Social: Colors of Autumn
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It is a beautiful fall day, and Amaryllis may have chosen to visit the Luminat Gardens today because of the rich autumnal colors of the leaves on the trees. The air is a bit chilly, and so the young lady of pale complexion is wearing a warm cloak. Her attire beneath is of courtly fashion. She is talking a walk, obviously, with a Floragrove guard trailing behind to watch over her safety. Pausing at a flowerbed of autumn begonias, she takes her time to take in the beauties of nature. Contemplation holds the risk of thoughts travelling, and they indeed are, given that she seems to get lost in them, for a moment.
As he is often wont to do, Tristan is.. wandering, and this afternoon said wanders have taken the young prince to the gardens which bare the name of his family and kingdom. He's, perhaps unwisley, unaccompanied, save for a dreamy look on his face. It's quite likely that his path takes him past the flowerbed that's captured Amaryllis attention and since he's so consumed by whatever day dreams color his thoughts, its equally likely that he -almost- stumbles into her, stopping himself at the very last moment, as somewhat sheepish smile crossing his face. "Oh, my apologies."
<FS3> Amaryllis rolls Perception: Success. (5 6 6 7 2 1 3)
As lost in thoughts as she herself has seemed to be, Amaryllis' eyes catch the vague notion of movement at the corner of her vision, and her head turns, just in time, to see the young prince almost stumbling into her. Noticing his face as one of the royal princes, she immediately dips into a curtsey, lowering her gaze. "Your highness. No need to apologise." Straightening, she adds with a smile, "I suppose the wonderful colours of the season have pulled you here as well?"
The curtsey is returned with a polite nod of his head, that nod accompanied by a little smile of his own. "Ah yes, the colors," he says, a dreamy quality to his voice as his gaze shifts from the young woman to the flowers nearby, "Certainly wasn't meandering without thought or reason to as where I was going. No way." That smile once again gross sheepish, a little bit of color on his cheeks. "But forgive me, my lady, have we met?"
"Oh, we certainly have," the young lady declares. Her voice holds a slightly dreamy quality as well, but there is more to it, a certain awareness of station that is softened by the pleasant smile she gives him. "I am Amaryllis, heiress to the Floragrove March. I believe we have met on numerous occasions, crowded as they were, at court or of social nature. But... until now, never in such a personal manner. Your highness, for a moment I'd dared to think you'd lost your way, but I suppose, you know your way well around here, as if you come here more often?"
"Oh, yes. That would make sense, as I would like to think I'd remember a personal introduction," the young man intones, his smile growing a little more confident as it becomes clear he simply hasn't forgotten the young lady. To her question, he rolls his shoulders in a little bit of a shrug, "I don't know if anyone is ever really lost. There is usualy a reason why someone is where they are, even if they dont know. But to answer your question, no.. I don't come here very often. I was.. exploring."
"Exploring on your own, your highness? You are far bolder than I would ever consider myself to be," Amaryllis replies with an easy smile. "I agree with you though. There is a reason why someone is where they are. There is a reason for me to be here today, even." She pauses, hesitating perhaps for a moment, as she considers how to continue. "I came here today to delve into memories I have of my father. He used to take me here when I was a child. He showed me the colors, the wonderful variety of plants, of flowers that can be found here in these gardens."
A smattering of color darkens Tristan's fair skin when she speaks of boldness, though the boy offers a shrug at that. "I don't know if its -bold- exactly.. but its a good way to just see where your feet take you," he offers, before nodding a little bit more. "Oh, that must have been lovely- to have your father show you those things. I could see why you'd want to visit!"
His enthusiasm dampens some of the melancholy that was about to sneak into her eyes. Amaryllis smiles, as she admits, "You are right. It was lovely, indeed. And it is good to see that beauty of nature prevails here, even after all these years." Belatedly, she realizes how her words may have been taken the wrong way, and the young lady adds, "Maybe not 'bold', but rather.. 'Adventurous' might be the better word for it." She pauses. "Which makes me wonder... Are you merely a wanderer or do you enjoy explorations of other sorts as well? Are you riding out, occasionally?"
"Oh, adventurous! I like that," Tristan says with a little bit of musical laughter before offering her a bright grin, "Oh, I love riding! Only thing better than just wandering on your lonesome is having a horse with you. Much less walking, and you can get -much- further afield."
