An All Too Familiar Face (Celyn)

[Robyn Lester]

Robyn smiled and laid her head back to savour the sun on her skin as she was idly wandering over the little market square of this sweet little village they had just stopped in. Raven was not sure if they would even perform, maybe they would just stop to gather new supplies. Sending Madla, Jerome and Tybalt off to gather what they possibly could, little as it may be, he had given the others a time off until afternoon. As actual free time without any duties or not being in motion was a rarity, Robyn was intent to savor it as long as she possibly could. She might not like to stay alone for too long, but being constantly together with a carney group left little room for solo trips and privacy. Most of the time she didn’t care about it, but today she felt like being alone for a little while – as alone as you could be in a small village that is.

She had also told Alfie she rather wanted to roam alone, even though she usually didn’t mind the little boy’s company. He had obliged, but he had seemed a little crestfallen. Maybe she should get him something from the market while she was at it? She didn’t know why, but she just could not see him sad. It might be true if Madla said that children truly were her dearest weakness. Maybe she someday would have children of her own? But even though she was already nineteen, that thought seemed as far away as the moon. She had had a few dalliances, but nothing serious, and somehow she didn’t want to end up like her dear mother, getting pregnant in a Beltaine night and getting consumption on top of it. She couldn’t blame her mother for not being there of course, but she didn’t want to make the same mistakes.

That aside, she was much more versed in creating her own typical mess, Robyn thought while a quick frown worked itself over her face. Absentmindly, she rubbed the stump of her little finger. How peculiar it was that the phantom pain always occurred when she thought about it. And quite annoying as well. But she would not let this incident of the past ruin her day today, she decided firmly, and put it out of her mind.
Not minding the peculiar glances she was given, she approached a rickety makeshift stall where a man was vending leather products of a variety from knife sheaths to hairbands.
”What can I do for such a pretty foreign lady?” he asked with a wink, apparently in a flirty mood. Robyn laughed, not minding a little banter every now and again. After she had convinced him she did not seek something for herself and had very little money to spare as it was, he proved to be very helpful in choosing a leather tag for his juggling ball satchel. It was not much, but she hoped the boy would appreciate the gesture.

This little incident had raised her mood even further, and so when saying goodbye to the vendor, she turned with her motion full of verve, not thinking someone could walk close by. Rather roughly, she jostled someone walking by just this moment, and staggering backwards, she breathed out: “Dear goodness, I’m so sorry!”

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

As you haven't put a specific time, do you mind if I put in during the s2-3 gap/early s3?

Ifan had managed to convince the others to give Celyn some "alone" time, or at least Ifan's version of alone time which was now-the-others-have-gone-I'm-going-be-really-nosy-and-not-leave-you-be-until-you-tell-me-everything-time. Needless to say, Celyn didn't much appreciate it, and had literally run away at the first oppurtunity. This had been in the forest - they were just wandering around aimlessly, as usual, but now he found himself in a rather nice village. The main attraction being that no one knew who he was, or cared about what was going on inside his head, and there was no Ifan. Celyn was going to savour this. Ever since he'd "become moody" Ifan was constantly on his back about it. If Celyn wanted to talk about what was wrong - not that there was anything wrong, he was fine then he would say something. But he hadn't. There was nothing to talk about. It was almost so much easier to convince himself when there was no one else about.

He hadn't spoken to Caitrin for a few days, which was probably a good thing. It didn't feel like a good thing, but it was. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. This had been the exact opposite of what he had been trying to achieve. Part of the reason for leaving Sugales was to escape the bad memories, and then he'd gone and found himself some new ones. This was not the first time he was reminded of how ridiculous the whole thing was. But dwelling on it wasn't going to get him anywhere. He would be fine, more than fine, if he just stopped thinking about it. If he just stopped thinking about her.

He'd managed to wander into the middle of a market - something to keep his mind from thinking too much. He could just let himself be distracted by all kinds of weird and wonderful things. He'd managed to do this before, he could do it again...well. Clearly he couldn't. He was thinking about her, it, the situation again. It seemed that was all he was able to do. Frustrating as it was, as she was, there was nothing else he could fill his mind with. Everything brought him back to Caitrin.

"Dear goodness, I'm so sorry!"

