The Knight and the Serving Girl [Idris]

[Deleted]

It was a simple enough statement, but Idris had managed to put him in a much better mood. They had only met last night, and in rather extraordinary circumstances but it was comforting to know that she was being sympathetic by not asking him any more. It wasn’t because he didn’t trust her, he simply didn’t tell anyone, anything, which was part of the problem. His older brother would tell him he was being stupid, and his younger siblings wouldn’t care so he’d just survived by not talking. Well, not so much survived as drunkenly fallen asleep in corridors. Still, it had all seemed to work out alright, so there wasn’t anything to complain about. There was nothing more to say about it, them both having reached an understanding and so he didn’t reply but simply gave a small smile.

Idris didn’t seem to mind that he was dragging her down an almost deserted street. Luke ran a small bakery away from the centre of the city, famed for his pies but also for his reluctance to sell any. He had illusions of grandeur and would not let any old peasant feast on his works of art. Tristan had first been taken there by his brother Kay; being from a noble family they were deemed worthy of Luke and his wares. Despite his arrogance, however, Luke was deserving of his good reputation.

“I have, haven’t I?” Tristan matched her smile. “Obviously it’s the prospect of a good pie.”

Tristan led Idris further down the street to a rather large building – it had been two but somehow Luke had been able to purchase both and turn them into one. Half of it served as his shop and the other resembled an inn in that customers were able to sit with their food and drinks. Once one got past Luke and his ways it was a rather hospitable place, providing you were the right sort of person. Tristan was very aware that Idris was not the right sort of person, but if Luke was to enjoy Tristan’s patronage he would have to extend his welcome to Idris.

When they reached the building in question he stopped, separated from Idris and extended an arm towards the entrance. “Well here we are. Prepare to taste the best pie you have ever known.”

[Idris]

It was odd how what seemed like such a simple and small event could cause both her and Tristan such happiness and joy. She hadn't had a pie since she'd left home, her mother used to home bake them. She winced a little, every now and again a different part of her past life as a farm hand seeped through into the here and now and they weren't the most helpful of memories when she was trying to enjoy her day. It was that homesickness which made her unsure she would ever find a home in Camelot. No, she wouldn't let this ruin her day, or Tristan. He had set his demons to rest for the afternoon so she should as well.

She nodded, "I'm not complaining." Tristan in a good mood was obviously preferred to him being in a bad mood, "And it's better than the mood you were in last night." That was also true, it had been one of the oddest introductions she'd ever had with anyone.

With the promise of a good pie, Idris was now starting to feel the pangs of hunger rising up through her stomach. She'd had breakfast before completing her morning duties so she'd probably already worked her breakfast off. The building Tristan was leading her into was huge, she took a moment to take it in as Tristan introduced the venue. She half laughed and nodded at Tristan as he told her to prepare herself. She followed him inside the tavern. It wasn't a particularly light room, with those eating seeming to be on one side of the room, and those who wanted to get drunk as quickly as possible on the other. She was unaccustomed to the way things worked in the city. Did you have to order the pies? Well she figured you would, but who would you order it from and when?

Tossing her head back she took it in her stride, as usual, "So, what would you recommend?" She asked Tristan boldly, hoping he would order for her. She didn't expect him to pay of course but she had little idea what she was doing and didn't want to embarrass herself in front of him. This was where her upbringing in the countryside really showed its true colours, although she wanted to appear as if she were streetwise and knew the cities ways inside out she knew the total opposite. Luckily her confidence allowed her to keep up the illusion, and she hoped it wouldn't fail her now.

[Deleted]

Tristan found himself watching Idris rather fondly as she entered the building and took a moment to ingest her surroundings. It was certainly an odd place; he had thought so when he first entered. He took the liberty to link their arms again, guiding Idris to an empty table in the corner. He had a feeling she wouldn’t be given the warmest welcome should anyone see she was a servant. Many of the customers were as bad as their host, but Tristan was going to make sure she felt welcome, by him at least. He remained on his feet, waiting for her to make her choice.

"So, what would you recommend?"

