I'll leave my love between the stars.

[Cian DeGraff]

He would be lying not to admit that his nerves were a little frayed. It also didn't help that he was trying to act cool and casual the entire ride to Lasairdubh. Naturally, his mother wanted the family to arrive together, so they were shoved into two separate carriages so there was no escaping it. Even Rowan was there, being forced to go. Cian had pretended to argue lightly and not care, like he normally would...but this time was certainly different. He just didn't want anyone to know. Nobody could know.

After watching the castle get closer from the distance, soon looming over head, the DeGraffs had made their way inside along with the other arriving guests before going separate ways. Cian idly adjusted the simple black mask upon his face, taking in Lasairdubh's interior with interest. It was certainly the first time he'd ever set foot here, considering their doors weren't ever really open to the public...or the enemy. As he struggled not to fidget at the thought, the DeGraff slowly weaved his way through the sea of people gathering with their refreshments, drifting a little into that guardsman mentality as attentive eyes scoped the room out, sticking to the perimeter.

The man's pace was slow, his movements easy and casual as bright blues peered out from the mask in search of a certain set of silvery greys. The room was alive with music and voices, and yet he didn't hone in on any particular conversation, because none sounded like her voice. Nothing else was important.

Of course he was already looking for her. Aoife Lee Frye was the sole reason he was there, and frankly, the only thing he currently cared about. He saw his family enough that he wasn't needing to spend the entire time with them, although he wouldn't completely avoid them either. For once, he wasn't on duty at an event and could possibly enjoy himself, but Cian wasn't looking to mingle like Arieen was most certainly hoping for.

His sights were already set; he just had to find her first.

[Aoife Lee Frye]

There had been too much going on in the hours leading up to the masquerade for Aoife to realise just how nervous she was feeling. In the morning, she had gone for a ride in order to both get some exercise and clear her head a little. Since receiving Cian's letter, the mystic had thought that this day simply couldn't come quickly enough. Since that afternoon by the waterfall, since the guardsman had held her close and kissed her like that: they had only been able to steal the occasional glance. Cian had been kept busy with his duties, and Aoife had been kept busy with navigating everything going on at Lasairdubh now Ciaran's revelation had come to light. Through it all, the mystic had missed him, truly and terribly. The stolen glances may have brought a smile to her lips, but it was accompanied by a stinging pain in her chest knowing that she couldn't close the distance between them. It hurt to know she had to build those walls back up around herself when he was near, even if they were just for show, to keep up the pretence. Every sidelong glance and knowing smirk made the time pass between them seem even longer, and the possibility of seeing each other again seem even more distant. Aoife had thought tonight would never come, now it was close- the questions of everything that could go wrong were looming.

So she had kept busy, laughed and joked with her sister-in-laws as they helped prepare each other for the evening ahead. So when Aoife finally left their company in order to head to the hall, Aoife thought the way her heart fluttered in her chest and the way her breath didn't quite seem to reach her lungs was down to the corset being laced perhaps a little too tight- not because she was nervous. She was walking into this blind, arriving a little after Catriona Lee Frye had made her welcoming address and a few moments before the music started. Slipping into the crowd as though she was just another guest, though her mother had loaned her jewels- Aoife had left them, hoping they would grant her some anonymity (surely her mother would recognise them?)- which meant the list of people who would immediately recognise her in the crowd was kept short: Irene, Sinead, and Terra as they had helped her dress, possibly Myra, and Cian DeGraff.

It was the latter she was looking for now, aimlessly meandering through the assembled guests- catching snippets of conversation here and there. All the while feeling her heart beat faster and faster.

rest assured, my lady, that I will find you.

After a few moments, lost in the sea of masked faces- they mysic began to wonder if it was even possible, as much as Cian had joked about being able to find her anywhere in the wilderness: tracking through a forest was entirely different to finding a masked face in a sea of masked faces. Catrìona had been strict on the colour scheme, which only made it even more difficult to find a single person amidst the crowd.

[Cian DeGraff]

That bright gaze continued to sweep the room as he walked at a leisurely pace, attempting to not make it look like he was only searching for one person in particular. His family would recognize him; although his attire was simple enough that it would be possible to blend in with the sea of blacks, accented by various reds and golds after a certain amount of time. Maybe, subconsciously, that had been his plan- to not stand out.

Cian prided himself on being an excellent tracker out in the wilderness, but this was an entirely different playing field. This was a far bigger challenge and not something he was used to...however, that didn't mean he was any less determined. Still, the more he walked, the more everyone began to look like each other and he could hardly tell them apart. It didn't matter how intricate someone's mask was, everything was meshing together and the guardsman was beginning to doubt himself.

She had given him the sketch, though, and he studied it until it was ingrained into his memory. To be quite honest, it wasn't exactly a dress he could simply forget either, and yet he still hadn't spotted her. Perhaps she had yet to arrive to her own family's party? Or was she here, and had managed to spot him amongst the crowd somehow?

