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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 23, 2010 19:11:16 GMT -5
Prince Arthur squeezed past her into the passageway and the way he moved, trying desperately not to scrape over the wall with his armour was almost enough to make her laugh despite the tense situation – hadn’t this very fact reminded her again how very narrow the corridor actually was. The walls suddenly seemed very close, she imagined to feel the very weight of the whole castle resting on these two walls. It was like her surroundings were very three-dimensional all of a sudden, Brynn was brutally aware of how the walls enclosured her and the Prince. Didn’t he feel that too? That queasy feeling in the stomach? He seemed very unfazed by it all, just slightly annoyed. But there was not much time for the girl to ponder over Prince Arthur’s reactions, she was far too busy with her own.
Didn’t the walls start to move in? Hadn’t there be more space just a second ago? Cold sweat started to form on Brynn’s forehead and she could feel her hands trembling. To support herself she pressed them against the clammy stones, but that turned out to be not such a good idea. Now she also imagined to feel the pressure against her hands as the walls squeezed together in her mind. Her breath accelerated audibly and also grew heavier with every second, and there was a voice inside her head, screaming desperately: Get out, get out! It will crush you if you don’t, get out NOW!!!
The goosemaiden almost obliged, turning to the life-saving exit just the second she heard a noise from outside, muffled heavy footsteps, and she stopped dead, snapping out of her claustrophibic fit just enough to form a few reasonal thoughts. No, she couldn’t get out now, there were still those creepy murderous knights on the run. She needed to stay here for the time being – and deal with her fear!
But how she would manage that, Brynn didn’t know in the slightest. The walls might have stopped moving in for now, but she still was very aware of their presence.
Just then, Prince Arthur spoke up in a hushed voice, trying to convincer her to flee again. As much as the panic-stricken part of her mind would have welcomed the idea, as much the caring part did dislike it. And the way he spoke about her family, almost disdainful in a way, as if her parents were not important enough to be the victims of those monsters, enraged the girl as well. How dare he?! She needed to correct this view of the world and fast! Anger, she realised, anger and spite was good! It occupied her mind, steered it away from her current situation!
“What an interesting thought!” she snorted, rolling her eyes. “So that’s why this knight nearly killed me, right? Because I resemble the king? No offense, Sire, but I think you might have to do better than that if you want to convince me to turn my back! I’ll stay here and... watch...over them!”
How longe she could keep this up, Brynn didn’t know. Already she had had to stiffle two yawns in one sentence and her almost-panic had weakened her even more. Claustrophobia and massive exhaustion didn’t mix well at all.
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 22, 2010 17:33:10 GMT -5
One one hand Brynn felt a little content that she now could figure out Alex’ way of speaking better than just yesterday or even minutes before, as she had already foreseen this answer in her mind. Well, she had hoped for it anyway. That he now actually voiced it left her with the other side to deal with: What could she possibly reply to that? She could not very well admit or express how her heart leapt with joy at these few simple words, and how her breath accelerated, sending a slightly rose tone on her cheeks. How could she word what she didn’t even fully understand herself? The confusion was too great, and yet…it felt so wonderfully exciting. For a moment all the other surrounding dancers and celebrating people moved into a very grey and unobtrusive background, even the music seemed to die away, crowded out by the whooshing of Brynn’s blood in her ears. The only one visible, audible and… tangible was Alex, his smiling face, the feeling of his hand around her waist…
What was happening? Panicking, Brynn jerked her head to one side to snap out of it, and it worked. Like a bubble bursting, the scene started to fall back into normal shape again and the noise washed over her like a flooding wave.
Hoping Alex would think nothing of her behaviour she finally worked up something like a reply: “Oh, well in that case…” good beginning… but how to end it? “I will be there to say I told you so when you start to complain! I can be quite the handful!”
Brynn could not help but blush again, deeply this time. What had driven her to say that?!
A sound of glee escaped Brynn’s lips as Alex spun her in that wide circle and her feet actually left the ground for a few heartbeats, the hem of her skirt fanning out in a dark red wave and her hair doing the same, looking like a whirl of fire. It was fortunate her flower wreath had been fastened to her head earlier, else she would have surely lost it with this wild spin. As they slowed down again she could feel several eyes on her back and wondered if they also belonged to her parents… what would they think of her?
“I’d say you’re doing a very good job!” she gasped, slightly out of breath, forcing herself not to care about their audience. She wasn’t doing anything wrong after all! “I might come back to you on that some other day!”
When Alex moved in to her ear, Brynn’s heart missed yet another beat and a shower of hot and cold at the same time washed down her back. This was so getting out of hand! She had never felt so flustered and at the same time so very comfortable around anyone before.“Oh, an abduction!” she chuckled lowly, feeling her face flush yet again. “How very… intriguing! Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t have though, you would have to face the wrath of many if you did! Starting only with the geese…”
Was she getting more comfortable talking to Alex, or why was it she suddenly could muster such almost flirtatious replies and thought nothing of it? Brynn honestly couldn’t tell.
[Blah, sorry that was long and no good at all...]
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 20, 2010 14:55:32 GMT -5
Trust Alex to have a remark to everything she threw at him, and with her open sentence she had litterally called for it. And the actual thing he said proved to be quite amusing again. He, a puppet in her hands? Rather the other way round – not that she would mind! There was a time for freedom, and there was a time of being… led, like for example in this dance. That was all there was to it, right? She better kept a leash on her thoughts as well as her words tonight!“
Quite so!” she nodded earnestly, but then broke out into a light chuckle. “I can try at least, not sure how good I am in this particular craft. There might be ample time for you to escape, not to worry!”
