AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE ; ARTHUR

[Alegra Silvertongue]

It's the forth day, Alegra reminded herself, taking a deep breath. One day left to go. By this point, the sea of people - most of whom she still didn't know, and didn't care to - was nearly nauseating. She was beyond putting up with strangers who "accidentally" bumped into her in order to get her attention - and, even more so, the ones who really did accidentally bump into her because she was a head and a half shorter. The whole thing was becoming ridiculous, and if her mother hadn't been so excited about the whole thing, she would've put up a much bigger fuss by the end of day two.

At the very least, tonight she had the satisfaction of enjoying her dress. Women had been instructed to dress under a winter theme, and while many of them seemed to have taken that far too much to heart - fur and massive six-layer skirts were everywhere - Alegra had taken a much slighter approach. Her dress was elegantly cut, with long bell sleeves, in a nice blue satin with silver threads and an underlying layer of white. Her hair was pulled back in two ivory combs with a subtle sapphire accent. Wintery enough for her, and she had managed to avoid looking like a pompous bimbo whose sole desire was to over-heat and suffocate others in their poofy fabric. However, tonight she had arrived slightly late, and as such had been unable to locate any (pleasantly) familiar faces.

With her mother and brother off socializing, it left her standing among a group of people who were talking at and around her and, thankfully, didn't care much that she wasn't responding. She was sorely tempted to leave the ball, but she didn't have any idea where she would go, and if her mother searched for her and was unable to find her, the rest of the night would be ruined by their argument.

Alegra gazed longingly at the entrance for a moment before turning back to her company, fingering the rim of her untouched glass of dark wine. She normally refrained from drinking and left the wine as an accessory - her ability to handle liquor was positively dreadful, though she'd never admit it - but at this rate, she was beginning to think she might need it. Tonight was passing even more slowly than usual, and she'd scarcely been there for half of an hour yet.

[Arthur Pendragon]

The past days, or weeks rather if the time for preparations was being put under consideration, had been extremely busy. With all the visiting royalty and nobility the castle was in a constant state of motion. Everyone from the knights, to servants, to even Arthur himself, had been keeping busy to ensure that everything ran smoothly. It was why the evening balls were the only time he could truly relax. Though his mind never strayed far from those who he felt bad for having to work so much -- well, one servant in particular -- . But, it was necessary for the hosts of this massive festival to be present at all events. Which was why Arthur was elaborately dressed in his summer theme outfit and was there mingling among different crowds of people.

The first day had been slightly more difficult, in the sense that the Prince had tried to talk to as many guests as he could. By the third day, the faces were more familiar and it was easier to place people and call them by name. Arthur was making rounds, unable to stay in one conversation group for too long. To be a good host, you had to try and at least socialize with everyone rather than limiting yourself to one crowd.

While he was standing among a few men, he noticed the presence of one particular woman that he had not seen in several months. After their little . . . adventure, she had come to be someone who he would call a friend. He had also heard some interesting things about her status, which was interesting indeed, especially if it were true. People -- especially in big events such as this -- liked to gossip and spread rumors. So one never really knew how accurate information that was passed along to different people was. Never the less, he had not gotten the chance to speak to her yet, and so excused himself from the current group of people he had been talking to and approached Alegra. "Lady Alegra," he said with a bit of a smile, as he slightly lowered his head in a polite, subtle bow. "You look extremely beautiful tonight," he added, complimenting her as it was true. The women here all looked beautiful, and had Arthur not silently committed his heart to another, he certainly would have considered himself to be in heaven.

[Alegra Silvertongue]

As soon as Arthur approached her, breaking her out of her thoughts, Alegra beamed. This wasn't the same fake smile that she'd awarded to most of the rest of the people, but a genuine one - his very presence offered her a reprieve from what would surely be another few disgustingly tedious hours. Though she hadn't seen him since their little rescue mission for his horse, she had gotten along surprisingly well with him; Alegra had never thought she'd be able to particularly click with a man so held up in the binds of politics. However, she knew him to be a very sensible man from her time spent as a knight, and after that excursion of theirs, the point had been proven once again - along with the fact that he was, in fact, able to take a joke and be humble, which she considered very important traits. She very much enjoyed his company, and there really was no competition among the droll rest of the crowd.

