Beauty in All Forms ( 4/22, Fred and Serah, C )

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

Frederick preferred hunting alone. It was nothing against the people as a whole, but to him, hunting was a solitary sport unless you developed a good relationship with a hunting partner. However, no such partner was here with him in Demeria. Perhaps he could make a new friend, but he doubted he'd be staying within the county long enough to form such a relationship. A hunting partner had to work with him in all aspects, and eventually, the partnership became so developed that they worked as one. A true hunting partnership could be a highly efficient one.

For now, though, he was perfectly content to hunt the small game within the forest. He was interested in lunch for himself and his entourage. Squirrel, quail, and rabbit were all on the menu, along with any root vegetables he may spot on the way. By the time late afternoon had settled in, he had felled two quail, two squirrels and a rabbit. It would be enough food for his party tonight, plus he found several roots and mushrooms that promised to make the meal more savory. Granted, the King offered feasts and food aplenty, but there was something satisfying about collecting his own food.

Thus, when he emerged from the wood, he did not look at the son of a Grand Duke, but a simple huntsman, likely in the king's employ. The clothes, though fine, were current covered with dirt, twigs and leaves. His lengthy hair was tied back in with a simple leather thong, and animals were hanging from his hip as well as from a line he had slung over his shoulder. The man definitely needed a bath. However, Frederick wore it well. It made him look rugged, strong, and capable.

The camp was still a ways off, and he happened to spot someone up ahead. It was clearly a woman, but it was not a woman he recognized. Nonetheless, he raised a hand in friendly gesture.

[Lady Serah Lancaster]

Somehow, through entirely her own fault, Serah was separated from the main hunting group. Not entirely accidental, she'd been distracted by a meadow that glowed a buttery yellow with daffodils. Dismounting to gather a number, she'd also managed to fell a number of quail as well so that the distraction was not a complete waste, though it took her some time to find a means to re-mount. By then, naturally, the group was long gone in another direction. And if Serah was completely candid with herself, she was lost.

As she and her hunter picked their way through the woods, she emerged some distance from the camp but near a road. A road! Her eyes narrowed a little, spotting a man, a huntsman by the look of him from this distance. Guiding her horse in his direction, a gloved hand raised into the air to hail him as she approached, desirous of directions. "Good huntsman! Pardon me for troubling you, but could you tell me if this road returns to the King's camp?" Called to him, she hoped he had the answer. Else she'd be certain sure to encounter her mother, and that was the one thing Serah did not want.

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

It amused him to be called a huntsman. Granted, that was exactly what he was, but it had been ingrained in him from day one that he was a Lord and he would be Grand Duke some day. Fortunately, he didn't such silly things as titles get to his head too much. In many ways, it was refreshing to be taken at face value for once. He looked as a huntsman, and thus, it was only natural that he be called one. "My lady," he answered smoothly, but his accent soon became very apparent, "You may be rest assured for it does return to the King's Camp, and I am on my way there myself. I'd be pleased to escort you."

Once the offer was made, he took a moment to study her. She was beautiful to him. Lovely blonde hair that was as pale as her creamy skin. Large eyes, and no doubt, she had a lovely smile to go with those eyes. The voice was on the deeper side, a quality he liked.

[Lady Serah Lancaster]

Well, he looked as a huntsman! What did he expect of his appearance, disheveled as it was and indicative of a day spent traipsing the woods with his wits, his weapon and his bounty? Serah did not know all of the huntsmen in her cousin's employ and did not recognise this one any better. That is, until she heard the accented words pouring from his lips and took a second, better look at him. And paled to realise whom she addressed as a servant.

Oh, her mother would never let her hear the end of this. That much was a given.

Dropping her face into a gloved hand, Serah groaned audibly. "Sir, my lord, I am so humbly sorry. I mistook you for one of the King's huntsmen when you're obviously none of the sort." She'd addressed an honoured, foreign guest, an emissary, as a servant. Embarrassment was scarcely the word to indicate her current state of being. "Ah, that is exceptionally kind of you, I would be delighted to accept if you can forgive my lapse?"

If the road could open and neatly drop her into its underworld, she'd be immeasurably relieved. Since there was little luck of that, she had to face her faux pas and the consequences thereof. Opening her eyes and lifting her head, she was now crimson-cheeked and thoroughly sheepish.

