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Post by Brynn Reade on Oct 3, 2011 17:27:02 GMT -5
Now that this rather troublesome episode was over, Brynn took a little time to catch her breath and wiped her forehead with a little sigh. Really, people not knowing anything about geese would think her job easy when in fact it was anything but. Geese weren’t called feathered guard dogs for nothing, they could be very fierce on any kind of intruder, whether it was wished or not. But for now Martin had stepped down from his vendetta against menfolk and joined the other geese who greeted him with excited cackling. Brynn had no doubt they were all commenting on it now in their own special way. Some would laud him and some would scold him for what he had done.
The good thing about it was that Merlin had gotten away halfway unscathed and seemed not too angry. Brynn wouldn’t blame him otherwise,really. But that was Merlin, always sweet and forgiving.
”Everyone’s out to get you?” she repeated, a little incredulous. “Do you mean Arthur and Gaius? Then again… you had your fair share of adventure already, didn’t you?” Brynn didn’t know much about the things that had come to pass, as many of them had taken place outside Camelot and Merlin also had never been one to boast, but a few things even she had heard. A few things she had even been part of herself…
Then he asked her how she was, and Brynn took a moment to ponder over that. She had always been a pensive girl, not speaking too hastily most of the time, and this question was not easily answered with a simple ‘fine’. There had been reasons why she had not been seen too much in the castle lately.
Brynn’s peaceful life had been shaken to its foundations by Lady Morgana taking up her ruthless but gladly short reign. She had nearly lost her own life in it, and also her father. The halls and especially the courtyard – once filled with lovely memores – had become a painful window to a few horrible events for Brynn she probably never would be fully able to forget.
”I have been good”, she replied then, smiling just the tiniest bit. ”Ever since my father recovered from his wounds things are looking up.” Subconsciously her hand wandered up to her left shoulder where the crossbow bolt that had been shot at her in that horrifying scene in the courtyard. It had healed well and she could now use the arm without difficulty, it just itched from time to time. “And I mostly have been out here, like always”, she teased. “What a goosemaiden should do, you know. Also, with Alex being so busy lately, I had not much reason to stick around inside the walls.” Not to mention that her claustrophia made her wish to stay out in the open anyway.
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Post by Brynn Reade on Sept 30, 2011 16:56:42 GMT -5
Gwaine really didn’t seem to take offense in her calling Arthur by his first name and that reassured her. He didn’t mention it, didn’t even lift an eyebrow, which made him all the more sympathetic in Brynn’s eyes. Perhaps he was really a very easy-going man, refreshing to the sometimes stuck-up knights for sure. They could need a little fresh blood. Not that Brynn would dare say anything against them of course, and she had a high respect for their honor and their deeds, just that some nobles would just always stay noble.
”New times are coming to Camelot”, she concluded with a thoughtful tone in her voice. “But you can’t see me complaining, really. Change does not always have to be bad.”
How funny it was, really. Now here she was, all but discussing politics with a knight, as amiable as Gwaine was. That wasn’t the safest terrain for Brynn, and so she rather delved into her personal story. That was something she had always dealt with, and her background was no secret; she wasn’t ashamed of who she was, on the contrary, it filled her even with some kind of pride. Brynn loved her family dearly and couldn’t imagine herself anywhere else or any more lucky.
”No, no, not just me and my mother”, she corrected him with a little smile. Her eyes were lighting up when she spoke next. “We're actually quite the family. There’s my father John Reade who’s a guard of Camelot, and then I have two siblings. Gyrth, my brother is an eight year old redhaired rascal. You might have literally stumbled over him at some point, running around with a wooden sword near the stables. And then there’s Elinor, she’s six and the cutes girl you’ll ever come across. Oh well…” she blushed a little, “that probably sounds so preposterous to you, and also too prideful. We’re just a simple family, but…” now she just shrugged. “I love them all.”
As he made no teasing comment to the nature of her odd proposal, Brynn could almost feel the load coming off her mind like stones tumbling down a slope. Really, she had thought him to take her up on it, and she had prepared for the worst. His simply approval made her smile broadly and she turned towards the meadows.
”It’s not far, really. And oh…” she gave a little laugh. “Yeah, I guess now you have me. I really must find a good argument as to why geese are more interesting than knights, but really there is a simple explanation.” She heaved a mocking sigh, raising her hands. “If I don’t go look for them they’d come look for me, and believe me you don’t want to see the mayhem that would cause.”
Her voice though betrayed a similar affection towards the geese than she had shown for her family. “I’ve got to warn you about Martin, my gander, though”, she added after little consideration. “Let’s just say he’s… not very fond of male beings entering his territory.” |
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Post by Brynn Reade on Sept 28, 2011 14:47:46 GMT -5
Half flying, half running, Martin was of course far faster than Brynn who had only her two legs and was short of a good headstart. This was so not going to end well. At least Brynn was able to intercept Bluedown, making her retreat with a slash of her whip that sent her away cackling angrily. Brynn didn’t like to use the whip but this was truly an emergency, as normally the geese responded to her voice only. This time however, Martin seemed to angry, and he was getting to Merlin now, his beak slashing at the poor boys trousers, nipping at his calves and anywhere he could reach him. An angry gander could do serious damage, his beak was strong and if you were unlucky to get your fingers in his beak, he could easily break them. Which was why Brynn needed to do something, and fast!
‘I know it’s dangerous, but help me out now!’ Brynn thought in her head. ‘Make me faster, hinder Martin, anything really!’ Aloud she shouted: “Trying hard here Merlin, just you hold on a little longer!” At least Merlin was running in her direction now which made her task a little easier. She doubled her efforts and ran at some kind of angle to intercept Martin from the side. And really, this time running was going considerably easier, as she felt herself being pushed forward by a slight breeze which at the same time seemed to ruffle Martin’s feathers which confused him at least to some extend, enough for Brynn to gain ground on him.
