Business With The King (Sarah + Open)

Ciar was pretty happy that both Lorcan and Connall had agreed to her training, even after her fiasco at the Knight Games. Lorcan had even said that he would find someone for her to Squire under!  Now that her brothers did not seem to be upset with her, or at least, not too outwardly upset, she could enjoy that she was that much closer to her dreams coming true.

Ciar had been outside, practicing with her bow and arrow. Ina had bested her at the Knight Games, so obviously she needed more practice. Especially since the Northerners were coming soon! Which, if she admitted it to herself, she was a bit nervous about it. What if she did absolutely horrible and Esras changed his mind and advised Lorcan and Connall of such? She bit her lower lip slightly, trying to calm her nerves. Then she exhaled out a long slow breath. She wanted so badly to do well. Ciar's bow and arrows were at her back as she walked through the halls of the palace.

Ciar would pause suddenly, seeing an unfamiliar person within the halls. That isn't to say that she knew everyone, but she knew almost all of the servants and quite a few of the people that stopped in she would recognize, if not by name, than by their face. The woman carried herself like a Queen, and Ciar glanced down at herself, wearing men's clothing since she had been playing with her bow and arrows, and then back to the younger woman. She tilts her head slightly, "Hello," she would call politely.

Ciar could not have felt more different from Sarah, except for the fact that they were the exact same height. She would do a polite little gesture that was a cross between a bow and a curtsey. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, m'lady. I am Lady Ciar MacAteer, little sister to both Captain Lorcan and King Connall." Her entire life she had been introduced as their little sister as Connall's parents had raised her practically from birth. She did not know her own biological parents, and even if now some might say that she had no right to claim family ties, she never listened to them. As far as she was concerned, Connall was as much her brother as Lorcan. Though when it came to decisions, she knew she would defer to asking Lorcan.  She was proud of her brothers, and her tone conveyed that, and she had every right to be.  "Do ye need help with anything?" she asked curiously, as well as trying to be polite. She was not that used to being around Princesses, even though she spent quite a bit of time with Ina, she did not really see Ina as her title. Ina was the little sister she never had, though spending time with her had not quite prepared her for what to do in this situation. Ciar took note that Sarah mentioned her Irish title of betrothal first and it would light a grin upon her lips.  Though the whole idea of being bethrothed was something she found strange, it also inspired her curiousity.

Ciar never even considered that her introduction might be confusing for someone who was not aware of the situation, she was just stating the facts as she saw them. Though her last name was different than Connall's. As far as how the English Princess responded in gesture, Ciar did not much care and would not be offended at all. After all, Lorcan never really emphasized much on their nobility and at times she completely even forgot about it. She was much more interested in becoming a Squire, and then a Knight anyway.  In fact, Ciar would offer a pleasant smile to the younger woman. "Well, welcome then." Curiousity would glimmer within her gaze, though she did not want to come across as rude. "If you do find yourself needing anything while your Duke is with Connall, I can certaintly be of assistance. It would only be polite, and I would not mind having some company. I have only ever left the Eastern Kingdom once, and that was for the Queens' wedding, the ball, and the Knight Games that followed."  Mentioning the Knight Games reminded her that she had bested that one English man, which made her feel a little bit better about the whole fiasco afterwards. "I hope your stay here has been comfortable? I can nae imagine what it must be like to be so far from home."  Ciar really wanted to ask what the other place had been like, and what it was like to be betrothed to someone. While she did not want to be shipped off and tied down to a man that is not to say that she did not have a bit of romantic heart hidden inside.

Ciar would grace Sarah with one of her shit-eating-grins, "Anytime," she would respond kindly. So far, she liked this young lady.  Ciar would nod in understanding. "I know what you mean. My brothers did a lot of traveling due to being in wars, and as for myself, I was stuck at home. After Connall became King, we all moved here. So I have moved around a bit, but I have not had the pleasure of travelling anywhere. Though maybe one day I will see more of the world." She would grin again. Even though Lorcan had said she was not to leave the East, that did not mean that after she became a Knight that she could not visit other places or go places with her brothers.  A sense of pride and pleasure overtook her to hear how Sarah complimented Ireland and its people.  She would chuckle, "Aye, that we are. We can be a rough sort at times, but we are fun."  After all, they had Lady Knights! How less uptight can you be?  She tilted her head ever so slightly, "Mind if I ask what it is like to be betrothed to a... near stranger? I do not mean to intrude, and I am sorry if I sound rude. I just... I do not know anyone betrothed that I can think of, and it seems a rather... well, I am not sure if scary or interesting would be a better choice of words, honestly."  She bit her lower lip briefly, "If it is easier to explain, my brothers would nae even let me dance with anyone at the ball we went to. They are very...."  she paused, thinking of a word, "protective," she concluded.

