Well, as a matter of fact, Arisa hadn't *minded* the attention...After all, she *was* proud of her appearance - Even if she'd done her best to tone it down, to avoid talk. She knew, all too well, that she wasn't aging the way her husband did; The legendary Knight-Commander Markham had lived for two centuries, and was still apparently a vigorous man in his early forties...The last she'd seen him, more than two decades ago.<br/><br/>Of course, Arisa didn't aspire to anything like that...Though it'd pass comment that - When viewed in the right light - she'd look more like an older sister to her daughters, than their mother! She couldn't help but chuckle at the thought, a little blush to her cheeks...A chuckle that became a sigh, as she fastened her white apron around her slim waist.<br/><br/>She'd been thinking about the old days a *lot*, recently - And it wasn't just misty-eyed nostalgia. No, Arisa knew all too well about the rumors she'd been hearing...The strange noises in the woods, odd shapes and darker shadows - The last caravan that had passed through had been heavily armed, and they were more rare these days...Which was enough to trouble her. She'd tried to put her worries aside, but *still*...<br/><br/>-Not for the first time, her thoughts turned to the old sword and her older armor, still in its chest...Awaiting daily maintenance. The lovely blonde drew a deep breath, shaking her head as if to dispel her thoughts...Well, she wouldn't let herself think about that, for now. After all, she had her rounds to make, drunks to rouse, guests to serve. Normally, she'd get one of the girls to do it...But today, she'd do it herself!<br/><br/>The wooden floorboards creaked, as Arisa padded out of the storeroom - Closing the door firmly behind her. She'd set her blouse down in the tavern backroom (taking a quick detour) before ascending the steps to knock on doors and to ensure that everyone was decent before breakfast...And that no-one had snuck off in the night!<br/><br/>In the first rays of dawn, Arisa's worries seemed ephemeral - After all, she'd lived here for *years*. Always, there'd been rumblings of war in distant lands, this king or that king feuding, the occasional disaster thwarted by valiant adventurers...<br/><br/>-Still. Never this close to home.<br/><br/>Business had been relatively slow, recently - Another thing to concern her! Perhaps - If she had the chance - she'd ask one of the guests had things fared outside the town...And maybe, if she had the chance, she *would* wear that blouse after all. (Once Uther had been safely seen off, of course!)<br/><br/>Keeping busy, that was the key - Already, her dark thoughts were lifting.<br/><br/>"Lilliana~?" she'd call, as she passed the kitchen - Rapping lightly on the door with her knuckles. "-Is breakfast ready?"<br/><br/>Arisa's Temple served simple but hearty fare - But there was *always* the usual profusion of tasks she left to the girls...Making sure the ovens were fired up, the bread was fresh-baked, that the fruits were fresh and unbruised...The minutiae of running a tavern!