Fresh From The Oven

[Arthur Pendragon]

Everything was back in order. The horrible enchantment that had been placed on his father was at last broken, Arthur's position as prince and future heir had been reinstated and -- most importantly -- the taxes had been lowered on the people. It had returned to be affordable and reasonable, as oppose to what that, troll had been swaying his father to do. While Arthur had been so afraid for the people in those moments . . . he could not help but find amusement in certain aspects of what had happened. More specfically, the fact that his father had shared a bed with a troll for . . . how many nights? However many nights they had been married. Although Arthur had not asked to hear the details, thinking of such things caused him both to cringe and laugh in amusement. He knew that no one would dare tease the king in his presence . . . but it was rather funny. And Arthur could laugh about it now because all was well in the kingdom, and all was well in his relationship with his father.

He had decided to go to the market, dressed in his casual attire and giving a few nods to thoes who paused in the busy streets to acknoweldge his presence. Though busy was certainly an understatement. The streets were packed with a very large crowd of people, which truly wasn't all surprising. It was a busy time and the day was quite nice out so all the vendors and merchants would be wanting to acquire as much business as they could. Apart from checking that all was well in the city and with the people, Arthur had another matter to attend to . . . and that was his empty stomach. He wasn't sure where Merlin had run off to, but he could not send for him to get Arthur some baked good. He would have to get it himself. No matter. It would give Arthur all the more reason to scold his servant later. Though, it was of course all in good fun, as the man was becoming a brother to Arthur more than a servant, more than just a friend. Arthur knew enough of the city to recall that there was a well known bakery shop with a rather exceptional reputation in the city.

He decided to try that, rather than go all the way back to the castle and wait for who knows how long for the kitchens to prepare something. This was closer, and besides, it was good to support the locals by giving them business. Whatever he could do to help the people, he would gladly offer his aid. He didn't even need to ask where the small shop was located, he need only only follow the smell. For he was close enough for the aroma of delicious baked goods to make its way to his nose, causing the hunger in him to rise and all the more re-enforcement in how good of a decision it was to come here. Making his way over, there was not a huge crowd -- which was all the better for him. There was only a young child and . . . soon enough a young woman appeared. When she was not so distracted with what she was currently working on, he would call for her attention. He had after all learned a thing or two about manners, and how to treat others -- knowing that it was all owed to his maturity ever since befriending Merlin and of course, his greatest secret, falling in love with Guinevère.

_{Setting: The streets of Camelot city
Time of Day: Afternoon
Timeline: After Beauty and the Beast II
Tag: Tesslin Osanne}

[elyseosanne]

Absolutely nothing was in its place. Tesslin had been awake since dawn and already things were not going according to plan. The chickens had gotten loose and two were missing, a loss that the Osanne family could not afford. She had burned a batch of bread beyond recognition because she had to collect the laundry from the line. Once the shop was open for business at its usual time, the girl had to juggle baking fresh goods and selling at the same time. She had gotten quite an earful from a few customers, which did little to help her already frustrated mood. Her father had been sitting in the tavern for three straight days and her mother hasn't gotten out of bed since last market day. Although the taxes were lowered again, it would take significant time before things were back to were they should be.

It had been a hectic morning, and closer to midday Tesslin was relieved that the crowds had cleared in favor for the large market in the center of town. Her cousin had agreed to go to market for her, so she could stay and watch the shop. With her mother's absence, Tessa was very grateful for any help her extended family could give her. With a quick survey of the shop, the brunette almost toppled over in her relief of only having one more customer. A small child wandered around, and in her exhaustion, Tesslin forgot to be wary. Thieves, mostly children or parents, stole from the bakery quite often because they could not afford to feed their families. It has become frighteningly more common for the small- however well known- lowertown bakery. Tesslin had been sailing through troubled waters, especially with the rise in taxes making the tension rise as well. No, absolutely nothing was in its place today.

Having just saved the second batch of bread from withering away in the oven, Tesslin hardly had time to rinse out the flour from her parched throat. She handled the bread with a towel that may or may not have been suitably clean. She wrinkled her nose slightly at the hiccup from her usual cleanliness. A long sigh deflated her lungs. The shelves were not as well stocked as they should be, and Tesslin's trained eye picked up on the empty places. They stared out at her, mockingly. She belonged in the kitchen. It was her mother who was good with the people, offering a welcoming smile and a kind word or twelve. It was Tesslin who baked behind the scenes. It was Tesslin who kicked people out, too, if they caused trouble. Trouble was never too far away in these days.

Gathering her scant bravery, Tesslin took a deep breath before going back in front of the shop. The child still lingered, which sparked a small flame of suspicion, but Tesslin didn't have the heart to tell them to go away. She also noted the man who stood quietly by the entrance. He was tall, cleanly dressed and strong. His blonde hair glowed golden in the sunlight. She tided the warm bread she had carried out with her, placing it on the shelves as to fill the empty space, before mustering up the courage to actually sell anything. "There. That's done. May I help you with something?" There was something about this man. Something not quite- well... lower town. It was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't quite reach it.