A/N: Hello, hello my dearest's! Sorry it has been so long, but unfortunately, it seems I never get enough time to write and still life presses ever onwards. Oh no! 11 DAYS! :O *le gasp!* Oh well! Sorry this chapter's a little short, but I didn't want to cram things into it just for the sake of lengthening the chapter.
I am enormously flattered by the number of people who have favourited/followed/reviewed this fic so far. Thank you! Especially to BarronsBaubles, and ILoveThee - this one's for you! :)
Remember to Read, Review, Follow, Favourite and Most Importantly - ENJOY! :)
VI.
It was several days after she had been brought to Caer-Legions that Rynelle tried to walk around any further than to the nearest chamber pot. The head healer, Vivianna, she supposed was nice, only prickly on the outside. The older woman had taken good care of her, and she felt better than she had in years, especially when the healer had ordered a warm bath be drawn up for her to wash and soak in.
Kalyna had come to see her many times, but maybe that was because she was apprenticed to Vivianna in the healing rooms and was there anyway. It did not matter in the least to Rynelle, as the two women were becoming fast friends.
When Vivianna was out, Kalyna would tell her stories about the knights (which surprisingly, often included places in which the men - who were supposed to be hardened warriors - either made some terrible mistake or were startled by some small occurrence or what not) and to her surprise, Rynelle found herself entranced, and more than eager to meet the rest of Arthur's court.
Doubt however, always niggled at the corner of her mind, whispering dark and seductive words to her that kept her wide awake during the night. What would they say if they knew? Rynelle did not dare to dwell on the thought.
• • •
"Right girl, you're as good as new." Vivianna barked from her table where she sat, cutting up herbs. "You can leave as soon as you wish to."
Rynelle, who had been up and ghosting around for some time smiled shyly back at the woman as she stood, waiting anxiously near the door, "I-I don't have anywhere to go ma-am." she said fretfully, twisting her hands in the front of her skirt, "What should I do?"
Vivianna stopped what she was doing and evaluated her with dark eyes, "What can you do?" she questioned, "What are you good at girl?"
"I...I..." Rynelle was lost for words, what was she good at? She did not even know herself.
"Can you cook?" Vivianna interrupted, her eyes narrowing when the younger girl shook her head "You wouldn't be able to serve - a little whippet like yourself. Can you heal?" another shake of the head prompted the head healer to roll her eyes and sigh emphatically. "Surely there must be something. Can you sew?"
Rynelle's eyes lighted up happily as she responded, "Yes ma'am." She replied, stepping forward, "I can sew."
"Well then, take yourself down to the shop a few blocks down the road," Vivianna grumbled, resuming the task of cutting up herbs, "Last I heard they were looking for someone to give them a hand."
Rynelle smiled at the healer as she made for the door, "Thankyou ma'am." she said softly, "I will not forget your kindness."
"Tosh girl. It's my job." Vivianna replied gruffly, but the young woman could have sworn she saw her mouth turn up at the corners, "Now get away with you before I put you to work!"
• • •
"I'm sorry girl, but there is no place for you here." the storekeeper said imperiously, staring coldly down her nose at Rynelle. "Whoever intimated as such to you was grievously misinformed."
Rynelle's mouth set itself in a hard line, as she inclined her head respectfully, "Very well then ma'am," she said, turning and gliding out of the store, "I apologise for my misinformation. Good day."
She had taken several paces away, before Rynelle realised she didn't have the foggiest idea where she was going. Not only was her sense of direction terrible and she did not know how exactly to return to the healing rooms, but she could not bring it upon herself to transgress on the kindness and generosity of Vivianna any longer. Rynelle knew she was feeling sorry for herself, but all she wanted to do in that moment was collapse in a heap and sob until the heaviness inside her was lifted.
"Rynelle!" a cheerful voice called out to her, and she looked around and smiled when she spotted Kalyna, basket in hand walking towards her. "How are you? You're looking much better, although, why were you down here in the merchants quarter?"
The younger woman sighed and gave her a sad smile, "I was looking for a job" she replied meekly, "Vivianna said there was a vacancy for some needlework at that store down there, but I was turned down."
Kalyna turned narrowed eyes on the store in question and sniffed in disdain, "Well they would turn you down wouldn't they, no-good upstarts!" she growled, "They don't like strangers, although quite frankly the owners are complete strangers to Camelot themselves! Only moved here within the last season!"
"Oh." Rynelle whispered, her face falling at the revelation - a move which did not go unnoticed by the brunette.
"If I may Rynelle, you shouldn't worry about those things. Something will come up," Kalyna said, patting her arm comfortable. Suddenly her eyes brightened, and her grip on the blonde's arm was tightened, "In fact," she said excitedly, "I might have just the thing for you! Guinevere was only saying recently that she needs some company and that there was a need for a helper in the mending rooms, I think you'd be just the ticket! King Arthur is not here, and will not be back for at least a week so I am sure she will be glad of the company!"