Rather thankfully, Celyn was pulled away from his thoughts. He hadn't actually noticed anyone walking into him, and for a moment was confused as to why this woman was apologising. "Think nothing of it." He replied, after all, he hadn't been paying attention either so was as much to blame. "Are you alright?"

[Robyn Lester]

In fact, it seemed like that collision had hurt Robyn more than the man she had jostled, and that might be fortunate. She was used to take instead of dishing out – apart from when it came to words of course – and being a young woman with no rights at all had left the imprint on her that she, when things got physical, rather was the one being hurt, in fear of the other party starting a scene that could endanger the whole of the pack. Everyone could just chuck them out after all, without needing anyone’s permission first. The Raven Pack was free game, and what had happened no more than a few months ago had brought this fact brutally to the forefront of everyone’s mind. Robyn’s bandaged left hand was more than enough proof of it. The stump was healing well, and she only was seldomly in pain anymore, but they still kept it bandaged for protection.

Now, when jostling the foreign man, Robyn had accidently hit the side of her left hand against his shoulder and she surpressed a hiss. Hopefully the scar tissue was not damaged… she could not afford to start from scratch with this wound! Checking with a quick glance that at least no blood was visible on the greyish white of the bandages, she started to say: “Yes, yes, I am—“ but before she could finish the sentence, her eyes had settled on the man’s face.
She did not stumble backwards, she did not even gasp, but her face muscles tensed and hardened until she was showing a cold mask of surpressed fury. Celyn ap Llewelyn! She had no idea what he was doing in this place, and she did not really care, but she knew she did not want to see him. Not him of all people!

In an instant, she was transferred back through time and space and relived the most dreadful moment of her life. She saw Celyn’s father wanting to pass the judgement on Alfie, saw herself stepping between the boy and the soldiers and felt the sickening, shocking pain of when her finger had been cut off. All this came just because he was here, and he was his father’s son. She didn’t even know if he had been present that day, but if he had, he had not interfered and that made him as guilty as the rest of them! Her finger had been the sacrifice for justice, and she had payed it gladly, but it still was wrong. None of the Raven Pack had acted out of line, but because they were free game, a knight could demand recompense for a crime that never happened.

”You…” It was but a whisper, the only sign that she had recognized him, and it did not hold as much surprise as rather contempt.
Her face hardening even more, she made a step to brush past him. Any word more would be wasted, but there was also a lot of fear involved. Robyn, a girl who usually always stood her ground, wanted to flee the scene, afraid of what she might do in her seething anger that would maybe cost her her head.

Oh yes, sorry, I totally forgot that xD It's cool it is tht early, because then the incident is still fresh in her mind xD

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

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It wasn’t often that Celyn had quite this effect on people. Usually they didn’t recognise him, he was, after all travelling like a commoner (or trying to anyway) so people assumed he was another face. Those who did recognise him, however, showed him the proper respect that his birth gave him. It therefore took Celyn by surprise that not only did this woman recognise him, but she also refused to bow or address him properly. A look of confusion found its way across his face. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her. This was annoying, and slightly embarrassing. He hoped she wasn’t anyone important, but then if she was then she wouldn’t be wandering around by herself. The fact that he was currently doing just that wasn’t the point. He was the exception.

“Yes, me, hello.” He spoke rather awkwardly, playing for time rather than trying to strike up a conversation. He knew he knew her, that was the frustrating part. And then he noticed her hand. “Ah.” Now he remembered. She was the girl his father had punished. It seemed like years ago, back when he was in Sugales, still under his father’s thumb. His whole life had changed since then, he’d certainly changed since then. And yet here she was, stood right in front of him and reminding him that no matter where he went there would always be his father, Sugales, responsibility, restrictions. A wave of guilt washed over him, memories from that day becoming fresh and clear in his mind. She hadn’t deserved to be treated the way she had. In truth, Celyn didn’t know the whole situation. He hadn’t really been paying attention until his father became involved. All he knew was that the woman had been protecting a child, and for that she had lost her finger.

For a moment or two he just stared at her, not sure at all what he should say. It was obvious from her expression that she didn’t hold him in any regard, which was more than understandable, but it wasn’t him who had sentenced her. It was his father. “He was wrong, you know.” He was still speaking rather awkwardly, and now standing awkwardly too. It was that sort of situation. “My father, he was wrong to punish you.” His words were hardly going to make everything alright, but at least it was a start.

