[D2 - EE] Armor and a Big Fucking Sword!

[Allard Terrick]

Ser Allard went to the sparring square fully armoured and with his complete assortment of weapons, mace, maul, longsword and dagger. He was not the tallest man in Westeros but the half-plate armour did make him look bigger. He was there to practice for the grand melee and because he always tries to keep his body in good form.

The Sparring square was mostly empty of other people, as the majority was drinking and singing at the Bottom Barrel at this hour. Two handed maul in his hands, he started his training.

[Alessia]

There was another, who preferred sparring to drinking and singing. Alessia was currently sat off to the side, with her back to a familiar post. Resting for the moment as she played through the various spars she's had over the last few days again and again in her mind. Every fault, every victory, each time she may have met death.

Glancing up she noticed the man enter the fields alone. Noble born, it was easy to tell from the state of his armor. Impossible to hide a shine like that. For a time, Alessia watched him silently, waiting to see if another was to arrive and help him train but...

[Allard Terrick]

Allard was quite proficient with the two-handed maul, he moved the big hammer like it was an extension of his arms. Of course, armour, maul, sword make him quite heavy, and quite slow, but as he was told since he was a little boy, it's a tradeoff to keep oneself alive.

Finally he noticed the girl observing him. It was the same girl he saw yesterday speaking to Lady Kaelyn. She intrigued him a bit as she looked foreign with her clothes. Putting the hammer down and trying to catch his breath, he bowed respectfully towards her.

[Alessia]

With a wave and a charming smile she replied. Leaning forward where she sat.

"I hope you do not mind my watching, Ser."

[Allard Terrick]

The westerosi knight approached to were the girl was and took out his helmet, as etiquette dictated. '' Not at all, milady. Ser Allard Terrick is my name '' He presented himself and bowed again. '' Might I ask your name, milady?''

[Alessia]

"Alessia, milord," she said, looking up to him from her nice spot in the grass."You are here for the Tourney then, Sen Terrick. Going to joust in the fair maidens hono?"

[Allard Terrick]

'' An honor to meet you lady Alessia. Well, I will certainly try to unseat one of the defenders and then defend the honor of Lady Ashlyn myself. And I have also sworn vows to the Maid, to defend the honor of women, so I will definitely will enter the tournament. '' He offered her a smile. '' Not that I'm the best jouster in this tournament, there are probably several more skilled men around here, but I will do my best. '' He adds.

'' And you, milady? You came to observe and enjoy the tournament? '' He observed her clothes. '' You are from Essos, right?'' He asked politely and with curiosity.

[Alessia]

"Glad to meet the man who will unseat one of dear Lady Ashlyn's defenders and take up the mantle," she said with a light, curious, smile. "The young lady is sure to be pleased with a worthy defender such as yourself, Ser. Quite the picture atop a steed, I am sure."

Pushing her hand against the ground she propped herself up more properly against the post. Looking up to him the sun cast itself across the majority of her face, squinting slightly in the light.

"Yes, and no. I was born in Westeros, but it is from Essos where I have arrived quite recently. Braavos was the place I have called home for the past few years. Last I saw Westeros I was only a girl."

Looking to him with a light, charming little smirk, she guessed, "And you Ser, I imagine you have never been much further from home than you are here have you?"

[Allard Terrick]

'' Haha! You give too much praise, milady. Between us, I only hope to not embarrass myself or Lady Ashlyn. '' He laughed.

Allard listened to Alessia's story with interest, as he was always eager to heard about other places in the world. '' Braavos, eh? Interesting place I heard. Full of architectural wonders like the Titan, the building of the Iron Bank or the Palace of the Sealord. I have always thought about visiting the city in the future, but well, duty has a priority. '' He told her with a smile. '' So what are your thoughts about Westeros now that you have returned? Disappointed? or it has filled your expectations?'' He asked

'' Yes and no, in a sort of way. I was born at Hawkspray, the ancestral seat of my house, but spent most of my life at the Twins of house Frey, as I was raised there. Also I have spent some years south in Oldtown as I studied at the Citadel. But I cannot say that I have visited other places in other continents. One day, one day...'' He replied to Alessia's question.

