Samsul nodded. Kala did have a will of steel, and refused to give up after the first round, and some of their fights would go on for a few hours at the most. She was a little reckless, but he just needed to use that against her and wear her out. he hoped that one day she would see that and change accordingly, but she was much more social than she was, and spent a lot of her time being a person, rather than a knight. Samsul took his regular spot at the dining hall and looked around at the vacancy. He was sure that Elana would love to share a dinner with the two of them, and before he could continue his thoughts, Eric strode in with a smile. "A pleasure to see you, Anastasia. Would would you have?"
GM
Anastasia looked up at Eric when he came into the dining hall and about of the kitchen. Did they have someone watching out for them? Did they even have to go to the kitchen anymore to address Eric and the rest for a meal. It made her feel like a Princess. She giggled a little at the thought. It was not the dresses, nor the castle, or the personal guard but the fact that the kitchen staff was keeping an eye out for her that made her feel like a Princess. She covered her mouth, when she realized that it must have seemed rather random to Eric and Samsul. She looked between the two of them, "Sorry... Got lost in my head," She bit her lip as she thought about what is was that she wanted. She looked at Eric again, "Do you have any stew handy? If not... that's fine. I'll take whatever you have..."
She grinned at him and put her hands in her lap, "Your food is good no matter what after all."
She grinned at him and put her hands in her lap, "Your food is good no matter what after all."
Eric pardoned the princess quickly. She was simply with her own thoughts, and she didn't seem to have control over the giggling. Samsul simply looked at her with a black face. He wasn't questioning what she was doing or anything, but simply watching her as she stopped and asked for stew. Eric quickly nodded at her with a smile and glanced at the kitchen. "I have been working on a stew today, and thank you for the good word. I'll be sure to bring the stew out quickly." He then turned to Samsul and nodded. "I'm assuming that you would have the same?" Samsul nodded at him and watched as the man left the dinging hall and went through the doors that led to the kitchen.
The Lost Elf then turned to Anastasia and gave her a curious look, now wondering about what she was thinking. "If I may, Anastasia. What were you thinking about that caused you to giggle? It was rather unexpected, and I assume that something that you found funny came across your mind."
The Lost Elf then turned to Anastasia and gave her a curious look, now wondering about what she was thinking. "If I may, Anastasia. What were you thinking about that caused you to giggle? It was rather unexpected, and I assume that something that you found funny came across your mind."
GM
Anastasia was surprised and rather pleased that Eric was working on a stew. She had always enjoyed stew. She smiled and bowed her head slightly in thanks but remained quiet as he then turned to speak with Samsul. With a nod from him, Eric ran off back to the kitchen. Anastasia was looking at the door, trying to figure out how they were watching for her and Samsul while continuing to work at making food. She was biting her lip again, deep in thought, when Samsul's voice pulled her out of it. She giggled a little, embarrassed, when he asked her what it was that had caused her to snicker. She smiled at him, "Myself... Twice now we've come in here and haven't even had to make our presence known. I was thinking how it made me feel like Princess. Which I found amusing since all of this, my room, the castle, these dresses, you, should make me feel like a Princess... But nope, it is the fact that the kitchen staff knows when I'm here that makes this all real," she laughed again at the thought.
He nodded with some level of understanding, and he assumed that it wasn't just the kitchen staff, but the other staff around the castle, as she would encounter later on. The castle had one giant body of staff, but it was divided into groups that would all focus on a certain job or area of jobs, so that not everyone is running around doing jobs that have already been done. It felt more organized to have it like that, and Samsul would be himself if he didn't like organization. He smiled a little at her as a small fact came to his head that was still on the subject of the kitchen staff. "You know, although Eric typically serves us, the kitchen is used throughout every hour or the day, and many of the chefs takes shifts about four to five hours each. If you ever wake up too early, or in the middle of the night, a chef would always be there to serve you."
GM
Anastasia looked at Samsul as he explained to her that if she was hungry at any point of the day, she would just have to come and ask. It was stranger thinking about the fact that if she wanted to eat whenever she wanted. She rested her head on her hand and relaxed. She smiled and nodded her head, "Thank you. But if I do that and come here alone, I fear you might not even eat."
She leaned back in her seat after and sighed slightly. She relaxed into her seat and sat there a moment. She looked up at the ceiling as she sat there, "I didn't expect it to be like this... I don't know how I feel about it. I like it here... and I love being near my mother.... My actual mother... but it just feels like there something looming... always..." she shook her head, "I'm conflicted."
She leaned back in her seat after and sighed slightly. She relaxed into her seat and sat there a moment. She looked up at the ceiling as she sat there, "I didn't expect it to be like this... I don't know how I feel about it. I like it here... and I love being near my mother.... My actual mother... but it just feels like there something looming... always..." she shook her head, "I'm conflicted."
