Hand in hand... [Kaitlin-Rose and Open]

[James Kessel]

Hand in hand with the prettiest girl in the world was James Kessel. He walked with Kaitlin-Rose into the back part of the garden, not saying much for the first few minutes. There wasn't really much to say. By the time they had walked down through the castle, out a little side door and into the garden where they currently were, the sun had started rising. Just a little peak of gold was visible next to the trees. It seemed to light up in a sea of red, orange, purple, and gold, making everything more beautiful. Even through the rain that was falling heavily, but evenly.
"I love the rain," James said in a soft voice.
"It makes everything wet, no matter who. The King has to walk through the rain too. Nothing can control it." He laughed and looked over over at Kaitlin-Rose. How bright he felt... so truly unexplainable.
"I find it beautiful. Like you." Squeezing her hand, he kept walking. He was still barefoot; still in the same old clothes, but he didn't care all that much. He felt good. But he couldn't pretend he wasn't just a little worried. If someone - a knight or lord perhaps - saw them together it could cause trouble.
He didn't dwell on that all too much though, he was focusing more on her creamy soft hand and the little swisp of hair next to her right ear...

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin-Rose was walking hand in hand with James. A new mysterious servant boy in the castle. She had never seen him before but he was quite handsome. He had dirty blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. His face was defined and strong. His hands were rough from work, but then again, so were her own. They were walking through the courtyard as a surprisingly warm rain fell down. She looked up and she felt the wet drops fall onto her face. Her warm brown hair was drenched, but she loved it. Her simple servants dress was clinging to all assets of her body. Which were very generous. She smirked and wondered if James noticed.

Kaitlin felt the squish of the mud between her toes, the warm rain on her body, and the warmth of her partner's hand in hers. She liked where she was. For once in her life, Kaitlin felt like she had won. It wasn't her sister who had. It was her! She felt triumphant, and it was a strange but exciting feeling.
"James this is wonderful. Thank you for taking me here." she said with a sweet smile.
This boy was firmly in her hold. Something told her that this boy would be easy to persuade. She liked that. She liked that a lot.

[James Kessel]

James was so happy in this moment, walking with her. He let the rain falls down his face, making his hair flop over into his eyes. He looked over at Kaitlin, who was soaked through. Being the person he was, he didn't look too hard at her clothes clinging to her skin. James knew he should be intimidated by her, even though, at the same time, he knew men weren't supposed to be intimidated by women in the first place. He didn't care, and he wasn't. She was so much darker, had such different ideas than he did. He wasn't going to give into her, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to have fun with her.

"Thank you for allowing me to," he replied maddeningly vaguely.

She was strange, that was for sure. A girl her age of her rank with her body should've been hauled off to some Lord long ago, but there was obviously some sort of tiring family matter James assumed had blocked that whole idea. He avoided the drama of the royals and anyone of status took in marriage - he found it an exhausting waste of time to bother with.

He tighted his grip in her hand and took a second to look around. "No one else is around, all snug in the castle waiting for this to pass. And we get it all to ourselves." He stopped and looked at her properly in the eyes. "How lucky," and he grinned.

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin looked around taking in the landscape. The warm rain continued to fall soaking her even more so than she already was. She flipped her head to toss some of her hair to her back. The wet strands slithered across her neck and down her back. Her hair had grown quite long in the past months. It a few inches past her bosoms now. Not that she cared. She liked her long hair. It gave that sense of mystery and playfulness. She tilted her head up towards the sky and let the rain slide over her face; her lips, her eyes, her nose. Then she looked at James. She couldn't tell what he was feeling by the expression he was wearing. He seemed somewhat annoyed but calm. Interesting.
"It is very lovely." she said being a good girl.

Kaitlin felt the innocence radiating of this boy like heat from the sun. She obviously had done things he hadn't even dreamed of. It wasn't her fault really. She enjoyed being rebellious when it came to the subject of boys. She had seen many pass through the castle for parties and celebration. Some where lucky enough to have met her, and kissed her, others not so much. Men seemed to enjoy her company and she very much enjoyed theirs. Especially when they went along with her plan.
"Are you suggesting something, Mr. Kessel?" she asked, an eyebrow arching.
If he was it was certainly a turn on.

[James Kessel]

James glanced over at her, tossing her hair out and looking perfect. He groaned inwardly, half in pain, half in pleasure. She was wonderful. She was beautiful. But he didn't even know her. James had always been able to separate the predictable castle girls into two groups: the strict pulled together modest ones and the more forward dangerous girls. He didn't mind either one, but Kaitlin was different. She seemed just a little.... fake.

Was he suggesting something? Of course not. He just shook his head slightly at her question and looked away, his steps slowing. Not him never him. But his heart was suggesting something to him now. He stopped at last. Turning slowly to her, he gently put one of his arms on her shoulder, the other holding her hand. He reached his head in teasingly toward her lips, but then deliberately let them gently swipe against her cheek instead. "I really should go." James turned in the other direction. He had to leave, this wasn't him.

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin watched him; trying to figure him out. Usually she could guess what 'cliques' men at the castle fell into. James just seemed...arrogant. She was actually pretty tired of this. He was good looking, yes, but he just seemed dull. She looked at the horizon as the sun began to rise. It rose over the hills, giving the land a pink hue. She had always loved sunsets and sun rises. She would wake up early some mornings and watch as the land was set aglow with the morning sun. Then she would have to get ready for work. Work! Damn, she had forgotten all about work. She had to change and dry her hair....there was so much to do!
"Yeah...you should go. I have to go to work." she said turning towards the castle.

Kaitlin remembered what she had felt for him earlier that night and shuddered a bit. Obviously that flame had dwindled. She felt bad but had no time to further explain herself. She started walking again.
"You might see me again, you might not. We'll leave it to fate."
With that she hurried inside. Fate. That's what would either keep them separated or bring them back together. Either way she didn't mind. She just couldn't see herself feeling for him as she felt for Nathan. The thought of him brought a smile to her face. Then she quickly got ready for work.