Mending of a Broken Heart [Aliyaha]

[Romily de Braose]

Romily had tried to distract herself over the last couple of days. She’d kept herself to herself and hadn’t the courage to face Yassia yet. She was so embarrassed, and the fact that Yassia appeared to know Gwaine was…well – right now she felt completely stupid.

The market seemed the perfect place to take her mind off things, with so many lovely things such as clothes and food. Romily was contemplating whether to buy some cloth to make a new dress. It would certainly be an appropriate time and would also be a brilliant distraction from recent events.
Romily remembered Lancelot as she looked at the stall. He had commented why she hadn’t made herself a new dress. He’d even offered to buy her one. Yes, she had made another dress soon after he’d left the inn, and that same one she was wearing now.

“A new dress will bring you suitors” he father used to say

“How so if you keep me away from everyone?” she’d asked.

Her father had been angered by this – Romily hadn’t been surprised at the time. It was the truth she was speaking after all. Many men had taken an interest in her when she made one of her rare appearances at feasts. Prince Tristan le Valois for example. Now he had literally pounced on her as soon as she was introduced to the royal family of Armorica. Romily wondered where Luciana was now. Was she married? It was times like these when you needed friends, but couldn’t face them.

“That cloth will make you a fair few beautiful dresses” she stall owner commented, “although im sure that even if a young lady like yourself wore a potato sack, you’d still make it look fashionable”.

Romily smiled, “I very much doubt that sir, but thank you for the compliment – perhaps later I will come back and make my mind up then”

“I’ll be waiting then”

Romily moved on, looking at another stall. There was so much to Camelot that called for her to stay. But she wondered now if that were possible.

Tagged: Aliyaha
Timeline: End of S3
Setting: The Marketplace

[Aliyaha]

The city of Camelot always had its best to offer. It could also prove a distraction for those that were out shopping. A young blonde haired girl managed to grin a little as she glanced around at the stalls, wondering where to begin. She knew she needed to get a couple of ingredients for tonight’s dinner at the castle but the cook didn’t say she had to be back soon. As long as she came back with the items in a basket she figured she would be fine. Aliyaha started her way to the stall that sold fabrics for the nobles to make into dresses. She stared at them, wanting to put out her hand and run her fingers through it but somehow resisted the urge, knowing that she would probably get into trouble for that. While the stall’s owner looked kind enough, Aliyaha figured that it was best if she kept her hands to herself for this one instead. She continued to stare at the cloths before forcing herself to move on, making a mental note to stop by later so that she can examine them more. She wished she was allowed to make her own dresses. Even then she would have to learn however. She knew a little about sewing but her main skills as a servant was generally cleaning and sweeping among those few. The next stall that drew her eyes sold the ingredients that she needed.

A couple of minutes later, after much decision and trying to bargain, Aliyaha left the stall with the food in her basket. She raised her head to check the sun and saw that she had enough time to wonder through the city as long as she doesn’t get herself loss of course. A small smile was starting to spread across her lips as she strolled through the city streets, careful to not bump into anyone. She kept a close watch on her surroundings as she remembered the bandits. Surely they won’t have gotten out of the forest and into the city before but Aliyaha couldn’t be too sure. She wished she carried a weapon. She would have felt more safer perhaps. She bit down on her lower lip as she was starting to become lost in her own thoughts again. As always her mind wondered to the first time that she had arrived in Camelot. It had been after the bandits had tried to attack her and Prince Arthur. She had been in awe of the city and of the prince. She remembered staring at the castle with a look of pure wonder on her face. The first time she had walked through the city she remembered having a look of excitement and wonder on her face. She wanted to dash to the nearest stall and see what they were selling. There were indeed some pretty things for sale.

Aliyaha figured it was best of she stayed close to the prince since he knew his way around the city apparently. Well of course he would have, she thought and her cheeks turned crimson at that foolish thought. She shook her head slightly as she ran a hand through her hair, deciding to leave it down for the day and she would put it up when she walked into the palace again. Her baby blue dress was starting to gather dust from being around in the city. Aliyaha didn’t know that was even possible. She continued to bit down on her lower lip as she walked past a stall. The owner slowly turned to her and Aliyaha turned around, feeling that someone was watching her. Her eyes widen slightly in fear as she recognized the owner. He had thought that she was about to steal a fine cloth from him and threatened to have her arrested if she came within an inch of him. Uh oh, she thought as she started to run. “Get back here!” she heard him shout. The young girl picked up speed and bumped into someone. Oh dear. She was bumping into a lot of people lately. Aliyaha gulped rather nervously as she raised her head to stare at the person, a noble lady. She stood there, frozen to the ground with fear as the owner was gaining closer.

