[u][center][h3]Marianne Delacroix[/h3][/center][/u] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/Jr0Uu63.png?1[/img][/center] The sight of Aimlenn's walls always took her breath away, in a good sense. There was something about the sheer size and grandeur of the fortress-city that inspired a sense of awe within her. But most importantly for Marianne, it meant that she could now rest. If only for a little while. Following Captain Fanily's lead, she sat as tall and as straight as she could with her head held high. Expression stoic as she could feel the gaze of many as she filed along with the rest of the Iron Roses and accompanying knights. A deep and satisfying feeling of pride blossomed in her heart, and she couldn't help but smile. Even through her pain and misery, her breathing still laboured and head still aching dully, she decided drop the act and upkeep of appearances. Seeing excited little children rushing out into the streets to see the legendary Iron Roses, she couldn't help but turn to the little ones to give them a little wave of her hand and flash each of them a warm smile. After all, a Knight served the people. It made no sense to her that they had to appear to be these cold and hardened warriors. They had to show a little compassion and kindness every now and then. It couldn't hurt to build a rapport with the people. Besides, she could see herself in some of the little girls. Why not be a role model for them? Once out of the eyes of the public and arriving at the entrance of the Royal Family's castle, Marianne couldn't help but break away from the formation and their ranks to linger about. Taking in the gorgeous and wonderfully designed architecture of it all, admiring their craftsmanship that completed such a grand breath-taking image. Satisfied with sight-seeing for the time being, though she would come to familiarize herself in the future becoming well-known to her, she headed towards the stables. --- Arriving just in time to see Sir Garrett busying himself with removing his equipment from his horse, Marianne thought to thank him for having located her original horse. Though she held no strong bond for the creature, it would've been a hassle to replace all of the equipment and supplies she had brought along to prepare for the mission. But, for some reason she couldn't bring herself to make her presence known. Instead, she elected to busy herself with removing her equipment with the aide of the stable hands in silence. She made a note to thank him at a later time, once they all had a chance to relax and decompress. The stable hands insisted on carrying the bulk if not all of her supplies and equipment as she made for the main building that the Iron Roses called their home and base. Refusing to allow Marianne carry a single thing other than what she had on her body. Not wanting to insult their generosity, she caved and accepted their kind gesture. Of course, as with each time she entered, she always had to stop and admire the encased weapons and portraits of past Iron Rose Captains. She wondered if the weapons that were on display were only of those belonging to the said prior Captains. Standing close to the glass case that housed Captain Elionne's sword, she wondered if other notable Iron Roses would have their own weapons enshrined. The light reflected off of the beautiful blade and twinkled in her own dark-brown eyes. Her own sword nothing special, but possibly in the far future? Shaking her head, she looked up as Captain Fanilly issued her order. Her Captain's voice breaking her free of her wandering mind. To have all the Iron Roses that sustained injuries seek treatment with the healers. Simple enough, and an order that Marianne would happily oblige. Once she had her things in order and bathed first though. With the stable hands still in tow, Marianne made her way to her room. The heels of her solleret clacking resoundly against the wooden floors. As she rounded the corner into the hallway that would eventually lead to her room, she was greeted by the sight of her seven handmaidens waiting diligently in front of her door for her return. Each in their traditional maid outfits and silver domino masks. At the sight of her, the seven handmaidens lined up in front of her and each bowed their head low as they curtsied. In unison, the seven spoke. [b]"Welcome back, Lady Marianne. We are pleased to see you home safe."[/b] Marianne chuckled and smiled, bowing her head and curtsying in response to them. [b]"Thank you. I am glad to be back."