Palace Halls

Anna was dressed formally in her Captain's gear, though basically she looked like a really polished knight. Her blue eyes were like swirling storms in her face while her dark hair was tied back in an intricate braid that some lady-in-waiting had insisted she wear for one of the King's Audiences. With her hair pulled back, the single teardrop tattoo just under her left eye was visible, though it was dainty and did not detract from her pretty face. Some said she was too pretty to be the Captain of the Western King's Guard, but they soon enough learned of her ability with her weapons of choice. If she had to sit through another one of those bullshit meetings that did not accomplish anything, she just might have to skewer someone.  As it was, being the Captain, she delegated the rest of the task to another knight. 

Anna complained out loud, "That man is nothing more than a pompous ass so full of hot air it is a surprise he does not merely float way and good riddance," thinking no one was nearby to hear her. She was so irritated that she did not notice the nobleman and nearly ran into him face first, which is somewhat out of character for her.

Shit. Fuck. Damn. The swears played in her mind but luckily stayed off of her lips. Her father would have been proud of her in that moment; he wasn't fond of her swearing.  She had nearly run into a nobleman of some sort, by the looks of it, though he moved so quickly it made her head tilt slightly as if appraising him. Uncertainty was the only emotion visible within her stormy blue eyes. How to play this out? Would he say something to the hateful King? Or was he a trustworthy person just trying to look out for someone with friendly advice? He didn't seem like he would sell her out, since he was warning her against it, but still, she did not trust nobles as a general rule of thumb until they earned it, but she had an immediate like of this man that she could not place. She usually went with her gut instincts.  "Aye, if we be talkin' about the same man, the rumors be true, though I can nae prove it," she would murmer softly, letting her eyes dart about the halls before her whispered comment.  She straightened a bit, amusement upon her lips as she smiled the fierce smile of a fighter. "I do nae have a suicide wish, m'lord, but nor do I fancy those with empty heads, an' I do promise to be more careful with what I say in the future. Though, between you an' I?  I would almost like to see him try."  Her tone suggested that the man in question would lose against her.

Anna had quickly categorized Aodh as a noble of some sort, and while that seemed true, it seemed as though the man himself was full of many layers. His expression alone seemed to suggest it, and he had to possibly belong to the Western Kingdom, since he apparently knew whom she was, and she did not think that her reputation was so well known across all the kingdoms. She pursed her lips, thoughtfully, but she could not place the other man as he could place her. It made her feel bested, in a way, and it wasn't a feeling she enjoyed, though she was able to admit defeat gracefully. A smirk could not help but tease at her lips in response to his own. "Aye, m'lord, I do appreciate that, but that were only if it be a fair fight, an I am not empty headed enough myself to expect that," she said honestly. For saying she was going to be more careful with her words, she had just admited that she believed a certain person to not fight fairly. She winks at him, in a playful manner, "Though I bet you would pay a fair coin to see that fight, and done fair besides?" her tone was a bit teasing, as if she was joking with one of her own knights about any fight they'd like to see instead of some nobleman that she could or could not trust.  If he hadn't been a noble, she could almost see herself becoming friends with this man that carried pain like a second skin. It reminded her of her own recent loss, and why she felt so strongly about the King, but without having the proof to back it up.  She sighed softly, "I hate to admit it, but I feel as though ye have bested me. I do nae know who you might be, m'lord, and I thought I was familiar with all the lords and ladies of the Kingdom. 'Tis a pleasure to meet someone crafty enough to know who I am, but is kept a secret from me. If ye are nae a noble, I would offer to buy ye a drink."  Her tone was puzzled, as she couldn't quite figure him out, though she was enjoying their friendly banter. She wondered what else he might know about her. "Though if ye are, I doubt ye would take me up on tha' offer. Either way, t'would be my way of saying ye won this round, good sir." She let the offer hang in the air, for him to choose what to do about it. After the day she'd had, she could definitely use a drink, and the man had been interesting enough company so far.  Though she did not think she could become friends with a noble; she was of simple birth, after all, and that had three strikes against her. 

