A Raven's Tale
Prologue: A Gypsy Draped in Ermine
by Kysra and Emaniahilel
He had an eye for beauty, for the exotic and carnal; therefore, she caught and held his attention from the moment she first appeared from behind flowing drapery and shadow. Her face was fine-boned and exquisite with wide eyes that reflected a strange combination of wary worldliness and optimistic innocence, pert nose, and small bow-like mouth, all framed by lively curls of purest ebony. Garbed in the dress of her people, she was a vision in bright yellow and green and crimson, her wrists, ankles, hips, and ears trimmed with strands of tinkling bells and chattering coins that provided a staccato rhythm to her rolling gait.
As she took a regal pose before her lord's table, he studied her upraised profile; the long line of her lovely throat; the darling contour of one thin wrist; the delicious arc between forefinger and thumb; the flirtatious daintiness of a delicate exposed ankle. His mouth fairly watered with want of her, and he found himself famished despite the half-consumed feast laid out before him.
A boy, broad-shouldered and equally as beautiful as the girl, began to beat upon a large drum, the sound muted and tempered as an older man, bent and wizened with age, took up the high pitched tones of a seasoned flute. They were accompanied by a plump, muddy-haired woman whose lute was strung and strummed with sure, patient fingers; and nearby a green little girl with long wheat-colored hair and a pristine white apron, held a small metal triangle in her grubby hands.
The painted girl (for indeed, the kohl-lined eyes and rouged lips marked her as an Egyptian), the one who had enraptured His Majesty's sensibilities, tapped a leather-shod foot in time even as her hips began to rock and those lovely, lovely wrists twisted with sharp, brief movements. As the myriad bells and coins adorning her body provided an accented counterpoint to the musicians' rhythm, the lustful Prince John smiled with realization. The girl was her own instrument – certainly an adventurous and unusual prospect for one of such fine tastes as he.
And then his mind went blank, his jaw slack, as this striking creature leaped into a rousing dance. Richard may have his war and blood, he thought stroking his beard. I shall have my dancing gypsy girl.
Her skirts were thin and seemingly alive, swirling around her calves in time with the rhythmic tinkle of the tiny bells strung around her trim ankles; and her body was like that of a snake being charmed by the melody of whimsical flute and booming drums, flowing and rocking and spinning and churning until her viewers were breathless.
Gorgeous, graceful, skilled and attractive, she twirled and skipped and stepped, smiling and mindless with music-driven motion; and he was captivated, rudely ignoring the Lady Fitzwalter's attempts at conversation and completely missing Lord Gisborne's cheeky grin.
When all was done, and she met the last drum beat with a daring flirt of her skirt hem, he applauded loudest of all - quite more amorously than was proper, and he fancied it did not escape her notice when her honey eyes boldly met his even as she bounced a rough curtsy.
Coins of silver clinked into the old flute player's hat and swerved across the floor, chased by the little triangle girl with the grubby hands. She thanked the company with pretty words and prettier voice while the portly woman packed her lute and bundled the monies.
He watched as Gisborne rose to order them away (though he made certain to offer vittles from the kitchens first), and as she began to walk away into the dark corridor adjoining the central hall, he halted her with a word.
"Give me your name, gypsy."
Luminous eyes were turned on him then, and he imagined that she must be some unholy creature of the veil for no angel every consumed man in fire like this siren has consumed him. For several moments, she hesitated, glancing back once to her companions before nodding once to some silent conspirator and meeting his gaze directly, "I am called Arella, Your Majesty."
To be continued . . .
Historical Notes -
1. This story will (mostly) take place c. 1190s in England. That should give some clue as to what we're up to
2. The painted girl/Egyptian - this is a reference to the Medieval idea that the nomadic group collectively called Romani were originally from Egypt (which just isn't so). The theory went that they were cast out of Egypt for harboring the baby Jesus. Hence the misnomer Gypsy (derived from Egyptian).
3. The very fact that I'm putting a gypsy character into 12th century England is a glaring historical anomaly. The Romnichal did not appear in England till around the 14th-15th century.
4. Prince John/fine tastes - Yes, it's THAT Prince John. Another clue as to what we're up to but it's probably not what you think at the moment XD Anyway, Prince John was notoriously interested in exotic fare – food, clothes, furs (such as polar bear), and other rare/expensive trinkets. He was also a well-known lecher who managed to father several illegitimate children.
5. Yes, I do mean THAT Richard and the war mentioned is the Crusades. (Is it becoming clear yet?)