Early Birds (Mia)

[Brynn Reade]

Early mornings such as these were the best, Brynn thought as she made her way to the meadow where she usually spent the day with her geese. Whip casually in one hand, she steered the chattering herd through the narrow streets, occasionally nodding friendly when someone she knew by sight passed her by. The sun shone down from a bright blue sky, not one cloud inside, and slowly the rays found their way through the narrow lines of stone and wooden houses, making the white frost attached to the walls glisten like diamonds. Not even a noble lady could claim such a treasure, such stunning beauty in Brynn’s eyes.
Like every morning she passed the bakery of her friend Alex’ stepfather, taking a moment to scoop up little Lita in a warm embrace, Alex adorable little sister. Her breath forming little white clouds in front of her mouth, she exchanged a few kind words with Alex’ mother, then guided the geese on, through the outer gate, waving at some of the guards. Some of them had already rocked her on their knees, with Brynn’s father being one of them: a Camelot guard.

Right as she entered the clearing that sloped down gently until meadow turned into wood, she saw that something was not quite as usual. On the edge of the wood, there was a caravan, something Brynn hadn’t seen often in her life. Its wooden walls were richly painted and two mules were grazing nearby. And wasn’t there another, a bit further away? Furrowing her brows, the goosemaiden ushered her geese forward and into their stall where they would stay for most of the day. Then she sat down on a ball of straw, and observed the caravans from under lowered eyelids. Would someone show? There had to be people inside. Gypsies most likely. As a girl growing up in the city and more so in a citadel, Brynn had practically imbibed a certain mistrust against the travelling folk from an early age. They came when there was a feast in town, and when they left it could well be something was missing. She might have to have a close eye on her geese today until they had moved on…

Her geese did not care about what might be going on on their favourite meadow, and they also didn’t care about being quiet to not disturb the probably still sleeping travellers. Brynn had learned from an early age to tune their endless cackling out, but she was not surprised when after a while the door of the closer caravan opened. Subconsciously she squared her shoulders, curious and anxious who it might be.


~.~

Tag: Mia
Time of Day: Early Morning
Setting: Somewhen in the two years gap
Word Count: 443

[Mia Fallabella]

Mia was at peace, long elegant arms stretched above her head in a graceful arc. Fingers interlacing as her head leaned back with pleasure, long locks of hair rolling down her shoulders and covering her naked torso. The water was cool but not too cold…perfect was the word for it. Small water lilies floated by gently in the current and then the sound of….geese? Icy blue eyes parted as once again the loud squawking of a goose pulled her from her slumber. Her young sister was curled in her arms, a tiny drop of spit rolling from her pale lips to the silky crimson pillow they shared. With a slight smile Mia slipped from beneath the cover they shared, casting a glace to the sleeping bodies father above them. Her fathers large form was still snoring happily, her mother making tiny mumbling sounds in her sleep. As nomads they had few chores to rise early for….the mules were really the only animals they had to care for. The small black cat that lived with them fed herself. She was large with kittens and despite her fathers annoyance that they would be lacking a good mouse catcher for a few weeks Mia was excited to see the tiny kittens.

The heavily pregnant cat did not stir as she made her way over the wooden boards at the back of the trailer. No one else seemed to be awake….apparently able to sleep through the unwelcome sounds of domesticated birds. Mia pulled her shawl closer around her body, feeling her bare feet tingle from the cold that still lingered in the cool morning earth. Blue eyes hazily searched the surrounding meadow for the birds, having every intention of chasing them away so she could return to her warm bed…That was until her eyes fell on the woman who was most obviously their caretaker. She was perched atop a lump of hay, gazing at the caravans like they were some sort of foreign bodies or something. It was unsettling. Mia felt the skin between her brows wrinkle with agitation. Last night had been her fire dance….something that was always performed under the darkest of skies…which was very late at night. She had hoped to catch up on her sleep this morning….but apparently this maiden had other ideas.

Pulling her long curly hair over one shoulder Mia slowly began to move towards the pretty visitor. Her eyes flickered to the cackling geese, wrinkling her nose. It didn’t take long for Mia to reach her, she stopped a few feet away pulling her shawl even tighter around her bodice like a shield. Was this girl from Camelot? It must have been so….for they were not far from the city gates….it seemed that Mia was indeed the one encroaching on her turf….as she already had a stall of sorts where her geese were gathered.

She paused before the prostate maiden, subconsciously rubbing a dirty foot against the back of her other leg.

