Upon Horseback [COMPLETE.]

[Alais Olivia Strider]

Alais wrinkles her nose and sighs out as she ducks within the confines of that seemingly damp and worn stable. It was part way through being cleaned, with a number of horses stuffed within others’ stalls whilst water was being splashed upon the thick planks of the wall, washing away piss, shit, and every other manner of ungodly mess which could be coating that stable. It was something which Alais simply preferred to ignore.

After all, she was a lady, with delicate sensibilities.

The girl’s nose wrinkles, and a single hand lifts upwards to cup upon her mouth and nose alike. She hadn’t quite noticed how horrible that this particular building smelled. She supposed she’d simply gotten use to it, after all, she found herself within the confines of this particular structure just about every day for the past month or so.

Her head cranes, and lolls in attempts to search out the stable master himself, who was no doubt buried amongst the straw, knee deep within the puddles of mixed filth. Alais wasn’t quite sure if he held this position because he loved the animals, or if he did such because the coin he made simply had to be worth all the agony he went through. Whatever the reason, she was right about where he was, with a rag within one hand, and a pail of water within the other, “Alex!” Derrick greets with a wide smile that quite reminded the girl of her own grandfather, “I trust you can handle everything well enough?” he asks of her then. For all he knew Alais already knew how to properly saddle a horse! “As you can tell I’m elbow deep in shit!”

Alais laughs at what he has to say, though in all truth, she was disgusted by the thought of being simply coated in feces. It’s something which forced her skin to prickle and a gag to cross her lips. Absolutely disgusting, though she’s sure that a man would laugh at such a thing, so she had all too willingly. Whatever the case seemed to be Alais finally spoke, “Of course I can!” she states, sounding impossibly confident within that moment, with a strong set to her delicate jaw, looking as though there was no room for argument, despite the fact that Derrick knew well that she’d never saddled a horse, at least not in front of him.

Either way, it was at least worth giving a try. So with another reassuring nod Alais motions towards the saddle which she’d gotten use to perching her pretty little ass upon, only to drag such over toward the stall which Maple was poised within. Despite the few months of trainin, Alais still seemed to lack any semblance of true upper arm strength. She hoped nobody would notice this pathetic display, let alone when she attempted to heft it over her head and onto the horse’s back.

She stills within that moment, her hands settling upon her hips as the young girl lolls her head to peer upon that saddle. Perhaps not quite yet. Though the bridle! She knew well how that worked, and soon enough was taking up those leather straps before coaxing that horse from within it’s own stall only to settle the bit amongst the beast’s terrifying teeth.

Idly Alais wonders if Maple knew that Alais herself was afraid of her. Alais likewise wondered if it even mattered in the end. Could Maple tell that Alais was secretly afraid of her own mouth.

Miss Strider scowls as her gaze moves from the creature’s face, and downwards to the saddle still situated upon the floorboards. Well, it definitely wasn’t going to move itself! The girl knits her brows before stooping downwards to curl her fingers beneath the lip of the saddle only to hike such upwards to settle such upon her hips. It’s then she stumbles forth, if only to brush the side of the saddle upon Maples flank. There’s no doubt that that rubbing and nudging was irritating the horse, and the beast even gives a quick snort, and a step away from Alais.

She definitely wasn’t making this easy.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

The Bastard normally would have gotten quite a bit of exercise throughout the day with all the venturing about that Hyacinthe did. Yet, when Hyacinthe settled within Camelot or any city for that matter, there was little time to do much of anything. Although that's not to say Hyacinthe abandoned the Bastard entirely. It was far from that! In fact, Hyacinthe did everything within his power to assure that the Bastard had managed to get out at least an hour or two a day.

It's what brought him to the military stables of Camelot.

He could feel that the Bastard was more than relaxed. That, and feel the press of other minds upon his own. Fortunately, Hyacinthe had years of practice to keep himself free of the brush of others, and especially those who unknowingly pressed upon him. They tended to be the most dangerous for the fact that they had no walls or thought of what they did. Nonetheless, that didn't matter, Hyacinthe had control and he was far from a horrid man who would take advantage of others.

The moment Hyacinthe opened the stall door, Hyacinthe felt the Bastard become excited. It made Hyacinthe laugh then and there, and even grin as he cooed to the beast. He set a hand upon the horse's nose and savored the feel of the Bastard's hot breath rushing between his fingers and scenting him. The Bastard had missed him and Hyacinthe had missed him too. That, and the beast was eager to be free of the stall. There was no doubt he had been spoiled with the open world.

