Not my Cup of Tea
Author's note: I know I should be working on updating some of my other stories, but I already had this written.
Summary: Lady Cythera and Gwynnen catch up on the latest court gossip over a warm cup of tea.
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"Another cup of tea, Lady Gwynnen?"
"That would be lovely, thank you," Gwynnen said with a slight nod of the head. She watched as Cythera of Elden, one of the Queen's ladies, poured her a warm drink with elegance. She clutched the drink with two hands and took a sip, relishing the flavour.
"Have you heard the latest gossip to pass through these palace walls?" Cythera asked.
Gwynnen smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkled in amusement. "The tale of Gareth the Younger chasing his fair-maiden?" Gwynnen was teasing her, and Cythera knew it.
Without the faintest sign of a blush, Gwynnen noted, Cythera shook her head. "No, no. Have you heard of young Sir Alan? The princes' former squire."
Gwynnen nodded; she vaguely remembered him. He was so very secretive! "Yes, I know of him. He gave us all a fright as he slipped through the ice," Gwynnen said, remembering the day they had gone ice skating.
"That's not the only fright he's given," Cythera said with a reproving look, resting her tea on the table top.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You surely can not say you haven't heard?"
"Have not heard of what, Cythera?"
Slowly, Cythera's eyes widen. "By the goddess, you really do not know!"
"And I never will, if you do not tell me." Gwynnen watched Cythera curiously, eager to hear the gossip.
"When did you arrive back at Court?" Cythera asked.
"I've been back not a day," Gwynnen responded. Impatient to hear the rumor, Gwynnen began to finger her necklace, idly.
"It was just yesterday when Sir Alan and the Duke of Conte fenced." Gwynnen nodded, finding nothing unusual with this. Knights fenced everyday. "Trial by combat. The Duke struck at his collarbone, tearing Sir Alan's clothes to shreds. And guess what was revealed?"
"What?"
Cythera carefully straightened her skirts, taking her time before replying, "A breast."
"You mean…?"
"Yes," nodded Cythera. "Exactly that."
"Yes and at Beltane I shall jump the fires with the prince himself! A marvelous jest!" Gwynnen laughed merrily. So this is how Cythera got me back for the Gareth comment, Gwynnen thought.
Cythera shook her head and smiled. "It was marvelous, wasn't it?"
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Madame-S-Butterfly
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