“I was going to have the steak and ale; I know it doesn’t sound terribly exciting but it more than makes up for it.” He replied. It was only after making his mind up that he realised having steak and ale probably wasn’t the best choice, what with its inclusion of ale, but it was his favourite and he was hardly going to get drunk from a pie, so it was probably safe. “I’d also recommend a nice Burgundy, but I think we both agree that’s probably not a good idea.” He waited expectantly for a reply, hoping she would make a quick decision. The place was filled with the smell of freshly made pies, making him even hungrier.

[Idris]

The tavern certainly was heaving. Tristan quickly guided her to an empty table and she sat down opposite him dutifully. Unsure of the reason for the rush she brushed it from her thoughts quickly. She considered that Tristan probably wouldn't want to scream to the whole of Camelot that he was hanging out with a servant. It wasn't the best use of a knight's time she imagined. However, Idris wasn't concerned with that, because if Tristan didn't want to be seen with her he would have slipped out of the servants quarters this morning, hangover or not, and not wanted to see her ever again.

Tristan started naming pies and she laughed as he turned down his own suggestion of a steak and ale pie. "You would be a very bad drunk if you were to fall over after one pie." She pointed out, grinning widely. She shrugged at the latter suggestion, now he had mentioned a steak and ale pie she fancied one. One of her mothers favorite pies had been a steak and ale pie and whilst she knew that it wouldn't be as good as her mothers, it was still worth a shot. Maybe it would even make her less homesick. She could see the hunger in Tristan's eyes, it was recognisable in all men; something she had learnt from early childhood- the way to a mans heart was always through the stomach. Although she had no intentions of doing anything to get to Tristan's heart in anything but friendship, she knew his good mood probably wouldn't last unless he was fed quickly, "I fancy the steak and ale pie," She declared happily, "You can have one too, so long as its just the one." She declared, giving him the wink to seal the deal. She hoped he was going to order, not pay, just order, then that would be another ordeal out of the way.

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Tristan laughed at Idris’ comment about him getting drunk from eating a pie. It was a little exaggerated, but he still wouldn’t put it past himself. He was horrendously easy to get drunk, as Kay had quickly found out when he was fifteen and had been using it as a source of amusement ever since. He would have replied but before he had the opportunity Idris had already decided on her own pie and he was far too hungry to make small talk when he could be easing his suffering.

He was about to order their food when a thought occurred to him about payment. Luke would expect it before they were given their food, and it would be highly improper for Tristan to ask Idris for any money. However he was fairly certain she would protest to his offer to pay for her. Then again, he was a knight of Camelot, and though also a gentleman he was not above enforcing his authority in order to act with gentlemanly decorum.

“Now,” he began, still standing which made him unintentionally tower above her, “I am sure you won’t like this, but it is what is going to happen so I’m afraid you are simply going to accept it. I cannot possibly ask you to pay for yourself – and before you protest this is not a matter of status or anything like that. I am a man and you are a woman and it is therefore my responsibility to provide you with food...buying you a pie still counts as providing.” His speech became increasingly quicker as he went on, finishing rather abruptly but firmly. After a second’s thought he added, “And if you argue I’ll have you put in the stocks.” His last comment was, of course, a joke but he was making a serious point. It simply wouldn’t be proper for Idris to pay for herself. Besides, he had far more money than she so it would hardly set him back to buy an extra pie.

“Right,” he decided to disappear rather than allow her to reply, “I’ll be with you again in a moment.”

[Idris]

Idris was starting to ease into her surroundings. As soon as she became aware that she wasn't going to get thrown out of the tavern or embarrass it was all well and good. She untied her cloak and set it beside her, knowing if she did not she would be freezing when they left the tavern. Her cloak looked as torn and tattered as the rest of her on the insides, but oddly on the outside it was wearing quite well; not that she was complaining of course.

Tristan already knew her personality too well; she of course went to protest at Tristan paying for her meal as he suggested it. Not wanting to be rude she allowed him to finish, but then she disappeared! He didn't give her a chance to argue; how was that fair? The stocks comment had silenced her however, she knew Tristan meant it in jest, but he could do it if he wanted, even if for a joke. Then again, she probably should have already been put in the stocks several times for her insolent behavior towards Tristan.