When he was in touching range of her whip, she let it swish through the air and slapped one of his spread out wings. “Enough now, Martin!” she demanded fiercely and tried to get between him and Merlin. Surely the gander wouldn’t dare to take a bite out of HER? He had never done that even in his wildest times! And really, Martin might be still hissing and flappin his wings, but he calmed down a little. “You should be ashamed of yourself, really!” she chided the animal as if it was a little child. “Merlin’s my friend, so how dare you attack him! It was hard enough to teach you to tolerate Alex around here, but that doesn’t mean you can go wild with any other male around!”
Then she turned to Merlin with a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, truly… that’s not how you should be greeted when visiting me.”
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Post by Brynn Reade on Sept 28, 2011 12:57:33 GMT -5
It was a truly nice day, quaint and beautiful, not too warm, but also not yet too chilly to get out without being heavily bundled up. A nice breeze was flowing down the slight hills on which Camelot was erected down the meadows were Brynn was roaming right now. The wind played with stands of her hair that had escaped her white cap and like always it made her smile. Something seemed to whisper to her in the breeze, murmuring meaningless sounds of contentment. “You’re also glad things have gone back to normal, yes?” she spoke softly, cocking her head. “Now you can finally blow again over peaceful lands. Or do you care about our human affairs at all?” Like in answer the wind picked up, swishing through the high halms and taking a few flying seeds with him he let them dance around in the air for a little while. Maybe that was his way to show he rejoiced? Brynn could never be so sure, but she found the simple spectacle just beautiful, watching it for an idle while, but then chiding: “Now stop it… someone could pass by and see…”
Even though with Arthur now practically ruling Camelot, magic still was outlawed. It was no surprise after what cruel magic had been used time after time to overthrow Camelot, but Brynn still had to be careful. Her connection with the wind – if it even was to be called magic – was nothing she could control, she had only used it on purpose once, and had regretted it afterwards. To her, the wind was more like a friend who she could talk to and who answered in his own special way.
Like to undermine her cautious rebuke, Brynn suddenly saw a figure coming towards her, walking in a springy pace. Putting a hand over her eyes she squinted to see who it might be, maybe Alex was getting away from the kitchen earlier? But no… this someone was not coming from Camelot, rather from the forest and meadows even farther away… and somehow she recognized this way of walking…
Merlin! A smile broke out on Brynn’s face as she recognized Arthur’s young manservant. He probably had been out and about looking to fetch some herb for Gaius. And when he came back he probably had to do the odd chore for Arthur. Poor one, really, never quite getting a break. She just raised her hand to call out, when suddenly her geese spotted the ‘intruder’ as well. Martin, her gander who was never fond of any male being entering his territory, broke away from the flock gabbling loudly and stormed towards poor Merlin. Bluedown, a troubleshooter par excellence followed suit, hissing like a snake.
Grabbing her whip, Brynn broke out into a wild run after them, gathering her skirts up to not trip with the other hand. “Martin, Bluedown, get here at once!” she yelled in her most demanding voice. “Stay away from Merlin, come back here NOW!”
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Post by Brynn Reade on Sept 23, 2011 12:50:09 GMT -5
He was really different from any knight she had ever come across, but slowly Brynn started to appreciate it. Talking with him was almost like talking to Merlin, Alex or Gwen, like talking amongst equals. Not that Gwen was now and equal any longer but… it still felt like she was the maiden she once had been, at least she wanted to give this impression to her friends, and Brynn liked that. It seemed to be this wonderful new spirit Arthur had brought into Camelot after he had saved them from Morgana. Suddenly the world seemed closer together, maidens could become queen, commonors knights, and they all seemed to share their love for Camelot which made them almost equals. Camelot truly had become a grand place to live in.
Maybe with all those new events unfolding it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to call a knight amongst your friends? Brynn had to admit the idea was appealing, though it of course had nothing to do with Gwaine being a knight in the first place. It was not having a KNIGHT as a friend because it seemed fancy, it was having Gwaine as a friend, who happened to be a knight.
Brynn gave an awkward laugh and shook her head. “Now you ask me something… I guess… it just takes time to get used to. When you grow up like I did, dividing the world clearly into those who rule and those who serve and finding nothing wrong with it.” She shrugged. “But then again… Arthur and Gwen have clearly shown us all how wrong such a notion can be”, she commented, naming Arthur with his first name out of habit, as Alex always did, being closer acquainted with the young king. And hadn’t she had her odd experience with him as well, where status had mattered little, only the will to live through a nightmare? Maybe, she thought with a little chuckle, she should not be so surprised calling a knight by his first name when she even did it with Camelot’s young king?
“I shall learn to do it out of habit”, she promised Gwaine and bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement.
Oh what a flirt her was, truly! Even Alex could learn the odd thing from him it seemed! Maybe she should tell him that, it might make him a bit jealous. Not that she liked Alex to be jealous, it was not in Brynn’s nature to play such silly games, but he teased her often enough, she might as well return the favor once.
Returning the mock bow with an equally mocking curtsy she gave the impression of the most regal voice she could muster, stating: “So be it then, Gwaine”, inwardly shaking her head at herself. The sun must have made her giddy, she normally didn’t joke around like that!
Gladly, the conversation returned to safer terrain, as Brynn was more than ready to tell him a bit more of herself. Granted of course, he would return the favor later.