A dancing couple twirled in front of him, forcing him to sidestep where he continued his languid walk around the lavishly decorated hall. The sounds of laughter, conversation, and music began to lightly distract him as his attention drifted from masked face to masked face, desperately seeking those familiar grey orbs. Refraining from a sigh, Cian slowly spun around, weaving through a small group of patrons enjoying themselves with some wine before he came to a pause.

That was when time slowed, and the music and every voice in the room became nothing but gentle background noise. Those bright blues alighted upon the woman in her gown of black, accented by the gold in her raven hair and on her mask, down to her gilded heeled soles.

Rest assured, my lady, that I will find you. Had he?

Cian realized that he wasn't breathing; standing there at the edge of the dancefloor, completely ignoring the array of dancers around him as he waited for her to turn, silently willing her to look his way so that he could be sure that it was, truly, her. Even with her face half covered, Cian knew he would recognize those eyes anywhere. It took everything within him not to call out her name and give this secret meeting away, and he knew it was going to be even harder to keep himself composed when she was within reach.

Taking one step closer, then two, he leaned out of the way of a passing couple without taking his gaze from Aoife. Whether she noticed him by then or not, he would slowly drift closer to stand before her, leaving only a few feet between them until he could be absolutely sure.

When he was, that telltale smirk curled up a corner of his mouth.

[Aoife Lee Frye]

Cian would be here, he had said he would be and she believed him. It was that simple, really. On one hand, Aoife was relieved her mother and aunt seemed to have invited half of the kingdom- the sea of dancers and mingling guests afforded some anonymity in the crowd- but it also made it more difficult to find him amidst it all. It didn’t help that the mystic had next to no idea how Cian would be dressed. She was relying on recognising those bright blues and (she hoped) that grin of his.

The mystic did her best to look casual. Did her best to look busy enough to not be bothered by anyone. Did her best to look less lost in her own home as she wandered around, scanning every passing figure in search of the guardsman. It dawned on her that maybe she should have been more specific- but Catriona and Emilia had been so secretive with the decorations, the whole event really, that Aoife hadn’t any idea where to arrange to meet. She had turned to begin another slow loop, when her eyes met his- even behind a mask there was no disguising that colour blue. If she hadn’t already been certain, then the smirk would have cemented it.

All at once, her posture changed- the tension of her search fleeing her body, held breath escaping as her own grin crept unbidden to her lips. After weeks of merely seeing each other in passing, it took a fair bit of restraint to remember herself and where she was. They may have been masked, and surrounded by what seemed to be all of Allarick’s court and half of Teronna… but they were also still in Lasairdubh, still surrounded by Lee Fryes and DeGraffs alike. They may have finally been together, but it was difficult to forget just how thin the ice on which they walked could be.

So, sinking into a moderately low curtsey- Aoife greeted Cian DeGraff as she would any other noble. Only her eyes never left his for a moment, there was no submissive bow of her heard or glance away in deference. Straightening back to her full height, the mystic fought the urge to plant her hands upon her hips and adopt her usual posture. ”You had me worried for a moment there-” She said lowly, moving to take his arm should he allow it. ”-Only a moment though.” Giving his forearm what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze- Aoife allowed Cian to direct where they went, it was the first time he had seen her home, and the mystic didn’t want to drag him away from his first ball off-duty in forever just yet.

[Cian DeGraff]

It was hard for him to be casual. Not because he was searching for her, it wasn't because he was trying to not look like he was on a mission, but he just never really was very casual at these things. Despite the fact that he was fairly good at being social when he needed to be, he'd been working so much that even his stance at times just screamed that he was in the Kingsguard. It would take a few minutes more for him to snap out of that and just be himself, and he needed Aoife to do that. She always made everything easier.

There were so many people here, so many faces. It was worrisome in a way, if only because this was the Lee Frye home. Even Cian knew that his family was invited to save face, but were he not so wrapped up in this need to find a particular lovely masked one, he wondered if he'd sense the tension between the families. Maybe he would wonder, again, what they would think to know how desperately this DeGraff wanted to keep the Lee Frye woman in his life despite it all.

Even if the very sight of her threatened to steal all of the air from his lungs. He still couldn't breathe when she finally turned to notice him, and those very familiar blue eyes lazily (and very obviously, too) traveled up the length of her, drinking in the sight he had been forced to only imagine up until now. That grin might have curled just a little bit more as he dipped into a respectful bow, his attention never leaving her face either.

'You had me worried for a moment there-' His posture straightened a little, her arm slipping through his and he was already beginning to realize how difficult this was going to be to avoid appearing intimate, even in the most innocent sense. Right now, they had to look like they were strangers to avoid questions, and be two people who decided to keep each other company for the moment. "I told you that I would find you," he murmured back in reply, almost sounding a little smug. Of course, it had been by pure luck. It wasn't as if she had been leaving tracks that he could follow, but he wasn't about to share that, even though she could probably guess anyway.

He did not know Lasairdubh nor did he trust leaving the hall just yet, so Cian led them in a casual walk around the room. "I'm just glad I found you before anyone else did," the guardsman continued, slyly looking sidelong down to her. "Because you look...absolutely breathtaking." He leaned in a little closer but turned his gaze forward. Although his voice had dropped down to that dangerously teasing level, he forced his face to remain composed as though the nobleman was just trying to carry a conversation with his new companion amid the noise of the room. "It really isn't fair." He was pretty certain he didn't need to elaborate on that. Not out in the open, anyway.

