The Kingdom, The Witch, & The Warrior

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

When Zena first felt Kreiss hand on her head she flinched. It was the first time she had physical contact with someone in a long time other then while she was treating him. She slowly started to relax as Kreiss stroked her head, a feeling she had almost forgotten as it had been so long. Kreiss promised that he would not pull chunks of hair off her head and she nodded a little as way to show she trusted him.

As the young man moved her hair a slight shiver went through her body, not in a bad way but in a good way. She enjoyed the feeling of someone hands touching her hair, it was a strange feeling she couldn't explain. As Kriess gently and slowly brushed her hair out Zena closed her eyes as she relaxed and enjoyed the feeling of her hair being brushed. Her mother use to brush her hair all the time and play with it. Her mother would tell Zena how much she loved her red hair and that she wouldn't change it as no other colour suited her better then red. Though Zena didn't see it that way, she only saw it as a easy target growing up.

She opened her eyes when she heard Kreiss voice close to her to see he was not to far from her face which made the young woman tense up and blush slightly. She just gave him a simple not and glanced away slightly. " This Lady you speak of... Won't she be upset that you are brushing another woman's hair when you are courting her?" Zena asked as she thought he was courting the Lady he spoke so much about.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss paused. Lady he was courting? He had spoken only about Lady Vendmere. It took him a moment but he just chuckled and shook his head. "That, is a long story, but I am not courting her. I owe her family a great debt as they are the one's that put me into a position that I am." He paused the brush for a moment. "It was her father that had me trained to protect her."

Then it was back to brushing. "She simply does not wish to see me distracted from my duties Zena, as she thinks that anything other than doing my work will make my skills grow rusty, and with the amount of prestige her family has gained through my combat, I cannot afford to stop honing my skills until they find another person to replace me when I am older. I am sure when she has a child I will become that child's teacher of the sword."

He pulled the brush away once he found a particularly large knot in her hair, instead taking fingers to feeling at it and rubbing it between his finger. "Hmm... This is going to give me trouble, I wish I had a comb as well."  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

Zena waited quietly for him to tell him about this Lady he spoke about. Zena never had any experience in courting of any sort. She hadn't even seen someone of the opposite sex since she was a child. The only thing she knew about courting was the stories she had in her books or the ones her mother would tell her. She never really thought of courting being real at least for her because where she lived and what she was. To her, falling in love and romance was a fairy tale.

She heard the man behind her chuckle and she turned her head slightly to look back at him as he explained that the Lady he spoke so much of was not a woman he was courting but worked for her family. " You are a knight because of them?" She asked, mostly to herself as she moved her head to face forward as he started to brush her hair once again." Do you enjoy it? I mean being a sword and shield for that family? It is one thing to fight for your Kingdom but for a family is different." She said thinking about it. He must of cared for that family to be serving them in such a way or maybe there was more behind it?

" If you are not courting the Lady then are you courting anyone out of these woods?" She asked. She didn't know why but she really wanted to know if he was courting someone or not. In a way she wanted to know if this courting thing she heard so much about was really true as she would never really know. As Kreiss played with her tangled hair she let out a slight groan. " I hate my hair..." She grumbled.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss gave a small nod. "I am indeed. I was raised as the brother of the lady I now serve until I was old enough to wield a sword. Then I was told the truth of being adopted into the family and that I had to protect the one I had called sister up to that point. As to whether or not I enjoy it... I would say yes I do, because if I was not a sword and shield for the family then I would not be able to experience a great many things in life."

He paused and then began to laugh gently when she asked him if he was courting anyone. "No, I am not courting anyone at the moment, though I have dedicated various tournament successes to various ladies of different houses. I do so in order for those in charge of the house to become or stay interested in the family that I serve so that it may gain continued prestige when it comes to words as well as blade."

Kreiss finally worked the knot out. "I am also sure that if it came down to it, Lady Vendmere would tell me it was time I thought of doing such a thing. I am sure the reason she has put it off is that she is worried about losing another member of the family, even if only an adopted member. She is very conscious about family when it comes to such matters." The brush was brought back to Zena's head and the gentle stroking of it commenced once again.

