• She rested her head on a finger, as she was in thought. "Either navy blue or a very nice medium shade of purple, with gold embroidery of several stars on it, if possible," Eclair requested. "If you have neither silk, nor satin, velvet would do. Just give me something that would shine beautifully!" she added.
  
  Eclair also noticed the young girl who rushed around them. She was very perky, to her observation. "And what might be your name, miss?" she asked, placing a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder. Had there been any sign of her being Queen instead of wearing the simple clothes that she had on her person right now, she would be rather embarrassed by all the formalities that would ensue, and perhaps she would be bothered about things that the King should handle that was not usually in her power.

Thinking that he could use even more extra coin than what the innkeeper was to pay him, Gar looked for place to make his own. After looking, he finally found an old crate that was no longer in use. Hefting the crate up over his head he walked to an open space in the square. Setting it down so that he could stand a top it, Gar took a small, carved flute from inside his tunic.

“Oh what crowds I do so spy,
Gentlemen and Maidens fine.
Come ye close, and listen here
A melody so sweet, it will take
Away your fears.�

And so he began to play. Soft, shivering notes filled the square. It was like rain falling in the woods. Notes like droplets falling from leaf to leaf. And so Gar played his enchanted song to win the hearts and hopefully gold of those around him.

((I mean MY grammar errors. XD))

Edna looked at Donna, nodded and smiled. "Well then I guess it won't hurt to use your measurements from last year."

Edna put her head down a little and put her finger on her lips, thinking. She was wondering what cloth with a medium shade of purple, with gold embroidery of silver stars would like. She put her head back up to confirm her answer with the queen, seeing she was busy with a child. Smiling, she said "I should have your bolts of cloth by tomorrow. Also, on Donna's dress... any details you want to give me?" Edna never wants a customer to leave dissatisfied so she always asks for some details first.

• 
  ((Me neither, haha!))
  
  "Oh but I absolutely must! Do you mean to disobey your queen?" she asked, a hand on her hip, the other at the hidden coin pouch beneath the folds of her dress. This was one of those times she really had to be stern and fair.
  

((Honestly there are a few things I don't know about medieval fantasy... but sure, shillings sounds good.))

"Okay then..." Edna looked up to Donna. "Any details on your dress?"

"Okay then, that'll be fine. I'll charge you about... Hm, I'm feeling nice. You don't have to pay me. I know even queens have to have their limit, right?"

• "Oh, hm..." Donna thought a bit. She did love crowns, as well as lions...but she was in no way royal herself. She did love stars, though her mistress had already bought bolts with embroidered stars on it. Too matchy-matchy. She didn't want to look like a part of the decorations.
  "I guess, whatever you think is best. I don't need anything too fancy."
  

"Oi! Get out of here you mongrel!" Wilhelm shouted at a run down, filthy guest making to enter his taverne. "What I do need Oc," he said, setting a mug of beer in front of him, "is a venture to the market, I'm running low on supplies. Might I trust you for a week or two in caring for the shop?"

"Not a problem boss, you know you can trust me."

"Good," Wilhelm replied sternly, finishing up his mid-morning chores and heading to the apartment above his taverne. Here, he got ready for his departure, gathering a few extra outfits and a pouch of coin.

Once ready, he handed the key to his friend and bid them farewell before taking off into the woods and towards the direction of the marketplace.

• ((o.o Amp, I just noticed, for some reason our last couple of posts are out of order!))
  

(*is bored and wants to interact*)

With a heavy dose of pleading eyes, Anila managed to convince one of her favorite soldiers to ride her out to the marketplace so she could see her momma and get apples. After all, there was only so much you could do when you were five.

Soon enough, they arrived and she bought two apples for the horse and a small meat pie for the knight, thanking him before darting off into the streets, spying her mother at the seamstress' stall. Anila stealthily snuck up behind the Queen and tugged her skirt lightly. "Hi momma," she chirped, long braid swinging.

((Happy New Year's, everyone!! Sorry I went dead tired after Sea World and took the afternoon off to go sleep...then went to a party at my cousin's...and came home ^_^))

• 
  Queen Eclair was in thought again, as even she didn't know what kind of embroidery to put on her maid's dress for this year's parties. "How about...hmm...I'm thinking some slight flurry of floral patterns around, with something that looks leafy but not exactly like a plant. The type that swirl, I believe?" Even she couldn't figure out how to word what she was thinking.
  
