Escape (Open)

[Lily]

Lily's hood blew off her head, hitting the back of her neck with a quiet thud as her horse, Elia, galloped through the open plain. She'd had to get away from the Citadel; the women of the court were insufferable, and had taken to whispering rumors, she thought they'd long forgotten, about her parents and their death. It was like they were doing it to spite her because she refused to be a regular part of their group. The men weren't much better, indulging the ladies in their ridiculous notions, all because they enjoyed the banter. It wasn't worthy of the term banter, not one bit.

Hillsbottom was one of the places that she frequented when she wasn't able to stand the Citadel, and that was often. Here, people didn't know her full name, or stoop as she walked down the hall. Here, she was just Lily, not to be outwitted, beaten at drinking games, or challenges with the bow or sword. Elia's hooves scraped grooves in the damp earth as Lily tugged on his reigns, forcing him to come to a near halt as they reached the town's gates.

Leaving Elia with a young family who regularly enjoyed his company, and he theirs, she headed straight for the tavern, having no business with anyone else in the town today. Upon opening the door, she was met with the warm smell of the fire burning, and the ale on peoples' lips. Taking a seat in the corner, she eased her head back against the wall, letting out a deep sigh, this is much better.

"Lily!" the tavern owner, Julian, boomed as he passed her table, "didn' expect ter see you back so soon?"

"You know me, Julian, I never stay away for long."

"Ain't that the truth! Want yer regular?"

"Not just now."

"Y'know where ter find me if you change yer mind."

"Indeed, I do."

Nothing was ever quiet in this place for long, all Lily had to do was sit back and observe until someone made conversation, or a ruckus began.

[Avaris]

Avaris Pulled her cloak over her dark hair as the rain began to fall. Her curls would certainly be a wild mess the moment she stepped inside ...well..stepped inside anywhere. She wasn't particularly driven towards any place in particular, but the rain was sheeting down far more than she desired to be in. Cavette' didn't seem to be fairing much better either. She was cold, wet and hungry, but it was what she got for being a wanderer.

Luckily, Hillsbottom was close. Close meant food, shelter and perhaps an inn rather than the earth for a bed. Just the thought of it, made her heart smile. She smirked in her pleasant moment and dug her heels into the horses flank, edging him faster towards the town. He seemed to have the same idea and when his own eyes settled on the small town up ahead, his speed increased and they were there quicker than she had expected.

She stopped her large steed inside the gates near the first tavern she saw. It wasn't much, but it appeared to have a few room upstairs and a dry stall for her equine friend. After paying a stable hand, she pushed through the door silently and pulled down her hood, tussling her damp curls in the warmth of the room. She could feel the eyes of a few men, watching her as she strode in a quite a feminine manner towards the bar. "Evening sir..I was wondering if I could manage a pint of Ale..Mead..anything really. Do you have any rooms available, or shall I seek another?" Her voice was plain and polite, despite her usual habits. She needed to make no impression here. She was tired, and worn, starving and wet. All she wanted was a place to forget herself and her condition for a few hours, hopefully overnight.

[Lily]

"Evenin' my lovely," Julian smiled a warm smile at the new visitor, his genuine kindness shining through. This woman certainly looked like she was in need of rest and a strong drink, "I do 'ave a room or two free. I'm sure there's enough room for yer. But first, ale."

Lily had been sitting quietly for a while now. Eventually, she had given in to the drink, after Julian's third lap of the tavern, and had been sipping it, enjoying how it made her feel warm inside, and eased her mind. This was how everyone should be able live, relaxed, without a care in the world. But unfortunately, the world didn't work that way, as it was about to prove to her.

The new woman's entrance had caused a stir at the table on the far side of the room. A chuckle and a joke about which of the guys could have her, turned from a playful fight to a real one. The sound of one of the men's nose breaking could be heard across the whole tavern, and the next thing she knew, there wasn't just a shouting match going on, but people were throwing punches left, right and center. Rolling her eyes, she had to quickly dive out of the way as a two hundred pound guy slammed through the table she'd been sitting at, breaking it in half.

