Self Focus & Discipline (Open)

[Dame Danae Galanos]

On this night, Danae soon found herself alone within the walls of what she would be using as a personal training room as she safely assumed all others near by were resting and sleeping. A lone building that was on the training grounds used for sparing when the elements were to harsh. One could not train properly when the mind and body were depleted of focus and stable conditions. The room was long and wide, windows of rippled glass allowed light in during the day light hours but gave a sense of privacy. Several large cauldrons burned with wood and oils giving the room its warmth and light.

There were also the smells of incense that filled the air to the room. The floor was plain smoothed wood, the walls decorated with paintings, tapestries, as well as banners of battles, knights and other warriors. Symbols of encouragement from all walks of life mixed together here to show that all courageous men and women, past or present were honored. It was a room befitting the mind set of a woman preparing herself for what would undoubtedly come to be. Personal conflicts, battles for good people, or wars for a Kingdom, it was tales as old as time itself and that was never ending.

A fur overlay was removed first, followed by her cloak. Both were tossed to the floor with carelessness as she stepped from them to remove her boots. As bare feet caressed the wooden floor, hands came to the tie back of fabric about her bodice, tightening it. It was plain white as was the pants she wore, though about the slender waist was tied a red sash that once belonged to a man that was held in high regards in her eyes. He always would be... both as a warrior and a father.

Where dark raven hair normally cascaded down to, out over clothed shoulders, collar bones, and arms, there was only a single gathered braid amongst bare copper skin. The fabric tied in a good knot about her back allowed freedom of movement without sleeves or the hem of a tunic to distract or hinder graceful yet intense moves. Bare feet would ensure natural traction unlike confining leather boots. As the female form moved out to the center of the floor, she would prepare herself mentally first. Having no thoughts of anything or anyone except hat she was here to do at this very moment.

The Greek ranger began to slowly move, twist, bend, and hold the limbs of her torso in different positions. Flexing, stretching and loosening tight, aching, as well as tension built muscles and ligaments. Preparing her body for the intense self training movements that had been passed down to her and her brother by her father. Where and when he had learned this was not known, only told to her that he had learned of it in his travels in far away lands. That it was simply known to him as the warriors dance. ( What is known today as Capoeira )

As she thought back only for a moment, she smiled to herself before. Then her lean, muscular, yet tone feminine body began to rock and sway as feet swept back and to the side. Creating a rhythm in her head by the imaginary drums that beat within her mind. The pale ice blue eyes picturing a group of her people in a circle around her. Each holding their traditional instrument to help contribute a sound matching that of the drums.

With the swaying motion of her body, Danae would have it shift in various ways to perform kicks, punches, rolls, and flips all in graceful, well balanced moves. Each ending with her coming back to the same sweeping and swaying motion they had started with. Her mind was deep within her imaginary setting, focusing on the moves that kept her limber, strong and well balanced. The dark copper skin had come to glisten in the glow of the light the fires in the caldrons gave off. Scars were defined in such a environment, a reminder of accumulated injuries of both past and present.

[Lady Liliana Campbell]

Most would be at rest at such an hour. Though war was whispered upon tongues and drifted across minds of those in Turas Lan, in all of Skye, some people still slept. One this evening found it hard to do so though. Instead she wandered the halls of Griffin Castle, clad in the gown she'd worn that day, peach and flowing, simple considering the duties of a Lady-In-Waiting, with thoughts upon her weary mind. Since Kendrew had went off to war, to fight, Liliana had found it hard to sleep. Not that it had been any easy before. The loss of their child had been hard on her and though it'd been hard to sleep before...at least she could have awoken to Kendrew's arms around her and the sound of his soothing voice.

Now, he was not here to offer comfort and her dreams were not always about the child. Horrific thoughts of him, lying in the snow with blood pouring from a wound, haunted her every time her weary eyes closed. That had happened this night too. She'd awoken in a cold sweat and immediately clothed herself, to try to walk off the fear. After checking in on the children, Roric's children- who'd recently lost their own Mother as well, she'd began to walk along the corridors mindlessly. To get lost and find peace.

It was light, spotted from a window, that made her pause and brought her to peek out the glass towards the building where it came from. Who was out there at this hour? Curiosity sparked inside her, rare considering her sorrowful state of late, Liliana let her feet move back the way she'd come to go downstairs and outside. Stepping outside, the biting cold of winter easily tearing through the thin gown, she gasped at the feel and grit her teeth. She should have likely gown back for a cloak, but this...this felt needed. Feeling something was good.