She felt Alex’s arm tighten around her waist and suddenly was aware her feet were barely touching the ground as he spun her in slow circles. Good gods, he was strong! And it felt so… good to be held that way, it was the utmost feeling of safety, like way back when she had been held by her father’s strong arms, thoroughly sure no harm could ever reach her there – but of course this was nothing like a child being held by its father, and that was what added this darned feeling of confusion to it all that made her blush slightly. Why was he doing that? Only to release the pressure on her sore ankle? Or was there more? And if yes, what was it?
Still, after a while she relaxed into his hold, even finding it in her to crack a halfway decent joke. “So much for being swept off your feet!”
Brynn’s eyes lit up as Alex talked about what he intended to do the following day. Exactly that had been her plan! If only to accompany her little brother who could not be kept away from swordfight and jousting if his life depended on it. The sweet one, still full of dreams and illusions. The excitement bubbling up inside her was quickly soused though by a reminder echoing inside her head.
“No holiday for the geese though”, she admitted with a crestfallen apologetic smile. “They still need to be brought out to the meadows. However…” she trailed off, searching inside her for the courage to voice the next few words. What if he got them wrong… or right for that matter? “If you swear not to tell anyone, I will confess one of my gravest secrets: I sneaked away before, to watch the knights fight. And on a day such as this, with the feast and all, and the competition to boot – I would be a fool not to!”
There was something else to it, of course. Now that she knew Alex would be there as well, everything in Brynn craved to take chances. Watching the competition in his company, that would be thrice the fun!
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 17, 2010 22:54:16 GMT -5
The longer she stayed around Sir Kolby, the less frightened Brynn was. He still thought her a spy? Well that, could be remedied, all she needed was getting her father to sort out the confusion. Even if she so didn’t like to disturb him with such a request. He had enough on his plate as it was, without having to look after his reckless eldest who should finally learn to grow up. She was old enough to be married!
What helped to relieve her from fear as well, maybe, was Sir Kolby’s casual appearance. Yes, he did carry a sword, but he was still shirtless. A full plate of armor surely would have done the trick to send Brynn cowering before him.
“Well, would you have let me watch if I didn’t hide?” she asked, trying to get her logic across. “Now as I am already busted I can admit I’ve been doing this for years. Not regularly, but every once in a while. It’s… entertaining!”
How could she possibly describe to him what made her do this? She was not like her little brother Gyrth, entertaining high hopes of knighthood and glory, but she still liked to watch them fight. It was almost as if seeing them train made them more… human in her eyes. Those skills they showed in tournaments were actually quite hard to obtain, with sweat and sore limbs. Knowing this and watching them train was like being let in on a very special secret.
“In any way, Mylord, I can only just repeat I am sorry. I know it was unseemly, and I should be back with my geese this very moment.”
She debated on saying more, but decided against it for the time being. A servant was only to speak when he was asked something by a higher born. She already had enough to answer for without a show of insubordination. Knights who just came fresh from the fight might be a little testy about such things. And he still had that sword in his hand…
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 16, 2010 7:35:15 GMT -5
There seemed to be no little reprieve for Brynn, once her heart had calmed down a little. She had moved farther back into the alchove but close enough to still see what was going down there. With growing horror she realised how the other knight was distracted for just a split second by the sound the pebble had made and when he looked up she thought his eyes were piercing hers, even if that was impossible at that distance. He could not very well see her, right? Then she had to fight down a gasp as Sir Leon exploited this moment of distraction immediately to lever the sword out of his companions hands. She had just caused a knight to lose a fight, however much of a teasing fight it had been! If Brynn knew anything about knights or had learned anything in her years of watching them, it was they never liked to lose, not in training and certainly not in a real fight. There would be hell to pay…
Her unease turned into blank horror as Sir… Kolby – that was it, why on earth did his name come to her now of all times, in a moment of severe panic? – seemed to head her way, and Brynn bit her knuckles not to cry out. Don’t panic… he’s only retrieving his sword… look, it flew quite some way in this direction…he’s taking it up now, he will turn around surely… oh god, he doesn’t…! Has he seen me? … Brynn Reade, get it together and RUN…go, go, GO for heaven’s sake!
But before she could wake up from her freeze response, a shadow crept closer and darkened the entrance of the recess, blocking off the daylight almost completely. Brynn shuffled as farthest back into the alcove as she could possibly manage, pressed herself against the hard stone wall, squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. It was the the typical childish reaction of: ‘If I can’t see you, you can’t see me!’ but in that particular moment Brynn couldn’t care less about maturity.
She heard his slightly agitated breathing as the fight had left him a little out of breath, and to Brynn it sounded like the snarling of a beast, having finally trapped its prey and now taking a moment to either rejoice in the ultimate victory or to toy a little first with the poor trapped soul.
It’s dark, he can’t see me… if I stay frozen and make no sound he will think it a trick of the eye… and leave… any minute now…
Just then she felt a sleeve of her shift dress being seized and she was brutally jerked forward into the open, gasping with fear, her eyes growing wide. What could she possibly do? Would he hurt her? Well, at least he seemed more surprised than furious for the moment and maybe she should exploit that fact?