“Oh, I’ve been here all my life. I grew up in the castle, as my mother is a kitchenmaid”, she explained. “Some years back they discovered I have the right touch with animals and especially the geese, so they offered me the position of goosemaiden.”
A thought crossed her mind and suddenly Brynn started to squirm slightly. “Speaking of which… I didn’t even plan to leave them alone for so long..” Anything could happen and she knew she would never live it down if something happened to her fosterlings. Then again this conversation was just starting to get good and she would hate to cut it off like that. “Would you… would you maybe like to come along?” Brynn was very well aware how that could be taken and she hoped with all her might Gwaine wouldn’t get this wrong. She just wanted to carry on talking, nothing else! |
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Post by Brynn Reade on Sept 18, 2011 8:48:00 GMT -5
Well, at least he was not yelling. He was in fact rather nice considering what he had just caught her doing! However, Brynn was not ready to be at ease just yet, even less as the ‘assault’ came now from a very different direction. Brynn was not blind, she could very well see how handsome and dashing he looked, and he seemed to sparkle with charm, a very much heartfelt and convincing charm. The goosemaiden guessed that there was hardly anyone in the world, male or female, who could go through with not liking this man. But where did that leave her? She ought to be careful, she couldn’t fathom yet after all if he was only trying to be friendly, or if there really was a purpose behind his flirting. If the latter was the case, she might have to gently but firmly point out that she was not going to play along with this game. She might not had even if there was no Alex in her life, it was simply not something Brynn thought possible.
And then he surprised her yet again! How could he possibly think of letting himself be called by first name by a servant?! What was he thinking?! Then again, it made him look very down-to-earth and even highly sympathetic, and Brynn wondered why he was that way. Was it because he might have lived a common life once as well, unlike those who were nobles born and bred? Did that make him see every living soul as worthy of his friendship and trust? Well, it was not a bad notion to be sure, just highly unusual and something Brynn might have to wrap her head around first. And truly, who was she to deny him this fervent wish?
“Alright, if that is what you want, Gwaine”, she smiled and nodded her head slightly. “Though I must admit it rubs a bit wrong, but then it is your decision how you want to be called.”
A secret smile played around Brynn’s lips as she recalled a conversation she had had with Alex, about him one day becoming King of the Kitchens and she’d be Queen of the Geese, now that would be a title she’d like to bear.
Apparently the flirting just kept coming! Goodness, how was she supposed to deal with that? At least when it came from Alex, she felt safe to retaliate tit for tat, as they simply belonged together. But with this young knight she obviously could not do such a thing, it was scandalous! She also wondered what he was thinking of her right now, now that he knew that she was looking for the fight’s sake and not primarily for the knights themselves. It was highly unusual to say in the least, but then it was something Brynn never really thought about but just did.
“Well, if you MUST call me Lady, at least make it Goose Lady or something”, Brynn joked, slightly warming up to the conversation now. “Cause I’d never want to be presumptious. And my name is pretty simple, just like me: I am called Brynn Reade, my father is one of Camelot’s guards.” One of the few actually surviving Morgana’s attack and her cruel reign afterwards, and Brynn still couldn’t help a shudder running down her spine when she remembered that horrible night, the unnerving wait for some news of him – and the relief when he had managed to flee towards them, scathed but alive. |
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Post by Brynn Reade on Sept 1, 2011 12:32:53 GMT -5
All her hiding didn’t help Brynn in the end, she realized, as she just saw the very same knight she had been watching suddenly noticing the clamor she had made and he unerringly walked towards where she was standing, cowering lowly all in vain. What would happen now? Fear let an icy fist clamp around her guts, as her mind was kicked into overdrive, imagining the worst punishment to follow her unseemly act. A lady or so might be allowed to watch knight fight, but even that was not highly liked in Camelot, Brynn knew that all to well having grown up here. She as a servant was risking a great deal if she fell into the wrong hands. Many of the knights she could estimate by sight, had observed from afar how they would react to this and that, but with the new ones she was totally in the dark. Would he be offended, enraged, or just amused? Would he drag her to the king and demand her removal? Or think her a spy? Everything was possible…
Though however scared she was, when the knight had approached her, Brynn tried to stand tall and drew out her chin. Whatever might come down on her head, she would face it bravely!
“Now what would a beautiful young woman, such as yourself, be doing hiding down there?”
Brynn blinked once, blinked twice and for a moment just stared. Now, whatever she had feared, hoped or expected – serioulsy not this. FLIRTING?! How could a knight even think to flirt with a servant girl in such a situation?! Not that it didn’t happen, Brynn knew enough stories about servant girls becoming mistresses for the noble born, but it had never happened to her! And she did not desire it ever to become a reality for her, not only because she was happy with Alex as it was. It simply wasn’t right in her eyes.
So how to react to that now? The simplest and probably best way was distant politeness as always, she guessed. Humble like a servant should be, she cast down her eyes and murmured, totally disregarding his praise: “I am sorry, Sir… I was just… watching…” she looked up now, a sheepish smile playing around her lips, even though she feared it might be too daring. “I do that sometimes, it’s just… fascinating to me, I guess.”
She better did not mention how she even had made a wooden sword for her little brother Gyrth, all but encouraging his silly childish notion of once becoming a knight of Camelot. Brynn knew that was never possible, but it was just soo sweet to see him running around chasing shadows with it. Only once, when he had used it to slash at her geese, had she been angry and taken it away.
“For your beauty is so overt that I wonder you could ever deny the world of it, even for a few moments my Lady.”
It was maybe a good thing Alex was prone to such flowery words as well, had used them on her from the day they had first met, so now she was a little more used to hearing such things than she might have been two years before. Still, coming out of a knight’s mouth, these words were by no means suitable, and honest and simple as Brynn was, she wanted to correct him, even though she knew he had only been joking.
