[color=A0A0A0][h2]Fleuri Jodeau[/h2][/color]

The remainder of Fleuri's day was spent cleaning his armor.  It was a routine drilled into his mind during his time as a squire, and as a knight, he preferred to maintain it with his own two hands rather than entrust it to another.  After the blood stains were removed and the metal polished, he retired to bed.  He regretted not being able to interact with the other knights- after all, camaraderie and brotherhood/sisterhood were an important aspect of the Iron Roses- but he was simply too tired at this point.

The events of the next day were unexpected, but not unwelcome after the events of the previous one.  In the morning, Fleuri was informed that Fanilly had selected him as one of the knights to accompany her to the royal ball, and thus much of the day was spent preparing.  He bathed and groomed, then spent a few hours touching up on his formal attire.  By the late afternoon when the ball drew close, Fleuri was ready.  It was fortunate that he had gotten a good night's sleep the day before, because there was still much to do before the day's end.

For the ball, Fleuri's attire consisted of a white mantle over a white long sleeved tunic, accompanied with black pants, boots, and gloves.  Both the mantle and tunic proudly the black sun symbol of the Jodeau family.  This archaic-looking ensemble was was his family's traditional formal wear, nearly unchanged since before they gave up their wealth.  While Fleuri was no longer relegated to wearing century-old hand-me-downs, he still honored his family's traditions by donning formal wear crafted in the same style.

As he and the other knights followed Fanilly to the ball, Fleuri looked up at the castle.  He wasn't unfamiliar with these sorts of events, but he had never attended one as an Iron Rose knight.  House Jodeau wasn't completely removed from Thaln's high society, still commanding some prestige from their history of service to the crown and to the Church of Reon.  This time, however, he was representing an organization far more prestigious than a noble family- he represented the Iron Roses, making it all the more important that he not make any missteps.

[i]It could be worse, however.  I actually have some experience with this sort of thing[/i], he thought to himself, glancing at Gerard.  [i]This is probably a completely new experience for a commoner-born knight like Sir Segremors or Sir Devaron.[/i]  Fleuri didn't doubt their worthiness- if anything, it was a virtue of the Iron Roses that commoners like Gerard and Jarde could climb their way up the kingdom's social ladder through valor and skill at arms.  [i]It may take a while, but we'll make nobleman out of them.[/i] 

Fleuri was led through the courtyard and into the castle proper.  Fleuri waited until it was his turn to be announced, then stepped forward.

"Presenting Sir Fleuri Jodeau, of House Jodeau.  Knight of the Iron Roses.  Champion of the Brennan Tournament melee."

His first impulse was to look around.  Fleuri made his way to one of the tables, glancing over the refreshments that had been laid out.  He carefully picked up a glass of white wine, not wanting to risk staining his clothing red.  The knight glanced over the vast room as he took a sip, looking over the guests in hopes of spotting someone else wearing the Jodeau colors.  He had no idea if anyone from his family was also attending the ball, and was hoping for a chance to catch up.

"I don't see any of them.  Guess I'll mingle with one of the knights.  Fleuri saw Jarde wandering nearby, and took the opportunity to approach the neophyte knight.  The young man looked pretty starstruck, no doubt it was his first time at an event like this.

"Sir Devaron," he started, taking another sip, "The ball is quite a sight, isn't it?  How does it feel, taking that first step into Thaln's high society?"

[@PaulHaynek]