~|~ Ƚoyaltɏ ~|~

The moment he felt her had on his arm and heard that sweet voice, he felt a tremendous weight fall at the same time he vowed internally to literally break down the door if anything of the sort ever happened again, no matter what a woman with tiny children may say to the contrary. Throwing all sense of etiquette to the wind, he embraced her in full view of everyone. “I was so worried about you ! Please tell me you were not harmed ?” his tone spoke as much as his words and it could be told he was willing to hunt down and maim anyone who may have caused harm to her. Though that was not out of the ordinary. He had been this way since they were children. 

“My home is Hungary,” Nat responded, his voice softening slightly, betraying a longing for his mother land. As the other revealed his connection to the King of England, he suddenly realized how uncouth he must sound and feared it may reflect badly upon his country and their chances to obtain what they sought. “My apologies if I have spoken too..brazenly with you,” he offered an almost sincere apology. Not that he himself on a personal level ever cred about silly things like title and rank. At the end of a man’s life, they all turned out the same. It did not matter who you were before that. Everyone is equal in death.

As soon as they had been allowed out of those damn rooms, Nat was off like an arrow at a deer. He had to find Krissy, the damn English guards hadn’t said a word which had only cause his worry and anxiety to grow. He shouldered his way past the throngs of others trying to find family and friends. Or rather it would have been shouldering had he not been so much taller than everyone gathered. “Princess ! Krisztina !” he called out for her, looking for the familiar red head among the dull blondes and browns of most others.

He would not make eye contact with her. To allow someone that was to give them control and he wasn’t going to do that. Instead he glared at the ground with his square jaw set so hard one would believe he could crush stone with his teeth.

He had left Krissy’s side naught for more than a moment during the banquet. A moment he was sorely regretting now as he pounded upon the locked door of the room he had been shoved in most rudely and unceremoniously. Loud abrasive words in his native tongue came spewing forth, even though he knew not one person in earshot would understand them. As he quieted slightly he heard a small sound from behind and spun about quickly, hand reflexively upon his holstered weapon before realizing his company was a woman and her children. He probably had scared the young ones, for which he was sorry. It probably wasn’t everyday the were stuck in a room with a Hungarian giant. With effort he cleared the dark scowl from his face and replaced it with a passive look. “My apologies. I did not realize I was not alone.”

A small almost amused smile flickered across his face. “I have no intent upon using it as of yet, good sir. It was merely a reflex. However should you ever do anything to provoke me to attack you I shall heed your request and leave you your hands. I shall not deprave a man a chance at a livelihood as well as his limbs.” His voice was even and sincere sounding, but the smile and a twinkle in his eye betrayed him for giving a jest.

“And I to my own home. I do admit this weather is warmer than what I am accustomed to for this season.” Cool eyes turned towards the other as he tried to put a name to the face whilst simultaneously trying to figure out the character of the man by stance and appearance.  “I would assume you are here for a diplomatic reason as my princess is as well?” Seemed to be near the only reason anyone from anywhere else would come here. Not that England didn’t have her fine charms, she just wasn’t home. 

Barnat dipped his head in agreement, “It is indeed. Though I do confess even the sunrise looks different from what I am used to. It is another daily reminder I am naught more than a visitor here.” He oft missed the forests of his home an youth. Trees here did also look so different from the familiarity of home. “However, as you said, new promise and light are dawning.”  The knight was silent a moment before turning his attention back towards the woman with a bow. “I have shirked basic niceties. I am Barnat Fodor, knight to her Highness Krisztina.”

“indeed not, sir. Just out for a catch of breath. I will be required to take up my post in due time and cannot afford to ride off anywhere.” What he did not mention was he found the English court stifling at best, it would not due to offend those who had so graciously welcomed his princess. “You seem busy. Might I inquire as to your duties on this day?” he asked more from being glad to find someone of near equal station to converse with than actually curiousity.

“I’ve known her since I was quite a bit younger, and I have no feelings towards her.”

Nat followed the other man’s gaze up towards the sky as he admired it. For him personally, it was entirely too hot for this time of year, but he refrained from commenting on this and instead returned the other’s introduction. “Sir Barnat Fodor, at yours.” He offered a small polite bow, not a deep one reserved for royalty, it was more a head nod. His hand brushed across the hilt of his ax as he moved his arms from where the had been crossed behing his back to folded over his chest. The tall man looked at the other silently, as if studying him. Which indeed he was. It was his duty to find any possible threats to the princess he served, and so all would be put under scrutiny until he could decide who was safe and who may not be.

Modern Barnat