”That’s very kind of you to say, Sir”, she replied, not fully able to hide a blush, “but I am no lady. Merely the goosemaiden of Camelot.” |
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Post by Brynn Reade on Aug 26, 2011 17:24:39 GMT -5
Things had calmed down a bit now Prince Arthur had overthrown Lady Morgana and taken back Camelot as his own. The immediate days after, with everyone settling down again the decision and 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. She had had enough to do with recovering from the wound Lady Morgana’s cruel action of shooting in the crowd had inflicted on her. And then he 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 usual leader was busier than ever. 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, even more with the bunch of his new knights present who seemed happily oblivious to etiquette, 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 whose name she didn’t quite recall, even though he had been in Camelot before and had caused quite a ruckus then… Gavonne? Gawain?
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: Gwaine
Timeline: A little after s3 finale
Time of Day: around noon |
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Post by Brynn Reade on Jul 27, 2011 14:56:08 GMT -5
Brynn just shook her head at Alex’ silliness, but then she also found it quite contagious. Showing him the tip of her tongue for his tweaking of her nose – oh he knew she didn’t like that, but since whenever could she have been angry at him? – she then chuckled at his comment about her not being particularly helpless. No, she had never thought herself very helpless as well, apart from one certain situation… or rather two. Both dark memories, but grazed with a silver lining. The first had been the attack of the dark riders when only Prince—King Arthur’s swiftness and chivalry had saved her from becoming minced meat, and the other had been when she had been shot by that crossbow bolt just a few short weeks ago, during the nightmarish rain of Lady Morgana.
“Awww, they DO have a weakness for you though”, she teased, nudging him lightly. “They just have… difficulties expressing it. It’s not a shame to be bested by them. They ARE vicious.” But the fondness showing clearly in her tone belied her words. Brynn loved her geese with all her heart, it was who she was: the goosemaiden of Camelot.
Her eyes lighted up with pure love as Alex made this suggestion about the royal decree. Both knew that it most likely was never going to happen, but even just joking about it showed how much he indeed cared. She was sure of it, he would do anything just to make her happy, and that was a treasure Brynn often enough didn’t even know how to value to the fullest. How could she have deserved this incredibly handsome, funny and caring man? But apparently fate was of the opinion she did in fact deserve him.
“Like I said, they secretly love you. And it’s mostly Martin the gander making the trouble and stirring the others up”, she explained, winking. “Cause until you came along he was the only man in my life. Now he’s only second best.”
But however much Brynn loved Alex, at this very moment she just wanted to strangle him! How could he bring up the subject that was so very embarrassing! And the way he talked to the new king, just like they were amongst friends! Well, given, Brynn had used improper tones with Arthur Pendragon before, but that had been in the heat of a life threatening situation, not a casual conversation where the counterpart had only just been crowned king!
However, Alex’ visible ease calmed the goosemaiden down as well, and so far Arthur seemed more amused than offended. So maybe… she could give it a try?
“I cannot steal all the glory, for we practically happened upon the idea together”, she returned Alex’ favor of digging her grave, but then she realised she could not postpone it any longer, and at least tried to make it sound as funny as possible.
“It all started with Alex saying he wanted to rule the kitchen when he was your age. Then we made myself Queen of the Geese and voilà, we have a royal pair to match you and Guinevère.” She laughed against her will, again finding the fun in this idea. “What I came up with in the end basically is that Alex could grant you a royal audience whenever you wanted to know the menu of the day. So, there you have it, my king. No offense of course.”
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Post by Brynn Reade on Jun 24, 2011 17:28:53 GMT -5
Brynn cocked her head in thinking when Idris told her about her work ‘upstairs’. Serving the nobles, that had never been something Brynn had really wanted to do. She was content to stay with her own kind and the geese, watching the high and mighty only from afar, or secretly, when the knights trained. There were some girls around here who loved their task, fawning on the knight’s needs, and especially the young ones, giggling about who had looked whose way long enough and always trying to get their attention, probably dreaming the ancient old dream of a knight falling in love with a serving girl and making her more than just his mistress.
But Idris didn’t strike Brynn as such a kind, not at all. She seemed pretty down to earth, not with such far-fetched ambitions. “I can imagine you prefer it to the hustle and bustle down here”, she commented with a smile. “But what is it you like about it? Aren’t those men and women up there very… demanding?” At least she had often heard such things about them and remembered every eyeroll of the cook whenever someone sent a meal back.
“As for my work, it’s pretty simple actually”, she continued. “I take out the geese every morning to take them to one of their outdoor stalls in the surrounding meadows, and watch over them until it’s time to go back. But then again, it also sounds more simple than it is, geese are picky.” She laughed. “They don’t tolerate many people, for example my… friend Alex. He often visits me down there and they ‘ve never warmed up to him. And they are moody. Especially in such a heat, that’s why I returned so early today.”
Talking about her geese could turn even the quiet Brynn into a little blabbermouth. It might also show in her eyes how much she loved this task she had been given from an early age. It was fortunate some people in the right places had realized the young girl’s talent and had not forced her to walk in her mother’s footsteps entirely.
Apparently Elinor did not have a mind to sit down as well, she seemed fidgety and Brynn grinned, tousled her red hair quickly and released her with an affectionate “Off you go, El. When you see Gyrth, tell him to not get up in too much trouble!” The little girl returned the grin of her elder sister, then remembered her manners and bade Idris goodbye with a little curtsy before she stormed off. Looking after her, Brynn sighed fondly. “Gyrth and El are my only siblings, I’m the eldest, the ‘responsible big sister’. Not an easy task, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. What about you? You seem familiar with girls of El’s age.”