[/size][/color]

[Romily de Braose]

Ok, she had to admit it – she was slowly falling in love with Camelot by the minute. The people were friendly and in good cheer – whoever she came across so it seemed. Romily knew that she could never stay here though, no – she had to return to Eldon. She knew Yassia wouldn’t be too impressed; choosing to return to the inn instead of staying longer, but Romily was currently in a state of confusion and had no idea whether she was staying or going.
She’d packed her things many times in order to leave, only to realise of what and who she would be leaving behind. That made her feel even worse. He who would not be named in her mind was currently taking over every single one of her thoughts. She knew she was a hypocrite, she knew she should have told him instead of yelling at him. Romily had her guard up, and it would always seem to stay that way whoever she met – apart from those select few who only knew of her true background.

As she was currently handing over some money to a man on the stall of fruits she heard a yell from another direction, followed by someone or something slamming into her.
She was almost thankful she didn’t fall over from the force! She looked down to see a young girl looking rather nervous at her before seeing the angered man heading their way. Obviously something was the matter, the poor girl looked frightened to death!

“You! Young lady! Grab her!” he called

Romily stood there – she wasn’t grabbing anyone until she knew of their crime, whether they had one or not. The man yelled at her again before stopping in front of her, giving the young girl a glare.

“Why are you chasing this poor young girl – look at her she’s frightened to death!” Romily frowned at him

“That ‘poor young girl’ was about to steal from my stall – I wont have any thief’s taking my cloth!” the man growled

She saw no cloth on the girl, and she was certain that she couldn’t hide it upon her person – she was quite small after all. “There is no cloth on the girl, surely you were mistaken”

“I do not think…” The man began but was cut off by Romily

“And if I were to just look at your stall, then would you accuse me of trying to steal too sir?” she asked, the man said nothing, “Exactly, now I would return there before you find most of your cloth missing – then whose fault would that be?” she eyed him with a knowing look.

The man mumbled something – realising that he wasn’t about to win this argument and with that, returned to his stall. Romily looked back at the girl, “go on…return home” she smiled.

[Aliyaha]

She watched it all with a rather frightened look as she dashed behind the blonde haired woman. She peaked out from behind her. Aliyaha truly didn’t know what to expect next. She perked up a little as the noble lady asked if it was her that was looking at the stall would he try to do anything. The look on the man’s face was interesting enough. She found herself holding her breath as she wondered what was going to happen. The man mumbled as he turned and stalked away. Aliyaha breathed a sigh of immense relief. She made a mental note to stay away from his stall from now on. Goodness knows what would happen the next time she was walking past it. I would have to find a short cut that’s for sure, she thought to herself. Aliyaha pulled herself from her thoughts as she raised her head to stare at the woman. She managed to return her smile with a shy one of her own.

“Thank you,” the young girl told her shyly. She frowned a little at her words. “I…um…don’t have a home to go to,” Aliyaha managed to speak. Her voice was soft. “I live and work up at the palace,” Yes it was a very good arrangement. She could stay as long as she was doing her work. She had hot meals and a roof over her head for a change. It also provided her a safe haven from people who would try to cause her harm. Like the bandits for instance. She shifted the basket to make sure that it wouldn’t slip. That would have been disastrous in itself. She would have gone back to where she came from and either bargained again or tell the stall owners what had happened. Aliyaha doubted that she would get anything free. Not that she wanted to. She knew they had to make a living. Pulling herself from her thoughts the young girl glanced down at the woman and noticed that her dress was a pretty one.

"I like your dress,” the young girl told her. “It’s pretty,” the shy look was on her face again. It was always on whenever she was meeting face to face with people that she didn’t know. “Did you make it yourself?” The question was out of her mouth before Aliyaha could think. She felt her cheeks turning a bit crimson as she ducked her head. “Forgive me, my lady,” the young girl added hurriedly. She bit down on the inside of her cheeks as she stared at the ground. She felt her cheeks growing even more crimson. “I…didn’t think. It just….slipped out,” Aliyaha figured, or rather hoped, that the young woman wouldn’t do anything. After all, she had just saved the blonde haired girl a fate from the stall owner. She would not have doubt that, if she had not ran into her, she would have been caught and marched straight back to the palace, preparing for a stern talk with the king.

A small thanks for owing Prince Arthur. He was the one who had gotten her the job that she was now working. Her lips twitched upwards into a small smile at the thought. Aliyaha blinked as she slowly pulled herself from her thoughts again. She noticed that a slightly awkward silence started to fall between the two of them. The young girl shifted again. “Do you live up in the palace?” she inquired as she raised her head slowly to glance up at the woman. She was about to ask if she lived in the city but she thought the better of it.

[/size][/color]