Intro for Eitenne And a Collab with Nora [@Panic] The journey to the Royal City was pleasant, comfortable, and unpredictable. Etienne could take unpredictable. It was easy, walking the roads by day and camping at night. He wasn’t the only one on the roads, and the closer to the Royal City and its festival the more congested things became. Not one to become claustrophobic or fearful of crowds the carter took advantage of the opportunity and people watched. This was a past time Etienne enjoyed even in his small home village. The smiles, the frowns, laughter and raised voices in anger or alarm. It was all food and entertainment for the Destined Carter. Most of all he could feel the excitement in the air as if it were a physical sensation. Well for Etienne it was. Along with the bustling crowds jostling into him as he wandered about the Royal City, eyes wide to take everything in, as to not miss a moment. It was astounding, how big, how grand it all seemed. Etienne had never been to the Royal City proper before. He had carted nearby but his father always took the jobs leading into the Actual City. Now the blonde knew why. It was overwhelming and electrifying all at once. Caught up in the crowds the carter allowed himself to be pushed along the currents of people until something caught his attention. Caught his nose actually. Following his nose had never led Etienne astray before now and so he wandered the streets of the Royal City with an easy smile on his face and hands tucked into his pockets. Sauntering down the lanes until reaching a large square lined with vendors stalls and little shops alike. The source of the alluring scent was a pastry stall, fresh apple fritters sizzling on the griddle seductively. Etienne actually groaned when he spotted the sweets and could see the vendor was a local favorite, with many hovering waiting around for the hot pastries. He’d have to wait a few batches but the smell alone promised the wait was worth it. [color=543b72]“They smell heavenly don’t they?”[/color] asked a woman to his left, standing on her toes to see over the crowd and towards the stall. [color=543b72]“I haven’t had one of those since I was little.”[/color] Nora wasn’t one to make idle chit chat but she had spotted the mark on the man’s wrist. He didn’t seem like a member of the royal court, but she had made that mistake before. Some of the lords and ladies back home used to dress up and sneak around town, trying to blend in. Glancing over at the woman who spoke Etienne smiled ruefully, bringing a hand up to tug on his curls. [color=00a651]“I haven’t either…” [/color]He admitted. [color=00a651]“I love apples. Probably the best fruit out there. By fair. Hands down.” [/color]He grinned all the more before gesturing to the crowds around them. [color=00a651]“Are you from the City or here for the fair?”[/color] This seemed like a fair question as even if she didn’t have the mark surely anyone who was anyone would come to see the spectacle of brightly dressed peoples, all the fairs from far and wide being sold, and the masses hunting for true love. [color=543b72]“Well you must have never of had fresh blackberries then,”[/color] Nora countered.[color=543b72] “I’m from up North, from a little fishing town called Bellmare. I haven’t had a chance to do much traveling, but with the Royal Family handling the bill, I figured it was a good of a time as any to see.”[/color] Nora purposefully didn’t pull up her wrist or mention outright that she had the mark. One of the many tricks she had picked up from some of her more well to do families was how much they did not like to flaunt their status. [color=543b72]“What about you? Are you visiting as well?”[/color] she asked with a soft smile. Laughter crinkled the corners of Etienne’s eyes and upturned the sides of his mouth. Blackberries were perhaps in his top five favorite fruits, but today Apples were number one. Not that it mattered, but it was nice to have a friendly disagreement. [color=00a651]“Yes most certainly visiting. I expect to eat lots of apple fritters, stay in comfortable inns and meet interesting people. Like yourself.”[/color] With a nod Etienne held out his hand to shake with the stranger. [color=00a651] “Etienne.”[/color] He introduced, hair flopping over his forehead as he looked over to the griddle, the batch was almost done, but given the number of onlookers he’d still have a time to wait. Nora wracked her brain trying to see if she could place the name. It definitely was not from the City’s family. She had memorized as much of the Royal City’s court as she could. