Red Red Wine [Idris]

[lucan]

The Knighting ceremony for the newest recruit - a young man called Sir Gareth, had gone well, and now everyone was getting merry at the celebratory feast after. Lucan was sat with Sir Yvain and Sir Lionel who were already challenging to drink one another under the table. Luc had already stated that he wasn’t going to be part of that!
The Hall was bustling with knights and courtiers alike, dancing and generally involved in deep conversation.

“Don’t you just love opportunities like this to have fun?” Yvain slurred

“Mhmmm” Lucan took no notice, wincing slightly as Yvain gave him a hard slap on the back

“You need a girl mate” Yvain smirked

Luc rolled his eyes, “and you need another drink – you’re not gonna get anywhere if this contest is happening”. He looked over to Lionel who was already downing another cup of mead.

Lucan looked around the hall, trying to find a servant with a full tray. Finally! He spotted one and gestured for her to approach. He’d seen this one around the castle a few times, and serving at various feasts. Blonde, young and pretty. He could now feel Yvain’s eyes boring into his back. Luc turned. “No”.

“What?”

“I know what you’re thinking and the answer is no”

Yvain pretended to look mentally wounded, “do you think she’d like me then?”

“In your current state? No” Luc grinned and turned as the girl approached them. If Yvain had his way and was in a more sober state he’d be attempting to flirt with her by now. Servant or not. thankfully he was far to engrossed in tracing the outline of the Pendragon crest on his cape, to even notice the girl standing there.

“Thanks” Lucan smiled gratefully at her, as he took two goblets and handed one to Yvain.

Tagged: Idris
Timeline: One Year Gap (between s2 and s3)
Setting: Nightime - Starts in the Great Hall and moves variously around the castle
Notes: This is such a bad post - apologies! [/color]

[Idris]

The room was bustling with nobles, all gathered for the knighting of Sir Gareth. The ceremony was over; meaning the best bit of the day was well underway. Idris had been carefully weaving her way in and out of the nobles, trying not to spill any of the wine she was carrying. A large noble grabbed the last goblet off her tray so she retreated to fill up empty goblets. She'd been working in the castle for a few weeks now and was picking up the etiquette nicely.

She filled up her tray again and began to circulate the room again. The celebrations had been going on for a while now, so many of the nobles had begun to get a bit too merry. She enjoyed watching the dancing, all the noble women looked so beautiful. She smiled, enjoying the music, and looking out for any nobles who needed their goblets topping up.

Idris saw a young, handsome noble man calling her over. Keeping her posture straight, just as she had been instructed, she moved over to him and his friend and held out her tray. She curtseyed as both men took a goblet. Giving both a small smile she went to stand upright again as one of the ‘merry’ dancers spun away from their partner, and smashed into Idris’s side. In shock she dropped her tray and wine went everywhere. She was holding her side in pain as the man who had bumped into her excused himself,

“Terribly sorry love,” He rasped in her direction, “Can’t help myself sometimes!”

“Don’t call me love.” She curtly said back to him as his partner came to fetch him. Idris didn’t watch him being dragged away, she turned her attention back to the wine she’d spilt. Of course it had gone all over the table; and all over the noble in front of her. In pure frustration her cheeks flared up as she began to say, “I’m so sorry! Here let me help you.” She took the rag-cloth she had wrapped around her rope belt and began to mop up the wine dripping off the table onto the two Lords, as the other servants rushed forwards to help.

.........

Tag: Sir Lucan

[lucan]

SPLASH!

Lucan barely had time to jump up as one of the dancing nobles bumped into the servant and sent the tray of wine spilling all over him and the table. He quickly got up as Yvain muttered something about good wine being spilled and began to wring out his soaked cape. Good job it was red.

“I’m so sorry! Here let me help you.” the poor serving girl, who looked just as shocked as he did at the moment, began top mop up the mess that was now dripping from the table and onto the floor. Yvain seemed to be paddling in it and was too far-gone to care to move.

“It’s alright, no harm done”. Besides there had been worse things that had been spilt on his cape before. He looked over to where the drunken noble who had crashed into the girl was being lead away by his merry friends. “It doesn’t surprise me that Lord Hoel is having the time of his life – he always manages to either tread on someone’s feet or knock into someone”

Lucan only knew what Lord Hoel was like. For a start he loved a good drink, and would never miss an invitation such as this.
Another servant began to fuss over him but he waved them off. “Really, im fine – I would like to take that cloth from you though” he chuckled and took the crimson stained cloth from the servant and began to wipe himself down. It looked like he’d need a new change of clothes to say the least.