  However, she was rather surprised when somebody from out of nowhere just tugged at her skirts, and almost, but not exactly, infuriated since she didn't know who it was, though her brows were creased. When she whirled around and heard someone refer to her as their mother, and she saw the person, her facial expression softened. "Anila," she sighed, "What are you doing out of the castle? My darling, you're supposed to be with your tutor!" She kneeled down to get eye-level with her daughter. "Don't you know that coming out here could be dangerous for you? Where is your guard?" she asked. She rose back to her tall height with her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Well, you're here anyway...do you want to help your mother shop for the upcoming party, dear?"
  
  She couldn't obviously send her daughter back to the castle, since she was already out. True, Anila was very rebellious and took after her father, but at least she had some traits of her mother. Like being female and both wearing their long hair in a braid, which Eclair subsequently played with.
  

Caiele held her breath in as she ascended the misshapen dirt road that led straight toward the kingdom gates. She hadn't entered the kingdom in well over a decade now; instead, she had chosen to feast on the numerous persons that naively chose to stray from the road, out of the kingdom: mostly, they were in caravans; this obstacle, however, was easily crossed - for Caiele's fair beauty, no man would resist. If she were to offer her legs to him, he would succumb; not that it was very hard for Caiele to overthrow an entire caravan, however. When they were asleep, she would strike. Sure, it was easily completed by her as any other living off of the youthful flesh of humans about them - however many of these said others existed - but her ability to devour one man's youth, then battle a possible four others, and the occasional woman or child, was done with ease.

Nodding a greeting to the guardsmen, she proceeded through without question - mostly for her suggestive glance at the man who stood nearest to the entranceway. Grinning to herself before officially entering the kingdom, Caiele picked up her skirts, and proceeded down a rough carving of stairs.

• Charles walked inside the Tailor's shop, panting. He stopped, hunched over, and rest his arms on his thighs.
  
  "Anila...I've..been looking...all over for you," he said between breaths, "Where have you been?! I just came to inform mother about your disappearance. Your tutor was waiting for you and said you hadn't shown up at all! We were really worried."
  He walked over to Anila and draped his arms around her, wearily to give her a big hug.
  

(Finally! A sibling! *dance*)

How Anila managed not to be completely sorry was a mystery, but she giggled anyway. "I wanted to see you momma, and he brought me out here, I just sent him back once we arrived. Besides, I have my dagger, and my teeth," she chirped, smiling.

"And I would like to help..." she replied, turning around when she heard her older brother. Oops.

"Hi Charles...I was with the Knights(who do not say Ni, thank you very much). I only worry people by accident..." she explained, hugging him tight in return, looking up.

Wilhelm walked through the forest, all too familiar with the surroundings and the way to the kingdom. Every month or so, he makes his way here, in the dead of night. This was the first time he was making an attempt at going during the day.

Antony whistled to his puppy Augustus before leaving the stables where his horse stayed. His blue eyes scanned the landscape as he tossed a stick for the dog and ate an apple on his way to the marketplace.

He thought ahead to the festival the royal family was throwing and then the ladies, oh how he would enjoy that factor. Perhaps he could find himself a bride? He chuckled as the dog came bounding back to him, tail wagging happily and dropped the stick, waiting for it to get thrown again. Antony did so, and finally reached the edge of the marketplace.

((The "draping arms over shoulders" part reminds me of something rather silly from last year's Halloween >: D

Oh myGASH...last year already?! >< 2008 OMG.))

• 
  She wasn't too ecstatic for her kids showing up in the marketplace alone -- especially Anila sending her guard back to the castle, and Charles Brandon without his guard at all.
  
  "Both of you are supposed to be with your tutors! Charles, where is your guard as well? Or have you just come here without him? Don't you both know how possibly unsafe the marketplace could be for you two?" Her kids were still young, and as much as she loved them and their rambunctiousness, they weren't supposed to be allowed in the marketplace without soldiers, especially at their ages.
  
  Eclair couldn't possibly dream of being too difficult on her kids. "Well, as long as you're with me, then it's all right." She put her index finger up to emphasize her next point. "But when we get back home, I expect you to write apology letters to your tutors for running out. Two pages. If not, then no dessert for two weeks, and you are not going to the upcoming ball."
  

Camilla had fallen very quiet. She stood next to the woman with a blank expression on her face and took a very long time to reply to the question about her name.

Seeing the beautiful, small girl suddenly run through the marketplace, followed by the older brother, had distracted Camilla and spurred a short daydream in her mind. She was imagining wearing a beautiful, delicate dress like the little girl and having a family.

Camilla stared at the woman and her two children. Suddenly, she realized that she knew them. These were members of the royal family! She had seen them in parades and portraits for years.