Samsul let out a small sigh when thinking about that "Looming" feeling. He wasn't sure how far the feeling went, but he only hoped that she wouldn't find out about the true plans. Shaking his head a little, he looked at Anastasia with a calm but slightly saddened look on his face. "This war is not over yet. It is close, but there is still a threat out there. I believe that the feeling you have is there because everyone is still weary about the war that has lasted so long. Your mother doesn't want to lose you like she lost...." He faded off because he wasn't sure if he should bring up her father. Elana would practically burst into tears when alone at the mention of him, and he wasn't sure if Anastasia had felt the same.
GM
Anastasia looked at Samsul when his voice trailed off. She looked back at the table and just stared at it, "Like my father."
She hadn't met the man other than in the hour between her being born and sent off. She had no recollection of that moment in time. Since he died not long after, she never even saw him rule as King. Her parents seemed to have a better connection with her father than she did. When she had asked one year why the Queen didn't have a King like those in her storybooks, her mother practically started to cry. She guessed that when someone is a kind ruler, they have that effect on people. Her mother would too. She looked back at Samsul and smiled slightly. She assumed that she was the reason his voice had grown weak, worried about speaking about him in front of her. She shook her head slightly, "Don't worry about it... I never knew my dad... As a King or my father... It is kind of hard to get worked up over someone you never knew... even if they are half the reason you are here...."
She hadn't met the man other than in the hour between her being born and sent off. She had no recollection of that moment in time. Since he died not long after, she never even saw him rule as King. Her parents seemed to have a better connection with her father than she did. When she had asked one year why the Queen didn't have a King like those in her storybooks, her mother practically started to cry. She guessed that when someone is a kind ruler, they have that effect on people. Her mother would too. She looked back at Samsul and smiled slightly. She assumed that she was the reason his voice had grown weak, worried about speaking about him in front of her. She shook her head slightly, "Don't worry about it... I never knew my dad... As a King or my father... It is kind of hard to get worked up over someone you never knew... even if they are half the reason you are here...."
As she continued where he left off, he nodded at her and thought back to what Elana had told him about the king. He seemed like an amazing man, and it truly was a shame that he wasn't here now. "He didn't know of the vision... But he knew that he had to protect his daughter. He was a truly noble man." Samsul never knew the king personally, but he did know much about him with help from Elana. She had even told the lost elf that he reminded her of him in many ways, then drifted off as she thought more of her beloved husband. With a moment of silence from him, Eric came back slowly with two bowls filled with stew on a plate that had forks and napkins for the both of them. He noticed the silence from Samsul and decided to not interrupt it, and simply placed the tray down in front of them.
GM
Anastasia sat in that silence with Samsul as Eric brought over the food for them. She bowed her head and muttered a very quiet thank you to the man. He left shortly after. She picked up her fork and started to eat, continuing the silence. She was halfway through her stew when she spoke again. She looked around and her eyes suddenly widened, "Have you seen Melor?"
She hadn't even been thinking about that small dog until then. But now that she was, she realized she hadn't seen him in sometime. Had he gone to sleep with her on the bed? Or had she not seen him for nearly two days now. She felt horrible, how could she neglect him so much to the point where she didn't even notice that he was gone. She dropped her fork and stood. She looked under the table, in hopes that the dog may be there but she wasn't so lucky. She looked back at Samsul, her hands fidgeting with her dress, before she quickly left the room in search of her dog.
She hadn't even been thinking about that small dog until then. But now that she was, she realized she hadn't seen him in sometime. Had he gone to sleep with her on the bed? Or had she not seen him for nearly two days now. She felt horrible, how could she neglect him so much to the point where she didn't even notice that he was gone. She dropped her fork and stood. She looked under the table, in hopes that the dog may be there but she wasn't so lucky. She looked back at Samsul, her hands fidgeting with her dress, before she quickly left the room in search of her dog.
As soon as Melor was mentioned, Samsul froze and thought about the dog. He remembered the dog mainly because he played with him not too long ago, but Anastasia was with him as well, so he wasn't at all sure about exactly how long ago it was. He quickly ordered that the guards look out and find the dog as soon as possible. He had hardly remembered Melor being around the past few days, and Samsul simply assumed that the little dog was with the two handmaidens in Anastasia's room. She didn't need to say anything to him as she left, and he followed her quickly, catching up to her then changing his speed to match her own.
