Advice [Gwen]

[Alexander]

[Day three. Near the Sword competition which starts relatively soon.]

Alex was not normally one to leave the kitchens at one of the busiest times. However, the breakfast rush had ended and Alex was looking for someone who was most likely going to attend the competitions that would soon begin. Alex knew that Gwen would be with the Lady Morgana during the events of the day, but he was hoping to catch her early and steal a few moments of her time. Lately Alex had found himself a bit unsettled when around a certain girl and he knew that the only sound advice for his situation could be obtained by asking a girl. Seeing as Gwen was his closest female friend, he figured she would do perfectly.

Dressed in his normal work attire, he hoped he did not attract too much attention. With a plain shirt slightly open at the top with worn pants tucked into his boots, he did not pretend to be as dressed up as many people he saw hanging around. Alex was also not often out and about the castle unless running errands. He paused to greet a few aquaintences who were enjoying the festivities as he continued his search. He concentrated on looking around where the sword competition would be held. He figured Gwen would have to pass where he was to get to her seat.

Nevously he tugged at his sleeve with one hand and ruffled his hair with the other. He was going over what he wanted to ask in his head. He was sure Gwen would be able to help. She seemed like someone you could rely on to help out with this sort of thing. However, even in his mental debate with himself over how to bring up the topic, he still managed to smile at some kitchen maids he knew who walked by and giggled lightly. He shook his head slightly as they passed. He didn't think he would ever understand why girls giggled so much. Although he found himself not remembering girls giggling, but Brynn laughing the other day. She really did have quite a pretty laugh when he thought about it.
Even as these thoughts came to mind Alex groaned slightly. There he went again thinking about her! It was driving him mad. He could not stop and he was starting to space out on the job. It wasn't something he was familiar with in the slightest and it was starting to confuse him to no end.

As he scolded himself for slipping again, he saw Gwen approaching. He straightened and nearly skipped toward her. He didn't really pay much attention to his surrounding and had to apologize to the man he nearly ran over. He stopped in front of Gwen and smiled crookedly.
"I think I have a problem."

[Guinevère]

Gwen had been busy all day but it was exciting to be this busy. She had helped Morgana ready for the day, and dress warmly so she could watch the sword fighting that would take place during the day. While Gwen could not tell anyone, she was rather looking forward to watching the prince fight others. She knew he would win, but she also knew that she could have to hide her excitement and nerves as the battle played out.

She also got excited about the competitions Camelot had, even if she did not like the fighting. She could get so caught up in the air that she clapped and cheered and laughed. Now more so then before, for she had a favorite. One she cheered for above all the others.

Today she was dressed in her favorite purple dress and bodice, for it was one of her more prettier ones and she felt the need to be pretty. Not just for the prince, but for the pride of being who she was. She spend most of her day as a escort to Morgana, and when you traveled in the upper circles, you had to appear well dressed.

She did not have to sit near Morgana, but she often did anyway as Morgana was a dear friend. Even if she was beginning to be slightly secretive, Gwen knew that they were still as sisters in a way. She was heading to her seat when she saw Alex.

Gwen smiled brightly at Alex when she saw him start to run over, and she even laughed when he also toppled over the stranger (Well, almost). She loved Alex dearly, for he was like her and Merlin. Someone who just naturally was happy, it was rare in people and she was glad to call both boys friend. Alex had this energy about him that she envied. He was always happy and moving and doing something. As if he could not stay still. Gwen found she could get caught up in his energy and she liked it.

She almost stopped smiling when he told her he thought he had a problem. However, he was all smiles and seemed light hearted in saying the words so she was going to assume he had annoyed the chief a bit to much, or maybe even . . . "Did you finally break a dish in kitchens?" She teased, him hoping not but she would not put it past him.

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[Alexander]

Alex twisted his hands together in front of him as he waited for Gwen to speak. She seemed to be in a good mood which made Alex happy. He liked to see his friends enjoying themselves. He almost forgot completely about his problem for a moment before it was again at the forefront of his mind. He had been watching Gwen smile and then had seen someone else in the corner of his mind. This had been his whole morning from start to finish. Although the worst bit had been when he had found exuses to linger around the door from the kitchens to outside. The head chef had nearly decided to throw him into the porrige before telling Alex to go get some fresh air instead of wandering around like a lost puppy.

