New Faces In Old Places (Idris)

[Brynn Reade]

For once Brynn was glad to return into the thick walls of the castle at sunset, as she normally rather would have liked to spend all day and even the night outside, far away from enclosing walls. Her claustrophobia had not been getting worse lately, and there were times she didn’t even think about all those tons of stone above and around her – still, an open sky was always to be preferred. Not today though, and the answer was a simple one: Camelot had been graced with an unusually hot and humid day, where the air seemed to hover completely still, pressing down on everyone like a thick and heavy blanket and almost no breeze brought relief for those having to be outside. The majority of the day Brynn had spent under the old lime tree beside the makeshift goose stall on the meadows, trying not to move or if she had to as little as possible.

Every now and then her thoughts returned to her poor father, probably dying of desiccation or melting in his chainmail. Hopefully he was to be stand guard inside the castle or at least in some shady corner. She didn’t even dare to think about the poor souls manning the walls and the parapet… they probably fainted in masses!
Oh, and Alex father, the baker… being inside the bakehouse on a normal day was trying, but on a day such as this it must resemble the forecourt of hell! Even her geese seemed too tired and lazy to think up any mischief and for that Brynn had been more than grateful. It would have been too much to think up words to scold them, let alone get up to separate them.

But now she entered the kitchen which was, if humid from all the steam, still colder than the afternoon outside had been. Immediately as she entered the vast room, she was assaulted by a little red whirlwind, hurling herself at her. “Ninni, Ninni, Ninni!! Guess what Mama allowed me to do today!!”
Laughing Brynn took her six year old sister Elinor up into her arms and spun her around. “What, El, what glorious deed did you do today?” And she listened with a fond smile as the little girl was chattering on about her day with gleaming eyes, explaining in detail her first experience with peeling apples. How sweet children were that even a weather such as this could not smother their enthusiasm and liveliness! And Elinor just proved that as she suddenly darted off to search for her brother, not minding her way at all, and therefore jostling some other female servant unlucky enough to be in her way.

“El, mind where you’re going!” Brynn chided, calling after her little sister, and then turned to the poor victim. “I’m sorry, my sister can be a little… rash sometimes.” Only then as she looked closer, Brynn realised she did not know this girl at all. “Oh, are you new here?”

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Tag: Idris
Setting: Kitchens of Camelot Castle
Timeline: Shortly after Idris' arrival

[Idris]

After a few days of intensive work in the castle, Idris was glad to have some time to herself. She had been told to take the afternoon off as there was a feast in the evening which would probably last until the early hours of the morning if the Knight’s of Camelot were anything to go by. Most of her fellow servants, with the same instruction, had taken to their bed chambers, Idris on the other hand saw it as the golden opportunity to go into the main streets of Camelot and see her new home first hand. It was now sunset so Idris had been duty bound to return as quickly as possible.

She’d had such a wonderful afternoon as Camelot had been granted with such a wonderful day, and the heat would of course be matched by that of the castle kitchens soon enough. It was afternoons such as these which made her miss her lazy days back at the farm. She could picture it, right about now Alfie and Benedict were probably winding up Jocelyn and lying back in the corn fields which surrounded their home…

Her thoughts always came back to her family because she had little else to focus on. All she had was the snapshot image of them as she left the farm for what felt like forever. None of them could write so after a few weeks they had no correspondence which got easier as the days went on. She hadn’t really made any friends as such yet.

In a slight daze Idris entered the kitchens and felt someone collide with her leg. She didn’t cry out but her eyes widened in shock and found a small girl staring up at her in shock, “I’m sorry, my sister can be a little… rash sometimes.” A woman behind her excused and Idris smiled it away,

“It’s no matter, worse things could happen, least no one’s hurt!” At the strangers question Idris nodded, “I’ve only been here a few weeks but I’ve been keeping myself busy. I haven’t seen you around before, but I presume your not new?”

