Complicated

[Sebastian Arcturis]

As much as he wanted to be, Sebastian Arcturis wasn't a nobody. For all intents and purposes, he was a simple guardsman. A captain, certainly, a personal protector of King Allarick himself, but he was no nobleman. Trained in combat and in court, he lived in a vague twilight realm of not being important enough to be nobility but far too intimidating and well spoken to be a commoner or a nobody as much as he wished he was. Fitting in somewhere would be...too simple.

His life had always been complicated and yet always been simple. Never share who he was. Never share what he was. Protect his family, but never talk about his family. Never talk about the Wardens. Simple. Always black and white. The complicated? He was Allarick's bastard son. He knew it, the king knew it, his mother...had known, but his half sister, Cera, did not. So much for being a nobody. At least he was to everyone else. This was not something he bothered with on most occasions because not thinking about it made not talking about it that much simpler. Funny how that worked.

At the moment, he was more or less bored regulating the entrance to the King's quarters with another guardsman. Sebastian leaned against the wall beside the door, one foot against the wall, hand resting on the hilt of his blade. He was affecting a very blank expression but taking keen note of those passing in the halls and moving in the castle nearby.

[Cera Le'Orin ]

[Cera Le'Orin]

Apparently the princess was not privy to a lot of information that a princess should know. She was certainly the type who would have liked to learn from her father, to know what it was truly like to run a kingdom, to take on such a responsibility. She was willing to do so, but instead, the man decided to betroth her to a king of another land...where she would ultimately be forced to live and not given the chance to rule this kingdom. At least, that was her assumption.

The grey stone of the castle walls were suffocating, and every so often, Cera desperately needed to get out. Oftentimes, she would just take a stroll outside in the gardens. Other times, she'd risk leave the grounds all together and visit Rosemary when the woman wasn't on duty. She was perfectly safe, she believed, and she wasn't going too far. Tonight, she needed to get out of her room...she just wasn't sure how far she'd walk this time.

Fastening the cloak beneath her chin, Cera slipped from her chambers to head down the corridor. It was late into the evening, but there were still servants making their rounds and finishing up their chores before heading home. She figured no one would bother stopping her, especially if she just decided to stroll around the gardens...which were dull and dead even still. Spring was upon them, but it was still far too early for anything to have bloomed yet.

Pausing at the corner of the hall, she peered around to the adjacent corridor to see Sebastian and a fellow guard outside her father's door. He must be in for the night. Good. Without anymore hesitation, she quickly walked across to continue down the hall. But, unbeknownst to her, those keen eyes of Bastian's would probably spot her no matter how hard she tried.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian had grown up in the castle. Not how a royal might have of course but he had been here long enough for the walls to suffocate him a few times over. It didn't help his sanity.

He paid passing attention to his half-sister. She was the princess, after all and that made her family. But most of his time had been...occupied. Cera was not his priority. Allarick was. And so were the Wardens.

But...when he caught sight of a cloaked figure that could only be the Princess, he figured suffocating in the walls and guarding a door could wait. He waited until she passed the corner and held up a hand to the other guard to stay put. He wasn't sure where she was going and the cloak was certainly necessary in the early spring nights, but...he figured it wouldn't hurt to tail her quietly.

He would flag down the first kingsguard he passed and quietly send them to his post while he continued after Cera.

[Cera Le'Orin]

Every time she thought about this "gilded cage" of hers, she thought of Lord Rohan and the comment her had made. Perhaps the one comment that should have bit, but his tone had lacked the usual snarkiness it often had. It made her wonder if Arcisea had many common folk out on the streets, barely able to get by and survive. Maybe as its queen, she could help...although she much rather do so in her own homeland.

The more and more she thought about it, the faster her pace became; booted feet carrying her down the nearly deserted halls. It was getting late in the evening and there would be few who would stop and ask her where she was going, if they even dared to ask, that is.

The nights were still fairly chilly, and it struck her face immediately when she stepped outside, but the warmer days were certainly on its way. At first, Cera thought she would just walk around the castle grounds until boredom struck, but instead, she found herself wandering her way towards the stables with the intent on saddling up a horse and possibly leaving. Even outside right now, the air felt stuffy, felt suffocating, and Cera couldn't figure out why it was suddenly so bad.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He was aware of the diplomat from Arcisea. He was more than that, of course, Sebastian was aware. It wasn't his place to have opinions on such things however. What was his place to have opinions on was where Teronna's one and only princess carried herself off to.

The lady seemed quite determined tonight, which was what made him suspect she might be after more than a quiet stroll through the castle grounds. The castle was always awake and moving with servants and guards and nobility but in the evening this was less so. The princess had free range of the castle for the most part as well so there was no one to stop her. Sebastian wasn't even sure he would. But he would certainly follow.