“Silly girl” he turned to where Yvain was glaring at the servant who’d dropped the tray, “Look at the man! He’s soaked!”

“Sir Yvain – remember your place!” Lucan glared at his friend, “it was not her fault – now go outside and sober up!”

Yvain muttered something else about how Luc wasn’t his mother and left him and the girl to their own devices. Luc turned back to the girl. “Im sorry about him, unfortunately he’s had a little too much as well”.

[Idris]

Idris was dabbing at the crimson liquid, not allowing the situation to fluster her. She had one hand on her side, he’d caught her just on the hip. ‘That’s going to bruise’ She thought angrily to herself. She began to mop up the crimson liquid again as another servant helped her.

“Really, im fine – I would like to take that cloth from you though” He took the cloth from Idris whose mouth formed a small,
“Oh,” She rubbed her hands on her dress slightly awkwardly as the man wiped himself down. She began to stack the now empty goblets back on the tray. It wouldn’t really do much good in terms of salvaging some of the wine, but they had to be cleaned and refilled. Another servant took the tray away, rolling their eyes at her. Idris bit her lip and continued to help clean up as the mans friend began to shout at her,

““Look at the man! He’s soaked!” Idris was about to bite back and held her tongue with a cool, “I know, and I apologised.” And the sober man cut in, excusing his friend. Then thankfully he left, and Idris was left alone with the crimson stained man; the servants had already helped her clean up the rest of the spilt wine. “Im sorry about him, unfortunately he’s had a little too much as well”
Idris gave a small smile and rubbed her hands on the side of her dress again slightly nervously,

“It’s fine, honestly, it was my fault my aim was a little off.” She said coolly, then widened her smile, “Can I get you a new cloak my Lord?” She was surprised that the man wasn’t more angry than he was, but she wasn’t complaining in the slightest.

[lucan]

“It’s fine, honestly, it was my fault my aim was a little off.”

He laughed lightly at her comment and continued to soak up the wine that was dripping from his cape. He looked to her and grinned, “Let’s be thankful it wasn’t a sword”. He wasn’t so nifty with a crossbow but when it came down to it, he had to be. A little spilt wine wasnt a big thing anyway - he'd had worse things happen. Like being crushed. He raised an eyebrow at the tutting servant that has passed the girl. Obviously Yvain wasnt the only one who was displeased with her actions.

He frowned at her next question, “Can I get you a new cloak my Lord?”. My lord?" well...he hadn't heard that term in a long time.

Lucan shook his head, “It’s alright, and I’ll most likely have to change all of my clothes anyway” he winked allowing her to see that the wine was not only on his cape but also all over his shirt and trousers.
“And please, don’t call me that – makes me feel old” he chuckled and handed her the cloth. “I think this belongs to you……” He decided to leave that sentence hanging, as he had no idea of the girl’s name.

“Anyway I’d better go and change, Arthur or the even the King would have a fit of they saw me in this state” he smiled, “anyway, thanks for the soaking, even if it was unexpected”.

With one last grin he turned and danced, to the music, his way around the nobles who were still dancing.

[Idris]

“Well I doubt they’ll let me anywhere near helping at sword practice after this.” Idris pointed out, half bitterly and half jokingly. Preferably she’d rather be attached to one knight or lady as a servant, rather than just be a nameless face in a crowd of court servers. But she supposed this had been what she’d signed up for, and it was better than nothing.

As he winked at her she half wanted to scoff or jest but did neither, she raised an eye brow and gave a small smile which bordered on flirty. “Sorry, I don’t do a job by halves, its all or nothing, and I’ve proved that much with how much of you I managed to get with that wine.” She did feel genuinely bad for soaking the man with wine, if she’d have got his friend she would have already sidled off to try her hand at some other serving duties, but at least this man was being kind to her. Something she’d found difficult to find so far in Camelot.

“Well I have nothing else to call you,” She replied coolly and grinned. He gave her the cloth back and she pursed her lips together in an expression of ‘gee thanks’, what she’d wanted, a fully soaked cloth; it would take forever to get these stains out. He turned around quickly to leave, but his eyes followed her as she took the cloth back and she volunteered her name, “Idris, my name is Idris.”