"Ah, love, I know." Hyacinthe bumped his brow upon the Bastard's own before setting a hand upon his strong neck. "Let's ready you, shall we?" He questioned of the horse who lifted a hoof and thumped audibly upon the floor underfoot. It made Hyacinthe grin before shifted and sought the Bastard's personal bridle and saddle, and within moments Hyacinthe went to work.

Hyacinthe had laid out a sheet across the Bastard's back first before the saddle followed. Then the girth strap was settled before tightening such and assuring the stirrups would not give. Then there was the bridle that Hyacinthe had begun to work onto the Bastard when he felt the sudden press of dismay from very near. It was another horse and one that seemed far from pleased. Normally Hyacinthe would avoid any such things; after all, Camelot's stables was known for the green. Yet, Hyacinthe felt different then. He looked to the Bastard who looked unimpressed by the notion.

"Only a moment, love." He assured the beast. Then Hyacinthe stepped out of the stall and latched the gate. Hyacinthe lifted a hand to his hair and brushed his ebon tresses behind one ear. It was enough to bare the silver stud within his earlobe. The blue gem caught there gleamed as he rounded toward the stall that flanked his own. He leaned against the door and peered over such easily. Hyacinthe stood there wearing nothing that marked him for a soldier beyond an armband baring the arms of Camelot. Otherwise, Hyacinthe wore a simple white shirt that was loose around the collar to bare his chest and throat, and his sleeves were rolled to his hard biceps. Then there were his riding leathers and high boots which were both faded, worn and weathered beyond wear.

"You need to be more mindful of her," Hyacinthe dared to say then before reaching for the latch. He opened the gate and stepped within. "Shh," Hyacinthe cooed to the skittish mare and lifted a hand to the beast's nose. He willed a semblance of calm onto the beast from his mind. The horse, though, was reluctant and uncertain, but soon accepted the calm. Then Hyacinthe gestured to her.

"May I...?" He asked with a toothy smile.

Hyacinthe offered his hand to take the saddle.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

Alais simply drops that damnedable saddle upon the floorboards once more. It was far too heavy for her frail arms to support any longer. And truth was, that despite being none too fond of horses, or knowing much of anything about the creatures, she could tell that the beast was becoming increasingly frustrated; both stepping back and sputtering at her with disgust.

It’s not as though Alais was doing this on purpose, and the truth was, that she was starting to feel bad about all this! She wasn’t meaning to bump and thump obnoxiously upon that horse’s side. It’s the simple fact that Alais lacks the upper arm strength to heft such a piece so far above her head. Not only directly above her head, but at an awkward angle, to boot! So, with Maple frustrated, and Alais growing much the same, she’d given up. At least for the time being. She was determined to get that saddle on, eventually, though, lest the stable keep take notice and mock her.

The fact of the matter was, that Alais made a piss-poor man.

Still, after that brief break Alais stoops to pluck up that saddle once more. Well, perhaps not so much plucks as it was painstakingly hefting. Still, the girl made it about waist high before she was being approached by some almost startlingly handsome man.

Alais wasn’t exactly sure if she simply hadn’t been paying attention her whole time within the army, or perhaps it was the simple fact that she was too preoccupied to put her focus on a nice piece of ass, but, well… It’d been some time since she’d been struck with the features of an utterly handsome man. Then again, perhaps the majority of the army was simply made up of unattractive old farts. Either way, Alais found herself staring within that moment, her green eyes growing wide, and a heated blush growing upon her cheeks.

A piss-poor man, indeed.

She didn’t even attempt to mask her voice within that moment as she spoke, nor the fact that she was a woman as a whole, “I don’t mean to,” she mutters, having finally taken his words in. The girl gives a wrinkle to her delicate, if not strangely shaped nose, before lifting her gaze to meet the young man’s own blue, “I simply have the upper arm strength of…” she pauses for a moment before sighing out, “A twenty year old girl,” she grumbles with a knit to her delicate brows. She supposed that would be pathetic, at the very least, were she truly a man.