“That’s quite a wake up call….”

She said softly, her voice still a bit crackly from the cold wind of the previous night.

“I take it your from Camelot?”

[Brynn Reade]

A girl exited the caravan, looking like she had been pulled from sleep rather forcefully, eyelids heavy and a bit of a disoriented air about her. Brynn cocked her head. She had not expected to see someone roughly about her age coming out of there. Of course, gypsies often enough were families, but in her wild imagination, only the old women telling fortunes and the men playing up for people to dance had stuck in her mind.
What would happen now? Would the girl protest against the rude disturbance, actually having the nerves to tell Brynn to either silence her geese or go? Or would she ask for money?

Then she chided herself for her prejudices, trying to meet the foreign girl with an impartial mind. Yes, she was domestic, doing a proper job, and this girl was not, but that didn’t mean she was bad news in general. Her mother had told her to always be open to any kindness hidden in any creature, regardless how misplaced that trust might be in the end. Being nice wasn’t lost if you wasted it on the wrong person, not like money would be.
So Brynn decided to remain reserved, yet not unfriendly, if she could help it. What would Alex do in her place? He probably would have long since called out with some witty greeting, breaking the ice instantly. But she was not like that. It was not in her nature to be the one reaching out. She might accept a hand that was offered, but she would wait first, considering.

To the first comment she didn’t reply yet, taking the time to examine the girl without openly staring. She was pretty, there was no denying it, even if – or maybe because – her long brown hair was down. Her features showed this kind of alien, mysterious beauty you would expect from a gypsy. They just had that sort of air around them, compared to her Brynn felt abnormally plain.
Nodding to her next statement, she replied: “I take it you are not?” and held her gaze for a few challenging seconds, but then she just had to smile. “Sorry for the rude awaking. But these little troubleshooters are not likely to shut up. I learned to tune it out.”

Deciding she could as well go on with it, she added: “I’m Brynn, Brynn Reade, official goosemaiden of Camelot. And who are you?”

[Mia Fallabella]

At first it seemed like she had made a mistake, running into the same prejudice she often encountered with the women villagers. Because of her dancing and her apparel when doing so she was thought to be a harlot, when only the opposite was true. This girl as well seemed to have that judgmental glint in her pretty eyes and did not respond at first to Mia’s statement. But eventually the girl provided a question of her own….more of a statement really. And Mia couldn’t help but smile at the irony of it. She had ask a dumb question….and got one in return, eye for an eye. Finally a warm smile crossed the strangers face, an apology spouting from her lips for the actions of her gaggle. Mia nodded slightly to show that she understood. Her blue eyes searched around her for a few moments until she found a rock peaking from the earth, just large enough to keep her from touching the ground. Folding her long body onto the rock Mia wrapped her arms around her knees, long tresses dusting the ground around her like a protective bubble of sorts.

So Brynn was a goose maiden…no wait….the official goose maiden, that made sense…but not being a normal citizen she knew not the responsibilities that Brynn faced…..but she assumed they were something like that of a shepherd….except with geese. Glad that the exchange had taken a lighter turn Mia was quick to introduce herself as well.

“Ah….it’s a pleasure to meet you Brynn!”

She said brightly, her voice slightly hoarse but not totally unpleasant. She was trying to be a cordial as she could…it wasn’t often that she associated with people outside of the caravan and their greetings were anything but cordial. Often accompanied with a string of name calling and a guffaw of laughter, though the felt Byrnn probably wouldn’t appreciate such a hello.

“I am Mia…….I…dance.”

She smiled slightly, feeling a bit of blood rush to her cheeks at the comparison of their two lifestyles. Where Byrnn was beautiful, poised, dignified, and clean. Mia was exotic, wild, carefree, and dirty. But there was something intriguing about the other side and this being one of the only times she had a chance to explore it she was going to take advantage of it. Shyly Mia used her sleeve to rub at the previous nights paint that still clung in flecks on her face. Thinking that the pretty girl before her would never be seen so…so….carefree?

Feeling questions bubble in her chest Mia turned her curious eyes on the geese, watching with interest at the white clad creatures stalked about like predators though they were so obviously prey. Mia had heard that geese could be used like watch dogs, they would let you know when a stranger was about. But with her way of life there were always strangers about and squawking birds would just get in the way.

“So….you watch these geese all day?”

