Meanwhile in the closet.....

[i]"Princess? Princess? PRINCESS?!!! Why's the bloody door jammed?! Versetti, get over here and help me get this door open!"[/i]

[i]"But...but...but Pindel, I don't think it's jammed. I think the Princess locked us in here."[/i]

[i]"What? Nonsense ye string bean! That's just idiotic even for ye! Ye can't lock a closet! Now help me bash this thing down! Princess, when we get out of here, yer in trouble li'l missy!"[/i]

[i]"Now now Pindel, don't go blamin' the Princess. This ain't her fault....well actually it sorta is, but I tried to warn ye!"[/i]

[i]"Ohoho! So yer saying it was my fault I forgot the Princess was a sneaky sneak, eh dumbbell? Callin' me the idiot are ye?"[/i]

[i]"Well not exactly but- EEEEK!!"[/i]

[i]"C'mere you damn talking stick! I'll break ye in two and shove the other half up yer bum!"[/i]

[i]"Owowowowowowww!!! Pindel wait! That's me arms yer breakin' there!"[/i]

[i]"And I'll snap 'em off and use 'em for chopsticks, ye bloody- Ooh! Ooh! Me foot! You stepped on me foot ye lug!"[/i]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally after what had seemed such a long trek through the seemingly expansive grand halls of the castle, weighted down with such overbearing anxiety as to what His Majesty has summoned her for while Irina trudged along, a fear invoking within her with every harrowing step she took towards what appeared as ultimate demise, the ever worried knight had finally found herself amidst the large golden doors of the throne room, pushing them open with all her might and straying in, keeping her head tilted downward in a bit of shadow and her ice blue eyes mainly focusing upon the ornate and decorative patterns of the lengthy red and gold embroidered rug that trailed all the way to His Majesty's gilded and majestic throne. [b]"Ah here she is now, Lord Varros!"[/b] but.....at the very utterance of that name, even in the King's naturally hearty and joyful tone of voice....Irina's eyes quickly darted upwards, ever alert, only to lock fiercely with those infamous....yellow eyes of the serpent glaring back at her, along with the grim face of feigned delight. [i][b]"So we meet again, "Sir" Irina."[/b][/i], the lord hissed, that ever sinister smirk crossing those dry and horrid lips Irina just.....died to peel from that smug face of the demon. [i][b]"A pleasure to make your acquaintance after such a long absence, my lady."[/b][/i] What happened next had to be the most vile of actions he had committed upon Irina, in a way forcefully taking her hand and laying upon the back of her palm his venomous kiss. Thank the Goddess her hand was encased in hardened steel.....steel she longed to backhand that bastard with, had it not been for His Majesty being present. "Ah...eh....gratitude, Lord Varros." Reluctantly and ever spiteful of herself to do such, Irina took a knee before the beast, but not to show respect to him, none he deserved, but rather to show much honor towards His Majesty. "Your Majesty, you wished to speak with me?"

[b]"But of course, Sir Irina! How foolish of me to forget my kingly duties while speaking with a fellow ruler."[/b] Jovially the King responded, another light chuckle wiggling that jolly belly of his before shifting over to his more authoritative tone of voice with a light clearing of his throat, [b]"Right then. Sir Irina, I have called upon you, my most valiant and noble of guards, to take upon you a task that is of great importance not just to me or to my daughter, but to all the Kingdom of Alegasia. The Ides of Spring draw close to us, in four weeks and eight days, and upon that time is when Alegasia hosts the annual Tournament of the Four Kingdoms."[/b] Cleary she heard right, but did she just hear the King speak of....a tournament? "A...a tournament, Your Majesty?" She spoke, a bit of a rashness to her voice as her throat seized with...much excitement, even as the King continued, [b]"Why yes, Sir Irina. The Tournament of the Four Kingdoms is the most splendid of events held here in the beautiful Kingdom of Alegasia. It is here the knights of Avalon, Iftenreld, and Narsil travel far and wide, to test their mettle, their strength, and their courage against each other and the knights of Alegasia of course. We have never lost a single tournament once, and this year, I don't think we'll be forfeiting the trophy any. That is why I ask of you, Sir Irina of Alegasia, to serve as a knight in the Tournament and bring forth glory and victory to this majestic land."[/b] She was speechless....absolutely was Irina robbed of any words. Her eyes were widened, sparkling as if stars in the heavenly skies of night and her mouth was agape slightly, unable to catch a single breath normally.

"Your....Your Majesty I....I don't know what to say!" Ever excitedly she stuttered, glancing upward with such ambitious features to her face towards the King, he too sharing her joy in this most wonderful of moments. [b]"Then say nothing, my brave Sir Irina!"[/b] Happily he rejoiced. [b]"With you leading Alegasia in the grand tournament, we'll be unstoppable! Ah and this would be such wonderful news to pass on to the Princess, which reminds me. I best be letting you see to her now, Sir Irina. Thank you for your time."[/b] Before rising, Irina gave another respectful bow to the King, addressing him courteously, "Of course, Your Majesty, and thank you for allowing me to serve in the tournament. I shall fight my hardest and bring glory to Alegasia." And with that she stood, slowly making her way out of the throne-room...only to be caught by Varros' insolent words, [b][i]"Don't be getting too excited now, "Sir" Irina. Narsil is still known for raising the strongest and most ruthless of warriors. One of them...might be quite the challenge for you to defeat."[/i][/b] A bit disturbing was that last inch of his sentence...sending a slight chill up the backside of Irina, as always when she came face to face with this terrible fiend. The King was rather bewildered as well, cocking an eyebrow in suspicion towards the Lord of Narsil. [b]"Now now, Lord Varros,"[/b] He chimed in. [b]"No need for hostilities. This is only friendly competition between the four kingdoms."[/b] 

[b][i]"But of course, Your Majesty."[/i][/b] Again that false mask of glee he donned, burning underneath with such rage, such malice to throttle the fat neck of this grotesque and gluttonous pig. [b][i]"My apologies for seeming so brash. I must be making my return to Narsil now, for I too have my knights to prepare for the tournament ahead. Fare thee well."[/i][/b] [i]And shall I see to it you drown in your own blood, you miserable, rotting sack of puss.[/i] His courtesy given to the king, Varros departed, swiftly following behind Irina, only to catch her again in the hallway as the doors upon the throne room slammed shut with a resonant and ominous thunder, [b][i]"You there, turn and face me."[/i][/b] And there his mask had cracked, revealing within the man so scorned and brimming underneath those dark and wispy robes with such anger and hatred. Irina turned, her face once exhibiting joy, now her own mask of absolute disdain and contempt towards the man who call upon her. [b][i]"You may be able to best my men in a mock battle, Lady Irina, but mark my words....Narsil shall be the true victor of this tournament."[/i][/b] The bastard....he was so full of himself, already seeming less and less frightening to the knight with every spiteful word he spat upon her in every one of their....ill fated crossings. Now...Irina could only give a defiant smirk to the beast, glaring deeply into the viper eyes of her adversary with unwavering resolve as she scoffed him, "Quite vain of you to make such grand boasts, Lord of Narsil." To which the lord returned fire with his own remark....albeit his....a bit chilling, [b][i]"Vanity would not be the worst of my sins....Knight of Alegasia. Now, see to your Princess and begone from me."[/i][/b]

One more defiant glare cast before the two broke vision from each other scorned, Irina storming off to find her lady and Varros....hopefully crawling back to that black abyss of ash he brays so highly of. [i]And I hope to the Goddess he stays there forever![/i]