Curtsying awkwardly as her panic stricken mind could just not deal with graceful moves for the moment, she lowered her gaze. “Forgive me, Mylord, I did mean no harm, believe me! I was just… watching. I am Brynn Reade, goosemaiden of Camelot, I am no spy!”
She dared to look up to him with a meek expression on her face, shrugging. “I am sorry I caused you to lose, that was by no means my intention. You had him good…Sir Leon I mean!” Brynn slammed her mouth shut and hunched her shoulders. Oh, her cursed mouth! Surely that had been far too bold to be directed at a Knight of Camelot!
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 15, 2010 22:49:50 GMT -5
Things had calmed down a bit now Prince Arthur had finally set out to his famous quest to relieve the Fisher King’s Triad. The days before the decision and the night before the departure had been so agitated Camelot had resembled a bee hive more than a respectable castle. Not that Brynn would have had any part in that excitement. The geese still were to be lead out towards the meadows and brought back in before nightfall. Still, such agitation was contagious and sometimes the girl had been sure even her geese felt it. So now it was actually a little relief to see things had gone back to normal.
Even the training session of the knights continued, even if their leader was away. So Brynn actually thought it normal enough to resume an old habit of hers, to spy on the knights while they were training and battling themselves for fun. There was a wall surrounding the training ground and as it had been some sort of last defence in previous times – at least that’s what her father had told her – it was littered with tiny recesses containing embrasures. Some of those recesses were even linked by a narrow tunnel almost too strait to squeeze through, which made her wonder how any guard in chainmail could manage that. One of those recesses had been her hiding place for years, as she could access it from the other side of the wall, unseen by everyone when she came from the meadows.
The geese were safely kept in a fence for the time being, she didn’t need to worry about them until the sun set. And it only was for a few minutes anyway…
With gleaming eyes she watched the knights fight. Discipline was actually a bit lacking since the Crown Prince was away, there were more fun combats going on than usual, and as it was pretty warm some knights had already gotten rid of chainmail and shirt!
Brynn’s eyes were practically glued on them, even if she felt ashamed for her behaviour. They all thought themselves unobserved, had they known she was watching they would have never done such thing!
And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to go away just yet, like she should have. Even though she knew she might be in serious trouble if she was caught, Brynn actually crept closer to the opening of the recess, leaning forward to watch a particular heated but nevertheless friendly fight between Sir Leon and a knight who’s name she didn’t quite recall… Coulby? Corby?
In any way, the fight was a feast for the eyes, and as Brynn had watched the knights fight for years she was apt enough to see how very skilled they both were. So lost in the sight she was, she didn’t pay attention to where her hand was resting on and when she put weight on it, shifting her balance a pebble broke loose, clanging on the ground.
Her heart missing a beat, Brynn retreated into the shadow, praying it had gone unnoticed by the knights.
Tag: Sir Kolby
Timeline: The Eye of the Phoenix, season 3
Time of day: early afternoon
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 15, 2010 22:11:43 GMT -5
Why was it the thought of having a demand free of him sent a warm shiver down her spine again? What was it about Alex that made her react this way? Oh yes, he was a hopeless charmer and probably didn’t mean half the words he said…but what about the other half? And all that being put aside, what about her own demand? What could she possibly demand of him? Didn’t she have everything she wanted? But maybe there would be something in the future? Many things could happen and one day she might need his help.
“Be sure I will remember that!” she nodded, and added jokingly: “I will strike when you last expect it and then…”
Then what? It was never good to let a sentence trail off without knowing what should have come next. That did not carry any hidden meaning or even flirty equivocalness, that was simply lame! Somehow Brynn felt very self-conscious around Alex ever since she had found him to be a master of words. Her own attempts were so feeble it deeply embarassed her, and she partly hoped he would not comment on that at all!
She smiled sincerely at him when he gave that promise, feeling quite safe in his company. It was wrong of him to blame himself for the previous incident, well, ever assumed he did. No one could have forseen this clumsy other couple and after all Brynn had to admit she didn’t bother all that much. No damage had been done and Alex… well, hadn’t he been a gentleman there? A saying echoed in her mind, stuck in her mind with indeterminable source. ‘To taste the sweet, I faced the pain’… Brynn blushed at her own thoughts. Was that really how she thought? Hadn’t she gone far too far already here? No good could come of… whatever it was!
“I’m sure it will be fine!” she agreed, relaxing into the slower rhythm of the dance, still gritting her teeth occasionally, but the pain died down more and more. “What are your plans for the following days?” she asked to distract both him and her from a very meaningful silence that she feared would soon settle on them. A slow dance was a dangerous dance indeed, at least for a girl who should be careful not to set her heart upon something as… unreliable as this situation. But she wondered how long she could keep this up until Alex noticed something. As good as Brynn usually was in hiding things and concealing her thoughts, as bad she was tonight!
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 10, 2010 18:37:43 GMT -5
Instead of simply taking her hand, Alex’ arm was suddenly around her waist and so she stood very close to him, almost leaning on him for the first attempt on getting to her feet. That might be completely harmless of course, but for Brynn it wasn’t… not that much anyway. Of course they had been close while dancing before, but in the girl’s eyes a dancing posture was a completely different pretext to start with. This could be seen with the pretext of getting her safely to her feet and yet… there was something else about it, and as unexperienced as Brynn was in such things, she was more confused again than anything.