“Please,” the girl breathes out, then, before hefting that weighty piece of leather in the young man’s direction. Her mouth purses and her now free hands lift to tug upon her clipped hair. It’s moments like this that she regretted cutting it in the first place, she must look a mess, then again, she was trying to pose as a man, was she not? Well, somewhat. Within the past few weeks she’d given up on acting out this ruse before near everyone save her superiors. And, still, no one seemed to question such. Still, her hair was slowly growing back, and she’d no intention of cutting it a second time around.

“Thank you,” she utters thereafter, adjusting her gaze in attempts to cease the blatant staring.

“Do you serve in the Prince’s army?” she finds herself asking. What else would he be doing here? And still, he looked like some dirty vagabond.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

The person that needed help was undoubtedly pretty for a boy. In fact, shockingly so. Hyacinthe figured that the royal army was simply beginning to hire anyone though. After all, there would always be a need for fresh faces to replace injured soldiers or simply those who were far too old to continue their task. It didn't bother Hyacinthe entirely though; after all, Hyacinthe had enlisted within his youth as well. Although the moment the boy had opened his mouth...well, Hyacinthe found himself rather puzzled.

The lad had a rather feminine voice to say the very least. It was one that made him question the boy's roots. Yet, that shouldn't be his concern. He had sauntered on over to him the lad with a horse that was urgently pressing upon his mind. Yet, the moment the boy confessed to having the upper arm strength of a twenty year old woman...well, Hyacinthe laughed and wrinkled his nose.

"Well, I could see that. I'm certain that they army will beat you into a proper young man." Hyacinthe stated...unless the boy wasn't exactly a young man. Then again, there were a number of royalty and nobility that looked pretty too. Mayhap she was simply untouched by nature as a whole and would grow into a more rugged and weather worn frame.

It was then that Hyacinthe draw away from the horse only enough to fetch up the saddle from the lad. It wasted very little time then before uttering to the skittish mare softly spoken terms of endearment. All the while Hyacinthe pressed his mind upon the beast's own to soothe the creature and assure the horse to accept his comfort. Then within moments Hyacinthe was managing to sweep the saddle upon the mare's back and with ease begin to cinch the girth belt tightly and check the stirrups to assure they wouldn't give. He smiled when his hands continued to smooth along the saddle.

"That's a good girl," he murmured up until the moment he heard the boy speak. He looked over his shoulder for only a moment before lifting his hand to rub the beast's strong neck. "I do," Hyacinthe confessed and drew away enough from the beast to gesture at the saddle with one hand. "I'm a Scout." He admitted and then fell down to suggesting advice to her.

"You should be more kind to her. Tell her kind things and soothe her with your touch." He told the lad and set a hand back down onto the mare's neck once more. "She's only nervous because she's not been tended alone by you before." Hyacinthe admitted on the mare's behalf. "I have a feeling she'll give you a chance now though."

There was a pause then before he looked to the lad once more.

"You must be newly enlisted, am I right?" Hyacinthe questioned.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

She should probably keep the fact that she was afraid of horses to herself. After all, not only was he kind towards his own horse, he seemed to be fond of her own. Soothing the beast with hushed words and soft pats of reassurance. Though Alais is certain that’s how anyone that lacked an irrational fear of horses behaved. And, still, there was always the simple fact that no man she knew had ever openly confessed that they were afraid of such creatures that were oft admired for their beauty, grace, and all that bullshit.

The girl keeps quiet, and opts not to argue with him when he states that she needed to treat the horse nicely. Still, the girl felt near compelled to defend herself. It’s not as though she were beating the creature! She simply wasn’t fond of it. Though, she supposed, that that could make a difference. Someway or another. Then again, it’s not as if the damned thing could read her thoughts.

It didn’t much matter, though, as soon enough her problems were being solved, and that heavy saddle was being hefted upon the beast’s back, and cinched within place. Alais knew well that eventually she’d have to manage to do this herself, but for now, well, her problems seemed to be solved.

And, still, he was speaking to her. It’s not so much a bother, though to be quite honest, with her horse saddled up, Alais was all but itching to get on her way. Especially if he were going to offer up more o that oh so helpful constructive criticism. Miss strider simply didn’t have the patience for such behavior. Of course, she’d no intention of flying off the handle toward him. Though that didn’t mean she was immune to mild irritation!

Her hand seeks the strap of that horse’s reigns to draw her outwards, and away from the stall more completely. Her head lolls to peek over her shoulder towards the young man, and his horse with a wrinkle to her nose, “I am,” she confesses with the slightest of scowls, “I’m a little over a month in,” she continues onwards with a slight purse to her soft lips.