Following lead him to the sables. He wasn't surprised. Cera had always been more capable than most noble women, even if she wasn't invited out on hunts. He didn't follow her into the structure properly but he did take up a post at the entrance with a clear view of the back exit. He touched a hand to the shoulder of one of the dozing stable boys and indicated he wanted a horse saddled with a look that if the young man didn't humor Sebastian, he'd find himself out of a job.

In the mean time, the guard captain didn't have a problem as long as the Princess stayed on the castle grounds. He wasn't exactly hiding any longer, but he wasn't about to stop her. Yet.

[Cera Le'Orin]

Her mind kept going back and forth with what she wanted to do. It was such a foolish thought to think that riding out into the dark city would accomplish anything. It was stupid to think that doing anything would. Her father made sure that she was always just seen but not heard, even though Teronna didn't claim to be a heavily misogynistic society. What did Allarick expect to do once she was wed and sent off to Arcisea? Was he to rule forever? Was she to attempt to rule her homeland from afar with a regent set in place here?

She'd rush past the stable hand, paying them little mind as she went straight towards her favorite white mare. Half her mind was telling her to stop, or at least only remain on castle grounds...because she had nowhere to go. Sure, she could go visit Rosemary, but who's to say she was even home?

Once the horse was ready and she climbed up into the saddle, Cera was gently leading her out of the stables when she spotted Sebastian standing just outside. A startled gasp slipped past parted lips as her hands had tightened around the reins. "Sebastian-" she managed to say once the second of shock subsided. "What are you doing here?" Wasn't he supposed to be protecting her father?

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian didn't know any of the thoughts of his father. Allarick was barely his father after all. An authority figure, certainly, and family, but father suggested some sort of closeness and they were not that. Even Cera enjoyed a closer bond with her father than Sebastian did by comparison.

In his opinion, lacking other heirs, Allarick should be grooming Cera. Keeping her close. Teaching her the way he had been taught. Driving her the way he had been. Not in the same things, but with the same goal in mind. Protecting Teronna. That meant a strong Queen, and one located here. He would never act against his King, however, even if he seemed slightly mad.

Sure enough, she saddled a horse and was guiding it out of the stable. A suitable mount for himself would be just able tacked up as well. He wasn't surprised she knew his name. He was sort of surprised she used it. "Highness," the guardsman offered a polite bow. He pursed his lips. "Making sure you don't do something..." The word he wanted was stupid. But she was a princess and he could hardly say that to her. "...alone," he finished instead.

[Cera Le'Orin]

If only she knew these thoughts that ran through Sebastian's head, thoughts that were practically running parallel with her own. It was as though this hatred for magic had escalated into a madness where Allarick forgot so many other things. He still tended to kingdom affairs...but what of her? She was to be shipped off to some foreign country with no one else to take her father's place should something happen.

Where was the logic in this? Where was the logic in anything these days? Everything felt so wrong and so off.

Cera studied him from where she sat in the saddle, a single eyebrow arching up in soft surprise. There was a tinge of humor in those eyes that she didn't let seep into her expression. Oh, it was easy to assume what he had wanted to say, and she knew he would have been right regardless. But of course she knew his name- he was always following his father around and she did try to learn as much as she could, regardless of how Allarick felt. Mr. Arcturis was a fine guardsman and kept the king safe.

Right now, however, he was in the way.

Lips pursed, wondering if she should even attempt to lie. He already had an inkling that she was possibly thinking about leaving the castle grounds. Her tone was almost coy when she finally spoke, "I haven't the slightest idea as to what you're insinuating, captain." There was flash of challenge in her eyes just then, and only a few seconds after, she was urging the mare forward into a quick trot. If Sebastian wasn't fast enough, she'd have the animal spurred into a full out gallop and possibly out of his sight. It was dark out, but Cera knew these grounds like the back of her hand by now.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian didn't catch the humor in her eyes, not in the dark. Whether she understood his implications or not didn't matter. It might be better if she didn't catch it, but he'd been around long enough that even if he wasn't her personal guard, he had figured out she wasn't actually stupid.

Made stupid choices in the name of boredom...maybe. Not that he hadn't done the same. The man could tell from her tone and her words that Cera was committed. He was rather glad in that moment, about his foresight to have a horse saddled. When she proceeded, he wasn't about to get run over. He was quick to reach and mount his horse and follow quickly after her.

She couldn't know he'd grown up in the palace walls too, with arguably more freedom to explore than her. Suffice to say neither of them had need of any maps or lanterns to navigate the grounds.

Sebastian supposed he could have made a scene. Or at least told her she was being stupid, crown princess or not. But...they both knew that despite her words to the contrary, she knew exactly what he was insinuating already. So instead he caught up to her quickly. He wouldn't try to dissuade her further.