Straightening, he glanced around with little curiosity because he was trying to keep his gaze from straying to her too often. But, honestly now, she knew he was going to stare. She had to know. "You might, uh...have to warn me if I stare for too long," he spoke in amusement. It was an honest request since they were trying to be careful.

Yet, there was one way he'd be allowed to stare without being questioned. Cian brought them to a gentle stop to face her, taking her hand to rest it within his own and hold it between them as he offered another light bow in inquiry. The words he spoke, however, weren't much of a question but an innocently, hopeful statement, "Dance with me."

[Aoife Lee Frye]

The hall had grown silent and deafening all at once now they had found each other. Where a moment ago, Aoife had listened to every voice amidst the din in the hopes of picking out his; she now tried to drown them all out in the hopes of hearing him clearly against them all. The sea of swirling gowns, a whirlwind of rich fabrics and exquisite colours gilded with gold seemed to swirl around the two of them in one continuous movement- Aoife struggled to pay anyone else any attention. Cian had a way of doing that, holding her centred no matter how much chaos surrounded them. "And I believed you." She assured him, the smugness in his tone warning a small smirk until the mystic remembered where they were and she forced (or at least tried to force) her features into a more neutral expression. "What can I say? I was impatient, I missed you y'know." While Aoife's voice had been low before, it dropped even lower then- so even the guardsman would struggle to hear her unless he was really listening.

She hadn't really stopped long enough for anyone else to find her, having been too preoccupied with finding him to notice anyone else. But that didn't stop Aoife practically glowing at the compliment. Lips parted into a bright smile, and behind the mask her cheeks flushed pink. Even though Aoife always enjoyed this element of court, spending a great deal of time considering which dress to wear for which event- she had taken extra time for this occasion, knowing Cian DeGraff would be there.

"As do you," The mystic confirmed, meaning every word. "It's probably a good thing I so rarely see you out of uniform." it was one of the many things on the very long list of reasons why she was finding it so difficult to keep the appropriate distance- to maintain the charade that they were little more than two acquaintances at an event, merely catching up on small talk. At the guardsman's comment that it wasn't 'fair', Aoife looked down innocently at her dress as though she hadn't the faintest clue what he meant. "You wanted to see me in a fancy dress. ". She pointed out, eyes that had been wide with feigned innocence now sparkled with mirth.

They walked slowly around the hall, and despite the lavish decorations that had been laid (it seemed that Cat and Emilia had spared no expense), Aoife found her attention focused solely on Cian- even when keeping up the charade, looking ahead as they meandered through the hall- the mystic stole a sidelong glance at each and every opportunity.

"I'll try," Laughing, Aoife clocked her head to look at him properly- as always she noticed those bright blue eyes first, sparkling brightly even behind the dark black mask. "No promises though, I might get distracted too." Even dressed in the finery and even though her heart was still racing to catch up after stopping when she had first seen him that evening: the woman couldn't help but think he looked just as good, if not better, soaked with rain and splattered with mud. Now that was really not fair.

Sinking once again into a slight curtsey, Aoife nodded her assent. Unable to keep an almost knowing smirk from her lips as she allowed Cian to lead them through the steps. He hadn't need to ask. But here they were playing this game, and Aoife couldn't deny she was just as excited as she was terrified by the secrecy. The steps were second nature, muscle memory after countless hours being forced to practice over and over again- but like everything else, it was a lot more enjoyable in the guardsman's company. "I really think you should skip guard duty more often, I don't even care if it's selfish of me." The mystic told him honestly. It may have been selfish, but it wasn't realistic. The only reason they could be here now, together like this was because of the masks they both wore. They both knew it.

[Cian DeGraff]

Although she made it very easy to ignore that they were in a large room full of a lot of people, likely not even paying them any mind, he couldn't completely forget it. The noise around them had become a nagging muffle, and a part of him desired to just lead her outside or to a quieter room so they could, at the very least, speak with each other. So he wouldn't feel suffocated behind that mask. Perhaps it was simply the mere sight of her that was drawing the air from his lungs and making it hard to concentrate on much of anything else. Everything was a blur but her. Aoife, despite her dark attire, was this beacon of light amid the colorful party-goers, luring him closer and closer.

'What can I say? I was impatient, I missed you y'know.'

While she tried to forcefully keep herself from smiling too much in this public place, it was impossible for him not to grin widely at that. Even when he feigned interest on what was going on around them and his gaze wasn't on her, he was still so attuned to her presence that he heard her quiet words. "And I you," he said just as quietly, wishing he could at least reach for her hand.

She was smiling at him again- that beautifully bright smile that changed her whole face, even if part of it was covered by the mask right now. Cian was silently cursing both their families at that very moment, because they were the bloody reason why he couldn't see that smile as often as he would have liked. The guardsman was trying not to let the impatience take hold, but it was being put to the test as they tiptoed around each other at this party, forcing him to keep as much distance as he could handle. And how was he supposed to do that when all he wanted to do was kiss that smiling mouth?

