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Brynn had quite mixed feelings about meeting Gwaine in just this situation. She liked him very much, make no mistake, he was always there to teach her not to take life too seriously and that sometimes really helped, she just wasn’t sure if it would help right now. Gwaine had always shied away from any love topics that was for sure, and he had been content to ask ocasionally if all was fine. Until now, she had always been able to answer this question with a firm yes, though even a few months ago… she had been thinking about the ‘fine’ part more closely. Back then however she hadn’t thought she would actually walk away and be a single girl again, not with the prospect of marriage on her hands, but with… nothing. Friendship… and a confusing emptiness and doubt where absolute content had been. But who could she talk about that with? Gwaine surely didn’t seem the right person, this young knight lived life to the fulles and often reminded her of a butterfly, fluttering from flowe to flower and not caring much about anything than constantly keeping on moving and getting as much of the nectar as it could? No… she didn’t know, if she rather hadn’t someone different for company right now. Maybe she should just not mention it and leave it for another time?

It was not that he would not care, or try to give some advice, she just wanted to spare them both the awkwardness of him trying to console her, knowing full well he wasn’t very good at this. He was like her big brother in so many aspects and even her mother treated him sometimes as if he were her son, as little respect as she sometimes showed for the knight when he was being cheeky or tried to steal something from the kitchens. In Brynn’s eyes, Gwaine was almost a part of her extended family, however weird that sometimes might sound, because he was of such a far better status than her ever since joining Arthur and being knighted during Queen Morgana’s takeover. He had also never tried to flirt with her for real, just liked to tease her, because she blushed so easily about anything he might say to her, even if it was only the tiniest bit suggestive. Would that change once he knew she wasn’t with Alex anymore?! She hoped not, but then it might change simply enough for her… without the support of knowing she was with the man she loved, Brynn feared she might feel far more vulnerable.

There he went again, teasing her about supposed affections for him, and just like she had feared, this time she couldn’t brush it off as easily as usual. Not that she suddenly felt more attracted to him… she just had one big reason less NOT to… and that somehow DID make a little difference.
Nevertheless, she tried to overplay it, as usual, hoping her confusion wouldn’t show too much. “You must be a soothsayer, Gwaine, you always see and know things others wouldn’t even think of”, she pointed out, smiling softly, then taking a deep breath as he asked he how she was. She would try to avoid this… just say she was fine… she WAS, sort of… “Same as usual you could say… the geese are cheeky and chattering as ever, I can’t complain.” Why did this feel like lying, even though she was just not mentioning something? The unsaid words weighed on her shoulder like a mountain, threatening to bring her to her knees. No… she could not NOT say it… And Brynn, the girl that never said anything without considering it first, suddenly blurted out. “I… Alex and I…” Turning bruskely away, looking out over the beautiful landscape in front of her, she added in a low voice, trying to keep calm: “we … we just broke up. It’s… we just don’t…” There wasn’t really any words.

... for threads

So, hey! I've been massively lagging with this young servant girl, and I would really like to get her back into the game. If you have any ideas concerning plots with her, just shoot me a PM or post here, I would feel much obliged, cause I'd hate to see her go!

There is also a wanted ad I put up for her which can be found here, I'd love you forever, if you maybe took a look at it and consider it!

The moment of irritation was gone, like a wisp of wind that got your hair in turmoil one second but was gone the next, like nothing had happened. Maybe it had really been the wind taking away her anger, it sometimes seemed like he did such things. Whatever the cause, Brynn was glad that her anger at Gwaine had been only momentary, as it was surely not usual for her to snap like that and it made her uneasy. Usually, she also didn’t complain about not having any or at leasr not many female friends, so the goosemaiden had actually no idea where that frustration had come from so suddenly. Only because they would consequently not be there at her wedding? A wedding wasn’t there to show off how many friends you had, after all, he mother would chide her for such thoughts and she would be right to! A wedding was celebrating the twosome of man and woman, and Brynn could feel very lucky that her marriage would be one of love. Or was it the marriage itself that had triggered the sharp reaction? Had she been suddenly befallen with doubts, thinker that she was? Well, whatever it was, it was no matter to take out on Gwaine and it was no problem that could be solved tonight, Regarding the ignorance of non-immediate problems, she might as well take a leaf out of Gwaine’s book, that was for sure.”Thank you, then”, she said with a little laugh and tentatively slipped her hand under his elbow again, hoping he would not refuse.