She ask with the curiosity of a child, turning her blue eyes back on the official goose maiden. How boring would that be? Watching these things waddle around all day…and hearing their annoying sounds. The skin between Mia’s eyes wrinkled as she imagined such a prospect, deciding that despite its drawbacks she would dance for money any day over watching geese.

[Brynn Reade]

Alright, the first step was taken. Brynn always found this to be the hardest part, as she normally wasn’t so outgoing. But now the first greetings had been exchanged and all that mattered now was if they could find a topic to settle on. Yes, Brynn was very analytic when it came to such things as sparking up conversations. Only with Alex it had been different from the start, but that might be due to the fact that her dear Alex found it easy to converse with anyone and always had the right thing to say so she could answer. But once she had started to warm up to someone Brynn had to keep her bold nature at bay as well. Then she could say things she might regret later, but she hoped that would not be the case here and now.

Brynn smiled at the girl, wondering quickly about how hoarse her voice sounded, just like she was about to catch a cold. Hmm, then maybe she shouldn’t be sitting there in the crisp morning air, barefoot and all. But that was how it were with gypsies, right? They usually were too poor to afford shoes, or they were used to not caring for them. Brynn herself didn’t mind running around barefoot from May until sometimes even October, but now was not such a time.
With her next comment though, the girl named Mia had the goosemaiden enraptured.
“Dancing!” she exclaimed with gleaming eyes, inching a bit closer on her ball of straw. “I can’t tell you how much I love dancing! There’s nothing like it, when a good dancer holds you close and takes you up in a spin, only flying can possibly top that…”

She stopped, realizing the false track her thoughts had been taking, suddenly a little awkward. “But I guess… you dance alone, don’t you?” she hestitantly asked, looking at the faded patterns on the girl’s face that made her look even more exotic. Of course she knew the common consent about gypsy dancers. They were called scandalous and frivolous by the women, marvelous and enchanting by the men. Brynn had heared tales she was not supposed to hear by her father’s fellow soldiers, who told about women so lissome their movement looked like flowing water, able to move their limbs in such contorted maneuvers that it couldn’t be healthy… Was Mia able to do such things as well? It made Brynn rather curious. “Anyway, dancing is pure freedom for me! I love to dance around a fire!” she concluded, while a sudden gust of wind played with her hair, and her hair only, a silent answer to the excitement she had been feeling.

She followed Mia’s gaze and for a moment watched her feathery charges fondly. She knew each of them by name and more, this was more than just a duty for her. But how could Mia know? It was only natural she would ask!
“It depends on the weather”, she explained. “Mostly not all day, but when the sun is shining from sunrise to sundown, on rainy or cloudy days a little less. Usually they make it known when they want to go home and I oblige. But I do not only watch them, I tend to them, look that they don’t hurt each other… like now”, she finished with a sigh as two geese suddenly started a fight, beginning to gaggle stridently. Quickly Brynn rose from her comfortable seat and entered the little stall, calling: “Lucrece, Snowdrop – keep apart!”

[Mia Fallabella]

Mia’s body jerked when the suddenly excited Brynn exclaimed and moved forward on her makeshift chair. So she liked to dance? What a relief! Now at least they had something in common! But Mia’s happy smile soon vanished when Brynn began explaining what she loved about dancing….and it was not the kind Mia was accustomed to.

“Oh…”

She said softly, peering up at Brynn with worried eyes. But then everything seemed to come together for the goose maiden…very quickly. Mia nodded slowly and turned away to look at the geese, once again feeling the heat in her cheeks. A single lock of curly hair tickled at her face, with a tired sigh she pushed it behind her earring filled ear. Turning to see Brynn in the same movement. But once again the girl was full of excitement, this time stating how she loved to dance around the fire. Now this type of dancing Mia could relate to. With a smile she nodded, propping her elbows on her knees and settling her chin down on her arms

Then even as she stared, mystified by this girl who seemed so different yet could still understand the freedom, the thrill of dancing around a flickering fire. An idea came into her head, she nearly gasp she was so excited by the thought.

“You should dance with me!”

She said suddenly, rising to her feet as if she couldn’t keep her excitement bottled inside.

“Tonight we are performing….I have an extra costume! It might be a bit loose but I think we could make it work! Oh you would love it Brynn!”

To think that she could share her joy with someone else was exhilarating. The pretty maiden was quickly on her feet as two geese began pecking at one another, seemingly knowing them by name. Mia chewed on her bottom lip, settling back down on her little seat. Mia had others perform with her before, but she had never actually introduced anyone to it. And the thought of bringing pretty dignified Brynn into her world…even if for just one night, was exciting.