Aoife was complimenting him in return, her words nearly eliciting a response he couldn't (and probably shouldn't) be uttering in a room full of people. The others seemed preoccupied with their own companions, and it was likely most did not care that he and this woman existed...but she very much existed to him, and he hoped he wasn't making it blatantly obvious. Especially when his own gaze dropped along with hers to look down at herself; blues narrowing playfully because she wasn't faking that innocence enough. No, she clearly knew what she was doing.

He was a trained soldier, for gods' sake. He could at least pretend like he didn't want to drag her behind a locked door and mess up her perfectly coifed curls.

'No promises though, I might get distracted too.'

Yeah, this was going to get dangerous.

Aoife's laugh, however, had helped him collect himself a bit better before he was requesting a dance. His thumb ran over her knuckles as he held her hand, dipping into that slight bow before drawing her a little closer. Not as close as he would have wanted as he fell into the steps that he feared he would have forgotten but really were second nature by this point. He was nowhere near "Prince Charming level", of course, but he could hold his own. And in all honesty, having the chance to do something slow and simple offered them time to at least talk and enjoy each other's company. It was truly all he wanted, and to be able to look at her without worry.

Her words caused that grin to curl up a corner of his mouth as it so often did. "I encourage this selfishness," he told her in amusement, even if he actually did mean it. "Be selfish all you want, my lady..." Cian gently urged her out into a slow spin, but upon her return, her back was partially pressed against his chest- just for a moment, just long enough for him to whisper against the gentle curve of her ear in a heated rush, "I'm still willing to run away." To the mountains, that was, for however long both of them could chance it. Hell, he was willing to runaway to anywhere at this point, it didn't matter.

Twirling her back out, she was soon facing him again, and he held her at that usual, casual distance as they moved across the dancefloor.

[Aoife Lee Frye]

So much of her wanted to just grab his hand and take the guardsman up to the roof where they could watch the lanterns light up across the lake or watch the stars begin to burn as the night darkened. It seemed to suit them better- being alone and away from everyone else, from everything else. As much as she wanted that, to do the selfish thing and steal Cian DeGraff away for herself for the evening- there was still the obligation to be here. To take in the grand party that so much work had gone into, to dance and be seen dancing, and to behave appropriately…. Something told Aoife that stealing away a guest, especially a DeGraff, and hiding away would not qualify as appropriate by anyone’s standards: especially her mother’s.

’And I you.’

Every passing moment made maintaining this masquerade harder and harder. She couldn’t quite keep herself from smiling, but Aoife had always struggled with keeping a straight face… but how was the mystic supposed to keep up the charade for the entire evening? It might just prove much more difficult than she had first imagined. Biting her lower lip, Aoife once again tried to maneuver her features into an expression of polite interest- as though Cian had merely complimented the decor rather than say something which made her stomach flip and her heart to patter behind her ribs. She forced herself to acknowledge his words with only a gentle squeeze of his arm, and it all just felt wrong. The thrill was fading and being fast replaced with frustration.

But, at least the dance allowed them a little more freedom to talk- to enjoy each other’s company for the first time in weeks. It wasn’t quite a spar in the rain, or the quiet peace of playfulling planning out their lives in the mountains… but it was more than they could have hoped for at court, and for now it was all that they had. So Aoife was going to enjoy it. And enjoying the moment was simple in Cian’s company, especially when that grin began to curl at his lips once again. ”You say this now…” The mystic mused, her voice light and playful. It was another dream with little chance of coming to fruit- masked events were rare, and without the masks… Cian and Aoife wouldn’t have a hope of sharing a moment such as this. ”...but if you let me drag you away from guard duty as much as I would like to, you’d never go back to work again.”

She was gently guided away then, spinning slowly in time to the music. Considering the soldier had told her there was a danger of him stepping on her foot or forgetting the sequence… Aoife thought they were both doing pretty well, especially with how distracting Cian DeGraff had a habit of being without even trying. ’I'm still willing to run away’ Her breath caught, and the mystic didn’t have the time to recover her thoughts before she was once again spun back out- her spine still tingling as grey eyes met those blues. She swallowed. Then nodded, ”As am I.” Aoife confirmed. She had spared some thought into how she would explain her absence, but all that planning and consideration had flown out of the window the second he had found her that night. Now Cian was here, Aoife did not want to leave him. ”We could go at first light, I would need to change… but we could do it.”

It was crazy. It was stupid and reckless. But that didn’t mean Aoife would have thought twice about leaving right in that moment had he asked her.

”Or, if we want to avoid a search party… the next moon? Give you time to officially shirk your duties.” Aoife would tell Catriona something about needing to meditate on the dinner conversation, some time with her thoughts and time in nature, it would at least buy her a few days without too many questions.

