Clenched tight were the woman's fists of iron once her cold, fearsome eyes fell upon that little scoundrel that was her Princess, only clenching tighter and eyes like ice now becoming incinerating embers of blue fire as Crystal casually, and rather insultingly merrily, pranced her way across the lavish castle garden and chirped pleasantly to the knight as though she had not wronged the woman in armor any, but oh...oh how she indeed wronged the knight, and how much more irritated Irina became at the very sight of the devious young lass, her lovely sundress twirling about her, the fabric billowing as though a beautiful white lily caught up in the pleasant, warm breeze of spring that graced the wonderful valleys of- Wait what was she thinking?! She wasn't going to fall for her charms, not again. Grit were her teeth in paroxysm and harsh was the very expression she wore upon her face as her lady ever so casually wrapped her arms around the woman's neck and spoke sweetly to her in a gentle whisper as she pulled Irina into a hug, though Irina could still detect that miniscule, but present hint of deception to her voice and to the girl's feigned sincerity. She was just lining up the woman for another kill so to speak.

Even as their lips became dangerously close to one another, Irina still bared her most stern of faces to Crystal. Like she had any intentions of kissing the girl at all, even just a friendly peck, because as far as the woman could tell, Crystal was far from friendly to her. She even had to wonder about last night during the feast, was that tipped chalice an accident? "You.....you......" She growled ever so viciously, her hands almost at the ready to throttle this devious, conniving......but alas....who would she be to bring harm...especially to the one she swore with all her heart to protect. Defeated in her mind, the woman's face loosened up towards the girl and she released a most begrudging of sighs, "Just...don't do that again, M'lady. You had me worried sick." And damned if she didn't fall to the lass' charms yet again, already staring into those lovely shades of violet glancing so sincere, so peaceful and inviting into hers. "I'll admit, it was quite clever of you, but from now on I'm making damn sure to keep a close eye out." Maybe this could be her little act of revenge against the Princess for her stunt she pulled, her disappearing act would be no more. 

Curtly removing the Princess' arms from her, she sighed again and took a seat at a bench in the garden, where-upon she heard voices soon following behind her, the King and....someone else. [b]"And here is the Royal Courtyard, Lord Varros, the most elegant of places in my household."[/b] To Irina, the King appeared to be showing a diplomat of sorts his castle, as was customary with these meetings of the four kingdoms during peacetime for the host to show his fellow countrymen his eloquent abode, but when Irina caught sight of this...[url=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZBFwp5xD68/UK4KBUXiuaI/AAAAAAAADWM/Yed0ZmTylh4/s1600/Rise+Of+The+Guardians-The+Boogeyman+Pitch+Black.jpg]Lord Varros[/url], her eyes suddenly narrowed in suspicion. Something about this man....was indeed abnormal. [b]"Ahh and here is my lovely daughter, Crystal!"[/b] The King chimed in his usual jovial manner. Lovely yes, but indeed the snake amidst the strawberry patch Irina thought, however....Irina sensed an even more venomous serpent lurking about the air, her suspicions only made all the more disturbing as she noticed the strange man's expression towards the Princess, malevolent and indeed sinister. [i]It is not my right to speak of this, but how can the King sit so idly by when there is danger in his very presence, even in the presence of Crystal. I should act, but....no....there's no need to jump to conclusions, Irina.[/i]

[b][i]"Indeed she is quite marvelous, Your Majesty."[/i][/b] Varros spoke, that hint of ill will ever so present upon his bitter, forked tongue only riling Irina's feathers more. Soon the man's eyes fell upon her, fierce and blazing yellow, as if a wolf's in mid-hunt, and such terror struck in the woman's heart. Almost instantly she froze as the menacing glare of Varros. [b][i]"And might I ask who you are, sir knight?"[/i][/b] Irina....she could give no response...only stare into those cold....vicious eyes...