"Guinevere..." Rynelle said, rolling the familiar name around her mouth, she had heard it before. Her eyes widened in shock when she remembered where from, "Not Guinevere as in the QUEEN Guinevere!"
Kalyna mock glared at her like she was daft in the head, "No, your aunt Fanny...of course Queen Guinevere! She is the only woman I have ever heard to carry that name." she grinned, "Yes, I think she'd like you, I'll put it to her."
"Oh...well...I...she...you...thankyou." Rynelle gulped, blushing furiously at her own stammering, before looking up at the older woman shyly, "You would do that for me?"
"Of course I would silly," Kalyna said fondly, tweaking her nose with a grin, as she moved off "I would not have suggested it, had I not meant it! I must be off, but please, do come to the tavern tonight and I'll give you a place to stay if you do not wish to go back to the healing rooms."
The two women parted with smiles and waves as they made their own way through the lanes of Camelot. Rynelle proceeded to wander around for a while in rather a daze and before she realised it, was staring aimlessly down an alleyway. Somehow, the lane managed to capture a single line of sunlight, straight it's length. The thatched roofing blocked out the rest of the sun down the path, and she found the sight to be quite pretty, yet soulful at the same time. The single thin line of yellow, enshrouded by darkness.
"What are you doing?" a deep voice said from behind her, making Rynelle jump in sudden panic. The face she saw when she turned to see who had spoken added no comfort to her already frazzled nerves. It was Tristan, one of the knights who had found and rescued her. Unbidden, the memory of him deftly cutting open the rabbit came to her mind and Rynelle's eyes widened in fear. He looked as if he were about to eat her.
"Please don't eat me hawk-man!" she squeaked, suddenly terrified of this tall, dark scout. Realising what she had just blurted out, Rynelle covered her traitorous moth in horror.
His dark eyes stared piercingly into her own for a moment before they crinkled at the corners, and Tristan let out a bark of laughter. Rynelle was jolted from her discomfort by the shock of the sound. It was harsh and sounded all too unused, like the grating of stones, but it was laughter all the same. He was laughing at her? Rynelle bristled a little at the thought.
Tristan shook his head, the braids swinging from side to side as his face settled into it's usual impassivity. The only sign of his rough laughter from before, was the twinkle of mirth that settled deep in the corners of his eyes.
Rynelle froze when the man reached up and pushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek. "Hawk-man..." Tristan rumbled, cocking his head to the side as if considering her with those dark, unfathomable eyes, "No, I think maybe I will not. After all, you look far to skinny to be tasty."
With that, the scout gave a half-bow and turned on his heel, apparently oblivious to the glare Rynelle threw after him. Suddenly, the feeling she got whenever she was being watched stole over her and the hairs on the back stood straight. Looking for the source, Rynelle turned to meet the penetrating and almost hostile gaze of the tawny-haired knight, standing on the road several meters away.
• • •
Gawain watched the interaction between the scout and blonde haired girl with a grimace. He nearly started out of his skin when the tall, dark man let out a bark of laughter. Tristan NEVER laughed.
Their conversation appeared to conclude and the scout seemed to decide it was time to take his leave. With a half-bow, he reached up and patted Rynelle on the cheek, making Gawain's blood run hot then cold in a startling manner that had him half wanting to chase after the other man and beat him to a pulp. Not that he could even win a fight against Tristan. Why was he even considering fighting the man anyway? What the hell was wrong with him? Gawain shook his head, his shaggy mane whipping through the still air as he tried to clear his head.
He decided he must just be tired from nights of too much drinking. But still, Gawain thought to himself, his eyes narrowing, What could Tristan and Rynelle had been talking about? What had she said to make the man laugh? At least she hadn't laughed with him, that was some small consolation.Consolation? How a consolation? Consolation from what?
As Tristan walked away, the Gawain glared at the space where the other man had stood moments before. Almost as if sensing him, Rynelle's piercing green eyes turned to meet his sea blue ones, and she blushed, flickering her gaze downwards, giving him a small wave and half-smile as she hurried off.
The darker, unreasonable part of him called for him to hunt her down and ask her what she had been talking to the scout about; but his logical side told him it was absolutely none of his business. It WAS none of his business!
Gawain growled at his own mental quandary before stalking off to the tavern for a drink. That girl was going to be his undoing, he just knew it; and he'd be damned if he would let her get to him.
A/N: MUAAHAHHAHA the green-eyed monster hath lifted it's head! Let us see where this shall take us shall we? ;)
Oh, and has anyone heard the story of the Lion and the Mouse by Aesop - sometimes, I feel like the story is connecting with my characters (albeit not by my design...truthfully :P)
