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The Knight is outside, sitting by the lake. His horse is nearby and it's clear they've recently been on a ride.

Something has occupied Lohengrin's mind during the entire trip and it has yet to let him go.

Challengers wishing to bring Elsa to justice are no problem. Living in Heinrich's kingdom, though an adjustment before, is no trouble now. But Elsa...

He shouldn't. He knows he shouldn't. And he doesn't want this to happen. It would only lead to trouble.

But there she is in his dreams and following him into the waking world, drawing him closer with the sway of her golden locks and the glance of her bright sapphire eyes.

Crushes at work suck.

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Boy, does Kate ever understand that one.

She's moseying by when she notices the pair, so she takes a slight detour to say hello.

"How d'you do, Sir Lohengrin, Pfiefferkuchen."

He looks up at the address, looking more like the conflicted, lovestruck teenager he is than any sort of knight for a moment. But he does give Kate a smile.

"Hello, Miss Kate," he greets. "It's good to see you."

Pfeifferkuchen agrees, as she steps closer with a happy snort to give Kate some love.

Kate grins at the mare, happily obliging. She still smells like hay (and treats) from working in the stables — no doubt Pfeifferkuchen will find something interesting.

"S'good t'see you as well. Though, it looks like you've got heavy thoughts on your mind today."

Oh, she knows those treats are here somewhere. And she's going to nuzzle on Kate until she finds one or is given one. No mercy, this mare.

"It's-" Lohengrin starts. Then he sighs and says, "It's dumb."

He might mean I'm dumb.

"Nonsense."

The laugh is wholly intended for Pfeifferkuchen, who is hardly being shooed away. There are some carrot sticks in the right pocket of her duster.

Lohengrin gets sincere and serious interest.

"Kingdoms rise an' fall on a slight. There's no thought so insignificant t'be called 'dumb'."

Yay carrots! Pfeiffer noses the pocket and nibbles a carrot stick or two.

"It'd be better if the thought was insignificant," the Knight says. "It would be less trouble. For everyone."

But even when he briefly closes his eyes, it's Elsa that he sees.

"Ah-ha, clever girl."

Kate rubs the crook of the mare's jaw, getting at that hard to reach spot where the reins tend to agitate.

"Well, I can offer you a listenin' ear, Sir Lohengrin. If you'd care for one. This isn't about that boy who looks like you, is it?"

Pfeifferkuchen just melts against Kate, enjoying her carrot sticks.

"No, not him," the Knight says, shaking his head. "This is..."

He blushes in spite of himself, his lips pressed into a straight line.

"The girl I mentioned. The one I have to protect. She-"

Lohengrin taps the temple of his forehead.

"-is up here. All the time."

Her lips form an 'O'.

"Ahh, I see."

She smiles gently, endeavoring not to embarrass him. Pfeifferkuchen continues to get as much attention as she likes, but Kate's focus is on the young knight.

"What's she like?"

"Kind," is his first response. "To the point that I'm not sure how anyone could believe her capable of wrongdoing. And she has an eye for details. I sometimes see her look to my pocket to check if I'm still carrying her favor."

The Knight reaches for his pocket and produces a white handkerchief. In the corner sits an embroidered swan with a tight, looped E beside it.

"She did the embroidery. When I suggested that her handmaiden did fine work, she put the E on there right before my eyes."

Chuckling, she gives the handkerchief an admiring look.

"She's skilled, for certain. Sounds like she's got some spirit, too."

The Knight nods, his thumb tracing over the embroidered swan.

"And I'm not entirely sure but I think Pfeifferkuchen might be her horse."

"Y'haven't been told whose horse she is?"

"Oh, I'm sure they're all the Duke's horses. I just think Pfeiffer is the one she rides."

Lohengrin waves his hand a little.

"The maiden I'm protecting is his daughter."

Which, what does he even think he's doing thinking about getting involved with the Duke's daughter?

"Oh."

Well, that does pose a problem, doesn't it?

Naturally, Kate doesn't see why love couldn't grow between two people of different circumstance; however, coming from her era, she does understand the difficulties it poses.

"Of course. She'd hafta be someone of note, if she's needin' protection."

Notable and framed for a notable crime. How the Raven has been this successful in framing Elsa is beyond him; one doesn't have to spend long with her to know her nature doesn't include murder.

"I suppose it could be worse," he admits. "She doesn't seem to have anyone arranged for her. Should I ever find my courage to be honest, at least it won't be adulterous."

She shoots him a sympathetic look, neither grimacing nor smiling.

"There is that."

His mount receives a few more affectionate pats, and then she takes the few steps closer to him.

"You're very much fond of her?"

"More than I thought I would be," he admits. "But then, that's likely how these feelings work at first, right?"

Now to decipher if it's mere infatuation, as he hopes, or something deeper.

She nods gently.

"The heart can sneak up on you sometimes. Defy your logic. Hit you with feelin's y'didn't think you'd ever have."

The heart itself is desperate. Who can know it?

"How long has it been? You, havin' these feelin's."

"I'm not even sure now. I guess that's part of the sneaking up."

~~Story time can slip away faster than you think.~~

Her lips twitch.

"Well. If y'do tell her how y'feel, I hope things work out for y'both. However best that may be."

Together, preferably.

Kate hates to see people left brokenhearted.

Right now, Lohengrin isn't sure what would be best.

"Thank you, Miss Kate. Mainly for listening, but I appreciate your hope as well."

"What I can offer is gladly yours. If there's ever anythin' more I can do, feel free t'ask."

She's not sure what that would be, but she's more than happy to lend an ear as a start.

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