Red Red Wine [Idris]

[lucan]

“Well I try to be me at all times.”

Lucan smiled and nodded at this. “In a job like yours with a dragon lady screaming, you need to keep your chin up and never lose yourself – even when you think you might just”. He told her, “and as for me? Well what you see is what you get – which I can’t quite be sure is good or not” the trademark grin spread across his lips.

“I’d be honoured!”

Honoured? Now that astonished him a little. “You’d rather be employed in a manor house rather than a castle serving a King? Well…aren’t you just full of surprises” he chuckled “I’d keep things in check.” Hmmm well that sounded good. Lucan looked around and then back at Idris. “I’ll make sure that if that time ever does come – I’ll keep that in mind”

Now that they’d gone their separate ways Lucan found it strange to be able to hold a conversation with a servant – one that had been interesting to say the least. He returned to his room and changed. People would think him such an alcoholic if they could smell the wine stained garments right now, but that hadn’t been Idris’ fault (even if Yvain had stated it was) – it was purely an accident.

Lucan headed outside for a while, not wanting to return to the hall to find his friend plotting to get revenge on the servant girl. It was obvious that Yvain would voice his opinions strongly should she ever bump into him again (lord forbid). At least the evening was warm – so had been the days. Lucan found himself a quiet corner outside just to reflect upon everything.

Why had he even told Idris about his family? He hardly knew her. Thoughts then turned to his family themselves. He imagined Elaine would be sewing away whilst his father worked on various letters of importance. And Griff? Well…Griff was a different story. Hopefully he was keeping everything in order during their father’s absences. Perhaps he’d even married? No – he would’ve been informed. Then Lucan remembered that this was his family – and that he wouldn’t be surprised if he returned home to find his father had died months ago. Hopefully he hadn’t.

When the time was right he was sure that he’d go home again – but with a loyalty as big as his. He wasn’t about to leave Camelot for a little family reunion. No – he’d sit right here and watch the stars (and hide from Yvain for the rest of the evening.)

[Idris]

Idris nodded eagerly as he asked her if she would rather serve a lord of the manor than a King. She supposed that Lucan, from what she had seen of him so far, would be a generously kind man to serve and therefore she wouldn't mind it at all. She did't like working in the castle as it sometimes felt like you were just another nameless face to give wine to nobles and smile when it was needed, "I would rather be stationed in your household than running up and down after every noble in Camelot." She gave him a fiery grin, it wasn't just because she supposed Lucan would be a kind lord, but it was because she would enjoy the intimacy of serving one household rather than whoever popped into Camelot.Lucan left her and she made her way into the kitchens. She set down the crockery she had been holding so it could be washed and put a hand through her hair, reflecting over what had just happened. She certainly liked Lucan's company, he wasn't like the other noblemen, he had taken a genuine interest in her for a few moments and she appreciated that, even if he had just been doing it to be polite.

Idris had been dawdling in the kitchens for as long as she thought she could get away with it. She knew that Lucan was right when he said she shouldn't hide away, and instead she should face up to the other servants, but it felt easier for a few moments to just hide away and forget the world. She received her instructions to go and collect goblets that had been left outside and she nodded, taking a large basket with her to put the goblets in. It was a fine evening and she supposed many noble's would have decided to go outside for a while.

She arrived out in the gardens quicker than she would have expected and took a few moments to enjoy the night air, it was soft against her skin but it wasn't too cold. It was then she noticed another figure out in the darkness with her. She didn't approach them straight away, she had no place to but she spotted a goblet thrown aside near the man so she went to pick it up and then realised who it was.

Her face broke out into a gentle smile as she stood up, the goblet now in her basket. "Oh, Lucan, what a nice surprise." She grinned for a few moments, then spotted another goblet and rushed forwards to grab it, "What are you doing out here?" She knew she was being forward and everything a servant should not but she was curious. After all, Lucan was practically on his own in the middle of the celebrations inside so he probably had a reason for his solitude.

[lucan]

There was no one else about as far as Lucan had seen. Most of the nobles that had retreated for some fresh air had returned inside to resume dancing and drinking even more. All that remained of them were the empty goblets as well as the half full ones. Lucan had drained his own some moments ago and wasn’t contemplating getting another anytime soon. He’d found a little corner to himself and where no one could actually find him with ease. The evening was still warm and he was thankful not to be standing in the hall where the heat would generate easily.

It was the voice of Idris that knocked him so easily from his thoughts. Asking him what he was doing out there – and presumably alone. Lucan turned to her – she was carrying a basket and collecting the empty goblets. “It’s all right” he smirked, “im not hiding a girl anywhere around here – it’s just me, myself and I – oh and you now”.

Lucan shifted slightly from where he sat and patted the space next to him. “Come on, take a break – you look like you need one after the night you’ve had – what with soaking nobles and having your head bitten off by a dragon lady”. He was surprised that Idris had actually taken his advice of returning to serving out in the hall and wherever else needed – then again she’d most likely seen it as an order rather than advice.

“I thought I’d come outside for a while” he answered her previous question, “Yvain isn’t exactly the best company and I like having a little peace and some time to think”.

[Idris]

Idris was glad now that she had stumbled upon Lucan, because if she hadn't then she had been looking at facing the other dreary servants. At least she could protest that she had been set some task by a noble and that was the reason why her goblet collecting had been delayed. Plus, even though she and Lucan were only fresh out of meeting each other, she was glad to finally be in the company of a friendly face.

She hadn't really suspected him of hiding a woman, she wasn't sure why but she just hadn't expected it. She had however fully expected his friend, Yvain was it? To be out here. She couldn't understand why Lucan would choose to stand out here by himself rather than be inside conversing, if she were a noblewoman she would be talking and dancing to her hearts content!

He patted the space next to him and she placed her free arm on her hip, her other arm clutching the basket with the goblets in it. She really should be going back to the feast and helping out there, there was only so much time really she could plead she was the fault of a task from a nobleman before suspicion was raised. She however took his gesture kindly, setting her basket down by her feet and joining him. "What that?" She asked, gesturing back to the Great hall and brushed it away with her hand, "I'm always having nights like that, though I confess, and it's of little comfort to you, but you are the first nobleman I have poured wine over."

Idris gave a soft small smile at his words and then thought on them. She wished she had enough free time to wander about and think on her daily matters. Then again, Lucan probably had his own things to worry about. "Do you want me to go?" She asked up at him, "I'll hardly be able to keep quiet long enough for you to gather your thoughts." It was true, Idris could hardly keep still for two moments and she could never keep quiet, it had been a trait she had brought with her from childhood.