[Robyn Lester]

Hadn’t this been a totally unnerving happestance for Robyn, she might have even laugh at Prince Celyn’s obvious awkwardness. But concerning the circumstances it only filled her with some sort of grim satisfaction, and she continued to stare rather unfriendly at him. It might be unjust of herself to lump him together with his father and that one knight who had started the uproar in the first place, but right now Robyn was far more concerned with her own right. She had buried the anger inside her for too long, only looking at the bright side of it all, and the appearance of his face had been to sudden to guard her feelings like she usually did. There had been a time when she had been in danger of slipping into self-pity and acquiring the fixed idea that she was now blemished. She had never shown anything of that to the outside world, even though her brother Tybalt might have guessed some of it, but she only recently had fully recovered and finally closed this chapter of her life.
And now he came along.

In all honesty, Robyn was rather surprised and a little bit impressed that Prince Celyn had made the connection right away. Had the incident really been so memorable not only for the Raven Pack, but for the royal court as well? Or did he simply have a good memory? The cautious “Ah” only added to the awkwardness of the situation in whole, even though Robyn didn’t know why SHE should feel awkward. Nothing of this had been her fault, right? And yet, the Lady Justice was not blind to her own faults.
She knew that Celyn was probably only guilty of not standing up for her, but then he had certainly not been the only one. No one had spoken for Robyn except herself, and she knew she had still got away lucky. A different king might have seen her killed for this insubordination, or removed of her tongue for speaking out against him. He could not have listened at all, and still took Alfie’s hand. He had not, and Robyn knew she should be grateful. But it was hard to be grateful when you were only given partially right.

Robyn continued to stare at him, but now the stare took on a definitely surprised edge. Had he just said his father had been wrong in punishing her? Had she not still been so irritated and shocked to see him, she might have accepted that comment as what it was and moved on, thinking that there might be miracles and honorable nobles still left in this world. Alas, Robyn was still rather spoiling for a fight, even if not in the physical sense.
”Oh was he?”, she asked, sarcasm dripping from every word. “Well then, how fortunate for your father that we seem to live in a world where those who are wrong get away unscathed while those who are right have to suffer the consequences.”
It was harsh, and it might even be unfair, but that was all the young woman could say at the moment. Poor Celyn was being held responsible not only for his father, but also for his whole status, nobles, who Robyn never had particularly been fond of because they more often than not acted after the phrase: Might makes right. And yet, deep down inside her, Robyn craved for him to retaliate. To prove her wrong

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

Apologies for the wait.

Now hang on, Celyn was having to bite his tongue. It was not his doing. It was true that he could have said something, he could have tried to stop his father, but not even he had that authority. While this young woman was blaming Celyn, she had yet to realise that there was nothing he could say once his father's mind was made up. In matters of the king's authority, Celyn was always just another subject. Even if he had said something no good would have come out of it.

Perhaps he should be trying to take his own feelings out of the situation and see things from her perspective. That would probably be the mature thing to do. But he was far too annoyed with her immediate attack. She didn't care for his perspective, so why should he bother about hers? His father could have taken the child's hand. He did not. She should be grateful, not angry with Celyn. "It was the word of a band of minstrels against a respected knight. If you were my father who would you believe? Or would you rather live in a world without law and order?" He wasn't being completely fair, but then neither was she. She had no idea how to run a kingdom and yet she stood there criticising a prince of all people for the actions of a king. Well, maybe if she had the responsibilities of a kingdom on her shoulders she would understand that hard decisions must be made in order to keep the peace.

[Robyn Lester]

SOMEONE was clearly not getting her point! THE point! And SOMEONE clearly still was so pigheaded he couldn’t see the obvious, caged by ridiculous and unjust traditions. Whoever had any say in the world somehow liked to forget that they were not almighty. They thought they could do as they pleased, and because everyone was too cowardly to do anything about it, mere outrageous actions could turn into common custom over the years. But not with Robyn! She didn’t think all nobility were bad, she had had enough examples of a different kind, and she hated to lump people together in general, but that didn’t mean those who were bad examples should get away with being bad!
But how to tell him that so that he would understand? And also best without risking her neck in the veriest meaning of the word?

