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Nov 19, 2010 20:06:12 GMT -5
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Post by Aribella on Nov 16, 2010 22:09:42 GMT -5
Aribella watched the knight as she slowed her laughter. She tilted her head as she watched him consider what she had said. She wondered how the young man would respond. She indeed hoped he would say something else as amusing. It was not often one met someone so opinionated on the road. Especially when they found out she was a Duchess. No one was ever frank with nobles. They expected to be reprimanded for speaking the truth. It irked Aribella to know she would never truly be able to understand how others really thought. She was the kind of person who liked to have all the information on everyone she came across. Being stonewalled made that near impossible.
Her smile was replaced by a small frown and a furrowed brow when the knight agreed with her so complacently. Her curiosity was only doubled by the lack of speech. She knew one of her failings was that she was a bit too pushy and curious for her own good. Her desire to push others to speak their minds had not lessened with age.
"Now, now. Don't clam up so quickly. If you always agree with me the conversation shall go nowhere. It wouldn't make for a very entertaining ride, now would it?" She regained her smile and her good humor as she prodded him. She let her hands lay on her lap and relax as she took on a more teasing tone then before. She no longer felt the need to be on guard. She was glad her ride home was not proving to be as boring as previously expected. Indeed she wished all journeys ended with meeting a stranger on the road. Even if it did tend to make her guards a bit nervous at first.
Aribella liked the fact that Lancelot seemed to relax a bit with the joking around. He didn't seem to be intimidated which made Aribella respect him more. She also thought that the ride ahead of them would be quite interesting. She wasn't sure exactly what lay behind this knights seemingly valiant exterior, but she was quite keen to ferret out exactly who he was and why he seemed so nervous about the king. It was not everyday one met a former knight who was still bold enough to be in Camelot.
She listened as he spoke again. She wondered how far his bravery truly went. He seemed to have no fear that she could see other then his proclaimed fear of losing honor. It was a noble fear to be sure, but Aribella wondered what had inspired it in him to begin with.
"So you are the one who slew the Gryffon... I heard about that. A truly noble deed." She said. She found herself a bit impressed this happened to be a knight she had heard of. However, she also remembered that the knight had not been a knight of Camelot much longer. She had been away however and was not sure of the specifics of the situation. She decided not to press the matter. Instead she wondered what exactly his unofficial visits had been for.
"And these other visits were for business or pleasure? you needn't answer if you don't want to."
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Post by Aribella on Nov 9, 2010 18:02:05 GMT -5
Aribella continued to observe the knight with great curiosity. He seemed to be full of contradictions. On one hand he was opinionated and honest, yet on the other hand he kept his talk in check and seemed to know when to back off. She was now more interested then ever in his history. As he said he was trained for a trade Aribella added that to her store of knowledge on the young man. It was rare that a noble boy raised to be a knight was first taught a trade of any kind. It was also rare for a young knight, such as this one, to seem so worldly and know so much about people.
Aribella respected his reasoning and let her last remnants of snnoyance go. She let her folded hands relax slightly as they held her horse's reigns on her lap. She also let them absently run along the seeming of her skirt. It was a small habit of hers to never be completly still. One her mother had never managed to cure her of.
He called her words wise, and she was happy to know that he seemed to listen well. She thought it was a good quality to have, knight or otherwise. It was also not one found in most of the young nobles she met in these days. She found the younger nobles to be very rash and they seemed to feel entitiled. She was not fond of them in general and they had been a part of the reason she never stayed in court long. This knight, however, seemed very unlike them. He seemed to actually have an appreciation for work. Her mind tried to identify what she was feeling about this young man. She had never quite met the likes of him, and it was a bit frustrating to not be able to put a finger on what was so different.
"Understanding your place in life is important, to be sure. However, there will always come a time when your opinion will be needed. Never be afraid to speak what you think is right. It is only a fool who disreguards good advice based on rank. A dead fool at that." She said in a matter of fact tone. She did not believe that those of lower rank should be disreguarded. They were what gave the nobility their power, and should be aknowledged as such. Aribella found it admirable that the young knight was respectfull, but she did not want him to clam up on her. It was not everyday someone so interesting was met on the road, and it would be a shame to spend the rest of the trip in silence.
When he spoke of her guards coming to her aid, Aribella laughed outright. Her laugh was full and not restrained in the slightest. She smiled in genuine amusement and turned to her guards.
"What say you? Would you have lept to my aid to gallantly defend my honor?" She asked them with a hint of laughter still clouding her words. Both guards chuckled and one replied, "Your honor, your grace? If your honor were to be in trouble, I would not stand between you and the good man for anything. I know not to risk the dragon lady at her worst." His joke made the other guard laugh, and Aribella chuckled along with them.
