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 Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 10:41 am
Garrat had to admit the kitten's head was soft in some strange way, though he wondered why it didn't have any fur. Was it an abandoned newborn. perhaps? The offspring of a stray that just happened to be fortunate?
When Nathaniel sneezed, the knight sighed and was about to go to the drawers to pick out some dry clothes for the prince to change into, but was frozen himself by the question. He couldn't stop his face from expressing concern before he eventually went over to the drawers. "You should change," was all he said as he handed Nathaniel the dry clothes and then turning away to give him some privacy.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 11:12 am
Nathan's raised an eyebrow again at the handing of a drier shirt. "uh.. thank you.." he happily took the clothes but didn't quite change into it yet. After the paused, then he began to change but he couldn't help but ponder. "Why do you turn your back? We're both men so there isn't any shame in seeing each other is there?"he asked. He didn't mind the privacy but Garrat seems to do it a lot.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:02 pm
"Just to be polite, is all." Garrat replied, waiting for the ruffling of clothes to stop before turning toward Nathaniel again. "We may both be men, but we're at an age where privacy is very important." He would have preferred to stay silent about the matter, but he couldn't think of any way to do so without bringing about an prolonged awkwardness that he would very much like to keep at bay.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 2:04 pm
That was right, despite being 18 years of age, Nathan certainly didn't act like his age. He finished and looked over Garrat and took in just how mature he had become. It was really impressive actually. Sure Garrat had always stood taller than Nathan, but at first, he assumed it was his age difference. But thinking about it more, the knight put himself through so much hardships to train himself and strengthen his own body and mind. "Perhaps I need to learn to be more mature like you.." he muttered and sat down over by the window.
To catch his attention, outside there were two knights jousting in the rain. "Haha! Do you think I could do that?" he asked excitedly. Nathan didn't know just how jousting worked. Most of the time when his family got to see the jousting tournaments, Nathan had to stay behind. " What was training like for you?" he asked as the little starling chirped.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 2:19 pm
Garrat had to ponder that. "To summarize, it was difficult when I started and then it became rather normal to me later on," he answered. He remembered the stances, the proper ways to hold a sword, the tips to predict enemy actions, and much more. "I fear it may be unbearable for you if you began, but I suppose it can't hurt to try. Surely nothing will ever change for you if you stay in this room all day."
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:07 pm
Before Nathan could excitedly go forth and try his hand at jousting, a knock came at the door. Nana had returned. "Come in." Nathan called, hiding the little naked creature again with the towel
"Young Master, I've come to inform you that your dinner shall be ready soon. It will arrive in your quarters in about 10 minutes.." she poked her head in and smiled to the knight. Nathan's expression softened with the small anxiety of confusion. "But, We aren't having dinner together? It's the night of the festival.." he asked, confused as to why things were different than the previous years..
"Ah, well the family has been invited to the Duke's royal party at his neighboring abode." Meaning, Rosa's family invited the King and Queen and now they made an outing into it. " and well... it still be raining " Nana got quiet with a bit of a saddened look to her face. Nathan quickly understood just what she meant and after the tightening feeling in his chest began, Nathan just smiled and nodded. "Ahh.. I see. Well, That's fi-?" He was interrupted,
"One more thing. Sir Garrat, Lady Rosa has invited you to be her personal guest.." she informed, knowing all too well that Garrat didn't fancy her and that all her attempts to win him over are beginning to become too much even for her. "But, Garrat usually stays with me.." he argued, "She claimed that the approved of it... " Nana sighed and soon went back to the kitchen. Nathan looked to Garrat.
Although he felt hurt, he tried to convince himself that this was for Garrat! "Well.. " he started, the words trying to come out. " If Rosa invited you as a personal guest, you have to go, right? That's just part of tradition... will you?" he asked his best friend. Although the knight didn't have a choice, something inside him sort wanted him to say no, and stay to play with him. "It won't be for too long. You should go and enjoy the evening~" he grinned and dashed off into his closer, "I can help you dress fancy for royal engagements!" He was beginning to get awfully excited even though the man hadn't even made a decision yet.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:56 pm
When the nanny left, Garrat gritted his teeth. "She just won't get the hint, wouldn't she?" he muttered. "Is it really alright with you? If you want, I will stay." He actually hoped Nathaniel would sort of command him to stay, if only to keep away from the party. It would be a bore, if not torture for the knight. He would very much prefer to stay with Nathaniel, even if they were to be stuck n one room for the entire night.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 6:13 pm
"I don't know if you have a choice, Garrat...You might get in trouble later if you don't go.." he warned with a concerned look on his face. He patted the soldier's arm and couldn't really look Garrat in the eyes. So he forced a smile up at him, "You should go, enjoy the party.. I'll be fine... " he pondered a minute. No. He wouldn't be fine. Garrat got to go to these fun events and he couldn't?! It was so frustrating to be the unwanted prince, but he just couldn't help it!