He danced his way out of the hall and she was quickly at his heel, she still felt incredibly bad about the whole thing and caught up with him just as he was about to leave. “I don’t run after men very often,” She laughed slightly, “But I still feel really bad about making you look like you’ve just dunked yourself in a dye barrel, there must be something I can do to make it up to you?”

[lucan]

She certainly had a sense of humour to her. He’d never seen a servant joking before. Then again they were not permitted to do so, especially with nobility. Lucan had just realised that even though he usually treated servants with respect, he’d never actually had a proper conversation with one. Not one like this anyway – once again the division of ranks was one that kept either worlds apart.

She looked unimpressed when he handed the cloth back to her. “I suggest you just throw that one away” he muttered so that only she could hear, “I highly doubt anyone will miss a cloth”. The there was subject of the name. “Just call me Luc” he nodded. “Idris, my name is Idris.” He heard her say as he turned to leave her.

“The pleasure’s all yours!” he called and grinned at her again as he danced around the nobles and out of the hall.

Right. Time to heard back to his room and find another change of clothes. He quickly started off, heading in the direction where the Knights Quarters were. He could hear footsteps quickening behind him, Lucan turned to see Idris catching up with him. "I don’t run after men very often,” she started

“Should I feel privileged?” he smirked

“But I still feel really bad about making you look like you’ve just dunked yourself in a dye barrel, there must be something I can do to make it up to you?”

Lucan shook his head again at this. “It’s fine, really”. Bless her. She really must feel bad if she followed him out of the hall. “If I ever think of anything – then I’ll let you know, but for now? Well…I guess it wouldn’t be bad if we considered this the start of a friendship”.

Yvain would’ve keeled over at those words. He was the type of guy to treat servants how they should be used for. Cooking, cleaning – etc. Lucan stuck by the code. Even when it came down to women in particular.

[Idris]

Idris stopped herself raising her eye brows. It was nice to think that this noble could think that there could be a possibility of friendship, and although Idris loved the banter with him, she knew that she could hardly be like one of his noble friends. Society had deemed her the underdog, and she accepted that. She smiled and nodded,

“Yeah,” She said in a small voice, “It’s a deal.” As if on cue one of the older servants cut between her and Lucan and scolded her for spilling the wine, asking how she could be so stupid and apologised to Lucan again,

“She’s new you see,” The servant explained, then pushing some goblets into Idris’s hands, “Take those to the kitchens for cleaning, if you don’t drop them on the way!” She huffed off to scold two other servants who were giggling and ogling over the latest addition to the Knights of Camelot.

Idris shrugged her comments off instantaneously, its something she’d always done and being in Camelot didn’t change that one bit. If anything, it meant that she did it more frequently. She gave Lucan a small smile and went to leave him then remembered,

“The kitchens are right down past the knights quarters yeah? I’ll walk with you that far?” She gave him a smile, “Don’t worry, these goblets are empty.”

[lucan]

The next thing Lucan knew some batty servant had cut into the conversation. Lucan rolled his eyes as the woman thrust the goblets into Idris’ hands and then apologised to Lucan for her actions.

"Really! that will do!"he told the old servant woman wryly, “Lord Hoel had a bit too much to drink and knocked into her”. That would hopefully make the woman think twice. “New or not, I don’t think it’s necessary to blame her for this” Lucan retorted to the woman’s words. Being a new servant made no difference to him. It wasn’t as though it affected the job badly.

Watching the servant storm off to scold two other servants, he turned back to Idris, “wow…now she seems like a piece of work” he smirked.

“The kitchens are right down past the knights quarters yeah? I’ll walk with you that far?”

Lucan nodded, “very well”

“Don’t worry, these goblets are empty.”

“I highly doubt you could soak me anymore than you have done already” he gave her a knowing look and they started off walking. “So…a newbie – you must be loving the job so far”, he said this with slight muse. “Do your parents work here too?”
Usually when positions for servants came up then another family member, who was old enough and capable to take on such jobs would fill the posts.

[Idris]

Idris beamed as Lucan defended her in front of the other servant, in her usual mood Idris would have bit back herself, but she was feeling slightly more reserved as she knew servants had been sacked for doing less than she had in one feast. “She’s always like that, its not like a special mood she puts on just for me or anything.”

They began to walk in the general direction of the kitchens and Idris found herself being interrogated about whether her family worked in the castle or not. She almost paused, the pangs to be alongside her family were ones that she could usually keep at bay but when she was directly asked about them, those feelings became stronger.