It was a long standing joke, that her staff had nicknamed Aribella the dragon lady. She did not tend to have the best temper when truly angered, and did not rely on others to speak for her. She might not grow loud, but when she spokeit was blunt and firey. She did not pretend to have the nicest temperment when truly vexed and many did not ever wish to have that anger directed at themselves.
"Fear not, young knight. It takes more then truthfull words to get on my bad side. And never fear that you will overstep your bounds. I would rather be slighted honestly, then complimented in false. Now, let's not dwell on such unfortunate topics. Tell me, when were you last in Camelot?"
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Post by Aribella on Nov 5, 2010 19:00:13 GMT -5
Aribella would not say she was pleased with the apparent arrogance of the knight. In fact she took a bit of offense when he dismissed her guards so easily. Sure they may not match a fully trained and armed knight, but they had seen her through many a dangerous situation. They were her most loyal companions and she felt the need to always return that loyalty. As she thought about how to reply she let a bit of her anger spark in her eyes. Her features however, remained serene. She had frequently been around those of elevated rank, and they were the ones you never wanted to let know how you were really feeling. A lot of practice led to an exellent poker face.
He did have a point when he criticized her guards lightly for letting her get too far ahead. However, she put herself at fault for that. It was an error she was foolish to make. She could hardly blame her guards for not being able to follow at the pace she had picked up. Then again, she figured they would expect it by now with how long they had been her companions. These two she had had in her service for five years.
"Seeing is indeed believing, and I cannot fault you for your honest opinion. However, it is unwise for one so young to judge so quickly. Expierience can mean a lot in battle. The young often forget that." She said as her anger faded slightly. She could remember her own youth when she had said more inflamatory remarks with less provacation. He was brave, and she conceded points to him for that. She even found herself finding some of his qualities a bit endearing. It was not often one spoke so honestly to a Duchess. She would not leave him feeling as if he could not speak his mind in her presence.
"Never apologize for speaking your mind. It is a quality that is lost in many these days, and one I believe is sorely missed. If I never listened to anyone because they were of a lower rank, my servants would have had me thrown down a well long ago." She said with a small smile. She could remember that as a young child her mother had poured water over her head when she had spoken to harshly to her maid. Aribella knew for a fact that servants who respected you were much more loyal and gave better service then servants who resented you.
As for her trip to the castle, Aribella let Lancelot wonder. She found it amusing that he seemed edgey when it was mentioned. This also peaked her curiosity on why the knight cared so much about the King. It seemed like there would be an interesting story behind that. One she was very keen to hear in due time.
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Post by Aribella on Nov 1, 2010 20:07:11 GMT -5
Aribella found it quite charming he would worry over her, but knew she was quite safe on the road. Her guards were her two most trusted and talented men. She never left home without them by her side, or in this case trailing behind. She in all honesty should not be so foolish in the future as to stray so far from them. She blamed it on her eagerness to be home.
As Lancelot lowered his sword Aribella smiled and turned to face her two guards who had joined them. The guards were quick to put their hands to their weapons and ease their way to flank Aribella's horse. She again raised her hand, this time to her own men. The did not speak but moved their hands back to the reins of their horses obediently. However, their statures were still tense and they did not look happy when Lancelot inferred they would not be a match for him.
"So confident. These are my two best men. I doubt they would be so easily dispatched." She said in a rather arched tone. Her brows furrowed slightly but she still kept some of her amusement in her voice. She also gave a look to her guards who seemed to relax slightly.
She was a bit offended in their stead that anyone would question her people, but she let it pass. The young were often over-confident and brash. She knew all too well what being young felt like, and she was easy to forgive this time. She was not sure she would be next time Lancelot spoke as such, but she left it up to whatever mood she happened to be in at the time.
She was genuinely a bit surprised when the knight brought up the king. Her suspicions grew a bit, but she kept the emotions from flitting over her features. Instead she simply raised an eyebrow.
"I am returning now from the castle." She said without too much elaboration. She had first visited during the five day festival a while back and had just now made a second visit. She found herself enjoying being around the city now. Before the celebrations she had not been since she was seventeen. Now she figured she would plan a trip every now and then. It was good for gathering news, since her estate was a bit isolated.
"And I am as well acquainted with our King as anyone." She finally responded, making her answer vague and leaving it up to Lancelot to fill in whatever first came to his mind. She liked to leave people guessing even when the question was not an intrusive one. She liked how it left her with the upper hand in a conversation.
