Business With The King (Sarah + Open)

Ciar would know that she was lucky to have really awesome brothers, and she appreciated them and would do just about anything for them. Except, of course, stay out of their business. Because, really, that's what little sisters are for. 

Ciar would nod to Sarah, offering another grin. "After you," she would indicate for Sarah to take the lead. Ciar would offer commentary or answer questions about anything they passed. She had learned a lot about the place since she had been here. She had every intention of keeping Sarah safe while being in her company, and not really going outside on the grounds, JUST IN CASE.

"In case no one has told you lately, I think you are very brave. If you stay nearby, I think we could be good friends. I am sure your Duke would let you visit whenever you wanted, that is, if you wanted to." She would dart a glance to Sarah. "You would probably really like Ina, she's a Princess." She almost introduced her as her sister, but that wasn't entirely accurate and it would be difficult to explain. It would probably be better for Ina to explain than anyone else, really.

Ciar would let one hand rest on the hilt of her sword and a smile would tease at her lips. She thought it would be great fun to really protect a Princess from danger, just like a Knight would do! Sadly, she wasn't quite up to that level just yet, but she could still fight fairly well.

Ciar would roll her eyes, as if the answer was obvious. She walked a step or so behind the English Princess, so luckily she probably would not be offended by the gesture.  "Really?" she asked, a hint of disbelief in her tone. Then she held out one hand in front of herself and used her other hand to tick off her fingers while listing reasons. "You have left everything you have ever known behind you. You are in a foreign land. With foreign people. Also, you are living with a near stranger. With whom you come with to visit a foreign King to see what is to be done about upholding a commitment that ye did not make, but feel as though ye should follow through on. Which is standing up to your family, and that, in and of itself, when said family is Royalty, is huge. An' ye hold your head up high, like a true Princess." By this point she had ticked off seven fingers. She paused, thoughtfully. "I think I forgot somethin', but that's answer enough, I suppose."  She would then look to Sarah and grin.  "Then consider it an open invitation. Maybe one day we can go riding. Do you like to ride?" she inquired, thoughtfully. She would try to see the palace as someone from another kingdom might, but the closest she could get to that was how impressed she had been with the palace that hosted the ball. "I am sure you would really like Ina, I will definitely introduce you if we see her. Then again, I am sure that you would like almost anyone here. One of the cooks in the kitchen, she makes the most delicious sweet bread. I forget what it is called, but you should try it before you go."

Ciar was rather enjoying Sarah's company, even as different as they were. It was nice to be around people close to her own age. She was following the princess around, but it was not like how she used to follow her brothers around. She idly wondered if she would be able to make friends amongst the Squires, as most of them would be a lot younger than she, and most Knights would be her age or older. She also wondered who her Knight would be, and wondered if Lorcan had thought of it yet.

Ciar would shake her head, "Being brave is t' do somethin' even when you are afraid. It is taking heart and doin' what needs to be done in spite of the fear in your gut or the worries that plague your soul." Ciar would stare at Sarah, "an' you will not be able to convince me for one moment that you are not being brave, so I suggest you do not even try." She would grin, "I have been told I am as stubborn as my brother." This was something she was proud of, only because she liked the idea of being anything at all like her brothers.

"Then it is settled. Upon your next visit, or if not sooner, we will definitely go riding."  Ciar's heart nearly burst with giddiness when Sarah claimed that she would like everyone if they were as friendly as she, and a few others, were. A blush tinted her cheeks. "Thank you," she said, with feeling.

Ciar's eyes widened, "Let's go get some them. You simply MUST try it!" Without further thought, Ciar grabbed one of Sarah's hands and took off running towards the kitchens. She was careful to not go too quickly as she knew it was much harder to run in a dress. However, a girl had to have a little fun and run once in awhile! It was not like there was anyone around to see them running through these halls anyway and if they walked, it would take forever and the cook might be out by then!  Though if Sarah tugged, she would let go and stop running, but if she didn't, she would continue to lead the way to magical treats  made in the kitchens!