Alex sighed and refocused in on Gwen before his thoughts took him somewhere else again that day. He listened to her reply and let out a short bout of laughter. He still found humor in the day they first met. He was also a bit proud to say that indeed he had not broken a single dish since then.

"Alas, that would be a problem too easily solved." He spoke with bit of over dramatic flair. He might be confused about some things, but he was still himself in every way. Eccentric ways and all. In fact as he spoke his hands relaxed and gestured slightly with his words. His mother continued to tell him that he should have been a player or a word smith when he got into one of his speeches and started to speak in his overly flowery and ornate manner. He himself was convinced he would not work anywhere but a kitchen. He had enough ornamentation in his words and didn't feel the need to have it in his job.

"In truth, I wished to ask you for some advice. I met someone, and I am not quite sure what to think. I feel terribly off-balance and quite unsettled." He said. His tone was almost as confused as he felt. He could not keep the sheepish smile off his face as he spoke. He looked toward Gwen and once again thanked whatever force led him to be friends with her. Somehow he found this less embarrassing then if he had approached anyone else for advice like this. Gwen had the air of someone you could confide in. Alex also knew that she would give level headed advice, which he sorely needed.

[Guinevère]

While Gwen had been slightly worried about what troubled him she had not grew to worried. He seemed to be in a good mood (which honestly that was nothing new to Alex for he was always a happy person) and so she had not fretted. When he spoke however, she knew that it was indeed nothing to worry over.

Infact she knew these feelings well, even if she could not admit them to Alex. Unbalanced was a good way to describe how it felt in the early days of her feelings for Arthur. Before she had put a name to it, and grew more sure of what she truly felt she had felt very unbalanced and unsettled but not in a horrid way.

Gwen found her self smiling brightly at his words, for she could tell what he meant. She reached over to place a hand on his arm, "Sit with me." She asked him, knowing Morgana would be alright as long as she stayed in sight of her. If Morgana had need of her she could find Gwen easily. "Then I want to hear more of your mysterious person!"

Gwen did not want to ruin the excitement of telling someone for him. It was something she wished she was able to do with her feelings for Arthur. When you were love, you wanted everyone to know; but with her no one could know. She wanted Alex to be able to have that. She did not know if it was love he was feeling but it was the beginning of something surely. Even when she had first met Merlin she had felt a bit like that; so she knew while he might not be in love he could at lest be on the edge. Either way, she was almost holding her breath to find out whom had charmed the charmer.

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[Alexander]

Alex nodded and walked with Gwen towards the seats. The rows were already filling with many people although there was still a bit of time before the knights would even be ready. Alex sat next to Gwen and settled himself while he gathered his thoughts in order to be able to adequately word what he would say. He found himself thinking far more then usual about what came out of his mouth, and this itself made him quite unsure on how to catogorize how he felt.

"Well, she is absolutely and completely brilliant. I could speak for hours about her and yet I fear she leaves me with no words at all." He started. His hands fidgeted on his lap and he stared off into space for a moment. It was almost frustrating to try and find a way to describe it. He went to start speaking but paused. He looked upward and again tried to find the words.

"She plagues my every moment. My every thought..." He trailed off. Alex smiled sheepishly at Gwen. He was a bit embarrassed that anyone had this affect on him. Usually it was he that made people flustered. It was quite a feeling to feel that way himself. In fact, Alex was left rather bewildered.

"Forgive me, for I cannot even do this justice. She is Venus and I am a helpless moon, orbiting around her with not the faintest idea why." He said softly. He ruffled his hair and even felt his face redden slightly. He turned his eyes to Gwen and tilted his head slightly. Even as he spoke, he thought only of the other night. Of dancing and laughing. Of the delightful banter that he now found cluttered his every thought. Even his sister had complained his mind was elsewhere that morning. Alex was quite sure that he needed to tell someone or he would start running into walls or falling down stairs.

[Guinevère]

Gwen laughed softly when he started talking about him being the moon and this girl being his center. Not in a mean way, but in a charmed way. Alex was falling for whom ever this was, and Gwen found her self trying to think back to any of the maids or girls she'd seen him favor. Sadly she could not say that she'd spent enough time with others to know which he showed strong favor to. There was Brynn who Gwen could tell liked Alex; could it be her or one fot he other maids int he castle?

