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[bearish]

[If you are outside this fine evening, you can see two figures off in the distance approaching the castle. They are women of noble dress, riding two valiant steeds with a certain sense of presence and command... though really, the steps do seem to be carried with a bit of lightheartedness as well.

The older woman stops her horse, however, narrowing her eyes and pulling the reins so that she may survey the scenery before her.]

Odd. I don't recall any sort of castle for miles-- least of all one that would present itself in the time of a single afternoon's ride.

[The younger red-haired lass halts as well, though her eyes widen instead of narrow. She blinks a few times, very owlishly, a grin breaking out over her expression.]

Another kingdom, mum? [By the looks of it, she's not too keen on sitting still and is already moving to set her horse in motion.] Well, come on, let's go have a look!

[To which the older woman follows along, albeit a little slower.]

Tread carefully, Merida. I've the feeling this castle isn't nearly as abandoned as the last one we've stumbled upon.

_{(ooc. OH YEAH SO THERE'S LIKE, not going to be a posting order here. just comment as they come! that way, threads will progress faster! C:)}

Comments

[righttobeararms]

That only makes it better!

[Urghrghrgh she wants to kick Angus into high gear, but all things considered, she isn't a hurry to leave her mother behind in the dust just yet, so she just fights down the urge to squirm instead.

Her bow is slung over her back, but she has half a mind to draw it -- you know, just in case.]

[bearish]

[To this, Elinor allows her steed to trot along her daughter's seemingly excited pace.]

We should hope that there are none here who would see this as an act of aggression. Or something dire, perhaps.

[righttobeararms]

Maybe...

[She slings the bow off her back and rests it in her lap.]

But I won't be worried if they do!

[bearish]

[Elinor watches this, a bit impressed with the fact that her daughter is able to ride without a hitch, all while handling her bow and arrow. That showed skill, she knew this much!

Though, she couldn't help but look past that equally impressive optimism.]

Really now? Am I to believe that you are ready to take on an entire castle's guard with merely a sling of arrows?

[She's smiling when she says it, allowing a lighter tone rather a berating one.]

[righttobeararms]

Aye.

[...yup, this is your daughter, Elinor. But her deadpan expression quickly collapses into a coy little grin of jest.

She knocks an arrow anyway. She just wants to shoot something, honestly. Merida had gone almost all day without letting loose an arrow.]

I APOLOGIZE IF SLOW...

[campaigns]

[Outside on the front steps of the castle, the pair of royal ladies might spot a man in a nice suit standing with his full attention on his PDA. For someone who had stepped outside for a bit of fresh air, he certainly seems more interested in the small device he's holding than taking in the view.

He only looks up for a brief moment when a bit of fire-red hair catches his eyes, but then he's glancing back down again. HE SURE SEEMS FRIENDLY!]

rude get out

[righttobeararms]

[Merida squints when she spots him moving and is quick to lean over the side of Angus to wave in order to get her mother's attention without saying anything. Huntress' instinct and all.

She still has her arrow knocked, so she pulls it in preparation to fire, but keeps it pointed toward the ground. Even if she'd been taught diplomacy, she'd prefer to let her mother handle it for now.

But if he didn't respond well, then he'd get an answer of his own. Swiftly.]

[bearish]

If anything, I am pleased with the fact that your ambition has yet to falter. [She keeps a chuckle from escaping from beneath her breath, and looks to the castle before them, becoming more and more impressed with its size.

This is definitely no castle she's ever seen or heard of.]

Though I would suggest that you allow caution to accompany it.

gosh just gosh

[bearish]

[Elinor quickly finds herself at Merida's back, only a few feet behind her as she catches sight of this other before the two of them. She cannot help but squint herself, scrutinizing this man's appearance. If he were a guard, he would be a terrible one. Simple cloth for his garments, and such a strange pattern!

She'll allow a diplomatic tone for him, however-- but not before giving her armed daughter a look.]

Pardon me. We've a inquiry for you, sir. Would you care to oblige our curiosities?

In this tag: I write forever and Catelyn says nothing....

[wintercat]

[It was strange- when Cat had first arrived here it was winter and she thought of Winterfell. But now that spring is beginning to fade into summer, she's increasingly reminded of Riverrun and her youth in the South.

So she was taking advantage of an increasingly rare commodity in her life: a moment of quiet. She's just strolling the grounds with no particular aim in mind when she notes the pair on horseback. She's far from familiar with everyone in the castle, however, so she's not entirely certain whether they are they arrivals.

She offers a nod of greeting, but little else for the moment.]

what is happen

[campaigns]

[He's mid-typing when the lady speaks, and he looks up--Oh. Are they going to a Rennaissance faire? Talk about scrutinizing appearances. Of course he's seen some odd dress codes around here, but each time he sees it, it's still so strange to him.