"Why do you hate your hair Miss Zena? From what I can tell it is very strong hair, and while it might be a bit unruly, it certainly fits the person who has it. After all, I think it reflects well your personality, having stayed in these woods for so long, one might call you strong and a bit unruly."  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

" They took you in?" Family was something Zena was not very familiar with nor kindness from from humans really. If Zena still lived out in the world where she was born and lost her mother no one would ever dream to take her in. She would of been on the streets and treated nothing more then a unwanted stray dog. " It must be nice... Having a family take you in and treating you as their own even though you are not." She wondered what it would be like is she had grown up with a father or a sibling. Maybe it would of been easier for her mother raising her and she wouldn't be alone.

As Kriess explained that he was not courting anyone at the moment but had many opportunities to do so she titled her head back to look at him. " So you are saying you have many woman to court if you want because you won tournaments?" She asked confused how that work. " Isn't courting someone meant to be with someone that one cares for? Not as a prize?" At least that was what she understood by it from all the books she had.

When the topic was on her hair she shifted a little and she looked down at her hands. " Its brought me nothing but trouble..." The little witch muttered and couldn't help but feeling a little upset when he said it suited her. The colour that he say now was not her true colours and he would think differently of her if he knew.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

"Yes they did. Lady Vendmere's mother found me in a basket when I was just a baby. Took me in despite me having red hair. They fought through the rumors, and I do my best to make sure to prove such insidious things incorrect." Kreiss stated with a shake of his head.

He listened to Zena for a moment and decided to just continue explaining the situation with dedicating a tourney to someone rather than try and delve deeper into why her hair brought trouble. It certainly did not look like a topic she was comfortable with.

"Mmm... I may have explained this incorrectly. There are a great many rules when it comes to courting a noblewoman. Expressing that you won a tourney due to their favor is but one of the things to do while courting a woman. However since I have not expressed any further interest in the women I dedicate the tournaments to, the thing that is actually receiving the idea that I or another knight won the tourney is the house that they are a part of. This allows for the head of said house to approach Lady Vendmere more easily as they can now express gratitude to her for having a knight that would thank their house for the success." Kreiss paused and thought for a moment longer.

"For instance, if I won a tournament and I came to you, expressing my gratitude that your support is what allowed me to win the tourney but I did not go much further than that in terms of conversation, you would then know that the expression of gratitude is to your family. They, in turn could then talk to Lady Vendmere with a common subject, and they now must pay Lady Vendmere a compliment which puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to any economic or political dealings because they must be humble before they can push for something which gives their argument a weaker stance."

He took a long breath and then shook his head. "It is all very much complicated Zena, all of the in's and out's of how the higher echelons of society work takes a great many years of study and practice to become proficient at. In short, I am courting no one, but I would be allowed to court from a vast array of ladies if I so choose to say that I am starting to do so due to the position that the house I am a part of being rather prestigious. Courting and being courted is, for the most part, just for politics."

His hand shifted from holding one lock to gathering a new set to work on, the brush begin its slow rhythm of work that he had gotten into now that they were discussing something while he kept his hands busy.  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

" They must truly must be great people to take you in like that. The people in the village I was born in was not the kindest of places. If you were ever so slightly different you were a outcast. If one person turned on you the whole village did and it would not stop till you were gone... People are so cruel..." Zena said thinking about not only how she was treated but her mother as well for having a red headed child. She was able to hide who she truly was until Zena was born. Her mother was one of the lucky witches and had black hair so it was easier to get by as human.

As Kreiss tried to explain to Zena how courting worked and why he was tourney mostly for the family her served which only frustrated the girl more. " But why? I mean... If the Lady of the house wants to talk to another noble shouldn't she do something to earn the right to do so? not have another do it for them? Why make others go through hoops? Why should there be any in the first place?" She understood what Kreiss was talking about but she didn't agree with it in any way. She didn't know much about the outside world but what Kreiss was telling her she did not agree with it. " You do not gain anything for yourself unless you wanted to court them, you are just doing so for the sake of a family. Even if you want to court tone of them why would you? You wouldn't know the person really until you won."

The witch shifted in slight frustration by this courting talk. " I guess romance and such is nothing more then a fairy tale... Even in the outside the world." She was a bit disappointed in it as she always wondered about it. A feeling sh would never understand.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss let out a small sigh as he worked. "You are a curious lady Zena and I wish I had all of the answers, but sadly I do not. What I will say is that what you are thinking of isn't so much a fairy tale, but an ideal result of what should happen during courting, not the reason for its existence."

He then thought for a moment. "I do not think romance is a fairy tale, after all, if that was the case, would either of us be here? Would I parent's have been there? Or their parents? I think love eventually blossoms between people, and affection. Children are the result of such things are they not? At least they are one of the results of love and affection for the partner one is bound to, in most cases anyways."