[/b] As the seven maids returned upright, they saw the stable hands gawking at them and immediately moved to liberate them of Marianne's belongings. Shooing them off once they had her things in hand, they then ushered Marianne herself into the room and shut the door behind them locking it seconds after closing it. Her handmaidens always worked and moved with an almost feverish intensity. Setting forth to quickly put away her things and once done with that task, they swiftly moved onto the next task of removing Marianne's worn equipment to be maintained by their hands at a later time. Marianne couldn't help but giggle at the sight of how efficiently they moved. She was glad her family from back home thought to send them with her after she had been officially ordained as an Iron Rose Knight. Not that she wasn't completely capable of doing everything herself, but having her friends around made things awfully convenient. As Marianne stood and her maids worked at quickly removing her equipment, she could slowly feel her body lighten a little and relax. Waves of trapped body heat escaped from her as she breathed a sigh of relief. [b]"Lady Marianne! Lady Marianne!"[/b] One exclaimed. [b]"Tell us, how did your first mission as an Iron Rose go?"[/b] a second one asked. [b]"Was it hard? Did you have to go somewhere nasty?"[/b] a third asked. [b]"Did you have to fight? Were the enemies tough?"[/b] a fourth asked. [b]"What else did you do, what else happened while you were gone?"[/b] A fifth pleaded. [b]"Oh, please tell us the details Lady Marianne! We were worried sick while you away!"[/b] A sixth demanded. [b]"You'll tell us how it went, won't you Lady Marianne? Please do, we're all aflutter to know the story of your first incursion as an Iron Rose!"[/b] The seventh one cried. Like chirping birds, hungry for the 'seed' that was 'gossip', they bombarded her with questions with excited expressions. Marianne couldn't help but laugh a little, being careful not to laugh too hard until she had her visit with the healers. [b]"Ladies, ladies! Please, one at a time! I cannot speak and answer you all as fast as you ask me! I have just returned home! I desperately need to bathe and seek treatment for my injuries!"[/b] She said cheerfully. Each of the seven handmaids looked at one another, and then to Lady Marianne. [b]"Injuries?"[/b] One quietly asked. Marianne slowly padded over the tall mirror she had in the room to stand in front of it. Lifting up the blouse she still had on, she turned and looked at her sides in the light to see a large and ugly dark bruise marring her skin. The sight of which elicited multiple shocked gasps from the maids. A few of them covering their mouths. Stepping closer to the mirror, Marianne lifted her long hair up and examined the sides and backs of her head to see that there was dried blood from when her head had impacted with the ground after being dismounted from her horse. Sighing as she let her hair fall freely, the next question was which came first. To bathe? Or to have her injuries looked at? Preferably not by that gruesome Doctor Teller. She thought about it for a moment. [b]"..."[/b] [i]"Bathe."[/i] Marianne decided, nodding at her reflection in the mirror. She had made it this far and felt fine if not a bit sleepy and hungry. Besides, she couldn't possibly get seen by a healer or doctor smelling like she probably did. As dirty and sweaty as she had been. That would've been mortifying. So, she turned back to her maids and smiled yet again. [b]"I'll be taking my bath first, I look and smell like Death!"[/b] she joked. Which of course, set off the firestorm of maids, her energy a sign to the maids that she was well. [b]"Lady Marianne, tell us about the other Iron Roses!"[/b] [b]"How is the new Captain?"[/b] [b]"I heard she was but a little child!"[/b] [b]"Did you have to hurt anyone, Lady Marianne?"[/b] They all then stopped and looked at one another as Marianne gathered what was necessary for her bath, partially ignoring them. Until... [b]"Lady Marianne...How are the [i]men[/i]?"[/b] Marianne froze, her face reddening out of a mixture of false anger and some reason, embarrassment. The maids all squealed and flocked to Marianne, surrounding her as she struggled to push past them. To escape. [b]"How cute are they, Lady Marianne!"[/b] [b]"Are any of them looking for a bride?"[/b] [b]"There must be some handsome ones in the Iron Roses, Lady Marianne!"[/b] Like a hivemind, they all stopped for a moment. Marianne groaned, knowing that any brief silence meant that they all synchronized in their thought patterns. Anything that came from their mouths from that moment on was positively dreadful, she knew. [b]"Is there anyone [i]you[/i] are interested in, Lady Marianne?"[/b] they asked in unison. Marianne's face could not flush any redder than it already had. Unlocking and throwing the door to her room open wide, she stormed out. A little too loudly declaring. [b]"I'M TAKING MY BATH."[/b], her voice echoing down the hall as the flock of handmaidens all laughed and giggled after her like giddy schoolgirls with the rest of Marianne's things.