[FoF] Meet me on the Equinox

Rán must admit she was pleasantly surprised that she would not show up alone at the Frostcrown ball. No, but with the head of her guard. She did not know where this sudden interest had come from, but it well, maybe she did deserve a little bit of innocent fun. She had been occupied with much more delicate business ever since she had shown up in Ishgard. She had hit her knuckles bloody on Ve, only to have to smile at dinners and fancy gatherings the following days. Even riding out with the princess as if nothing happened. And then the sudden question to accompany Arkyn. She had been sweaty and muddy after a bout and she had laughed and agreed. And now she was ready to the actual party. A party. She would imagine it was a whole different kind of feast as they would have in Norwyn, where ale went flying and song were sung. No, this was a proper ball.

So she would show up proper. He hair was braided in a crown and interwoven a steel headband with her family crest on it. She had finally decided on something black to symbol the longest night, with silver embroidering. But she did not leave without hiding her glass dagger underneath her skirt, strapped safely to her leg. She had not parted with the blade ever since she had gotten it, still pondering what it was and why it was given to her. She mostly braided her hair herself, but today she did needed some help, because she could not reach that way. She then had taking it on herself to do her little sister's hair, spending the afternoon with pins between her lips and blond locks between her fingers.

Nerys would have to find her own way to the ball tho. She was a big girl, so she would made do. After all, there was a man waiting for her. When a servant came over to casually adres that Arkyn had arrived, she smiled and nodded. The governess confidently strut towards the door, where Arkyn was waiting. He looked nothing like the man and friend she had known for so long, so a surprised smile adorned her lips, ‘‘Well look at you,’’ she mused happily. She walked up to him, immediately brushing her hands across his shoulders, to straighten the jacket just a tad. ‘‘You look quite dapper,’’ she said amused when her eyes trailed up at him. It still seemed somewhat silly for the two of them to attend this festival together. But somewhere, it also made sense, did it not?

dress x hair

It would be her last outing here. She could almost smell home. The taste of the salt water of the Emerald Abyss on her lips. She longed to see the snowy fjords harboring their home. A younger her would have laughed if someone even mentioned homesickness. She had wanted to travel the land, see more than just Ravaryn and especially Norwyn with it's barren mountains on the horizon. And now she wanted nothing more.

So, being at this place, was a bit home from home, and to spend the last event together with someone from home. It was almost safe. She would never admit such thoughts, of course, because they were for stupid little girls. But she could not help but smile as Arkyn gave her compliments. He was standing out even more than she ever did. She could dress and walk among aristocrats, because she had been taught how to act from a young age. She would expect Arkyn would pick the silent, broody type who would not speak unless spoken to. ‘‘Well, I still own to perfectly capable legs,’’ she started at him. ‘‘Let's just walk and not draw more attention so we might actually enjoy the evening together.’’ She took his arm as he extended it to her. It felt almost weird, because it had always been her at the head of everything lately. And know she was just a woman at the side of a man. But her words held some truth. If they were just some attendants to a festival, instead of a governess and a guard, maybe other people would just leave her be.

Lady Trygg? Where was that coming from. ‘‘Oh please, Arkyn, you have known me for decades,’’ she answered him with a light-hearted chuckle. ‘‘So can we make a deal and just act like we are ten years younger? Just for tonight?’’ She looked back up at him again. They had known each other all that time ago. She could not remember if he was already away to the border around that time, or if they had been together in Norwyn still. But they basically grew up together. Nothing had changed just because her father died. Well, a lot had changed, but not... this.

The governess gave him a not-amused glare as Arkyn started to tease her a bit. ‘‘I could kick you if you want to be sure,’’ she responded with a raised brow. But she only took a moment before rolling her eyes and starting to walk to make pretty clear she was capable. She was almost thirty and still liked to act as a child, like everything was a challenge. Arkyn started to speak and a sigh rolled over her lips. ‘‘Well, here's to hoping,’’ she softly said. She was afraid she might have to survive a few obligatory conversations. ‘‘I will have to start be good at it some day.’’ She was nothing like her father, who could remain calm, but also witty and cunning at the same time. It seemed to come so natural to him. As soon as somebody told her something stupid, she had to hide the urge to hit the culprit straight in the nose.

The castle came in sight and she looked at the peaks of the towers. Even those were enlightened, small torches illuminating the windows. But the crown piece was the road leading up to the entrance as they started to merge with the other visitors. And if Arkyn could read her mind, he stated his own homesickness. She glanced at him with her lips barely parted, as she was slightly surprised. She didn't laugh. ‘‘I feel it too,’’ she said softly. ‘‘Everything is.. much simpler back home.’’

As they continued their way to the castle, she stated that they could be ten years younger. It made him laugh and she looked smugly back at him. ‘‘Oh, I can handle it,’’ she promised. Because by Ranaan, the day Rán Trygg backed down from a challenge, you would have to call a healer. ‘‘Thank you,’’ she said as he agreed, like it was some small victory. But as he placed her hand on hers, for a moment she tensed up. Why? That what was she was asking herself as she glanced up to him quickly for a moment. But she leaned into it, convincing herself she didn't need anybody's approval. ‘‘So, are you ready to crash a aristocrat's party?’’ she asked him with a cheeky smile.