“So…..what do you think Brynn?…..I mean we couldn’t pay you, things are tight for us….but if you enjoy dancing you would love performing! Its thrilling…and afterwards you will feel so giddy and drunk!”

[Brynn Reade]

Mia’s sudden outburst took her by surprise and for a moment she was staring blankly. To think…! She, Brynn Reade, performing, in front of a crowd…! It was unthinkable… was it? Oh yes, so many people would think so! Her mother first and foremost, who always put such great emphasize on dignity and a clean record. And her father the same! They would never let her honorable daughter do such a thing, never in a hundred years!
Alex… what might he say? He knew how much she liked to dance, that’s how they had gotten close after all, that wonderful night, a feast in Prince Arthur’s honor… But surely the whole of Camelot would not approve. Respectable citizens like the Reade’s were, they might lose a great deal of their credit with the gossiping townsfolk.

Thoughts like this raced through Brynn’s mind as she tried to calm her geese. Her mind was clearly telling to forget it, not even grace it with another thought, but her heart suddenly spoke up, taking up Mia’s contagious excitement. ‘Mom and Dad… they don’t have to know’ it whispered slyly. ‘And what they don’t know won’t hurt them. You want this, admit it… Freedom, pure freedom… just think of it.’
This little voice belonging to her heart got louder and louder, until it crowded almost all of her concern out. A wicked gleaming in her eyes, Brynn turned to Mia who was clearly waiting for an answer and spoke just two words that sealed a pact with the devil: “Why not?”

Returning to her former seat, she was far too nervous and excited to sit down again and started to pace back and forth. “Goodness, I don’t know why I agree to this, but it feels right, you know. I want to try it at least.” She chewed her bottom lip. “I just don’t know if I’m any good! I don’t want to embarrass your family or anything… that I love to dance doesn’t mean I can do it good enough, right?”
Doubt crept back in, quenching the flame of excitement that had been blazing high inside her. “And then I would have to hide it from my family… I’m sure neither my mother nor my father would let me do this… but to feel giddy and drunk…feel alive” she wrang her hands. “That should be worth it, right?”

[Mia Fallabella]

Mia waited anxiously for Brynn’s answer, twirling a long lock of hair around her fingers nervously. And then almost as if something or someone forced her to say it Brynn agreed. A broad smile showed the dimples in Mia’s cheeks, oh this would be so much fun! But then just as she parted her soft lips to speak worry seemed to invade the other maiden’s mind.

“Oh no, don’t worry about that! We don’t dance any certain way, we dance to the rhythm inside us, you would never embarrass my family!”

Briefly her mind fluttered to her judgmental father, he never trusted anyone outside of the family. Especially someone who wasn’t a druid. But with a bit of work she could make Brynn blend in….that is if her friend would cooperate…While her thoughts ran wild Mia ran her fingers down the piercing in her ear, interrupted as Brynn voiced her concern about her family. For a moment Mia felt angry….it was a gift she was offering this girl….to join her in a glorious experience….But they were from totally different worlds….she couldn’t expect that their parents would like the traditions of one another. With a small smile she shook her head, her necklaces jangling with the movement.

“No worries, no one will even know its you. I have a mask I wear sometimes, it will cover most of your face so no one should be able to recognize you!”

It was amazing how quickly it all seemed to be falling into place, what a plan they had hatched.

“Of course its worth it…and what do you have to lose? If you don’t like it you go home with your family none the wiser, if you do enjoy it however you will feel alive like you never have before. You will feel the strength of the fire blazing through you body, the midnight air caressing your bare skin, oh you will love it Byrnn!”

Without another thought Mia was attempting to give her new friend a hug. Long arms curling around her slender frame before Mia was off and running towards the caravan.

“Meet me here at dusk!”

She yelled, her long gown billowing behind her like a cloud.

[Brynn Reade]

The longer Brynn thought about this, the more appealing seemed the thought of simply trying it out. It was reassuring to hear that apparently no special skills were needed to succeed in this. Just passion… passion… normally Brynn was a very grounded person, she didn’t like to express too much of what she thought or felt, ever the dutiful, responsible. There was only one thing that could make this shell burst, one teasing power that could drag out the child inside her, playing, being silly, being passionate: The wind. When he made his presence known to her, she could not resist his coaxing, could no longer bury the need to be free inside her. It was not like she wasn’t content with her life, she loved everything like it was now, but there were just so many temptations you could withstand.