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

Watching her go through the stages of recognition and realization honestly made him wince when she wasn't looking. It hadn't been his intention to embarrass her, but she had made her own assumption. Fortunately for her, he was not remotely offended by her mistake. "There is no apology necessary, In fact, I think I will take being called a huntsman as a compliment, for I am quite accomplished." He took a moment to indicate his kills. "And I know my people and myself will be eating well tonight."

However, he knew what she was truly looking for, and thus opted to give it to her, "You are forgiven. Besides, there is a benefit to walking beside me. You will look more beautiful than you already do, especially people realize you are walking beside, how you say... a rapscallion?" The smile came easily to his lips.

[Lady Serah Lancaster]

Relaxing visibly with the granting of forgiveness, Serah laughed softly. He was Treniatan, if her eyes and ears did not deceive her, the Grand Duke and member of the Royal Family. She was fortunate that he seemed so understanding and inclined to overlook her gaffe. Charming too, considering the ease with which his compliment rolled off his tongue. Grateful that a second blush did not start up, she nodded and slid down from the saddle with a measure of grace, the brown velvet falling into place around her.

Keeping her hunter's reins in hand, Serah hastily sketched a curtsy for him. "You are as kind as you are handsome, Your Grace, though I don't know that I'd go so far as to label you a rapscallion. Yet." Straightening, she briskly extended a gloved hand. "Serah Lancaster, and I am in your debt twice over."

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

If she had blushed a second time, it probably would have made Frederick smile all the more for knowing that she had appreciated, perhaps even enjoyed the comment. Of course, a Lady did not necessarily confess to such things. Reaching out by instinct to help her down from the saddle, he held back when he realized that she could manage just fine by herself. Instead, he took the offered hand.

"Frederick von Arles, and I assure you, my lady, merely being in your company for the walk back to camp should be repay one of those debts. We'll have to discuss the terms on the other," he said, his eyes twinkling in a teasing manner. Nonetheless, he did take her hand, and pressed a kiss upon her knuckles, never letting his eyes leave hers as he did so. "A pleasure to meet you."

[Lady Serah Lancaster]

Capability was an aspect of herself on which Serah prided herself. Dismounting by herself was no great feat so long as she kept her skirts clear of stirrup and feet. She smiled more genuinely when he accepted her hand, intending to make it a clasp but he moved too swiftly for her, turning it to a courtly greeting. Her lips twisted wryly; he had no idea just how wasted his efforts were on her. "I am honoured, Lord von Arles." Her eyes met and held his easily, the smile staying calm upon her lips. "I am sure, however, that you will devise suitable recompense for the other debt."

The question was, how staid and dull might it be? Treniatans were not known for their daring, but for their sober and upright demeanour.

Easing her hand from his grasp, Serah gestured to the road that lay before them. "Shall we proceed, Your Grace? The day grows long and His Majesty will be most concerned if you are not returned in a timely fashion to camp."

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

Treniatans also had a tendency to be underestimated, but Frederick found that he preferred such a thing. After all, if he were underestimated that allowed him to have the upper hand should it be needed. "Oh, I am certain that I will. Though, I have to confess, I will need just a little bit of time to think on it. After all, I have no idea what is considered acceptable for Demerians. What would I ever do if I managed to offend you with some crazy scheme or idea?" It was hard to tell if he were teasing her or not at this point.

"Indeed, we shall, and if you do not mind taking the arm of a man that admittedly needs bath, I would appreciate that." He chuckled soundly then, "Oh, I imagine his Majesty is well aware that I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. He is an avid hunter as I am, he will understand my need to be ... be with nature," that was the best way he could describe it.

[Lady Serah Lancaster]

She wasn't sure what to make of that statement, finding it so utterly unexpected of a Treniatan but accepting the lesson for what it was. Serah of all people knew better than any how little the exterior could match the interior. Suitably rebuked, she smiled a little. "I have faith in you, but I admit I would like to hear your notion of what is a crazy idea or scheme, Your Grace. I am suddenly quite confident that if you put your mind to it, crazy might prove a mild word indeed for it."