Soon enough Alais found her footing within that stirrup before she hoisted herself upwards and onto horseback, her fingertips lift to thread throughout the creature’s mane before her hands tangle upon the reigns once more. A scowl tugs upon her soft lips. “I’m just an archer, though,” she comes to confess with another purse to her soft pout.

“Shouldn’t a scout be out in the field?” Alais teases, lolling her head so she may eye him from over her shoulder. A grin spreads upon her warm pout.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

"You may be an archer but that doesn't mean you should neglect horsemanship," Hyacinthe told her matter-of-factly. It was true though; after all, anyone could be one dimensional, but one could make a rather career if they were learn more than one art. Hyacinthe himself knew a number of things albeit many were taught to him within his youth by his father. Nonetheless, that didn't mean a soldier couldn't learn more and extend their longevity within the royal army.

Then Hyacinthe found himself barking with laughter at the lad's question.

"Oh," Hyacinthe began, "I see. Is that how Scouts are looked at now...?"

Hyacinthe's eyes gleamed with amusement then and there. Truth be told, Hyacinthe was accustomed to the mixture of reactions from other soldiers. Scouts were looked at oddly for their rather different ways. Normally they acted outside of the norm of what soldiers would consider their guidelines; after all, Scouts found themselves out of reach more often than not. That, and Scouts tended to find themselves bound with exotic and foreign women instead of binding to a proper woman of Camelot. Which made themselves different and nigh anathema.

Then there were those who were fond of them.

There was no question to why many others were genuinely curious of Camelot's Scouts. They were a different sort of specimen from the norm. They were able to venture about without question beyond Camelot's borders to perform active duty beyond their wall and boundaries. That, and act as even somewhat more beyond their duty to the nation but even as representatives to foreigners and natives. It certainly left a semblance of mystery around them.

"It's been nearly several months since I've been here," Hyacinthe confessed to the boy. "So, no. I believe I've done enough to warrant my stay here for a short why." Hyacinthe told the lad before slipping out of the stall and swinging the gate shut before sidling toward his own where the Bastard awaited eagerly. He sought his mount's lead line and looked over his shoulder.

"The Bastard here needs a bit of exercise anyway." Hyacinthe added and looked back to the lad with a grin. "Mayhap I should show you a few pointers, eh?" He questioned and looked rather amused. "I'm Hyacinthe." He added suddenly as he led the Bastard free of the stall whilst simultaneously offering his hand to the lad.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

You might be an archer… Blahblah.

Alais finds her mouth moving, even after he’d stated the fact, quietly rattling off his words time and again with a furrow to her soft brows.

Needless to say, Alais was a woman with a quick temper, and the fact that this boy seemed to be so eager to judge her. It, well, it irritated Alais a great deal! Just because she was a poor horseman didn’t mean she neglected her dumb horse. She simply didn’t care for the damned animal. She treated the horse well, or so she thought. It’s not as though she hit the dumb thing, though that’s not to say the occasional accident didn’t happen, as was just witnessed with the saddle incident. Then again, she was only human!

The girl gives a quick shake to her head. Dismissing those thoughts. He was just trying to help her, after all, even if he was a little forceful.

Alais’s mouth purses, and her soft thighs clench upon the horse’s flanks, and her legs give an idle sort of swing, all whilst she listens to him speak. It’s been months since he was last in time, and Alais supposes that he does, in fact, deserve a break. Though Alais probably wouldn’t be found within the barracks on her time off. Still, some people considered the army to be their life in it’s entirety. Some others had naught else that filled their lives save for their time spent within the army. No family to speak of, and their only friends settled upon the front line. So they lurked within the Barracks, training and simply waiting the day that they’re called to duty once more.

Perhaps Alais would be one of those people some day. Though for the time being, she couldn’t quite stand her time spent within those high walls. Then again, Alais was still a relative nobody. Sure, she’d garnered some attention for being a “Pretty boy,” but aside that, she wasn’t particularly skilled in archery, nor horsemanship. Sword wielding was a little too close combat for her, and the girl couldn’t even imagine indulging in a bout of fisticuffs. The only thing she seemed to excel at was knife throwing. And even then, what good would that do in the long run?

“I suppose so,” Alais reasons, though there’s a teasing lilt to her voice, alongside a smile which meant no harm by her words. Some men were quick to fly off the handle, after all, especially the young boys, she’d noticed. They were ever eager to fight, simply for the sake of a story!