She shook her head and laughed,

“Nah, why? Did you want to tell on me?” She jested and continued upon the walk to the kitchens. She’d been working at the castle for under a month, but she’d not seen her family for a month before that as she’d been seeking employment in other villages before she’d even thought to come to Camelot.

She decided a quick subject change was all that could be done, “Do your parents reside in Camelot? Or have they just left you to your own devices?”

[lucan]

“I know exactly what she’s like” Lucan said, still watching the old servant tuttle about, “Always see her barking orders at some poor girl”. He turned back to Idris and grinned, “at least you’re not always in the firing line though”.

He gave her a look when she asked if he wanted to tell on her, “Sorry – I shouldn’t pry” he apologised, “and I’ll let you know now – im not a snitch”. He would tell anyone exactly what he thought of them if needs be, he didn’t have to go running to anyone else and gossip about them. He’d told Yvain many times that he was an idiot. Of course Yvain was the type of person who didn’t care what anyone thought about him.

“Do your parents reside in Camelot? Or have they just left you to your own devices?”

Ah yes. A conversation that he hadn’t had in a loooooooooong time. Not since he first came to Camelot for that matter. Lucan didn’t really see much of his family these days. His father, Duke Corneous, was caught up in his own affairs and Elaine? Well she probably couldn’t care less whether he lived or died. It saddened Luc to think that once upon a time she adored him. Elaine had been more like a mother to him than his own had.

“I came here when I was 18” he told her, “my father taught me how to use a sword as soon as I was capable enough to hold one”. Yes. To die in battle was an honour in itself. That’s what had been drummed into him as well as raising him to be loyal and respectful. Lucan had always stood by these things.

He bit his lip, “My mother died suddenly when I was four”. He could vaguely remember Amice – then again he was only young when she passed. “My father married my stepmother a year later – then three years later my brother Griff was born”.

Ah yes, Griflet – he was 18 himself now. Lucan hadn’t seen him for ages either. The pair were not particularly close, but then again they didn’t have that sibling rivalry either. Lucan would be surprised if his father named Griff heir to the estate rather than him. After having so many near death experiences, Lucan found he didn’t really care what his father did anymore. Yes they had a good relationship than they had done when he was younger, but it wasn’t as good as it should be.

“So yes… after that they just left me to my own devices” he smiled sadly at Idris.

[Idris]

Idris sniffed back and smiled, shaking her head, “Your not prying, just asking.” She gave him a small smile and continued on her way.

Although she liked Lucan she wasn’t ready yet to let him fully into her life. This whole world was still new to her, and although her head told her that a friend to help her on a way couldn’t be anything but a good thing, as usual Idris’s stubborn mind insisted on doing everything herself. She appreciated not being enquired further about her family.

“So your good at handling a sword yeah?” She chuckled, “I chose the wrong person to spill wine all over then!”

Idris could see he was uncomfortable as he spoke about his family, and she felt genuine pangs of sympathy for the fact his mother had died when he was so young. Idris had no idea how they’d have coped if her own mother had died when Idris was still a toddler. Her father had never been much help in the day to day running of the household; that had been all down to her mother. The farm only worked as well as it did because both of them loved the land so much.

“Do you see much of your brother?” She asked then checked herself, “Sorry, now I feel like I’m prying.”

[lucan]

He was thankful she hadn’t given him a clump around the head with one of those goblets for asking questions. “I still shouldn’t have though,” he told her. Of course he shouldn’t have. They’d only just met for crying out loud.

Her comment about choosing the wrong person to spill wine over had him chuckling again. “Unlike a few friends of mine, I don’t feel the need to go mad at a servant just because they ‘accidentally’ threw some wine over me” he smirked, “it would take a lot more than that to make me angry”.
It would. If it had been on purpose then perhaps Lucan may have felt a little miffed, but seeing as Lord Hoel couldn’t control himself, he didn’t blame Idris at all for what happened.

“Do you see much of your brother?”

Lucan was silent for a moment. The last time he’d seen Griff was when he was just about to set out for Camelot. Griflet had been ten at the time and had spent the whole day asking Luc questions as to where and why he was leaving. That was the only proper time he’d spent with his brother.

“Sorry, now I feel like I’m prying.”