[Cera Le'Orin]

The princess should be annoyed. Perhaps she should be angry, but in truth, she was becoming a bit...amused? As a guard, she expected him to be silent, maybe even a bit stuffy and boring. Even if it didn't appear as such, Cera held respect for those in his line of work, because it wasn't easy. That much she knew. And she was attempting to make his job a lot harder if only to satiate her boredom.

Cruel, yes, but she could have made it a lot worse. Then again, she was still contemplating that.

Upon hearing the sound of following hoof beats, she gave a glance over her shoulder to catch sight of his shadowed figure in pursuit, and she grinned. He was following, but "pursuit" was not the proper term. He was being a good, little guard and ensuring the safety of the princess. And he knew exactly what she was trying to do. Still, he wasn't requesting that she stop. Interesting.

Her little venture, of course, was going to be really hard to accomplish with him on her tail now. Cera contemplated her options, wondering if there was a chance she could lose him somehow, if it was even worth it.

Still unsure, she wanted to see what the man was made of. "Does my father often lead you on random chases, Mr. Arcturis?" she questioned, calling out to him. Just a moment after the words left her lips, Cera pulled on the reins, urging the mare to make a quick turn to the right and straight off the dirt path into the more wooded area. She could feel that the animal had temporarily spooked, but the horse eventually calmed enough to navigate across the brush, zigzagging through the trees at her rider's commands.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Unwanted escort was perhaps a more proper term. He was ensuring the safety of the princess openly and at a distance and was not interested in ordering her around. Firstly, she didn't respect him. The woman wouldn't listen to him and rather than accept an escort he had offered she was making a game out of it. Secondly, he respected her. The man wouldn't listen to her entirely but he wouldn't pretend to male this a game. He was, in fact, a good little guard. Sebastian didn't take any shame in that opinion.

The least he could do was be straight with her about his intent to do his job and he would accept her ire for it without hesitation. He'd also put himself between her and any threat without hesitation. Both went largely without saying, considering he was a good little guard. Sebastian was the sort of character that in most stories never recieved a name considering he wasn't important and was very likely to die bravely or stupidly in an effort to defend someone else.

He was determined to simply tail her at all costs. He wasn't so worried about her intent besides of course thay she would attempt to lose him.

"His Majesty does most of the chasing, Highness!" He called back. Be it game or rumors or women. She could interpret that as she wished. Going off trail made it a lot more fun for both of them. More surprising was that she knew his last name. His horse, under a calm hand, didn't hesitate and for a moment he gained a few strides, still behind her. The turns she took kept him from closing any further. Unknown to her, Sebastian spent a lot of time chasing people through trees and underbrush. But he was happy to make it a challenge for both of them.

Not the sort of childhood chasing one might imagine between siblings.

[Cera Le'Orin]

Cera knew more than she let on. She knew more than people expected of her, knew the names of as many frequently seen people that she could. Perhaps she should be content with not being involved in the politics or happenings of a kingdom. Maybe she should just stick to her pretty dresses and parties, because that was what was expected of her, right?

The princess was far from "oh woe is me". She didn't rebel because she had nothing better to do. She knew that she deserved to be by her father's side, learning from him, bettering herself for her own sake and for the people. She wanted to do better and prove she could. Instead, she was forced to stay inside this gilded cage because of Allarick's own fears. How was she to be any sort of ruler or protector if the man didn't allow her to be? She was willing, and hated being faulted for things that were certainly not within her power to control.

Now, while weaving the mare through the trees, she was nearly forgetting her original intention this evening. Her mind had finally been made up to leave the grounds, to go see Rosie or to simply just...go. Away from here, to see the rest of this land that she wasn't allowed to. It was a foolish notion, she knew, but it was all she had right now. Until this silly game. To her, it was a game even though it hadn't originally intended to be. Although he was a loyal servant trailing the princess to ensure her safety, he wasn't calling to her to stop or begging her to turn around. He was just going with it. Maybe, if he allowed it, he'd also have fun.

"Of that, I have no doubt!" she called back, although the thought of it grated on her nerves. There were many things she could say or think when it came to her father, but she did not feel like burdening her mind with them. Not right now. Cera was slowing the horse down, carefully urging her to navigate down a small slope that led to a small stream. Once the equine was on flat ground, the princess urged her into a quick gallop; hoofs clopping against river stone and sending splashes of water up in their wake.

