[Mekatra]

Ermi's brows furrowed. "Oh no, she's not a member of the guard. She'd skin you for saying that. She's a knight of one of highest orders." He leaned back in the bath and yawned. "Well, hopefully you and her can get together and have a happy life together. She's a sweet girl, a bit quiet but smart as a whip when she decides to say something. ANyway, see you later cat boy." He climbed out of the bath and headed down the hallway clad only in his towel.

It was a few more days before Joane reappeared and she returned in the middle of the night. When he came back to the room from training she was tucked into bed, too tired to even hear him come in.

[Crystalkitsune85]

He was surprised to see her all tuckered out and asleep in bed before him. He quietly pulled the quilt over her shoulders and then went over to his cot to get changed for bed himself. He yawned quietly and curled in for sleep.

***
Next morning had Trevor coming into the room with Breakfast for Joane, since he woke up early and she was still snoozing. Some nice hot toasted bread, eggs and bacon and some nice hot tea with a dash of honey for sweetness. He carried it on tray with a lid over the meal to keep it warm. "Morning!" he chimed a bit too eagerly. He was excited because he was going to go see Leandra before morning court like that one time.

[Mekatra]

Joane stirred from under the covers and actually growled at his chipperness. "Morning," she muttered and dragged herself up to sit. "what's all this?" She raised a brow and looked over his offerings. "Did you get into trouble while I was gone and need me to take care of something?" She questioned as she took a bite of the toast.

[Crystalkitsune85]

He shook his head "No, nothing like that." he said. "I just thought I'd do something nice for you. Mainly because whatever you went off and did, must have been tiring, since by the time I came in last night from training you were dead to the world. I got up early this morning to go see Leandrea so I figured I'd bring you breakfast before I go see her." he said with a smile.

[Mekatra]

Joane took a sip of her tea and nodded, even know looking exhausted. "It was a lot of traveling and a very hard fight." She closed her eyes and leaned back onto her pillows again. "Go on, go see Leandrea. You're quite taken with her, aren't you?" She waved him out of the room with a chuckle.

Leandrea was waiting in the garden for him, sitting on the bench she had showed him to be her favorite last time they had been there. She waved when she saw him approaching. "Good morrow!"

[Crystalkitsune85]

He almost giggled like a little boy when he left the room, but since he was an adult he refrained and he walked out and went to the gardens where he was to meet Leandrea. When he saw her sitting on her favorite bench, he went right over. "Morning" he replied. "How are you doing today?" he asked as he sat next to her. He procured a small flower and a napkin with a still warm, fruit-filled pastry from behind his back and handed it to her. "I know how you like these, so I asked for an extra one from the kitchens on my way out here." he smiled.

[Mekatra]

Leandrea brightened when she saw his gifts and took them with a gracious thank you. She tucked the flower into her hair and nibbled lightly at the pastry. "You've paid close attention," she mused aloud and then looked over at him. "So,you and Ermi have been training together too? He's a fierce knight. My father once approached his father about a union between the two of us, but Ermi was so against it nothign came of it." She didn't seem particularly upset by it. "I have terrible luck with suitors."

[Crystalkitsune85]

He smiled at the fact that she was pleased with the gifts. "I'm very observant. I've grown used to being so. You can learn a lot being quiet and just watch people. And since I'm getting to know things about you, I thought it'd be a nice treat." he said. "So, we've not seen each other for a few days, how have you been fairing? Anything new or exciting?" he asked.

[Mekatra]

Leandrea offered him half of the pastry. "I had heard you were a thief, I guess it makes sense that you have to be able to be aware of everything around you." She looked away a bit shyly. "There's rarely anything new or exciting here in the castle. You're still the newest most exciting thing in my life." She flushed as she realized what she had said. "I mean.. you know..."

[Crystalkitsune85]

He took the other half of the pastry and finished it in two bites even though it wasn't something he usually ate. When she said that he was exciting and such and saw her blush he blushed a little too. "Well, you're the only girl that I've ever talked to who wasn't a knight teaching me how to fight. It's refreshing I guess to spend time with you. You're so dainty and sweet. You're cute and not airheaded like a lot of court ladies are. I like that you're slightly shy but you're smart. I like smart people."

[Mekatra]

Leandrea raised her brows at him when he mentioned that a lot of the courtly women were airheads. "And how do you know that they are airheads if you haven't spoken to them except for Joane and I? Many of us put on an act, you know." She reached over to pluck a withering rose off of a rose bush. She plucked its petals away one by one, showering him with them. "Men expect us to be a certain way, so many of us play along with that. It's... easier... and safer." She looked down at the ground and threw down the bared stem of the rose. "So don't be so quick to judge the others."

[Crystalkitsune85]

"Again, just what I've observed. As you said, if it's just acting like that way then that's what I've noticed from a distance. I never got a chance to talk to or know anyone like you. It's a shame that you can't be more intelligent. Honestly, I like sitting here talking to you intelligently. If you were all giggly and simple-minded I wouldn't like you as much." he said and smiled cutely.

[Mekatra]

She tossed another handful of flower petals at him. "I try not to judge others based on their faults, but instead applaud them on their merits." She eyed him pointedly. "Are you coming to morning court? It's terribly boring." She stood and dusted the flower petals off her gown. "You get to hear all the latest complaints, but occasionally someone comes though with actual problems that can be fixed."

[Crystalkitsune85]

He chuckled as she rained down petals on his head. He blew away some stray hair and petals. "Well I have nothing planned unless Joane needs me, so I'll come sit with you." he said standing and offering his hand for her. He brushed off whatever petals she missed and walked with her back to the castle.

He sat next to her at the morning court, and true to her word most of it was boring, and he did his best not to fall asleep during it.

[Mekatra]

Leandrea was reluctant to hold his hand and explained to him that it wouldn't be proper to do so in public.She did however, let him escort her by the arm into the throne room. She sat in attendance to her majesty.

The king was stern with his people, but generally fair for most cases. Unfortunately for them, most of the cases were petty squabbles between farmers over who was encroaching upon someone else's land and those needing help dealing with various monsters or bandits. All in all, it was as thrilling as watching grass grow.

When the queen was ready to leave she beckoned Trevor over to her. "How are you this fine morning, cousin? I trust you are behaving yourself with Leandrea?"

[Crystalkitsune85]

He walked over to the Queen and he bowed lightly to her. "I'm doing well Your Majesty. And yes, I'm behaving. I visit her when I have time and we do so in public. She is really nice, I like spending time with her." he said. "How are you doing Your Majesty? I hope things are going well for you."