Antony's room was stifling in a heat wave that had hit the palace that day. It was unusual for it to be so hot in the fall, and Antony certainly refused to do anything that had to do with movement. Shuddering at the thought of the warm sheets and blankets on his own bed, he sank gratefully onto a stone bench that was shaded and therefore still cool. Sliding across the stone Antony let his legs hang of the bench and started to doze off.

[Enter Eleanor! I love her so...]

It was early evening, just around dusk, when Eleanor passed through, still mulling over her chat with her cousing Katherine earlier on. She worried about that girl sometimes. Too quiet - her shoulder was still bothering her too, since the attack. The day had been an absolutel scorcher, and Eleanor had cast off her heavy woolen skirts for a simple yet elegant periwinkle silk dress, which draped around her figure, but did not make her hot. The train was horribly impractical, she thought, as all it did was gather dirt, but she had to admire the way it moved when she walked. Impartiality for pretty things was a weakness that Eleanor couldn't resist but humor.

She was taken aback when she espied a man, a very lanky man, with enormous feet, she couldn't help but notice, sprawled out on one of the nearby stone benches. He was fast asleep. Thinking of the drunkards who frequented the infirmary "the morning after" badgering her for headache remedies, she immediately switched into Healer Mode, thinking she might do this man a favor, at least by escorting him back to his room. Even on my off days, she thought, a little exasperated with herself. But her instincts were calling...

"Sir," she called out, shaking him by the shoulder, "Sir?"

Antony opened his eye when he felt someone shake him by the shoulder. He saw a woman. Rising to his feet politely he swept her a bow.

"Milady. Please pardon my manners. I found it too hot to sleep in my own bed just now." he spoke carefully.

One could never tell which ladies it was alright to have fun with and which ones lacked any humor. Judging by the train on her dress, she wasn't going to be any fun, but maybe the fact she hadn't bothered to keep it clean saved her. Politely he opened his palm in the direction of the bench offering her a seat if she liked. Etiquette or no if she didn't sit he was going to anyway. It was to hot to stay standing making small talk.

Eleanor narrowed her eyes at him. He didn't seem drunk. Perhaps she had made a mistake.

"Well, I hope you've been comfortable," she said guardedly, looking him over, scrutinizing him for clues about his personality. Now that he was awake he seemed alright enough, if a little disorganized.

"Do you still have her purse," she asked concernedly, although her face showed no expression, a little unnerving when outside the infirmary.

Trying not to wrinkle his forehead at the strange choice of words the woman was using he responded carefully.

"Yes I've been quite comfortable. I find the stone quite cool compared to everything else. I beg your pardon I haven't introduced myself. Antony of Torhelm at your service, Milady."

She hadn't sat down yet, so Antony was certainly not going to be overly polite to anyone who woke him from a nap. He sat down on the bench determined not to move even if she took offense.

"My purse? I haven't carried it all day. If you don't find me impertinent may I ask what is the significance of my purse?"

On some subconcious level, Eleanor wondered if he were daft.

"There are thieves about," she said, making an effort not to sound conciliatory - people hated that. "Someone might have seen you and decided to take advantage." She shrugged, and smiled thinly.

"How long have you been napping?"

[Hee! She's judgmental, isn't she?]

Antony frowned when she neglected to introduce herself back. He looked around at where the shadows laid.

"By the sun and shadows, Milady, I'd guess no more than half an hour. I'm sorry I didn't catch your name. And please, feel free to sit." he said.

"I'm sure my money is safe in my quarters. My serving man is quite vigilant."

Whoever she was, she seemed to be quite rude and devoid of any true emotion to Antony. Her facial expression hadn't changed twice in the time he'd been awake.

OOC:

Just mildly, but he's not very fond of the majority of ladies either so I suppose it evens out.

[What a lovely couple!]

Eleanor realized that she couldn't withhold her identity any longer without being overtly rude. Ah well, here went.

"Eleanor," she introduced herself, holding out slimfingered hand gracefully. "It's very nice to meet you I'm sure - and you're a knight, sir, so what are you doing sleeping the day away - isn't there something you're supposed to be doing?" Her face took on a more severe cast with this, which actually was an improvement...

She realized she was being a resentful Cosette Clone, and determined to make it up to him by acting a little nicer. Sighing inwardly - it had been a long day - and she hadn't even been working - she forced herself to assume a more friendly mien.

Taking her hand politely, Antony dropped it as soon as he had bobbed his head toward it. The lady was particularly small-handed and his own decidely dwarfed hers.

