Douglas
Reyum Welles
High Bloom Palace, Erilla.

Reyum noticed how Demetrius tensed when Jesper was walking towards them. He wouldn't comment on it. It was probably for the best that he cared about The Head Knight's presence. It meant he knew how important reputation was, and he clearly didn't want his ruined. Reyum turned to face Jesper, after being in court for nine years Reyum was familiar with the man's face. He was a source of conversation often, being one of the youngest head knights in all of Marin. He was very curious about him, but he never got too close. 

He nodded his head in return to Jesper's greeting, "Jesper." He looked at the glass he was holding for a second then smirked because he seemed so uncomfortable holding it. He was always so loyal to the Queen, to see him as a part of the party was a little bit of a shock. Jesper and Demetrius sort of introduced themselves, but Reyum decided to fill in the gaps. There was something about knights and soldiers... They were all willing to die for each other, but in a social situation they were hopeless. 

"Demetrius is Verton's son," He confirmed for Jesper. "I would introduce Jesper, but of course he's the reason you've tensed your shoulders up to your earlobes." He laughed shortly, patting Demetrius on his shoulder. "All's well... Relax, it's a celebration."

_____________________
Queen Juliana
Evelyn Welles
High Bloom Palace, Erilla.

The Queen had taken her place at her table, her guests began to sit too, but dinner had not officially begun. She focused her attention on her newest members of court. All of them seemed to be doing quite well, but the Queen focused on one more than the others. Evelyn was dancing with a young man, all smiles and a bright pink flush to her cheeks. It wasn't her first dance of the evening, and she had made the rounds almost as well as the Queen herself. For her first function at High Bloom, she couldn't have done any better. 

"Evelyn Welles," A woman sitting beside the Queen told her. "Do you believe me to be ignorant of my own girls? Are you aware that you're at an *Introduction* Dinner?" The woman looked horrified, "No, Your Majesty. My apologies." Queen Juliana huffed then rolled her eyes, "What do you know of her?" The woman shook her head, "Nothing, Ma'am, besides her name. No one does." The Queen tapped the table with her perfectly buffed nails, "Do you find her very beautiful?" The woman nodded, "Yes, Ma'am. A perfect petal also very kind." The Queen's interest deflated immediately, "Well then." She brought her glass to her lips turning from Evelyn completely, "Splendid."
Michael
Jesper Kyr
High Bloom Palace, Erilla

"Relax, I'm not going to rip your throat out." Jesper sighed, shaking his head softly. "And, although it may be in poor taste, I'm sorry for your loss. Your father was a good man." It had hurt Jesper to know that the group he had sent to shadow the mercenaries had been killed, but he and they knew the risks of the job.

"So we don't dwell on such topics to much, I would like to know who thought it'd be a good idea to let you in, Reyum." Jesper joked, a small smile on his face. While he wasn't know for making to many jokes, only to those he considered close, it was a night to loosen up and make some impressions on others. Although with his status, it didn't matter what impressions he made personally, it would effect his families though.
Kathryn
Krujen Kf'ulir
Everstrong Forest

He let the horse skid to a stop and directed it off of the trail. He climbed off and picked Anna up, rummaging around in his packs. He pulled out a waterskin, brimming with water, and a pear. He also had some bread and some cheese. He made a sandwich and split the pear with a hunter's knife. "Hope you like it. We'll have a proper meal by sun down."
Douglas
Annalise Elaine. 
Everstrong Forest. 

Annalise gently took the food and begin chomping it hungrily. She wasn't made for tedious travel and it showed, for her parents had been to poor. As she swallowed, she looked up at him. "We'll be at your home?" A grin plastered onto her face as she imagined what his home would be like. Inns were unheard of in her household because her dad would never travel long enough to need one. The family was close knit and couldn't stand being apart for a certain period of time. Now, they would never see each other again. Annalise finished the bread and cheese with a tiny burp and sipped on the water. "Thank you." Her voice was shy and low. But she did enjoy what he'd given her. She handed him the waterskin, which still had water, and hugged him tightly. He was slowly becoming her best friend. And she liked that.
Kathryn
Krujen Kf'ulir
Everstrong Forest

"My home is a bit more up north, It will be close to Erilla. Just a bit past it, actually. The Inn is just a place we'll be staying at for at least two nights so you can rest up a bit, you're not used to this type of travel." He ate in silence, before handing one half of the pear to Anna, and the other half was munched down by him. They would stay a while— Did he hear a river? He stood up and led Snowflake along the grass and gave a happy whoot, the river was roaring with life and Snowflake was already sipping from it.

