First Meeting [Fraha]

by **Astraea** on March 14th, 2011, 9:03 am

Astraea heard Fraha's instructions to get behind her so she did, but their hands broke free from each other as Fraha spurted forward, and began what seemed like a dance to get through the crowd. It was quite effective so Astraea followed. She tip toed left to right, spinning around in some places to avoid people, and ducking other times. A smile crept across her face knowing that she was actually doing this! Fraha was always just in front of her and could be seen bobbing around.

Not far in front of her Astraea could see what looked like a Tavern and she became even more eager to get in there. Would they be protected in there? Hopefully the staff would recognise Fraha and defend us. She had some money in her bag to stay for a while depending on how expensive it was, but as long as their prices were not too bad she probably wouldn't mind.

Astraea! She heard her name being called and saw it came from Fraha, and she almost had to shout back "I'm right here!"

She noticed Fraha's speed pick up and realised she too had spotted the Tavern, and Astraea tried to keep to her pace but a young couple had walked between them and she got stuck behind them. A small cart of clothing went by before she had the chance to slip through, and she groaned with agitation. Hurry up!

Telling herself that she was not going to get stuck behind the next cart that was rolling along she pushed through the middle of them both and started at a run through a small gap in front of her. She could see Fraha again now, and she was running fast. Too fast, there was a man in front of her!
Astraea pushed a man out of the way as she sprinted to Fraha and she heard her scream a second before throwing out her right hand to catch her. Her hand clasped around Fraha's wrist and with all her might she pulled her upright just before she was going to crash down on that unsuspecting man, and with her left hand caught Fraha's waist to steady them both.

Astraea was breathing rapidly from that short burst of energy and a light laugh escaped her lips. She had not been in this place long and look at all that had happened already. If being with Fraha was going to be this fun all of the time, she would definitely stay in close to her.

"Are you alright?" She asked with a smile on her face.

by **Fraha** on March 15th, 2011, 12:39 pm

*dammit, it's over!* thought Fraha, feeling the balance leading her backwards on that man. *they will get me, i'l end in trouble and lose a new friend because i'm weak* But at the last moment, suddenly her arm was caught and she felt pulled back on her feet again, it was Astraea. Fraha stopped right in front of her looking surprised and slightly shocked at her, eyes spread. She took an instant to look at her, subconsciously expressing her gratitude to her. "thanks" she said, still breathing fast.

Then she returned to the reality of the situation "we gotta move!" said she taking her hand and after the space was clear running to the tavern door, standing inside the rock wall higher three stairs from the ground level under a small wooden roof. She quickly pulled the door and looked right in search of the two aftering them. It was crowded so she didn't really see both of them but could only see some faster movement in the crowd. She ran in and was happy to see everything as it was yesterday.

Fraha entered the tavern, it was kind of empty, a part from a bard in the middle and the two barkeepers behind the counter, she could count 7 people sitting in groups of 2-2-3 on different tables. All of them were men, some had weapons and others had none. The two in the far left corner were playing cards and didn't notice Fraha. The two in the right corner were arguing about something and probably didn't even hear about her, while the three in the center of the tavern were arm-wrestling while the last guy looked at them, bored. That guy looked at Fraha as she closed the taverns door. he was sitting, leaned forward with his elbows placed widely on the round table. One arm was holding the beer glass while the other was used as a support for his jaw. He was sitting 90 degrees from Fraha and as she entered he looked at her with his blue eyes.

She ran to the bar keeper a big massive man standing 1.90 meters, serving ale to himself for break. big red moustaches and a wide smile compared on his face as he saw her "LADY BENSHIRAA WELCOME BACK!" he shouted "[color=#FFFF00]I see you bringed a new client, very good, very good!" Fraha ran to the counter and let Astraea's hand to use both to stop at the bar counter since she was running real fast "barkeeper you have to hide us there's no time!" she took an instant to regain breath, "we're followed, we're chased" the barkeeper, that was drinkin stopped "who is following you? If it's about the Knights i cannot help you, the law is th.." he couldn't end the sentence cause Fraha interrupted it "no, we're followed by a pervert, he want's to catch us!" She was lying but it was for the best purpose. she widened her eyes so that they would appear more lucid and placed her eyebrows in a sad expression. Since she was close to Astraea she hit slightly her foot with hers.