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Post by Aribella on Nov 1, 2010 19:52:27 GMT -5
[Day one]
Aribella let her horse slowly approach the castle entrance. She was flanked on either side by her two guards who she never traveled without. She halted her horse within the courtyard and dismounted with the ease of a long time rider. Her dark blue skirts were shaken into pace as she shook off the dust of her journey. Aribella's guards also dismounted and one turned to address the servants who had come to lead their horse to the stables. Meanwhile, Aribella took a careful account of her appearance. She noted that her clothes were in order and that, while they were made for riding, they satisfied the call for formal attire. The blue was embroidered on the edges with a dark burnt orange that suited her red hair quite nicely. Whoever said vanity faded with age was sorely mistaken.
Aribella touched the golden hair pins she always wore gently to check that they had not gotten loose before proudly turning to the guard still speaking to the servant.
"See to it that our horses get stabled correctly." She said in a straightforward and no nonsense tone. She had no patience left to her at the moment. She did enjoy riding above all else, but she was currently ready to see the inside of nice rooms again. She didn't have to check to make sure her guard was following orders. Above all else she awarded loyalty, and only her most trusted were ever permitted to be her travel companions. Aribella then started to stroll toward the castle entrance with her remaining guard by her side. Her steps were slow but certain, and did not show hesitation or meekness. She was nothing if not decisive and confident in every move she made. It made for a rather intimidating first impression, but she tried to temper it with a small smile.
Aribella could remember the last time she had stepped foot in this castle. it had been on the eve of her seventeenth birthday, and she had left not too long after engaged. Now she was forty-one and a widow. It was a remarkable difference and she could safely say she was no longer the same person. Traveling as often as she could after the death of her husband, she had not seen these walls since. She was nt sure what she would now find.
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Post by Aribella on Oct 29, 2010 14:41:59 GMT -5
Aribella listened as he identified himself. She rose an eyebrow at the part where he said he was a former knight of Camelot, and wondered why he no longer served the crown. She was wary of him, but did not move to widen the gap between the horses. Aribella was much to proud to let even a dubious knight intimidate her in any way. Instead of a wordy reply to his thanks, she merely inclined her head in his direction.
"Well Sir knight, you are addressing the Duchess Aribella Cantour. As for my companions, they are my personal guards." She said. Her head tilted and she gave a small chuckle when Lancelot moved to grab his swords. While she kept an eye on them, she did not think he would cause her trouble. She was more worried her guards might take the wrong idea if they found her in the company of an armed man with his weapon drawn. Aribella raised a hand gracefully in front of her to try and get Lancelot to calm down.
"They are merely the guards. No need to startle." She was a bit condescending as she spoke. However, she was slightly touched by his concern for her being alone on the road. She could see clearly now the knight-like qualities he had. In fact, she was sure Camelot could use knights such as this. Although, this string of thought again led her to ponder on why he no longer served Camelot. Surely, Aribella had heard of knights that wondered such as Lancelot, but they were not the type to change allegiances without due cause. While Aribella did not overflow with patriotic feelings for Camelot, she was not stupid. If Lancelot had done something to upset the king then Aribella would have to be very careful. As it was, she erred on the side of caution and would wait and see what would happen.
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Post by Aribella on Oct 28, 2010 17:00:30 GMT -5
Aribella turned to watch the newcomer as soon as she heard his approach. In full mail she figured he must be a soldier of some sort. Perhaps even a knight, though he looked unfamiliar. In her limited time she had been in Camelot proper and other very populated areas she had not met many knights, so it was possible she did not recognize him as such due to that. Him being new, she favored him with a small smile. She was not one to want to intimidate him. It was bad enough that the roads could be so unfriendly these days. She also took a liking to the way he made sure to be polite. He was observant since he could tell she was of noble birth, and he had addressed her as such. Not many had those markings of a true knight.
"I am headed now to my estate. There is an inn located right next to the property. It is not a days ride from this point. You are welcome to travel with my companions and I. They are just down the trail." Aribella said in a level tone. She continued to look the young man over as to ascertain she had not missed anything that would point to danger. If anything were to happen, her guards would not be able to arrive quickly enough to adequately protect her. When she spoke, she also chose not to reveal her name until he revealed his own or asked directly. She was quite interested to know what his response would be.
Aribella saw that he kept some distance between them and figured she must not have looked a very welcoming figure upon his entrance. She concluded she would not be too nice at first. She had a reputation to uphold as someone who was intimidating. She never liked to give people to much of an impression on who she really was. Better to always leave them off-balance. She raised an eyebrow delicately while waiting for his answer. While not showing any outside facial signs, she already heard her men approaching. She gave it five minutes before they arrived, and the trip could continue.
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Post by Aribella on Oct 26, 2010 22:06:44 GMT -5
[Set sometime right before season three in the year long gap]
Aribella pulled in her dark brown mare's reins to come to a stop. She snorted in amusement as she turned in her saddle to find her guards left behind some ways down the path. It rather amused her that a middle-aged woman could ride ahead of two men in the prime of their lives. If she wasn't so annoyed at their slow progress torward her estate then she would have slowed down to tease them a bit. However, as it was, it was already midday and the estate would not be reached until sun down at the least. While normally Aribella was all for long rides and being outside, they had been traveling over a week and she was tired. What she would not give to take a nice bath and sleep in soft sheets again.
