Ａｒｅ ｙｏｕ ｍｙ Ｋｎｉｇｈｔ ｉｎ Ｓｈｉｎｉｎｇ Ａｒｍｏｒ？

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closed thread

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Annie Slynt was always a curious child. She would get scolded by her nurse that exploring the castle was dangerous and that ladies didn't crawl around in cobwebs. That never stopped her. Since they were given Harrenhal, Annie found it to be amusing for her to explore the partially ruined castle. 

Today, her target was the Tower of Ghosts. A new, bigger hole had eroded in the side and she found it to be a good way in. Annie held her skirts up as she ducked under cobwebs, peering into the eerie tower. She'd snuck away from her guards, since they never let her have any fun. Stepping over rubble, Annie could have sworn she heard sounds, like people, rustling about. This tower was rumored to have ghosts, after all.

Her dark hair was pulled back, out of her face, but it still managed to get caught on little leaves of the ivy and loose stones on the wall. Annie huffed, careful to move without disturbing too much.

[Anime]

Coren Draxer had learned from an early age how to read a situation. He had learned when to stay quiet and when to speak up. He had learned when he could get away with skipping his literature or writing lessons to go watch the squires practice, dreaming for a day in which he could be down there standing beside them. He had learned when skipping his lessons hadn't been an option, which looking back know he counted as a blessing that he'd been forced to learn to read and write. Growing up the way he had and being the man he was, his ability to read a situation was crucial.

That said, when he saw Annie Slynt heading off on her own, Coren decided it couldn't hurt to follow her. However, he didn't want to insult a lady of the household, but he also didn't want to have to answer why he let her roam off alone, if something where to go wrong. He maintained a distance and planned to only make his presence known if something where to go wrong.

It would seem he read the situation correctly when he saw Annie Slynt duck into the Tower of Ghosts and heard the rumbling of the decayed roof. He quickly made his way through the makeshift entrance Miss Slynt had found and pulled her out of the ruined tower--just in time for a few of the larger pieces of marble seal the Tower of Ghost shut once more.

He paused for a moment and appeared about to say something, but just as soon as he arrived he released his hold on her and disappeared around the corner.

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It all happened so fast that Annie wasn't even sure it actually happened. She turned around to thank her savior, but there was no one except a retreating figure, "Hey, wait!"

[Anime]

Coren momentarily slowed when he heard Miss Slynt call after him and glanced over his shoulder. He couldn't help but smile at the grime-covered noble, but he didn't stop. He'd been running late for post before he had followed her to the Tower of Ghosts, heading in the direction of the Knight's Command Post.

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A knight, from what she could tell at their distance. Though Annie didn't recognize him, which meant he must be new. Annie picked up her skirts and took another look at the Tower of Ghosts. It would be her new mission to find this mystery knight, if just to thank him. Most would have stuck around and talked with her, but he was like fog: there one moment and gone the next.

[Anime]

His superior was there waiting for him. This wouldn't reflect well on the decision to make formerly unknown sworn sword with no known history a landed knight.

It was part of the reason Coren wasn't happy with his new title, everything he did now reflected on his status. The lack of privacy he had in his own home unnerved him. And, the publicity that came with the title was a major concern of his. He had remained relatively unknown to the people of Harrenhal and House Slynt for a reason, yet his honor and sense of loyalty to the House he now served had meant he'd do anything to ensure the safety and continued rule of House Slynt. These ethics and skill had made it impossible to stay unknown to his superiors and the powers that be.

He knew he couldn't keep running from city to city as a sellsword. There was no money or security to be had in that line of work, and the prospect of owning his own piece of land and home in Harrenhal had swayed his decision to declare his loyalty to House Slynt.

As he half-listened to his superior's lecture and insults, he thought back to Annie Slynt. It had been in his best interest to run. He didn't want the notoriety that came from helping a member of the ruling family of Harrenhal, nor the attention he would gain after being seen talking to a member of the household.

At least, he wasn't in as much trouble for being late, as those guards were for letting Annie Slynt escape their watch.