But she didn’t inch away from him in any way, not even when her footing was half way secure. His concern he tried so obviously to hide sent a warm shiver down her spine.
“Who said it was an error!” she protested lightheartedly and shook her head. “I might have been angry in the first place, but I think I like it here. So, in fact, you might have done me a favor!” Then she overthought her words once again and wrinked her nose. “And with that I just rid myself of the perfect opportunity to demand whatever I want from you… way to go Brynn Reade!” she mockingly lauded herself and sighed.
Alex’ next comment was once again the perfect example of confusing courteous speech. Did he listen to too many nobles from afar or why was he able to pick up their embellished way to talk so well? Was this all coming from inside him? And what about it was truth, what just words?
“Uh, ah… I’d say I quite agree, but I’d need to comprehend that sentence first!” she teased him and winked. “But let’s see… if I discount two third of the words and halve the meaning, then it would bring me to… yes, I agree! The slower we dance the less time will pass!”
That of course did imply she didn’t want to leave his side all that soon, either, even if he most likely had been only joking. For her this slowly started to work past a joke… and the thought scared her.
“Nah, don’t you dare do anything to them!” she threatened him with mockingly furrowed brows. “I never said they were vicious to me… just to people they don’t know. Maybe my gander would feel provoked by your presence because you nearly chatter as much as him?” she suggested and couldn’t refrain from nudging him playfully. So maybe it was lame to constantly tease him about his big mouth, but Brynn was far from an expert on such kind of talk. And with Alex she would never be able to keep up anyway!
But her eyes lighted up visibly, when he asked her for another dance. Beaming, she agreed: “Yes, let’s dance again! And I promise I’ll be careful this time!”
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 9, 2010 18:18:22 GMT -5
It was a nice day so far, Brynn observed, lazily keeping an eye on her geese as she sat on the grass, making one of her usual flower wreaths. You should think that the whole meadow might be deserted of flowers by now, but indeed this was far from the truth. Brynn earnestly looked after not taking too many and even had days where she didn’t touch a single flower. The beauty of nature was for everyone to admire and enjoy after all, not just for a sole goosemaiden!
Things had finally started to calm down again in the city. Most of the damages the Great Dragon had caused had been repaired and the guards finally were able to step down from double-shifts as well. Brynn and her family, who had almost seen neither hide nor hair from her father in weeks, deeply rejoiced in that particular fact. Of course, things were still tense, what with this foreign king wanting to stir up trouble, but so far that was no big concern for Brynn’s little world. As long as her beloved ones were safe, there was no need for her to worry.
On the other hand, there were some things on her mind that might need a bit of consideration, though she rather had not dwelled on such confusing thoughts. They were centered around a particular young man she had come to know a little while ago…
Suddenly one goose started to cackle and darted around in the little fence they were kept in frantically, soon infecting her fellow geese with her behaviour. Angrily Brynn rose to her feet. “Ditha, Joe, what’s the matter with you?” she scolded the main troubleshooters, grabbing for her whip. “How dare you make such a –“
SCRREEEAAACHH!
The inhuman high pitched sound made her freeze on the spot, her heart missing several beats. The next instinct was to dive down, as suddenly some big shadow flapped over her head, and when she raised her gaze up to the sky, she had a hard time not screaming in horror: Some…thing, not as large as the dragon had been but surely as scary looking was heading towards the city of Camelot. For a moment Brynn’s only emotion was relief it had not seen her, but then… it dawned on her! The city… the people!
Without any proper thinking at all, she started to run, her geese forgotten and the wreath on the ground. But oddly enough, she was not running from the city, away from danger. She was running towards it at full speed!
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 7, 2010 21:19:00 GMT -5
Brynn’s lungs started to sting and her breath came only in short gasps. Running had never been so painful and hard for her before, and now of all times, when she needed to be swift most! Hadn’t she been too afraid of the outcome she would have been tempted to finally do what she sometimes did when she wanted to be fast: Trying to call on the wind to aid her. But no, this was totally out of question! Dying from the hands of a horrifying knight was a possibility, even with Prince Arthur around, but dying because she had used magic was a certainty BECAUSE of Prince Arthur around! If it was magic at all, and not just some weird figment of her imagination. But she clearly was in no mood to ponder over that now.
Every now and again while running down the long corridor she glanced back over her shoulder, to check if either Arthur or the knight was still following. She was deeply relieved every time the first was the case and the latter not. Still, she had counted eight of this deadly creatures when she had first run from them, so another one could turn up at any given time. That was also why she quickly returned her gaze forward every time she had checked on Arthur. It would be just her luck to literally run into one again, maybe even one with his sword already drawn so she would be pierced like a pig on a pole! No… better not dwell on that thought.
Their destination came closer, horribly slow as if it wanted to mock their petty attempts to escape. Had this corridor been this long before? Of course it had to be, but ways just had to seem twice as long when you were running for your life. An interesting revellation, but also not one Brynn liked to dwell on any longer.
Finally they reached her goal, a tapestry on the wall to her right, very old from the bleached out looks of it, bright colors long faded and some parts even showing tiny moth holes. It showed events equally long gone, fights against evil and foreign invaders. In general it depicted the Pendragon’s rise to power, this her father had told Brynn when she had been a little child. She remembered the day, securely exploring the castle holding the strong hand of her father, as he proudly spoke of the house he was serving.
