Knight Games Extended Cut - Connall, Esras, & Ciar

Esras blinked when the woman didn’t answer her question, but instead asked one of her own. He couldn’t help but grin, though, when he realized what she was asking, “Why, of course,” he would say, reaching out to offer her help up when a large man came barreling into the arena and towards the woman, forcing him to take a step or two back. He listened incredulously as he called the woman Ciar and went on to berate her over joining in on the melee, and stating that it was dangerous because she didn’t have any training. He would blink and glance between the two before laughter bubbled out from between his lips, “Excuse my intrusion, but I think that she has had some sort of training,” he would say, still rather amused, “She took out that rather large English man without much effort,” he would continue, sticking up for the woman. He didn’t know why he was sticking up for her, but he felt almost like she would need the help. “Honestly, if I trained her for a bit like she requested, I don’t think that she would fare too badly as a knight. You might even want to do the honors, King Connall,” he would say with a laugh, shaking his head in amazement. This certainly was a rather interesting situation.

He cast the northerner a glare that clearly said "shut up" without him actually having to say the words. When Ciar said she hadn't known it until Cori he nodded and kept his arms wrapped around her for a bit longer. While she might not be his blood, he was so attached to her that he didn't know what he would do if she died. He'd already lost his parents and that had been bad enough. Lorcan could attest to the depression that he'd slipped into when the O'Braddagh's had passed away, for he had barely even talked to his "brother" until the second war came. He listened to what Ciar had to say and a sigh slipped from his lips. "CiCi. I can't tell you not to do anything, but what I can say is that I need you to stay alive, and so does Lorcan. I don't know if you're fully aware of the devastation that it would cause both of us if something happened to you," he said in a strained tone. "You are the sister that my parents didn't birth. And I will stand by you when you ask Lorcan about this, but I will not speak for you unless I find that he is being unreasonable. We both know that this is something that you need to talk to him about," he added sternly. Then he turned to the northerner and nodded to him ever so slightly. "If Lorcan agrees to her training, I would be much obliged if you would help out. I know she's not going to want either myself or Lorcan to be a part of it."

Ciar watched Connall's face, as he seemed rather torn in this decision. Then she tilted her head slightly as she listened to what he had to say. Softly, "I think I know, I have seen how losing someone changes a person."  In this, she was refering to Lorcan losing Seara, and how they had all lost Connall's parents.  "Your parents are the only ones I have ever known, and I do not care what anyone says, you're just as much my brother as Lorcan is. Being left behind is almost the same, because you never know if you will see the ones you love again, and in one piece."  She was quiet as Connall addressed the Northerner, and then she squealed in delight. Connall had agreed so she was halfway there! Now she would just have to convince Lorcan. She dropped her sword to the ground and jumped onto Connall, much like a spidermonkey jacked up on mountain dew. Connall was taller than her by over a foot, so it made her jump and hug possible, as she used to climb trees back when she was younger and it was nearly the same thing. "Thank you Connall! You'll be proud of me, you'll see." She would hug him tightly before getting back down onto her feet. Granted, it wasn't the most lady-like of gestures, but it was heartfelt. She was also dressed like a Squire, so it shouldn't embarrass anyone too much.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to Lorcan," she would positively beam a smile at Esras, though she was a little nervous about it. "Honestly though? It was my fault for being distracted," she didn't want Esras to take the complete blame for the situation they were in. Then Esras gave her one of his charming smiles and she blinked, not used to any man offering her a kilowatt smile. Most of them were too afraid to, because of the brothers she had.  Then after a second, she realized what he said and her eyes widened. "The North?" she asked, "I've never been there."  In fact, this was her first time out of the Eastern Kingdom. For that reason she darted a hesitant glance to Connall, unsure that her brothers would let her go. Just as her dreams of training to become a knight were just within her grasp, she just as easily could see them slip away. That didn't stop her from asking Esras her next question, as she was still really hopeful about the whole thing, "Really?" she asked excitedly, "Light enough that I can wear it and still move about?" After a moment, she shook her head, "I am sorry, I think I forgot my manners. You already know of my brothers, but I am Ciar MacAteer." She then offered her hand to Esras, though she didn't know the Northerner's name.

Esras sighed softly when they seemed reluctant about him taking her North to train, wondering if it would happen. Honestly, he kind of just wanted to go home, though he wouldn't be a baby about it. If she couldn't go North then he'd go East; he didn't want to go back on his word. Though when she began asking about armor he'd grin and nod, "Definitely. She made my sword," he'd say, moving to grab it from where he'd dropped it out of shock, "She did some pretty great work on it," he'd say, handing the sword to Ciar so that she could look at it. He couldn't help but laugh when she apologized, reaching out to shake her hand, "Esras Kavanagh," he'd say, introducing himself. When Conn spoke to him he'd blink, though when he was finished he'd smile lightly at the man, "If she goes North I would guard her with my life. I wouldn't take an individual out of their home and put them in danger when they trusted me to keep them safe," he would assure the man, understanding that the woman's 'brother' needed that assurance.