GM
Anastasia managed to kick off her shoes at some point while she ran out of the room. The shoes were not for running, she was better off without them. She was just out of the room when Samsul fell in step with her. She didn't look at him as she ran. She didn't even know where to start looking of her dog. She decided the garden and her room were likely, as they were the two places she had gone the most with Melor and also the last places they had been together. When she searched both and found him in neither, the thought of her own roaming came to mind. Melor got bored and liked to wander around. He could be anywhere in the castle and if he had managed to slip by a guard... or thought a stray... He could be anywhere.
She covered her face as she stood in her empty room. How could she forget about Melor. Sure, everything was crazy and hectic and new but Melor was her best friend and she was responsible for him. If anything happened to him, she didn't know what she would do. It would be all her fault. She looked at Samsul, her eyes watering, "M-Maybe he's at the stables... They have a field for the horses after all.... Maybe he's there..."
She covered her face as she stood in her empty room. How could she forget about Melor. Sure, everything was crazy and hectic and new but Melor was her best friend and she was responsible for him. If anything happened to him, she didn't know what she would do. It would be all her fault. She looked at Samsul, her eyes watering, "M-Maybe he's at the stables... They have a field for the horses after all.... Maybe he's there..."
In an attempt to calm her down, even just a little, Samsul stood in front of her and put both of his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. It was nice to have the little dog around, and Anastasia seemed to distraught without him. "I will talk to your handmaidens. Hopefully they have Melor with them. Another guard will stay with you while I am away. We will find him. Okay?" He wanted for her to believe in him, and he wouldn't stop until he found the little dog and brought him back to Anastasia. It was possible that Melor might have even wandered over to Elana, but he wasn't sure. With that, he slowly let go of her shoulders and ordered a nearby guard to stay with her while he walked out of the room to find the handmaidens, and possible Queen Elana if needed.
GM
Anastasia was a little taken back when Samsul placed his hands on her shoulders. Other than when he lifted her onto the horse, she believed this to be the first time the two of them had actually had physical contact. As he spoke, he reassured her that they would find Melor and that he would check with Arabella and Millie for her dog. She swallowed and nodded her head, having to put her faith into him. When he ordered another guard to watch, she bit her lip, thinking, "We'll head down to the stables.... just in case... We'll stay so you know where to find us... if you find him..."
As he walked away, she watched him, "Thank you!" she called to him before she left with the guard to the stables. She just hoped, they'd find him.
As he walked away, she watched him, "Thank you!" she called to him before she left with the guard to the stables. She just hoped, they'd find him.
With haste, Samsul walked down the hall to find the two handmaidens. He wasn't very sure about where they'd be, but wanted to find them, and needed to check a few basic places before opening every door looking for them. His first idea would be to look in the kitchen or the dining hall, but they were just there, and if Melor were to be in the kitchen, Eric would have told the two of them by now. His second idea was to look at the servants and staffs quarters, since Millie and Arabella weren't in Anastasia's room, they were probably either sleeping or tending do some other business at the moment. If they weren't there, then maybe some of the other waitstaff would be able to point him in the right direction.
Ad he neared the door that led to the quarters of the staff, Samsul grabbed the door and opened it with haste, finding long rows of beds going down the room, all with small desks and nightstands on both sides. Before he could process any more thoughts, Samsul heard a barking that sounded much too familiar to him, despite only being with the dog for a few days. He followed the sound to see Millie, Arabella, and Melor all together. He smiled at all of them and looked at Arabella. "Might I ask where you found him? Anastasia was getting worried about him, and would like him back."
Ad he neared the door that led to the quarters of the staff, Samsul grabbed the door and opened it with haste, finding long rows of beds going down the room, all with small desks and nightstands on both sides. Before he could process any more thoughts, Samsul heard a barking that sounded much too familiar to him, despite only being with the dog for a few days. He followed the sound to see Millie, Arabella, and Melor all together. He smiled at all of them and looked at Arabella. "Might I ask where you found him? Anastasia was getting worried about him, and would like him back."
GM
Arabella was surprised by the presence of Samsul and even more by the fact that he was saying that Anastasia was getting worried. She curtsied to him, "We are so sorry, sir. He followed us yesterday after he was left in Anastasia's room while you both went to the city."
Millie smiled at Samsul, "He just was a little bored, so we let him tag along. Do apologize to the Princess for making her worry."
Melor walked forward to Samsul and sniffed his shoes before looking up at him, wagging his tail. It seemed as though he was ready to go back to Anastasia. He jumped up on Samsul, placing his front paws just at his knees. He barked a few times as if to hurry him along.
~
Anastasia ran down to the stables, ignoring the fact that she was still running barefoot and due to the lack of height that was given to her by her shoes, her skirts were slowly accumulating mud. They reached the pasture and Anastasia climbed onto the fence, looking for Melor. However, there was no sight of him. The guard walked over to Benjamin and asked if he had seen the dog but the answer was no. Anastasia took a seat on the fence and covered her face again, as she felt small tears escape her eyes.
