Welcome Escape

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

The fuss and furor of court was in full swing two months in, adding the pressures of acting the hostess for her father to their foreign guests, juggling social events to keep them entertained and maintaining a smoothly functioning castle to her slender shoulders. Emma was feeling the strain a little, deciding to take an afternoon for herself. The Sarkozsy and Treniatan contingents could probably use an afternoon free themselves, the castle was not going to go merrily to hell in one afternoon, and the court would not even notice her absence. Calling for her lady in waiting and her mare, she had a plan - to go to the lake, to the private area that belonged to the crown for an afternoon of swimming in the cool water, enjoying the sun and pretending for just a little while that she had no cares in the world.

Emma didn't bother with a formal riding habit or a guard; they were going to the lake, who was going to bother them? She'd probably receive a scold for it from her aunt or her brothers, but right now, she needed to get away. The lake offered a convenient escape and a means to talk with Natalie in private about the forthcoming changes that affected both of them. Waiting for her in the smaller courtyard, the better to evade detection, she was already in the saddle, wearing just a plain day dress and a floppy-brimmed hat, looking hardly the Princess she was supposed to be.

As the mare fidgeted, she reached down to soothe her, muttering to herself, "Some time today would be nice, Natalie... where are you?"



Lady Natalie Kendall

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

Natalie knew for a fact that Emma was not in a riding habit because she had not helped her put one on! Thus, when she received summons for a ride, the first place she had gone to was the Princess's chambers. However, she was not there. She probably dressed herself in something simple and comfortable. Simple. Comfortable. Pah. What was the fun in wearing such things?! Natalie preferred to wear attention grabbing clothing. Unless that was exactly what Emma was trying to avoid at the moment.

The lady in waiting wisely changed into something as well, opting for a green colored day dress that would not attract a great deal of attention and a hat to keep the sun off her nose. She arrived, no doubt keeping her lady waiting for long longer than she truly wanted. "My apologies, my lady. I had to get some affairs straightened out." Mounting her own mare smoothly, she grinned brightly. "Our destination?"

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Emma was not really in the habit of showing off or grabbing attention; she left that to Natalie, who enjoyed all the eyes on her and the whispers about her attire. A strange attitude for a princess, most likely, but it was how she felt. Movement at the corner of her eye alerted her to Natalie's arrival, the mare wheeled gently about to study the approaching lady.

It was rare to see her lady in waiting in something that was neither lavish nor daring, but the green suited her and the hat drew a smile from Emma. The last thing either lady wanted was to spoil their complexions, or so was rumored. "Affairs?" The word deepened her smile into an impish grin. "Dare I inquire? It is no matter, though." She laughed to indicate she was neither offended nor impatient too much. "I thought we'd go to the lake house for a little while. I feel the need to put the city at my back." And Natalie knew very well what that meant.

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

Wearing something lavish on a private horse ride was not a good idea! No no no. The gown could be soiled, ripped or completely ruined by the whole experience. Natalie protected her gowns as a merchant protected his copious coin purse. This gown was completely expendable, and so was the hat. The quip about affairs reward Emmaline with a golden toned, rich laugh of amusement. "You may dare inquire, but are you suitably prepared to hear all of the details." The grin was now a wickedly teasing one.

"The lake house sounds lovely. I'd love to wriggle my toes in the grass and the water. Perhaps even enjoy a swim?" An amused eyebrow arch sounded. Skinny dipping on a day such as this sounded heavenly, even if it was just a little scandalous. With a gentle nudge to the flanks, she set her mare in motion.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Emma slowly turned her head to view her lady in waiting in combined amusement and wariness. "If by suitably prepared you mean, I know I'll be shocked, scandalized and otherwise very amused, then yes. I'm prepared to hear all of the details. I know they'll be salacious indeed." Natalie did, after all, have the best and juiciest gossip known to the Court. She didn't know what she would do without her in Sarkozsy; an invaluable source of information would help keep her from making faux pas.

As her eyes looked ahead to the road, she laughed. "Yes, that was my thinking. We both have been going almost constantly under scrutiny for weeks. I thought it might be nice to have a little time to ourselves for once." It was scandalous, but the prospect had an unmistakable appeal.

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

"Oh, my," she laughed once again at the Princess, and flashed another wicked grin. "I do so love the feel of water on my skin, especially on a pretty day like this. A good thing you did not call for the guards," however, she refrained from further comment until they were well out of the city and away from prying eyes and ears. "Now. If you must know, I met a gentleman during the Masque. A knight, actually. A big bear of a man. And ... believe me when I say he is quite well proportioned in all ways."

She watched to see how Emma would respond to such a statement. The beautiful thing was that even if Emma was offended, Natalie would apologize and their relationship would be right as rain. They had had a very rough start in the beginning, but they grew to understand each other. Indeed, they held a mutual respect for each other.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Emma smiled gently at her. "Why do you think I forbade the knights to come with us? If I'm feeling crowded, I'm sure you are too. This is for us, and honestly, what is going to happen to us? Triadon is the safest it's ever been." Leaning in as they made their way through the city, her eyes gleamed with the prospect of one of Natalie's scintillating stories. A bear of a man? The lady had an unequivocal way with words, one that promised to hold her attention and thoroughly distract her.

"All ways?" The dark eyes widened, gleaning Natalie's meaning in the most salacious of senses. A telltale blush crept up her cheeks as she laughed weakly, shaking her head. That was just one of the most obvious differences between the two, though Natalie was always good for keeping her from being too much the wallflower. "Oh my... but go on!"