The idea with the mask was even more appealing. Imagining… no one would recognize her, no one would know her, she could do whatever she wanted. It was just like being invisible. Brynn hardly believed this was happening. How could she have ever thought of declining this generous offer? Yes, in her mind it was already decided. Briefly she wondered if not even Alex would recognize her, even though he had vowed once he would detect her behind any disguise. And if he did, what would he say? But Brynn was fairly sure that if she could find acceptance or understanding for her deeds anywhere, regardless of how odd they were, it would be with him.
“That sounds good to me, really”, Brynn agreed, excitement lighting up her eyes. “Let’s go with the mask, just in case. You never know who might be watching.”

“the midnight air caressing your bare skin…” Those words triggered a curious sensation in Brynn, a tickling on her bare arms that moved on to her face and only a few seconds later she realized it was once again the wind, caressing her in the most delicate way she had ever experienced. The touch was so light she could barely distinguish it as a gust or anything similar, barely there, yet tangible. It was a clear invitation and it made Brynn feel even more excited. Yes, her friend the wind would be there as well, helping her to make this an evening she most likely would never forget.
“I’m sure to love it Mia… thank you! This is quite an honor and I can’t wait for tonight!”

With the most peculiar mix of anxiety and excitement she watched Mia run towards her caravan again. Dusk… that was a horribly long time to cover, a time she would spend here, watching her geese and slowly being eaten up by anticipation. Even if the weather was nice, Brynn decided, she would return her geese earlier than usual, so she would have enough time to sneak out at dusk. Already she felt terribly restless.

~.~

[OOC: should we insert a time lapse here? Or make a new thread already?]

[Mia Fallabella]

((I think a time lapse would work best ^_^----à Fast forward to DUSK))

Already the preparations for the nights festivities were underway. Mia had let her younger sister paint her face this night, so while the butterfly wings around her eyes were not all that symmetrical they were special to her. She had told her father of a young gypsy she met while near Camelot, he had seemed skeptical but agreed to allow the girl to perform…he was not one to turn down coins. So as darkness began to fall Mia perched herself atop a hay bale outside of the caravan to wait for Brynn….hopefully she would come. In her hands Mia held a small silver mask adorned with glittering paint and white feathers, her arms held an outfit much like her own. A sliver of silver cloth that would be wrapped around Brynn’s chest and a loose flowing skirt with layers of white and silver cloth. With Brynn’s fair completion and hair Mia was confident the silver would fit her perfectly.

As she waited Mia swung her legs back and forth, humming a tune softly to herself. Mia wore a rose colored ensemble. Many bracelets and necklaces adorned her body, swirls and spirals had been painted on her arms tonight….it seemed fitting somehow. Pressing her pale lips together she waited, hoping that she would not end up the fool.

[Brynn Reade]

To say that Brynn felt nervous was not nearly half way covering it. She was practically dying from anxiety as she swiftly made her way down the soft slope towards the familiar meadow where Mia would be waiting for her. This was madness… but exciting madness!
Getting away from her family had been easier than she thought. She had had to rely on a little white lie, not exactly saying what she was doing, just saying she had heard gypsies had come to town and she wanted to be there when they performed. It wasn’t a lie. She had only ‘forgot’ to mention she would be performing as well. Alex had to work late in the kitchens, so he would not be coming along. Not even her siblings had voiced their wish to see the gypsies, as they were both coming down with a little cold and were content to stay in their bed, sleeping early this evening. It was almost too good to be true.

What if Mia had bad news for her? Maybe her family wouldn’t agree after all? Oddly enough that didn’t make Brynn feel relieved in any way, despite her nerves. No, the sheer thought caused her guts to twist in letdown. She found herself wishing for it so badly. The gypsy girl was easily spotted even in the receeding light: a tall, slender figure, adorned in that wonderful alien gypsy way that made people stare so much. The closer Brynn got the more she could make out. The painting on Mia’s body made her look even less human, as if she was something foreign, maybe even magical!
“Shhh, it’s me!” she greeted the gypsy girl in a hushed tone, her eyes gleaming in the semi-darkness, even more as her gaze fell on the mask. “Are these my clothes? Where can I dress myself?”


