Jezin chuckled when Thomas mentioned that he had an off day. "I suppose everyone needs a break every now and then. You'll get to enjoy the feast, at least." When asked about Sophia, Jezin replied quickly and without hesitation. "Left side, third row, middle." He pointed directly towards the princess' current location. It was obvious he'd been keeping track of her the entire time, even if he'd seemed distracted. She was still sitting next to the young man she'd met at the feast, and it seemed one of her servants had joined her. A faint look of distaste crossed the bodyguard's face. Eva. She had been a servant of the royal family for a few years now, but he still didn't trust a Tauran. She'd never given him the slightest reason to question her motivations, but still, some wounds didn't fade easily.

Thomas laughed as Jezin quickly replied with the exact location, and sure enough, there she was. Thomas smiled as he looked over at Sophia, Gareth, and what appeared to be a lady-in-waiting, "You're a good protector, Jezin." Thomas commented, as he turned his attention back to Jezin. Thomas was reminded of his time serving Aripert, Bard's older brother and Arduin's younger. Aripert had a habit of constantly going about business without alerting the Order to his whereabouts. It was a handful, as the Order often found itself scrambling to locate the King. The King's natural ability to slip through the watchful eye of the Order was impressive, and challenged Thomas in more ways than one. Bard was more cooperative, though. At least, as far as Thomas could tell. Bard seemed to value the opinion of Sir Redwyne, and cherished his protectors, "I'm going to go change out this coffin they call armor." Thomas spoke, as he shifted uncomfortably in his protection.

Jezin smirked. "Thanks." He remained standing in the same place. His eyes glanced from Sophia to the king's location. The monarch looked concerned. Maybe he knew something they didn't. Oh well. That was not something for a bodyguard to be concerned with. Thomas left to change out of his armor. "Alright, I'll still be here, probably." The knight seemed relieved to get out of the heavy suit, confirming his suspicions that Thomas had been uncomfortable wearing such heavy gear. His own armor was getting a bit hot in the sun, but it wasn't becoming too uncomfortable, not yet anyway. He picked up his spear, leaning the weapon against his shoulder.

Thomas promptly left, and what seemed like an instance for armor removal, was back next to Jezin, wearing his black leather doublet, Harmony still hanging at his side, "Much better." Thomas said, as he looked up into the stands. It seemed as if some people were clearing out, and heading back to their own lodgings, or even prepare for the midnight feast, "Don't tell my you're gonna wear your armor to the feast. I'm assuming you chose something that might actually get all the ladies to want to dance with you." Thomas joked, with a small smile on his face. It was nice to be able to relax and joke with someone, as most of the Order knight's humor was as dry as dirt.

Jezin smirked as Thomas returned, noticing the thick steel armor had been replaced by a more casual doublet. He glanced down at his armor. He hadn't even considered what he'd be wearing to the feast. Now that he thought about it, wearing armor into such an event would likely be a sign of poor taste, still, he would feel better with it. It was a sacrifice he'd have to make. Sophia surely would harass him until he changed into something more 'courtly' anyway. He glanced at Thomas with a smirk when he mentioned the ladies at the feast. "Oh, I'm sure I can find something that will do the trick." A thought crossed his mind. "So, does the Order of the Thistle allow it's members to participate in... outside activities?" His face still bore the same smirk.

Thomas frowned at first, before chuckling, "The Order does not allow any activities outside of serving the King." Thomas replied, holding his own slight smirk, "The Order runs a very tight ship." Thomas added, as he gazed over the various spectators starting to leave the tournament grounds, "Any breaking of any part of our oath is enough to warrant a death sentence with no trial." Thomas explained further, as he grasped Harmony's hilt with one hand. He had seen a couple of Order knights executed for such things. Both were for violating their oath of celibacy, "But I doubt dancing will be something I would lose my head over." Thomas finished, with a slight smirk.

Jezin's eyebrows raised as Thomas talked about his vows. It seemed the Order had a much more strict policy than the Brass Hand. Though leaving one's post for any reason would likely result in being burned alive, when a knight of the Hand was off duty there was very little they were barred from. "Sounds like you all run a very tight ship indeed." Jezin looked around at the spectators milling about, heading out of the fairgrounds. He kept an eye on Sophia amongst the shifting tides of people. "Yes, I imagine dancing will be just fine. Who all do you expect to attend the feast?"

