Duncan grinned. "Crows, I like that idea. Good thinking Elaine." Duncan praised her. All of his guards were good ofcourse but Elaine was one of the best in his team by far. Not only because of her powers. "I'm going to check on the princess" And Madeline. "Before I take a look at the treasury and the guest chambers." he said before he turned and walked off in his usual fast pace. Duncan went first by the common room of the Royal Guard and picked two who followed him. He would station them in a small guard room at the top the the stairs so they wouldn't be seen from downstairs but could stop anyone going to the chambers of the Royal Family.

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Keith sauntered on while whistling some more happy tunes. After walking on for a while he noticed a horse and a figure. In the mood for a chat he made his way there. When he got closer he noticed Norlanann. He realised he probably had been a bit rude with his reaction and he wasn't sure if he had answered her question at all so he walked towards her. "Greetings lady Norlanann, hope you rested well?" he said with a warm smile on is face. Now he had gotten a bit more used to the idea and he saw her a second time he noticed things he missed the first time he saw her. Like her ears.

With a snap of her fingers Elaine let out a large burst of energy and a magical shockwave silently covered the grounds protecting the castle. It was a low level protection that would serve as a sort of alarm system allowing for a sort of silent warning to let Elaine view anyone who approached. Once it was complete she held up an orb which began to light up as she saw different parts of the land through eyes of the animals.

__________

Desmond yawned and stretched as he got up from his bed and began to leave his room having only been moments too late too catch the guards conversation. He slowly crept up to the corner by the guest hall and truest to creep his way outside. He needed to relax. Everything had him way too hopped up. He headed outside spotting Keith and lady norlanan as he hid on the corner.

The princess was in her chambers. Annabelle was getting ready for bed. She sat at her vanity, looking at herself in the mirror. She was brushing her hair a bit. She had already tended to her teeth and such. She had changed into her nightgown and everything. She sighed a bit, her mind on everything that had happened so far.

……………………

Madeline continued to walk down the hall. She was still alone. She thought about everything that happened. In the end, the lady in waiting decided to head to her own chambers. She would get ready for bed soon. She sighed a bit. She was rather quiet. Madeline would arrive at her door soon enough and head into her chambers.

She slows to a sedate walk for the man to be able to keep astride. "Hello, Prince Keith, I did. Sort of. Honestly, I'm waiting on my servant to arrive with the carriage, and I'll be able to put on something clean. Shouldn't be more than a few minutes more." She laughs, an embarrassed flush spreading over her neck and ears. " Are you looking for someone?"
Hearing something creeping about, she crooks her ears to listen. Probably just an animal, but she's been scorned enough times to keep vigilant.

Keith nodded as Norlanann explained she was waiting for the carriage. when she asked her question Keith grinned. "Just looking for good company lady Norlanann. And please, lets skip the formalities shall we. At least when we are amongst ourselves. Adressing everyone with their titles all the time is tiresome and I don't think the titles mean much around here as princess Annabelle will not choose the title but what the person can bring in the alliance she seeks."
He noticed the ears of Norlanann crooked a bit and wondered how much better her hearing was.

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Duncan placed the Royal Guards in the guard room and lefdt them with instructions. He made a round and found him in the hall near Madelines chambers. "Lady Madeline." he greeted her. "How fortunate I ran into you. You happen to know when supper and dessert will be? The suitors seem to have left their chambers again and are keeping themselves occupied on the castle grounds."

The noblewoman nods to his explanation and grins. "Tiresome? I quite agree, but I think my mother would run me through if she heard that. She's the one who taught me diplomacy and court manner, you see. Please, call me Nora."
She hears talking ahead, ears perking up in uncanny sync with her mount's. A minute later, she passes the front gate, where her servant passing the carriage off to a stable hand.
She nods at the maid. "I'll see you inside. Go rest. I'll stay out and about until dinner." She turns to Keith. "Up for a ride?"

Madeline blinked. She looked towards Duncan. She blushed a bit upon seeing him. She shook her head.
"I am not certain at the moment."
She sighed a bit. She wished that she could be of more help.

Keith grinned back. "I would love to ride a bit Nora. One of the few lessons I really took to heart back at the castle. Galloping is the closest one gets to flying" Keith looked for a stableboy to see if there was a horse he could ride. Quickly they saddled one for him and Keith mounted the horse quickly. It was unfortunate that he didn't have his own horse with him. "I should have brought my own horse." Keith sighed. "But father was worried I wouldn't show up so he sent me in the carriage." Keith looked around to see which path seemed best to ride.

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Duncan gave a slight nod in acknowledgement of her words. He thought that she had a very cute blush. "You were retreating to rest before dinner as well?" Duncan asked Madeline. He added to a mental checklist to check up on the dining room to see if it was safe for everyone. He would need to send someone to inquire with the cooks and see that the seating on the table was set up properly. Even though that wasn't in his usual line of work he made an exception for the first evening with all the suitors ahead. They had to be sure everything was safe for everyone.

Madeline took a breath. She nodded once.
"...yes."
She twirled a strand of her hair a bit in her fingers. She started to glance away a bit. She..liked Duncan. She found herself glad that he wasn't a suitor. That thought made her happy. Madeline took another breath. She tried to calm herself.

Desmond looked around the corner at the two. They seemed to be hitting it off which seemed strange considering they were all there for the princess. He decided he would keep his distance but stay in earshot of them

_____

Elaine pricked her finger and began drawing a small circle on the floor of her room and placed her hand over it. She silently chanted to herself as the room lit up and she broke into a meditative state. Her body slumped over as she transfered her consciousness to the air and dispersed to the afterlife for consult. She was searching more power once again. She needed it. Though her powers grew more she somehow clung to the light. She traveled into the darkest depths of the universe and disappeared.......for now

Keith thought that riding with Lady Norlanann would give him an idea about the suitor. He had been astonished to say the least. At least he could be sure she wouldn't hit on him like so he could be himself. He had no idea whether or not Princess Annabelle was into woman, he hoped not, but it was always smart to at least know what he was up against.