He filled his waterskin back up before sitting down and dipping his feet in the water... He was barefoot for the entire journey? Harsh sunlight left his feet reddish and hot, so yes.
Douglas
Annalise Elaine. 
Everstrong Forest.

Annalise mindlessly followed him to a river and she happily munched on the pear given to her. Everything Krujen did, she appreciated it. Slowly, she walked down to the river and lifted her dress above her feet. Timidly, she put on foot in and got her small sandal soaking wet. She had picked up a pair of shoes on their way out of her home. "Why don't you wear shoes? Your feet could get cut up?" She turned to him and walked to Snowflake. She allowed snowflake to eat the center of the pear and kissed the horse's face. Now that they had left her place of trauma, she seemed to be more relaxed. Maybe one could say cheerful. Her arms were still sore from her scrapes and her hair was now wild and unruly. "At an inn, are people nice? Will we make more friends?" She giggled at the thought, though she would be more than happy with just Krujen and Snowflake.
Kathryn
Krujen Kf'ulir
Everstrong Forest

"I don't have any shoes. I don't bother to buy any." He chuckled at how she handled Snowflake, he gave a smile. "Most people just leave you be, but sometimes inns can be dangerous, but we're not going to a dangerous inn. We're going to the Old Chestnut, an old friend of mine owns the place, and most that come are a hearty bunch." His grin was reassuring, he picked some smooth rocks from the waterbed. The rock he held out was a soft purple and smooth, he sets it in Anna's hands. "Keep it, I think it's pretty."
Douglas
Annalise Elaine. 
Everstrong Forest. 

Annalise stared at the Rock for a moment and found a slow smile spreading across her cheeks as she ran her thumbs over it. "It looks beautiful." She muttered and ran back into the river, allowing the bottom of her dress to dampen. "I'll find you one!" She grinned and bent down before picking up a grey one and running back to him. She innocently handed it to him with a wide grin, proud of her finds. Giggling, she walked to her bags and placed the purple rock into the bag with her personal belongings. "And your friends aren't mean?" She asked softly. Mean people didn't give Annalise good vibes. She felt as though something was deeply disturbing with most mean people. It could be her personal fear of being hanged like her mother and father, or just an irrational fear.
Kathryn
Krujen Kf'ulir
Everstrong Forest

"Very pretty!" He smiled, before putting it in his pocket. "My friends aren't mean, just a bit loud and quite trustworthy." He smiled, before stretching. "Do you want to continue on, or rest a little bit longer?" He's tucking the rest of the food back in their respective bags, before making sure everything is secure on Snowflake, he fed his steed an apple before petting him.
Douglas
Annalise Elaine.
Everstrong Forest. 

Annalise thought for a moment, not wanting to slow Krujen down, because it could possibly irritate him. Thinking for a short moment, she bobbed her head up and down. "I think we should continue." Annalise began making sure she had everything. All of her toys, except for Mr.Fluffles and Queenie, were in her bag and her bag was on the horse.. Safe. Queenie and Mr.Fluffles were on the back of the horse still, where she had been sitting. Annalise innocently took off her wet shoes and placed them on the back of her horse. She didn't want to get sick. "Do inns have baths?" It was obvious by now that she had never stayed the night anywhere besides her home. Happiness filled her with the knowledge she was receiving from Krujen. No one had ever bothered to tell her stories of the outside world and now she was more than ready to begin exploring it.
Kathryn
Krujen Kf'ulir
Everstrong Forest

Krujen picked Anna up and set her on the horse, before climbing on as well. "I think Queenie and Mr. Fluffles are getting along quite well." He smiles, before snapping the reins and continuing in a brisk trot. Hooves clattering on gravel path, the sun was lowering... A small town in the distance. "Yes, there is baths too."
Douglas
Annalise Elaine.
Everstrong Forest. 