Amaryllis raises her brows a little. "You seem to enjoy being out on your own, your highness. I'd rather seek company, usually, for walks and rides, if I may say so. Unless... It's a day like today, when I was intending to be on my own, but now, that our paths have crossed, I am grateful for it." Another pause follows as she considers the prince. "I don't have my horse with me right now, but perhaps I could persuade you to walk a few steps with me together. It's such a wonderful day. And who knows? We might make arrangements to ride out together on another day, if that would please you."
"I mean, company is pretty good too," the boy adds quickly, when he realizes he might have been taken the wrong way, "Its just a different sort of wandering! But yes, I can be -easily- persuaded to walk with you, if that is what you would like, Lady Amaryllis. Very easily!"
"Very well." Her smile deepens, dimpling her cheek. "Then this is what I'd like to do. To persuade you to accompany me for a bit." She places her hand on his arm as she begins to lead them away from the flowerbed. "I must warn you though. I am curious. Curious as what a prince does during the day to entertain himself. Do you have many duties? Did you have to endure more lessons than I, in stewardship, history, and the like?"
"Consider me persuaded then, my lady," Tristan says, offering her a little bit of a grin when she touches his arm, following her where ever it is she might lead. "I don't have many duties these days, aside from just.. learning about the world. But there were lessons, of course. Lots of them. I liked them well enough." He grins some more, "As to how I amuse myself- this is a part of it. Going out. Meeting people!"
Amaryllis seems to be well acquainted enough with the Luminat Gardens that she already has an idea where they will be heading. With her guard trailing behind them, and said guard probably a little more alert as it is a prince his lady accompanies, she chooses a path that leads to a pond. "I do love the willow trees they have here," she remarks towards Tristan. "I'll be inheriting my title from my mother, and she has made sure that I am well prepared whenever that day will come. You, on the contrary, your highness, are unlikely to be emburdened with the responsibilities of a king one day." She comes to a halt and turns to face the prince, as the autumnal afternoon sun lights her pale features. "Are you content with your lot in life, your highness? That is, if you don't mind me asking this question."
Tristan gives a little exaggerated shudder at the thought of responsibility! "Well, you're right there. My sister and her partner will rule someday, and I'm glad to not have that burden in my future," he says. There is a smile on his face still- clearly enjoying the young woman's company as they walk, "So yes, I would say I'm content. What about you? Are you looking forward to being in charge?"
"Now, that is a good question." Amaryllis leads them onto a path that leads around the pond, keeping her pace to an unhurried stroll. "It is not that I had a choice. As the eldest, I'm the heiress. And I think I have been prepared well by my tutors. Also, I expect my mother to rule for many more ears until she will pass her duties on to me, so... Yes, I am looking forward to that day. But at the same time, I am grateful for each day, for each year that will be granted to me with just the responsibilities of a Floragrove lady." She chuckles, it is an easy sort of laughter, light and charming.
"You always have a choice. You could abdicate. Let a sibling or a cousin take the title," Tristan points out with a little bit of a smile, "Though I don't think you'd want to. Not after all that training." He keeps easy pace with her, long legs well accustomed to walking, "Enjoy your freedoms while you can then, eh?"
"I suppose so," Amaryllis replies with an easy smile. Her motions are graceful, more from natural disposition than training. "What else does a prince do?", she wonders lightly. "I enjoy going out now and then. Meeting acquaintances and friends. Also..." And here she smiles again, and her gaze goes distant for a moment. "I enjoy flowers. I have a habit of decorating the rooms of our manor with flowers, whenever I can."
"Ah! Well, no wonder you like the gardens so much then. Liking flowers suits your house too, I would imagine!" he says, before shrugging a little bit, "Right now, I'm mostly trying get more experience with the way the world works, the way other people live their lives, before I figure out what I have to -do-. If that makes sense?"
"It does." She gives Tristan a warm glance. "Sometimes, we need to test the waters to realise what our own goals will be." There is a pause. "I shall look forward to the next ball, as it means that at least one face is more familiar now - it might even earn me the honour of a dance?" There is a light shrug of her own shoulders then. "But you and I know that there are deeper reasons and motivations to it all. I remember a past life, where my father did not die. But it ended, and now we are here, striving to do better than before."
Tristan grows a little solemn at that, before nodding his head a little bit. "I mean, yes. Of course. There is always that," he murmurs, before he once again offers her a bright smile, "But yes, when next there is a ball, I would be happy to dance with you!"