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by **Astraea** on March 15th, 2011, 4:51 pm

Astraea was right behind Fraha until they got to the Tavern. Just as they were about to enter she looked up at the building to see it was quite presentable, and not too shabby. She shot a look backwards toward the crowd but could not see the two men that were after them.
Have they given up? She thought to herself before turning back round and shooting through the tavern door, her long red hair being swinging around yet again.

She stopped abruptly once they were inside the Tavern to close the door, and leaned her back against it for a couple of seconds, taking in the scene before her. She noticed the 7 men sitting around but none of them seemed to pay her any attention which did not bother her. After all this commotion today she just wanted peace and quiet; no more attention.

Fraha had walked off ahead of her and was now talking to the barman, so she slowly walked over to stand next to her, checking she had all of her possessions as she did so. Once she was at the bar she leaned with her right side against it, resting her right arm on the bar. Smiled politely at the barman, but when Fraha began talking about what had happened and kicked her foot, her expression changed to worry and she added in a high voice "A thief too" with a slight nod.

She glanced back to make sure no one had entered the Tavern and quietly sighed with relief when the door was still closed. Her hair looked windswept and her face was flushed a light red from the run and the sudden heat of the Tavern. She should probably take off some of the layers she was wearing. Her breathing was evening out now and her chest rose and fell in an even pattern.

Looking back to the barman her facial expression was still a look of worry and concern and she looked the man in the eyes so as not to seem as though she was lying.

by **Fraha** on March 15th, 2011, 10:08 pm

"Yeah, a thief too" Fraha noticed that no one still didn't come in yet. The old man looked suspicious at them both scratching his beard with the index and middle finger Hmmm, why didn't you tell the Knights? They are all over the town you know? He was right, it was one thing that Fraha miscalculated, but she obviously couldn't tell any Knight since it was their fault and there were witnesses against them.

She thought about all this looking him straight in the eyes with the same expression, it was hard not to blink or look away but she couldn't tell him the truth. She made a short break and used at her advantage that she was still heavy breathing "we got in panic. And aahm.." she would add something but wasn't used to lie and interrupted herself wordelss. She hoped that an idea would pop in her mind before she would give herself away.

by **Astraea** on March 15th, 2011, 10:39 pm

Astraea listened to the barman's enquiries and her heart rate quickened at the thought of them being caught out. If he found out the truth, would he report them to the knights himself? There were quite a few men in this Tavern, and they might even be willing to help.

She ran her left hand through her hair and gulped, starting to feel nervous but she was determined not to let it get to her. Her red hair fell back onto her shoulders and it seemed her action hadn't made a difference to it, so she let her hand fall back down at her side. When Fraha began to panic and couldn't find the words to say Astraea straightened her back, ready to intervene if necessary, and unfortunately that moment did come.

She cleared her throat and piped up only a second after Fraha faltered, and tried to act as naturally as possible. "In all honesty, we thought we could just outrun them or they would stop, and that would be the end of it. Involving the knights would be more effort for a situation we believed we could handle. I did not want to make a bigger fuss."

She shrugged with a slightly guilty look on her face as if to say that she didn't mean it to get this far, and her expression then turned to embarrassment. "I apologise for causing you any inconvenience." She added and tucked her hair behind her left ear, adding to her acting of being embarrassed.

With every minute that passed of them standing here and talking it was another minute lost for them to escape, and those two men could be right outside that door any second. The thought almost made her show her panic and she was finding it harder to keep composed. She looked to Fraha to see if she agreed with what she said, and wanted to see her facial expression.

by **Fraha** on March 15th, 2011, 10:58 pm

Fraha felt a relief as Astraea started to talk *what an actress she is*. As she talked Fraha looked down at her shoes and as she ended Fraha bit her bottom lip still looking down Could you please hide us? asked she straight and with a small sad voice after a short sniff. She checked her shoulderbag to be in the right place on the shoulder.

The barkeeper listened to them, while lowing his hand to grab the mug of ale and take a sip of it. He looked serious "go in your room and wait there" stated he as the mug hit the table.

