Lasting Decisions [Lion]

[CalamityMei]

Oh boy, the look on his face and in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. He wasn't falling for a thing, she tried to make herself intimidating, thinking rationally of an excuse, something, anything!

"I am Lady Rose Dewitt, you will do as I say or I will inform my father of your neglect towards escorting me!" She was indeed frozen in silence by her own voice, authoritative and powerful, something she hated; she sounded like her father. Her stance relaxed and she looked on apologetically.

"Ah, uh, Christer, what I mean is, I will go back to my fathers residence, I just really want to look at Uthlyn, I have never been before. It'll be just a small glance then we can head back." She offered a reassuring smile, trying to brush the hay from her hair.

[Lion]

He couldn't have been more confused, caught between self-taught obedience to his superior and knowing she was much more wily than he gave her credit for.  How could he trust her?  How could he know that what she said was true and not simply more lies?  Christer didn't like the thought of 'not-knowing' and all the uncertainty that came with it.

"How do I know you just won't run off again, once we get to Uthlyn, if we actually get there?" he said, trying to hold tight to his cards.  "Is your father's estate really so bad?  What is the matter with you?"

[CalamityMei]

"I'll stay beside you, I can't exactly run off then can I?" She was determined to hold her own, and if need be she'd find some way to keep running, but she'd come to that when the time arose. She played with a stray strand of hair as he asked the next question, something stirring inside of her.

"Christer....I'll explain everything once we get to Uthlyn." She was trying to give him more added incentives and her gentle side took a-hold as she did in fact feel sorry for him, sorry for dragging him along and leading him away from the Dewitt estate. Both of them were battered and bruised, dressed in muddied garbs and she wanted nothing more than a refreshing bath.

"Are yah gettin' on or not?" The middle aged man said with impatience, scowling at the two of them so that his brow was heavily furrowed.

[Lion]

"Is it because you are to be married today?" he asked bluntly, crossing his arms over his chest and not letting her slip by this time.  Maybe some other fool would fall for it, but not him.  "Tell me the truth.  I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you, until you tell me why you won't back home."

[CalamityMei]

She slowly felt herself breaking, and the hardness in her eyes lessened as she looked on in defeat. "You don't understand." She looked down at the ground now, hands balled into fists at her side as she thought of the arranged marriage, her to be husband, her father and mother, everyone was oblivious to the very fact the person she'd have to marry was no more than a lecherous and violent man.

"I would rather die than marry that man." She shook every so slightly now, the thoughts of the last few years threatening to overwhelm her as she couldn't believe the predicament she was in.

[Lion]

It was hard to stay angry, he had to admit.  Though he was clearly irritated, certainly, Christer could only keep his arms crossed over his chest for so long before he relaxed and peered back at the way they came.  "So that's what is with all this running?" he murmured and made a tch! sound.  "I suppose if I were in your shoes, I'd probably come to the same conclusion.  But...but don't you think things are the way they are because that's how it ought to be?  Couldn't you just swallow that stubborn pride of yours and do your duty?  Oh God.  What am I saying, here I am having an argument with the daughter of my liege?  Who am I to question your motives?"

His expression grew sour and he shook his head, crossing his arms once more.  "So what do you intend then?  Keep running until your legs give out?"

[CalamityMei]

She had to admit, she was quite shocked to hear truly what Christer thought. Usually he had nothing more to say than 'Mi'lady' and other formal forms of speech. To hear him say she had a stubborn pride, she didn't know if she should laugh or be offended.

"If that's what it takes." She stood straight now, strong and radiant. She was determined by this point, she had come too far to turn back now, but Christer still had a chance to redeem himself, to stay on her fathers side.

"Turn back now, pretend you never saw me. I can continue on my own just fine." She put on a strong front, but secretly she was terrified inside. She had no idea what lied out there, whether there was people who would capture her for ransom, or help her along the way. She was scared of the unknown.

[Lion]

Now this was a dilemma if ever there was one.  Christer suddenly gave her a choking look and he bit down on his tongue for the longest second of his life.  He couldn't be party to this, he just couldn't!  It went against everything he believed in, stood for.  He should just return right now to the Dewitte estate and let this be the end of it.  But what would happen upon his return?  Would her father consider him some kind of conspirator, having returned without his daughter in hand?  Would hebe punished for her own flight of fancy?

Christer shook his head internally, no it couldn't be helped.  He couldn't be apart of this no matter the consequences he thought of.  "Go on then," he said, bowing formally.  "I never saw you."  He hardened his eyes into a proper glare before about facing and marching the way opposite her.

[Don't worry he won't be gone for long.]

[CalamityMei]

She watched his form steadily walk away, her eyes turned back to the road ahead of her, the sun in the distance. The middle-aged man had watched the whole fiasco and was surprisingly silent, he gestured for her to hurry and get back on to which Rose obeyed.

She counted her blessings, thanking Christer in her thoughts as the cart began to move once again. The village felt like it was moving away ever so slowly and so was her noble life. When she reached Uthlyn she knew she'd have to change her ways to blend in, but first on her list was a change of garbs.

[Lion]

"Wait!  WAAAAIIIIT!" 

The cry came from down the road behind them as the wagon churled along, squeaking quietly and the mule honking in displeasure.  And just on the horizon, around the bend, came Christer running full speed as he tried to catch up with them.  "Stop the wagon!  Lady Rose!" he shouted, nearly out of breath.

[CalamityMei]

The cry knocked her out of her reverie as she saw a small figure running in the distance, progressively getting closer. She immediately leapt off the wagon, regretting doing so as her ankle ached in pain as she made her way forward slightly.

"Christer! What on earth-!?" She looked at him as he caught up confusion in her eyes as she watched the bodyguard reach her. She didn't know why he was coming back, but with a small hint of a smile, she was glad to see him again.

