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Travel all the way to Oldcastle had taken time. The moment the letter arrived, she knew she would be able to go. Work had been finished, no new commissions coming in for the moment. There was more than enough money to pay for an inn for the duration of the festivities, having been earned with the influx of weapons she had made, and she had yet to go shopping for books. The outfit, with the letter as proof, had also been obtained in record time, and for once, she was going to dress as a lady. However, no masquerade was complete without a mask....And jewelery.

There was an advantage to her profession at times.

And so, over the course of a few days, giving Aelius plenty of time to rest, she arrived the night before the ball in Oldcastle. Tired, but not completely exhausted, she dismounted her guardian, giving him a reassuring pat, as well as a few strokes to Shuu's back after he fluttered to perch on her shoulder. After much searching, she finally found an inn that had room for her, and checked in before exiting to move Aelius to his stables.

Rosalie had already guided Aelius and Shuu into the stables, finding a nice spot for the two of them. She was currently trying to help her buck groom, as the travel had added a few unwanted aspects to his coat. The rook, on the other hand, was hard at work, perched high up on the buck's horns as he preened.

The new guests to the stable gained her attention for a moment, before she went back to brushing the soft golden fur upon Aelius' form. However, she happened to glance back, something seeming vaguely familiar about the other buck. Aelius seemed to have picked up on it it, sniffing curiously. Almost a friend...Close...But different.

"Hello..." Rosalie murmured in greeting, looking up at the man, though she didn't stop. "Here for the ball?" She wasn't sure how many chosen there really were...But it would certainly be interesting to see who would show up.

"Ah, I reside in Palisade, but it's not too terribly far. Just a few days travel..." She murmured in reply, giving a tired smile in return. "How about you? Not too far I hope? I'm curious to see how many actually show up tomorrow, though with an invitation from the crown, I'm sure many will."

Aelius was truly excited as the other buck sniffed him, but then obviously heartbroken as he was ignored. RUDE. SO NOT LIKE THE ONE HE SMELLS LIKE. Now in a grump, he sulked, still wiggling his tail in joy though as he was brushed. HE COULDN'T HELP IT, OKAY?

"It's nice to have the nicer weather as well, though sometimes the cold can be a blessing." She laughed, hoping it wasn't taken the wrong way. "Rosalie, it's a pleasure."

"Oh really? What a coincidence!" She laughed, smiling even more. "I run a smithy there. Nothing much to look at, but I assure you my work is." Just a little bragging would hurt. "I actually made a few pieces for myself for the ball, perhaps we'll have to find each other again there. I wouldn't mind having someone to pass the travel with, and if your companion chooses to leave at the same time, I would surely be fine with that as well." The smith gave a nod, turning her focus on a burr stuck near the top of her buck's hoof.

"It was a surprise to see the rooks come to deliver such a thing, though I wouldn't put it past the Queen. She certainly did give quite the impression by doing so, though mine wasn't sure what to think of the guest." She glances up to Shuu, who looks back down at her for a second before returning to his cleaning.

Aelius let out a loud growl, as best a buck could growl. Oh that was UNCALLED FOR AND RUDE. Mimas was LUCKY to have his head still! Aelius assured that he would have kicked it off had he not smelled of the best friend. MIMAS BETTER WATCH OUT.

"Yes, it can be exciting. I'd be more than happy to meet with your lady, and if she finds it to her liking, I would gladly make whatever she wished." She nodded, obviously very proud of her work. "I like making jewelry the most, though I have had an awful lot of orders for swords and daggers this past winter...With the Wolves returning." She flicked the burr off the tip of her finger off into another corner, having gotten it off.

"Ah, he can be a pain. And a flirt when a lady rook is in question." She replies, obviously still the slightest bit amused by what had happened.

Aelius dug is hooves into the hay, obviously making a threat, but stopped the moment he found a face in his ruff. WOW RUDE ASK PERMISSION. Nevertheless, he tolerated it, scowling unhappily.

Aelius just stood there, glaring at both Rosalie and Epsilon in the process. He was not happy, and all the complaining was going on between the bond at the moment, though the moment that he was pulled away, he complained MORE.

"Urgh gosh, if you wanted him there, you shouldn't have complained like that, you doof!" Rosalie shot at her own guardian, who snorted in return. "Apparently, contrary to belief, he didn't mind it." She replied to Epsilon, looking over Mimas. "For some reason your boy looks familiar. I can't figure out how though...." She murmured, thinking. Nothing was coming to mind. "But yes, I would be more than happy to! Perhaps then at the party we'll have more ease finding one another."

Aelius stopped complaining, well for the most part, and settled down a little, happy to be fully brushed. Oooh, now he knew who he was reminded of. Sending a quick image of the other buck to her, Rosalie gave a nod after looking Mimas over.

"He doesn't mind it too much. Tends to make friends with a whole lot of things. Usually other guardians." She shrugged in return. "Aaah, I see then. I'll make sure of it. And by familiar, as Aelius finally recognized why he's such, he looks a little like a buck we met a while back. Orpheus. He belonged to a friend of mine who came to look at my hands." She mentioned, looking Mimas over a little more. "There's a definite resemblance...." She too put away her own brush and followed after him. "That it will! You'll have to introduce me to your lady as well, when she arrives. Is she a chosen as well?"

"He's got the same kind of swirls to him that yours does, but he's more cream than dark..." She murmured, nodding as they walked together. "I'd love to meet her and her guardian if they do come. Hopefully the travel won't be too rough on her or her own guardian." Rosalie guided him back to the room she was residing in, and carefully unpacked a bundle of cloth. Unfolding it, she revealed a delicate mask with gold accents upon it, obviously done by hand, as well as a delicate pair of earrings with a matching necklace. "These are what I had time to make in the time after the letter arrived. I usually never make anything for myself..." The smith added, looking rather proud of her work again.

Aelius was tolerating it, or at least was making it seem like it. He hadn't had anything like this in a long time, and at the very least it was comforting to have a friend so far away from home. He eventually got tired of standing and settled down, waiting for Mimas to join him...So hopefully he could groom all over the affectionate buck.