"Gods," she muttered, shaking her head, before someone seized her from behind, lifting her up off the ground. Swinging a foot towards his groin, she growled, "don't you know how to treat a lady?"

[Avaris]

Avaris gave a sigh of relief as he told her he had something. If she didn't have limits, or a personal bubble, she would almost consider hugging the fellow. Her smile grew and her grey eyes flickered her emotions. "Thank you sire, You are most kind...Ale..I'll take a pint." Avaris took her mug and seated herself in a corner, pulling her cloak off and her gloves to wrap her hands around the metal mug. It had been far too long since she had enjoyed such simple pleasures. Propping her feet up on the other side of the booth, she leaned back with a content sigh and closed her eyes.

It only lasted for a few moments before things sudden;y got loud. Her eyes opened instantly just as a rather brutish man was hastily making her way towards her. She swung her legs aside and kicked him back. "bLoody hell!' She muttered, holding her mug aside so she wouldn't spill a drop. It was much too precious to waste. Avaris caught sigh of a rather large man, holding a young woman tightly by the waist. Rather calmly, she walked up behind him, mug still in hand, and tapped on his shoulder. "excuse me..." The moment he turned his head, she threw a punch straight at his nose. "There....that's better. You alright dear?"

[Lily]

Dropping to her feet, Lily spun round to look at who it was who had intervened. Another woman, one with long dark hair that stood maybe a couple of inches taller than her. If it weren't for her attire, Lily would have said that the woman looked lovely enough to be a member of the court, only she hadn't seen her around before. "I'm in one piece, that's all that matters for the moment." The man's grasp would no doubt leave some bruising on her ribs, but she would survive. She'd lived through worse.

Extending a hand, she introduced herself, "Lillian Harbord, but, please, call me Lily." They were separated for a moment as a man only half conscious stumbled between them and collapsed nearby. Well, wasn't this wonderful. "How about we put this quarrel to rest?" she suggested, knowing of the woman's prowess with her fists, at least, "get back to the enjoyable we were having before this ruckus?" She raised her own fists, turning to lay a fierce punch into the guy that had been holding her before. He'd been foolish to come back for more, now falling to the floor.

[Avaris]

"Well that makes two of us." She chuckled, setting down her mug one more to deliver a strong knee punch to another man's groin."I can say it's been a while since I've partaken in such.....rough means for ale." She observed the young woman beside her, slightly shorter, but nothing close to aspects of frailty. She could hold her own, that was obvious.

Avaris extended her own hand with a firm grip, holding her wrist rather than her hand to grasp. Almost as if friends already. "Avaris...just Avaris." She pulled back as the oaf fell to the floor, and turned on her own to grab another man's arm, pulling it n her and slamming his face forcefully to the table. ...and now....If you don't mind, I would very much like to return to my ale....for the record, you aren't my type anyway." Holding him down, she reached over and took an swig of ale, before releasing him and letting him also settle to the floor. "I think that would be a lovely idea. " she smirked, leaning back to grab her beverage once more.

[Lily]

"Fighting for your drink, now there's something you don't see every day." Lily chuckled, finding Avaris quite amusing; she had a sharp tongue, something that they both had in common. "At least, by the last drop, you'll know that it was worth the effort." A swift spin kick sent a spindly man flying, slamming head first into another man so that they both when down like dominoes. "Well, Avaris," she gripped her arm in return, "a few more punches, and you should be back to your drink in no time."

It was a good thing for the both of them that most of the men were punching the daylights out of each other before they strayed their way. You could practically flick their ear lobe and they'd go careering to the ground. "It may be prudent for you to come with a warning," she suggested, tripping a man up who was running at Julian, chair in hand, "if your beauty causes such a mess." She was teasing, a smile on her face as she continued her fight.