---------------

Duncan smiled but looked a bit worried as Madeline. "Everything allright? Need some fresh air?" he asked. He could be mistaken but he thought he heard some shortness of breath. "Unless you rather rest for dinner of course." Duncan offered his arm. "Either way, let me escort you." He offered gently

Madeline nodded once.
"I am alright."
She just managed a faint smile. She heard him ask if she needed some fresh air. She shook her head no at the mention of resting for dinner. However, she was not going to decline his offer to escort her.
"...very well."
She managed to faintly smile again. She took his arm.
"Are we walking to any site in particular?"

"Glad to hear that my lady." Duncan said. "I was thinking the air in the herbal garden is the best at this time of day," he suggested.

"After I make send one of the Royal guards to check on the dining room and kitchen. I was going to do that myself but I found a more urgent matter to attend to," he said with a wink.
Any excuse was good enough in his opinion and his royal Guard was more than adequate to inspect the safety. It was a good thing he'd trust more in his guards then insisting to do everything himself.

when he noticed one of his Guards on his round Duncan instructed him to check on the kitchen and the dining room as well. Duncan walked with Madeline to the herbal garden. He was glad that he found a way to spend a bit more time with her. He had been disappointed his earlier encounter with her in the garden had only been so briefly.

"Will you attend dinner with our guests too?" he asked.

Duncan himself wouldn't attend as it was for the Princess and her suitors but having an extra pair of eyes and ears on the inside beside one of the guards would be a good thing. Maybe he would ask if Elaine wanted to stand guard but there were enough to pick from.

Madeline was curious why he picked that spot. Anyway, she nodded.
"Very well then."
She walked with him. She turned red when he winked at her. She looked straight ahead for a bit as they walked, even when he assigned a guard to check those rooms. She blinked when he asked her if she would attend dinner with those guests.
"...perhaps."

Duncan glanced at Madeline. "Maybe you should, her Majesty could use her friend there amongst the suitors. And I could use your honest opinion about them at the table." he said as he walked on.

When he reached the doors that lead outside towards the herbal garden he opened it and let Lady Madeline go through first. The scents of the herbs greeted them already.

"Let's take a stroll through the garden, a little light walking before dinner is great to get some appetite. Besides, knowing our cook, it'll be an elaborate meal again."

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Keith hoped that a signal would be given when dinner was about to ready, something like a horn or whatever. He would hate to miss dinner. But riding and getting to know his fellow suitor was a nice way to spend the time before dinner.
He looked around a bit, to see if Desmond would be outside too but he couldn't spot anyone right now.
Again, Keith thought about how he acted when Nora had introduced herself. "I do want to apologise for my behaviour when you introduced yourself. I can safely say I did not expect that but I could have acted a bit more prince worthy or something."

Madeline sighed a bit. She nodded once. She looked at Duncan.
"Very well."
She walked. She kept following him. They soon got to the garden. She faintly smiled when he let her go in first, being a gentleman. She nodded again after that, this time at what he said about light walking. She looked at him again.
"Perhaps."
She chuckled a little bit.

Norlanann smiled, clicking her tongue to encourage her mount into a faster gait, and shook her head. “Water under the bridge, princeling. I can’t fault you for being surprised, nor would it- watch out for that branch- would it be fair of me to judge you solely on first impressions. Especially so if mine was as unexpected as it appeared to be.” She let out a soft laugh.
She kept an ear out, inconspicuously turning it this way and that to listen for anything, be it rustling of undergrowth, unusual footsteps, or a dinner bell or horn.

The chuckling sounded like music to Duncan's ears. He was pleased that he had some time with her alone. It was fortunate the princess didn't need her now. It was quiet outside and he had to be honest, he needed the break. This had been hectic and stressful in the castle for a while. He took a deep breath and the scent of the different herbs helped, but not as much as the enchanting company he had.

"Tell me Lady Madeline, what do you do when you are alone in your chambers when the princess doesn't need you? What are your hobbies?"

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Keith let his horse fall in pace with Nora's horse and he ducked just in time for the branch. "Fair enough," he said with a grin. "How did you get a Bearded Vulture as your bird? I am pretty sure I never saw a noblewoman with a bird like that before. Nor noblemen for that matter."
Keith enjoyed the ride, the scenery was nice and the company pleasant. He liked the castle and the grounds. But he ould feel it later, it had been a while since he had been on a horseback and the muscles he had to use were roughly awakened from their slumber.

Madeline continued to walk alongside Duncan. The atmosphere felt nice to her just then. It was a nice quiet break from everything else. She heard him speak to her again. She blinked when he asked about her hobbies and such, what she did whenever the princess did not need her for anything. She took a breath and cleared her throat before she replied to him.

"Well...I am not sure. I rarely leave the castle unless I was to accompany her majesty to another location. I rarely had the time for hobbies in the past. During the end of the days as they pass, I usually just sit by the window and watch the sunset, perhaps with a book or a cup of tea in my hand."

She managed not to sigh.

Duncan glanced at the lady in waiting. He realised that her position didn't always leave her with much free time. Not that the princess was very demanding, but it could be very long days. His days were often busy too, his rank didn't come with a lot of free time. At last not if he wanted to do his work properly.

He was glad to hear that she could enjoy a book. "I like to read too at the end of the day when there is light enough. Or play a game of chess, if you like I could teach you." He glanced at Madeline again. "Although I am starting to appreciate to take just a stroll. Especially in the right company."