She watched him silently for a moment, a large and bright smile on her face as she thought over what he said, "It appears to me that the charmer has been charmed." She make a joke while watching his face. "I do not see why this is a problem! This is a god thing, Alex! Whomever she is, is so very lucky! You would make any girl a fine suitor!"

A year ago, that last statement would have been followed with an awkward silence as Gwen would have thought over what she was saying, and then she would have rambled on trying to make it sound like she was not suggesting she was one of the any girls. Gwen was to modest to even think that Alex's girl could be her; plus she knew that there was only friendship between them and that there was no passion that there needed to be for the man and woman type of love.

Not like she felt with Arthur.

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[Alexander]

Alex laughed with a grin taking over his features. He was glad Gwen seemed so supportive. It was nice to know Gwen approved. He was also relieved that she had clarified what he had expected the whole time. It was one thing to think you are falling for someone. It is quite another to be told you are and to have it shoved in your face. It gave him the kick he desperately needed to talk about it.

"Indeed, charmed and bewitched am I. Now I am simply unsure of how to proceed." As Alex spoke he started to see images in his head of numerous possible rejections. Not once had Alex stopped to think what would happen if his feelings were unreturned. What if he were simply being overly romantic and foolish about the whole situation. Alex was unsure if he could have been anymore worried about his feelings before when he was unsure of what they were. He was now proven wrong as he felt the nagging fear of refusal.

"What if she doesn't want me? What if she wants someone else? What if she likes one of the other kitchen servants? Like Michael? Oh that rotten dog, I knew it! He is trying to steal her all for himself! What am I going to do?" He said as he shook his head dolefully. His mind conjured up images of her skipping away with the other man, whom he had worked with in the kitchens a few times, across those wide meadows. He could not recall ever actually seeing the two even having a chat but it could be true. He was losing her already! His mind ran away with him, and in the back of his subconscious he realized he was being absolutely ridiculous. Love does seem to do funny things with one's head.

[Guinevère]

Gwen could not help but to laugh at his words of Michael trying to steal his girl. Surely not! Still, to see Alex so wrapped up in his feelings was nice. In a sisterly way Gwen was enjoying this. She knew everything would work out--it had to! No one could stand a chance when faced with Alex's charm.

"Michael? Hmmm, yes. He is very handsome." She teased him slightly before taking pity and telling him the truth; "But so are you. You're also much more charming then him. Whom ever this girl is she will think Michael who, by the time you have charmed her over." At lest Gwen hoped so for Alex's sake. Gwen knew how one's heart could be curl at times and make you love two men at the same time.

She did her best not to think about them together, not to compare Arthur and Lancelot. It was not fair to either of them. The man she couldn't be with was willing to be with her; but the man she could be with was not. Even if things were that simple, she found her heart being pulled more and more toward one and not the other. "Tell her name, Alex! I must know who she is! If I know then I can tell you honestly if I think she is worthy of you!" It was a teasing jest for Gwen would never think anyone was unworthy of someone else when they were in love.

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[Alexander]

"I hope against all hope that my charm can hold. For I fear she snatches the usual grace of my words away from me with a glance." He said, perhaps a bit over dramatically. Although he protested his skill with words disappeared whenever Brynn was around, he found no problem at the moment flowering his phrases at every turn. He realized his preoccupation with Michael was truly ridiculous and tried to put the thought aside at Gwen's words. It was nice that someone believed it would work out.

"Her name? Ah, it is a delight to say. Although how can a word do her justice when she is so much more? But speak it aloud I will, and proclaim it for all to hear. Brynn! Ah, such loveliness in but a name." He spoke. A few people around glanced their way as he elaborated on every turn of phrase and as he spoke clearly and a bit loudly to the air above him. However, upon seeing who it was, a few people turned back to what they were doing. It was not unusual to see Alex being so ornate in speech and going on like such.