Idris tried to follow Tristan across the room to see where he was going. He was soon out of view so she gave up on that particular activity and started people watching. There were all sorts of people in the tavern; ranging from old couples, to other knights to friends and love-struck young adults. Idris's stomach turned whenever she saw public displays of affection like those shown by the latter kind, she had never been into overtly expressing her feelings anyway. Tristan was taking for what seemed to be forever but no sooner had she thought that than he was coming back towards the table, "What took you so long?" She asked playfully.

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Tristan returned to his and Idris’ table having ordered and paid for their food. It was rather busy so it would probably be a long wait, but he had already brought them back some drinks – two tankards of milk that wouldn’t be as fresh as Tristan was used to. There were plenty of cows owned by his family and living on their estate so fresh milk was always available. In the city, however, there was a distinct lack of cows so the milk was never that fresh, having been brought in from the country, in some cases from farms a few days away. He set Idris’ drink in front of her before taking his seat. “It might be a long wait I’m afraid.” He told her and gestured towards the rest of the tavern by way of emphasising the business. “They’ll be freshly baked though, so that’s the main thing.”

He took a swig from his drink and was rather surprised to find that it was not as bad as he expected. It still left much to be desired, but at least it was drinkable. He didn’t comment, complaining about milk was hardly going to make riveting conversation. It occurred to him, as he drink it less than satisfactory milk, that this morning he had woken up in the servant’s quarters, with Idris, and now he was surrounded by nobles, with Idris. He laughed to himself – it was a rather odd situation. They had met little more than twelve hours ago, yet here they were eating and talking together as though they had known each for years. It was all very strange. “So, what do you think?” he asked, striking up a conversation to while away their wait. “Of this place, I mean.”

[Idris]

When Tristan did reappear he was also carrying two glasses full of what she discovered to be milk. One of the few luxury items they had on the farm was a dairy cow. It was one symbol of their wealth for many years as her father often sold the milk to neighbouring villages. However, more and more farmers had got dairy cows the price of milk had gone down; obviously. However, it meant that Idris had been used to fresh milk all her life, well up until now. She wasn’t too bothered it wouldn’t be as fresh however, she wasn’t a snob; life hadn’t dealt her a hand that allowed her the ability to be choosy about how she looked and what she ate. She thanked him and when he sat down, taking a sip from his glass she finally piped up, “You should have at least allowed me to get you a drink.” She knew he had threatened her with the stocks, but she had been under the impression that was on the topic of paying for the meal, not drinks.

He laughed as she was setting down her glass and she looked down at herself, self consciously thinking she might have spilt some milk or something similar. She found nothing of the sought to be true so with confused eyes she smiled, “What’s tickled you?”

At his question Idris looked around the room as if the answer was just going to fall from the ceiling. She shrugged unhelpfully, but not unenthusiastically. She didn’t mind the place, in fact she kind of liked it, “It’s cosy isn’t it?” She replied, feeling as if she was settling into her surroundings rather than sticking out like a sore thumb with the rest of the people in the tavern. “I’m hungrier now though,” She admitted. The smell of the pies was wafting through the tavern right to their table and it was starting to take its toll, “But we’ll have to amuse ourselves until we get our food,” She supposed vocally, “Any ideas?”

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OOC - I don't think I'm being terribly articulate at the beginning, but I'm sure you'll get the gist.

It was rather irritating when Tristan was trying to be a perfect gentleman and all Idris was doing was suggesting she pay for her food and drink. He would much prefer her just to be grateful, because it was completely out of the question that she should pay for anything, but at the same time he didn’t want her thinking he was only doing it because she was a servant. He wasn’t at all, simply because that was just what was done. And there were only so many times he could tell her such without boring himself, let alone her.

This was the first time in months he’d been anywhere near this sociable and he was determined that they would both enjoy themselves. He was trying desperately to move his life on, so if that meant forcing courtesy onto his young companion that was exactly what he was going to do. It was a lot simpler that way. By not allowing her to pay for anything, for doing it all himself, no matter how small a matter it may seem, he was remaining the courteous knight and everything was remaining how it should be. He was keeping his life in control. So he waved a hand dismissively and replied: “Don’t be silly. This is my way of thanking you; it doesn’t work if you do it yourself.”

“What’s tickled you?”