Even though Sarah did not giggle, she at least appeared amused, and so Ciar would continue to smile. Ciar wasn't much for being a proper lady, but she could appreciate that Sarah pulled it off so well. She listened, with curiousity, as Sarah explained what it was like. A smirk teased at her lips, "Charming? Sounds like you are lucky and were betrothed to a nice Duke. I am happy for you."  Then she would frown slightly, hearing that Sarah's brother was ordering her home after the death of his Commander that Cori had killed in the Knight Games. Ciar would never forget that, for as long as she lived. It was the first time she had seen death in that way.  "I am so sorry. There must be something that can be done? Is that why the Duke is talking to Connall? I am quite certain that Connall will think of something to allow you to stay. I am not very familiar with betrothals, but certainly they are not easy to break off?"  She reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.  She really did not know anything about how they worked, particularly since Lorcan had no intentions of making her marry. She could tell that Sarah had developed some sort of feelings for the Duke, or why else would she have spoken the way she had?  It touched the side of her that was mostly hidden; the hopeless romantic heart. It was not as though she could pursue love anyway, for multiple reasons. She could not even dance with a man her brothers did not approve of, and no man would dare cross her brothers. Not only that, but what man would want to marry a woman that wanted to be a Knight?  Well, aside from Lorcan, of course.

Ciar could not help but smile for Sarah; it was rather apparent that the girl was smitten with her Duke, and Ciar was a sucker for a good love story. No one tell her brothers, please!  "Hmm," she said thoughtfully. That all sounded rather complicated to her. "Do nae worry, Sa-- is it alright if I may call you Sarah?" she hoped she had not offended the English Princess by being so informal, it was just that she really wasn't that formal around her brothers and was not often around other royalty. Again, Ina did not really count in that respect as she was like a sister, and not like another royal.  Then she would continue, "He might your brother be, but he is not here. Connall is King here, and he is one o' the smartest people I know. I am sure he will be able to figure out something."  She knew that Connall was good at tactics, though she was not entirely sure how that would apply in this situation. She was pretty convinced that he would be able to think his way out of it, after all, the Princess had been promised to the Duke and Ciar just could not imagine how one could easily back out of that without a good reason. It did not sound like the King of England had much of a reason at all, as people apparently could die in the Knight Games all the time. Which, she had not known this until her brothers brought up this fact, but obviously the King should know that. Ciar moved closer to the younger woman, "Besides, I think ye should stay. You sound like you like it here much better anyway. If I can help ye, I will," she promised.  Crap, was she getting herself into trouble again? There seemed there was no hope for that. But she would definitely talk to Lorcan and Connall about it if she came up with a crazy idea....

Ciar relaxed slightly and offered another grin, this one seeming a bit cheesy for some reason.  "You will see. Connall will think of something. I would very much like to know what happens, and I mean it, if I can be of any assistance, count me in."  She paused briefly, "I am actually waiting for one of the Northern Knights to come by, he agreed to train me for a time. My brothers agreed to let me become a Squire, but I am going to get some training in other styles first." The excitement was evident in her eyes how much this meant to her. She had no concerns of being princess proper, even though Lorcan called her Princess. "Does the Duke have anyone watching over you?" she inquired thoughtfully. She looked towards the Audience Chamber, wondering if the Duke and Connall were hashing out ideas even as the two women were speaking. Her curiousity was raised and she really wanted to help Sarah; the poor thing looked so sad. She knew that feeling, and was rather happy that she had gotten everything off of her chest to Lorcan right after the Knight Games. She felt like a much lighter person. She still had worries and such, but now she did not have to feel that she had to hide her inner self. Well, maybe just the hopeless romantic part. She didn't need anyone picking on her about that, she was going to be a Squire, after all! She idly wondered how that was going to work, being that she was going to be much older than other squires, and most of them would be boys. Would they give her a hard time? She pursed her lips thoughtfully, and entertained the idea of beating the English King, and a bunch of unruly squires, into submission.  She wrinkled her nose and then shook her head. "Sarah, where there is a will, there is a way. You just have to think positive." She was tempted to tell the woman that she had snuck into the Knight Games and pretended to be a Squire just so that she would know that things could be accomplished. However, she did not know the Princess that well and did not want to paint herself as unfit to be her friend or something.