Gyrth taking his vows… it was quite an unusual thing for Brynn to imagine, even in her head, but then so was imagining Gyrth as a grown up man. For her, he would probably always stay the little brother she had to look after, and it would be a curious thing to see these roles reversed: Him protecting her and Camelot, whether as guard or as knight. Would he look like her father? Or would he really one day ride out with King Arthur, defending Camelot from dangers far and near? And who else would serve at his side? More commoners? But then, this was the future, and no one without magic could ever see the future. Maybe it was better that way.
”I’m really not sure what he would choose, come time”, she mused thoughtfully. “But then, he’s got a few years ahead of him still, and as long as he has tutors like you and my father, he can be sure to choose freely. Bless Arthur for making this choice even possible. It is surely a grand chance.”

She should have guessed her hints would excite Gwaine. That would be something of just his taste, wouldn’t it? Being not only able but allowed to chase after women and claim them as a price. Brynn wondered what the women had to say in these matters, but she guessed they would do it at their own risks, growing up with such customs. If it was true after all, but then if what Gwaine said was true, then he probably would find out soon.
”Oh really? Is she that redhaired, beautiful lady you can see at practically every feast? Someone once said to me that it was a curious affair, because even though we’re both redheads, apparently we’re as different as night is from day. Is that really so? And heh”, Brynn shook her head with a short laugh. “Good luck with explaining your leave of absence to Arthur. Would he let you go, if he knew the real reason?”

You didn’t need some kind of magic to see that Gwaine was absolutely shocked at Brynn’s sharp reaction, and for a brief moment, the goosemaiden even felt a little bit of satisfaction at his face. He surely hadn’t seen that coming, right?! Gentle Brynn reprimanding him, calling him a prat in earnest. But if she was completely honest with herself, Gwaine was not the only one shocked at her reaction, she was so herself. If anything, Brynn was a good sport, and Gwaine might be a prat, but there was never any malice hidden behind his often thoughtless words, so objectively speaking, there was no reason for her to get worked up about so silly a statement. If it had been only for that, Brynn would have left it with a rolling of her eyes and a laugh, at most merely thinking the things she had now blurted out. Brynn was not the kind to be mean, and so Gwaine’s obvious woundedness hurt her as well, and she bit her lip, slowing her pace and turning towards Gwaine with an expression on her face that was almost to be called sheepish.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean that”, she sighed. “It’s none of my business after all.” That still didn’t explain why she had reacted to rashly, and Brynn felt she owed Gwaine some kind of explanation, no matter if he would care for it or not. But what WAS the explanation? For a moment, Brynn was at odds with herself, but then she realized it was much simpler than she had thought, which oddly enough made her snapping even more shameful.
“It’s just… I think you touched a sore spot with that. I don’t have many female friends to speak of. Most of the time I don’t really miss them, but of course that might make my possible wedding a slightly bleak affair.”
Now the shadow of a smile crossed Btynn’s face. “So, bring as many women as you want.”

“At the rear of course, for reinforcements.”
Brynn wasn’t exactly sure, if that was really what was on Gwaine’s mind, but then again, this whole comment had been starting out as a joke, as Gwaine would one: never have his own army and two: the day when geese would be allowed as regular members of a force was still written in the stars. So she chose to take his words at face value, just like he had done, to keep the joke going without questioning his sincerity in the subject.
“I’ll start the training tomorrow then”, she suggested with a grin, feeling her own lightheartedness return and hoping it was the same with Gwaine. This evening was really not the time or the place for an argument that was so pointless on top of it all. “Just give me a sign when you’re ready with your own little army. Best use Gyrth as a messanger.”