[OOC: sorry that took so ridiculously long! My muse for Brynn was entirely gone for some time ...]
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Post by Brynn Reade on Jun 9, 2011 6:19:43 GMT -5
Brynn was very well aware of how Alex was looking at her and it never ceased to make her blush like a maiden, just like it had been ever since their first meeting. It seemed there were things that would never change, however much you had to grow used to them after some time, though Brynn was sure the day she would get ‘used’ to Alex’ gazes and comments would be a very sorry day indeed, because that would mean she took him for granted. No, she swore a solemn vow to herself, never ever would she take this gift for granted! Sometimes she still wondered to which star and which divine entity she owed the love in this man’s eyes. Which grace- and merciful God up there had wanted them to meet and be so happy? Regardless who it was Brynn was sure she would worship him for the rest of her life!
“Why are you always looking like that?” she murmured lowly and grinned. “Didn’t I know you better I would accuse you of turning into some wild creature and wanting to eat me up on the spot."
Just seeing her happiness mirrored in Alex’ eyes was enough to let Brynn smile all over again. Gone was the collected and pensive girl, at least for today and when Alex took her up to spin her around once again, the very thing that she decided had made her fall in love with him so deeply and irrevocably, Brynn felt she could burst and die of sheer happiness. She knew Alex would never drop her, that his hands were strong and secure, and so she actually took her steading hands off his shoulder where they had landed automatically the minute he started to lift her up, and just threw them out, together with tilting her head back and just gave herself to the dizzying few seconds of the wild spin, a little whoop of unmasked joy escaping her lips. She didn’t care for people staring or hearing that over the music, in fact, she did not care about anything right now.
Brynn was glad Alex took up the joke she had made with good grace, even spun it further. However cheeky he may be, of course he was humble enough not to draw the comparison to Arthur himself, but the compromise he suggested was just like him: Funny, slighty out of order and absolutely adorable. King of the Kitchens and Queen of the Geese…
“Well, that’ll be a royal pair for sure, as we would rule an important part of every king’s life”, she stated, grinning up at him and pecking his cheek briefly. “Though I’m sure we would have a royal argument every time you would need one of my fosterlings for a feast.” A quick pang of sadness in her guts reminded her of the five geese she had needed to let go for this splendid occasion, now filling the noble’s bellies. Aeldgyth, Martha, Silverdown, Cranky and Tessy… names that never would be forgotten and would leave a gap in her herd. But then she pushed the pain aside, as she didn’t want any shadow to be cast on this glorious day.
“Imagine”, she continued with a giggle, “King Arthur having to seek an audience with the King of the Kitchens in case he wanted to know the menu in advance…”
But then a voice pulled her from her idle joking, a voice she did know very well and would not mistake for any other in the world, and with the guilty conscience of a cat caught stealing the cream she turned on her heels, facing their new king with a curtsy.
”Your Majesty! What an… unexpected pleasure!”
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Post by Brynn Reade on Jun 5, 2011 8:51:31 GMT -5
Although she had seemed very reserved and even a little distant at first, Idris now seemed to warm up to this conversation and her new acquaintance and Brynn was glad. She was very well aware of her own reticence being a huge shortcoming when it came to make friends, and so it almost seemed like a little miracle that two people so alike could actually engage in a conversation that didn’t consist of awkward pauses half of the time.
Idris hesitant behaviour and comments about settling down in Camelot made Brynn wonder what the actual backgrounds of this young woman were. It was not unheard of that girls took up the duty of supporting their family financially while taking up the task as maids in certain households or even the castle itself, but the goosemaiden could of course not readily assume what she didn’t know of.It was all a very different world to her, having had the luck of a father who served as one of the king’s guards, therefore allowed to live in the castle all her life. And yet, she could not very well ask to make sure, right? She needed a slower approach for such personal questions.
“I’m sure you will get used to it in time, Idris!” she tried to console the young woman with a tentative smile. “What exactly are your duties here if I may ask? Do you help out with preparing the meals or are you allowed up in the ‘higher departments’ to serve the knights?” she asked with a little wink, truly warming up to this conversation as well. “I have heard peculiar stories about some of the knights, so I’m not even sure which I would like better personally. At least down here”, she motioned around the vast kitchen, “this is our own kingdom and we have the say here!” That’s what Alex would say sometimes, referring to how much easier and funnier the life of a servant was, as they could do what they wanted as long as they stayed amongst their own kind.
Brynn’s cheek colored a bit in bashfulness when Idris called her name unusual as well. It was true, Brynn herself hadn’t met another girl yet who could present the same name to be hers, and she always had thought herself a little special for that as well. How peculiar to find something like a fellow soul there in Idris. “Oh, yes I know”, she remarked, rubbing her forehead slightly to get rid of a certain pulsing that could become a headache very soon if she didn’t do anything against it. “I have not the slightest idea what made my parents come up with this name. For my little brother Gyrth I at least know its origin.”
Brynn watched Elinor’s eyes grow huge, her lips forming a silent ‘oh’ as she was addressed in such a ‘grown up’ manner by the elder girl, and the goosemaiden also saw that little spark in her sister’s eyes that would make sure Elinor now would probably worship Idris for the rest of her life. Not the worst way to be integrated into the servanthood of Camelot, she presumed.
“She is a great help to me already”, Brynn spoke for Elinor as the little girl seemed out of things to say for the moment. “I often take her out to the meadows with me and she handles the feathery beasts quite nicely.”
That seemed to be too much praise for Elinor for the moment, and she hid her face in Brynn’s skirts in embarrassment. Patting her little head with a fond smile, Brynn then nodded to Idris. “What do you say, shall we sit for a moment?”