Father… No! No distraction now! Quickly Brynn forced herself to wake from her reverie, lifted the tapestry a little from the wall and ushered: “Inside,quick!” Behind that tapestry was a narrow passage, dimly lit with only one oil lamp secured to the wall. Brynn squeezed through the gap herself and adjusted the fabric again, holding her breath.
Then what the Prince had said fully entered her mind, and she turned to him, her eyes gleaming stubbornly in the dim light. “No I don’t!” she whispered harshly. “I have to look after my mother and my little siblings. As I am the only one awake here – apart from you – I have to make sure they are alright and stay that way! Who knows what these … creatures are up to?”
The defiant speech had exhausted her, breathing heavily and blinking rapidly to keep her eyes open, she leaned against the damp cold wall.
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 6, 2010 16:57:44 GMT -5
His cool hand on her ankle was like a refreshment to her slightly heated skin. It didn’t hurt all that much, so Brynn was quite reassured it was nothing too serious. It was not like she hadn’t twisted her ankle before, wild child that she had been. No tree too high, no slope too steep. Gyrth and Elinor were quite following in her footsteps concerning that matter, and sometimes Brynn pitied her mother for having to go through rascal times three times in a row.
But it was not her mother who was the dominant thought in her mind right now…
Alex comment, with his voice a bit further from his usual teasing tone made her face flush like never before. “Oh, so you are to blame!” she exclaimed, trying to work around her anewed confusion. “It’s a bold act for sure, calling an angel down to earth. I might ask for recompense or any justification for your action!”
Brynn nodded earnestly to his remark, giving him a sweet smile. Under all his slightly cocky demeanour, there truly was a heart of gold hidden, a soul that cared for his fellow people. It was sweet how he seemed to care, it was in a totally different kind of way than Brynn was used to. More subtle, not that mother-hen act her mother put on daily.
“Let me try!” she suggested and extended a hand for him to take so he could steady her should the experiment go wrong. Tentatively putting weight on the sore foot she tested its stability. It hurt still, but was not unbearable. She could manage! After all, they had only danced for a short few minutes and she would not let that evening be spoilt by something as petty as a twisted ankle!
“Maybe a slow dance?” she concluded with a little wink and a smile. “So we won’t get jostled by some overeager couples. Let’s just wait until they change their tune.”
Brynn really wouldn’t mind if they had to stand like that for quite some time. She might be addicted to dancing, but she was more than sure simply talking to Alex could prove as fun. His whole presence was so refreshing to be around, Brynn actually wondered why they hadn’t come across each other before. But things like that just happened.
She had to laugh when he did that overly curteous speech. Truly, some parts of him were still close to a jester, and this teasing manner she could deal with far better than with the behaviour she had glimpsed at upon him just seconds ago. “That might just be an offer I won’t be able to refuse – beware!” she teased and cocked her head, examining him. “Do you really know what you sign yourself up for with being my bodyguard? I am constantly surrounded by vicious beasts!” With that she meant her geese of course. They could be very grumpy at times, hissing and attacking visitors at random. Only her they had never attacked before.
Her eyes met his for a split second and she felt an odd queasy feeling inside her stomach as she saw his sincere smile. Not really sure how to react to this, she returned it with a tentative one of her own, not wanting to look away.
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 6, 2010 0:01:27 GMT -5
Whatever her intentions for crying out had been, at least they seemed to have the desired effect. Prince Arthur, acting like distracted just a second ago, now bolted away and saved himself just in time from being beheaded. Brynn winced and sighed in relief as the blow was blocked, but the battle was far from over.
What had just happened? The answer came to her in a way she hadn’t expected it. She stiffled a yawn and suddenly felt very sleepy. Maybe she should close her eyes for a bit and… no!! That was what was happening! Whatever had put all the citizens of Camelot asleep, was now taking effect on her as well – and Prince Arthur who was fighting for both their lives. Another fact was that the ominous knight didn’t seem to be affected by this at all!
Cursing inwardly, Brynn willed herself to stay focused and for a while it worked. If only she could send her saviour some of that determination. If he failed – and heaven prevent she even thought about that possibility, because what would happen to Camelot if the Crown Prince died! – they were both doomed!
How come he was awake still anyway? Not that she would complain, but it was unusual in the circumstances. Unless… hadn’t he been away as well? Yes, now that she thought of it, hadn’t she witnessed him riding off with Merlin to some unknown destination this early morning, just as she was about to take out the geese? That would explain a great deal!
Then suddenly Arthur backed away from the knight, not dealing out blows any longer, and instead commanded her to run. For a moment Brynn was confused. What good would running do? Did he think them faster than the knight, was there any chance of outrunning it, even in their weakened state. Oh well, better not think too long about that particular fact, she had to stiffle a yawn again already.
But then she obliged, turning and starting out into the fastest run she could possibly manage, lifting her skirts a little to not stumble over them. That would be the last thing she needed, tripping and falling to the ground. Even Arthur wouldn’t be able to help her then!
She cast a look over her shoulder, wanting to know if he was following, and was reassured. Quickly she tried to orientate herself, scanning her brain for possible escape routes. This part of the castle she knew, because the kitchen was close. And also…
“This way!” she commanded, in a maybe not very appropriate voice speaking to a Prince, but for the moment she couldn’t care less. She had a hard enough time to stay awake and running already, she couldn’t focus on manners!