"Everyone that is worth anything will be showing up to the feast." Thomas replied. He had attended Aripert's midnight feast for his coronation celebration. He remembers the night fondly, as he was assigned to watch over Bard. It was typically a loose and relaxed event, with the only ones that stay on guard being the Order of the Thistle. Thomas remembers fondly as Aripert tried to get multiple maidens to dance with his younger brother, whom seemed to be too shy to ask any maiden on his own. Thomas doubted that tonight's feast would be anywhere near as memorable as Aripert's, however. Aripert was much more fun-loving, and much more sociable than Bard, "The midnight feast is a time where highborn nobles court each other, warriors swap battle stories, and rulers share wine pitchers. It's not an event people would skip by choice." Thomas explained.

Jezin smiled. "Sounds like that will be when the real celebration begins, then." Still, he had faint worries. That many nobles gathered in one spot would be dangerous. Just paranoia, he thought. He glanced over towards Sophia again. He was sure she'd enjoy herself at the feast. He looked up at the sun falling in the sky. Night would be upon them shortly, and he was sure the princess would want to have time to get prepared for the feast, but he imagined they still had a bit of time. "I look forward to it." He turned towards Thomas. "It's a shame we never got to have our duel though. Perhaps tomorrow."

"Yes. Perhaps tomorrow." Thomas replied, with a small smile. "Maybe we should obtain Lady Sophia and Gareth, and start our way towards the feast." Thomas added, as he gazed back up at the stands, spotting Sophia and Gareth once more. It had been a long day, and Thomas wished to just attend the feast, drink wine, eat, converse with other people, and return to his lodgings for a night's rest, which he had been deprived of for the past three nights.

"Sounds good."Jezin began walking towards the stands, raising a hand to wave towards Sophia. The sooner they could prepare for the feast the better. He cut his eyes briefly to Eva, who returned the gesture with a similar amount of distaste. He didn't like that the woman was with them, but he'd have to endure her company for the time being it seemed.He looked back to see if Thomas was following. The sun setting behind the man silhouetted him, making him appear as a tall shadow walking against the horizon. Jezin reached the stands, motioning to Sophia and Gareth in the quickly dimming light.

Harker smiled again at Jezin and Thomas when they looked over, but his focus on the knights was broken when Sophia's silky voice singed to him through his foucs. Gareth heard 'hungry', and his stomach almost immediately growled in response. "Oh my... pardon me... yes, my lady!" He seemed more eager for a meal than a commoner for good work, and he grinned with delight the moment he spotted the bread in the hands of Sophia's servant. The day drew out for so long after the morning feast, and he ate so little since then.

Payton turned around, slowly, taking in the courier dressed in a flamboyant cloak, no doubt to denote her job. Payton's face remained someone blank as she spoke up to the lady in red, "Of course, how can I help?" The words were friendly, but the voice was not. Despite the blank expression, and the helpful words, their seemed to be some kind of hidden venom to the way she spoke, as if she held contempt for the girl who had spoke to her. Payton placed a hand on her hip as she waited for the girl to reply, body language speaking of a woman whom was impatient with the current situation.

Sophia smiled brilliantly and broke the loaf of bread in half, handing Gareth a sizable portion. She took a bite of the other half. She hadn't eaten since that morning, so it felt good to have something to eat, and the bread was far better than she'd expected it to be. The princess gave a appreciative nod to the lady-in-waiting. "Thank you Eva, neither of us had eaten anything since this morning." The woman smiled, her short grey hair blowing in the breeze. "Of course, milady." Despite her grey hair, the woman looked to be in her early twenties. Sophia turned as she noticed the shadows approaching them from across the field. "Jezin! Thomas!" She exclaimed with a smile and a wave.

Jezin gave a slight smile when he reached the trio sitting in the stands. "Hello Princess, Eva,.... erm." He paused, realizing he didn't know the other young man's name. "Gareth, his name is Gareth." Sophia's voice sang out over the stands. "Well then, pleased to meet you, Gareth." Jezin nodded to the young man. "It seems the remainder of the tournament has been postponed until tomorrow. The midnight feast, however, is still on. Thomas and I thought we'd come inform you all if you didn't know yet."

Thomas bowed slightly as himself and Jezin had made their way next to the trio, "Your Grace, Gareth, Eva." Thomas spoke, giving a slight nod to each person, and pausing ample time in between names. Thomas was able to pick up on the name of what appeared to be Sophia's personal lady-in-waiting, "I hope you are ready for a night that you'll remember for a very long time." Thomas said, with a soft smile, "The midnight feast is quite the ordeal, it'll probably end up lasting from 11:00 p.m until about 4 in the morning." Thomas added. Aripert's midnight feast had last much longer, breaking sunrise before all the party goers had left. Thomas was sure Bard would cut the midnight feast much shorter than his older brother.

