Making An Appearance [Open]

[Arianna Azor]

Arianna Azor

There he was, his cold lifeless corpse lay on the ground of his room. A dagger protruded from his back as he was laying face first. He had been taken from behind somehow, his magic unable to save him from the danger. It was as though an ice cold hand gripped both her heart and her lungs, making it so that she was unable to breath, her eyes brimming with unshed tears for the moment. It was as though her world was collapsing in that single moment of discovery. She had been eight years old at the time, still very much mature for her age but a child nonetheless. Her rock, her tormentor, her God, he was gone from her life and it wasn't fair! Falling to her knees at her father's side, the child beat her small fists against his back again and again. Ironic how the only time she could strike back at her father was when he could not feel it.

"Do you know yet what you will say?" A voice cut through the child's morbid memory and thankfully brought her back to reality. It wasn't often that Arianna would allow her mind to go back to that day in her past but she was exhausted both physically and mentally so it wasn't too much of a surprise. Brushing her curls from her face, Arianna turned to regard Soren, a man sent to accompany her on her journey to Camelot and sighed. "I'm thinking..." Of course the girl should have already gone over in her head what needed to be done in order to ensure that she remained in Camelot with no suspicions and such. She needed an easy transition.

Hearing Soren sigh in annoyance caused Arianna to feel slightly guilty. He was there to help keep her safe but he wasn't going to come up with a cover story for her. He was the sort that would just go with whatever Arianna happened to say. "I know what I'm doing." She snapped, cranky from lack of sleep and nerves eating at her. She was just a kid but she was doing what she had been told to do, instructions left by her father before he had died. Perhaps Xeno had known he was going to die or maybe he never intended on going with Arianna when she chose to do this. Not that it mattered in the long run but Ari couldn't help but wonder just the same.

The sight of Camelot was magnificent for the sheltered young girl. It may have been silly for the little witch but she felt the compulsion to halt her horse as she and Soren came to the crest of a hill. Tugging sharply on the reins of the bay stallion, Arianna took in the sight of her new home. There was no telling how long she would remain there nor how long it would stand once she was finished with it, nothing was every for certain but for now she would enjoy the sight. Arianna must have been staring too long because Soren seemed restless, kicking his horse to get it moving again. "Stay focused Arianna." If he was trying to take the place of her father, he was making a big mistake. He may have been left in charge of Arianna once her father was killed but he was nothing to her as far as she was concerned, a servant at best, not one to boss her around.

Kicking her horse, Arianna followed after Soren, her bright blue eyes narrowed as she glared at him. "Don't make me stab you." Her soft threat was either not heard or completely ignored by her 'guardian' but Ari would make good on that threat if he pushed her. Drawing back the emerald hood of her cloak that rested atop her golden curls, a soft smile touched her pale pink lips as she thought of her story. Born the daughter of a Lord and Lady in Albion, Ari and her noble parents were on their way to Camelot when they were attacked by bandits. Her dear mother and father fell beneath the sword of the depraved bandits and it was only because of Soren that Arianna escaped with her life. With no living relatives in Albion, this would hopefully cause Uther to offer a place for Arianna to stay, at least for a little while. She didn't need too long...

'Unprepared little brat.' Ari's head snapped to the side sharply and she glared at the dark haired horseman. Having a telepathic ability was both a blessing and a curse for Arianna. Unable to fully control her power, Arianna would hear thoughts at random and there would be times when it would give her a migraine from all the thoughts.

Right...Ignore him now, kill him later. She had a mission, a destiny to fulfill.

Arriving at the castle in Camelot, Arianna dismounted her horse and walked inside. Despite the marks she had and her clothes being dirty and somewhat torn, she had the appearance and air of a mini-noblewoman. Of course the marks had been placed on her by Soren to make her story all the more convincing, bruises and scratches to make it seem that she had only just escaped with her life. An air of sorrow was written on her young face but she held herself well. An actress to the core, she would have to play on a father's possibly sympathy to get any reaction. No Uther wasn't her father but he was a father and so he had to have some form of male maternal instinct. It would have been easier if his wife was alive but of course she wasn't. Her death had been the cause of the magical purge.

Asking for an audience with King Uther, Arianna and Soren walked into the Throne Room once admitted, a slight limp on Arianna for good measure. "You're majesty, I present the young Lady Arianna Beauvallet of Albion."

After a slightly wobbly curtsy, Arianna would address those in the room with a sweet smile. "Your majesties."

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther had been made aware of the incident, and had been displeased by it. The girl was so young, only 10, and her parents, a lord and lady, had been viciously attacked and killed by despicable bandits. Uther would of course see to it that the bandits were hunted down and executed if possible. It was really a strange dichotomy. Some children were deserving of pity and protection, while others, like the druid boy, were dangerous even at their young age and had to be dealt with. Uther never took pleasure in ordering the deaths of the very young, but it was an unfortunate necessity in some cases.

This girl, however, was an innocent victim herself, alone and without anyone to look after her now. She was being cared for by a family friend, and so she wasn't entirely on her own, but Uther's hardened heart did feel a bit of sympathy for her. And he knew that Morgana would probably take a great liking to her during her stay in the city, the girl's experience very close to her own.

He entered into the room, taking in the girl and her attendant, and he could see that she was a noblewoman through and through. Even as young as she was, she was fitting into the part perfectly, another reminder of young Morgana when he had first brought her home. The least he could do was offer her a place to stay and see that she was well looked after. The marks of her experience were obvious, and she was keeping a strong attitude through it all.

"Welcome to Camelot." the king said, his voice formal, yet still carrying a tone that he hoped wouldn't intimdate her too much.

"I want to express my deep sorrow for your loss. Although I can only take action inside the borders of Camelot, I want to assure you that if the men who did this set foot in Camelot, I will see to it that they are brought to justice, Lady Arianna. I will see to it that you are well looked after here in Camelot, and that you do not want for anything. You are welcome to spend a few nights here, of course, until a suitable home is found. I will assign a maid to attend to you."