Ariadne chuckled slightly at his comment, offering him a smile as he sat with her. She shifted to lay on her side, curling up and settling her head in his lap. She closed her eyes and pulled the blanket around herself a little tighter, utterly comfortable where she was. "No, I hadn't. What on Earth would you he sucking up to me for?" She mocked, peeking up at him from where her head settled on his thigh.

There was some varying look or horror on confusion written on his face as she lay down and got all comfy. He looked up and away, turning his head from the fire. He ignored her sarcasm and teasing, glancing down at her. "Are you enjoying my lap?" He asked, his voice sounded a little taut reasonably.

Ariadne nodded sarcastically. "Very much, yes. Are you uncomfortable?" She asked curiously, glancing up at him with slight hesitation. "I'll move if you are." She added calmly. She lifted up slightly, tilting her head at him.

"No. Why would I be?" He tipped his head. Lying just a little bit but he was sucking up, wasn't he? He kept it hidden, reluctant to make her feel unwelcome considering what she'd reminded him of recently.

Ariadne narrowed her eyes at him slightly. "That's a question more suited for you to answer, I believe." She said simply, continuing to watch him for a moment before she sat up, giving a shrug. "It's alright to be uncomfortable." She offered, then stretched slightly and gave a yawn, her canines gleaming before she stood. "Good night, little fox." She said quietly, padding toward the door of the library.

He leaned forward more as she got up. "Sorry." He apologized simply, watching her move to leave. "Goodnight Arr..Arree..adne." He scratched the back of his head, angling his head down. He knew her name it just wouldn't come out right.

Ariadne dismissed his apology with the wave of her hand as she walked off, pausing with her hand on the door as she listened to him butcher her name. The stuttering was endearing to her, and she simply chuckled, making her way out of the library and toward her room.

He spent a while laying on the floor near the fire after she left. Stiff and half asleep before he decided to go to his room. Waking up a little later than usual but in time for breakfast nonetheless. His hair was back up and he was nearing another green shirt, the sleeves rolled up. Unfortunately still groggy enough not to heed that there was a blue bruise on his forearm yet. There was nothing to do about the marks on his face though.

The next morning, Ariadne was sitting at the breakfast table, looking slightly sour as she nudged her food around her plate. Her deep crimson gown reflected the slight grumbling in her mind for the moment. She had decided- early this morning- that the elf really had just been sucking up to her. Probably trying to get out of their arrangement. It made her feel bitter, but really, what had she expected? Very few of the people she took interest in were equally interested in her. If they were, it was for the Glory of her being royalty. Perhaps that was also a factor here.

She didn't say a word to her courtier as he entered, only looking him over long enough to take sight of his bruises. She masked a wince, especially since her mother had already seen them, from the prowling look on the old hag's face. She almost rolled her eyes when her mother spoke, but managed to retain some semblance of maturity. M "Sir, are you alright? You seem injured." She purred softly from across the table. Vance and Ariadne exchanged a look that said this was normal behavior, even with her husband in the seat beside her. Said husband was staring at his plate, still sitting tall.

The elf made no attempt to get his date's attention either, he preferred to keep it more in secret even though it wasn't, it was more personal like that. He took his food and sat down. His eyes followed the voice, and then the reactions of those around.

"No, I am fine. I fell off a horse, is all." He smiled patiently and nodded before he took a bite of food. Reluctantly using his left hand to take a sip of the strange tasting wine out of impulse.