Overture: A Fairy Tale World
It was a peaceful day; the afternoon sun shone brighter than any days past in the month, and the birds seemed merrier than ever before, their songs and tales echoing around forests, meadows and towns alike - even the woods whispered little nothings in the wind, for the curious ear to hear.
The staff of the grand castle-keep of Camelot was busy scurrying around, fulfilling their works - maids and servants frolicsomely humming as they carried various belongings such as luggage or armor or cloth - or even the odd herbal substance around, their simple garments swaying in a silent breeze.
Even the nobles were quieter than usual, keeping to themselves and away from court; and the knights and soldiers were busy practicing in and around the courtyard, the odd spectator swooning over the feats the great Lancelot was demonstrating - from high-born lord to peasant lady.
Some of the serving staff lounged near the doors to the grand entrance hall, their brethren stacking and clearing tables, ready to clean plates and silverware for the upcoming feast.
A maid was conversing politely with a young squire, flattening out any creases that might have found their way into her apron, blushing demurely at his compliments.
Another was watching her while cleaning one of the many flower vases that could be found, smiling widely at the sight of two young lovers. Ah, to be a flower again, how sweet and innocent.
Two of the kitchen staff looked enviously at the squire, having escaped their master to frolic around until later hours, and one of the kitchen-knaves, one of the older ones, with wisdom and insight, shook his head while eyeing the dust-wiper. Truly, such idiocy and foolishness of youth.
All in all, it was a pleasantly-warm and pleasantly-calm day, and even the King and Queen were ready to close court, uncharacteristically early, because the smallfolk had not asked more requests and questions of them.
Alas, such a calm and peaceful day was only possible in fairy tales - and trust the residents of the castle that not even those could be trusted - and as such, the afternoon came to a crashing halt with the echoing steps and aggravated voice that flung open the doors to the hall.
"I request an audience with the King, for I bring dire news! You have driven forth the enemies from our shores, but now there are enemies within!"
A maiden stood there, truly a sight to behold: a lady of high blood with naught but a page in tow, who seemed ready to collapse as soon as they halted. She stood in front of King Arthur, her features taut and hard - her arrival had reverberated across the whole castle like lighting; her steps like thunder.
King Arthur, clad in blue royal finery, merely raised one kingly brow, but a shudder past across the servants and waiting staff.
So much for the rest and peace.
Hello, hello, my friends! I've recently bought Idylls of the King (obviously, I didn't think English Poetry/Prose would be much harder than conversional Dialoge, and I've managed pretty well with Faust and Oedipus in German before, but I was wrong. Very, very wrong.), and I've quite literally fallen in love with Gareth and Lynette (once I've managed to decipher it, obviously), and. Well. Considering Lyn and her sister will appear in Café of the Round (spoilers, oops), I thought this would be a rather nice little introduction for, well, Lynette at least. And have some Gareth-focused little fic too.
Cameos by Artoria and roughly half of the Knights will be featured as well, but other than that, this is Gareth and Lynette centric, and follows the events and general structure of the poem, so. Duh.
(It's kinda a retelling, but with Fate)
Chapters will be short, but I try to update every 1-3 days, and it should be done by Christmas Eve, so it's kind of an advent calendar thing, no?
Also, I obviously don't own Idylls of the King. Lord Alfred Tennyson does. I do own my interpretation of Lynette, though ;)
Hmm...
And the Curtain Falls!