Although vanity is said to dissapear with age, Aribella still liked to look her very best at any given moment. However, With her hair falling out of it's pins, she looked more wild then dignified as a duchess should. Her clothes were a muted color so as not to draw unwelcome attention from any unwholesome characters who might be found on the trail, and the only hint of her wealth were the gold hair pins she never went without. Yet even her posture spoke of her rank. With squared shoulders and a straightened back she was not to be mistaken for anyone of lesser rank. The posture drilled into her since early childhood could not be lost.
Even as she waited and shook out her skirts to pass the time, her horse shifted as well. Both were restless and rather annoyed at the holdup. Aribella's face was set in a look of steely dtermination to get home as quickly as possible, and the slightest hints of annoyance were beginning to show. She did not look to be a woman to be trifled with as she sat facing the bend in the trail where her men would appear shortly. If anything, she looked quite dragon like in her fierce demeaner. After all, hell hath no fury as a woman being made to wait.
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Post by Aribella on Oct 23, 2010 23:29:05 GMT -5
 | ~ • ~ | Character Basics | ~ • ~ |
.:Name of Character:. Aribella Cantour
.:Nick Name:. Bell
.:Age:. 32
.:Status:. Small time Duchess in Camelot
| ~ • ~ | Appearance | ~ • ~ |
.:Physical Appearance:. Aribella is relatively tall for a woman and stands at a height of 5'8. She had long waved red hair that is almost light enough to be called strawberry blond. Her eyes are an icy light blue and are set under an even brow. Her features are very delicate but she has pronounced bone structure that give her high cheekbones. She is moderately curved but has more of a lean figure then a voluptuous one.
Aribella often likes to keep her hair back and out of her face. She is often found in gowns but also favors riding clothes to wear since she likes to travel. You will never find Aribella without her favorite hair pins in her hair.
.:Height:. 5'8
.:Portrayed by:. Cate Blanchett
| ~ • ~ | Personality | ~ • ~ |
.:Personality:. Aribella is a very strong willed woman who is very aware of her surroundings. She is often slightly manipulative of those around her and is good as finding ways to meet her own ends. Being a very decisive person, Aribella always know exactly what she wants to do, and is very good at planning ahead. This all makes Aribella a very bad enemy to have since she is very skilled at gaining allies.
Aribella is very fond of traveling and loves to be outside. Her favorite pastime is riding. Although she is a women she is very fond of hunting. The only weapon Aribella can use is a crossbow. Aribella is also highly competitive and does not like to lose. Aribella also has a very teasing manner to her. While she is not exceedingly likable at first glance she is very charming.
Aribella is also very fond of music of any kind. She enjoys singing, and while she is not highly talented, she is quite good in her own right. However, she is likely to joke about being instrument challenged since she is not able to play any instruments. Although she is very balanced on horseback, it is a grace she does not always posses in other manners.
Aribella, while possessing some magical ability, hardly ever uses it. She does not like magic normally. The most Aribella ever accomplishes with her magic is a few small potions to help with headaches she gets at times.
.:Strengths:. Horse-back riding, singing, manipulating people, hunting.
.:Weaknesses:. Bossy, clumsy on foot, can be selfish.
.:Magic Abilities:. Small time witch, magic is from her mother's side.
.:Special Skills:. Crossbow, small potions and spells to help with headaches and other minor ailments.
.:Accents:. Upper-class
| ~ • ~ | History | ~ • ~ |
.:Birthplace:. Her father's estate some ways outside of Camelot.
.:Family:. Both parents deceased.
.:Occupation:. N/a
.:Current Location of Residence:. Is currently visiting Camelot, but resides in a manor three days journey west.
.:History:. Aribella was born to her father who was a Duke with a medium sized estate three days ride from the castle. Her mother was the daughter of a very wealthy merchant who married into nobility. Her mother was also a witch of a small calibur. Aribella grew up relatively cut off from others due to her father's dislike of court. In fact, Aribella's first trip to the castle to see the court was when she was seventeen. She stayed a while and only two years later was married off to a nobleman.
However, only three years into the marriage, her husband died in an accident. Aribella went into a year long mourning. After that year of self-induced seclusion Aribella went on a traveling spree. She traveled for long periods o time only stopping at her estate for short stays to rest and plan the next trip.
Recently Aribella has traveled back and is visiting the castle. She plans to stay for a while this time to make up for being away so long. However, she does not plan to stay indefinitely. She only has plans to stay for a month or so.
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