The main gates were up ahead and she eventually drew the animal to a stop. She stared at it in the gloom, chest heaving while she tried to catch her breath. Eventually, vivid blues turned to regard the captain from over her shoulder; amusement displayed across her features. "I suppose that...if I were to leave, you would simply follow?" Or would he actually try to stop her this time? It was an honest question that she had no doubt that he would give an honest answer to.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

If asked his opinion on the king's treatment of his own daughter and the princess and future queen, the rpyal guard captain would feign ignorance of the politics of court. But that was simply his public facing identity and fake opinion. Generally, Sebastian liked his sister. And was more than a little jealous. But he supported their father and then her. And sometimes he caught himself wondering if their father wouldn't be better served by allowing his daughter to be more involved. She wasn't uneducated, but if something happened to Allerick today, Cera wasn't prepared to rule. And Sebastian was not pleased with that prospect.

But tonight wasn't about politics. It was about avoiding them. It was a little foolish, maybe, but not something he bothered to judge. In a way, the escapade was reminding him of Camille a little. Wanting to be wanted only not sure where or by whom. The palace or...somewhere outside of it.

It was not fun for the guard. It was work. But it wasn't boring. So he appreciated that much. As for not calling out...he'd said his piece already. Bastian wasn't going to make this about him or make this any more annoying than it had to be.

Keeping his horse close to hers, he navigated the terrain of the palace grounds quickly and efficiently, mostly because of his horse but somewhat because of his own skill and experience. Okay, he woukd admit the ride was enjoyable. Fun...Bastian might not exactly understand that word.

He slowed his mount as she did, but when she stopped and studied the gate and then spoke to him, Sebastian did not stop. He walked past her, offering a very obvious star that dropped from her face, to her horse and then to gate and back to her. He kept his gaze on her but his expression neutral.

Were they going to go somewhere or did she want to stay here and talk about it? One of thise things was much more appealing. It was an honest, if unspoken question and opinion.

[Cera Le'Orin]

Life at court wasn't uncomfortable. She was fortunate to have the riches and the large roof over her head...but it wasn't fulfilling, and that was the very problem. You hear stories of rebellious princesses or nobility, and that wasn't what she was doing. She wasn't trying to run away from this very cushion-y life, because why should she? But it would be hardship if something were to happen, and she was tossed into the fray without any knowledge of anything. She wanted to learn, wanting to know what was happening in Teronna, so she figured she just had to show herself. Let Sebastian come along for the ride if he so desired.

Because, as he continued to lead his horse past her, she supposed that was what he was doing.

The guards stationed there looked confused, perhaps a bit worried that their princess was attempting to leave, but the presence of their captain halted any questions from their mouths. They simply bowed to acknowledge the both of them as they steered their horses through the gates and onto the path beyond. Cera waited until they were a good distance away before speaking, having no intention of running off again. She wasn't a fool and wasn't qualified to protect herself easily. "Have you seen much of Teronna, captain?" she asked quietly, her sight set in front of her. The path was leading them downwards towards the surrounding city of Ethion with its dark streets. Most of the businesses were closed while others were still lit up inside. "I've barely been allowed to leave the castle. I've seen some of the city...and then the nearby coast once when I was very little."

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He didn't think if it as inviting himself to accompany her. He was doing that, but in his mind it was more along the lines of doing his job. Would encouraging her come back to bite him? Probably. That responsibility was accepted, however. It wasn't often be got to spend any amount of time with Cera.

So...maybe it wasn't just about his job. The captain wasn't really sure of his feelings sometimes but it was difficult, knowing one was related to someone and having be raised around them and not be able to help. Whatever natural sibling relationships were, he wanted...something close at least. Encouraging and protective older brother sounded well and good in his head but how one actually went about that...Sebastian had no idea.

The guards were spared little more than cold analytical stares, reviewing their appearance and their promptness and how few questions they asked. Because they should have asked, captain or not. He frowned slightly but wasn't about to berate them in front of the Princess. They would be re-acquainted with the duties of their job later.

Talking to the Princess certainly wasn't at the top of his list for how to be a sibling. Sebastian didn't exactly have one of those. In fact, that she asked anything of him at all was unexpected and for a brief moment met with silence as he puzzled put her intent. Or tried to. He failed.

"Yes, highness," he said simply. He had traveled much of the isle at this point in his life. Certainly the land still contained many mysteries and dangers. But it was his job to find and put an end to the dangers. He had even been to Greyshollow properly since meeting Feleti. As for Cera's question...she would have to elaborate if she wanted more out of the man. Guard or not, he wasn't terribly talkative.

The captain kept a careful vigil of Cera and the area around them, especially considering Ethion at night was much like any other place at night. Conversation or not, he was a proper guard.

At her admission of barely leaving the castle he refrained from nodding. He knew. He didn't like anymore than she did. "A queen should know her kingdom," he agreed, not looking at her as he spoke. Hence why he hadn't stopped her. He had meant what he said about her going alone. "Is there somewhere specific you intend to go, highness?"