Night was falling rapidly now and the few people around them were thinning out, looking to go home and get as much sleep as they could, before another challenging day’s work would be waiting for them. Brynn would have liked to prolong this walk for a little, but then she also realized that she had somewhat killed the mood. How peculiar things could work out sometimes. In the beginning it had been her trying to lighten up Gwaine’s unusual sombre mood, and now she was the one in need of pep-talk, or simply one or two distractions.
“Of course you would”, she replied and nodded almost earnestly. “Good luck with the chase. Have you ever been to Mercia? I heard someone saying chasing women there is a sport the knights fancy, but I have no idea if it is true.” It sounded more like a wild rumor to Brynn, and it had been accompanied with much snickering, which Brynn normally blended out quickly.

One thing Brynn found sometimes annoying about herself was that she took everything far too serious. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it became bad and sometimes even pathetic and humiliating when it came to jokes. She was so bad at getting certain types of jokes, and especially the ones Gwaine loved to make. That was probably a reason he loved to wind her up so much, it almost always worked. And now, he was at it again, or was he? With her misinterpreting his first statement about the noble wedding guests, she had practically opened it up for him, and he reacted promplty. His indignation was so well played out, Brynn actually was at odds for more than just a moment, if he could be serious, and her eyes widened slightly as he stepped back and accused her of not being a good friend. She was even working on a sharp reply in her mind – after all, what did HER wedding have to do with HIS conquests, he could run after ladies all day as much as she cared! – when his face broke out into his trademark grin, and Brynn felt even more stupid than before. But just like with her mother, Gwaines grin didn’t have such a charming effect on her as it might have on other women, and so she STAYED annoyed, quite a lot actually. As much as Brynn could be annoyed, that was, but even though she never threw fits, her anger could be sincere. And lasting.
“Incorrigible Prat!” she muttered, brushing past him and slapping his arm away. “I don’t have many female friends as you well know, and the few I have I will make sure to warn previously. Just so you know!”

Gwaine wasn’t collecting many bonus points right now, and that just continued when he began to talk about her geese in a manner that made a few alarm bells ring inside her head. When people started to say such things, there usually was something to follow she wouldn’t like to hear. Yes, they could be a pain sometimes, but that was just in their nature. They had to be handled right, or else they would be hostile, and especially the ganders didn’t quite graps the concept that male humans weren’t serious competition.
“And where would this place be, if I may ask?” she replied, her voice still in a joking tone, but there was the hint of a warning in her eyes, reminding him that he better not trespassed now, or there would be hell to pay. Even the massive cook had come to learn to respect the quiet kind of rage Brynn Reade could pull off, if one of her fosterlings was harmed without her permission.

Heaving a long, exasperated sigh, Brynn rolled her eyes at Gwaine’s remark. He was truly incorrigible, but the worst thing about it was that he pulled it off in such a way that you still had your difficulties to keep from laughing at him. And he probably knew that very well. “And what will you do if I tell them to run a mile instead?” she asked, genuinely interested. The thought of every woman within the walls of Camelot turning and running when they caught sight of Gwaine was surprisingly amusing. It would not be for him, of course, but maybe that would be just the lesson he needed. If it ever worked. There was truth in the word ‘incorrigible’ she so frequently used on him. Gwaine would most likely never change, so it might be wise to simply accept him like he was.

Was that Gwaine giving up, or was that Gwaine having something more up his sleeve? He usually always did, so it might be better to be wary. Brynn really couldn’t believe she might have won this little banter against him, since she never won them. That was simply out of question, she was not that type. But… was he really asking indirectly what Alex did to crack her? Thinker that she was, Brynn took a little time to actually ponder that question. What DID Alex do to have her made falling in love with him? It had all happened pretty fast in hindsight, a few meetings and she had been none but his and presumably until the end of time. There had been this first meeting when they first had taken more notice of each other than usual. And then of course… the dance! The night of the festivities in honor of Arthurt Pendragon, when he had taken his vows as crown prince… Brynn couldn’t help for her gaze to get a little glassy, but when she realized her thoughts were wandering to that particular evening, she shook herself from it and smirked at Gwaine.“Well… he swept me off my feet, in the litteral sense”, she explained, biting her lips. “I didn’t think that would be the one thing doing the trick… but it did.”