Taking a deep breath before speaking was a first step. Counting slowly to three was another. But then she just couldn’t swallow down anymore what she wanted to say:
”Tell me honestly, why would the word of a juggler count less than that of a knight? Because of lower birth? What does birth, what does blood have to do with honesty? Believing me, or believing any one of my kind wouldn’t make the world crash down!”
No, of course it would not! And so many probably had seen what had happened and simply had kept silent about it. She might give him the benefit of doubt, if anything, perhaps he really hadn’t had his eyes on the incident in that very moment. But that didn’t mean he simply could lean back and wash his hands of the responsibility! What kind of prince was that please?

”I know that there are people of my kind that are thievish scum, that use their performances to rid the audience of a few of their belongings”, she said before he possibly could come with that argument himself, “but the Raven Pack is not like that. The purse fell, Alfie picked it up, because the knight was about to turn away without noticing it. It might have been a misunderstanding to accuse him of theft, but it was a CRIME to not believe him and me who saw it.”
Robyn was now breathing heavily, her eyes gleaming with an almost feverish light. She had thought she was over it, was content with how things were, but seeing Prince Celyn and talking about it was opening old wounds and pouring salt into them at that. Even if she had wanted to, she could not back down.

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

Hmm. Alright. Maybe that hadn't been the best thing to say given the circumstances, but what did she expect from him? He was not the one to punish her so it was not his responsibility now. And besides, was she honestly saying that if she had been in his father's position she would have acted differently? It was all very well and good her being so righteous but she did not have the responsbility of upholding law and order for an entire kingdom. Maybe when she understood what that meant they could discuss this properly.

"No, it is not because of birth." He replied, trying to keep his voice down, she was starting to irritate him very quickly. "It is a matter of trust. Knights are trusted, people little better than beggars are not. Why don't you tell me honestly, would you believe the word of a stranger over that of a trusted ally?" He raised an expectant eyebrow. If she said yes he would be almost certain that she was lying. She had taken the punishment as an act of loyalty, so to Celyn that meant she would always believe an ally, a friend, over a stranger.

Celyn listened to her words, but they were not enough to convince him. She was a performer after all, she could easily be lying and he wouldn't be any wiser. How was he to know that the Raven Pack was not full of thieves? And how was his father to have known then? Already he thought little of the woman and thought her too quick to condemn his actions but not to understand the reasons, which, incidentally was the thing she was so angry at him for. "You say you are not thieves but I have no proof to suggest otherwise. I say you are a liar, does that make it true? No, not by itself. Words do not speak over actions." He was trying to reason with her, and trying even harder not to lose his temper, but somehow he had a feeling she would not see his logic.

[Robyn Lester]

Why couldn’t he just simply … GET it?! What was so difficult in understanding where she came from? Robyn was getting more and more exasperated with this,and she seriously thought about just leaving him stand there with his prejudiced bighead! But then, that would be giving him, and he would feel like he had been right all along and she simply could not let that happen. This had long since ceased to be an individual case, now they were discussing principles. Important principles in Robyn’s eyes. She was simply sick of being treated like the dirt under someone’s boots, just because she had been born on the road and survived by making other’s life worthwile?

Little better than beggars?! Little better than….?! Oh now Prince Celyn had probably said the worst thing possible in these circumstances and in general. It was a livelong struggle for ever juggler and carney to be accepted for what he was, that he was no beggar but EARNED his money with the strange and often enough dangerous things he did: juggling with knives, eating fire, dancing on a tightrope… the list was as variable as the jugglers themselves.
It cost Robyn much to keep her calm, to not simply fly off the figurative handle and have a violent go at this snobbish man. Taking deep, shaky breaths she gritted her teeth and balled her fists, so she could stay rooted on the spot, and stand her ground like she now owned it every juggler in all the five kingdoms.

“You seriously have NO idea what you’re talking about”, she growled. “If you’re bored from doing nothing you call for us so we take away your boredom and you don’t start thinking about what a useless life you all lead. But woe is us should we ever demand being taken at face value! Then we suddenly are thrown out with the dogs!”
These nobles really twisted everything until it fit into their already twisted view of the world! How could she hav ever thought this man would be different? What had given her this delusion? He had said he found it wrong what had happened, but look at what he said now! He was just like them all! Why was she even surprised and… sad?