Sliding across the slippery marble floor she rounded a corner and dashed onwards. Right at the end of this corridor there was a secret passageway, a shortcut for the servant’s of the kitchen. If they could reach that in time and unseen…
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 5, 2010 22:59:36 GMT -5
It was the most natural thing to lean closer to someone’s ear when wanting to talk over a noise like was around them with all the music and laughing people. Still, Brynn couldn’t deny that this simple action had quite an unexpected effect on her. His warm breath tickled her ear and she felt a shiver run down her spine that didn’t come from the night air.
“Interesting way to put it, for sure”, she said, cocking her head and smiling up at him. “So, given I was an angel. What do you think why I fell?”
It was nothing but a friendly banter, she simply loved to hear another of his stories that he seemingly could come up with as he went. He was nothing if not entertaining. And yet… hadn’t she caught him looking somewhere else just as her gaze had focused on him again? And if yes, what did that mean? Goodness gracious, she was not good with any of this! Just too unexperienced to tell flirting from meaning, or friendly interest from… something else. How could she possibly think of dealing with that sort of confusion for a whole evening? But backing out, of course was out of question!
Brynn had hoped Alex would not realise what was going on with her, but sadly that proved to be a major misconception. She gritted her teeth as she more hobbled than walked over to the deserted stool a few paces away from the dancing ground. “I’m quite fine, nothing to worry about!” she tried to play it down. “It will die down in just a second, I’m sure. Maybe then we can continue dancing?”
When Alex touched her ankle she gasped, but not only with pain. She hadn’t been expecting that! But, now that she thought about it, there was nothing to it, was there? Maybe he knew a few things about twisted ankles?
To distract herself, she quickly scanned the crowd for any signs of her mother, hoping she would not show up now of all times. If anything, Brynn hated to be fussed over, and Meghan Reade was guaranteed to do just that.
She chuckled, in quite good spirits again now that she didn’t have to put weight on her ankle again. “Awww, well then I have to get well twice as fast, to not damage your precious honor all too much. And like you just said to me, it wasn’t your fault. You even prevented worse from happening!”
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 5, 2010 20:37:40 GMT -5
I’m going to die… I’m going to die… this – monster is going to kill me! These were all the thoughts currently present in Brynn’s panic-stricken mind. She still couldn’t believe this was actually happening. This had to be some sort of nightmare, but she needn’t the actual proof of this creature lashing out at her to know she was wide awake. So this was actually worse than a nightmare. From a dream you could wake up. In a dream you could not die!
Although she could see no real face, Brynn was sure that knight had to smile with some sort of sick satisfaction behind his mask. He seemed to be sure that she couldn’t escape, that her life was his to take, and that he therefore could make her suffer as long as he wanted to, drawing it out. Her eyes opened wide, Brynn fixated the shimmering blade that hovered over her head. Was it sharp enough so she wouldn’t feel any pain? Or would she die slowly and painfully, from a deep gash like her father once had suffered from? But unlike for him for her there would be no retrieving. She was alone in a castle of sleeping people, and should they ever wake up again it would be too late for her.
What oddly enough bugged her the most was that she still hadn’t checked on her mother and her little siblings. She felt… unaccomplished. Now she would die not knowing whether they were all alright, just sleeping peacefully like her father. The thought made her want to cry out again, this time in protest, but when she opened her mouth, her throat was too tight to let any sound escape. It didn’t even occur to her that she could have used her power of wind to save herself. She was inside a castle, so it probably wouldn’t have worked anyway.
Then the man or whatever it was seemed to have waited long enough. With a wooshing sound the blade started to come down. Had she been mortified by fear just a second ago, now something almost close to calm settled on Brynn’s mind. So she would die… she closed her eyes, not actually wanting to see her end coming, but beyond trying to escape, even if she had been able to move a single limb. She was also beyond screaming. It was done, this was how her life was supposed to end.
But just as her mind had settled on this inevitable fact, she heard the loud banging of clashing metal and as her eyes snapped open, she suddenly saw a figure having moved between her and the black knight, holding his sword at bay with one of his own. It was a man… and a man she didn’t know personally but had seen countless times from afar. Even with his back turned towards her there was no mistaking him – “Your Highness!” Her incredulous exclamation surprised herself. She wouldn’t have thought to be able to speak, but the turn of events had been to outrageous. Prince Arthur himself coming to her rescue? Where on earth had he hailed from? And why wasn’t he asleep like all the others?
She did as he said, moving against the wall, pressing herself to the rough stone, her finger scraping across cracks as if she wanted to melt into it.
Her heart pounding heavily in her chest she watched Camelot’s finest warrior taking up the fight for her life and his own. This was nothing like a harmless training fight, like those she had secretly watched so often.
The knight took up the challenge readily and without a word, which just added to his eerie appearance. He lashed out at the Prince once, twice, swiftly and like in a trance, as if this fight was nothing to him. Arthur on the other hand seemed slightly unfocused to Brynn’s eyes, and as the knight was dekeing a blow to the Prince’s head, the goosemaiden couldn’t help but cry: “Watch out!!!”