Shouldn’t she have been telling him this? Maybe he didn’t even want to hear it. Gwaine didn’t care much about other people’s business after all, which could be a very refreshing trait once in a while, as many people just meddled too much, and he especially kept his thoughts to himself if the subject was love. Gwaine, she had found out, wasn’t one for this relationship-commitment kind of love. It might not be her way, but Brynn respected that. As long as he didn’t leave too grand a trail of broken hearts behind, he could do whatever he pleased to, and she would not say anything. But then, would it still be comfortable for him to be rubbed into two lovers’ happiness all the time? That surely must become repetitive after a while!
So she was glad she could focus on a little less personalized topic for a while, even though Gyrth was close to her heart. Gwaine just had the best ideas tonight! Why hadn’t she thought of it earlier?! The easiest way to not let Gyrth get haughty about it, was turning this thing into a group event, where more of his friends could join in. She doubted he would truly have anything against that, as he was not mean!
“Well, there is Hal for one, the equerry’s firstborn, and his younger brother Aelfric. Gyrth and them always stick together, but it caused a little fallout already between then when Gyrth started to brag about his lessons with you. Getting them all into this together would be the perfect cure – Gwaine, you are amazing!” More impulsively than she usually was, Brynn turned to give Gwaine a half-hug. One sorrow less on her mind!

Brynn really didn’t want to linger on the subject of Gwaine and his conquests, that got too many pictures in her head she rather would not have, but then again, she had asked, hadn’t she? It was her own fault if she got the repercussions now.
“Mother’s weapons are far more subtle”, she agreed. “I think it’s more we girls who have to be afraid of them, if their sons are involved with us.” Brynn cocked her head and cited an often used phrase from the kitchens, brought to light whenever there was talk about one of the maids getting married. “’A resentful father can be an obstacle, a resentful mother will make your life hell.’”

It was one thing keeping a straight face around the usual jesters and the comments of witty men, it was a completely different thing to try and keep a straight face around Gwaine for too long. He was not only funny, he was simply impossible sometimes in his comments, and that impossibility, that abundance of cheek, made it – in consequence – impossible to stay unaffected by him. Brynn knew she was a tough nut to crack sometimes when it came to merriment, but Gwaine just seemd to possess that very special key. Her mother Meghan knew that too, and whenever she caught Gwaine doing something he shouldn’t in the kitchen, she had a hard time staying her usual resolute self. But now Gwaine was actually toeing a line. Brynn was no violent person, but even she could only refrain from physical punishment for so long, when she was out of words to express her indignation or exasperation. So she smacked him lightly on the arm and gave him a short warning glare that sadly couldn’t eliminate the merry twinkling in her eye for long, and Brynn feared its reliability suffered from that twinkling severely-
“I AM hard to get – to get so far as to really show you your place, Gwaine”, she said and raised her index finger, “but you get me closer and closer to that line by the minute.”

Oh, Gyrth was sure to have fun, that much was a given. Brynn would never forget the gleaming in his eyes when she had first told him that in the following morning, he would be visited by one of the knights who would teach him a few ‘real tricks’ – like she had called it – with his little wooden sword. She had only told him after a long argument with her parents though, careful not to raise his hopes first and then watch them being crashed. The letdown and sadness in a child’s face could make any heart break, and even more so if that child was your little sibling. For a while, Gyrth had adopted quite a haughty streak and he had nearly lost his friends because he had thought himself something better, but his parents had made sure to get that streak out of him. Not so much with threats and punishment, but more with quiet talk and arguments. The Reade family might not make many words per se, but they did when they thought it necessary.
“He will!” she assured her friend, letting go a knowing sigh. “Let’s treasure them while they are young and innocent and their foes consist of straw and wood, and not flesh and blood.”

Brynn grinned at Gwaine’s advice on mothers. He might not think of it the way she did, but Brynn knew that even girls had to deal with mothers which were not easily swayed: The mothers of their future intended who often enough were jealous of the other women in their son’s life. In that position, the future wives might have it even worse than the intended lovers like Gwaine. “But it’s the fathers who threaten to beat you up, right?”, she asked, interested against her will. Gwaine’s love life was none of her business, but it wasn’t often he talked so frankly about his ‘ways’. “What would be your counsel to get past the mean mothers?”

