The Queen's Lady [Guinevère | Eleanor]

[Guinevère]

Guinevère had a few vases on the large main table of the room that her and her husband shared. The curtain was drawn between the rooms for privacy but her husband leave the room with Merlin, after a linger kiss for her. Guinevère was sorting the flowers so there were a few colors and types in each one, and she could spread them out over this room--both sides--and in Elyan's room. He was still recovering from Morgana's treatment of him, and while he'd been strong enough to attend both her wedding and coronation, she'd been trying to make him rest more and more.

Keeping him down however, was worse then trying to keep a sick child in bed! Perhaps she was trying to baby him too much. With a smile to herself over her brother--and the joy of knowing he was alive--she shook head slowly before going back to humming softly. Today was bright day and nothing would bring her mood down. It had started off wonderfully as she spent the first few hours making her husband's day start late, and the rest of the time picking and preparing flowers to give the rooms a fresh scent and brighter feel.

[Eleanor Brooke]

“Right this way, my lady.”

Eleanor followed nervously behind the servant as the two navigated the hallways of the castle. She clasped her hands in front of her in order to keep them from shaking. She had every right to be nervous; it wasn’t everyday that you met the queen and became her lady-in-waiting. The nineteen year old had only arrived in the city that morning, but her brother had be adamant that she be presented to the queen right away. It was best to have her set in her position, he explained; then she could go off and see the city if she liked.

Her heart pounded loudly as the servant stopped at a door. He knocked twice before opening it and stepping inside. Ella held her breath as she followed him into the bedchamber.

“Your Highness, the Lady Eleanor Brooke to see you,” he said, bowing before stepping back and leaving both women alone.

Quickly Eleanor sunk into a curtsey.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” she said, staring at the stone floor.

What if she didn’t want her to be her lady-in-waiting? Or what if Guinevère was haughty because of how far she had risen? She peeped up at the woman, unsure of either just yet.

[Guinevère]

“Your Highness, the Lady Eleanor Brooke to see you,” Guinevère looked up at the voice and smiled softly, not sure how she remembered that when someone spoke 'your highness' around her that they meant her. It was so odd to be called that, and she almost blushed every time. The name that he spoke sounded familiar but took her a moment to place it. Oh! Yes! Lady Eleanor was to be her lady-in-waiting. She was not sure how that had come about but she was told that every Queen had a few of them.

The younger girl dropped into a courtesy and Guinevère felt her heart skip a beat at the reminder of how things where. She wasn't sure what to do when people bowed to her! She wasn't supposed to bow back, but she felt it rude to not do anything! “It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” Smiling Guinevère felt nervous, but hoped she hid it well. "The please is mine, Lady Eleanor!" She told her, "Please, come in." Guinevère had been a handmaiden to the king's ward but she wasn't sure quite why she needed both a handmaiden and a Lady-In-Waiting. She had only been assured that she did. It was odd to know that so many people where meant to wait on her, but she hoped that she could make their jobs easy at least. "Was the trip here well?"

[Eleanor Brooke]

Eleanor hadn’t expected the queen to be so welcoming. Many of the other higher nobles that she had come across held themselves in such a way that they believed they were better than everyone else. She, unmarried and simply a lady, could not afford to do so. And anyway, why would she want to strut around with her nose in the air? She straightened as the queen asked to step inside.

She clasped her hands as the queen spoke. She knew, that to be lady-in-waiting to the Queen of Camelot, was a position that could not be taken lightly. She wished for the queen to like her. If not, what else was left for her? She would either be shipped back home or stay in court under the eyes of her brother and his wife. Her sister-in-law was dreadfully dull. Eleanor thought that a stack of hay had more personality than she did. But her dowry was enough to makeup for her lack of personality.

“It was fine, Your Grace,” she answered, thinking back to the bumpy, dusty journey. She had been happy to change from her dusty traveling clothing into a new gown. Her family’s manor was near the border of what had once been Cenred’s kingdom, which had made the journey rather lengthy. But she wasn’t going to start complaining about it.

“I would like to thank you, Your Majesty, for this position.”

She hadn’t had a chance to speak with Gwen before, and wished for the woman to know how grateful she was.

[Guinevère]

“It was fine, Your Grace,” She seemed nervous, and Guinevère wished to put her at ease. "I have made the trip to Estia and back a few times." Once to help Merlin's mother, and another . . . . we she'd been banished. "I would not call the trip fine, it is a hard travel from so far. The roads not traveled often so are smooth." And in some placed, not even roads. You had to find whatever path was stable and wide enough to travel on. Guinevère had been on horseback the first time and foot the last time.

“I would like to thank you, Your Majesty, for this position.” Guinevère had not been the one who offered or spoke of his job and whom would fill it, but she would not tell Lady Eleanor this, for she was nervous enough. "There is no need to thank me. I will be glad for the company." Someone to talk with and spend time with while Arthur was busy and working. Guinevère hoped they were get along, and could be friends. It would make everything easier and give them both companionship.

[Eleanor Brooke]

Eleanor felt a small smile flit to her lips as Gwen admitted that the journey was not simple. It was true, it hadn't been easy. But she couldn't have complained; it wouldn't have done anything. Her parents had been set on shipping her out. She had been surprised that Gwen knew of the journey and how it was. She hadn't thought that she would have ever left the city. But then again, she wasn't a typical noblewoman. She guessed, as part of the lower class, it would have been easier for her to travel about.

Her smile relaxed as Guinevère spoke further. "I am looking forward to it, Your Highness." It would be nice to have a close female friend. She had no sisters, and her sisters-in-law were none too friendly to her. It would almost be like having an elder sister. She only hoped that the queen liked her.