[Cian DeGraff]

He gathered it would be a lot easier for him to slip out of this hall or even the entire manor without anyone really noticing or caring. Considering her mother had a big part to play in this whole party, Cian was assuming that it wouldn't be so easy for Aoife to get away. He simply figured her family would know her by sight, mask or not, and it was quite possibly the biggest reason he was managing to behave himself and not drag her straight out of that hall.

The DeGraff was often a very patient man, but this was certainly testing him. After this dance, was it appropriate to ask for another? Was he not supposed to move on and find another to dance or speak with considering he was not courting anyone? The politics of court were suffocating, and he didn't wish to heed them.

'...but if you let me drag you away from guard duty as much as I would like to, you'd never go back to work again.'

His brow furrowed a little, hidden behind the mask while his lips pursed in thought. "I'm still failing to see what is wrong with that," he commented lowly. True, it wouldn't be very ideal, but he'd be hard pressed to not simply drop everything, no matter what it was, to follow her. It was this growing addiction of needing at least a single moment to just speak with her, to feel her hand within his. He wanted more than just a minute, of course, but their lives didn't exactly make that easy to do. Not unless they were willing to share this budding relationship with the people who would likely- for lack of a better term- freak out over the news.

'We could go at first light...'

Cian subconsciously drew her just a little bit closer, barely realizing he was holding his breath. Oh, it was definitely crazy, stupid, and reckless. It was a lot of things, and was fairly new territory for him. He didn't usually do reckless, at least not like this- and even still, he wouldn't hesitate. He'd foolishly leave that very moment if she asked him to, knowing how dumb of an idea it would prove to be.

Aoife was speaking again, offering an alternative that sounded a bit more logical. At least, as logical as this very idea could be. He remained quiet as they danced, and he surprisingly wasn't tripping over himself or the hem of that very lovely dress, attempting to internally talk himself down from doing something foolish on so many levels. Really, Cian DeGraff never had this kind of problem before, and there he was, struggling to maintain control on this sudden rebellious streak.

He never took his eyes from her, though. If he was going to have to wait longer, then he was going to drink her in as much as this dance allowed. "As much as it will be torture-" Cian began, leaning in only an inch closer so that she would hear him. "Perhaps we should wait until the next moon..." A part of him regretted even saying that, but the logical part was applauding him.

And he was hating that part.

A slight cant of his head, more of his humor was returning to his face. He had been trying to mask most of it (no pun intended) but he was bound to falter every now and then. His grin was sly, his voice dropped to a whisper, and she might note his attention breaking from her face for the first time since they began to dance to brazenly give her a quick look over. So, sue him. "It might prove difficult to hike in such a gown, but...I also wouldn't mind if you tried." Cian chuckled quietly.

Now, he was getting distracted.

[Aoife Lee Frye]

Aoife had been careful, and she knew her brothers were mostly too occupied with their own lives to worry about where their sister was or who she was dancing with. Catriona would be too busy trying to manage her event and too busy trying to keep everything flowing smoothly to even look for Aoife amongst the crowd- the dress was a mystery to all except her sister in laws and Terra… the jewels Catriona had loaned were left unworn by her bedside so it wasn’t even as though she could be recognised by those. All in all, as long as they didn’t stray too close to any Lee Frye, Devany, or McIntyre- Aoife could enjoy some degree of anonymity. Which was possibly why she wasn’t too worried about how easily Cian could bring a smile to her lips or perhaps being a step too close to him as they danced. Nor would she be too worried about slipping away, should the ball prove too much or Cian want to see more of Lasairdubh later in the evening.

”You wouldn’t miss it?” Aoife asked, the curiosity clear in her voice despite her mask obscuring it from her features. ”You would be a gentleman of leisure, might have to take up needlepoint or dancing to pass the time.” She teased, following his lead with ease as the guardsman moved them through the steps- glad that the dance was second nature now as it meant that Aoife could focus almost entirely on Cian DeGraff . ”Or even worse, go into politics. Now that would be dull.” Still teasing, Aoife lifted those grey eyes of hers to his- would he be able to walk away from life in the military? Would she ever ask him to? Maybe. There was that selfish part of her hoping Cian would choose to walk away, especially with the war Catriona had discussed the other evening- the words her brothers and cousins had spoken. It wasn’t safe to be in the military, there was every chance that he would end up hurt- like Dunstan had been -or even worse. Despite the dark path down which her mind strayed, Aoife’s tone remained teasing.

The mystic had been following his lead as though it was second nature, so when Cian pulled her that little bit closer- Aoife moved forward without even pausing to think. It felt natural, being with him and being with him like this. Aoife had almost hoped the guardsman would take her up on her first suggestion- ever since they had decided to run away, if only for a few days, the idea had played in the back of her mind wherever she found herself with a spare moment. Her mind often wandered to Cian, wondered what he was doing in that moment- curious as to whether he was thinking of her on occasion. It was almost worrying, how quickly her thoughts flew to him the moment she was left alone. ”The next moon then.” She echoed in agreement, trying not to sound too disappointed by the wait. Though the next moon was still closer than ‘sometime’ or ‘maybe’, somehow it still wasn’t enough.

’It might prove difficult to hike in such a gown, but...I also wouldn't mind if you tried.’

