[centre][h1][color=f9ad81]Laurel Mith[/color][/h1][/centre]

[Color=gray]Before either of the large men could respond, Laurel caught sight of the Freyjan woman speaking to Eve out of the corner of her eye. With a quick nod she excused herself from the veteran warriors and slipped away toward the palace gates. There a guard held up a hand to stop her but she merely pointed to her insignia and whisked past him before the man had a chance to stop her. Whether guards were truly allowed in or not was a mute point, Laurel was sure that Eve would be clueless as to whom she was speaking and she had been keeping track of the drinks the Princess had been downing; not enough to affect her overly but surely enough to dull some of her senses. Senses she would need surrounded by strangers in this venomous gathering.

Before she reached Eve she was approached by a servant bearing a small quill and paper. They resolutely stopped Laurel in her tracks, despite her obvious attempt to sidestep tbem.[/color]

"We'll need your name for the tournament rolls, ma'am. I presume you're from Earthica?"

[Color=f9ad81]"What? Oh, yes I am."[/color] [color=gray]She replied, distracted and peering over the much shorter servant's head at Eve.[/color]

"And your name, ma'am? I need it for the announcer."

[Color=f9ad81]"Laurel, Laurel Mith.[/color]

[Color=gray]She slipped past the curtseying servant, freed from the interaction she had barely paid attention to and weaved her way toward Eve. Frequently she was stopped by servant's offering her luxurious platters of food or drinks but she refused them all, unlike Eve she had no intention of drinking that day but more importantly she could not be delayed.

Stopping a little ways down the array of tables piled high with food she paused, turning to appear as though she were observing the food. Having got this far what had she truly intended to do? Stop Eve talking to someone just because they [i]might[/i] be dangerous? That would hardly go down well with the Princess not was it fair, she was not some idiot royal without a clue, merely a little rebellious against her parents and their sensibilities.

She subtly watched, picking at some kind of meat based snack, as the Freyjan Princess stepped closer and caressed Eve's hair and felt a tingle down her spine. Forcing herself to be still, she observed the ending of their interaction, the Freyjan remembering her position and rushing away to her other guests. She could see Eve's flushed face and felt a small pang of irritation but quickly smothered it, there was no time for jealousy of which source she was unsure; Eve was a Princess from a foreign land so of course others would come to talk to her. Laurel's role was not to interfere, merely to protect.

Another Freyjan, bearing some small resemblance to the former beyond merely their race, approached Eve and they began to talk again. Laurel frowned, trying to remember the information about the various royals drummed into her by Ulfic and, after mentally passing through the ranks of known figures, identified the woman as another Princess but not from the main family line. Thyrri, she thought. This one seemed more approachable and, importantly for Laurel, less high ranking than the earlier Princess, and so she set down her uneaten food and strolled up to the pair.

[Color=f9ad81]"Princess."[/color] It was hard not to address her friend by name but certain expectations were place upon here in this social situation. [Color=f9ad81]"I see you're getting into the spirit of things."[/color] She spared a glance at the drinks in Eve's hand before turning to the Freyjan Princess and offered her a small bow.

[Color=f9ad81]"I apologise for interrupting, I had lost track of the Princess for a moment amongst all these visitors. I may be stating the obvious but I am her bodyguard for this event, Laurel-"[/color][/color]

"-Mith?"

[Color=gray]She turned as an Exodus guard approached, holding a piece of paper in his hand. He looked Laurel up and down with a discerning eye, noting the longbow strapped to her back and the dagger thrust through her belt.

[Color=f9ad81]"Yes, that's me. Is something wrong?"[/color] She felt some small trepidation, maybe she was not allowed in here? Despite her surety that she had seen other guards inside the palace walls she worried that perhaps she had overstepped her bounds; the King would be disappointed if she made a scene here.[/color]

"You're expected for the tournament, you gave your name to an organiser earlier." [Color=gray]His eyes strayed toward the bow over her shoulder.[/color]"Would've thought you'd  sign up for the archery contest. 'Suppose there'll be time for both. Come, there is not much time to prepare you."

[Color=gray]Before she had the wit to protest the guard grasped her by the arm and began to pull her away. Although she had the strength to pull away she resigned herself to her fate, now recalling the distracted conversation she had had earlier. Admonishing herself for not paying attention, she let herself be lead away. She shot a last glance toward Eve before she was swallowed up by the crowd.

The guard led her into the palace and then down some steps to an armoury where others were being suited in heavy looking armour. Some attendants stepped up toward her, carrying the many components of full plate between them. She began to feel nervous, never having worn any armour beyond her hunting leathers. Having heard of its weight she feared she would be slow, having relied on speed in past bouts back in Earthica but it was lighter than she had thought, her strength from years practicing with the bow lending her an advantage over most practiced warriors.

A servant approached her with a sword and shield but she caught sight of a handaxe on the wall and pointed toward it. With a mild look of disapproval they laid aside the sword and brought her the more familiar weapon; apparently such a thing was considered base here but she was desperate not to make a fool of herself before the assembled royalty who would surely be watching. Winning was hardly on her mind, not losing in an embarrassing manner was very much in the forefron.[/color]