Everlong

Juliette

As Olly and Ed politely ate dinner with Lord Margaster and Lady Juliette, Olly remembered why she had been so reluctant with spending time in the company of nobility. In the span of a few hours, Lord Margaster felt the need to tell the complete history of the Margaster house and lineage to the pair. Ed feigned interest at times, but even his polite nature began to waiver and he silently prayed to Pelor to deliver him from the droning of the Lord and his proud heritage. Olly tuned out the Lord's voice and focused on his young daughter, the two of them having business later that night that they had to scheme to get to.

"Father I've decided that Allana should spend the night in my rooms tonight and tomorrow" Juliette said as her father swigged down another cup of mead.

"Ah! I knew your charm would win over even the toughest of Rangers! Fast friends you made with my girl hmmm Lady Duer?" Lord Margaster boasted.

"Very much so your Lordship" Olly said smiling going along with the plan "Juliette is a lovely young lady, I enjoy talking with her."

Ed seemed surprised at Olly's words but decided to play along. The Ranger could have a plan cooking up that he wasn't aware of but needed to play dumb to make it work. He sat there and nodded, enjoying the roasted meat the Lord had provided that night. He wasn't that used to having such a savory meal, and Ed would even admit to himself he was a bit of a glutton when it came to cooked meals.

"I think it most appropriate then" Lord Margaster said happily "You two ladies have some womanly time, and the men will have our time right Cleric? Or are you one of those purists that sometimes hang about trying to convert the nobility?"

"Oh, quite the opposite" Ed laughed, going along with the eagerness Olly had "I've had my share of adventures over a glass of ale."

"Then I shall love to hear of them!" Margaster replied with a hearty laugh as Olly and Juliette nodded to one another.

"That what I thought clever girl" Ed shook his head "Good thing I know how to play along or else" he whispered in Olly's ear giving her a wink as he pulled away. Lord Margaster thankfully hadn't noticed the exchange, but Juliette watched them with curious eyes.

Olly felt herself smile and slightly blush, the knowing smile from Juliette a little too much as she felt the tips of her ears catch fire. Why did he have to whisper in her ear like that!? Why did he have to make her smile and blush like a young girl?! She was supposed to be this force of danger people would hear about, but she couldn't accomplish that with Ed making her swoon!

Olly felt herself get ruffled up and excused herself from the table as Juliette did the same, eager to talk now that it looked normal for Olly to be spending so much time in the lady's room.

Ed felt like he was taking one for the team though as the Lord Margaster demanded some stories over glasses of whiskey, boasting about its fine qualities while he still wondered what the girls were up to above them. He would get all the details from his partner, that was for sure as he clinked glasses with the already tipsy Lord of the house. He began by starting with the goblin tribes of the mountains as Lady Juliette's skirts went around the corner.

Up above, in the hazy rose glow of candlelight in Juliette's room, the two girls decided to get comfortable and continue as if they really were getting ready to spend the night and have talks as girls do. Juliette seemed more than pleased as she doted over Olly, lamenting how she never had any siblings to take care of.

Olly could remember doing this when she was younger with her own sisters. Arrowmoor Keep was giant to them when they first arrived, and Olly didn't like sleeping by herself in such a large room. Her sisters thankfully felt the same, and many nights Olly and Mari would find themselves in Brienne's room. Brienne would do Mari's hair in bows while Olly would sit in the windowsill, looking out at the city along the treetops.