Millie smiled at Samsul, "He just was a little bored, so we let him tag along. Do apologize to the Princess for making her worry."
Melor walked forward to Samsul and sniffed his shoes before looking up at him, wagging his tail. It seemed as though he was ready to go back to Anastasia. He jumped up on Samsul, placing his front paws just at his knees. He barked a few times as if to hurry him along.
~
Anastasia ran down to the stables, ignoring the fact that she was still running barefoot and due to the lack of height that was given to her by her shoes, her skirts were slowly accumulating mud. They reached the pasture and Anastasia climbed onto the fence, looking for Melor. However, there was no sight of him. The guard walked over to Benjamin and asked if he had seen the dog but the answer was no. Anastasia took a seat on the fence and covered her face again, as she felt small tears escape her eyes.
Samsul was relieved to hear that Melor had been with the two of them since the day before, and also know that Anastasia would be just as relieved, if not more than he was. He smiled a little at both Millie and Arabella before taking a small step back and snapping to get the dog's attention. "Thank you both for taking care of him. Anastasia will be pleased to hear that the two of you took care of him." He smiled once more at them and took his leave, making sure that the little dog was with him as he went out to the stables, where Anastasia said she'd be. With a small smirk on his face, he began to jog to give the dog a little exercise, even thought he recalled that Anastasia said that Melor could probably keep up with him.
It didn't take very long for the two of them to reach the stables, and when they did, Samsul slowed down as he saw Anastasia on the fence. When Melor had noticed Anastasia as well, he barked in joy and ran past Samsul, glad to be back with Anastasia once more. Samsul joined the two and stood in front of the princess. "He was in Millie and Arabella's care since yesterday. They decided to care for him after the two of us went into town."
It didn't take very long for the two of them to reach the stables, and when they did, Samsul slowed down as he saw Anastasia on the fence. When Melor had noticed Anastasia as well, he barked in joy and ran past Samsul, glad to be back with Anastasia once more. Samsul joined the two and stood in front of the princess. "He was in Millie and Arabella's care since yesterday. They decided to care for him after the two of us went into town."
GM
Anastasia looked up when she heard barking. She spotted Samsul first and found Melor running toward her. She jumped off the fence and knelt on the ground allowing the dog to run into her arms. She lifted him up and hugged him tightly. He licked her salty tears from off her cheeks, causing her to laugh. She looked at him, "I promise, I will never forget about you again," She buried her face in his fur, "I'm so sorry."
She removed her face from his fur to glance up at Samsul when he spoke. She smiled, happy to know that he hadn't just been wandering around. She looked back at her dog, who looked awfully happy to see her, "Well, I'm glad that he won't be on his own when we have to leave like that."
She gave him a kiss on the head before she placed him on the ground. She stood up and wiped up some of the dirt off of her dress. She pursed her lips when she noticed just how dirty she had got her skirts and stockings. She laughed a little, "I feel as though I should clean these after making such a mess..."
She removed her face from his fur to glance up at Samsul when he spoke. She smiled, happy to know that he hadn't just been wandering around. She looked back at her dog, who looked awfully happy to see her, "Well, I'm glad that he won't be on his own when we have to leave like that."
She gave him a kiss on the head before she placed him on the ground. She stood up and wiped up some of the dirt off of her dress. She pursed her lips when she noticed just how dirty she had got her skirts and stockings. She laughed a little, "I feel as though I should clean these after making such a mess..."
Samsul shook his head slightly at her as she spoke about cleaning the dirty skirt and stockings. She didn't have to worry about cleaning her own clothes, as the servants would do that for her if she wanted something cleaned. The dirt hadn't seemed to have gone too deep into the dress, so cleaning it would be pretty easy, as he saw it. It was a long day, and they've done a lot, so Samsul thought that it would be best to get some sleep now and worry about the dress later on. "We should get you to your room, Anastasia. It's been a long day, so rest is recommended." He began to walk back to the castle, but after a few steps stopped to see if Anastasia was staying with him or not.
GM
Anastasia noticed the shaking of his head and smiled softly. She couldn't help but feel bad for the person who ended up have to clean away the dirt and grime. Samsul seemed to find it slightly amusing that she still felt that way about things. Doing it herself rather than asking for help. She nodded when he said they should go to her room and both get some rest. She followed him when he started to walk and looked back to see Melor, happily following along. She smiled, glad to have her dog back.
She looked up at Samsul and nodded, "Thank you... for finding him. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost him."
She looked up at Samsul and nodded, "Thank you... for finding him. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost him."
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