He then laughed a bit. "You are right though, I do not gain much from doing what I do. I think of it simply as another duty for the house I am a part of, nothing more, nothing less. My duty to my kingdom comes first. The duty to the house I am a part of comes second. My duty to myself comes last. That's what chivalry is supposed to be and what I am told to uphold. Once you get used to it, it is not that bad."

Kreiss began to think of the last time he gained anything from his actions, aside from improving relations for House Vendmere. "You might be surprised that the last thing I did for my own sake was before I was taught how to use a sword. In fact, it was what I am doing now, just for my formally adopted sister, Lady Vendmere. A strange though hmm?"  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

She made a slight pouty face as Kreiss said she was a curious one. She only had so memories of the outside world. She always took any chance she could to learn about the world beyond these woods. " I guess... If there was no true love neither of us or others would not be here. But still the idea of having to win the right to even speak to someone is not right."

Kreiss seemed to enjoy his work even though he did not get much out of it. He was a shield and sword to his kingdom and the family who took him in. He didn't get much out of winning these tourney but he still did so. He thought of himself last, a true knight like in the old stories Zenas mother told her. " You are a good knight Sir Knight." She said with a smile on her face as she leaned back more and closed her eyes, relaxing more as Kreiss brushed out her hair.

" Not only a good knight but a good brother too. She is lucky to have someone like you." She said softly as she slightly bobbed her head with the movements of being brushed. It was a warm and relaxing feeling that she didn't want to stop. It was something so simple but it was something that she held dear because it was the only thing that she had to share with another person. Zena maybe atone point drifted off into a light sleep by how relaxed she was but would wake up, fluttering her eyes to wake herself up to only go back into a to relax state and she slowly sunk onto Kreiss. " As a knight... Can you eat all the sweats you want?"

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss laughed nervously at the compliments he was given and continued to work. When she fell asleep he made sure that she didn't fall to one side or the other, the brushing becoming much slower and more careful so as to not disturb the woman's sleep.

By the time she woke up he was nearly done and already thinking of how to fix up her hair so as to keep it out of the woman's way while she worked around the house. He was about to speak up when she leaned against him and he froze quickly, doing his best not to flail about, but unsure of what to do. "I-. No! But I wish that was the case because I really do like cake! Do you want to use the bed once I'm done? I'm nearly done with your hair, it won't take much longer I promise!"

Kreiss moved to try and pull Zena up so she sat straight again. "I also need you to sit up for me so I can do the final touches for you without making it look strange or lop-sided or unfinished. Only will take a few more moments honest."  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

"Cake..." She mumbled as she tried to remember which sweet it was or if she had ever even had it before but she soon remembered what cake was and she gave a tiered smile at the thought of cake. " Thats the really big sweet that comes in many flavours. I miss sweets... and bread." Zena had lived off of what she could grow in her little garden which was not much which was why she was so small and fragile like. " No I need to water the plants and feed Philip." Philip was the old little donkey that carried Kreiss here after Zena found him.

As Kreiss lifted her up with ease so she would sit straight once more she let out a groan and had a slight pouty face on. One might of thought she was a child from how she was acting like a tiered child and her size did not help her at all. Zena did her best to stay sitting straight and sitting still. " I am just going to look weirder then I do now." Zena didn't see the point of having her hair done, she was more then happy to just have it brushed by him. She never was a fan of having her hair done when she was a child as the other children tend to just pull at it till it came undone anyway.

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss smiled and began to run the brush through her hair one final time just to make sure he got most if not all of the snags and tangles. When she told him she would just look weird he raised an eyebrow at her. "Says the woman that looks like a porcelain doll? I'm doing your hair up so it doesn't get in the way of when you are working. No need to have to constantly tuck strands of hair behind your ear after all."

Once he had confirmed that his work with the brush was done he set it aside and bunched her hair up. One strand stayed in the middle while the two others were quickly braided back and forth around the central strand. It was a quick and simple braid that, while not the most secure was the best he could do. He reached for a piece of straw and moistened it in his mouth before splitting it so it would be more flexible and reaching to tie off the end of the braid with the thin strand of hay, securing the looped fiber with a simple square knot.