Alais found it all a slight bit crude, and she’s not sure she’ll ever look at a man the same again.

“Bastard?” she asks then. Did she truly name his horse that? And he was on her case about mistreating Maple? She says nothing aside that simplistic question, and offers a wrinkle to her nose. Though when he offered her a few pointers, the girl found herself furrowing her brows, and still, she kept quiet, up until he offered his name. With that, Alais leans forth from atop her own horse to offer her own hand, “Alais…x” she manages to stutter, before once more scowling.

Piss poor man, indeed.

“Alex.”

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

There was a tale behind the name the Bastard had earned. It was dubbed such after the man who had bred the beast. The man had been anathema of the gypsies, but tolerated enough to be apart of the caravan due to his skill as a horsetrainer. The reason for being considered a detested man was much for the fact that the man was half-blooded. He had a mother that was a gypsy and a father who was Camelot bred. He was much like Hyacinthe himself, but the man never knew his father where Hyacinthe had been fortunate enough to have a father who accepted him. The differences were clear and Hyacinthe may have lived a more stable life, but that still didn't keep him out from under the scrunity of others. Nonetheless, Hyacinthe had loved the man as a brother. The Bastard, too, had been fond of him.

The story was Hyacinthe's to tell though and one he didn't then and there.

So, Hyacinthe looked somewhat amused when she uttered the name and looked questioningly. She didn't hide her thoughts so easily. In fact, Hyacinthe could easily read her features then albeit that was something learned over the years. Something that a Scout was required to learn lest they find themselves within a ditch and being picked apart by carrion crows.

It was then Alais...no, Alex...leaned forth to offer his hand. Hyacinthe leaned forth and clasped her forearm with his firmly. Alex had a touch that felt forced and Hyacinthe questioned the lad altogether. He was far too pretty for a boy and growing newly into his callouses. Nonetheless, Hyacinthe, too, had been somewhat pretty, or so he had been told as a lad. Mayhap Alex was from a lovely stock with a slight mother and father who were both fair and comely.

It made sense...somewhat.

"Will you ride with me then, Alex?" He questioned. "I'd appreciate the company and I'm certain the Bastard will appreciate having your mare about." He uttered and smiled up at her. Within moments, though, Hyacinthe had begun to lead the Bastard off and looked over his shoulder expectantly of the boy. It wasn't long until they were out upon the sun warmed sand that was rounded off by wooden fence that was constantly in repair. There were others that were riding then as well albeit green by the look of them.

Once upon a time Hyacinthe had known many but every time he had returned to Camelot there were less and less. It was a sobering note of mortality and the limits of one's body. That, and the fact that some were simply sent to other stations. Nonetheless, to return and find one's friends gone...well, such a thing was more than mere disappointment. He looked over his shoulder to Alex and then up to the Bastard who bumped his nose upon Hyacinthe's sweat-damp tresses. He lifted a hand to pat the beast's strong neck before sidling to the Bastard's flank and pulling himself up onto the saddle and swinging with ease. With that, Hyacinthe's feet tucked within the stirrups and heels thumped upon the Bastard's flanks to trot along.

"Come on, Alex!" He barked back to the lad. "Tell me about yourself."

[Alais Olivia Strider]

Will she ride with him? Alais purses her mouth with a slight wrinkle to her soft nose. What was there to say within that moment? She could deny him, though that would be rude of her to even consider, and, still, she was. He came off as bossy, and some over confident know-it-all, and, well, perhaps it reminded her of herself a little too much for her to be comfortable. And, still, he was achingly attractive.

Something Alais hadn’t seen for quite some time.

All the while Miss Strider was watching him mount that horse with an almost embarrassing stare. She found herself blushing, though, and biting towards her lower lip, shifting her gaze from his form, and towards a more appropriate destination, though she wasn’t quite sure what was even appropriate anymore! She felt as though she were some sort of pervert within that moment, and as someone pretending a man, she shouldn’t be so blatantly ogling the young man. Still, it’d been some time since she’d felt the touch of a man, even before she’d joined the army, and as such, she couldn’t quite keep herself from indulging.