“Hmm?” He looked up, he hadn’t actually been aware that he was laughing aloud. “Oh,” he shrugged, “it’s just (he really hoped she wouldn’t take offence) this situation...it’s a little odd that’s all. For me, anyway. I don’t, I don’t socialise. I used to but erm, anyway. It wasn’t anything that interesting...”

Tristan nodded at it being cosy, it certainly was that, still, at least they were no longer battling their way through the busy streets. Idris’ vocalised hunger was emphasised by her suggestion that they needed to amuse themselves, presumably to take her mind off it. He thought for a moment, rather helpfully she had no suggestions of her own. After a few moments an idea came to him. It was a little childish, but it had always amused him and his siblings when they were younger. Hopefully it would amuse Idris too. “All right,” he grinned and leaned back in his chair, “I spy something beginning with T, and no, it’s not a table.”

[Idris]

Idris had to admit she was enjoying herself. It was defiantly one of the different ways she had spent her afternoons in Camelot. Usually when she had free time she either walked around the castle trying to get her bearings, or just simply stayed in the servants quarters keeping herself to herself. She was enjoying not having to think about her situation, nor her job for a few hours. When she was in the castle her position as a servant dominated everything, but now she just felt like everyone else in Camelot. It was a good feeling, as if she belonged somewhere instead of just feeling dislodged from everything around her. She decided to merely be grateful for Tristan's actions because she thought he was going to be insulted if she continued to defiantly wanting to pay, plus she enjoyed the fact her coin purse was still quite full, "Okay, thank you Tristan." She submitted, taking a swig of her drink and smiling at him.

Idris nodded as Tristan spoke, "I'm not used to socialising either." She put in confidently, she went to leave it there but decided to go on a little bit, "I haven't been out much since I arrived in Camelot." It wasn't about trust, she just didn't like telling everyone too much about her life. She had told Brynn about her family and she was sure she had felt sorry for her and it irritated Idris. She didn't really want people to feel sorry for the way things had worked out, they had happened and that was that; if she could accept it why could no one else.

Idris giggled slightly as Tristan suggested I spy. She hadn't played it in years. It used to be a lazy pastime for her and her siblings whilst they were on the farm on a warm afternoon. She was sure her elder brother used to make up words so that he would win. "Erm T?" She looked around her, "Tavern? Tankard?" She scratched her head, "Or how about Tristan?"

[Deleted]

Tristan was quite surprised when she thanked him; he had been expecting more resistance. But no, she had just thanked him. He inclined his head. It made him feel like he was now trusted, or at least, more trusted than he had been now that she was accepting drinks and food from him. They had managed to do away with the stuffy formalities quickly enough so now they were starting to behave as good friends rather than short acquaintances.

Tristan nodded at Idris’ words, showing that he understood how she felt, not about not being in Camelot obviously, but about not socialising. Apart from other knights and family he didn’t know anyone else. It was nice to have someone away from all that. “Well, we’re both socialising now.” He lifted his glass as a toast. “To no more social ineptitude.”

“Tankard.” He grinned and nodded. “I thought I’d ease you into it.” He explained, as if her quick guesswork was just him allowing her to win when in reality he’d just said the first thing that had popped into his head. He leaned forward, pushed his drink aside and rested his elbows on the table – this was going to get serious. “Go on then, it’s your turn.”

[Idris]

Idris was laughing again, but happily laughing. She raised her tankard with Tristan in a mock toast and nodded, "Yeah, from here we'll both be less unsociable." She took a swig from her glass and considered Tristan, surely he should be more sociable than Idris was. She had little time because of her duties and so she missed servants who she had been aquainted with. "Do you not socialise with the other knights of Camelot?" She asked, "Or does this mean you will socialise more?" She didn't want to put Tristan back in a depressive stance so she smiled at him, letting him know her question was in good humour.

Idris knew she had been unsociable since arriving in Camelot. The bad terms she had left her family on had affected her judgement of other people. If those who loved her could not provide or aid her in her adulthood, who could she trust to do just that? She had trusted her family to find her a marriage and support her in it, and the total opposite had happened. Of course she kept telling herself she wasn't bitter, and she tried so hard not to be but how could she not? Her family was living a life without her and she was living a life without them, and that was how it had to be.

