Aerith & Tifa (Tirith)

[Tifa Lockhart]

Geraint's expression filled with sympathy as he offered her his hand, gently leading her out of the carriage.

The King looked up from his conversation with Llyr when he saw the Princess emerge from the carriage.
"Ah! My Lady." He greeted, moving over to take her hand from Geraint. "Its a pleasure to meet you. We hope that you will find every comfort here in Hasnia." He bowed and kissed her hand gently.

Behind him, Llyr busied himself with organizing his men and the horses, his expression fixed into one a repressed hatred.

[The Painted Lady]

Sabela used every ounce of self control not to jerk away when the King kissed her hand. She knew she would have to speak now.
"It's... it's a pleasure to meet you too Sire," she said, quickly covering her stumble.
There was no smile though.

[Tifa Lockhart]

The King however, seemed convinced.
"Come dear, i shall help you get settled. My son is out hunting at present, but he shall be back in time for the afternoon meal." He turned his gaze to Llyr and the other Knights, who waited patiently to be told where to go.
"My servants will take your horses and carriage and have them stored in the stables. They will also take the Princess's belongings to her room." He clapped his hands and the aforementioned servants rushed forward to do his bidding. "You're free to roam my fair city as you please, but we request your presence at the afternoon meal, when the bell strike twice." He turned to leave, Sabela on his arm, but he paused again, seemingly remembering something, "Your rooms are in the guests quarters. I had servants prepare them for you." He then turned to leave.

[The Painted Lady]

Sabela glanced over her shoulder, back at Llyr and the others, before returning her gaze back to her path with the King.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Llyr had been watching the Princess with hawk-like eyes as the King lead her away, but as she glanced back he quickly averted his eyes, not wanting her to see him watching. He waited till the Hasnian king and all his people were long gone before he spoke to himself, forgetting for a moment that his knights were still with him.
"Pox rot your brain you God's cursed demon scummer tyrant." He snarled, recieving a sharp elbow in the ribs from Geraint.
"You swear like my father, Commander." He whispered, glancing nervously to the other Knight.

"I trust your journey here was pleasant, My Dear Princess?" The Hasnian king asked as they entered the elaborate white marble main hall, its stone staircase spiraling upwards in front of them, lined with emerald grin carpet. "You seem to have dependable men. Strong and mannerly."

((The third Knight is open for your taking. Just so you know XD))

[The Painted Lady]

"Yes," Sabela said, still in her formal manner.
"Quite."
She couldn't conjure up the effort to make conversation with this King. A King who had murdered her people and had bargained her freedom for their lives. She hated him.

Llyr's second companion frowned a little. He didn't appear to pick up on the reason for Geraint's cover-up though.
"And why shouldn't he?" he asked in a whisper.
"We're in enemy territory. No matter what treaties there are. I wouldn't trust these Hasnians with the Princess as far as I could throw them all."

[Tifa Lockhart]

"And our King knows that." Llyr replied, his eyes still locked on the door through which the Princess had disappeared, "That's why we're here till the wedding. If he tries to pull anything, we're taking the Princess home and setting this gods cursed city to the tentstone." His expression was dark, and he didnt care at all for the nervous expression Geraint was giving him.
"I suggest we use our time here to get to know the Hasnian city." He said, a sly tone to his voice as the corner of his lip twitched into an angry smile, "They're not MY friends yet."
Geraint gave a nervous whine, but did not voice any objections.

The King seemed to catch on to Sabela's hostility and his expression darkened a little, his sickly sweet disposition becoming a little more normal.
"I suspect you'll want to bathe after your long journey. We have a private bath house not far from here that you can utilize. I will take you there if you wish?"

[The Painted Lady]

"I would like that," Sabela replied.
To be honest, she was looking forward to the simple comforts she had missed on the road.
"Thank you."

The third knight seemed just as keen though.
"Aye Sir. Can't let this lot have a home advantage, yeah?" he grinned.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Llyr already liked the attitude of this fellow Knight, suspecting he felt the same way - or similar at least - in regard to the whole princess-trade-in. They'd seen each other a few times, and spoken occasionally, but they were not properly aquainted.
"You name then, Sir Knight. If we are to work together on this i need to know it."

The King did not speak again, instead he lead Sabela in silence, until he reached a large open air bath house. There was only one door, and though the roof was open there were tall walls all around it with curtains and drapes. In the center was a large bath with fountains and the like to dress it up a little.
"Here you are. That cord over there..." He pointed to a golden rope hanging from the cieling, 'Will summon the bath attendants. They will bring you all you need. A runner will come an escort you to your room and I will fetch you for lunch." He kissed her hand and bowed again, "Enjoy your bath my lady." He said, departing at once.

[The Painted Lady]

"Isaiah, sir," the Knight said, giving a half bow.
"The King put me on the convoy last minute when my brother Jeremiah fell ill. So I'm not really s'pose to be here; not even really ranked high enough to accompany the Princess, but my brother gave me a good recommendation."

Sabela waited a moment, until she was sure the King was gone. She looked up to the cord, hesitating before pulling it gently. It felt strange to be in a foreign castle...

[Tifa Lockhart]

Llyr seemed to remember something as Isaiah explained his situation.
"Ah yes, you do look like him." Llyr mused, scratching his chin. "In any case, let's get to work." He gesture to the quiet and sheepish looking Geraint.
"Remember to look like tourists."

It wasn't long after Sabela pulled the cord that a bustling little woman came in. She was very short, quite stout and much friendlier looking than most of the other Hasnians had been.
"Oh my! You must be the Princess all the fuss has been kicked up about." She said, bustling forward to give Sabela a towel and a cake of soap. "Soak as long as you like, the water's got minerals innit to help the skin." She smiled, "I'll take your dress and have a fresh one brought down shall I?"

[The Painted Lady]

"Aye Sir," Isaiah grinned with a nod.

Sabela's formal front had fallen when the King had left, and she greeted the attendant with a meek smile.
"Yes please..." she said softly.
"Thank you..."

[Tifa Lockhart]

"You're welcome honey." She said, seeming to pause a minute, as if debating whether to speak or not. Finally though, she decided too.
"Words of advice from my lips to your ears." She said, keeping her voice low, "The King's a snake, steer clear of him. But the Prince is a good boy, i was his milk-nurse when he was younger, i can vouch that much." She smiled brightly and then turned her back, "Let me know when you're in the water and then i'll take your dress up to your room for you."

[The Painted Lady]

Sabela tried not to look too startled at the woman's advice.
"Um, thank you..." she said quietly.
She quickly undressed and lowered herself into the water, hugging her shoulders.
"You can turn around now..."

[Tifa Lockhart]

The nurse turned around and briskly gathered up the dress, obviously well practiced at her work.
"I'll return soon, soak as long as you like dear, but if you start to crack and bleed...." She winked and gave a laugh, scurrying off with her little shuffling footsteps.

((skip or whatever if you like))