Her mouth purses, and the girl dares to peek upwards, and away from the ground beneath, “Uh,” she stumbles over her words, though instead of actually speaking the girl simply clicks her heels toward Maple’s flank, to urge the old horse onwards, and away from her stationary place, where she seemed more than eager to simply pluck upon the foliage underfoot. Maple seemed hesitant if nothing else, though soon enough she finally managed to take a small number of steps away. With that accomplished the old mare seemed to have forgotten completely about the grass she’d been contentedly munching, and was now preoccupied with this pleasant stroll.

It wasn’t long before the two were catching up with Hyacinthe and his own, well, Bastard. Alais still found it a strange name, though heaven knew men weren’t exactly about the nuances of naming, hell, that’s why her own beast was simply named Maple! At least, that’s the assumption that Alais was left to make, as no proper story, nor reason was given to her.

Though he wanted to know of her, and truth be told, Alais didn’t have much to tell of herself. She had no spiel set aside for occurrences such as this one. Nor did she truly have anything interesting to tell of herself within mind, “I… yes,” she utters, confirming her competence, or perhaps lack thereof, though soon enough she knits her brows, looking in the young man’s direction, “What would you like to know?” she questions of him, then, those green eyes of hers growing wide.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

Hyacinthe had already thumped his heels upon the Bastard's flanks the moment Alex had approached and had questioned him. The query was a valid one to say the very least. What did Hyacinthe want to know...? Well, truth be told, there was the norm. He wanted to know of family, of friends and the reason why Alex was there and had enlisted in the royal army. Had the lad been down on his luck with little else to his name and with no other prospects? It was a possibility. In fact, that's what had led Hyacinthe to enlisting once upon a time ago himself.

It was these things that Hyacinthe expected from Alex without having to ask directly. Although Hyacinthe didn't mind whatsoever. He lolled his head and peered over his shoulder at her as the Bastard trotted forth with ease. The both of them were expectant of both boy and mare to keep pace with him.

"Well," Hyacinthe looked thoughtful. "Tell me about your family? Have you any brothers or sisters? What of your mother and father?" He asked of the lad and looked genuinely interested then and there. In fact, he even looked back to the boy to search his features. Then the inevitable happened as Hyacinthe offered several other questions in a hope to spur the lad to tell him more about himself and not to be so very shy around him.

"What was your reason for enlisting? What do you want from the army? Where do you see yourself in a few years? Will you look for a more settled life afterward? Do you have much friends yet? How far along are you in your training?" It was one question after another and each one made Hyacinthe look...well, genuinely interested as he looked back time and again with hope that the boy had an answer for him. If not...well, then Hyacinthe himself wouldn't very much mind and he wouldn't have minded so much to tell him about himself too.

Then one more.

"Any love of your life?" He asked but with a grin.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

The next thing Alais knew, she was being bombarded with a seemingly endless hail of questions. One after the other, or so it seemed. It was by far, more intense than the process she’d gone through to join the army. It amused her to say the least of things. She hadn’t expected joining the army to be as simple as filling out a few forms, but it had been. And this, well, it was nigh to complete opposite.

Not that Alais minded.

Her brows furrow, and the girl attempts to catch hold of one question or another, focusing upon ones that wouldn’t require an extreme amount of lying, after all, despite all, Alais wasn’t exactly well versed in the art of such. Sure, she did her best with what she had, but by no means was she born to rattle off lies, and tell tall tales, as some seemed to be oh so gifted with. “My family…” Alais breathes with a furrow to her soft brows, “Both my parents are still with us, and I have a brother. Well, had,” though she seems quick to dismiss the thought. Her brows furrow once more, and her gaze lifts towards the young man’s face.

Alais allows for a slight smile to cross the purse of her mouth as her features soften, at least somewhat, “I guess he’s the reason I joined the army,” she offers, “My brother, that is,” her shoulders lift, then, though she knew well that’s why she’d joined the army, though Hyacinthe didn’t need to know her exact reasons. After all, the two of them had just met! Still, he had a persuasive way about him, and Alais found herself answering his questions without a moment’s hesitation.

“I’m not certain where I’ll be in five years,” she murmurs, then, lifting a hand to smother upon her jaw, though thumbing across her non existent scruff thoughtfully, “Perhaps I’ll have a family. Perhaps I’ll still be here,” she finds herself confessing with a furrow to her brows, “After all this is over, I’m not entirely certain what I’m going to do. If I manage to survive, that is,” her last statement held a teasing tone, though she knew well that it was a definite possibility, that she may not survive.