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

"Even if something does happen, worry not. I never go anywhere unarmed, and I've been told I'm quite a deadly little woman if I want to be." Granted, there was nothing little about Natalie, but the point remained. Men tended to underestimate a woman, especially when it came to situations of combat. Nevermind that Vala St. Claire had proven to the Kingdom several times over that a woman could be just as capable a knight as a man! "We'll be safe to enjoy the day." With that, she urged her mare to go just a little faster, but allowed Emma to maintain the lead!

"He has the stamina of a bear, too," she grinned wickedly. "Oh, the ways he surprised me last night. He was surprisingly gentle at first, but I urged him on. I let him be free. He knows a woman's body well, much to my delight and surprise. I do not think we stopped until it was well past the middle of the night. ... And that's not including this morning." She let out a content sigh. Yes, she was a well sated woman today.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

"I have a dagger as well. Riordan told me that it's just smarter to carry a small blade as a precaution." Emma nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. A deadly little woman indeed. There were a myriad of ways to describe Natalie Kendall, but little was seldom an adjective that came to Emma's mind in thinking of her lady in waiting. Her mare kept pace with Natalie's as the gate loomed ahead of them that let out onto the road leading to the lake. "I did not tell anyone where we were bound, and we are not being followed. I'm not especially concerned about any trouble." Perhaps she was tempting Fate with such an attitude, but perpetual worry and fretting about the what-ifs was tedious.

The conversation returned to Natalie's bear of a paramour, the sigh and description making her nearly choke on shocked laughter. Natalie had a very earthy sense of humor and she'd invited the discussion on herself, even if her cheeks were flaming scarlet. "I'm amazed you have the energy to sit your saddle if that's the case. Or that you're not terribly uncomfortable." Emma might not be experienced herself, but thanks to Natalie, she had a very good idea of what was involved between a man and a woman in the bedroom! Some might deem it inappropriate to discuss such intimate functions with her, but the last thing she wanted was to be ignorant and frightened as Mariana had been on her wedding night. Thank the Triad for Natalie, who'd patiently and kindly been open with her about the matter despite giving a few too many details at times.

Emma adored the woman regardless, the thought of leaving her in Demeria once more causing a pang in her heart.

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

Natalie refused for Emmaline to be ignorant as to how things should work between a man and woman in bed. Emmaline was a beautiful woman, her future husband was going to be a lucky man, indeed. "I am, too," she laughed openly and cast a sly wink in her princess's direction. "I'm a touch sore, I won't deny, but it was well worth it. I think I shall enjoy his company for some time now." But marriage? No no. Marriage was not for her, and she knew she would have to save herself for an arrangement that was far more advantage for her family.

However, she noticed a subtle change in Emma's countenance. "Does something trouble you?" The question was only ased after they had emerged from the gate. She had a feeling that the other reason for the journey to the lake was for a private conversation. She probably didn't even want the Master of Intelligence's eyes and ears privy to this chat, either.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Emma laughed weakly at the mention of soreness and Natalie's assurance that she intended to enjoy the bear-man for a while, though the question restored her sober state. "There's something I want to talk with you about, and I didn't want anyone to overhear us for a number of reasons." She looked at the stretch of road before them, working to gather her thoughts, the better to phrase her question in an articulate fashion. Admittedly, Emma was somewhat afraid of Natalie's answer, steeling herself for whatever it would be.

"If this... betrothal goes forward and I depart for Sarkozsy, do you wish to come with me or remain in Demeria?" Carefully phrased, Emma did not look at Natalie, bracing for the reaction and response.

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

The question was, of course, completely understandable. It was going to radically change a great many things. Natalie herself had been pondering it herself for some time. Did she want to stay in Demeria? Did she want to go to Sarkozsy? She had never left the country before, and the idea of seeing a new one was exciting to her. Certainly, they would get to come home to Demeria from time to time. The silence drew out between them.

Natalie encouraged her mare closer to Emma's, a hand reaching out to touch her arm. "And let you explore that country all to yourself? I should think not. There is far too much to see and enjoy. That and who knows what the Court is going to be like over there. They may be in dire need of fashion advice." Then, she opted to set aside levity for once in her life, "And I would not want my friend to be alone."

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Emma's arm shifted to take Natalie's hand in hers, giving the slender fingers a warm, grateful squeeze. Facing Sarkozsy alone frightened her, she wasn't ashamed to admit, and having Natalie with her would keep the homesickness under control. "Thank you. You have no idea how much it relieves me to know you're willing to travel with me." The smile was warm, and perhaps there was a treacherous little glimmer of tears in the dark eyes? Natalie was unquestionably Emma's dearest friend; to leave her behind was a devastating thought.

Straightening a little, as if Natalie's words put more starch in her spine, she added with a dry little laugh, "Though who knows? Things may not work out and then you're really stuck with me."

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

"Oh, shudder to think!" She chuckled openly at that, "Me? Stuck with this lovely lady for the foreseeable future? However shall I cope?" A sly wink was cast her direction, "Worry not. I shall endeavor to keep your life as interesting as I can, and within the bounds of Kingdom Law." She was kidding. Really. Well, sort of. It was impossible to tell with a lady like Natalie Kendall at times, wasn't it?

"Which does give way to an important question: how do you feel it is going?" Natalie admittedly had not had much opportunity to interact with the handsome foreign prince.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

One was never entirely positive when Natalie was making a jest, or when she was deadly serious. In some regards, she made life very interesting for the otherwise sedate princess. Laughing softly, Emma had to shake her head ruefully over the remark. "Which Kingdom's laws, though? Because I'm sure there are some differences between what passes as legal and moral in Sarkozsy versus Demeria, of course." Natalie did have a penchant for testing those boundaries, she knew.

At the question, the smile faded a little as she considered her answer. "Slowly, I think is the best answer I can give. We're very different people, coming from totally different perspectives, but he seems confident we'll do well together." Emma was not so confident yet herself. "What is your opinion of him from what you've observed?"