"Prince Arthur," she greeted in return, bowing her head with an equally-subtle curtsy. "Thank you. You're looking quite handsome, yourself." Though it wasn't very traditional for women to return the compliment, she doubted he would mind - after all, they'd fought bandits together. There was no way he thought she was anything near traditional to begin with, and Alegra had a policy of saying what she thought when given the opportunity - and he did look very nice tonight, just like everyone else. Why not tell him so?

Though the people she had previously been engaging with - or rather, avoiding engaging with - seemed more than elated to have him so near them, Alegra subtly stepped away from them. If they were looking for something to gossip about or a person to eavesdrop on, they were welcome to go elsewhere; Alegra allowed no one in on her business unless the person she was involved with wished it. She had been somewhat separate from them, anyway, so there was hardly a reason to let them stick their noses into her affairs. "Are you enjoying yourself?" she asked curiously, tilting her head to the side. He was the prince, so she supposed he would be, but she couldn't help but wonder if anyone else felt as she did - there by obligation, but more against their will. She doubted it.

[Arthur Pendragon]

He gave a casual smile at her greeting in return. It was funny just how much history two people could have because of one day when the most unexpected, unimaginable thing happened. Arthur was becoming a firm believer in the idea of experience bringing people closer together rather than time. It had after all, happened in the case of Guinevère. He had known her for many years, but it hadn't been until he had been living with her, that he saw her in an entirely different light. And now, she was the love of his life. Yes. Very interesting how things worked themselves out.

He gave a bit of a nod as a thank you for her compliment, and then nonchalantly looked around at the room when she asked her next question. He was actually a bit relieved that she had taken a step away from the crowd . . . mostly because it was not everyone that he could feel informal with. While there was indeed that formality between them, it was less than the average person. She was more of a friend rather than just an acquaintance. "I am," he answered as he rested his gaze back on her. "So many guests have come from various kingdoms and estates, and I'm glad to see that you are no exception to this. Are what about yourself, I hope your enjoying the festival as well?" He asked curiously.

[Alegra Silvertongue]

Alegra considered her response deeply before giving it. It would be very easy to give him the same answer as she gave to everyone else - a lovely flash of a smile, a "oh, yes, immensely - and yourself?" and the appropriate comment on whatever the night's theme was. In fact, considering that he was the prince, that would certainly be the more polite option, considering how much effort he had no-doubt put into it. However, there was something that compelled her to be honest with him. He'd seen her swinging a sword about; she doubted anything she said could surprise him at this point, and really, he was too familiar to be treated like one of the strangers or acquaintances that she had so carelessly recited her script for. It would feel wrong of her to deceive someone she regarded as a friend.

"Not so much as others, I'm sure," she finally responded, somewhat dryly. "The decorations are lovely, but I don't enjoy crowds very much. I feel... trapped, I suppose would be an appropriate term for it?" Alegra shrugged, still struggling with how best to word what she meant so as not to offend him. "I suppose I'm simply not the most social of people. Dealing with those who I barely know and who only wish to speak with me because of my status or face is not a very appealing way to spend my evening." She didn't begrudge other people the right to enjoy themselves, which was part of why she at least attempted to be civil to those who approached her, but she herself would never particularly feel the same.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur was surprised by her answer, but more pleasantly surprised than anything else. It was so very refreshing to hear such honesty from her. It was a rarity for people to be brutally honest with him, and speak the full truth. It was because of his status and though he knew this and understood it, he wanted people to be comfortable enough for people to be able to speak to him freely and openly. Sometimes, even his closest friends such as Sir Leon granted him special treatment. Merlin had been one of the first and few to publicly speak out against him, and while Arthur had given him hell for it, he found it just as refreshing as the time Guinevère yelled at him and insulted his mannerisms . . . and now, Alegra was speaking openly about her lack of enjoyment at these celebrations and Arthur -- in an odd way -- was grateful for it. Of course, regretful that she was not enjoying herself, but he certainly appreciated the honesty, more than he could express.

