(OOC: Takes place just before this https://www.reddit.com/r/IronThroneRP/comments/41lyit/scouting_the_fires/)
After penning the letter and downing the steak, a restlessness found its way to her arms, urging her to pick up the longsword yet again. It had been weeks now, but she felt after the times both at practice and against the cultists that she had grown well-versed with the heavier blade.
Still, with the need to possibly face a fiery horde looming on the horizon, she would not be satisfied until it could sing in the air as her rapier did.
When the men had their fill, she ordered some more food and asked that it be taken to the others guarding the horses. Fat and happy; rested and relaxed. For a time anyway, that was what she wanted until they went to scout out the cultists.
Ever-perceptive, Arianne hung back, thinking to get more from Leonetta about the letter. "Florian?" She asked, as they walked along the road, back to wherever.
"Yes, Florian." Their boots clicked as the pressed on, sounding like a slow drizzle of metal raindrops against the gorund. "He begs you not die for foolishness."
Her laughter rung out into the air. "Good! Let that boy, worry! He has no control out here beyond yourself. Should make him hungry for more." She finished with a sapphire wink
Is that all it ever was with the Bar Emmon's? Ambition? Couldn't there be a time when they might rest and find some peace on Sharp Point? Perhaps Duram would get cross at the idea and remind her just how wealthy Lannisters were.
When the sound of their feet and the against the rocky dirt and commonfolk prayers for the Dark Lion filled the air for too long, Leonetta continued. "Makes me hungry too," she said, glancing to Arianne as they steadily made distance toward the stables. "This sword needs to be tamed."
"Tamed?" Arianne asked.
"Surely, you've tamed plenty?"
Perhaps the Sharp Point captain was mistaken, but as she stared at the dark lioness, colored black with a steel mask, a hidden name never spoken, and all the traces of the golden light missing from Leonetta's hair, she had to wonder. Arianne touched the Dark Lion's arm, letting it linger as her gaze gently laid against the green orbs hiding behind the roaring visage.
A cautious, bare semblance of a smile formed at the corner of her mouth. "We shall see."
They found a quiet place near the waterfalls outside of Deep Den in which to practice. The ground was slick and treacherous with the cascade rolling down from above the hills. Save for the birds preening themselves in the eddies near the formation of a stream, Leonetta and Arianne found themselves alone.
At ten paces apart, they drew and started their dance. The ground was wet and stuck to her boots as they circled toward one another with intent-stricken eyes.
Leonetta lunged first, aiming for the head, but it was deflected without effort by Arianne who took the time to push the Dark Lion against a slick rock that jutted out from the ground. Losing her balance, the sword wavered, and was almost knocked aside as Arianne took the opportunity.
"Now you're fighting dirty?"
Arianne shrugged. "When you grow up on Sharp Point, water is ever present." She pressed against Leonetta again, forcing her back toward the waterfall as her feet floundered to find stable ground.
Thinking a quick victory possible with the lion on the retreat, Arianne thrust the dulled blade forward, aiming for a the chest. That was all too easy for Leonetta to avoid. With a twist of the heel in this wet mud, she provided the slim profile of the water dance she knew so well.
But even though she could dodge like this, it afforded her little in the way of strength. With some effort, she barely avoided being struck and retreated again, furthering the clashing steel behind the waterfall.
A great, roaring darkness enveloped them as the sun's light was cut by the surging curtain of water. Blue dusk fell as the dripping of the cave beneath the waterfall was all but lost to the falling stream beside.
The Swordfish's cousin brought new tricks to bear against the lion as the tables titled ever in her favor. Once behind the rushing blue, she took the blade and slid it along the wet, falling waters spraying Leonetta as the sword slipped out of her hand. She hadn't even bothered to try and attack.
It fell to the ground with a muffled clang, while Leonetta found herself on her back, beaten by the captain.
"Again?" Arianne smiled with the blade pointed at the lion's throat; cocksure with bravado just as a golden haired Hill might have been.
"Again," Leonetta agreed. Pushing aside the blade and grabbing the sword that lay covered in fine, wet dirt. What little sheen the practice blade could have in this false, blue dusk had returned easily as she wiped it off against her leathers, ready to go again.
"You have to be ready for anything.
A nod was all she gave as Leonetta rushed in again, this time landing a heavy downward strike again Arianne's sword, send the woman back against the shallw cave's wall. "You have to be ready for anything," Leonetta teased.
Hmph was all the Sharp Point captain replied with as she answered the challenge with several well-placed strikes that could not get through Leonetta's gaurd. Frustrated, she tried to get closer, sending an elbow into the dark lion's chest, which was awarded with a pained expression and much gasping.
But still, she fought on.
I have her, Leonetta thought, watching their feet inch closer to the waterfall and Arianne unable to make ground against her. She brought her arms up to blow her out and into the spray; to finally win...
...but then her target was gone and something soft touched her lips.
It lasted but a moment. The smell of cool freshwater replaced the dankness of the small cave that had been cut by the waterfall. Her arms felt heavy and she couldn't remember where she was trying to aim the sword. Lips of the hard, Sharp Point captain pressed against her, willing all the sadness to be quenched as their bodies warmed each other.
Arianne smelled like the sea on a moonlit night; an experienced ship with which to traverse treacherous waters. Leonetta almost gave in, dropping the sword and just letting herself go...
...as her gut began to burn from Arianne's fist.
Leonetta gasped for breath, this time unable to keep hold of the sword and fell to her knees. She could hear the swordfish press the blade against the back of her neck as she whispered. "What did I just get through telling you?"
Like a drowning fish on land, Leonetta sucked air in, trying to ease the pain in her lungs. "You." Gasp, heave. "Bitch." She smiled behind the mask with a tight jaw and gritted teeth, hoping it might fill the emptiness in her lungs with dark humor.
"Been called worse, girl."
Leonetta looked up as the mask fell off; her hair was wet and matted together as she took hold of Arianne's blunted blade and pulled her to the ground. Green flame burned within the dark lion's eyes.
They kicked and punched each other as they struggled in the dirt, until they finally found themselves exhausted. With no strength left to pull her off, Leonetta lay defeated in the silt that clung to them.
"Fine. You win," she managed, her arms pinned to the ground. Despite that, she still tried to roll them over and gain the upper hand, but her struggles were of little use and soon tired of fighting.
"That makes two of us." Hard hands that had seen years working a ship smoothed away the sand and soot from Leonetta, exposing the green, beautiful face that lay underneath all the death and ash from murdered men.
Hidden from sight and sound, they found themselves wrapped up in one another for an hour or two more, trading time between swordplay and other, more pleasurable pursuits.