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Annie recieved the usual lecture when she made it back to her guards. Now, she wasn't a child by any means, but her parents still treated her as though she needed to have babysitters all of the time. It was a nuisance, but she dealt with it.

Her mind kept floating back to the mysterious savior. She was planning on finding the head of the Slynt's sworn swords to see if she could find anything about this man. He was almost like a ghost himself and Annie wondered if she'd just imagined the whole thing.

After she was free to go, Annie left the room, heading down the hall, her guards in tow. They didn't talk much, which both bored her and made her feel content. No talking meant little questions.

[Anime]

After being dismissed from his lecture on promptness, Coren went about his assigned duties for the day. It would seem that his punishment came in the form of being chosen to guard a visiting noble through his tour of the city opposed to training the young pages and squires, which had become his duty when he was declared a landed knight.

To make matters worse, the noble kept babbling on about himself as if he was a god himself, able to slay dragons and bring peace with one command. It amused Coren to a degree, as the man looked as though holding a greatsword would topple him and when you looked at him too directly he stuttered as though he had just met his own assassin.

However, he much preferred the fray of battle, the quiet of tracking a traitor or assassin, and the pride in foiling ploys against the ruling family of Harrenhal. Coren didn't even mine training the unskilled men, as he realized that one day they would be defending the lords and rulers of this land. It was his job to lay the foundation for their success.

((which of us should play the head of the sworn swords?))

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(I guess you can, if you want. If not, I can.)

Annie headed down the corridor toward the back entrance of the castle. It led directly to to training grounds for new Knights and guards. She figured if she were to have any luck, it would be there.

[Anime]

The head of the sworn swords stood watching the pages and squires practice along with a sworn sword that usually served as a sparring partner for the new students. One of the student asked where Ser Draxer was, but he received no answer to his question. Hearing the Annie and her guards approach, the man turned. His eyes widened briefly, not expecting a member of the household--he would have never put the usual instructor on a guard mission... "To what do I owe this pleasure?" He walked away from the young sworn sword towards Annie Slynt and her guards, putting on his best smile.

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Annie's smile was gentle, "I'm just...looking for someone, actually."

[Anime]

"Oh?" The man questioned. "Do you require assistance?" He looked around, frowning when he saw the sworn sword--clearly, he wasn't doing something right. "My apologizes--I need to step in." He barked out a few orders before turning back to Annie. "Again, my apologizes, my usual instructor is on a guard mission with a visiting noble." He explained.

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Annie waved her hand, her gaze drifting around the courtyard, "Don't worry. I'm just...I'm here to see if I can find someone."

[Anime]

"As you wish." The man went back to the sworn sword, barking out a few more orders.

Corren was busy following the guide and the noble through the barracks heading towards the courtyard, as they slowly made their way through the city on their way to Great Hall.

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"Where are you, Mystery Knight.." Annie muttered, wandering around and glancing at the faces of the practicing men.

[Anime]

Coren followed the noble and the guide into the courtyard, trying his best to hide his disdain with the assignment, but the more this visiting noble talked the more he thought about cutting the tour short and taking him back to the inn. However, he knew that would reflect poorly on Harrenhal, House Slynt, and himself.

He glanced over at the pages and squires that he usually instructed. His eyes widened when he spotted Annie Slynt among the people occupying the courtyard.

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She tapped her lips, putting one hand on her hip. These men weren't it. They didn't have the build.

[Anime]

As he watched Annie, he wondered if their encounter earlier had been long enough for her to be able to recognize him. It wasn't like he could do much if she did. He was on duty now and that meant following around this pretentious visitor for the day.

The head of the sworn swords spotted Coren looking over towards those in training. He frowned, "Ser Draxer. Pay attention to your own duties." With the order, Coren turned away, embarrassed.

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"Not fair!" Annie huffed and put her hands on her hips, "Where /is/ he?!"

[Anime]

The head of the sworn knights reappeared beside Annie. "Are you sure you don't need help?" He questioned.