Her immediate gut reaction was ’watch me’ but perhaps that was just the famous Lee Frye competitive streak rearing its head. The dress wouldn’t be too much of a problem, after the events at the garden party- Aoife had opened for a dress with a little more movement just in case. ”The heels might be a problem.” She mused, some colour coming to her cheeks as Cian glanced down at the gown. ”But I still think I could keep up- possibly even outpace you in that suit.”

The music slowed, partners broke to rejoin their families or to find another partner whilst some couples lingered for the next dance. ”Shall we…?” Pausing, Aoife wasn’t quite sure how to finish her sentence. ... dance again?, ...get out of here? She wasn’t sure.

[Cian DeGraff]

Cian was hoping that his parents would be too preoccupied with the fact that they were in "enemy territory" to really care about keeping tabs on their children, who could clearly take care of themselves. If they were going to keep an eye on anyone, however, it would likely be Arya who had been far too excited for this masked ball. As the only daughter now, their mother was likely searching for a suitable match for her. That was the interesting thing, though- Arieen hinted to marriage and wished her children would settle like even Rowan once had done (before tragedy struck), but she wasn't blatantly setting any uncomfortable meetings up with prospects.

And how long would that last? He wondered. The funny thing was, Cian never thought or worried about any of that until now. Until Aoife.

'You wouldn't miss it?'

Only thinking about this for a moment, he shrugged a single shoulder. "I'd miss certain things, I suppose...but my job is to protect, and last I checked, I didn't need a uniform to do that." The smile on his face was small as he realized he wouldn't need the title of "Warden" to hunt down Mystics either. Cian wouldn't need a job to do what he already did- he didn't care what anyone said.

He laughed quietly at her teases, the very ones he had said to her all that time ago in the mountains. "That, and I could spend my time hunting, maybe even traveling to see the rest of the kingdom." The guardsman had the money to travel, certainly, but time was another matter. That, and he wasn't so keen on trailing too far from his family with this war escalating all around them. "I'd like to think it wouldn't be dull at all..." he trailed off, dipping his head forward a little as his voice dropped to a whisper. "Especially if you were there with me." If that hadn't been obvious before.

But would he walk away from everything right now? It wasn't likely.

Of course, the moment he declined leaving at first light, he regretted it and wished he had the freedom to go wherever whenever he liked. Cian wanted to change his mind, yet he was quite aware of the risks they would be taking. At least, this way, they could prepare and plan better, and take every precaution they possibly could to avoid any suspicion. It was safer, despite how impulsive he wanted to be in that very moment. That feeling and need to do so was growing more and more by the second, and he had to be careful.

"Mm, right," Cian murmured, lost in thought when she mentioned something about her shoes. The distraction was real, and fortunately, she was teasing again and offering up a challenge- a true one or not, didn't matter. When those blue eyes rose back up to her face, he noted the gentle flush of her cheeks and he realized his heart began to beat a little faster. His grin widened. "If you say so..." He wasn't even bothering to argue it, although his tone did insinuate that he would only believe it when he saw it. Not that he was expecting her to do something so foolish.

Barely realizing it, he was drawing them to a slow stop when the music ended, and Cian had to force himself to take a step back from her, leaving the proper distance. Another song was seconds away from starting, and the last thing he wanted was to be pulled away, or for her to be drawn away by some other man requesting a dance. There was that quick moment of selfish panic before she was letting her unfinished question linger up in the air between them.

"...see what sights Lasairdubh has to offer?" he finished her sentence. Cian would offer his arm unless she thought they should leave separately. In truth, he was curious about her family home. Considering he'd never been here before, he wouldn't mind seeing some of the grounds or any of her favorite places.

[Aoife Lee Frye]

She regarded him curiously, grey eyes not lifting from the guardsman’s features even as he shrugged. Certain things Aoife could understand that, there were certain things she still missed and certain things she didn’t miss all too much. The sudden freedom, the endless hours with nothing to fill them had seemed daunting at first. Almost suffocating. Now though, even as she considered returning to that life, the mystic was finding the freedom to come and go as she pleased liberating. Cian was right though, he didn’t need the uniform to protect people, wasn’t that what they were all trying to do? Protect those they loved and those who couldn’t protect themselves? The smile on her lips faltered for a moment as Aoife’s mind darted back to that conversation at the dinner table a few short weeks ago- if the Lee Fryes were right, war was coming… and Cian’s uniform would place him right in the middle of it. ”You’re right,” The mystic mused, almost having to drag her attention back to the present moment. ”I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing you out of uniform more often.” She added lowly, the soft smile curling into more of a smirk. She had meant the suit, of course.

”That doesn’t sound so bad at all.” Again, Aoife’s tone turned contemplative- as though she was pondering a life of hunting and travelling, a life away from everything else. On instinct, the mystic lifted her head a little closer- closing the short distance between them even more as Cian dipped his. It was a dangerous game they were playing, but Aoife couldn’t make herself hold back. Even if she had tried, she doubted she would be able to will her heart to stop beating the way it did whenever the corner of his mouth lifted, doubted she would be able to persuade her limbs to not reach for him- it was hard enough in court whenever she caught a glimpse of Cian DeGraff , and now she had him here and to herself, Aoife didn’t want him to slip away again.