Annalise smiled brightly as Krujen hoisted her onto the horse and she looked at her toys lovingly  "I hope they become best friends like us!" She beamed and picked them both up before hugging them tightly. Snowflake neighed, almost like he was agreeing with the child. Annalise giggled and felt Krujen get onto the horse. With a happy smile, she looked forward and felt him lead the horse back to the trail. The two of them continued riding the horse to a small town. It seemed more peaceful than her last home. Dim lights lit the street as they arrived and fathers were walking home from work. Guards stumbled into and out of bars. Annalise whimpered as she grew more and more tired. Snowflake eventually trotted up to the inn and Annalise had no idea what to think. She gathered her toys and looked at Krujen nervously. The sounds of men howling with laughter filled the street causing her to grow rigid.
Kathryn
Krujen Kf'ulir
Everstrong Forest

He tied the horse to a post by the stables, he hoisted the bags onto his form and helped Anna down. 
**The Olde Chestnutt**
He took her hand and went through the doors, met with bright laughter and average and happy communion. He went up to the counter and was greeted by a burly man. "Joseph! Good to see you again!" *"Aye, ye comin' to stay fer a while?"* "Indeed, the northmost room, I'll pay you two nights in advance." *"Same as usual, kep' some of yer things there.. An' the kid?"* "She's with me." *The man gave a look before grinning. "Dinner gon' be serv'd in an hour, don' be late."* Krujen nodded and was handed keys. He led Anna upstairs and to the farthest room, out of sight and in good condition.
Douglas
Annalise Elaine. 
The Olde Chestnut. 

Annalise held her bag tightly as the burly man noticed her and nodded swiftly before shrinking behind Krujen's legs. As Krujen received his room assignment, Annalise held her bag on her back and her toys in her arms. She took a moment to look around the men. There was so much life and happiness in the room. Annalise followed Krujen out of the room and moved beside him. "Queenie says she wants us to be careful." Annalise muttered and followed him to the end of the hall. No other rooms were beside their's and it seemed like the safest. Probably on purpose. Annalise walked to a small bed by a dirtied window, allowing Krujen to have the one made for his size. Silently, she put her toys onto the bed and her mother's necklace around her neck. She then placed the journal underneath the pillow. She left the clothes in her bags and slid it underneath the bed. "Krujen, are you staying with me tonight?" Her voice came out vulnerable and it was more than obvious that she was scared of this unknown place.
Kathryn
Krujen Kf'ulir
The Olde Chestnut

"Yes, I refuse to leave you alone, might as well call me a fruit fly." He set all the bags down, before checking his little scrapbook. Paintings and different handwriting of each kind. He closes it and held it to his chest. Memories, of home, of where he grew up. Just a little further now, Ellira and just beyond that in Terresol, his home. He then kneeled down and brushed the hair from her face. "I must teach you how to survive on your own, if you want to travel this world."
Douglas
Annalise Elaine.
The Olde Chestnut. 

She gently hugged the man in front of her. "I'll learn." Her promise sounded serious, but she was merely a child and one could not determine the level of which a child would carry out a promise. Annalise let go and crawled onto her bed with the toys of which she smiled at. They were all expensive, and she only had five dolls. Mr.Fluffles seemed to go well with her collection. The sounds of guards galloping through the city streets could be heard as Annalise slipped under the covers. "Promise you won't let the guards take me? They're evil." She whispered. Mr.Fluffles lay on her right side and Queenie on her left. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked up at the dusty ceiling. It was becoming dark out and Annalise wasn't a fan of places being too dark. Silently, she rolled to the window and watched the people outside living their lives. Eventually sleep took the child.

Reyum Welles
High Bloom Palace, Erilla.

Reyum was silent when Jesper paid his respects to Demetrius' fallen father. He took his attention away from the both of them for second to locate Evelyn. She didn't seem to be making a fool of herself so he was satisfied. Hopefully before the next ball, she wouldn't need him coming to her rescue over absolutely nothing. 

He turned his attention back to Jesper and Demetrius when he heard his name. The rest of the sentence connected a few moments later. He scoffed, swallowing the wine he had in his mouth before he responded to Jesper's joke. "Your men are ridiculously easy to bribe, lack of training. It's embarrassing really," He swirled the wine around in his glass nonchalantly then smirked. 

"Well, Gentlemen, dinner is about to begin and neither of you are more appealing than that." He laughed then tapped Demetrius on the shoulder again, "Relax... Go meet your petals." He knew what he said about them earlier, but it was always going to be a joke with him because he took it so seriously. He didn't stay around to see his reaction to that, but it was bound to be pricelss. 

Reyum took his place at the far end of the Queen's table, and when the rest of her party filled in dinner was served. Araedian cuisine was full of variety. Freshly caught fish, wild game, spices, edible flowers, delicious wines and desserts. The ball continued well after dinner, but when the Queen was ready for bed there was one final dance to close the ball then the guests made their way to either their chambers in High Bloom or their carriages.