Once more she gives a quick shake to her head only to offer up a quick and easy enough smile to hide the worry. “Oh, I’m just a page,” the girl confesses, though she felt herself well enough off, given how long she’d been enlisted.

She finds herself pausing then and there as he questions of her love life, another wide grin forming upon her soft mouth. She gives a brisk shake to her head, then, coupled with the slightest of blushes upon her fair complexion, “No,” she breathes, “There’s nobody,”

Her head lolls to eye him thereafter, “What of yourself?” she asks of him, “I imagine there’s a woman waiting for you at home, just aching to have you.”

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

Hyacinthe listened to Alex within that moment without as much as even a hitch. After all, Hyacinthe wanted to hear about the lad's life. That, and he wanted Alex to know that he had a friend within Hyacinthe himself. It helped to know that there would be those who would genuinely want to lend an ear and listen. Hyacinthe knew that he had been grateful for that from others within his youth. Idly he wondered whether or not Alex thought the same.

Alex spoke of his family. That he had a mother and father that was still with him -- them. Yet, the moment he had uttered that, Alex had soon taken somewhat back. That he had a brother. Hyacinthe didn't dare question him there. Some things were better left unsaid until a better time; after all, one would have to cope with such things eventually. Hyacinthe looked to him and looked apologetic for the moment as he had admitted that his brother was the reason he had enlisted. It made sense.

"Had he been in the army?" Hyacinthe dared to ask.

Then Alex spoke of his future.

He wasn't certain where he would be within five years. He'd either have settled down or pushing for another rank. Then Alex had teased him about surviving. It lightened the mood but Hyacinthe knew that the army certainly wasn't easy on most. It took a lot of heart to push through and reach for higher ranks. Hyacinthe himself had settled with becoming a scout. After all, there was nothing more he could have done considering his wild edge and the fact that he wasn't entirely a wonderful leader. He did things out of the norm. Things that would earn lashings. He had the scars to prove that.

"Just a page, huh? Well, one has to start somewhere, Alex. You're not just a page. You are a page and you'll become somewhat more with time." He assured Alex and grinned at the lad. "You have that look about you. That stubborn look. You'll survive, alright. Survive and make it far." He added and looked rather...well, impressed! It wasn't long until the talk was back onto women though and Alex told him no.

Hyacinthe was genuinely shocked.

"Pretty boy like you with no woman on your heels?!" He laughed.

"I find that rather hard to believe, Alex," Hyacinthe admitted and listened to her own query. "Well, yes, I do." Hyacinthe admitted. "There's times when I don't see her for months at a time and she hates when I do leave, but when I do return she throws herself into my arms and acts like I never left." Hyacinthe admitted and shook his head. "Her name's Adara. My daughter." Hyacinthe admitted to Alex and looked to him with a sly smile. "She's the most precious woman of my life." He added.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

“He…” she murmurs, before allowing a moments breadth to pass. Her nose wrinkles, and the small girl casts her gaze downwards, “He was,” she confirms before furrowing her soft brows. She felt as though she should tell him more. Tell him what’d happened. Though she barely knew the young man, and was hesitant to reveal more of her life, let alone something which was such a sensitive subject to her.

Perhaps it was best saved for another time, then.

“Just a page,” Alais confirms with the slightest of grins, though she were mocking the fact that he’d assured her, that she’d become something more sometime within the future. The truth was, it wasn’t so much rank she was necessarily concerned over, it was more getting out and upon the front line which she cared about. Even so, she wasn’t so sure what she do upon spending time within the battle field. Though to be quite honest she had no other plans for her time within the army.

She supposed being upon the battlefield would be much better than playing as some sort of castle guard within Camelot.

“Thank you, though,” she mutters then, with a wrinkle to her nose. The truth was, that Alais was thankful for his comment. Everyone within the army seemed out to cut her down, to ridicule her for being weak, or poorly trained, slow, or ill equipped. As a woman Alais found her feelings hurt on more than one occasion. Still, she hadn’t allowed herself to cry, as she definitely would have within any other circumstances. She’d held fast. Strong and stubborn, and shook the comments off, to the best of her abilities.

It made for difficult days, and nights that were very much the same, as Alais wasn’t quite use to stifling her emotions, be it anger or sadness. Needless to say she was still gaining control of such a thing.