[Avaris]

Avaris chuckled lightly, setting it down again to headlock another drunk, pushing him towards another that sent them both toppling. "And a worthy prize it is." She gave a devious smirk, and blocked another figure, watching him fall from another's punch. This was too much fun. Coming here, she definitely hadn't expected a bar fight, but it was a damn good time.

Lily's next comment stalled her in her tracks. "You know...that's not a word I'm actually used to hearing. I'm not usually the beautiful one..just the intimidating crazy wench with the sword and blood."[/b[ she chuckled again. "You however...I'm sure you break plenty of necks. ' It wasn't that Avaris didn't think of herself as pretty...oh wait, she did. Living on her own, she rarely encountered anyone long enough for them to really get a look at her, or be brave enough to actually get to know her. She sent many a man running for cover. A larger man soon approached her with a twisted look upon his face. He was more sober than the rest, and before she knew it, was painfully pinned to the wall, kicking and flailing as Lily had been not a few minutes before. "Uhh..a little...ungghh he..help here?"

[Lily]

Lily let out a laugh at Avaris' description of herself, "that's because they can't see you for the sword and blood. As you are now, possibly with a pint in your hand, I'm sure you're the picture of perfection." She chuckled even more when she referred to the double takes that Lily must get on a regular basis. "No neck breaking, but I could probably account for many sprains. It's a wonder the infirmary hasn't billed me for all the men I send there," she said jokingly, tugging on a man's long hair so that he stooped low enough for her to knee him in the face, his nose shattering on impact.

Avaris had gone silent, causing Lily to spin round to see where her new found friend had disappeared off to, and found her dangling from the wall, gasping for assistance. Coming up behind the man, she pinched the nerve in his shoulder, causing him to involuntarily let go, then sucker punched him in the jaw, the man falling to the ground with an almighty crash, one that almost silenced the whole bar. "You all right?" Lily asked Avaris, before glancing around, there was barely anyone left standing now, except for a couple of dunkards still throwing punches at each other. In the end, they fell out of the door and they heard the distant splash of them falling into a horse's water trough.

[Avaris]

Avaris shrugged her shoulders at the comment. "What can I say?" In truth, it was what she was good at. She didn't care for love, or men. There was no one to love, or even worth fighting for in her life. She was a loner and this was her world. And if she did care, it would seem that this would unfortunately be the place she would find him anyway. Hardly anything close to romance. bar fights and dragon killing. She had to scoff to herself for a moment. These men were nothing compared to what she usually dealt with...until she was locked in a choke hold against the back wall.

As the man released her grip Avaris fell with a heavy thump to the floor. She stumbled up awkwardly, holding her red throat. There would definitely be a bruise later. She was no maiden that needed rescuing, but was more than thankful of her rescuer. She rubbed her neck a little, trying to access the damage. "yeah..yeah I am now..thank you." Avaris turned around and much to her surprise, her mug was still there, waiting for her. She took a heavy drink and gave a heavy sigh. "Well..that was unexpected." she chuckled over to Lily.

[Lily]

"More than unexpected," Lily agreed, "but fun, nonetheless." Heaving herself into a nearby chair, she stretched her short legs out, and rested her head back so that her hair draped down the back of the seat. "Nothing like a brawl in the early evening to get the blood pumping." And the adrenaline coarsing through her viens. It was dissipating now, and she felt her body begin to relax. She could do with another drink.

Hearing a clatter over by the bar, she looked up, seeing Julian appear, one solitary jug of ale left unbrorken. "How are you doing over there?" she called to him as he looked around, partially with dismay. "Well, I'm alive. Not sure I can say that for half of the folks strewn about my floor, but oh well."[/i] She offered him a sympathetic smile, "provide us with another drink or two, and we might be persuaded to help clear up. Or at least toss the men out of the bar, whichever you choose."

[Avaris]

Avaris chuckled lightly to herself and pulled on her arm, hearing her shoulder pop. She winced at it's ache but shrugged it off. Pain was a way of life. She expected it now, in anything she did. Life had made her hard and cold, filled with anger and revenge.