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Post by Brynn Reade on May 31, 2011 18:51:35 GMT -5
Brynn cocked her head at the woman’s remark, thinking it over. She herself knew this phenomenon when days seem to rush by and you suddenly asked yourself where the time had gone. Settling into new places and fields of exercize had to be such an experience where the order of time seemed to waver slightly, though Brynn couldn’t tell. She had never left Camelot in all her life, and she had been goosemaide for a few years now and the task never changed. Some might call that a little dull, but Brynn knew this was just what she wanted to do. But maybe this could be compared at least a bit to the time shortly after Alex and her had become close? The days had rushed by then, filled with bliss and adventure. Things had settled down now, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t still as exciting as on the first day…
“Oh, I am sure”, she agreed and returned the smile. “But Camelot is a good place to settle down in if you ask me. Things can be rough sometimes, but when it comes down to it, nothing really has changed for many years. At least not for us servants.”
Nodding in acknowledgement, she registered her name and stored it away in her memory. “Idris”, she repeated, as sometimes it was better to remember when she once had placed the name on her lips. “That is a beautiful name. Unusual for my ears, but nice sounding.” She also didn’t think it odd that Idris had no last name to show, that was even common amongst the lower class. Last names were nothing but bynames that described and distinguished people from others with the same first name. Brynn’s own family name – Reade, an old form or “red” – was a very good example, as red or at least reddish blonde hair seemed to run in her family.
“Oh and don’t ever say ‘just’ to your trade”, Brynn protested as she thought she heard some slight downtalk in there. “Being a goosemaiden makes me different but not high above anyone. The best people I know work in the kitchens”, she finished with a gleaming in her eyes that gave away a certain fondness of someone.
Brynn had forgotten about Elinor for a little who still stood in front of Idris, probably waiting for someone to cast a judgement on her. The goosemaiden smiled reassuringly at her little sister, then answered for her. “This little lady is called Elinor and is my little rascal of a sister.”
Elinor finally seemed to realise no one would be wrenching her head off anytime soon, and a smile returned to her face as she looked up at Idris, as she stated with childlike earnesty. “I am no lady, I am just a servant girl. But I am already six!” In her logic that probably was a perfect recompensation for her lack of nobility, and this was one of those times Brynn would have liked to simply hug Elinor for her cuteness.
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Post by Brynn Reade on May 30, 2011 15:48:11 GMT -5
Glad the newcomer was not angry at Elinor – which was not a given, Brynn could have thought of a few people reacting less than happy – the goosemaiden laughed and nodded. The girl in front of her was a pretty blonde who Brynn guessed to be slightly older than herself, but then again, looks might be deceiving and she would have to ask to be sure. Although, she couldn’t very well burst out with it now, right? That was so not her.
On the other hand, Brynn would like to have a little conversation sparking up from this incident and she surely did want the new servant to feel welcome, just that it wasn’t always easy for her being the one to talk. Wouldn’t it be impolite to be all inquisitive? Brynn rather showed friendliness in deeds than in words, that was what she was used to after all, but it was ever so much difficult choosing the right deeds for a person you know nothing of. A vicious circle… only to be overcome when she stepped out of her usual habits.
But the woman took the matters in her own hand, starting to reveal a bit more of herself. Brynn blinked. A few weeks? Then she either hadn’t been paying attention to her surroundings at all – which wouldn’t surprise her given the thought she had been ‘slighty’ distracted by a certain kitchen boy – or the newcomer had made herself pretty scarce. But Brynn guessed this was what such incidents were for, to get to know each other. A pensive girl as she was, the thought of what might have happened if El hadn’t chosen this particular moment to run of course entered Brynn’s mind, but she chose not to dwell on it. ‘You think too much’, her mother often chided her, and as far as Brynn knew it was all too true. The cheery and outspoken Alex had changed this character trait a little for the better, but it would take long to change Brynn’s entire collected persona.
“Really, a few weeks already?” she replied, still a little astonishment audible in her voice. “Well, I am usually not that much around the kitchens, so I might easily have missed you all the time.” Now that she had opened her mouth the words came out just fine, nice and flowing. That was always the case with the goosemaiden. To actually open her mouth took some time, but once she got to it, she might easily say too much and offend.
“Which brings me to, no, I am not new. I am Brynn Reade, the goosemaiden, and I’ve been born here.”
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Post by Brynn Reade on May 30, 2011 11:55:24 GMT -5
At least the girl – Brynn thought her a few years younger than herself – did not die on the spot at being addressed, because that the goosemaiden had feared to happen as timid as the girl outwardly looked. But apparently her outer looks where somewhat deceiving as the girl started a conversation quite freely, asking a few questions and giving information in a row. Brynn, normally only used to Alex talking so much in such a short amount of time, found her head spin slightly and had to work out a few things in her head first before she could think of replying to even one of those statements.
Before though, she exchanged a look with the cook who asked her with a jerk of her head if she wanted something to eat too, but Brynn refused with a simple shaking of her own head. She wasn’t hungry yet, she could wait for her father’s shift to end.
Then she returned her attention to the young servant girl in front of her, soon enough to still catch the name that was being mentioned. “Aliyaha? What a beautiful name! I’m Brynn Reade, the goosemaiden of Camelot.” She introduced herself with just the tiniest hint of pride in her voice. Yes, she dearly loved her position and was proud that she was the only one herding the geese and therefore could use her profession almost as a title. When it came down to it, it was no job with big prestige and Brynn would never look down on any other servant because of it, but she just couldn’t help thinking that this job was also her vocation and therefore something special. “Oh, and as far as I know I don’t have any nicknames, apart from family nicknames only bearable BECAUSE they’re used by family”, she joked. “Goosey is one of them, but please never call me that.”