Just like she couldn’t keep herself from feeling disappointment that they would have to wait until the next moon to slip away again. Patience was not a virtue held by many Lee Fryes, and Aoife was no exception to this.

                 If you say so…

Behind the mask, Aoife shot him a look that said she certainly said so, but she didn’t fight him on it. She knew she was right. Besides, the music was slowing, coming to a stop as the musicians prepared to play once again- and with it, they were forced to a stop and to put some distance between them. As always, the mystic felt his absence- even if they were only separated by a foot or so. Without thinking, Aoife found herself squeezing Cian’s hand ever so lightly- as though she was worried either of them would be swept away with the start of the next song.

A relieved look crossed her features as Cian made the decision for them. It took a little more restraint than was sensible to stop herself from practically dragging the poor man from the dance hall. see what sights Lasairdubh has to offer? There was so much to see, and Aoife wanted to share all of it with him. All in afterall. Taking his arm, the mystic gently guided Cian away from the dance floor, through the crowds and towards one of the doorways which lead to the courtyard.

It was almost too easy to melt away into the crowd, the challenge was not to walk too briskly or to appear as though she was leading him. ”They’ll be lighting the lanterns later,” She said softly, feeling the cool night air wash over them as she led them out into the open air. Nobles still milled around, the music and laughter trickling from the hall- despite the spring air, torches and fires blazed here and there and added a comforting warmth to the surroundings. Dusk had fallen and though the sun had sunk beneath the walls of Lasairdubh- it had yet to drop below the horizon, so the sky was painted shades of orange and lilac as night began to fall. As they moved further from the hall, Aoife increased their pace- they would have to hurry if they hoped to see the sun set.

A short while, and quite a climb later, Aoife finally unhooked her arm to push open the door to the castle’s roof. From here the music was soft, the laughter and chattering of their families and the other assembled guests blurring into little more than white noise. No guards had been stationed up here, it was a favourite haunt of Aoife’s. From here almost the whole lake could be seen, Namyca stretching to the west, and on a clear day even the smoke from Ethlund if the wind was still. Now though, it provided the perfect place to watch the last few rays of the sun dip beneath the furthest mountains and the stars begin to twinkle into life.

”We don’t have a waterfall, but the view…” Aoife said, still breathless from her climb. Taking Cian’s arm once again, if he allowed it, the mystic would guide him towards the low wall- where they could watch the boats begin to push out onto the lake. The lanterns would not be released for another half an hour or so- but as with everything else at Lasairdubh, it was prepared in advance so there was opportunity to mitigate any chaos that may arise. ”There’s so much more I wish I could show you.” She added after a short pause, he voice softened by a wistful sadness she couldn’t quite suppress. ”But maybe another time, when there aren’t so many people.” Part of her supposed they’d never have the chance, but the rest hoped they would.

[Cian DeGraff]

It didn't matter whether or not he had a uniform, it was in his blood to protect. Maybe he had grown up and was forced to choose only one, specific side, but that hadn't truly strengthened until Cara was killed. Because of that, it was difficult to overlook the fact that not all Mystics were the same, or at the very least that it was possible. It was very typical of him and "his kind" to think this, but there was always hope for Cian.

After all, he was standing there, albeit unknowingly, with a Mystic, and he didn't wish to be anywhere else.

And with every second they stood there, with all that she said, it was further proving how much harder it was going to be to have to leave again until the chance they tried to steal away for a couple of days. Deep down he knew it was possibly a foolish idea, but it wasn't enough to stop him. Especially with her making comments about seeing him out of uniform. It was clear that he was trying to suppress a sly grin and refrain from making his own comment on that one. Gods forbid someone nearby heard.

But, yes, if she said so.

Cian should have been arguing with her just for the sake of doing so, to challenge her a little more because it was simply what he liked to do. This time, however, he just allowed himself to imagine it and it was enough to make him forget what he had even suggested in the first place. Seriously, why would he argue seeing her do anything in that dress? If she claimed she could hike in it, then...well, so be it.

He had to snap out of it, though, and make a decision, choosing to leave the dance hall for wherever she wished to go. Clearly she would know the grounds better than he would and he allowed Aoife to lead them from the room. The DeGraff was quite aware of the presence of others even out in the courtyard, willing himself not to do anything stupid, telling himself he couldn't just whisk her away to some dark corner. Still, the grounds were beautiful enough to keep him mostly occupied. Despite only saying what he did to get them from the dance floor, Cian was genuinely curious about her home. He wanted to see it, he wanted to learn about her favorite places growing up, he wanted to know all of it...and not behind the safety of a mask. That, however, was just wishful thinking.

As they made it to the roof, and slowly people began to disappear and their laughter faded, he felt a bit more at ease. Aoife was leading him down to the low wall where he finally stopped to take in the sight. No, there was no waterfall, but it was still very clearly a sight to behold, especially with the fading light of fiery hues on the horizon. "And a view it is," he added in agreement. It was what she said next that shifted his thoughts, letting the grin on his face falter a little bit.