Camilla looked up at the woman's kind face and then back at that grown. She made a clumsy curtsy, and said "My name is Camilla, 'mam, I mean, your highness," Camilla's knees buckled a little and she gulped. Camilla forced herself to add, in what she hoped was a polite, helpful tone "A floral pattern would be grand!" Then the young girl quickly moved away from the group.

((Crap, I just read my last post to you, Nescia, and like, I didn't notice your chara was in her teens so I have to edit it ^^;; ))

• 
  "I guess my outerwear does not really hide who I am, does it?" Eclair sighed. "It's very nice to meet you to-day, Camilla. Though the decision for a floral design or not belongs to my maid, Donna."
  
  She watched as Camilla retreated back into the crowds of the marketplace. "A very shy girl...but very sweet." She looked to Donna. "So do you think a floral-like pattern would do? Or what do you think?"
  

She began to make her way up through the colossal arrangement of shops: from weaponries and armories, to the pastry shops and tailors' quarters, this little nook seemed to have it all as far as variety went. Feeling the cool stares of lust upon her back, Caiele advanced further, entering what seemed to be the central marketplace. Her presence seemed to have been detected; numerous heads turned about upon their shoulders - some looks were dirty, all of them being brandished by women. But the majority of these glances were greedy, ravenous even. They wished to share in her beauty, whether pertaining to sexual desire, or pure jealousy.

Caiele attempted to listen to a few conversations nearby, but all of them were in confidence, and thus not much louder than the hiss of a desert snake. She proceeded to look at a pile of fabrics to her right, browsing through all of the floral patterns; most were just bright color swatches, although a few had either a pattern or a dull brown interwoven.

Anila did her best to look sad about being banned from the ball, but she was rather pleased that she didn't have to wear a dress this time around. "Yes, Momma, I'll write it as soon as we get home..."

She smiled and bounced on the balls of her feet, twisting her nose at the mention of a floral pattern. Floral always made her think of her stuffy old aunt's furniture, too busy and flowery.

• [[Rawr. x.x; Sorry I wasn't on earlier!]]
  
  Charles sighed and let go of Anila as he watched her bounce away. Thank goodness she was adorably cute or else he probably would have punched her...or something.
  
  Charles turned to hear his mother jabbering on.
  "Huh?" then it entered his brain, "oh, um...I just...uh...got worried about Anila so I came down. And don't worry ma, I'm a big tough kid!"
  He smiled big and flexed his biceps.
  "Awww mooooommmmmm...but I don't want to write an apology to my tutor, he's a big mean stupidhead."
  He stuck out his tounge and folded his arms, turning away. But when threatened about dessert and the ball, he sighed and relinquished.
  He turned around to follow off in Anila's trail, dragging his feet the whole way.
  

• Donna snapped out of her daydreaming when she heard her name.
  
  "A floral design would be lovely, your majesty," she bowed her head slightly. She was actually quite enthused to see this new dress. Donna wondered how lovely it would be and what it would be like to wear such a divine garment.
  

• 
  "Ohhhhh no," she warned, brows furrowed. "You two are staying here with me!" She lunged forward to grab both her children's arms before they could run off. "I can't let you two go off without any bodyguards. Besides, Anila, you said you wanted to help me, didn't you? And yes, I expect those letters to be done tonight."
  
  Eclair took a deep breath and released it, trying not to raise her voice in public. She only did so to her children when they were all at home. She handed a purse of gold coins to Donna. "My dear, please pay Edna our bill while I take my kids with me?" Eclair had another with her so she could order other things that would be needed for the party.
  

Upon reaching the gates to the kingdom, Wilhelm put on his best act so as not to appear suspicious. He only hoped they wouldn't ask questions.

"Afternoon m'lords," he said, bowing his head and smiling while walking through the gates. Phase one complete.

Antony winked at a couple ladies as they walked through the marketplace, making them giggle behind their hands. He finished off his apple and tossed it into the street. Augustus was walking happily beside him, tail wagging.

"The sky is so clear, so blue, such a perfect day to stray about in town. Oh, 'ello miss!" He said, almost walking into someone after stopping his brief singing.

His eyes scanned ahead through the shops a little until his eyes noticed the royal family. He chuckled slightly and sent Augustus over, how the puppy loved children.

Anila squeaked as she was grabbed and leaned back, she'd only wanted to see the next stand. She rubbed her arm and pouted slightly. At least until she saw the puppy, then she smiled brightly. She loved animals.

• "Yes, mistress," Donna curtsied as the family exited the store and turned to Edna, "Um, how much miss?"