Dinner - (Anna & Enda)

Anna watched curiously as Enda ran a hand through his hair, trying to determine his emotion behind it. "Ye are nae missin' much. I do nae like how it feels," she grimaced, remembering. Then he threatened to roughen up anyone if they had harmed her and it brought her fierce grin to the surface. A chuckle escaped her lips, touched that he would offer, and she knew that even though he could not see, he could take on anyone. "Thanks Enda, that is sweet of ye. Though I am alright, nothin' I can nae handle, just a few bruises."  She did not realize how serious he might be about it. Which is odd, because the last time he had been hurt she had gone completely crazy and beaten the crap out of the page that had knocked Enda into the rocks that caused his blindness. Which she had been soundly punished for.

Anna could not keep the smile off of her face at Enda's thankful expression. It had not cost her anything at all to lead him to the chair and act as though he had been leading her. It had actually helped her to relax a little. Enda reminded her to be thankful for what she did have, the little things, though he might not realize that he did that for her.  Anna would settle her gaze upon the waitress and orders the special: Chicken and potatoes.  "I will also have water," she requested, as she was not in the mood for alcohol. Once the waitress left, Anna would sigh softly.  "At this rate, Enda, I think I might not come back from leave. At this rate, there will nae be anythin' to come back to," she complained grumpily, thinking the king was a complete idiot and not worth his weight in anything. "Goin' t' be difficult t' fight against yer brothers," she would say softly with a shake of her head. She loved a good fight, for sure, but the against other Irish? It just did not seem right.

Anna really had not changed much in appearance since Enda had last seen her, except for the teardrop tattoo beneath her eye. She was really comfortable with Enda, and that was why she was as physical with him as she was. If he ever asked, she would be inclined to let him touch her face, but he probably would not ask and she would not even think of it as she, like most people, took her vision for granted. Though perhaps she was somewhat more aware of it, being that she was friends with Enda, but that did not mean that she knew what it was like or that she could even imagine what that would feel like.  She could not help the smile that teased at her lips when he agreed with her. "Ye should always agree with me, it is better that way," she said with a soft chuckle.

Anna smirked and teased, "I order it 'cause I know ye like it jus' as much as I do, an' you tend to copy me. Ha, I do nae know who ye think yer talkin' to, but I rarely go out, unless I am draggin' you somewhere or keepin' m' eye on one of yer knights." She implied they were his knights when they were giving her grief and she had to babysit them.  She would tilt her head slightly when he made the offer of running off with her. She very much doubted that, he was born to be the Commander and did a much better job than his father, in her mind.  "Ach, Enda, please. Yer the best Commander the West has ever seen," she said a bit heatedly. She did not like to see him look unhappy. She blinked, staring at him. "I would nae be able to tolerate ye bein' disappointed in me," she would murmer softly, feeling the truth behind her words. Though one of her fierce grins teased at her lips, "As much as I would like to see ye beg, I will nae do that to ye." Then she felt his hand take one of hers, and the briefest look of surprise trailed over her features before she hid the expression.  Not that he could see it or anything, but she was used to hiding her expressions on a daily basis, and he usually could tell a lot with her anyways, since they had known each other so long. Awkwardly she brushed her thumb against the skin of his hand.  

Anna would sigh again, "Where you lead, I follow. Someone has to whip your knights into shape." She tried to keep her tone light, though wasn't sure if she was successful on that count. Particularly since she'd brush her fingers against his hand, as though trying to reassure him. "I am not the type to back down from a fight; more the type to run in without thought." She chuckled at herself, "That is why you lead."

Indeed, it was sad that they were not having that conversation, though perhaps one day they might. One never can tell. Anna would chuckle as well, amusement within her gaze, and her tone. "We could ne'er have a boring friendship," she immediately disagreed. "Though it is probably best that ye do nae agree with me all the time. Someone has to keep me grounded," she said again with a soft chuckle. She basically admitted that she could have a temper and that she did not always think things through, while Enda seemed to balance her in that regard. That was one of the reasons their working relationship worked so well, as well as their friendship.

Anna would roll her eyes, "Nae, I mean your Knights." She had witnessed first hand how the knights would respond to Enda over their King, and she felt much the same way. She was honor bound to defend their King, but her loyalty was to Enda. Luckily no one seemed to have noticed, and perhaps because she always did what was asked of her as she never backed down from anything. Then she grinned again, "Yer secret is safe with me," she said in a teasing tone.  She knew that Enda was not trying to be King, but it just went to show how good of a leader he was that honor bound knights would turn to their Commander over their King.  She felt a strong sense of pride that he had that effect.

When Enda teased her about being just like one of his Knights she would smile, and it was a softer smile than her usual fierce grin. "Aye," she admitted, "just like yer knights, but better." She quickly glanced around to see whom might be nearby. Once satisfied that she could say what she wanted without repercussions, she would let the pregnant pause hang in the air and then say, "I am yer Captain."

Anna noted that he seemed to blink in surprise at her, though she was not sure why. Was it because she brushed her thumb against his fingers? Should she have not done that? He was the only person that she did not mind getting physically close to. She faintly remembered that she might have hugged Aodh while drunk as he was also becoming a good friend, but she had not touched Aodh's hand like she did Enda's, and not while sober. It was completely different. A true affectionate gesture. Then he smirked and distracted her from her train of thought.

Anna would let a soft laugh escape. "I am glad that memories of m' hot headedness are good ones for you. Especially as I have nae changed all that much. I am surprised I have nae given you any gray hairs, Enda."  She noticed that he dropped her hand and winced at nearly the same time, and then her face lined with concern. Though shortly after that is when the waitress showed up. Anna pursed her lips, then murmered her thanks to the waitress as well before starting to eat. She would wait until the waitress had left before very softly inquiring, "Something wrong?"

Anna would smile as it made her feel really good that he relied on her to be his eyes. If anyone was stupid enough to complain about Enda's lack of eyesight, she would have taken it upon herself to beat them senseless. Not that she has had to do that, but she would. "Aye, we make a good team," she would murmer before taking a bite.

For some strange reason, a faint blush would creep into her cheeks at his words. "Ach, no, never tamed. I prefer to run wild an' free." It was like Enda could see her, without being able to see, and he respected her as she was. Softly, "I do, but.. our secret, okay?" She really did not need Risteard knowing this, because she would most definitely lose her position, even though she had done things for that King that she wished she hadn't. There was too much blood on her hands.

Anna would lean forward, careful to not bump into her food, and reach a hand to touch Enda's cheek and jaw. She let herself be distracted by his question. She was careful to do so after he took his bite of food and finished eating it. She wanted to make sure that he did not have any food near his face, as he could not anticipate her actions. "Hmm," she would say thoughtfully, and if he let her, she would move his face slightly as if checking for gray hairs. "Yer hair is as dark as a starless night, Enda. Not a gray in sight," she said with a smile, amusement within her eyes. She brushed her fingertips against his face, "Looks good," she said with a nod that time, and then let her fingers drop.

Then he confessed what he was thinking about, about what his last vision had been. That she was one of the last things he remembered seeing. She had sworn that she was never going to cry again, not after all the death she had been forced to take part of, not after having lost her adoptive family completely and being left alone in the world. But her eyes filled up with unshed tears just the same. Softly, "That was a bad day, I am sorry. I just.. you were hurt and I lost it. I did nae even think about it, I just reacted. I was seein' red. You were m' first friend an' ye din't care that I was a girl tryin' to be a Page."  She blinks back the tears,  not telling him that she had been punished for trying to beat the other kid unconscious.  "I wish ye had a prettier last sight," she confesses.