• She was a woman.
  
• She was adopted.
  
• Not only was she adopted, but she was adopted into a family without any nobility to its name and she had risen through the ranks to become the Captain of the Guard, defeating many men for the position and stomping on their egos in the process.

Then again, he might not be the sort to care about those things.

In that sense, Anna completely agreed with Aodh in regards to the King ever doing his own dirty work, though she did not say it out loud. She was convinced the older man did not even have the word 'fair' within his vocabulary. The only downside to her rank was that now she had to deal with the King, where as before she had not. Her blue eyes once again searching to see if the halls had ears, she would murmer, "So would I."  Whether she intended for the nobleman to hear or not is unclear, but she was again agreeing with him in that she would pay quite a bit to see the King have his ass handed to him.

Once he said that she was easily recognized to those whom have heard of her, she would tilt her head slightly, a curiousity burning within her gaze. A soft chuckle escapes her lips and a hint of amusement traces itself across her features.  "Do nae believe anythin' ye hear about me. Or maybe only half. Knights wear armor to protect their skins, but they have none to protect their bruised egos when a woman knocks them on their arse an' that is where most of my tall tales come from." She offered him another one of her fierce grins, still surprised that people really mentioned her at all, though she shouldn't be, because of her circumstances.  She just did not gossip like that, so she could not wrap her mind about it.

"I am sorry t' hear that," she paused briefly, "though m'lord, I can nae call you 'Nobody,' so I until I have a proper name to call ye by, ye are now m' new drinkin' buddy. Since tha' offer still stands."  She smirked a bit, in amusement.  "Though the next round is on you.  If'n ye like, ye can call me Anna." She considered thoughtfully, "Though... I'd rather not tell th' boys as I am not about to babysit a bunch of drunken knights right now."  She hummed thoughtfully, "Do ye know yer way around here? I need to change a'fore we go. It'll only take a few moments. So ye can either follow me, or meet me somewhere, that is up to you.."  She'd rather not have any of her knights see her in her formal uniform while out drinking with a man that looked like a noble.  She didn't need that sort of gossip because she just might bash a man's head in if she had to deal with one more round of foolishness. An' pity the poor knight who crossed her.

The corners of Anna's lips tease up into a smile, though a sadness flickered within her eyes. He had said something that reminded her of her father, and as that oftentimes brings up the desire to speak with him, she wishes that she could. The thought briefly entered into her mind that her father might like this man, even if he was a noble. She had not heard any stories about Aodh, but then again, there was still time. It seems he had just gotten here, after all. As much as she disliked gossip, she did listen for information so that she could do her job properly: to know who to assign guard duty, when to assign certain people based on preferences, etc.

" 'Tis a pleasure to make yer acquaintance, Aodh." She considered thoughtfully, "Though I suppose it does suit me. I am not one for titles an' tha' like. As for suiting you, that is another question."  She narrowed her eyes at him but then grinned slightly, 'Ye might be jus' as inclined to answer to Trouble, but I suppose only time will tell."

Anna listened to him, curious about him, since he knew more about her than she did about him. "Ye can follow me. I am not sure if it has changed much since the time ye were here."  She would lead the way through the halls, heading towards her private chambers in the palace. She noted that he seemed uncomfortable, so she would point out different things on their way to her room. Though perhaps giving him information on how to find her again in the palace might not be a good idea? She didn't seem worried about it, though it wasn't because she was cocky so much as she was trusting her gut instincts in regards to this myserious man.  Once they were outside her room, she would glance to him and nod, "I will be right back."


After stepping inside and changing, Anna would exit her chamber door looking fairly different, and yet she was still the same person. She was wearing one of her best pair's of men's britches and a shirt. Her clothing was well fitted and hugged her curves, though it was not indecent.  She did not look like a noble, but she could have passed for someone of a little lower standing.   She had taken her hair out of its intricate braid and let the waves fall about her face, effectively hidinng the teardrop tattoo.  She would offer a smile to Aodh, "Ready if ye are, m'lord."