A little bit surprised was the knight when the girl had drawn back her hand and rather helped herself to her feet, claiming she needed no assistance whatsoever from Irina. My what spirit this one had. Rather than insult the knight, it made the woman chuckle, setting her armored hand to her side and resting it casually upon the pommel of her sword. "Very well then, m'lady." Irina smiled from within the dark of her helm, lifting her visor a bit so that her lips were to be shown, but the rest of her face left a mystery to the ravishing damsel. "Forgive me if I have startled thee, for I was only acting upon the accord of any knight of honor, to protect those who art in danger." She bowed graciously to the young girl, humorously her visor collapsing over her lips and forever concealing her face. "I realize I may have seemed frightful in dealing with thine enemies, but I mean no harm towards thee, m'lady, only good fortune." Startled a bit was she though by a rustling and a ruckus that followed from within the horseless carriage, Irina's gaze instantly moving from the girl to it instead, and her eyes, she could not believe who they had fallen upon rising from the carriage. [i]The....the King of Alegasia?! Then...this girl....she must be....[/i] Nobility was an understatement when it came to those she had rescued from certain peril. They were no lords or ladies, they were His Majesty and his lovely daughter...the Princess!

Wide eyed beneath her helm, Irina quickly took a knee upon the ground before the elderly man of the highest royalty and his daughter, listening closely to the Princess speak of her father about how this very knight had come to rescue her and possibly him, before those terrible men in black armor were able to enact their dastardly plans.

[b]"Is this true? Remove your helmet so that The King may look upon you."[/b]

Giving a curt and respectful nod, Irina obliged the King's command of her. her gauntlets moved to her helm, clutching the sides as she carefully rose the ornately decorated piece of armor from atop her head, her long, flowing hair, as blue as the sky, cascading over her pauldrons, the pale, creamy complexion of her face now basking in the afternoon sun, rather than being obscured by the shadows of her helm. Her eyes, they were almost crystaline, like ice in the bitterest of winters in the northern Fangorn Mountains. And with those eyes of polar blue, she looked to the king with the most confident of smiles she could muster. As it turned out, the brave and chivalrous knight....was a woman. "Your Majesty," she spoke honorably of the man. "I am Sir Irina of the house Belmonte. My late father, Etharios, was a knight before me, and despite having a daughter, he too trained me in the ways of chivalry and knighthood." She rested her helm to her side, noticing the King had a look of bewilderment to his face. It was odd indeed, a woman referring to herself as "Sir" and carrying about the armor and sword of her father, claiming herself to be a knight. The look was starting too add a bit of apprehension to Irina, but soon it faded when the King bellowed a hearty laugh, resting his hands jovially on his elegant and majestic robes.

[b]"My what a surprise!"[/b] His Majesty chuckled deeply, a wide and welcoming grin crossing his face. [b]"Never would I had suspected you to be a woman, but you have my most generous of gratitude, Sir Irina. I can't thank you enough for saving my dearest daughter Crystal, brave knight. You may rise now."[/b] Irina again nodded gratefully and stood to her feet. "The pleasure was all mine, Your Majesty." She replied. "In fact I am just as surprised as thee. I did not expect today I would rescue His Majesty the King...or...his beautiful daughter the Princess from certain harm, but as I saw those foul men ride forth with bloodlust in their eyes, I knew they had to be stopped, so I took it upon myself to tail them and put an end to their evil deeds." 

[b]"Aye and such bravery thou hast shown, brave Sir Irina. I know not who these men belong to, but I am certain someone has it out for me and my daughter now."[/b] As to whom, well...even that was a mystery to Irina. The men, they carried no sigil or sign of affiliation with any of the neighboring kingdoms to Alegasia, and Irina was certain indeed these were not times of war and bloodshed but times of peace and prosperity. Likewise, someone indeed had a hatred for the royal family, and this was just the first of strikes towards them. Others may have been soon to come forth. [b]"We were just on our way to a lavish botique in the market town, an establishment owned by a dear friend of my daughter, but...after this harrowing debacle....I know not if it is safe to continue further."[/b] The King, he seemed dead set upon returning to the castle, but...a part of his face was showing disappointment that he could not fulfill his daughter's humble request, that is until Irina spoke again. "Nonsense, Your Majesty." Irina chimed donning her helm again, but rising the visor so her face could be shown. "If you would like, I shall escort thee to the market. My steed, Argo, he has the strength of nearly ten of the kingdom's horses. He shall carry your carriage while I provide a vigilant eye to watch over the roads ahead. It would be my deepest pleasure to serve thee, Your Majesty." She gave yet another bow of respect to the King, and....speaking of her horse. Where was he?

"Argo, come forth." Irina called to the Clydesdale, but...the beast just wouldn't follow her stern command. "Argo?" There was a neigh that sounded from near the carriage door as the horse Argo glanced downward at something within it. That was when Irina noticed the rather large white rabbit, nibbling on a carrot, the carrot that was probably garnering the horse's attention rather than who partook of it. The very sight of such made Irina chuckle lightly and turn to the Princess, "Well it seems our companions have grown well acquainted, m'lady." She smiled before turning back to the horse. "Argo, come here, lad! You've already eaten for today, and I don't think the Princess' pet would like to share with you."