[Brynn Reade]

Glad the newcomer was not angry at Elinor – which was not a given, Brynn could have thought of a few people reacting less than happy – the goosemaiden laughed and nodded. The girl in front of her was a pretty blonde who Brynn guessed to be slightly older than herself, but then again, looks might be deceiving and she would have to ask to be sure. Although, she couldn’t very well burst out with it now, right? That was so not her.
On the other hand, Brynn would like to have a little conversation sparking up from this incident and she surely did want the new servant to feel welcome, just that it wasn’t always easy for her being the one to talk. Wouldn’t it be impolite to be all inquisitive? Brynn rather showed friendliness in deeds than in words, that was what she was used to after all, but it was ever so much difficult choosing the right deeds for a person you know nothing of. A vicious circle… only to be overcome when she stepped out of her usual habits.

But the woman took the matters in her own hand, starting to reveal a bit more of herself. Brynn blinked. A few weeks? Then she either hadn’t been paying attention to her surroundings at all – which wouldn’t surprise her given the thought she had been ‘slighty’ distracted by a certain kitchen boy – or the newcomer had made herself pretty scarce. But Brynn guessed this was what such incidents were for, to get to know each other. A pensive girl as she was, the thought of what might have happened if El hadn’t chosen this particular moment to run of course entered Brynn’s mind, but she chose not to dwell on it. ‘You think too much’, her mother often chided her, and as far as Brynn knew it was all too true. The cheery and outspoken Alex had changed this character trait a little for the better, but it would take long to change Brynn’s entire collected persona.

“Really, a few weeks already?” she replied, still a little astonishment audible in her voice. “Well, I am usually not that much around the kitchens, so I might easily have missed you all the time.” Now that she had opened her mouth the words came out just fine, nice and flowing. That was always the case with the goosemaiden. To actually open her mouth took some time, but once she got to it, she might easily say too much and offend.
“Which brings me to, no, I am not new. I am Brynn Reade, the goosemaiden, and I’ve been born here.”

[Idris]

Idris studied the woman who excused the girl who had run into her leg. She was very pretty facially but seemed slightly reserved at first. Idris recognised this from her own sister Joycelyn, who usually tried to appear confident but that flicker of the voice at the end of a sentence, or the slight flushing of the cheeks during a comment told Idris that this woman was reserved, not necessarily shy or untrusting, just unsure of her new colleague as of yet. Or of course she could be seeing too much into it, they had only just met, and Idris was sure she would be a bit flustered if a relative, or offspring of hers had run into a stranger.

Idris had not yet been on a first term name basis with anyone in Camelot yet, people usually just wanted to know what she could do to help them, and how quickly she could do it. The more, and the quicker she got things done, the more she was paid. It was a simple philosophy but at least she always knew there was work where there were Lord’s and Ladies to be served. She was sure that being attached to a particular knight or lady would be much more glamorous than running round after half the court, but beggars can’t be choosers now can they?

She smiled at her new acquaintance as another reassurance that she wasn’t bothered by the incident, Idris wasn’t hurt at all and anyway it had forced this conversation. Idris nodded to her enquiry about how long she’d been at Camelot, “It doesn’t feel like weeks,” Idris excused, “Feels like days in some respects.” As Brynn introduced herself Idris smiled and moved closer towards her as at present they still had a large chunk of the kitchens separating them,

“Nice to meet you Brynn, my names Idris, just plain Idris.” She smiled, “I’m just a helping hand in the kitchens.” It felt bad to even be at the bottom of the pile in being a servant, a goose maid sounded a lot more upper-class than the girl who runs around after spoilt nobles refilling their goblets. Idris turned her attention to the small girl who still didn’t seem to know what to do. Idris knelt down and smiled at the girl, but directing the question more to Brynn, “And who is this pretty young lady?”