"Eleanor, of..."he trailed off

"And no frankly there is nothing I could do right now. I just ate, none of the pages are having classes I can go have fun with, there are no villages in need of hunting skills. I just returned from my fief, The king has no orders for me. I'm not curious enough about anything at the moment to read. My horse has been groomed twice today, and none of my gear needs work. I went to pray this morning. I have no mess to clean up, no interesting people to talk to and so I slept, until you came along. Besides it's too hot to do anything in the form of exercize. I hope you don't find me rude. If you have any suggestions feel free to enlighten me." he said pertly not particularly caring.

She seemed like one of the vapid sort of women he liked to avoid, even if she was more honest than the rest. That was worthy of some interest, but he hoped she would start being more interesting soon or he'd have to go and find another bench.

OOC: I'm sure once they get to know one another they'll be quite a merry pair, but right now their nature dictates it be rough going

"I'm from King's Reach..." she supplied. My, was he stubborn.

"Hm..." she said, smiling, amused. "Well, actually I do have a suggestion. If tomorrow is going to be anything like today, you could come help us out - we're always in need of another spare pair of hands, and even if you don't decide not to get down and dirty, we can always put you to work sorting and cleaning..." She looked into his eyes in her usual unnerving fashion, as when she was about to make her final judgment on a person...

[Yes, it seems that they're polar opposites personality wise...]

"But My lady of Kings Reach" he said in an amused tone of voice meeting her gaze evenly "my horse won't be groomed twice tomorrow I'll have to clean my armor of a days worth of dust, and I won't have prayed. I'll have to make my bed and bring my laudry down, and eat my meals and bash some classes. I'll also have to make sure the king has no orders and after that, I'll have to determine if there are any starving village in the middle of harvest time." he grinned, perhaps she would be a bit of fun.

"Surely you don't mean to tell me you haven't noticed my hands and feet? I'll drop everything, and destroy every semblance of organization you may have." he watched her carefully for a reaction.

"If you want such a liability on your hands, I will come and help, though if you get angry at me I'll avoid you for the rest of the season. I can't abide people who don't know what they want. And even then sometimes I'm rather dicouraged at their choice of priorities."

[Ooh... watch it, I don't believe she's told him yet that she works at the infirmary! Not to be, uhm, obnoxious or anything, just nitpicky...]

"Well, you seem rather wishy-washy to me!" she snapped, losing patience. "How hard is it to make a decision - honestly - all it takes is a yes or no answer! No, please! Avoid me all season if you like, you can be sure I'll be doing the same!

"Good day, Sir Torhelm!" she exclaimed, turning on her heel.

'Oh balls' Antony thought to himself. Jogging to catch up with Eleanor he bowed deeply.

"Forgive me please, I am too forward. I meant no harm. All I said was in the spirit of fun. If you truly need my help I'd be more than willing. In fact now that I'm interested I'll hunt you down and help no matter what. I'll never be able to spend a minute away from where you work all season, I'll never drop a thing, and I'll be the most hardworking volunteer you've ever had. I'll work so hard time will force itself back so that you are unable to call me wishy washy. I swear it." He said trying to lighten the mood without offending her even further.

Eleanor's face contorted oddly as a smile tried forced itself upon her face. Finally she broke out into a huge grin, eyes crinkling, demeanor lightening.

"You don't need to do all that!" she exclaimed. "It was only a suggestion...

"Forgive me..." she said, giggling slightly, "I don't have much patience anymore..."

"No milady, neither do I." Antony replied gravely, inwardly reveling that she hadn't found occassion to slap him. Yet.

"Where is it that you work?"

"The Infirmary. Look - its late, and, I have to go, but I'll see you there, in the morning, tomorrow?" She waited for a sign of affirmation.

"As soon as breakfast is over milady." Anotny couldn't help but put food first.

"Well, then I'm sure you'll find us happily at work whenever you arrive," she said curtly. Eleanor of King's Reach had no time for self-centered shenanigans. "And a very good evening to you." She inclined her head slightly, then walked briskly away, in the direction of the infirmary.

[Phew! I was beginning to think her Sue!]

"Well, then I'm sure you'll find us happily at work whenever you arrive," she said curtly. Eleanor of King's Reach had no time for self-centered shenanigans. "And a very good evening to you." She inclined her head slightly, then walked briskly away, in the direction of the infirmary.

[Phew! I was beginning to think her Sue!]

"Oh for the love of Mithros lady, a man has to have his food! I will be there as soon as I have it!" he called at the retreating figure.

'Balls' he thought to himself. 'Now I've done it'