"I have played I-spy before you know." She replied confidently, taking a swig of her drink then thinking what she could come up with for her I-spy. She thoughtfully scanned the room then thought up a good challenge, "Okay, I spy something beginning with M." She didn't think it was particularly hard but it was a start and she couldn't think of anything else.

[Deleted]

Their tankards would have clinked together to officialise their toast, but they were made of wood, so they made the wood version of a clink. He took a swig as she did and set his tankard on the table. She was asking him questions again, ones that he didn’t want to answer because they reminded him just how pitiful he actually was. “I wouldn’t say socialise as such...” He wasn’t sure what he would call it, but the more he thought about it the more he realised that a) he really didn’t socialise that much and b) he didn’t really have that many friends. There were the other knights, of course, and one in particular could be described as a friend, but he wasn’t a man who easily spoke to others. He kept himself to himself because he’d always been told to, and then it had become a habit. It was weird, then, that he found himself so easily talking to Idris. Maybe it was because she wasn’t a knight or a noble so he didn’t feel like he had anything to prove to her. Whatever it was he liked it and was going to make sure it continued. It was during his thinking about it that it occurred to him how he must sound to Idris, and so added, “I’m not as pitiful as I sound, I promise. I like my own company.”

He raised his eyebrows as she said that he did, in fact, know how to play I Spy. Her words were said with such a tone that seemed to question how he could even consider the possibility that she did not. He did not reply, but waited for her to find an object. Hmm. M. Well, the first thing that sprang to mind was milk and it was a good a first guess as any. He picked up his tankard and shook it very slightly. “Milk?”

[Idris]

Idris shrugged at his words to show him she didn't mind he stated he preferred his own company. "Me too." She agreed and smiled. It was true she preferred solitude rather than to be the centre of attention. It was something she had developed as a child, she had never enjoyed being anything but in the background. She had let her siblings take the majority of the attention. No one expected Idris to have been the more quiet in the family as when someone spoke to her individually she made sure her opinions were heard.

Idris nodded, inclining her head towards Tristan, "Correct." She confirmed and smiled, taking a drink of the milk. She had gone slightly easy on him for her first go but she had felt rushed to give an answer and she couldn't think. She was still incredibly hungry but the game was keeping her mind off it. She hoped, however, that the food wouldn't be much longer even though the milk was keeping her going for now. The smell of the pies wafting in from the kitchens, plus out of the corner of her eye she could see other people tucking in to their lunches and she felt a twinge of jealousy.

"Go on, it's your go." Idris hadn't had this much fun in a long while, Tristan was turning out to be wonderful company and he was doing a good job at keeping her entertained.

[Deleted]

Tristan was pleased to see that Idris was enjoying herself, and the game seemed to be taking her mind off the food, as it was doing for him as well. He also rather pleased, rather embarrassingly, at guessing her I Spy correctly, even though it was pretty obvious. Now they had both chosen easy items he was going to have to think of something more difficult. Tristan started surveying the vicinity, trying to find the most obscure thing he could see. In a tavern full of people it was no easy job. Anything that would be an interesting choice was obscured by bodies, annoyingly so.

Tristan leaned back in his chair again, rather confident with his choice. He had just seen a large, seemingly drunk woman leave her seat and reveal a wooden keg in the corner of the room, presumably full of ale. He looked back at Idris and declared "I spy something beginning with K."

[Idris]

Childishly, Idris was getting really into this game. She couldn't have really ever imagined being treated to lunch by a knight and playing I spy with him in her first few months in Camelot; it wasn't exactly what she had been expecting. She had been expecting nobles to be rude to her all the time and treat her like dirt. Some noble's lived up to that charming reputation but Tristan was breaking it down thankfully. "I don't think my family would believe me if I told them I was being treated to lunch by a knight." As soon as she'd mentioned her family she regretted it, she didn't show it of course and caught herself quickly with a small smile at Tristan as they continued with their game.

"K?" She repeated and scratched the side of her head, puzzled at what he could mean. She looked around the pub for anything beginning with 'k'. She wasn't going to let Tristan beat her because she knew he wouldn't let her live it down. "Erm," She looked past Tristan, thinking hard and then she spotted it at the other end of the bar, "Ah ha! Keg!" She declared and grinned satisfactorily. She had to think of something suitably harder to try to catch Tristan out as he had tried to do with her. There were plenty of people in the tavern and there were already drunks congregating by the bar. "I spy something beginning with D."