~.~
Muse song:
Sister Gypsy

[Mia Fallabella]

As She waited Mia idly counted the small birds in the sky, desperately trying to get to their safe havens before the nights predators came out to play. And suddenly Brynn was only feet away from her, so surprised was she that Mia jerked when Brynn’s hushes whispers reached her ears. Her next question however brought a smile to Mia’s lips. She had forgotten her new friends inhibitions. Mia would often swim stark naked in lakes, play in meadows with little more than a bit of cloth covering her womanly body. But this girl was not raised as Mia was, and it was strangely fun to get to know someone so different. Mia looked around for a moment, checking to see that no roving eyes were on them before she plopped down on the earth beside Brynn with a movement that was so feline like that not a sound was made. She grasp the other girls hand with her own nimble fingers and began trying to pull her towards her ‘home’.

Realizing that she had forgotten the costume she let go of Brynn and ran back, throwing everything under one thin arm she quickly linked the other with Brynn. “We must hurry!” She said softly. Once her caravan was in sight Mia peeked inside, seeing no one she gestured for Brynn to enter. “Here you are Brynn, when you are finished dressing I will paint you.” She smiled but it fell as a thought occurred to her. “Oh…..maybe we cant paint you since no one can know about this….our paint is made from plants that we find so it’s hard to wash off and will usually stain your skin for a couple days……” Mia waited for a few moments, giving her friend time to respond. Suddenly the little gypsy seemed to perk up. “No worries, I will just weave some flowers in your hair and no one will notice your not painted, you will be stunning Brynn!” She smiled, whirling about to at once find some flowers that would suffice. With Byrnn’s pale skin and hair she would definitely need something that would really pop. Kneeling down to better see in the fading light Mia was able to pluck some tiny purple flowers, thinking to herself how much they would stand out in her friends corn silk hair. She wasn’t far from where Brynn was dressing, every so often she would cast her gaze over her shoulder to see if she had emerged yet.

[Brynn Reade]

A little laugh actually bubbled from Brynn’s lips as she realised she had indeed manages to startle Mia. She didn’t know why but it felt like a victory in itself. While the gypsy girl began to chatter about how she would make Brynn ready for the dance, the goosemaiden hardly could listen. It all felt so unreal, like a distant dream she was living, sleepwalking maybe with eyes wide open, but still not fully awake. Should she really dare to take this step? It was a little late to back out now, and Brynn knew that in her heart of hearts she didn’t even want to, but then, it was never too late for nerves to kick in. Had she been more familiar with performing, she might have called it stage fright.
Thinking too much didn’t help either, and so Brynn forced herself to pay attention to what Mia actually was saying, just in time to hear something about face painting. Staying on for a couple of days?! Oh no, now that wasn’t possible at all!! Opening her mouth to protest, she closed it again with a relenting sigh as Mia caught on the impossibility as well.
“Heaven’s, no”, she gave a low nervous chuckle. “I am sorry to be such a coward, but I just don’t know what people would say. And I care too much about the opinion of other’s sadly enough”, she confessed with a sigh. “I envy you your freedom sometimes.”

The idea of the flowers however sent Brynn smiling broadly, her teeth glinting in the dimming light. She loved flower wreaths and was a master in making them, but she would give herself entirely into Mia’s care tonight. She trusted her new friend to know what would look pleasing to the eye, and who knew, maybe they could learn something from each other concerning flowery decoration?
More than glad she wouldn’t have to change dresses out into the open, Brynn crept up the steps and closed the door behind her. How narrow it was! If she had to live inside this small caravan, she would freak out after mere hours. Even now a lump began to rise in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. Just too cramped in here… but it was only for a little while, she chided herself and forced the panic down.

Getting dressed in this… LITTLE amount of cloth was a very new experience for Brynn. It felt like she could already feel burning eyes on the flesh of her belly that was shown, and also her bare arms and part of her legs. It was new, yes… but was it bad? No… not really. This, after all, was pure freedom. Not to care for common morals for only a few hours, playing the gyspy girl.
Feeling like she was preparing for some initiation rite of the wild folk she had heard about in stories, Brynn slowly loosened the braid her hair had been caught up in and let her ginger locks fan out over her shoulders and back. Then she placed the mask on her face and suddenly felt very mysterious. There was no telling how she truly looked, looking down at herself would never get her the true picture and of course she couldn’t even dream of finding a mirror here. Only nobles had such precious things.

Remembering Mia had said they needed to hurry, she wrapped up her skirts and bodice into a bundle and left the caravan, her steps hestitant. Would Mia now break into laughter and call the whole event off? She had to look ridiculous for sure!
“I’m done”, she announced lowly, all her muscles trembling.