[Brynn Reade]

Brynn cocked her head at the woman’s remark, thinking it over. She herself knew this phenomenon when days seem to rush by and you suddenly asked yourself where the time had gone. Settling into new places and fields of exercize had to be such an experience where the order of time seemed to waver slightly, though Brynn couldn’t tell. She had never left Camelot in all her life, and she had been goosemaide for a few years now and the task never changed. Some might call that a little dull, but Brynn knew this was just what she wanted to do. But maybe this could be compared at least a bit to the time shortly after Alex and her had become close? The days had rushed by then, filled with bliss and adventure. Things had settled down now, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t still as exciting as on the first day…

“Oh, I am sure”, she agreed and returned the smile. “But Camelot is a good place to settle down in if you ask me. Things can be rough sometimes, but when it comes down to it, nothing really has changed for many years. At least not for us servants.”
Nodding in acknowledgement, she registered her name and stored it away in her memory. “Idris”, she repeated, as sometimes it was better to remember when she once had placed the name on her lips. “That is a beautiful name. Unusual for my ears, but nice sounding.” She also didn’t think it odd that Idris had no last name to show, that was even common amongst the lower class. Last names were nothing but bynames that described and distinguished people from others with the same first name. Brynn’s own family name – Reade, an old form or “red” – was a very good example, as red or at least reddish blonde hair seemed to run in her family.

“Oh and don’t ever say ‘just’ to your trade”, Brynn protested as she thought she heard some slight downtalk in there. “Being a goosemaiden makes me different but not high above anyone. The best people I know work in the kitchens”, she finished with a gleaming in her eyes that gave away a certain fondness of someone.
Brynn had forgotten about Elinor for a little who still stood in front of Idris, probably waiting for someone to cast a judgement on her. The goosemaiden smiled reassuringly at her little sister, then answered for her. “This little lady is called Elinor and is my little rascal of a sister.”
Elinor finally seemed to realise no one would be wrenching her head off anytime soon, and a smile returned to her face as she looked up at Idris, as she stated with childlike earnesty. “I am no lady, I am just a servant girl. But I am already six!” In her logic that probably was a perfect recompensation for her lack of nobility, and this was one of those times Brynn would have liked to simply hug Elinor for her cuteness.

[Idris]

Idris studied Brynn, she was something different, not like some of the stuffy servants who were using their positions to better themselves and get closer to serving the royals personally, she seemed like someone who just wanted to do right for her family and settle down. Idris envied her in some respects, there had been no way Idris’ family could have accompanied her to Camelot, for one they wouldn’t have because they had their own plot of land, but also she wouldn’t have expected them too.

Idris nodded softly as Brynn noted that Camelot was a nice place to settle down, “I’m sure it is, but being here for only a few weeks I’m not yet sure, it is a nice place to work though.” She didn’t want to sound as if she was dismissing Brynn’s want to stay here and settle down. Idris admired her in some ways, it was just for the meantime Idris didn’t feel as if she fitted in in Camelot, after all she was used to the slow paced field life, not being at the cultural hub of the entire kingdom. Maybe if she found someone to settle down with then it would change, but that was yet to be seen of course.

Idris wasn’t surprised that no one had ever heard of her name. She was still of the opinion that her mother plucked the name out of the sky. She didn’t mind though, it made her feel individual and different, not only that but it stood out in a way that names like ‘Jocelyn and Isabelle’ were lost on the ears. “I’ve never yet come across another Idris, but you are the first Brynn I have ever met as well.”

She resisted the urge to shrug off Brynn’s comments about not just saying she was a mere servant. “I don’t mind.” Idris protested, “It’s a living I suppose.” It was true, if Idris had her own way she would be attached to one lord or lady, or even back at the farm with her own family instead of running around after half of the castle.

She turned her attentions back to the girl who had run into her legs, “Hello Elinor, my names Idris.” The little girl was adorable and Idris raised her eyes as the girl proclaimed her status, “You are not just as servant girl.” Now Idris was starting to sound like Brynn, “Don’t let anyone tell you that, you could be a goose maiden like your sister.” She smiled approvingly back to Brynn, warming to her gently.

[Brynn Reade]

Although she had seemed very reserved and even a little distant at first, Idris now seemed to warm up to this conversation and her new acquaintance and Brynn was glad. She was very well aware of her own reticence being a huge shortcoming when it came to make friends, and so it almost seemed like a little miracle that two people so alike could actually engage in a conversation that didn’t consist of awkward pauses half of the time.
Idris hesitant behaviour and comments about settling down in Camelot made Brynn wonder what the actual backgrounds of this young woman were. It was not unheard of that girls took up the duty of supporting their family financially while taking up the task as maids in certain households or even the castle itself, but the goosemaiden could of course not readily assume what she didn’t know of.It was all a very different world to her, having had the luck of a father who served as one of the king’s guards, therefore allowed to live in the castle all her life. And yet, she could not very well ask to make sure, right? She needed a slower approach for such personal questions.