Meghan didn’t like this. She knew she was being heavily pushed in one direction she initially never had wanted to go, and there was no good reason why she should not accept this request. She had not as much experience as a midwife, but she had delivered three healthy children successfully and could at least be a calming, reassuring presence in a woman’s hour of need. Should it really be of such a difference, whether this woman was of noble blood or no? She had asked for Meghan’s help, could she even dare to refuse? All her life, Meghan had believed in a firm line between those who gave orders and those who served and obeyed. She had been growing up like that, working in the kitchen of Camelot castle as long as she could possibly remember. But now the world was changing so incredibly fast, and yet some things always stayed the same: the high ones asked, the low ones served.

Yes, she would work past her unease with the simple assumption that she was following an order. She could live with that better than with having to agree to a favor. Lady Caitrin had asked for her, that was unusual, but it was still some sort of order, and Meghan would follow, like she always followed orders. And like always, she would fulfill this task to her best ability. It was a great responsibility that they had loaded on her shoulders with that task, she would have to watch over two lives after all, but at least the testimony of Sir Gwaine and her daughter showed this lady to be forgiving and friendly. Maybe this would work out after all.

“And I bet you would say this to every baker you pilfered bread from in the lower town”, Meghan assumed with a sigh and a shaking of her head. “Who are you trying to fool here, Gwaine? I did have an elder brother that could hold a candle to you any day.”
Brynn raised an eyebrow and looked between her mother and Gwaine. Was she talking about Cynewulf? She must be, as Brynn didn’t know of any other uncle she might have, though she didn’t remember this man as quite so mischievous as Meghan made him. Then again, that would explain her ease in handling her friend.

Sure of her victory, Brynn found it save to press the matter a little bit. She needed a firm yes or no, or else she would not be able to tell Lady Caitrin the news in the following morning.
“So… will you do it, mum?” she asked, crossing her fingers behind her back.
Meghan sighed once again, looking between Brynn and Gwaine, as if looking for a way out, but then she nodded slowly. “…Yes. It is only a maybe anyway, right? Tell her I would step in, should her midwife still be ill when the baby comes.” Then she turned to Gwaine and shook her head firmly. “That would please you, wouldn’t it? Gwaine as king of the kitchens. No, my dear, I would ask you to do something entirely different, if you want to be of use.”

Seeing the fun and adventuresome side of this was definitely helping with anxiety issues, Brynn found. Was this why parents often told their children dangerous situations were nothing but a game, and it was not real? This was anything but a game of course, and they both would have to be careful not to lag in their watchfulness, but at least now she wouldn’t have the fear of fainting any second. Brynn had only fainted once in her life and that had been out of pain, when she had been hit by that blasted crossbow bolt when Morgana first took over. Morgana… the evil sorceress more than the ‘lady’ or – heaven forbid – the ‘queen’. She was the reason for all this, wasn’t she? Idris and Brynn were not only getting themselves to safety, they were also defying Morgana. Showing that it could be done. That they could escape from the spider’s net. That alone was worth it.

Never being much of a leader person, Brynn didn’t have anything against Idris taking some things in her competent hands. Not in the least. She was not only following her, she would be her companion in crime, and she could take the lead whenever Brynn was too hesitant and too engrossed in her own thoughts to act with due swiftness. Just like now. She was thinking too much of the if and when, while they had come to a standstill, and it was Idris who dared the enterprise towards the double winged door first. Brynn had just resigned to the watchman role, when Idris asked for her help. Now that was something she could deal with and which didn’t require much consideration.

As swiftly and silently as she could, Brynn rushed to her friend’s side, and started to pull it at the large handles. The door softly creaked in its hinges and the low sound seemed like a flourish that rang through the whole castle, causing Brynn’s heart to falter and nearly stop. It was now or never! As she was leaning closest to the gap they had created, she hesitantly peeked through it, but could not find anyone in her visual field. Now, being any more hesitant would only be suspicious, and so Brynn pushed harder, and then slipped through the door, taking a quick look around with pent up breath.

The courtyard was empty, but she could see soldiers up on the parapet, their backs still turned towards them as they watched over the upper and lower town. Brynn released the breath in a long, relieved sigh, and then whispered back to Idris: “Quick, get through, the coast is clear!” And while she did, she already made her way down the stairs, trying to look as inconspicious and normal as possible, she even adopted some kind of lazy swagger.