[Deleted]

Tristan chuckled at her comment. His family, or at least Kay, would certainly be shocked to find out that he had spent his afternoon eating pies with a servant. Nevertheless, he was not going to let the expectations of his elder sibling ruin his fun. He simply wouldn’t mention it. “I’m sure mine would feel the same way. Well, not about a knight obviously.” He didn’t know why he’d added that last part; it was a stupid thing to say. “Not that it needed explaining.” That was definitely going to make him look less like an idiot. “Anyway.”

He was glad when their game continued so he could focus on that instead of making himself out to be a fool. She had guessed his item rather quickly, disappointingly so, he would have at least liked her to guess a few things first, but oh well. It was only a game after all. Something beginning with D... he thought for a moment, nothing immediately springing to mind until the aforementioned large woman fell over, in a fit of hysterics and he offered a not-very-confident, “Drunks?”

[Idris]

Tristan hadn't pressed her about information about her family which both confused her and increased her enjoyment in the conversation. She was tired with being little Idris who had come to the big city and looked out of her depth and she appreciated Tristan for not pressing her with more details, "I think everyone would be shocked if I became a knight and bought you lunch." Idris said thoughtfully, "Especially me." Idris' family probably wouldn't believe her even if she ever told them that Tristan had bought her lunch, she wasn't even sure if they cared any more.

Idris watched the drunk woman fumble around on the floor and nodded enthusiastically as Tristan offered his guess. "We could have played I spy with that topic last night as well, couldn't we?" She chuckled and smiled at him, she was softly teasing him but it was in good fun. She had no intention of humiliating him here or anywhere else because he was one of the few people to show her friendship since her arrival.

Idris took another sip of her drink and sat back casually, "Your turn and be quick- if it's much longer waiting for this food I might eat the tankard."

[Deleted]

Tristan certainly hadn’t felt this relaxed and happy in months. It was amazing how helpful their chance encounter had been for him. Not only because without her he’d probably still be in a corridor, or wandering around the castle trying to find his own quarters. But now he was simply enjoying himself and not having to worry about anything else other than their game of I Spy. It was all very liberating. “I think you’d make a dashing knight.” He replied. Better than him, anyway, he thought before banishing the thought. Now was not the time for self pity, he’d just been reflecting on how relaxed he was feeling. Self deprecation was not relaxing in the slightest.

Ah yes, another jibe about his state last night. He didn’t mind, not really, if the worse thing she was teasing him about was not being able to hold his drink then he couldn’t really complain. After all, he had been horribly pathetic last night and deserved all the teasing for it. “I don’t think I would’ve been such a good player last night. Unless you accepted things I imagined seeing.”

As she spoke it occurred to him just how long they had been waiting. It seemed like a while even with their game, and he was sure everyone was eating apart from them. As if in agreement his stomach rumbled, rather embarrassingly. It was hardly knightly behaviour. “I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve heard wood is awfully bad for the digestive system.” He grinned and then turned his attention back to their game. He made sure to keep looking at her, so as not to give his chosen object away. “I spy something beginning with C.”

[Idris]

Idris beamed as Tristan said she would make a dashing knight. She put on a mock face, her hands in fists at her hips and she pushed her chest out. "I'd be a knight of Camelot," She tossed her hair back, still in character, "And run around saving people and being heroic." Idris grinned then fell into stiches of laughter, only managing to calm herself down after a few moments. She mocked, of course she did, but she knew that the knights of Camelot were incredibly brave which meant that Tristan was brave by default.

Idris smiled as Tristan pointed out that the only I spy he would have been capable of would have been imaginary items. It would have made the game significantly harder on Idris' part."It would have been interesting though wouldn't it?" She shrugged, taking another swig of her drink.

She flickered her eyes over her companion as his stomach rumbled, "Shouldn't be too long now surely?" She asked, feeling her own tummy going exactly the same way as Tristan's if the food didn't hurry up. Luckily Tristan had already given her a word to guess so she occupied herself with that pastime. Something beginning with C; hmm. She looked around the tavern for anything beginning with the letter and drew a blank, "Cloak?" She suggested, unsure and looked around for more objects, "Candle?"