Wandering out to the training grounds, empty now due to the hour, Liliana's chocolate eyes were focused on the building ahead. One hand, shaking slightly, lifted to brush ebony hair blown by the wind off her face and her sigh was seen as a puff of cold mist in front of her face. Kendrew would have a fit if he'd seen her out in such cold weather with naught more than a thing gown on. That thought brought a slight curve to her lips and she looked about as if waiting for him to appear out of nowhere just to do so. Yet, he would not. Shaking her head as such a silly thought, Liliana's hand touched the handle of the door and opened it slowly.

Peeking about the crack, trying to be quiet incase the person did not want disturbed, she did not pay attention to the cold air that would leak through and waft across the floor. Feeling even colder in such a place of warmth. Inside was a woman, whom she vaguely recognized, and Liliana watched what she was doing with something akin to fascination. Those were indeed unusual moves. Standing there, afraid to make any noise that would break her concentration, Liliana's chocolate eyes watched closely.

[Dame Danae Galanos]

Just as Danae was finishing up with the last of this intense workout, she faintly heard the low creeping of a door. The ranger held her last position for a moment longer before she stopped entirely and looked to the double boors. "Who ever is there, show yourself." Her tone was not rude, demanding, or disrespectful in anyway. Just the usual pitch as if having a normal conversation with the now would be intruder. Icy blue eyes focused on the entrance as they narrowed for better focus.

While her eyes never left where the commotion came from, she took but a few steps to pick up a cloth and began to wipe herself down. Starting with her arms, neck and around her collar bone to rid her skin of the accumulated moisture. The back of her neck was patted dry rather than rubbed. The cloth folded or doubled before patting her face in the same manner. She could sense it was a person of no threatening nature and spoke once more to reassure the observer. "It's alright... please, come in ...I imagine it is still rather cold out."

[Lady Liliana Campbell]

Apparently, the woman inside, recognized as one who was from the ally Avaria, was very in tune with her senses. Sneaking up on her did not seem possible. Liliana had not formally met the woman, not that she could recall, though did remember seeing her in the company of the Lord General. They had the same dark coloring, similiar to her own or that of Aman's, and Liliana can remember thinking that she was lovely. Something about Danae made a dim memory flutter in her mind, like the slight sound of a bird's wings before it vanished, and brought a familiar sense of warmth.

It was this more than the second words, the tone to put one at ease, that made Liliana crack the door further and slip inside. Giving a sheepish grin, chocolate eyes moving to her as she closed the door to keep out the chill, Liliana stated softly,"Excuse me, miss, I did not mean to intrude." Polite and gentle, nothing threatening or rude, and the warmth exuded was dimmed only by the sorrow that showed behind her gaze.

She really had not meant to intrude. Her curiousity had got the best of her and that meant investigating. Liliana inwardly cursed that little flaw of hers. Feeling a little awkward, she murmured,"I am Liliana Campbell, Lady-In-Waiting to the Duchess of Skye."

[Dame Danae Galanos]

Indeed, it was a rare thing for someone to sneak up on this one no matter her surroundings. Especially when she was so in tuned with them and herself, aware of all things possible both in light and shadow. It had taken years of hard work and dedication with the training from her father, her brother and her people to be so keen of senses. Not only with that of herself, but perhaps of other things around her, as the forest itself, or the animals within it. Some would even think the woman had a sixth sense.

Danae could be soft spoken when she wanted to or needed to. She wasn't as unapproachable as many thought. Many often mistaken her for always being the harsh and cold type when that wasn't the case at all. She just knew there was a time and place to be this way or that way, obviously this one called for a more gentle type nature. She would smile as the woman made her way further in, a smile that wasn't to often seen as it reached her eyes with genuine warmth.

"You are not intruding... please.. you can come and join me, sit, watch, talk. The company is most welcomed. Especially seeing as you are not of the male type that often irritates me easily." She jested in light. Danae however could sense a seriousness that lurked within the woman's eyes. There seemed to be something hidden behind such eyes of gentleness and kindness.

"A pleasure to meet you Lady Liliana Campbell. A pleasure indeed to meet the wife of a good friend Sir Kendrew. I have heard your name spoken on many lips, all in good I assure you." She added as she continued to smile. "Though, I have to ask.. what troubles you this late at night to find yourself roaming about the castle. As I myself find comfort in roaming in the night hours when unable to sleep, which is sad to say... often as you can of course see." She said with a faint smile.