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t royalty from elsewhere. [color=543b72]“Nora, Nora Bellwood,” [/color] she said, taking his hand. She followed his gaze towards the griddle again and was growing tired of waiting. [color=543b72]“Wait, here, I have an idea,”[/color] she said with a smirk, as she started leading him through the crowd, excusing herself as she weaved in and out of people until they reached the front. He was surprised when she took him by the hand but never the type to go ‘against’ the flow, Etienne followed, curiosity peaking. She was bold, coy, and Etienne had a nagging suspicion that she wanted him to like her. Traditionally his nagging suspicions were right and who was he to argue with a pretty girl? [color=543b72]“Sir, I hate to bother you, but Jorren and Broana Costain are in that chariot over there,”[/color] Nora said, point to a random chariot behind the large crowd, [color=543b72]“they smelt these delicious treats and wanted to stop. They’re afraid to cause a scene though. Do you think I could take them two so they can be on their way?”[/color] “The King and Queen, out here in the festival just waltzing around?” the baker said incredulously. [color=543b72]“They’re just checking on some official business. Like I said, they don’t want a scene, you’re busy enough as is,” [/color] Nora said, offering a warm smile. “Well,” he said, trying to glance over the crowd to get a better look. “Fine, just go,” he said, quickly handing her the next two pastries, much to the annoyance of the couple beside her. [color=543b72]“Thank you, the Costain’s will make sure to reward you for your kindness,”[/color] Nora said, pulling Etienne to the side with her. [color=543b72]“Here you go, it’s no blackberry, but I’m sure it’ll be close,”[/color] she said handing over one of the pasties. The conversation between the vendor and Nora Bellwood was quick and easy, as if it had been her plan all along. She lied so fluidly. Etienne was actually impressed. Taking the fritter which was warm and gooey he smirked and took a bite. [color=00a651]“ Mmm. MMMM!”[/color] He shook his head, chewing aggressively and eyes almost rolling up back into his skull with pleasure. It was fantastic! At this moment Etienne couldn’t recall a time that he had eaten anything that tasted as good as this. [color=00a651]“No matter how pretty or clever you are Ms. Bellwood you will not get me to admit that Blackberries reign supreme over the humble and clearly best Apple.” [/color] Etienne took another bite with another groan.[color=00a651] “Ummph! So good.”[/color] As Nora tried her own the blonde looked around at the crowds. [color=00a651]“It must be nice for you to be SO close to the King and Queen.” [/color]He teased, brows arching, which would have seemed serious had he not stuffed the rest of his apple fritter in his gob. Instead he seemed inquisitive and comical, which was probably his intention. Nora gave a little chuckle at the enthusiasm Etienne seemed to have. But, she did have to admit, the pastries were so much better than the ones back home. [color=543b72]“Oh, we go way back. Good family friends,”[/color] Nora said sarcastically with a wink. [color=543b72]“I’m sure we’ll cross pass with them soon enough. I can’t imagine they’d bring all of us here if they weren’t planning on mingling. I mean, if everyone is as charming as you, I’m sure the prince and princess are bound to find their true love.” [/color] [color=00a651]“Yes, bound to…”[/color] Etienne agreed, smirking at her compliments. [color=00a651]“And if everyone is as sly as you are no one will pay for their meals.”[/color] He didn’t seem concerned about the theft, only observant. [color=543b72]“Well hey now,”[/color] Nora said, feeling a bit defensive, [color=543b72] “I mean the bill was going to get back to them one way or another. I just helped stop useless paperwork. Saving the kingdom from bureaucratic waste. I’m really a philanthropist you know. They should write songs and epics about me,”[/color] Nora said laughing, flipping her hair over her shoulder dramatically. [color=00a651]“Yes yes, how could I have not seen it before now?”[/color] Etienne eyed Nora thoughtfully, taking a hand to stroke his chin as if deeply considering her. [color=00a651]“It’s really just too bad that not much rhymes with Nora, Bellwood and Apple Fritter. I’m afraid your ballad might go unsung…” [/color] [color=543b72]“Well I guess I will have to continue my good deeds, but only the ones that are easy to rhyme,”[/color] Nora said with a sharp nod of her head as if to make it final. [color=543b72]“Maybe you can help, although no stealing my spotlight,”[/color] Nora warned with a playful wag of her finger. [color=543b72]“It’s a shame Etienne is so hard to rhyme as well. Perhaps you might have something else worth singing about? What makes you so special as to be marked?” [/color] Nora prodded.