Alex knew Gwen knew Brynn and wondered if she would know if his chances were good. He only feared that another would see how wonderful Brynn was and would swoop in and dash Alex's own hopes to pieces. If Alex had ever been in this situation before he might not have worried so much. However, since he had never felt this way before, he was not inclined to let it be ruined before he had a chance to see where it led. If there was ever a true mistake to be made it was to let a chance pass one by. Inaction was by far the worst action one could take. Alex had to do something. He was just unsure how to go about it.

[Guinevère]

"I hope against all hope that my charm can hold. For I fear she snatches the usual grace of my words away from me with a glance." Gwen found her self laughing with his words for it was truly quite something to see Alex like this! He might claim a lack of grace in his words at the moment but it was clear that he was having no trouble with them. She wondered what Alex was like when he had trouble with words and rather hoped that she might find out one day. It would be nice to see a different side of him, the side of him that might be falling for a girl.

Gwen hoped he never lost the zest he lived his life with, and the things that made Alex . . . well, Alex! However she knew that when a guy found a girl he liked enough to live then he was often different with her. She could tell Arthur was different with her. He was calmer, and less roused when it cam to anger. Even if nothing was allowed between them, he still made her feel different. She wondered how different she was when she was with Arthur.

"Brynn! Ah, such loveliness in but a name." Brynn! She made a mental note to watch Brynn the next time they were all in the kitchens and try to see if she showed signs of being as fallen as Alex appeared! "Brynn!! Oh Alex she is a lovely girl! I highly approve of your heart's choice!" She said, trying to be as flowery as he was but never quite making it. "Truly Alex, I think if you wanted to win her heart you would not have to try very hard. I will have to keep an eye on her, and see if she feel the same; though I can not imagine how she could not!"

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[Alexander]

"Then you think I have a chance? For that is all I crave, a mere chance with her." Alex said as he gestured and let his mind drift for a moment. He hardly noticed the people around giving him funny looks. It was hard to even take care to how he was acting when this particular subject came up. It took a short chuckle from a nearbye woman before he regained his composure and remembered they were in public. He hushed himself slightly so as not to have everything he said be overheard. Though at this point most of the castle staff and the lower towns must know of the entire thing. The way people talk it could not be long before Brynn herself found out, and that was not a good thing. Alex wanted to tell her himself... Once he got the nerve up of course.

"I want to tell her but... I'm not quite sure how to go about it." He said sheepishly. It was strange to have to ask what to say. Usually he said what first came to mind. However saying, 'You make me dizzy and sick in a not altogether unpleasent way, and I think i love you although we met three days ago', did not seem like the best way to explain himself. In fact it sounded altogether awful, and he hadn't even said it outloud. Just imagine what it would sound like if spoken to Brynn. Alex would not blame her for running away as soon as his mouth opened to undo the damage it would have already caused.

Alex wrung his hands and let his fingers nervously fiddle with the hem of his sleeves. He took note that the events of the day were not far off and that many of the seats were already filled. It could not be more then half an hour before the opening speech was made. However, Alex did not think even such competitions could pull him out of his preocupation with a certain red-head.

((I'm going to tell Brynn she can come in after you post. Then Gwen can get to see just how tongue tied Alex will get. XD ))

[Guinevère]

He only wanted a chance? Gwen laughed softly, and knew he had more then a chance. The only one who did not have a chance was Brynn, for she would be lost the moment Alex turned his charm on her! It did Gwen's heart good to see love work out for someone. She felt it was ok to call it love at this point. She had not wanted to give the name to the feelings Alex felt but if he was like this over her, then it had to be love!

"Oh, Alex. I think you have so much more then just one chance. Just make sure t show her that charm of yours!" She teased but then something caught her eye! "Don't look now, dear Alex, but I believe she is heading this way." Gwen told him, as a girl who appeared to be Brynn was in the crowds behind him.

Gwen winked at Alex before standing and waving to Brynn. "Brynn!" She hoped the girl could see her. This was the bad part about being short. "Brynn come sit with us!" Alex had room beside him, and Gwen could watch them together!!

Gwen sat and leaned in to Alex to whisper something before Brynn could get close enough to hear. "Don't worry about telling her how you feel today. Just enjoy her company for this outing. Once you are ready, then you can tell her everything!"