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 5, 2010 19:39:27 GMT -5
Again Alex speech took up words of flattery, but this time Brynn was able to shrug it off. What was the use in getting all wound up about something meant to be funny? The way he voiced his compliments made more than clear he just said them for the fun of it, and that was alright with the girl. These festivities were out of the usual time and space, some kind of heterotopia. What happened there was of no effect for everday life, or at least that was what Brynn thought.
“Angel? Oh now come on!” she laughed, tipping her head back. “I’m sure if I ever happen upon one he or she will not have rough servant’s hands or grass stains all over. You’d have to look for some noble woman if you want to see something angelic.” This she said without the slightest tint of envy, as much as she might dream, Brynn was quite content with who she was.
With interest she listened to his explanation, feeling quite safe from any collisions in his apt hands. He seemed to have quite a good overview over the dancing couples and simply anticipated where this or that couple would turn the next second or what move they planned. Godric had never been so foresighted, she owned a good few bruises from the last feast they had attended together.
“I see. Looking after little siblings can be very time-consuming, I agree. All the more lovely to have at least a half way night off. We should milk that to the last drop!”
Before she could say more, she felt being lightly tackled from behind by a giggling woman who was being spun around crazily by an equally reckless partner. But Alex reacted promptly, swinging her out of harms way, but it happened too quickly for Brynn to adapt to the sudden change of direction, so her shoulder bumped into Alex’s chest and she staggered, losing the rhy, gasping in surprise. Never say never…
“Goodness, sorry for that! I hope I didn’t hurt you with my protruding collarbone… and yeah, the more people seem to drink the less graceful they get!”
Just as she had finished her sentence, a sudden pain belatedly flamed up in her ankle and she gasped once again. She must have twisted it somehow during the rash move.
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Post by Brynn Reade on Nov 1, 2010 21:04:23 GMT -5
Alex friendly teasing made it easier for Brynn again to join in the light tone, leaving the awkwardness behind. She still might dance with a boy for the very first time, that is someone she only knew for such a short amount of time, but slowly the nervousness died down. Her father or her cousin Godric of course didn’t count in any way. They were family, but in secret Brynn was glad she at least had danced with a man before, which was not self-evident, loner that she was.
“Oh I quite agree”, she answered playfully, grinning. “A girl dancing alone, that’s quite alright, but a man dancing alone… that is either a jester, a juggler or a jerk who no one likes. And even if you sometimes act like the first option, I still think you are neither, right?”
And in addition to that, Brynn observed, he was quite a fine dancer. He moved with ease, adapting the rhythm as if it was another heartbeat to him, and furthermore kept Brynn herself out of harms way. That was highly appreciated, as a few people, probably already inebriated, started to turn the fiery dance into some sort of bumping action, cheering and laughing at everyone they tackled.
His question though made Brynn laugh at him the same way, a bit teasing and with an edge of meanness. “You really expect me to answer that truthfully? Beware, never fish for compliments with me around, I might just not do you the favor!”
But then she shook her head, waving her own comment aside as she did a fast spin. “Nevermind, you’re doing quite well in my eyes. Do you dance often? Once again, funny we never met before then, because I’m everywhere there’s music!”
If her mother let her, that was. Meghan Reade still saw her daughter as more of a child than she actually was and often treated her that way. Brynn, used to do what she wanted most of the days out alone, slowly began to rebel against that.
Casting a quick glance around, Brynn still found her siblings and Lita close by, now also attempting to dance. Reassured, she returned her attention towards Alex. Sometimes she really would have liked to not be the keeper of the littles ones to lighten her mother’s burden.
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Post by Brynn Reade on Oct 30, 2010 15:30:22 GMT -5
Brynn smiled at Gwen, glad she didn’t seem to feel left out. In fact, she seemed to adapt quite swiftly and well to the situation, joining in the joke at once. “Thanks for your help, it is widely appreciated. Together we might stand a chance against their evil schemes and endless cunning!” she quipped, turning around to the table, fishing for a jug. “Maybe we should drink to our alliance!” She held the jug to her face, sniffing inside and her eyes grew wide with surprise. “It’s mead! Goodness gracious how long since I last drank mead! This is going to be a feast indeed!”
Brynn chuckled as Alex showed the trick of cojuring a grape from behind her ear, and she took it with a deep curtsy and savoured the rich fruity taste on her lips. “Your generosity is without compare, Mylord, and truly, if you ever grow tired of washing dishes, you should apply as a jester. But first we need to come up with a plan against the fruit domination.” She examined the bowl who was emptied more and more by the second. “But I daresay we’re on a good way already!”
How on earth could she have felt anxious about this night? The gathering had turned into a nice and blithesome feast without any further ado, without her having to do anything. Was it really that easy whenever people came together or was she just lucky to have Alex and Gwen as a company? How would she know? But this first experience made Brynn realise just what she might have missed the previous years of staying only with her family.
Her face showed a bright and slightly amused smile when Merlin joined the scene in his typical fashion. At least someone she knew a bit better, and she really had developed some kind of soft spot for Prince Arthur’s manservant. He just had a golden heart.
“Welcome Merlin!” she greeted him and offered him a cup of mead she had just been pouring. “How are things upstairs? And yes, take a grape and join forces with us… someone will explain to you!” she finished, snitching another fruit.