Cian's back straightened as he blindly reached for her hand to toy with her fingers in thought. It was a moment before he said anything. "Wish it were as simple as that." But they both knew it wasn't that easy, that he was only there now because the rest of the Teronnian nobility were invited. To not invite the DeGraffs would have caused more unnecessary problems.

Feeling as though they were pretty safe up there, he turned his head enough to press a kiss to the top of her head and draw her a little closer. For now, he kept the mask on. "At least you can tell me about it all." She could tell him whatever she wanted, and it was just reminding him of all the things he wished he could just vent to her about...and logically couldn't. Shouldn't was the true answer.

[Aoife Lee Frye]

Perhaps it was due to being at home, perhaps it was the months away from the battlefield, or perhaps it was the few steadying drams of whiskey she had swallowed in Irene’s dressing rooms earlier that evening- but Aoife Lee Frye had let her guard drop somewhat. Whilst Cian was worrying about whether someone nearby heard those hushed words they exchanged or noticed the way their lips twisted into smirks below masked eyes- Aoife was far too caught up in the moment to worry too much. They only had tonight after all, a few precious hours- maybe less so- and then gods only knew how long before they could steal away again.

The mystic wasn’t going to waste a moment of it.

As they passed through the courtyard, grey eyes quickly scanned the crowds- hoping that none of the nobles close enough to recognise either Cian or herself would know them well enough to actually do so. For a moment or two- Aoife wondered where her brothers were, if they were dancing with the others or if they had stolen away to take a breath of fresh air- either way, she was relieved to not spot them as she lead Cian through one of the stone archways- pushing open heavy oak doors just wide enough for them both to slip through and back into the relative darkness of the castle.

Devoid of the soft starlight and roaring fires, the corridors were close and shrouded in shadows- broken here and there by the soft glow of the torches that were always kept burning. Knowing the way, Aoife hadn’t bothered to wait for her own eyes to adjust to the semi-darkness but had instead led the way up to the roof. Another wooden door, this one however the mystic hadn’t quietly closed behind them but rather propped open with a chunk of long discarded masonry. The door was on a latch, meaning if it closed behind them… there would have been trouble… or at least some explaining to be done.

Cian’s hand found hers, and Aoife didn’t pause to think about it as her fingers intertwined- idly toying with the guardsman’s hand just as he did with hers. It was an easy intimacy, the silence that spread between them passing in little more than a heartbeat. ”If only.” The mystic echoed, a sigh escaping her as her gaze left the horizon to fall upon their intertwined hands- her thumb lightly tracing spirals against the back of Cian’s hand as he pressed a kiss to her head. ”Well, it’s not the same- but you’re not wrong.” At least for the most part… As easily as Cian DeGraff could lower her guard, even Aoife couldn’t open up enough to put herself, or her family, at risk.

Turning away fully from the sight stretched before them, Aoife absently reached for the guardsman’s other hand- lazily entwining their fingers should he allow it and pulling herself a little closer. ”Well-” She began, ”If you look towards the north east, you might just be able to make out the fires of Greyshollow- it’s the nearest village, we spent a lot of time racing there when we were younger. The forest is safe enough, less so when you’re tearing through it on horseback.” It was almost easier to talk about life just outside of Lasairdubh- places where they could, possibly, be with each other without sneaking around.

[Cian DeGraff]

They only had tonight, then a couple of weeks of having to pretend like they didn't even know the other existed before they could some spend some semblance of time with each other. He hated it, enough to say to hell with this foolish feud and make all of this known...but that would be idiotic. It wouldn't be a smart play right now, and he tried to make himself remember that. The last thing he wanted was for his family to try and interject, to try and put a stop to this before it had really truly begun.

All he could do now was not waste a second of this evening. He had to stop worrying about the future because the day wasn't even done yet; it had hardly begun for them, and he was willing to stay as long as he possibly could. Cian followed her silently every step of the way until they reached their destination- away from the crowd and prying eyes, away from everything else for the moment. It was peaceful here, and part of it had to do with the lovely company at his side.

She was pulling his attention down to her when she sought for his other hand; bright blues drawing away from the horizon to her face. For a second, he was tempted to remove her mask, but he was still being rather cautious. That, and he was trying to be good. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to stop himself from blatantly staring or kissing her, and it was already difficult as it was. Just the very idea of his plight seemed to form a light grin of amusement on his lips. He didn't always think straight around her, and it was still something that was relatively new for him.

'If you look towards the north east-'

His gaze flickered in that direction for but a second before he was finding her far more interesting. Still, he listened, as always. "I'd imagine the lot of you making the forest scarier for the creatures lurking there," he mused, his smile growing just a little more. Cian imagined her and her brothers riding through the trees, laughter upon the wind, all carefree without the heavy burdens a lot of them likely carried now. He and his siblings had been the exact same way. "As much as I enjoy the mountainside, the woods hold a different kind of peace, but I do not know them as well." Yet.

Namyca held rumors about Mystics, but the vastness of it made it difficult for one man to traverse.