“You’re not prying – just asking” he grinned, repeating her words earlier, “I haven’t seen my brother since I left to come to Camelot. That was about eight years ago. I get the occasional letter but nothing much”. Well. He’d had about three letters but that was it. “My brother and I both lead separate lives – im busy here and he’s back in Glouchedon most likely being trained up to become the next duke”
Because he knew that his father would think it highly likely that Luc would die before he would.
Lucan had always wondered what his mother would have thought of the whole thing. Had she still been alive would she have let him leave his home? He remembered his father telling him of how unimpressed she was when Corneous had let Lucan hold a dagger for the first time when he was three.

He then realised that he’d been awfully quiet for a long time.

[Idris]

She laughed when he said it would take a lot more to make him angry and shout at her, “I’ll try harder next time then?” She chuckled, signalling the joke, she really couldn’t afford to irritate anyone else in Camelot. She felt herself relaxing, which was a nice feeling, she hadn’t really relaxed around anyone whilst she had been in Camelot. It wasn’t that she was scared, she hadn’t been brought up to be in that mentality to feel scared in new situations, she just felt a bit out of place. This was the high point in Camelotian society, and she had been on the outside of it so much that it felt odd to now be pacing up and down the castle.

She nodded in agreement as he copied her words and shrugged as he told her about his brother, “I suppose a lot of people in families grow apart eventually.” Although she didn’t let it show to Lucan, that statement was very much extrapolated to her own life. And she now didn’t want to rib Lucan for any more family based information because where she didn’t really want to let him into her personal life, his personal life seemed incredibly tragic and yet he wanted to share it with someone he’d only just met.

They walked for a few minutes in silence, it probably should have been more awkward than it was but Idris continued all the same, “Will you go back to the feast after you’ve changed?” She asked brightly.

[lucan]

“I’ll try harder next time then?”

“If you do it on purpose then perhaps I might just become angry” he mused. “And I become quite menacing when im angry” he pretended to look menacing and threw her a warning look.

“I suppose a lot of people in families grow apart eventually.”

“Mine were never close to begin with, so I guess ive got nothing to regret about leaving” he shrugged.

Lucan wondered if he should ask if her family were close. Obviously from earlier she’d seemed uncomfortable on the subject so he decided to keep his mouth shut from asking this question.
Thankfully Idris broke the awkward silence between the pair. Lucan was glad – he could’ve sworn that if no one had spoken any longer then a tumbleweed would have just rolled on by.

“Will you go back to the feast after you’ve changed?”

“I will for a little while – then I should think about getting some sleep. Early morning training, and then a few duties to carry out”. One of them would most likely be taking part in yet another search party for Lady Morgana. The King was adamant that they’d find her someday – Lucan hoped that it would be soon, not just for the loss of men that it had gained so far, but also for Morgana’s welfare.
The empty presence at feasts and ceremonies was easily felt. Everyone was so used to seeing her there that it was hard to even enjoy yourself now that she’d been missing for such a long time.

“I suppose you’ll be returning to throw more wine over Sir Yvain as revenge?” he cast an evil grin her way.

[Idris]

Idris could never imagine not being close to her family. Although she was obviously less close to them now because of the proximity issues, at least she knew they still cared about her. She didn't want to say she was sorry that he and his family weren't close because she didn't know why they weren't close.

She laughed as he suggesting having another go at pouring wine over nobles and nodded her head, "If I could I probably would-" She put her hand over her mouth and half laughed, "Forgive me, I should know better really, my tongue'll get me into a whole heap of trouble one day!" She joked, but it was true, she knew from hear say that Arthur's servant, Merlin, could get away with comments like that to the Prince, but that didn't mean Idris could be on such friendly terms with every noble she met.

"Anyway, I doubt I'll be trusted with wine for tonight, I'll probably hide myself away in the kitchen and clean the crockery." She gave him a small smile but soon enough this small respite would be gone, and she would go back to being a nobody.

[lucan]

She was very blunt for a servant. Now that was a characteristic that Lucan hadn’t expected but he still found it quite funny.
“No – I shouldn’t worry, it’s quite amusing actually” he admitted, “to be honest, I just give him a few ‘accidental’ wallops around the head in training because it just feels right”.
The amount of times that Luc had brought Yvain crashing to the ground was just hilarious in itself. One time all he’d needed to do was stick out his foot. There was something about Yvain though – he was a good friend and just as loyal as any of the other knights, but sometimes there were moments where Lucan wanted to just knock some sense into him.