Though soon enough he was teasing her for not having a woman, and perhaps he was right. Perhaps if she were actually a man she’d find her bunk warmed night and again by one attractive woman or another. Though Alais wasn’t a man, and as such, there would definitely be no women within her bedroom. She was a woman with different desires. She longed o feel the touch of a man, though she doubted such a thing would come about any time within the near future, let alone while she was still within the army.

She had, however expected Hyacinthe to have a woman, and it seemed he was proving her correct. Well, to a point anyway! It seemed he had a daughter, and the truth was, Alais hadn’t been expecting that. Though she supposed it wasn’t all that uncommon. Hell, he probably had more daughters that he didn’t even know about! Her nose wrinkles, and the girl lolls her head to eye this young man. How old was he? And his daughter?

“Is she as pretty as her father?” she asks suddenly. Though those green eyes of hers widen, and she finds her gaze flicking downwards upon a sudden realization. That wasn’t exactly something a man would say, was it? She suspected not, at least not within the tone she used.

A hand lifts to smother over her mouth, lest she say something more which could serve as evidence of her gender.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

There were a number of things Hyacinthe would have never expected from Alex. What the lad had uttered was definitely one of them. Mayhap that's why the boy had no woman at his heels. It could very well be that he preferred men. It wasn't such a foreign notion to Hyacinthe though. Although that's not to say that Hyacinthe had ever indulged. He simply knew that there were men who were away from civilization for so long that they tended to lean toward the same sex.

Hyacinthe, though, had never been that desperate for a physical release.

Yet, there was something different about this Alex. There was something him that stuck out like a sore thumb. It was a flag that alerted Hyacinthe that Alex wasn't entirely what he told Hyacinthe that he was. That there was more than what met Hyacinthe's eye.

"I suppose you could say that," Hyacinthe said and looked thoughtful.

"She's only five," Hyacinthe told Alex suddenly. "She's a beautiful child too. She will undoubtedly be a heartbreaker I'm certain." Hyacinthe added and even laughed at that. He wrinkled his nose thereafter though and lifted one shoulder with a shrug of dismissal.

"Tell me, Alex. If I offered to teach you a few things, would you accept?" He questioned the lad and even perked a brow. "Quicken yourself." He told the lad thereafter and thumped his heels solidly upon the Bastard's flanks. The beast heightened his pace with ease and eagerly accepted his head. It seemed that Hyacinthe trusted the Bastard enough to lead on his within those moments. Hyacinthe was undoubtedly a able horseman.

[Alais Olivia Strider]

“Lovely,” Alais breathes out when he speaks of his child. Her voice was pitched low and under her breath. With any luck Hyacinthe wouldn’t have heard her above the hoof fall of the horses. Though the girl was none too sure about how she actually felt about him having a child. Oh, it was certainly too early to have developed any sort of fascination with him, though there was always potential. He hadn’t presented her with the cold shoulder as of yet, so there was still a chance, no?

Well, perhaps not. There was the obvious issues at hand. The most prominent being that she’d presented herself as a man. Would he panic if he were to find out otherwise? Perhaps he would feel lied to, and lead on. Perhaps he would simply walk away altogether without even a second thought or a word of an excuse. Alais truly didn’t know, and she certainly wouldn’t be spewing her secret to just anyone.

He would have to be something else entirely. A man she’d never met before. Someone unique and warm. Inviting, and willing to touch her despite her shortcomings, and in spite of her poor guise.

The young woman allowed for an almost girlish sigh, then, her gaze lolling skywards as she considered the possibilities. For a moment she seemed lost within her own train of thought without even the slightest of idea as to what Hyacinthe had to say after that point, if anything at all, that was. It wouldn’t have mattered much, anyway. Though to be fair, this was certainly no way to win over a man in the long run. It didn’t so much matter, though, Alais suspected it would be some time before she caught a chance at freedom, and in turn a chance to be as she once was.

Though soon enough she found her attention being drawn upwards, and toward Hyacinthe and horse alike who seemed to be all too eager to gallop onwards and away from herself. With a grunt Alais likewise thumps her heels upon Maple’s large frame to send the horse to a faster pace, keeping up with the boy, at least somewhat.

In addition to being afraid of horses Alais likewise hated galloping. The simple motion hurt her hips, in all honesty, the constant thumping between her thighs, alongside the spread of her legs. Alais imagined some day it would be a sensation she’d grow use to.

“Why the rush?” she groans out then, with a furrow to her brows, “One would think a scout would be more sedate on his days off!” she teases thereafter, wrinkling her nose as she does so.