Blue eyes shimmered playfully back at him, recovering from the second shame of the day quickly as she laughed. "I imagine we both need a bath after the day's hunting. If you will overlook the scent of horse about me, I am sure I can disregard the aroma emanating from you." Taking his arm, she guided the hunter to walk with docility beside her as they started the road back. "Need to be with nature? That is a curious way to put it. Is that merely a polite way of saying courtly hunting and too many people get on your nerves and spoil your pleasure in hunting?"

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

"Ah, then I have to ask you something very important, and I don't think I will apologize if it is too forward," he replied again, a playful, but confident tone evident in his voice. "Am I permitted to know what the craziest thing you've done in your life is? I'd like to have some idea of where the..." he considered for a moment, searching for the right word before speaking in his native Treniatan for a moment. It was a harsh language, but his voice somehow smoothed its edges. "bar. Yes. Where your bar is set."

And then there was the question about his hunting, "That is one way of putting it, yes," he laughed, enjoying the statement. "I find it to be more a solitary experience. You are the predator and they are the prey. That is not a relationship easily conveyed when you have several others with you, talking and being far too casual about it. Hunting must have a purpose in its challenge, or it means nothing."

[Lady Serah Lancaster]

That was his idea of important? In light of the discussion, she surmised there was a level of importance, seeing as the standard needed to be set, presumably to be elevated accordingly. Serah smiled to herself, not immediately replying as she considered the question. She had done a variety of things in the course of her life that could be deemed as crazy, perhaps even wild, but would she confess them to him? That was the question to be answered long before she made any revelations. "That is a forward question, Your Grace, one I cannot answer very easily." Letting him derive his own meaning from it, Serah looked back to him with the mention of hunting.

"Do you hunt a great deal in Treniata? I can only guess from what you have said that it is not considered a courtly pursuit, at least not often. Or not like we do in Demeria."

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

"Ah, but we are often faced with difficult questions," but her reaction had told him everything he might need to know. This was a young woman that appeared to be quite collected on the outside, but there was a turmoil of some sort. She had done rebellious things, but she'd rather keep them secret. This set the bar somewhat high, and an idea immediately began to foment in his mind. However, the real question was whether or not she was bold enough to accept them. More on that later.

"I do, ja," he replied with a fond smile, "There are those in my country that do consider it a courtly game, but I am not one of them. I have come to respect nature far too much for such a relationship with her. I only take what I need from her," he indicated his own kills. "It is a way of maintaining balance, I believe. Animals prey on animals. We have blood as they do. We have bones as they do. We have organs as they do. Are we really so different from them, my lady?"

[Lady Serah Lancaster]

"Life is full of difficult and challenging questions," Serah agreed with a nod, averting her gaze to the ribbon of road unfurling before them. Her hunter was sufficiently tired that he did not act up or do more than walk calmly to her lead, allowing her to focus more on the conversation. The Grand Duke was proving to be an individual of depth and unusual aspect, sufficiently so to intrigue her as few managed to do. It was refreshing for her to meet someone who compelled her to think about each response before she emitted it. A welcome change, in fact, compared to most of the somewhat useless male courtiers.

Young men could be so very tedious with their need to flaunt their questionably impressive feats and strut like peacocks on parade. Was it any wonder she typically avoided Court in favour of her own pursuits?

Listening to the cadence of his words, Serah found the lilting accent soothing. Perhaps it was worth cultivating greater acquaintance with the Treniatan delegation if they all proved to be of similar ilk as the Grand Duke. She considered his question, taking it seriously before answering in kind. "There are people who would argue that we are extremely different from animals, but I'm not sure I agree. We may be little more than animals who strive to deny what we are with the thin veneer of civilisation."

[Lord Frederick von Arles]

"And yet there are times when we succumb to our animal side. We become angry, and we lash out. We feel threatened, and we lash out. We stop to think. The only thing that comes into our mind is our continued existence and what we must do to ensure such a continuation," he shook his head, "I agree. I have to wonder if we are but animals in disguise at time, but ... at least, we are quite lovely animals. I can't think of an animal that has fur as lovely as the shine of your hair."

The woman was proving to be enjoyable and thought provoking company. "Are you a hunter yourself?" He didn't want to assume, even if she was here on a hunt. Often times, ladies were brought along to join their husbands or serve other ladies. He had not seen a ring on her finger, thank goodness.