Ciar was going to definitely be making the English Princess very un-ladylike! If even only for ten minutes or so as they dashed through the halls like a bunch of rambunctious children. Since Sarah did not try to stop her, Ciar would continue to tug her along and giggle about it all the while. She could feel her bow, arrows, and sword bouncing against her as she moved, and she was getting used to their weight on her person. She would glance back and give Sarah one of her shit-eating-grins. "Almost there! Just wait until you try it!" she said encouragingly, knowing how difficult it was to run in a dress. She had done it many times before, and had gotten sorely in trouble the time she had climbed a tree in a dress and tore it. After a few minutes of breathless running, Ciar would finally come to a halt in front of a door that lead to the kitchens, she would gasp for breath and could not help the giggles that escaped her lips. Imagine! Running through the Eastern Palace with an English Princess! It was probably one of the most un-ladylike things she had ever done, and she had enjoyed every single moment of it! It was harmless fun, though she was glad that they had not run into anyone that would reprimand them. After all, a girl has to let her hair down and run around once in awhile. After catching her breath, she grins to Sarah, "Are you ready to taste the best thing you have ever eaten in your life?"

Ciar could not help but let out another giggle. After their recent run through the halls, Sarah was back to being her Princess-self with her posture. After catching her breath, she would nod to the princess. "Okay!" she said excitedly, her eyes alight with amusement. Then Ciar would push open the doors to the kitchen and lead the way in. She would hold the door open for Sarah. 

Once Sarah followed her in, Ciar would call, "Caireann?!" She would walk further into the kitchens, looking for her favorite friendly and busty cook. "It is Ciar! I have brought a friend to try your amazing sweet bread."  Some of the other servants working in the kitchen would move out of the way and try to be as busy as possible, particularly as they could tell that Ciar had brought Royalty into the kitchen. They might not have recognized Princess Sarah, but they could tell from the way she moved, and the gossip that had been going about the castle.

Caireann would step out from behind a counter, and the redhaired woman would make a fussing clucking sound. "Did ye now, Lady Ciar? Ye are far too skinny, miss," she would say in a mothering tone. "Caireann, this is Princess Sarah, I have told her how amazing your sweet bread is," Ciar would say with a grin.  "A pleasure to make yer acquaintance, Princess," and the servant woman would curtsey, "an' forgive my sayin' so, but ye look like you could use a good meal on those skinny bones of yers as well." Caireann would then brush some flour off of her apron and move about the kitchen, her hips swaying with her steps as she was a woman with a lot of curves. She would then hold out a basket full of her famous 'sweet bread' as Ciar called it and chuckled softly. "Ye two ladies enjoy, an' stay outta trouble," she would scold in her mothering tone, shaking her index finger at Ciar. "Go on, off with ye, out o' my kitchen," the woman would say affectionately.

Ciar would grab the basket, after Sarah responded to Caireann, and then she would lean in close and kiss Caireann on the cheek. "Ye are the best!"  She was sorely tempted to grab Sarah's hand and run off with her out of the kitchen, but she did not want to embarrass her in front of others, so she would eventually lead the way back out of the kitchens.

Ciar would let the door to the kitchen close behind her, having quite enjoyed spending a moment with her favorite cook in the palace. Ciar was usually left to her own devices, so she often times found herself wandering into kitchens and making friends with at least one person there, usually the one that seemed the most motherly. She had never known her own mother, or father for that matter, and though Connall's parents had raised her and she had been close to them, they had also passed on. This left a rather gaping hole in her heart for some mothering that she tried to fill with stand-ins.  Though she would probably never admit to this. After all, there was nothing to be done about it anyway, and she was lucky to have such good brothers. A sadness touched her eyes, but how can you miss what you have never truly had? In a way, she hoped that Lorcan would marry again, because Seara had helped fill that emptiness for her as well, and she wanted her brother to be happier again.

Ciar focused once more on the present moment, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "Where would you like to try them? I would consider outside, but who knows when your Duke and Connall will be done and we do not want to be too far away. Or we could go to the dining room, I suppose."  She shrugged a shoulder, then laughed softly, "Or if ye can not wait, then you can try them right here, right now."

The amusement was once again in her face, and it was almost as though she had not been thinking of sad things.