Julian handed her two fresh mugs of ale and she presented the other to Lily. Could she call her a friend yet? She wasn't quite sure of the rules of companionship. In fact, she tried to remember if she ever had a friend. With a relaxed sigh, Avaris sat on the chair opposite and extended her slightly longer legs in the same manner. She wasn't tall, simply average height, but she appeared to be taller than most she encountered. Most likely because of how high she held herself when she walked.

'ave you got a place for the night?" she asked with genuine concern. If she was trying her hand at this whole friendship thing maybe sharing a room wouldn't be so bad of a thing, considering the fact that she wasn't scared of having her throat sliced as she slept. Unfortunately she had done the deed before. "Your friend here got me a room...and...considering we aren't after each others blood....and inns usually have two beds?"

[Lily]

Lily looked up at Avaris' question, observing the woman for a moment. Usually, Lily was back in her bed in the citadel by the time it was time for sleep, but tonight she probably wouldn't be back before the sun went down, and well, only a foolish person roamed the woods at night. Also, she was interested to make a female friend outside court, and one who knock seven bells out of punters, like she could. Avaris could be an interesting person to have around.

"I haven't," she said, finally, "and yes, considering we didn't beat each other to a pulp, I say that makes us friends, room mates at the least, yes?" She gave Avaris a smile, taking a long gulp of the ale. That was much better. "All right then, where do you want these lovely folks depositing, Julian?"

It took them more than an hour to wake everybody up and send them home to their worried and probably confused wives. A good chunk of the town were now staggering back to their hovels, drunk, battered and bruised. By the time they were gone, Lily was glad to flop into to bed that Avaris had offered her, kicking off her boots. Scooping up her tangled hair and pulling it over her left shoulder, she said, "so, Avaris, where did you learn to fight like that?"

[Avaris]

Avaris wasn't quite sure she had offered the room to the woman, but the nagging feeling of a new friend kept her ego and habits to get in the way. Friend. The thought made the smile in her heart, spread to her face. She very much liked the term. For once, this wasn't a person interested in her for....romantic..or..not so romantic affairs. She wasn't used to this, but it was nice..new phase.

The woman's comment, brought her grey gaze back. Friends...so she agreed. And roommates even. Avaris gave a short chuckle and pulled her elbow tight to pop it out of it's kink. Apparently she had quite the workout. Her arm was already beginning to bruise, and no telling what would also ache later. For once, maybe she'd get a chance to pull off her heavy armor and slip into something woven. She could almost feel it.

After another chuckled laugh, Avaris and Lily had successfully rid the place of the trouble makers and were finally within reach of relaxation. Avaris watched Lily remove her boots and begin the process. She watched her with quiet fascination, until she broke the silence. "I.....uhm...mainly self taught really." The pain of her past was visible through her eyes now. With a heavy sigh, she turned her back toward Lilly and pulled her dirty gloves from her worn hands, tossing them haplessly on the other bed. She ran the fingers through her dark hair and pulled at the meticulously weaved braid. "I.....I'd rather not talk about it."

[Lily]

Lily felt her mouth widen into a large yawn, she just barely managed to cover her mouth in time. "Excuse me." As much as she hated court and all the pretention, she still employed manners on occasion. That one had sort of slipped out. It was going to take some effort to stay awake, maybe she shouldn't have had the second pint of ale. If anything was going to knock it her out, it would be that. Alcohol had this strange effect in that if you drunk to little, it put you to sleep, drink too much however... who knew what would happen.

She cast her gaze over to Avaris as the woman said that she didn't want to talk about it. She wasn't able to see the expression on her face, but she imagined it wasn't one of joy, far from it. "Don't mind me, just sticking my nose where it doesn't belong." Twirling two strands of hair around one another, she tried to think of a different conversation topic, one that wouldn't make too strong a foray into personal issues, it was difficult. "Visit these parts often?" There, that was substantially vague, and hopefully wouldn't affect Avaris like her last question had.