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[Brynn Reade]

Her cheeks flushed and slightly out of breath Brynn squeezed through the crowd flooding the path towards the sword fight arena, muttering an occasional ‘sorry’ and ‘excuse me’ here and there and receiving some defty dig in the ribs and even a few curses as she tried to make as much speed as was possible. She was already running late! The competition could start any second, but there had been no way to sneak away from the geeze earlier. She could only hope Alex would still be there, and to be reached through all the masses of excited onlookers. She had so wanted to spend this day with him again, that’s why she took the risk of being scolded as she had left the geese alone. But really, who could blame her? With the sole act of being there Alex had somehow managed to become her first priority – in seemingly everything, even if she feared it might not be like that for him.

Finally she reached the arena and took a moment to calm down, while her eyes scanned the hundreds of faces for the one she wanted to see. Would he be looking for her too? Or had he all but forgotten that she had promised to come? She smiled in reminiscence of the banter they had had last night while dancing. He had told her he’d rather steal her away from the geese than risking her not coming at all. But Alex was Alex… most of his speech couldn’t be taken at face value. She could be called lucky if anything he had been saying was true, right? That didn’t even count in the most embarrassing parts…

Just then she spotted his familiar figure in the crowd, sitting in a row of the stands just a little below her. Her heart leapt with joy and she quickly raised a hand to her cap to rearrange her slightly flustered appearance. Too bad she could not wear her hair open today, but that could have aroused suspicion!
Brynn strained her eyes to look for a good way to descend down to him, when she suddenly saw him turning to a girl at his side, exclaiming something she could not hear over the constant buzzing of voices. But the girl beside him – it was Gwen! – laughed and seemed to enjoy herself pretty much. An ice cold fist reached for Brynn’s heart, squeezing it tight until pain seemed to rip her ribcage apart. So he had found a substitute for her – and how fast indeed. And Gwen… well, indeed why not? She was a lovely girl, and the two of them had seemed close before, in the very night two days ago when she had met Alex for the first time…

It had been a foolish idea to come here! She should turn around, return to the meadows and be done with this whole matter. Alex didn’t need her company… oh, he was quite fine!
Uncried tears of anger and sadness stinging in her eyes Brynn was about to turn on her heels, when she heard her name being called. Darn it! Gwen of all people had seen her and was now motioning her to come down. Oh greeaaat! As if she could deal with this now!
But her feet acted on her own accord, descending and moving forth until she squeezed past the last protesting spectators, reaching the ‘happy couple’. Trying to be as brave as possible she forced a smile on her face.“Heya, you two! How’s it going? I almost didn’t make it in time!”

[Alexander]

"Heading this way?" Alex said shocked out of his reverie. He felt his stomach drop slightly as he spun around to see for himself. He felt his nerves double as he saw Gwen was right and indeed Brynn was here. Feeling slightly dizzy, Alex put on a grin and waved at Brynn himself. Needs charm... right.
"Brynn!" He said loudly and gestured toward the open seat next to him. Gwen's advice was already steadying him as he saw Brynn notice them and start to approach. He was sure his face must be lighting up as she moved closer, but figured he could just pretend he was in a really good mood.

When she got closer Alex saw an emotion on her face he could not quite place. His smile wavered a bit as he tried to figure out if it was something to do with him. He hoped she wasn't annoyed that he was bothering her. However the worries were quickly forgotten when she was close enough to finally face them. Alex quickly stood up and then realizing how silly it was blushed slightly. She spoke and Alex found himself speechless for a brief moment before he replied.

"I am truly glad you could make it. Sit with us! The tournament will be starting in a tiny bit." Alex said with a bright tone. He could hear someone behind him chuckling slightly at his sudden change in demeanor, but ignored the person in favor of his unwavering attention to Brynn. He sat again rather awkwardly and took in Brynn's appearance. It was a bit of a shame he couldn't really see her hair down, but he found her still as beautiful as the other night.

"I see your geese have not bogarted you for the morning, a lucky thing for me. I was not sure you would be able to make it." He spoke. Alex found himself taking a bit longer to string words together in his head to make sentences that made some form of sense. He couldn't even use as many over-flowery words and ornate metaphors at the moment which was definitely a first.

[Guinevère]

When Brynn made it over to them, Gwen noticed that there was something off about her expression but she decided for the moment not to read to much into it. Maybe she was just out of breath. Had she known the girl better, she might have spoken up right away but Gwen did not want to seem pushy or noisy.