"Anyway, I doubt I'll be trusted with wine for tonight, I'll probably hide myself away in the kitchen and clean the crockery."

“I wouldn’t if I were you – if you want to survive the dragon lady then get back out in that hall and carry on serving” he grinned.
Lucan knew the servant woman that had scolded Idris all too well. He really was surprised that she didn’t breathe fire! Many of the servant girls were usually seen being ordered about by her, or (like Idris) being scolded for not doing the simplest of tasks correctly.

“Besides, im going to be there, so if she says anything then I can have words”.

[Idris]

Idris saw reason in going back to the feast, after all, even though she had been serving, she had been having a really good time. Although the nobles were getting a bit too merry she had been enjoying the dancing and the music. Plus, she was sure it would irritate her ‘superior’ if she reappeared anytime soon.

“I think I may have to go back to the feast, I was enjoying the music anyway.” She brushed it away, and noticed that they were nearing the end of her journey at least because now was the turn off towards the kitchens.

“Well this is my stop.” She said, half regretfully and gave a small smile. It had been nice to talk to someone just as a friend rather than a passing acquaintance or just because she had to. She hoped it wouldn’t be the last time she saw Sir Lucan, but she wasn’t going to actively seek him out during the day. After all, he was still a knight, and he probably had better things to do; and she had a living to earn. But in a castle as big as Camelot, it was surprising how small it actually was, so she would probably see him again quite soon.

“I promise the next time we meet I won’t pour wine all over you,” She half laughed and curtseyed, going to make her exit towards the kitchens.

[lucan]

“It was fun” he smirked, “Gives me a new opportunity to mix with new people other than the ones I already know” he referred to the other Knights. “You are the most interesting character that I’ve met so far, in a good way if you don’t mind me saying”.
Idris was a real ball breaker in his opinion – he’d witnessed this first hand and admired her spirit. For a servant, it was hard to find any character in them at all – well from the ones he’d met anyway. Most of the girls would ogle at the knights whilst they worked or would look exceptionally dull whilst doing a days work. However Idris seemed to take this all in her stride.

“Should I miraculously inherit my father’s estate, I’d be glad of taking on a servant such as yourself” he nodded, and then realised that the statement he’d just made, must’ve sounded incredibly dodgy. “For servanty things obviously” he added.

She was half curtseying now as she laughed. He smirked and shook his head, “Really – enough with the decorum around me, it’s bad enough that im referred to as ‘my lord’ let alone being curtsied to” he told her. Yes, it was common curtsey to bow down to a knight or someone of higher authority, but Lucan considered Idris a friend, not someone who should have to be all prim and proper in front of him. Alas though, ranks were ranks and there would always be a divide, and of course - being a Knight, he would have to play by the rules.

He backed away and turned, heading down the hallway, “I’ll see you later!” he called.

[Idris]

OOC Im ashamed I’ve taken to long to reply to this. I’m sorry!

Idris beamed at Sir Lucan as he said she was an interesting character. It had never been her intention, obviously she knew she was different from the other servants who had been bred for the profession, but she didn’t know it was that obvious. “Well I try to be me at all times.” She wouldn’t compromise herself for anyone; well within reason. She knew she had to reign in her behaviour around the head servants and around the more stuffy nobles, but in front of people like Lucan or Tristan she could relax and be herself. For a servant she was proving different to others, for one, she seemed to be friendlier with nobles than other servants, well, excluding Brynn and her family.

Idris’s mood was heightened straight away by the promise of employment if Lucan suddenly inherited land. From the use of his words, he wasn’t expecting any land anytime soon, but she appreciated it nonetheless, “I’d be honoured!” Her voice went into some kind of squeak in her excitement. Although she dreamed of being attached to a noble household she never thought it would be recognised, maybe there was hope for her yet… a slight hope but it was hope nonetheless. “I’d keep things in check.” She assured him.

She awkwardly smiled and apologised, “Sorry.” Over her decorum, but as a rule of thumb she had been trying to remember her manners with nobles. It had been one thing she had been shouted at, and she wasn’t about to be demoted to working in the kitchens. She prided herself with thinking of Lucan as a friend after their encounter, not one she could dine with, or take long walks with, but one in name; someone to share the day to day experiences of her hectic life with.

As he took his leave she took hers, no bows, curtseys she smiled but couldn’t wave because of the amount of cups she was holding, “See you later Lucan!” With that she made her way towards the roaring heat of the kitchen and the rest of her evening.