Ariadne blinked in surprise and looked him over for the answer. It wasn't the whole truth, but not entirely a lie. "Of course. I would hate to make your ass more sore than it is." She teased softly, stroking Lucianas neck as the barn came into view. She tilted her head at him. "But that isn't your only reason. Care to enlighten me of the others?" She asked carefully.

He glared up at her for a moment. Looking ahead to the barn. Listening to the gentle thumps of the horses' hoove and the gentler platting of the rain. Her voice breaking through. "Well, not particularly but I feel like you would rather I did not touch you any more than I have to." He commented, teasingly.

Ariadne raised her eyebrows and smiled at his reasoning. "While you may not entirely willingly be my courtier, you are still my courtier. I wouldn't have asked you into that role if I found you repulsive." She snickered, pulling Luciana to a stop in front of the barn. She dismounted and landed lightly on her feet, rolling up her stirrups and then leading the mare into her stall. Carter was dozing on a haybale nearby, so she decided to leave him to his sleep and simply untack herself.

"I will remember that." He murmured over the rain, gazing up at her. He was slightly surprised, still reviewing that look she had when she realized who he was. He slowed down, coaxing the gelding into his own stall. Somewhere along the line he'd noticed Carter resting and just started untacking. He went through it fast but found himself struggling, mostly with one of his hands. However pulling the saddle off the big horse hit just about everything that hurt. But thankfully no more tack.

"It would do you well if you kept it in mind, yes." Ariadne mocked. She looked ahead instead of down at the gaze he was leveling at her.

She put her tack away quickly and gave Luciana a quick, after-ride groom. She then moved to Lareo's stall to groom him as well, ignoring the elf's presence for a few moments. She checked the gelding for injuries, lifting his hooves, but all seemed well except for a few scratches caused by briars. She seemed satisfied and made her way out of the stall. "Come on, little fox. I'm sure you're eager to get back inside." She said simply, beckoning him to walk with her.

He spent his time making sure he hung the tack up correctly while she checked the gelding he rode, he leaned up against a wall. Resting his eyes til she called him. He gently pushed off the wall to follow her.

"If you are going to ask to hold my elbow again, I am very muddy if you can not tell." He offered some humor as they made it out into the rain. It was darker still now, less growling of Mother Nature. "I am sorry if I injured your horse any, it was not his fault." He apologized, keeping his eyes down. A gust of wind taking the little bit of warmth he had collected in the barn. He shivered slightly.

Ariadne smiled for the attempt at a joke and shrugged, making a point to rather dramatically take his arm. "A little mud never hurt anyone." She shrugged, pausing to gently grab Carter's shoulder, running her hand up and down his arm until his eyes opened. She offered the human groom a light smile. "All is well here. Go get some sleep, Carter." She said simply, standing and dipping her head at the grateful smile he shot at her. She simply kept her fingers curled around her elf's arm, not minding the wet mud that slid between her fingers. Her legs were already spattered with it, and her upper body was drenched enough that she was on the cusp of shivering. She trudged him quickly back through the gardens, tilting her head at his apology. She smiled slightly at his concern and shrugged, waving a dismissive hand. "No need to apologize. If any blame is to be assigned, it should be assigned to me. I knew he was spooky and I let you take him out in a thunderstorm. Silly of me. Either way, he is fine- a few scratches from the brambles but nothing that will trouble him greatly." She said simply, glancing over at his shiver. She said nothing and led him back into the Grand Hall.

He smiled at her show, showing no reaction to the jerking on his arm til she had turned all attention away. Simply clenching his jaw til she was ready to move.

He felt a little better at her assurances but it still felt at fault. Glad she was sure he wasn't injured at all. He smiled slightly and glanced down. "I must say, that was the best date I have ever had." He laughed slightly, rolling his shoulders back. His voice had echoed into the large empty room.

Ariadne giggled faintly, rolling her eyes. "A flatterer as well, little fox? How interesting." She teased. "But if that was your best, you must not have been on many." She said simply, guiding him toward the steps that led upstairs. She only paused when she caught her Mother staring at them, head cocked as she watched them. She was in a simple, somewhat tight nightgown, smiling at the pair. M "Where have you been, Ariadne?" She asked softly, turning her gaze to the elf and letting her grin widen slightly, shift. Ariadne was on the verge of gagging- her family had a bad habit of lusting after her partners.

"Showing our guest around. And now, I'm going to help him get washed up. He's awfully tired." She answered simply, guiding him up the stairs without so much as a spare glance. Her Mother seemed slightly dissapointed that her game was taken. M "You're muddy." She frowned.

"Astute observation." Ariadne hissed softly, gently tightening her grip on his arm for a moment as they made it up the stairs.

"Ah yeah. You are right." He admitted about not exactly being the type to date around, turning his face away for a second- only to see her mother, looking surprised. He angled his head down a little as she started speaking. Letting his courtier respond. Though her grin caught his eye, curious, a small smirk on his face which he hid well.

He tilted his head slightly, she reminded him of an angsty teenager when she spoke to her mother like that, he simply nodded as she started moving. He tensed against her harsh grip on him.

He looked down at her, biting his tongue but it only lasted a moment. "..You made it sound like you intend to bathe me." He pointed out sheepishly.