She took the next few moments to silently watch as Alex stood and then they both sat down. She wanted to watch to see if there was a way to tell if Brynn might like Alex as much as he did her. It was different to see Alex a bit unsure of him self, but very cute in a way.

Gwen smiled at them and spoke up after Alex had talked about Brynn's geese. "Yes, everything will be starting soon! You did not miss the excitement! Who do you think you might be cheering for Brynn?" Gwen asked trying to get a conversation started so that Alex and Brynn could talk. "Sir Leon? Sir Kolby? The prince?!" Guinevère would be cheering for the prince! Always for Arthur! Before she'd fallen in love with him it had been Sir Leon, for he was an old family friend. She wanted to see him do well, but now her heart always wanted Arthur to win!

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[Brynn Reade]

Alex’ excitement didn’t seem to be faked as he encouraged her to sit beside him. Was she overreacting and imagining things? The kitchen lad seemed like a charmer to her, but not like that much of a player, right? That would require a cold blooded heart, to sit there and flirting with two girls at once, raising both their hopes and maybe turning them against each other in the end? No, he wasn’t like that, he couldn’t be or else Brynn would have made the biggest misjudgment in all her life.

So she sat down and tried to turn her smile genuine. If Alex was not going for her there was nothing she could do about it and there was no way she would ruin this day for either them or herself. Sitting so close to Alex brought back memories from the previous night and suddenly Brynn found it hard not to blush. How they had danced, how he had spun her around so her sore ankle didn’t need to touch the ground… she had felt so very safe in his arms… stop! STOP!
“As wasn’t I!” she replied to Alex statement and made a little show of adjusting to her seat so she wouldn’t have to look him in the eye. That was just too difficult to deal with right now… “But in the end I could convince them to let me go. But like in every fairytale, I have to return at the stroke of midnight!” she quipped and then leaned over towards Gwen.

“Oh, that is a difficult question, Gwen!” Brynn cocked her head in thinking and watched the still empty arena. “Hmm… well, you know I think we all know who will win, as Prince Arthur simply is the best fighter around. But I think I will cheer for Sir Kolby today… I owe him some. Long story!” she hastily added as she realised she had all but given away one of her secrets just like that. Or was it a secret after all? It was surely not the most proper thing to do to watch the knights fight hidden away in some secret passageway, but she was amongst friends here. Maybe they would understand?

All in all, Brynn was growing very excited once again. Leaning towards Gwen had resulted in her almost touching Alex’s chest and that simple fact had sent her head spinning. Add that to the usual excitement of a beginning show fight, the tension that was already in the air, and the result was an utterly giddy girl, just held back by the fear of making an utter fool of herself.

[Alexander]

Alex simply laughed at Brynn's joke about being back by midnight. Although, he was pretty sure he could say the same thing quite seriously about himself. If he was not back in time for the evening shift at his step-father's bakery, he was sure his mother might actually find a way to bake him into one of the pies. Alex found himself hoping it would be an apple pie, for at least he would be stuck inside his favorite.

When the girl's spoke of who they wanted to root for Alex smiled along with the question. He knew he would most likely do what he always did and not root for anyone in particular. He figured the winner was almost guarenteed and that he didn't have any personal-ties to any of the competitors anyway.

His thoughts on the subject were interupted as Brynn leaned towards Gwen and he felt her brush against him softly. Alex was sure that the world could have felt his heart stop just as he did. However the moment seemed to end too quickly and he was left sturggling to catch up with what was said. The words Brynn had spoken took a few extra seconds to sink in, and when they did the feeling of breathlessness was replaced by a slight burning that was uncomfortably like jealousy.

Who knew that all along he should not have been worrying about other servants, but knights! Alex did not know this Sir Kolby, but he suddenly felt a rush of dislike for the man. At first he contemplated confronting the other man, but then threw that idea away upon realizing he would end up most likely in small pieces that would make his mother's task of putting him into a pie much simpler. Instead he settled on inwardly rooting against the knight during the fights.
"Well I guess good luck to him then." Alex said with a bright fake smile sitting on his face. If thoughts could actually harm people, it would not be surprising if the knight in question was unable to compete at all in that moment.