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Post by Brynn Reade on Oct 29, 2010 19:09:15 GMT -5
One should think that when a guy spilled compliments everytime he opened his mouth, it should become easier after a while to just take them for granted. Not for Brynn apparently. She blushed again, deeper this time and was highly annoyed at herself. What would he think of her? She was making this more difficult for them both, wasn’t she?“Aww, now come on stop!” she laughed, shaking her head. “I didn’t come here for exeeding flattery, Alex, I just wanted to have a good time!”
Brynn nodded earnestly at Lita’s question. “Yes, that’s her. I made this wreath for her this afternoon, look, just like my own. Maybe I could make you one too one day? Too bad its to dark now to find the right flowers and they mostly are closed now anyway!”
Elinor had spotted her older sister as well and waved cheerily, poking Gyrth in the side with her other hand. Brynn’s eyes lit up in fondness for a second, then she returned her attention to Lita. “Oh yes, that sounds like a good idea to me. Have fun and don’t harass Gyrth… all that much!” she winked and waved the girl goodbye, looking after the children for a moment of idle thinking.
That was why she almost missed Alex’ reply and it made her start and stare for a few seconds, until she caught herself. Hastily she spoke, so that he would not think she was thinking him too bold or wouldn’t like to. “Oh…OH, yes… of course! I would love to! Sorry that… just came as a little bit of a surprise… I stop talking now I guess!”
Her cheeks flushed in embarassment and she was mighty glad as the jugglers started another tune. She simply extended a hand for him to grab and still felt like an utter fool. She had never felt so shorttaken in her entire life, but she wouldn’t have refused to dance with him for anything in the world!
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Post by Brynn Reade on Oct 29, 2010 16:14:42 GMT -5
Not for the first time Alex’ choice of words and his galant actions made her blush, and she hoped it was already dark enough to hide it. Oh yes, he was quite the charmer and is was sometimes hard to get used to. She would beware of reading anything into his words, but that was hard as well for a girl as unexperienced as her. However, if she wanted to keep Alex around as a friend, she might have to learn her way around him sooner or later.
“You look mighty fine yourself if I may say so”, she responded with a wink. “Red suits your outspoken nature I’d say. You should wear this color more often!”
Now that was only partly teasing. Even if he might think otherwise, Alex did look good tonight.
Only then she got aware of the little girl at Alex’ side and her facial expression grew soft and caring. She had seen this little angel from afar on some occasion and she recalled her little sister Elinor speaking of Lita. Kneeling down so her face was on the same level with the little girl she smiled at her. “Oh, who would have thought Alex has such a pretty sister! Greetings, Lita!” Brynn refrained from sounding too condescending or motherly, avoiding the ‘oh, such a cute little angel’ tone most adults adopted when talking to little children. She knew from own experience and from her siblings how most children hated to be treated that way. Instead, she spoke as if she was talking to a girl way older. “And do not worry, I won’t steal your brother from you, if that means you might have to go home!”
She looked around again for a glimpse of her family, and as if on cue, Gyrth and Elinor were racing past in a wild chasing game, laughing and screaming, weaving through the dancing and chatting people with an aptitude only children possessed.
“Oh, look!” Brynn exclaimed, getting off her knees and pointing at the boy and the girl.”These are my younger siblings. Elinor must be of your age, Lita, do you know each other well?”
Then she returned her attention towards Alex and gave a bright smile. “I am indeed faring well! This night has been perfect so far. I love dancing!”
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Post by Brynn Reade on Oct 29, 2010 15:44:49 GMT -5
Brynn chuckled once again and had the odd urge to nudge the young man beside her playfully, but she refrained from it, finding it… inapropriat as of yet. They hadn’t exchanged more than a few words after all, even if Alex made it easy for Brynn to forget that they hadn’t known each other for months or maybe even years. Talking to him came as natural as breathing.
“Oh, then please forgive me, oh great master of dishes for disappointing you!” she apologized and did a mock curtsy. “I solemnly swear to try and be around more!”
Now that she might have a reason to stay, the idea was not a bad one in her eyes. Brynn had had very little friends whatsoever, people of her age with whom you did exchange more than just a few casual words, but until now she had not missed anything. Maybe because she hadn’t known what there might to be missed…
Her eyes sparkling with mirth, Brynn watched Alex hiding the grapes and she nodded in acknowledgement. “Yes, we shall keep them all in custody until their fate is decided by a mighty court of law, consisting of ourselves and a few other trusted friends. They shall come to see their fair judgement!”
She had to join in his laughter again, there was simply no way around it. Such a contagious sound it was, filling the kitchen with a friendly and homely athmosphere. In this moment, Brynn would have not traded any noble’s feast for this simple joy.
Brynn knew Gwen from sight, but had never spoken a word to her directly. There was still a bit of awe and shyness involved, as Gwen was a lady’s maid, of a higher standard than the other servants. That hadn’t stopped her though from forming some sort of friendship to Alex as it seemed, as the two of them seemed quite familiar with each other.
The goosemaiden nodded as Gwens remark and laughed at Alex’s fake-indignant response.“Yes, as he so lovely put it, I am Brynn, the goosemaiden. You are Gwen, Lady Morgana’s maid, right? If you know Alex better than me, I might come back to you on a few things concerning his ‘troublesomeness’.” She winked at Alex to show she didn’t mean it that way.
“As it is, he is right for once, we were just passing judgment on a band of troubleshooting grapes. We might need another juryman, though, care to join us?”
She sounded it in the most serious of voices, but her eyes showed that she was holding back laughter with all her might.
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