When Ali voiced her request she seemed surprised and almost shocked at her own bravado, which made Brynn smile in understanding. She knew of moments like this, when words just seemed to tumble out before you could stop them, and she knew this feeling of embarrassmet. “You mean, now?” she inquired to make sure, then cocked her head. “Indeed, why not! You strike lucky, normally I wouldn’t be here at this time of day. I’ll happily show you around.”
This could prove fun, Brynn thought, smiling inwardly. It’ll be an interesting experience, showing someone around the places she had known ever since birth. She didn’t know what Ali would be interested in, but there was no harm in asking after all. Something about this girl made her wonder. Why was she here all on her own? Where were her parents? She had that kind of lost look about her Brynn had sometimes observed in a little duckling in search for his mother. But could she dare to ask? Well, maybe she shouldn’t approach the subject so bluntly… “How did you end up in Camelot, if I may ask?” |
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Post by Brynn Reade on May 30, 2011 11:05:18 GMT -5
For once Brynn was glad to return into the thick walls of the castle at sunset, as she normally rather would have liked to spend all day and even the night outside, far away from enclosing walls. Her claustrophobia had not been getting worse lately, and there were times she didn’t even think about all those tons of stone above and around her – still, an open sky was always to be preferred. Not today though, and the answer was a simple one: Camelot had been graced with an unusually hot and humid day, where the air seemed to hover completely still, pressing down on everyone like a thick and heavy blanket and almost no breeze brought relief for those having to be outside. The majority of the day Brynn had spent under the old lime tree beside the makeshift goose stall on the meadows, trying not to move or if she had to as little as possible.
Every now and then her thoughts returned to her poor father, probably dying of desiccation or melting in his chainmail. Hopefully he was to be stand guard inside the castle or at least in some shady corner. She didn’t even dare to think about the poor souls manning the walls and the parapet… they probably fainted in masses!
Oh, and Alex father, the baker… being inside the bakehouse on a normal day was trying, but on a day such as this it must resemble the forecourt of hell! Even her geese seemed too tired and lazy to think up any mischief and for that Brynn had been more than grateful. It would have been too much to think up words to scold them, let alone get up to separate them.
But now she entered the kitchen which was, if humid from all the steam, still colder than the afternoon outside had been. Immediately as she entered the vast room, she was assaulted by a little red whirlwind, hurling herself at her. “Ninni, Ninni, Ninni!! Guess what Mama allowed me to do today!!”
Laughing Brynn took her six year old sister Elinor up into her arms and spun her around. “What, El, what glorious deed did you do today?” And she listened with a fond smile as the little girl was chattering on about her day with gleaming eyes, explaining in detail her first experience with peeling apples. How sweet children were that even a weather such as this could not smother their enthusiasm and liveliness! And Elinor just proved that as she suddenly darted off to search for her brother, not minding her way at all, and therefore jostling some other female servant unlucky enough to be in her way.
“El, mind where you’re going!” Brynn chided, calling after her little sister, and then turned to the poor victim. “I’m sorry, my sister can be a little… rash sometimes.” Only then as she looked closer, Brynn realised she did not know this girl at all. “Oh, are you new here?”
Tag: Idris
Setting: Kitchens of Camelot Castle
Timeline: Shortly after Idris' arrival
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Post by Brynn Reade on May 22, 2011 15:57:47 GMT -5
------------------------------ In the 1800s, the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia was the home of a population of crafty vampires. They were found out by the town's residents and buried in an underground tomb protected by a powerful spell, never to be opened.
In the 1980s, Santa Carla, California was a popular tourist attraction... as well as a haven for the undead. Violent murders and mysterious disappearances plagued the oceanside town, until the Head Vampire was killed in 1987, wiping out the vampire population.
It is now the summer of 2011. Over the past few months, a lot has happened in the supernatural world. In Mystic Falls, the tomb was opened and several old, vengeful vampires were let loose upon the town. In Santa Carla, there has been an increase in violent crime and supernatural activity.
The senior class of Mystic Falls High has graduated, and they're ready to have a summer of carefree fun before they have to join the "real world," whatever that is. Meanwhile, supernatural activity is once again on the rise in Santa Carla.
Two legendary towns. One terrifying story. Will you play a part?------------------------------ |
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Post by Brynn Reade on May 20, 2011 14:37:22 GMT -5
If any day or night had ever called for a celebration, it was this very day. Arthur Pendragon was king, and even without the kingdom having to mourn over the loss of the previous monarch. Uther was still alive, just stepping down, and so there was nothing that could spoil the exuberant joy of this day. The day itself had passed in a blur, first the many many final adjustments to the decoration and the feast that followed afterwards with which the servants had been busy until almost the very beginning of the coronation ceremony, when the few lucky ones allowed to witness the act itself had rushed inside the Great Hall, face flustered and out of breath, squeezing into the sternmost part of the room, as the main space had of course been taken up by the many resident and visiting royal and noble guests, and the knights.
Then the feast had followed, for the nobles inside, for the commoners outside in the courtyard. Brynn didn’t mind not getting to stay inside. What did she want with all that formality probably spoiling the excitement of the event? Out here no one cared for conventions, there was cheery music instead of courtly, stiff dances and soon she would be whirling around in her beloved Alex’ arms once more.