”I tell you what I would have done!” she said with gleaming eyes. “So you say that words don’t speak over actions. Had it been me to decide and had I not seen what happened like your father did, I would have said it was just like you said: No proof! But for BOTH sides! I would have told the knight to take his purse back as nothing had been taken out from it and forget about it. Because he too had no proof Alfie WANTED to steal!”

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

It was clear to Celyn that they were not going to get anywhere with this. She was determined to take everything he said as an insult when he was merely trying to make her understand that his father really had no choice in the matter. It was well very well and good her knowing that the child was not actually stealing anything, but his father had not had that luxury, but apparently that didn’t matter. She was quite the outraged little thing.

It was also very easy to speak hypothetically after the event. They could both pass judgement knowing the outcome. He sighed. Alright, fine, his father had been incorrect but he had acted in the only way possible under the circumstances, acted exactly how he should have acted and it was not for anyone else to judge. This woman had had her say. There was neither any of them could do about it now, and even if there was something he could do, he was quite determined not to do it and that was purely because of her attitude so really, she wasn’t helping herself at all. These people were so self-righteous about everything. It really was rather irritating.

When she had finished her speech her just looked at her for a moment or two, wondering whether there was any point in replying. Celyn had a feeling she would argue against anything he would see, even if it was something as truthful as telling her the sky was blue. Even an idiot could see that her anger was not going to be quelled by a few words from him. Then again, it made no difference to him whether she was angry or not. She was only a citizen, and a woman at that, whereas he was a prince. He could do as he pleased regardless of how she felt about it.

“How simply you see the world,” he said after a moment’s pause. His voice had lost its previous tone; it was now just one of statement rather anger or accusing. “But I’m afraid it is not, hard decisions are made and people suffer. My father acted in the necessary way.”

[Robyn Lester]

Prince Celyn didn’t have much to counter her fierce statement with, and for a moment Robyn felt exhilarated by triumph! She had shown him! Take that you son of treacherous, pompous vermin! She was right in this and he knew it! Else he would have countered her arguments tit for tat! Or did he think himself too high above such a discussion? Then again, in the beginning he had all but blurted out that he didn’t like what his father had done. What had become of that now? Was it only her resistance that kept him going against her so fiercely? But then what was the point in this all? It was truly, utterly confusing.

She returned his gaze openly, not looking down like she probably should have, but she also did not appear overly challenging or hostile. They both seemed to have reached a dead end with this conversation, and the next few minutes probably would decide for their future. Could she learn to accept his views? It was hard, very hard, and even more so as he didn’t seem very inclined to accept her views. He called them simple… simple as in simpleton or as in easy? She feared the former, but for the sake of this conversation that should not very well end in bloodshed, she would assume the latter.

”Well, the world CAN be simple”, she retorted calmly, shrugging. “Justice for sure IS simple. But most people are complicated, so they developed an equally difficult pattern of custom and common law which turns away further and further from justice in the first place.”
A few months before, Robyn would have not wasted so much thought about such things, but the healing time, especially the first weeks when she had been well-nigh useless for the stage, she had had much time to think. Many insights she was voicing now had been gathered then.
”But then you are right in one thing. It is past now, no one can change it. I just hope some mistakes never get remade.”

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

As much as Celyn didn't want to admit it, proud thing that he was, Robyn was making a rather good point and he was more inclined to listen and try and understand where she was coming from now that she wasn't shouting at him. See, the difference a little civility could make. Besides, despite his own shouting he hadn't been angry with her, or at least, not her entirely, merely with what she was saying and how she was expressing herself, but now it seemed they were both able to discuss this like mature adults.

He nodded, there was truth in her words, even if she was making a point that meant his father had been wrong, but then, despite this argument, Celyn had believed his father should not have acted the way he had, not so extremely anyway. Celyn had been defensive because she was been insulting. "I wouldn't say my father is complicated...but I accept your point, and I can only apologise." He hadn't meant to get into an argument with her - they had just got carried away by each other's reactions and their own anger. "Both for the actions for my father and myself."