[Guinevère]

Gwen had not known Alex long but she liked to think she knew him well. She could tell there was something slightly off with his last smile but she did not want to point it out and seemed rude or embarrass him while others were around. The only reason she even picked up on it was because she was watching them closely to see how they interacted. Had she not then she could well have overlooked it completely.

Gwen looked back at Brynn to talk more about the knights and the fighting that would begin very shortly. The knights were already starting to walk on to the field! "I think I will either cheer for Sir Leon, or the prince. Sir Leon helped me get my job as Morgana's handmaiden, my mother was a maid in his family's home." She knew that she would be cheering for Arthur more but she was trying not to make it so clear. Others could not know.

She wanted Alex to relax and try to enjoy him self, for that was when Brynn could see his normal charming personality that won everyone over with in seconds! Gwen put a gentle hand on Alex's shoulder so she could smile encouraging at him, and hoped he got the silent message. "And you Alex? Who will you cheer for?"

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[Brynn Reade]

A cheer errupted from the audience as the first knights entered the arena, and Brynn, carried away with excitement, cheered along, a bright smile spreading over her face. There they were, the heroes of Camelot, and now she could finally watch them fight without a bad conscience. Brynn was pretty sure she knew their skills and prospects in the following contest better than most around here due to her secret weakness – but of course that would be her sweet little secret.
She smiled at Gwen’s remark, nodding in approval. “Sir Leon is a good soul like that! And I am glad he did so, else we would have never got to know you, right Alex?”

A little thing, only an inkling caught Brynn’s attention though as she was not sure what to make of it. Gwen had given a reasonable explanation why she would cheer for Sir Leon, but she had not given one why she would cheer for Prince Arthur… Was that because everyone would cheer for him anyway, because that needed no explanation? Well, what other reason could there be? Her imagination was really running wild here! There was nothing she could think of that would give an explanation, right? Everyone cheered for Prince Arthur as he was the champion of Camelot and most likely would be again, so it was only natural Gwen would too, and that was the end of it!

She turned her head just in time to catch the little affectionate gesture Gwen was giving Alex and there it was again: that hot sting of jealousy searing away her guts! Brynn was not sure if she actually had that much control over her facial expression in this very moment, and she felt like slapping Gwen’s hand away. How dare she! The goosemaiden, usually a very kind and loving person, now realised how it felt to strongly dislike someone, for whatever ridiculous reason. Gwen was nice, a caring person, but all that was lost to Brynn this very moment, and it confused her, this new feeling of hate. Was it even justified?
“Oh yes, Alex, do tell!” she encouraged him, for two reasons. One was to distract herself from the storm raging inside her, and another was a little more selfish: Getting them to realise she was still there.

[Alexander]

When Gwen touched his shoulder, Alex was reminded of how silly he was being. Jealousy would not win Brynn over. He also smiled at Gwen's choice of who to cheer for. Alex had only ever seen the Sir Leon around, but he had always seemed like an upstanding person. He also was glad that he had helped Gwen gain her position since it indeed had led to them meeting and becoming friends. He took no mind to her second choice other then to wonder if she knew the Prince due to her position. He figured she would know him better then most servants excluding the prince's own. It was common knowledge the Lady Morganna was close to the Prince.

"I believe Arthur would have my cheers. I've had the occasion to meet him, and he once did me a great service." Alex of course was referring to the very first time he had ever seen the Prince up close. He had been a servent for not a long period of time and it had been a time of famine in Camelot. No one had known what to do and the stores had been chaos. The Prince himself had left Alex in charge, despite his low station. The following conversation had left Alex an admiration in the future king. The least Alex could do now was cheer for him.

Despite Alex's distraction with his jealousy, he was hyper aware of Brynn's presence. That she was sitting next to him did nothing to lessen the nervousness he still felt. In order to keep it at bay he smiled brightly, this time more honestly. He did not catch Brynn's own jealousy, and continued to try and be as charming as he could be.
"I do wonder if I were a great knight whether I could too have such lovely spectators to cheer for me." He said with a chuckle. Somehow he could not picture himself in armour or with a sword. He was much more at home with a pot and a ladle. He would give himself two seconds in battle with the contestents of the current competitions. During those two seconds he would most likely trip over his own weapon.