He opens his mouth to speak when he catches sight of the younger lady's bow and arrow. Because that looks so reassuring. He answers because he doesn't like where the alternative will get him.]

Why not. What can I do for you?

lolcat

[bearish]

[Finally! There was someone here who actually looked as if they belonged as part of this strange castle-- nobility, perhaps? Elinor looks over this woman briefly before straightening her own posture and addressing her with a regal tone.]

Might I ask if you are a part of the nobility that resides within these castle walls?

[righttobeararms]

[She puffs out her chest proudly and tosses her hair out of her eyes, grinning as she turns her eyes back to the castle.

She sounds a little exasperated when she speaks, but she's still smiling.]

Yes mum.

you is happen

[righttobeararms]

[See, she knew the bow was a good idea. When he rests his eyes on her bow, she can't help but give a challenging little smirk. Yeah that's right, she has a weapon. Say something about it. She dares you.

What was that mom were you trying to tell her to stop, she's too busy being a badass and scaring the weirdly dressed skinny dude in front of her.]

[righttobeararms]

[With this woman, Merida feels no need to ready her bow. She doesn't enjoy having Angus between her mother and this other woman, as it makes her feel a bit small in comparison. She's perfectly silent, bow still in her lap, glancing up to Cat in a somewhat guarded fashion.]

[bearish]

[She'll take a moment to sigh at her daughter's initiative, but holds back any form of critique in regards to her approach in favor of obtaining a swift answer from this man.]

I know much about the lands around my own castle, though I regret to say that this one is not immediately familiar to me. What can you tell us of its current use?

[bearish]

[She takes in the sight for but a moment longer, turning to ask her daughter a question.]

Though I must ask-- Merida, you've traveled outward under our noses for quite some time, haven't you? Have you come across any other castle whose size rivals even our own?

[You know, ones that aren't from stories she's told you.]

[righttobeararms]

[Un...sure if her mother is having a go at her for running off all those times. She looks around shiftily for a moment, starting an awkward shrug (without looking at Elinor) before focusing more keenly on the castle. Well, if she's already aware, she may as well give a proper answer.]

...no. Not at all.

[wintercat]

[She shakes her head a bit. This is going to be difficult to explain, she can tell already. Oh, she's nobility, certainly, and she does reside here. But these walls are a far cry from those of her home.]

I am a guest of sorts. [An unwilling one, but there's no point in frightening them off by using the word "prisoner" just yet.] You have just arrived? [She hasn't seen anyone show up on horseback before, but she doesn't doubt it's possible.]

[bearish]

A visit? To whom? [She considers this briefly and, quite frankly, it unnerves her. A house of nobles visiting a seemingly unknown keep, in the lands she swore to know like the back of her hand so that she may be the ideal queen to her kingdom?

This was not good. but she would continue, keeping her composure.] We have, though with no direct intention. If I knew we were to trespass on another's land, I would have sent out the correct word so that it would reach the lord and lady's ears first.

[bearish]

[Gosh, daughter. It's not like she can't guess what it is you do with your spare time in between lessons! All that daydreaming and storytelling at the dinner table-- some days she actually did listen, you know!

In any case, she's going quiet. For a moment.]

I am beginning to fear that we may have miscalculated the directions in which we have traveled.

[campaigns]

[There's a moment's pause where he's trying to process the question before he says anything. She wants to know about the castle. This one. He sort of turns to glance back at it. Is she not from around--

Oh. This is a new person, isn't it? No, these meetings are awkward and he's done his best not to be a part of them because he remembers his own was awkward.]

This is Paradisa castle. It's likely a very long way from where you came from.

[...Another glance at that bow because holy hell is that distracting.]

[righttobeararms]

[Merida is basking in this, please stop. She takes a moment to pluck her pinky through her bowstring so it gives a distracting little "twang".]

And you know where we came from, do you?

[--oh wait she's not supposed to speak out of turn, fuck. She instantly gets a bit sheepish and relaxes the pull on her string, knowing she'll feel the sting of mother's judging eyes in a few short moments.]

[righttobeararms]

[Merida's eyes widen slightly as she draws a similar conclusion. She had been certain they were nowhere near home. Not even the forests looked familiar. But to hear it from her mother...well, it seemed so much more final.

Forget meeting with the nobility. How would they find their way back?]

[campaigns]

[Isn't she so grown up with her big mouth and her toy bow. He turns to regard her now, since she thinks she's so bold.]

No, I don't. But if I had to venture a guess, based upon that thick accent of yours, I'd say somewhere in Scotland.

[He'll now address the proper lady. She's nicer.]

However, I do know that there isn't another inhabited castle around here. This is the only one.