Celyn was not a particularly agressive or angry man, even if he had seemed this way during their argument, and he'd rather not have any hostility between himself and this woman. Even if he didn't agree with everything she said, they could still be civil to one another. After all, that was how things were changed. When he became king he he hoped people would be able to talk to him like she was, but without the shouting. The last thing he wanted was for a few encounters such as this to harden his heart against freedom and justice.

[Robyn Lester]

Robyn wanted so bad to be understood with this, but she couldn’t even tell why. Why was it so important to her to have a stuck-up prince agree to her view of the world?! Maybe it wasn’t even him… maybe it was just trying to finally get to terms with the whole situation. But then again, maybe it was him… goodness gracious, could you be confused by your own thoughts? Whoever had written the script to this meeting must be seriously twisted. It was unrealistic as hell to have these two of all people meet in such circumstances to begin with, and now they were talking about principles? Every good carney who had his pride would have dismissed this story as earning nothing but rotten cabbage. And yet here they were. Such was life.

And now he even apologized… again, if you counted that previous apology, but even more so now after they had all but shouted unpleasantries at each other, called each other liars and whatnot. Really, this day turned out to be quite fascinating indeed. What could possibly come next? Robyn thought that now she could safely say she had seen it all: A prince had just apologized for his and his father’s wrongdoings. Stage-ready it was, truly!
”Well, truth be told this is more than I ever thought to get out of this conversation”, Robyn admitted flat out, smiling. “So, of course your apology is accepted, Sire. Then again… does it really mean something to a prince when a juggler accepts his apology?”

The question had been asked out of truthful curiosity, not to spite. The least thing Robyn wanted was to provoke another argument. But if she wanted to avoid clashes with nobility from here on, she would have to know a little more how they thought, before it cost her another limb. Maybe Prince Celyn could teach her such, but then that of course depended on whether he felt inclined to or not. Darn inequality of conversation partners… You really had to think around seven corners if you ever wanted to reach a state that made sense and didn’t hurt any superior feelings!

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

It seemed they were finally getting somewhere. In truth, Celyn hadn't particularly wanted to fight this woman, but she'd been just as angry and stubborn as he was. Hopefully though, they had managed to settle their differences, although this was hardly going to be a consolation for her. Unfortunately there was nothing else he could do accept offer her an apology. Although he was a prince, he was not quite so powerful that he could turn back time. But, he was quite sure that if he could, he would make sure true justice had been seen that day. For, despite how he may have come across, Celyn was not in the habit of punishing simply for the sake of punishment. He liked to think of himself as a fair man, if a little...unable to understand those less privalleged than him.

He couldn't tell whether she was trying to reignite the flames of their argument again, or whether she was genuinely curious. Not wanting to start another row, Celyn decided to assume the latter. "Thank you," he replied, feeling slightly humbled now. As a prince it was not often that he was put in his place, and on those rare occassions such an even was certainly not the work of a female wanderer. "It means something to a man when a wronged party forgives." He replied, hoping his answer would suffice and prevent another argument from erupting. If anything, she was far too hot-headed for him to keep up, another argument would not end well for him.

[Robyn Lester]

The more Robyn calmed down again, the more surprised she got by the actual outcome the things were taking here. Sometimes at night, when she had too much time to think and couldn't distract herself with other things, her pride in her injury had seriously diminished, leaving a certain anger and need for revenge behind. Especially in the beginning, when the pain had still been prominent, she had amused herself with the thought of what she would do or say to King Brychan and everyone who had been only lightly involved in that matter, if she would ever cross paths with them again. Her initial anger at Prince Celyn had been borne out of these feelings and memories of sleepless nights, when the dull ache in her left hand would drive her crazy. But now he was showing himself to be a different man than what she had made him out to be, and if her strive for justice meant anything to Robyn at all and was not just lip service, she knew she had to change her behavior accordingly. This man did not deserve her hatred, as he had shown himself to be just. What had been done and not done was past now, not even a Prince of Sugales could change that fact.