[Alessia]

"You studied at the Citadel?" she asked first, pushing all else to the side in a bid for some focus.

[Allard Terrick]

'' Aye, took some lesson there. Learned a few things, read a lot, but the maester's life was not for me. I prefer to learn on the road and to become a maester you have to forget all ties to your previous life. Not something that I wish, but I have deep respect to the ones that devote themselves to knowledge '' He replied.

[Alessia]

"I have never seen it myself, but when I speak of Braavos some have said that the Citadel is another sight of man's achievement," she said with a light smile.

Pushing herself to her feet she took a step toward Allard and continued, "Knowing how you felt, the way it awed you when you first saw it, you are one step closer to knowing what it is like to witness the Titan for the first time."

"And yet," she took a step back toward the post, a charming smile still worn brightly, "Completely different."

[Allard Terrick]

'' The Citadel is an incredible place indeed, it's towers and domes hold the largest collection of books and scrolls that I know. Oldtown itself is a wonderful city full of wonders like the Hightower and the Starry Sept. Really it is a beautiful city, totally different from King's Landing. ''

Allard crossed his arms and adopted a relaxed posture as Alessia moved forward and backwards. '' I can only imagine. The first time I saw the massive library inside the Citadel, lines upon lines of bookshelfs, it was incredible.'' He smiled back to the young lady.

[Alessia]

"It sounds," she smiled, "boring," she laughed softly.

"I am sure the building is beautiful," she said, laying a hand out in the air between them. "Braavos is like no other city I have ever seen. You would need to trade in your horse for a boat to navigate the city completely. With music, and life filling it's streets, the city is not only beautiful but an entire experience to behold."

[Allard Terrick]

'' Haha, perhaps you are right, milady...'' Allard could not help but laughed with Alessia's comment.

Allard listened to the young girl explanation with interest. '' If the city is a constant scene of musical creation like you say then I should definitely have to visit it one day. Perhaps I could make a living among it's streets playing my lute, eh? '' Allard smiled.

[Alessia]

"Giving up your highborn blood to run off and become a minstrel in the city of Braavos?" she said, a lightness to her smirk that allowed it to rise with ease.

[Allard Terrick]

'' Why not? '' Allard smiled. '' My blood was never too high to begin with, and besides music is my real passion. ''

[Alessia]

"You know your own life better than I, Ser," she said, raising her hands in mock surrender.

[Allard Terrick]

Allard offered a smile. '' Might I ask you something, milady?''

[Alessia]

"You may," she replied, interest piqued.

[Allard Terrick]

'' Are you trained in the Braavosi swodfighting style? Water Dancing I believe is called...'' He asked with curiosity.

[Alessia]

Reaching for the hilt of her Braavosi blade she lay a hand on it passively, looking to him with a small smile, she said, "I would certainly hope so."

[Allard Terrick]

'' Hmm, interesting. Not something you see everyday here in Westeros. '' He looked at her sword. '' Also not many women are trained to fight here. It's quite a rare sight. ''

'' For duels I heard that Braavosi Water Dancing is quite a good swordfighting style...''

[Alessia]

"I had only traveled to Braavos when I was young, Ser," she reminded him, if he had not caught that from her features. "And women aren't normally trained in Braavos either. However, my instructor was quite tired of the young bold men he was training running off to find themselves a quick death in an alley somewhere."

There was a subtle look she gave him at that, a pleased and confident smirk.

"Many Braavosi duel to show off their skill, but it is not the style's only merit."

[Allard Terrick]

'' Ah, young and bold, one of the worst combinations that could happen. Add a sword to their hands and you are ready for an early grave.'' He nods. '' We men sometimes, most times actually, do some very stupid things when by have blood in our heads. Ha! I can understand your instructor's reasons to be tired. ''

'' In my case, I do prefer more the maul and mace than the sword but that is because of the conditions one must commonly fight around here. Without the sheer impact that those cause you could never wound a man, or woman, in full plate armour.'' He said. '' I could imagine that with your thrusting sword you could try go for the joints and gaps between the plates but it would be difficult. But against someone without protection I think your style could be quite deadly. ''