Fraha changed her expression from sad to smiling. She looked him in the eyes and her happiness was geniune now "thank you, thanks a lot!"
She quickly looked back at the tavern with a serious expression at the others, checking if somebody was listening and would sold them but the barkeeper readily added "don't worry, these are honest people, they will not sell a couple of ladies" a grin appeared on his face which looked convincing. Fraha looked at Astraea smiling full teeth with the eyebrows high.

by **Astraea** on March 17th, 2011, 3:20 pm

Astraea's expression didn't lighten up like Fraha's did - instead she kept a straight and slightly worried expression, and she nodded thankfully at the Barman.
"Thank you." She said sincerely, and as she looked at Fraha she smiled slightly to show she was relieved too.

We should hurry and get upstairs, she thought as she looked round the Tavern once again before stepping away from the bar. Looking back to the Barman she considered asking him whether she could book a room for herself but thought it would be better to do so once everything had settled down. It could only complicate things. So far this barman seemed nice and loyal, but from what Fraha had said she hadn't known him for long at all; that made her a little suspicious, but this was the best plan she could think of for now. They didn't really have any other choice.

Biting her lip lightly she looked to Fraha and gently said "We should hurry then." Fraha's excited and relieved expression made her smile back, then suddenly she decided to ask Oh, and Sir...Could you possibly send up a jug of wine please? We're slightly dehydrated."
Astraea definitely felt like she was - dry throat, tiredness and a slight headache thumping in her forehead, and she found wine to be helpful in such times.

by **Fraha** on March 23rd, 2011, 9:24 pm

Fraha looked at how Astraea managed the situation, she was good at it. But after Astraea looked around the tavern she thought about why she lied when she could simply go to her room.

She then considered that she was on adrenalyne rush and that the barkeeper should still know that he should stay silent about them. Lying was not an option so she didn't feel guilty about it.

As Astraea asked about the wine Fraha went shocked *wine? I never drank that, it's alcoholic!!* she however decided to not show her opinion and simply searched Astraea's hand with hers while starting to head in the stairs direction.

She wasn't sure about drinking alcohol but didn't also want to disappoint her new and obviously more experienced friend.

Meanwhile the barkeeper answered positively to Astraea by nodding his head while a smirk on his face appeard. Fraha could reconize that specific smile. When a man fantasies about women he has that smile on his face, but Fraha didn't mind. The barkeeper was, or had to be a good person and...actually the situation was a bit strange. She giggled silently thinking about that as she waited Astraea to react.

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by **Astraea** on March 29th, 2011, 10:01 am

Astraea looked to Fraha with a surprised expression on her face when she spoke about not drinking alcohol. Instantly she felt bad for ordering the wine if Fraha didn't drink it herself, she shouldn't have assumed that she would drink wine just because she herself would.

The next second a hand had closed round hers and she took it, wondering if she should change the order to water or something like that. If Fraha had never drank wine before, maybe it might not be the right time to drink it today, with everything that is going on. Of course it could just be due to the life that Fraha lived, maybe she didn't want to drink alcohol. Astraea had been like that, but after an ordeal she suffered a few years ago that changed. Her health had suffered a bit for it, but she managed to keep it in check.

Now Fraha was leading her towards the stairs when she decided to say "Fraha, we can change the drink order if you want? It is not problem." She didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

Noticing Fraha look to the barman she did too, and saw the expression on his face just before it changed and disappeared. This made her uneasy but she gave a stiff polite smile back, not wanting to anger the barman and get chucked out - they would really be in trouble then. She looked away to conceal her facial expression.

by **Fraha** on March 29th, 2011, 12:55 pm

[OOC/ lol sorry, i was unclear, when i write *...* the * is for thinking, not talking XD for talk i use " " ]

Fraha mentally smacked herself for acting like that. She was the first herself to think about being open minded and try things, but alcohol, she always thought about it almost as a poison. But then again she always knew that it's not, since everyone drinks it.

She didn't answer to Astraea quickly, she took a moment to think about it. *well actually i never drank that, but the smell is fine and also the color looks good, come on Fraha don't be a child, you are not a child anymore.* And so it went, Fraha laughed shortly and while still holding her hand and heading and upcoming the stares she calmly asnwered.
"no no it's no problem, really". As they made it to the second floor, They were standing in the front of a corridor.

It was a 2 meters wide and 5 meters long with two rooms per side and one in the end. at the right side, just ofter the stairs there was a keyholder, Fraha took the second key with the index and the thumb, right on the bottom of it, and unhooked it delicately. "actually, i'm kind of curious about it" said he smiling. Their door was the second on the left.