Robyn couldn't help one of her eyebrows darting up quickly in genuine surprise as she heard his next words. He was not only accepting her forgiveness, he had called himself a 'man', not a 'prince' in this matter. He apparently could seperate between his character and his title, which she had found not many people of noble heritage were even willing to. There was no need or justification for anger now anymore, and suddenly, Robyn felt her lips curving up into another smile, even more heartfelt this time. „Well, then it is surely justified that I ask for your forgiveness for my harsh words as well, Prince Celyn“, she offered. Yes, in Robyn's eyes that was nothing but just. She had wronged him as well, calling him names he didn't deserve and making him out to be worse than he actually was. An apology always had to work both ways. Suddenly the day seemed to look brighter to Robyn again, the merriment of before having returned into her heart. It was as if the last words of a long-unfinished play had been written down, so you could finally get it off your mind. And what a heavy burden it had been!

„By the way – I am Robyn“[/color], she added impulsively, not even sure why she did it. He surely would not be any better off with her name and would forget it the next minute. But this was just another step to her peace offering it seemed.

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

Sorry about the late reply.

Celyn noticed Robyn's raised eyebrow. Obviously his words had surprised her, which, thinking over their entire conversation was a strange thing to be surprised about. Then again, he hadn't made a very good impression. She probably thought he was still the arrogant and argumentative man he had been only a few minutes ago, and alright, he could be that man in the near future, but he was also capable of compassion and respecting others. She was soon smiling though so Celyn took this as a good sign. Her apology, however, was a little off-putting. Not many people apologised to him with sincerity. It was usually just servants, apologising for everything so they didn't lose their jobs. "Well...apology accepted." He replied, a little awkwardly.

Now that their argument seemed to be over, and all apologies accepted, he was hoping the conversation could turn to something a little more...well, friendly would be a good word. He didn't want to be on bad terms with her, and, although his main experience of her involved her shouting at him, she was clearly someone with a lot of opinions and no problem with expressing them. And, perhaps more importantly, it didn't matter to her that he was a prince. She was more than comfortable with yelling at him and treating him like...like a normal person. This was why he had left Sugales in the first place. He wanted to experience the world without the constraints of his status and position. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, what with his entourage, but moments like this were very much appreciated.

"A pleasure to meet you, Robyn." He said almost automatically but, given their argument, the words seemed a little redundant. They'd already met each other, he just hadn't known her name. "So, you are an entertainer?" It wasn't, by anyone's standards, the greatest opener but he was trying to take an interest.

[Robyn Lester]

His obvious awkwardness made Robyn wonder how many people daily would be apologizing to him for something they did. She wasn’t used to the world of kings and princes, and had never been anyone’s servant to really talk from experience in this aspect, but they had staged enough plays were kings and other nobles had to be constantly humored with exaggerated apologies. There was one particularly biting play, where in the end the most loyal servant of a moody king was dying because had to apologize even for breathing in his master’s present. Of course, these were exaggerations to make the crowd laugh, but there was a true core to every story. So why was he being so awkward about this? Was it because she had meant it? Then again, what was it to her? The apology was accepted, that was all she really should care about. She didn’t need a deeper view into his psyche. Merely inclining her head with another smile, Robyn intended to close that uncomfortable chapter once and for all. Now they could behave like civilized people.
He then said it was a pleasure to meet her, a little often-used phrase that surely didn’t quite fit into the weird history they already shared, but Robyn was in no mood to split hairs now. Instead she said: “Well, the pleasure is mine, now surely more than ever.” Now, as she had come to know him for a different man, this sentence wasn’t a lie nor an empty phrase. Robyn could be bluntly honest if she wanted to be, and now seemed to be such a moment. She just hoped he would take it as another peace offering and a new start, and not take offense. She was surely not going to treat him like a prince now, even though she of course would not quite speak to him like she would for example speak with her brother.

”I am an entertainer so to speak, yes!” she readily explained. “Juggler, carney, call it what you like. The Raven Pack is known for staging little plays or pleasing the crowd with other talents, like rope-dancing, breathing fire, juggling of course and”, she had to grin as it was something many people thought as nothing but supersition or viewed with wary eyes because they suspected sorcery, “…reading fortune out of someone’s palm. But that’s just a sidenote most of the time, we’re no charlatans.”

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

Celyn was beginning to relax a bit more now, before he’d been far too busy trying to argue his point and prove that she was the one in the wrong. He’d been annoyed and on-edge, but now the two of them seemed to be getting along he was able to stand back a bit and just enjoy conversation with her. This was, after all, what he had wanted when he’d left Sugales. He wanted to meet new people and experience their ways of life before he became king and could no longer just leave the kingdom whenever he wanted.