“I’m sure you will get used to it in time, Idris!” she tried to console the young woman with a tentative smile. “What exactly are your duties here if I may ask? Do you help out with preparing the meals or are you allowed up in the ‘higher departments’ to serve the knights?” she asked with a little wink, truly warming up to this conversation as well. “I have heard peculiar stories about some of the knights, so I’m not even sure which I would like better personally. At least down here”, she motioned around the vast kitchen, “this is our own kingdom and we have the say here!” That’s what Alex would say sometimes, referring to how much easier and funnier the life of a servant was, as they could do what they wanted as long as they stayed amongst their own kind.

Brynn’s cheek colored a bit in bashfulness when Idris called her name unusual as well. It was true, Brynn herself hadn’t met another girl yet who could present the same name to be hers, and she always had thought herself a little special for that as well. How peculiar to find something like a fellow soul there in Idris. “Oh, yes I know”, she remarked, rubbing her forehead slightly to get rid of a certain pulsing that could become a headache very soon if she didn’t do anything against it. “I have not the slightest idea what made my parents come up with this name. For my little brother Gyrth I at least know its origin.”

Brynn watched Elinor’s eyes grow huge, her lips forming a silent ‘oh’ as she was addressed in such a ‘grown up’ manner by the elder girl, and the goosemaiden also saw that little spark in her sister’s eyes that would make sure Elinor now would probably worship Idris for the rest of her life. Not the worst way to be integrated into the servanthood of Camelot, she presumed.
“She is a great help to me already”, Brynn spoke for Elinor as the little girl seemed out of things to say for the moment. “I often take her out to the meadows with me and she handles the feathery beasts quite nicely.”
That seemed to be too much praise for Elinor for the moment, and she hid her face in Brynn’s skirts in embarrassment. Patting her little head with a fond smile, Brynn then nodded to Idris. “What do you say, shall we sit for a moment?”

[Idris]

Idris was defiantly warming to the conversation, at first she would have been quite contented just to continue to her bed and relax for a while, but Brynn seemed nice enough. Idris had been in Camelot too long without friends, and although she stubbornly wasn’t overtly seeking them, they seemed to be seeking her out. As Brynn started saying she would settle into Camelot she studied the woman. Idris knew that Brynn loved her home, but Idris had no home at the moment. There was certainly nothing to keep her at Camelot she could leave tomorrow and nothing would be thought of it. She didn’t hate it, it just didn’t feel like home yet. She was sure it would get easier as the months and even years went by then Camelot would feel more homely. Brynn had a whole life here with her family, Idris had the clothes on her back.

“I help upstairs usually at the feasts and serving the knights.” Idris nodded and smiled, “I think I prefer it to helping down here.” It was true, she loved being up where the action was, although people often thought Idris was reserved because she didn’t volunteer information readily, it was more about being guarded rather than being shy. It was true, servants had their say and they could make their voices heard in their own little world, they were seldom disturbed whilst they were in the serving quarters and Idris was glad of it sometimes. “What does your work involve?” She asked curiously.

Idris nodded as Brynn confessed she had no knowledge to the origin of her name, “It’s the same with my name,” Idris explained, “My parents never really explained where they had got the name from, but I don’t suppose I really asked either.”

The child, Elinor, was hiding behind her sisters skirts. Idris watched her for a few moments, seeing her sister many years ago in her. Idris took Brynn’s offer of a seat up readily, she had been helping out upstairs with the breakfast this morning, and if one knight had a problem, they all had a problem. Idris hadn’t conversed with people deeply for so long she barely knew where to stir the conversation next, “Do you have any other siblings?”