He reached for the mirror and moved to gently drape the hair over one of her shoulders, offering for her to take the mirror. "Tell me what you think. It's a simple warrior braid that is used for men with long hair who have to get ready for battle quickly... Sorry I can't do anything more feminine, it's the only style of hair that I know how to do properly."  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

" I-I look nothing like a porcelain doll!" Zena crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks out slightly. To Zena porcelain dolls reminded her of the wealth and flawless in beauty which she did not see herself as in any way, shape or form. The woman simply let out a sigh and didn't bother arguing with the knight any more. Zena did have a bad habit playing with her so having her hair up would help with that.

She then felt Kreiss start to piece out her hair before he started to braid them all together. She tried to keep her head as still as possible but she would tend to maybe lean her head back a little to much or bobbled a little. When he stopped to grab a piece of straw to tie up the end of her braid she gently patted her head to feel the braid that he had made for her. " You can braid?" She didn't think he would be able to do such a braid, she thought at first he was going to simply put it into a ponytail or a basic flimsy braid.

Feeling her hair be moved to one side she looked down to see her long hair was now in a warrior braid draped over her shoulder. Zena gently took the mirror from Kreiss and held it in front of her. You could see more of her face with her hair being up and out of her face. Her hair was now smooth with not a tangle or knot in it or straw. She moved her head side to side, getting a better look at it before lifting it up more to try to get a better look of the work behind her head as she patted it with her free hand. " It's fine. I like it but I would of been happy with you just brushing my hair. Even that you didn't have to do."

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Kreiss Fangheart, The Knight of the Red

Kreiss just chuckled at her statement of not having to do such a thing. "It's my small way of helping you and saying thank you for taking care of me so far. Just one less thing to worry about, and besides, I wanted to do so to help you get closer to that thing that you don't think you resemble." He was teasing her now, one hand reaching up to gently pet her head.

"Now, off you go to water the plants and feed Philip right? I'll set some more fire in the fireplace for you while you do that. Then when that is done let's have something to eat, brushing your hair took a bit longer than I might have originally thought it would have."

He then stretched and rolled a shoulder to help him from getting stiff muscles. "And when you're done doing things, or if you want the braid undone, you can simply pull that small piece of hay off and then reach up to the base of the braid near your head and slide your finger down the middle. It should undo itself with ease if you do that."  

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Zena White, The Witch of the Woods

" I could not of just let you die out there now could I?" In truth it would of been easier if she did and it would of been safer as he was sent out here to kill a witch. Zena let out a groan when Kriess teased her more about being a doll before she felt a hand pat her head making her slightly sink into the ground with that childish pouty face of hers.

When The name Philip came up Zena quickly nodded and stood up from the ground and dusted herself off. " Alright but done over do it alright?" She warned the knight as she took the comb and mirror, looking at the mirror on last time before putting them back in the chest. " The fire wood is along the cabin next to the garden. There should Be enough for a couple days till more needs to be cut." She said as she thought about the last time she cut some fire wood which was a time she would use magic to do so as she was not that strong.

Zena gave Kriess another nod, agreeing to eating after they were done and she started to think what they could eat with what little she had. Zena made her way outside and went to the side of the house where her little garden was along with Philips little stick shed and pen. The moment the little old donkey saw her coming around the corner he started bobbing his head up in down and digging his hove into the ground as he knew he was about to be fed. " Yes, yes I am coming." The small woman said as she walked to one part of the garden that had carrots. She pulled out a few carrots and gave them to the hungry donkey to tie him over before giving him more things from the garden.

The woman who lived in these woods so long grabbed a old rusty watering can and went to the spring to fill it up before coming back to the garden and water the plants. She had to make a few trips down to the spring to fill up the watering can but soon enough she had watered what needed to be watered. Once everything was watered she started to harvest what was ready to be harvest. Her crops were far from nice looking, as they were small and looked slightly pail as the soil was unable to grow anything but with a little help of magic she was able to grow just enough to get by and feed Philip. Digging in the ground Zena harvested a few carrots, turnips, beats, potatoes and onions. The tops of the carrots, turnips and beats she pulled off and gave to Philip as the poor old guy needed more then just a couple carrots.

By seeing what little Zena had it was clear why she was so frail looking. Her hands and face how had dirt on them along with a bit of her clothing. She looked at her little garden before her and let out a sigh as she realized she would have to plant twice as much if she wanted to feed Kreiss, Phillip and herself. It was hard enough to grow anything here even with her magic but now she would have to do it twice as much and without Kreiss finding out.

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