Obviously, this was the best conversation topic. He was taken slightly off-guard by her enthusiasm, which, thinking about it, he shouldn’t have been surprised by. She was clearly a passionate woman so it was only natural that she should show the same passion about her work. “A very enthusiastic entertainer I see,” he said with a smile. Now that they had gotten past their differences, he was beginning to enjoy her company.

The last part of her speech caught his attention. Fortune reading? Was that even possible? He was rather sceptical. Of course he knew about magic and he knew that some people really could see the future, but from someone’s palm? He doubted this was nothing more than a trick, unless Robyn really could see the future but wouldn’t that make her a sorcerer of some sort? Celyn hadn’t been in Camelot for very long, but he knew that those that truly had magic did not boast about it, quite the opposite in fact. His curiosity had been well and truly piqued. He raised an eyebrow, “You can read my fortune, can you? Now that is something I would like to see.”

[Robyn Lester]

Robyn readily returned the smile he was giving her when he called her enthusiastic. She knew she was, and she liked to be, doom and gloom didn’t suit her and she was glad she had found a way out of it after her ‘injury’. The pack itself, the only family she knew, had helped a lot with that, but when she had tried to tell that Madla once, she had only received a hug and a comment that still made her slightly uncomfortable when she thought about it: ‘You have given us so much more. You stood up not only for Alfie, but for us all. It’s only right we call you Lady Justice’ ‘what, because I’m blind?’ she had tried to joke back, but the look in Madla’s eyes had told her enough. Ever since then, she had tried to avoid the topic as much as she was able to.

“Oh, enthusiastic is just the word”, she agreed and nodded. “But then, wouldn’t you be enthusiastic about travelling everywhere and meeting new people? To make them cheer and laugh and let them forget their troubles for a little while… to be someone else, play a role you normally never would get…and feel your heart beat in a frenzy when you walk the tightrope… yes, that is my life and I love it. I would wish for anything else.” Maybe he would think her crazy now, but maybe he’d also understand. He was out of his own country after all, and didn’t look much like a prince right now. So maybe he was playing a role as well?

She had entered dangerous terrain now with the mentioning of fortune reading, and she wondered if she should have just let it slide. But then, he sounded more interested than wary right now, maybe she could capitalize on that? Madla had taught her the basic means of reading possible things out of a person’s hand lines, and she might do well brush that knowledge up a little.
”It’s neither magic nor is it an exact science”, she explained and reached for his left hand rather boldly, studying the lines on it. His hand was less callous than she would have expected from a fighter that she assumed he was, but then, maybe the sword wasn’t his weapon of choice? “It’s all about the lines on your hand, you see”, she said, tracing her index finger along them. “The Head line, the Love- and the Life line… and then in the middle is the Line of Destiny or Career. Their shape, their length, all this can tell me something about you. Not necessarily a future, but still some things you might have to watch out for.”

[Celyn ap Llewellyn]

Robyn did have a point, after all, travelling and meeting new people was exactly what Celyn was doing himself. And he was enthusiastic about it. He'd wanted to see the world, or as much as it as he could before he took the throne. He wanted a wider knowledge, a better understanding of the different kingdoms, of the ways of live of different people from all cultures and backgrounds. He believed this was the way to become a better king. His father had never left Sugales, and he was the one who was responsible for Robyn's injury. When Celyn eventually took the throne he would have experience and an understanding his father had never had, and hopefully, his travels will have helped set the foundations for him to become a great ruler. "I know exactly what you mean." He replied with a warm smile. It seemed that they had more in common than either of them had realised.

He nodded at her explanation, the smile still across his features, although he was becoming a little skeptical. It seemed to him that her words had been a disclaimer, an excuse if it turned out to be nonsense. But he let her continue, firstly because it would be rude not to, and secondly because part of him wanted her to be correct. He watched her inspect his hand, feeling a little self conscious and nodding at the appropriate parts in her explanation. It wasn't terribly convincing, but then she was yet to make any predictions. He was ready to be impressed. "So what must I watch out for then? Anything interesting?"