"Oh my, thank you both, my lady and Eva." Gareth graciously accepted the food from Sophia, and he took it into his hands, the young half-elf mumbling a small offering and a prayer, before he began taking small bites out of the loaf. Harker swallowed when Jezin approached, and he bowed curtly. "Pleasure to meet you, sir." The two fighting men approached and he delivered a formal greeting to them both, Gareth nodding to Thomas in return. All of the competing would run for at least four more hours, Harker calculated, long after sundown, and he assumed that by the evening he'd be shooting arrows into the night. "It will be the first of many amazing nights I will treasure, I am sure, Sir Morgan."

Sophia smiled. "You're quite welcome, Gareth." Eva nodded with a smile from behind the princess. Sophia noticed Gareth saying a small prayer before eating. She wondered to what higher power he made the prayer, but decided she would ask him later. Thomas began talking about the feast, and the princess felt the excitement well up inside of her. He said the celebration would last several hours, more than enough time to enjoy herself. She'd need to prepare. Her mind raced, thinking of all she'd have to do. She had brought a moderately large wardrobe with her, so she'd have to find something to wear, she'd have to manage her hair... she'd have to convince Jezin not to dress like he was going to slaughter a horde. The last would likely be the most difficult. Still, she was incredibly excited about the feast. Gareth seemed rather excited as well.

Jezin gave a slight bow when Gareth spoke. "The pleasure is mine." Again the policy of politeness drilled into him by life in the court kicked in. Thomas seemed convinced the feast would be something to remember. Jezin certainly hoped it'd be as pleasant as he described. The sun had nearly disappeared from the sky by this point, night would soon be upon them. "I suppose we should make our way back towards the palace, then?" They still had plenty of time, and he himself was in no hurry to be berated into wearing 'formal attire'.

Thomas smiled at Gareth's response, then turned his attention back to Jezin as he began talking about heading back to the Palace, "That sounds like a good idea. I can actually change into something that is worthy of the midnight feast." Thomas said, as he tugged at his black doublet, "We can always meet each other at the courtyard, where the feast will be held, once we're all ready and prepped for the affair." Thomas added. He imagined they would of sat out the long tables by now, and the entertainment, likely a bard or dancers, would of set up a stage by now.

Gareth simply nodded along, and as he ate he simply paid attention and said nothing, politely chewing on bread. He wondered about what he would wear to the feast. Maybe a simple vest and dress clothes would suit him well for the occasion, and silently he agreed with himself on it and made a note to change clothes when he left to prepare himself. After all, he'd need to look more than just presentable, he needed to be attractive if he wanted to impress anyone in the court of the king. Now was a time to get his name on the lips of others, to be the promising worker, and perhaps increase his reputation, and he'd be damned if he couldn't do just that. The bread was quite delectable then in particular, and Harker surmised that a good fortune might await him.

"Right, then." Sophia said, standing up. "Let's go, we must get prepared!" She hopped the small fence in front of the stands, an odd maneuver for someone of such a lofty position. She noticed Jezin looking at her questioningly, but the small girl just shrugged. "Eva, Jezin, we should head back!" She motioned for the two to follow her and began walking, before quickly turning on her heel. "Oh, yes. Thomas, Gareth, I hope to see both of you tonight! We'll all go in together!" She turned back around, her small entourage following her. As they walked, she spoke. "Eva, do you think you could manage doing something with my hair for tonight? I think I'd like to do something a bit more impressive. We're meeting a king, after all!" The Tauran woman smiled, walking on the side opposite of Jezin. "Of course, Princess. I'll make it absolutely stunning." The princess smiled, she had faith in the woman's words.

Jezin glanced at the princess as she lept over the fence. As rambunctious as ever, he thought. He nodded to Thomas and Gareth before following the princess. He watched Eva worriedly from the corner of his eye. He had to remind himself he had to get along with her for Sophia's sake. "Eva, where are Jorun and Alia?" The woman looked a bit shocked the bodyguard had spoken to her. "Jorun went off to some local pub, and I saw Alia go off somewhere with one of the locals." Eva shook her head. "They're enjoying themselves, I suppose. It's a shame they can't do their jobs though."