[Brynn Reade]

Brynn cocked her head in thinking when Idris told her about her work ‘upstairs’. Serving the nobles, that had never been something Brynn had really wanted to do. She was content to stay with her own kind and the geese, watching the high and mighty only from afar, or secretly, when the knights trained. There were some girls around here who loved their task, fawning on the knight’s needs, and especially the young ones, giggling about who had looked whose way long enough and always trying to get their attention, probably dreaming the ancient old dream of a knight falling in love with a serving girl and making her more than just his mistress.
But Idris didn’t strike Brynn as such a kind, not at all. She seemed pretty down to earth, not with such far-fetched ambitions. “I can imagine you prefer it to the hustle and bustle down here”, she commented with a smile. “But what is it you like about it? Aren’t those men and women up there very… demanding?” At least she had often heard such things about them and remembered every eyeroll of the cook whenever someone sent a meal back.

“As for my work, it’s pretty simple actually”, she continued. “I take out the geese every morning to take them to one of their outdoor stalls in the surrounding meadows, and watch over them until it’s time to go back. But then again, it also sounds more simple than it is, geese are picky.” She laughed. “They don’t tolerate many people, for example my… friend Alex. He often visits me down there and they ‘ve never warmed up to him. And they are moody. Especially in such a heat, that’s why I returned so early today.”
Talking about her geese could turn even the quiet Brynn into a little blabbermouth. It might also show in her eyes how much she loved this task she had been given from an early age. It was fortunate some people in the right places had realized the young girl’s talent and had not forced her to walk in her mother’s footsteps entirely.

Apparently Elinor did not have a mind to sit down as well, she seemed fidgety and Brynn grinned, tousled her red hair quickly and released her with an affectionate “Off you go, El. When you see Gyrth, tell him to not get up in too much trouble!” The little girl returned the grin of her elder sister, then remembered her manners and bade Idris goodbye with a little curtsy before she stormed off. Looking after her, Brynn sighed fondly. “Gyrth and El are my only siblings, I’m the eldest, the ‘responsible big sister’. Not an easy task, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. What about you? You seem familiar with girls of El’s age.”

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[OOC: sorry that took so ridiculously long! My muse for Brynn was entirely gone for some time ...]

[Idris]

Idris wasn't the dreamer sort of woman. She was already aware from whilst performing her duties that a lot of the serving women were only placed there because of their good looks. Of course all of the women knew their beauty but they didn't have the maturity to match the looks. They usually just stood in the corners gossiping about the latest recruit to the Knights of Camelot, or they spoke about who was the most good looking noble. Idris suspected that they hoped one of these knights would sweep them from their humble origins and make them a lady of the manor. Idris was fully aware that never happened, and if it did it was incredibly rare, weren't knight's supposed to marry women in their own rank? Idris was using the experience with the knights so that she could gain employment attached to one household in the future, it was her small dream but it was something to aspire to.

Idris shrugged at Brynn's question, "They aren't too demanding, and the work keeps me busy." She smiled, Idris had never been one for slacking during work and she enjoyed being kept busy, "Some of the nobles are polite, don't get me wrong, a lot aren't, but it really isn't as bad as everyone makes out." Idris wasn't quite sure what she loved about her work apart from it helping her to aspire to her dreams of serving a Lord's household. "It's just different to what I'm used to, I'm hoping it'll help me gain employment in a Lord's household, I'd prefer that to the castle." She confided this in Brynn because she didn't want her to think she was one of these silly pretty serving girls who was after catching the eye of some lord. "But I don't know how likely that is."

Idris felt the passion from Brynn for her geese as she blurted out her words. She had gone from very short answers and questions to quite a long statement and Idris could do nothing but smile. It was nice to find someone who was so happy with their lot in life, "It sounds interesting." Idris confessed, "I shall have to come and visit you whist you are tending them sometime?"

Idris bowed her head as Elinor curtseyed at her and smiled back to Brynn as she explained about her siblings. "I am the second oldest child in a family of six," Idris explained slowly, she hadn't really told anyone about her family before; no one had asked. "My youngest sister is still twelve so I used to help out a lot with her upbringing when we were younger." She didn't know if that meant she should be good with children, maybe she just had a talent for speaking to children.