"You may be the first woman I know who finds such displeasure in that kind of attention," he said in a teasing voice, hoping to cheer her up a bit. He felt comfortable enough around her to return the honesty and to make teasing remarks towards her. He hoped -- and somewhere inside him he knew -- she would not take personal offense to it. Women often enjoyed dressing up, and hearing others talk to them, motivated by the attraction they felt towards that woman as it was often apparent in the way they addressed them. But Alegra had proved to be very different and Arthur knew this first hand, ever since he saw her skill with a sword. It reminded him of Morgana, although Morgana tended to enjoy these kinds of celebrations and the attention that Alegra now was not a fan of. It made the Silvertongue daughter more unique and quite a rarity.

"Is there nothing that can make this evening more bearable for you?" He said in a purposely over dramatic voice. He decided to keep the mood light, in the hopes of her being able to at least smile without it being forced. "Come then, talk to me for a little while and I can send away anyone who you are not in favor of seeing," he offered, hoping that he was not included on her list of people she felt forced to converse with. Of course, Arthur 's arrogance led him to assume that he was not . . . so instead of making it a question, he made it more of a statement. Knowing the personality of his friend though, she would probably make no secret if she objected to this offer.

[Alegra Silvertongue]

Though he was teasing, Alegra found his statement quite flattering, as she always did when told that she was not like other women. Though she was sure those other women would take offense if they new, she was thrilled that she fell into another category; if someone who actually knew her ever informed her that she was just like all of the other long-nosed, uppity, air-headed women, she would probably break down into real tears and play in the mud just to rid herself of such a title. She took great pride in the fact that she was different, she only wished that other women would as well; they didn't have to spend their lives parading around in suffocating clothing, pretending not to know big words, but they did so anyway. It was incredibly frustrating.

"I'm probably the first woman you know to do a lot of things," she reminded him with a grin. She wasn't shy at all about her talent now that he knew about it; after all, he clearly had no problem with it, so why should she? It was still essential, of course, that he not know about her being a knight or that she had a magical ability, but only because of his status as the prince; he would be torn at best, and at worst, she'd find herself being beheaded for it, which was not a pleasing concept at all. Not to mention, of course, that there were only two people in existence right now that knew about the former and one was unwilling, and only three who knew of the latter - again, one being unwilling. Even if he hadn't been the prince, it was best to keep some things a secret.

She laughed at his proposal, her spirits lifted considerably. She was greatly relieved that he hadn't taken offense, but even more so thrilled that he had such good humor about the matter. "Your presence helps. And that sounds like a plan to me," she said with a grin. It really did sound ideal; while she would be regarded and snootish if she tried to rid herself of the company of her peers, he certainly would not be.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"Indeed," he said, agreeing with her first statement. He made sure to keep his voice low enough so that only she would be able to hear him. He did not want to reveal a skill of hers if she was not comfortable with everyone knowing about it. There was a reason he had been surprised when he had seen her talent with a sword: because he had no idea. There had been no rumors of it or anything, and so it had come as a great shock. He did not want to reveal a secret of hers.

"Surprisingly, not the first woman who I have seen very skilled with a sword," he told her in a bit of a teasing way, suggesting that she was not special. Of course, he was kidding. Such a talent for a woman was indeed unique, but not entirely unknown. The only other woman he had seen possess that skill, as his mind previously went to her, was Morgana. That was because her father had been a knight, and as she grew up with them, Arthur taught her a few things and she was a quick learner. Alegra would be the second woman he had seen excel in swordsmanship . . . or swordswomanship.

He was pleased to hear her life. It meant that perhaps he was succeeding in his attempt to lighten her mood a bit, and make her less annoyed with being here. "Excellent," he stated, only briefly glancing at the small group of people she had left to converse with him. "Are you certain your friends will not miss you too much?" He asked kiddingly. "I wouldn't want to deprive them of your company for too long," he added in the same joking tone. It was rather nice to display this sort of informality with a friend; especially at such a grand event.