[Lion]

Christer needed a long moment to catch his breath as  he finally reached them.  "Lady Rose!" he panted.  "I can't let you do this.  It's much too dangerous.  As a Knight and bodyguard in your father's service, it is undutiful of me to allow you to venture willingly into danger without an armsman at your back.  Allow me to stay with you for the duration of your venture.  In fact, there is no option for it, I will accompany you to Uthlyn."

[CalamityMei]

She admired his loyalty, although he was still doing it in her 'fathers service', she had to appreciate that he came back to escort her. She gave him a small smile, before gesturing to get back on the cart, the hay less of a nuisance now and more like a pillow. "Thank you Christer, I promise to be as little trouble as possible."

Although what she said would have a whole other meaning once they reached Uthlyn, little did they know her father and his men weren't so far behind.

[Lion]

"Well, then that's settled.  Good," Christer nodded to her and boarded the hay bales in the back of the cart.  The drive was chewing on a stem of hay when he glared at the back before slapping the reins and sending the horses off on their set path.

"So, why Uthlyn?"  Christer found himself asking.  "I mean, there are lots of cities in all the provinces.  Why are you headed there for?  Is it just because you want a new dress?"

[CalamityMei]

She relaxed now, laying back into the hay bales, watching the scenery in front of her, the village having almost vanished from sight.

"Would you believe me if I told you I have never been outside of Reajh?" She looked slightly ashamed her father used to say she was an embarrassment to bring elsewhere, if she was required she wouldn't speak. "I only attended parties at other residences in other provinces, I never actually explored." The word 'explored' struck the little adventurer in her, her eyes lighting up at the thought she'd actually get to see Uthlyn.

"I've also heard it's a place with its own take on beauty. I'm very curious you see." She was nonchalantly opening up, usually she would say nothing more than formalities but couldn't help herself. She felt freedom edging ever closer, and the thought that she was now growing to be a free spirit, it excited her.

[Lion]

Christer watched her for a moment, witnessing that odd glow to her eye, like they were glazed over, or she was momentarily dazed because something particularly hard had hit her in the head.  He was closer to vouching for the latter until she finished her point and he found himself giving a small smile.  "I think that's entirely understandable.  I only ventured outside Reajh itself during my knight training.  Things were different then.  I didn't see any reason anyone would want to leave the city.  It's so idyllic there.  Well...in most of it, anyway," he commented.

"There is also the matter of your title, Lady Rose," Christer said.  "If you are still dead set on this journey, which by your apparent expression, you are, then what shall I call you?  And please do not say 'Rose.'  That I cannot do.  I'm afraid there are some exceptions that cannot be made.  Yet, I feel I can safely assume that you do not wish to be addressed like the noblewoman that you are.  So what shall I call you then, that is if you have an inkling of an idea?"

[CalamityMei]

She listened to him speak, everything from Reajh to her new alias. She brought a finger to her pursed lips, racking her brain for some sort of name. Then she remembered, one of her chamber maids had a very pretty name, something Rose even had complimented her on.

"Deanna." She said it without thinking, the name slipping from her lips in momentary thought. "It was the name of one of my chamber maids." She nodded in remembrance, hoping her maids weren't receiving any form of punishment in her stead. The sun was glowing in the sky now, beams of light cascading over the dried mud on her dress and it just reminded her how much she wanted to bathe and have a new set of garbs.

"Once we reach Uthlyn, I must bathe." She picked at the mud on her clothing to emphasise her statement. The cart drew closer and closer to their destination.

[Lion]

"I agree," Christer concurred, looking over her muddied state with a deep-set frown and noticing a strange smell coming from her direction.  "Miss Deanna then.  I do not think I can address you without a title.  And I will be your...muscle, I suppose that is the word."

The ride would be a long one, one of many days and long nights when at last they reached the soft morning lights of Uthlyn.  The ride they had received from the village only took them so far.  Christer paid the man for his time, with what little money he had on his person, and they went the rest of the way via caravan, making good time, reaching the city by the end of the week.

"Uthlyn," he sighed at last, passing through the city gates.  "Now, you can finally have that bath!"

[CalamityMei]

She looked on at the bustling surroundings, it appeared to be a market day, people selling all sorts of intricacies. She just stared then, despite the similarities to Reajh, it was still so different, the people were rushing everywhere, carrying wicker baskets full of goods.

"Wow..." Was all that could escape her mouth as she began to step on foreign ground, the heat from the sun warmed her skin and her eyes were fixated on everything that moved, not knowing where to look next. She had a massive smile on her face before she snapped back to Christer, realizing the intentions in which they were here.

"So...where do we go for a bath?" She was completely new to all of this, her explorations only just beginning as she looked around for someone to ask.

[Lion]

In truth Christer was equally fascinated with Uthlyn as Rose was.  He'd never been to the city before, and it was famous as a center of learning and culture.  And it was more glorious than Reajh in many respects, though perhaps not as old.  Because of it's apparent youth and energy, it made only more exciting. 

He was beaming, completely taken with the city and barely registered Rose when she spoke to him.  He blinked.  "Huh?  Oh...Um, Miss Deanna.  Well, it seems we could find an inn of sorts.  Though I'm not sure I have much money left for a city like this.  Perhaps we can find a public bath to take care of our grime," he suggested and hailed a man passing them in the street.

They were directed to one not far from there, several blocks down from the entrance and Christer blushed at the realization that they'd both have to be naked.  Again.  Certainly there'd be covers, or separations, or some kind of privacy.

Or not.

Christer paid the tender at the counter, who each provided them with some linens, as they were led to a several sections of bathing pools, none of which had covers.  They were given one on the left and left to their own devices.