Wasn’t it funny that the first night they had danced together had also been a feast in Arthur’s honor and name? Back then – it seemed a lifetime ago – it had been to celebrate his official pronouncation as the Crown Prince, and now he was king. The King. King of Camelot. Sometimes it was hard to wrap your head around it, even for a calm and collected type as Brynn. Today, she was anything but calm and collected. The excitement had completely taken over her and she was practically bouncing with every step, as lively as the two little girls in her close vicinity, her sister Elinor and Alex’s sister Lita who had become best friends due to their older siblings spending so much time together.
A mug of mead in one hand, the other wrapped around Alex’ waist, Brynn now sauntered over the large courtyard that had been transformed into a fair ground. Benches and tables allowed people to sit and eat and drink what was being distributed at some booths, and in the center there was a large area for those who wished to dance, with a little platform of musicians.
Brynn wore her finest gown today, one she had been making herself with the kind assistance of both her own mother and Alex’, in a dark red to honor the Pendragon’s colors. The apron was a fine yellow fabric for the same reason, embroidered with flowers and even a few little stylized dragons. Her long red hair was falling down to her waist, showing her maiden status still, and like always the top of her head was sporting a flower wreath. In her eyes, it had become the most splendid and rich one she had ever made herself, formed out of Pheasant’s Eyes and dandelions which had taken a long time to find in such multitude. But the outcome had been well worth the effort, and wasn’t the best only worthy for such a splendid day?
“I still feel like I’m dreaming”, she confessed with a little smile, leaning closer to Alex so he would hear her over the noises of the feasting crowd. “I feel so extremely happy and I can’t even begin to understand why. Just imagine… Arthur, King! I mean… he’s just a few years older than you are…” she broke off with a chuckle. Maybe it was bold comparing her love to the newly crowned King, but then again, they both had had experiences with the former Prince that had reached beyond the usual servant-royalty encounter. And who knew what the future might bring?
Tag: Alex, Arthur
Timeline: The Coronation
Time of Day: After the ceremony, later that day
Setting: In the courtyard
Note: SO excited for this  Oh and it's my 111th post xD Wicked...
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Post by Brynn Reade on May 16, 2011 18:02:11 GMT -5
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Post by Brynn Reade on May 15, 2011 16:21:52 GMT -5
Brynn couldn’t know what exactly Prince Arthur’s plan was, but at least he seemed to have one. In that aspect he was surely better off than herself. Her brain had almost completely gone into shut down. She felt dumb like a sheep with such a fogged and drowsy mind, only able to follow orders, not make them like she had before. Perhaps it was that continous sitting down and then having to get up again which felt harder each time. It seemed to drain every ounce of her strength until all she could focus on was keeping her eyes open against what felt like iron weights pressing on her lids.
Now the prince was jamming a chair underneath the door handle, just the minute the door had wanted to open. Even though the rattling continued, the way inside for the dark knight was blocked – for now. Brynn was not delusional enough yet to believe this would hold him up for much longer, but at least it would buy time, for any plan to be played out.
Now, what WAS the plan Prince Arthur seemed to be getting at?! It seemed to involve Gyrth…? At least now he was dragged over to the door? Brynn sighed and pushed herself off the comfortable ground yet AGAIN, staggering slightly as if she had some tankards of mead too many. What was he getting at? For a crazy moment the goosemaiden actually suspected the prince to use her little brother as some kind of bait… take one, let two go or something similar, and she opened her mouth to feebly protest, until she finally realised that this was not only so far from the courteous action the future king of Camelot would take, but that it would also be stupid. Those knights were here to kill HIM, not a little boy instead. Her mind had jumped to this conclusion yet again, but that still didn’t help her in finding out what was truly going on here. Hmm… she could ask? Or simply wait until he explained it himself? That might be best… Listening didn’t require as much strength as talking after all.
"Take him to your family's quarters," he said. Hang on… wasn’t that what she had been trying to do for the last quarter of an hour? Had it escaped his kind notice that exactly this way she wanted to take was being blocked by a killing machine? Was that it? Had he finally lost his mind?! Oh great!
But then he added something which suddenly gave the whole thing more sense – and yet didn’t. "I will distract him, leading him to the opposite direction in which you will go."
That, oddly enough, sent her bolting awake for a few short moments. He… he what?! Was he really implying what she thought he was implying?! He would dance with death, figuratively or literally speaking alike to allow her to get to safety?! She had been right: He WAS out of his right mind.
Brynn then however looked between the sweet face of her sleeping brother, now resting heavily in her arms again and the determined yet incredibly tired looking face of Prince Arthur and knew the time for protest was over. A few minutes before, she would have objected fiercely to this plan, being stubborn and insisting that their had to be another way. The future king of Camelot could not risk his life to save a goosemaiden and her brother, it was unthinkable. But throughout the same few minutes Brynn had learned enough about Arthur Pendragon to know that this was exactly what he would do. And no mistake. There simply was no other way, and they both knew it. That didn’t diminish the respect and admiration Brynn felt towards him though. There might be only this way, but the prince was willing to go it.
So even if everything inside Brynn wanted to resist and protest, she slowly nodded her head. There was a sudden feeling of closeness between them, lifting the barriers of class and status. For this short moment there was no Prince and Goosemaiden anymore, but two people fighting to stay alive. And it all cumulated in him extending his hand for her to shake.
Feeling a little like she was dreaming, Brynn hestitantly extended her own hand to meet his, but then gave it a firm shake, not turning her eyes away. “And to you, Prince Arthur.” She replied warmly, but of course not forsaking his title. They might feel like equals for the time being, but she never would be so audacious as to call him by his first name. There truly were limits! “I hope to see you again in good health when all this is over”, she added, then adjusted Gyrth in her arms, giving Arthur a small nod to show him she was ready.
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Oh and it's my 111th post xD Wicked...
