very weary Ronan, immediately plunged his brain into darkness. For a couple of hours, Ronan knew and felt nothing. Then his mind slowly began waking, and he entered into a deep dream state.

Perhaps a common man would have considered Ronan's dream nightmarish. There were battle standards whipping in the wind, armies facing off organized into their respective battle units: archers, light horse, heavy horse, regular infantry with their tall tower shields, pikemen, and even scatterings of crossbowmen, halberdsmen, the deadly catapults ready to hurl stones or blazing greek fire, and ballistas that would hurl a storm of arrows down on the enemy.

Combat expertise ranged widely, from the totally inexperienced, to battle-seasoned, veteran knights and professional soldiers. The highly skilled and trained warrior always had a powerful advantage -- he had not only learned how to take every opportunity against an opponent, but had also thoroughly immersed himself in the frenzy of battle. He could look into a lesser opponent's eyes, and see the fear and uncertainty. It gave him an immediate authority and edge.

Ronan dreamed of all this and more. The clash of horses and men's bodies, the hurling rain of murderous arrows, the fiery balls of burning oil engulfing several men at once in a raging inferno. The smells of victory, the scent of death, and the sorrow of holding fallen comrades... he dreamed it all. It was the life he'd known for the last two years, and God forgive him, he had come to love it.

Then he got shot in the ass. In his sleep, Ronan mumbled incoherently. But in his dreamy fog, it wasn't a field chirurgeon who tended his wound, but Lady Arista. He could see her kneeling over him, concerned expression on her face, and then giving orders to have him moved. He'd been placed upon the warmest, most comfortable bed. Yet he still felt the physical agony of his overworked body. There was a little oriental man... and the soft smile of Arista... and then somehow Ronan knew he was naked. In his dream, he felt embarrassed. She must be seeing him like this.

But then the embarrassment gave way to fright... as Ronan imagined fleeing like a terrified coward from sizzling balls of flame. Then the flames were striking him, burning off his clothing, and the entire castle was laughing at him. At him!! Sir Ronan!! and they were laughing hysterically.

Slowly the dream lifted, and Ronan opened his eyes. Soft candlelight illuminated the room he was in, but at first he didn't recognize it. Turning his head, he saw the Lady Knight sleeping in a chair, her head leaning back against the wall. He was in her chamber!! Ahhh.. that was it. In her sleep, her features were softened. All expression of her former worries had melted into peace. And as he stared, her eyelids slowly opened, until she was looking back at him. He began to throw off his covers, and get out of bed.

Suddenly, Ronan blushed, aware again that under the blanket that covered him, he was entirely naked. Well, he wasn't a knight and a gentleman for nothing. Quickly folding himself back onto the bed, and pulling the blanket tighter around him, he gave a weak smile.......

 

[captainb]

Fook

Fook's mind became instantly awake, although his body took somewhat longer to respond. He listened to the chambermaids moving in the hallway, and heard the clatter of boards and nails. At least someone was working this morning, it sounded like they were ready to repair his door. He creaked out of bed and hobbled to the window, letting his back slowly straighten as far as it would go. A beautiful morning, he saw. A sudden exclamation from the door caused him to turn around, and he saw a chambermaid looking at him with an open mouth. He looked down and realized he was still undressed. Curse that Arky! He couldn't even enjoy a few minutes of provacy now. He shooed the maid away, who had unabashedly lowered her eyes and was now staring in amazement. "Go away, you! Go clean somewhere else!" he shouted, grabbing his robe. She blinked and smiled, running off with some new gossip for the staff.

He checked his pockets again, adding a few last ingredients and materials before starting the long walk to the dining room. He stepped gingerly over the hinges and nails, seeing the boards stacked against the outside of Arky's door. Good thing we leave soon, he thought. This will be a noisy time.

In the dining room he assembled a plate of fresh fruit and bread, sitting at the end of a long table. There were a few others eating, but it was still early. Fook's habit of rising at dawn gave him that rarest of moments, a bit of quiet and privacy in the normally turbulent life of the castle. Well, usually privacy, he thought, carefully cutting open a pomegranate. He ate silently, letting his mind sink into the taste and texture of his meal. Ah, sweet delight to take one's time with a simple meal...

 

[Rockingham]

Rocky opened the door gently. Sun had risen nearly a half hour ago. The princess normally woke up at sunrise, but he felt she needed some extra sleep. It had been such a hard night for her. He carried the tray of strawberries, milk, and bread over to her.
"Princess,"he shook her hand, "Oh princess."
He watched her eyes flutter open. She was so pretty when she woke up.
"Breakfast is ready," he used his quiet voice. It was barely above a whisper. He placed the tray at her side. Rockingham then walked over to the closet, he began to get her clothing gathered for the day, they also had to get things all packed up. The carriage will leave fairly soon, within an hour or two.

 

[Darklord]

McBubba

"Gods, what an awful morning" said McBubba as he managed to make his stumbling way to the table where Fook was grazing contentedly. "I can't believe any sane man would like getting up at such a beastly hour!" was his next comment as he watched Fook eat. His stomach then growled and he looked over to where the two guards were sitting protecting the food table from him, HIM! A dukes son reduced to this, such a sad state indeed. He then turned back to watch Fook continuing eating and drooled...

 

[captainb]

Fook

Fook looked up as McBubba's sputtering shadow fell over him. He'd seen the man look bad in the mornings, in fact it was nothing unusual. But last night seemed to have gotten the best of even a cast-iron stomach like McBubba's. Now he was staring at Fook as he ate...and now he was literally drooling, a thin stream of saliva was slowly descending from the edge of his lip.

Fook closed his eyes and held out a pomegranate. "Please, ravenous one, make use of this until you can find your meal." McBubba took the fruit uncertainly, then sat and bit deeply into it. Fook opened his eyes as McBubba started sputtering, using his fingers to drag out the hundreds of tiny seeds. Fook cocked an eyebrow in curiosity. Had he never eaten fruit before? He shook his head mildly and gently chided, "It is fool in a hurry who drink tea with fork." Then he took the fruit back from Mcbubba and sliced it open, deftly separating the seeds from the flesh and placing it back before him. Mc Bubba just stared at it.