So, with his smile still intact, he picked up his soft little kitten. "But I will say this. If you wish to come back and bring me back some tasty desserts, then you must return immediately to let your prince taste them!" he commanded, partially serious, ".... okay?" he said with a lighthearted wink. Garrat was always held back from special events because of the boy's illnesses, so it would be alright if Garrat went out to enjoy himself a little...
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 6:28 pm
It was true that Garrat didn't have much of a choice. Despite being Nathaniel's bodyguard, he himself was still technically an indentured servant here. His class was lower than Rosa's and there would be consequences if he didn't go to the party. As much as he would have preferred to stay... "What about protecting you? I'm your bodyguard, after all, so I should stay with you," Garrat said as a last minute excuse to ditch the party.
The knight wasn't sure what to expect at the party. It was likely that Rosa had another plan to seduce him. Perhaps he would be fine if he avoided interaction with her. Aside from that, he could just spend a short time and leave quietly, with a few sweets for Nathaniel, of course. No one said he had to stay for the duration of the party.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:18 pm
While Garrat was away, Nathan decided to eat his dinner and start looking through books. He felt a wave a tiredness rain over him and it made him rub his eyes. It was an old passage about ancient Egypt where he noticed a picture and drawings about hieroglyphs and one of a cat...
Rosa of course wasn't too far away from Garrat. But before she could grab him and take him to her quarters. She was interrupted by the Queen herself. "Garrat? What on earth are you doing here?" She asked
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:29 pm
After having dressed up in clothes fit for a formal party, Garrat reluctantly left for the party. He only planned to stay for a half-hour, an hour at the most, but he soon found something was off when the Queen asked what he was doing here, as if he wasn't supposed to be here. "I was told that Lady Rosa invited me here, and I couldn't refuse," he answered in such a way to convey his unwillingness to be at the party. "I suppose it was a mistake to come. My apologies for leaving my post."
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 10:26 pm
Garrat was about to get the wrath of the Queen. She didn't actually believe the knight at first and then, with a pretty smile, Rosa came up and locked her arms around his. She confirmed that Garrat was indeem her special guest, but the Queen wouldn't have anything of it, although, now she was more peeved at the fiar maiden than she was at the soldier.
"Young lady, I understand you enjoy your life very much so, and you wish to share that passion with others, but I must implore you to leave him be. Garrat is not like the other soldiers about our kingdom. He belongs by my son's side at all times unless instructed otherwise. Do you understand? " she warned, leaving Rosa a bit speechless. The queen turned to Garrat," and as for you.. I understand you're young, you are allowed to enjoy yourself from time to time, but you are to stay beside Nathaniel at all times, you are his companion for a reason.... " she seemed to grow sad all of a sudden and she turned away. " Garrat, you have 20 minutes to enjoy yourself and then be on your way back.." She demanded in a soft voice.
As soon as the Queen left, the two were alone. And Rosa attempted to pull Garrat to dance with her, completely bypassing the fact that she lied about getting the Queen's approval.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 11:45 pm
Garrat thought for a moment that he had been done for, but he was saved by Rosa in a twist of fate. However, by now he had just about had it with the woman. Never mind that she prevented the Queen's wrath when she had been the cause of it in the first place!
Repulsed at having been tricked, the knight pulled away from Rosa. "What is the matter with you?!" He was clearly upset with her and wanted nothing to do with her after this. "The only reason I came here was because of approval from the royal family, which turned out to be nonexistent. In such a case, I'll be taking my leave shortly." He walked away from the woman and decided to spend what was left of his twenty minutes picking out a few sweets for Nathaniel.
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:12 am
Now Rosa was clearly hurt at his rough words and harsh rejection, "B..But Garrat.. I-I'm sorry I just thought you'd want to get out a little.. I didn't know it was your duty to stay by his side all the time, honest...." she tried to pursue him to no obvious avail. "You're always so cold, I thought you could use the fun, Garrat!" she shouted out to him, finally giving him the space he wanted..
At home, Nathan had fallen asleep in his nightgown at his desk. He was drawing the little starling that perched itself quite comfortably on a shelf near by. He had also discovered the species of cat. A sphynx is what it is called. He breathed rhythmically and sort of smiled in his sleep.
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:31 am
Garrat quickly returned to Nathaniel's room, though with a nagging guilt for having yelled at a lady. It was against implied chivalry code and he mildly feared Princess Manuerva's wrath at breaking her friend's heart. If it had really been an honest mistake, he should not have been harsh with her. Still, it may be best if he kept a fair distance now, lest he accidentally lead her on.
Upon finding Nathaniel asleep, Garrat set the sweets he brought on the stand next to the bed before he himself rested on a chair. He knew he would need a bath later, but he was a bit tired from the day of turmoil. He just wanted tomorrow to come.
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