Author's Note: Oh, I want to thank all 6 of you who reviewed my first chapter! It made me very happy to know that there were those who actually liked it. And as I read your reviews, it dawned on me that Lorelyn's character is similar to Kate in A Knight's Tale. No intentions of carbon-copying her character, but I did admire her persona, and I do see the resemblence, but Lorelyn is my original character. Thanks to all who pointed that out! Okay, I'm going off longer than I need to, but here's Chapter 2, and I apologize for the length, but I couldn't find a stopping point that wouldn't make the chapter so long! Soo, just bear with me. :)
Chapter II : Anticipations and Inebriations
When Lorelyn had returned to the court, it was long past nightfall and the torches were lit up everywhere. The smell of food and the loud sounds of a festive night were lingering in the air as she entered the front courtyard. The guards on post greeted her as she went past them and she noticed that they had cups in their hands, the reason for their loud gaiety. Laughing, she smiled at them and steered Sera towards the stables.
This was probably a night for celebrating, if the guards were not their stoic selves. And she had not seen a squire around, so she guessed that this was a very joyous occasion.
But when she entered huge wooden edifice, Irick, one of the squire boys for the knights, immediately greeted her. In his youthful nature, he ran up to her with vigor and smiled broadly, helping Lorelyn as she dismounted Sera. He was a young one, only being of age for a squire this winter past. His head only reached her shoulders and she smiled at him, ruffling his honey hair.
"Hello Irick, how are you this evening?" she asked and started to walk with him as he made his way to Sera's stall.
"Oh, I'm doing good Lady Lorelyn. The celebration of tonight's announcement is still going on! There are so much food and music and dancing, you are lucky you have not yet missed this!" he told her enthusiastically, shaking his head with every loud syllable.
Lorelyn laughed and rested her hand on his shoulder. "How many times do I have to tell you that you should not call me Lady! You are making me seem so old, Irick!" He flushed.
"I'm sorry! But I feel that it is my duty to call people by their honorary titles!"
"Well yes, but sometimes that makes people feel very awkward about themselves. How do you see me as Irick? Do you see me as a Lady? Or perhaps a mother – though, I would not like to be accused of living so long!"
He bit his lip, and said after a moment's thinking, "I see you as my sister. You have been there for me all my life. I love you like my sister, since I have lost mine."
She felt her heart constrict at his admission and stopped walking, bending down so she was at his level. "I am sorry to have stirred such emotions in you, Irick. I did not mean to. But it makes me delighted to know that you see me as your sister, because that is how I see you as well. A brother of my own." She swept down and engulfed him in a hug. When she pulled away a moment later, she winked down at him as she straightened.
"Since you are among King Arthur and his knights, you will promise to behave like a strong boy as well?" she asked, smiling as his eyes brightened again. She did not wish to make him sad, thinking about his loss so many years ago that had him in a sorrowful stage for a while.
"Yes! I plan to be a knight as well! So I can protect my King and his people! My fighting skills have even gotten better, says Sir Galahad!"
"Oh, I have no doubt that they have! I have seen you fight before and it impressed me!" she bent down again and motioned for him to come closer. When he did, she lowered her voice and said, "keep practicing and I reckon you will be even better than Lancelot!"
Irick's eyes widened and his mouth took form of an oval in bedazzlement with the thought of mastering and defeating his idol. He said nothing and set to work on removing Sera's saddle straps. Lorelyn stood back and leaned against the post, watching him work with a soft smile on her face. Life has so much to offer to him, and she was well assured that he would be a noble knight one day.
Loud cheers broke her from her thoughts and she moved her eyes to the open doors that faced the rear courtyard and saw glimpses of people dancing about and the cheers of men who had already taken to their cups. She sighed happily at the merry sound and looked at Irick.
"So what is the announcement made earlier this evening?"
He stopped his movements but did not turn around to face her as he spoke. "Well…I really do not know. No one said a word of anything, not even the king or queen."
Her brows furrowed in confusion. Well, then what good was it to have such a festival when no one knew the reason?
"I don't understand. The announcement must be good then, right?" she asked, moving away from the wooden pillar. "This is not like Arthur to keep people in suspense," she muttered to herself.
"Actually, Lo, we are waiting for you to arrive. You're the only one in this town that has not been in attendance." Irick's blunt statement made Lorelyn lose her focus for a moment. Her eyes widened as she stared at the back of Irick's head.
"What!"
He finished his duty and closed the stall gate, turning to smile brightly at Lorelyn's own shocked expression. "Okay well, I have finished so I guess that means we can go see what good news is to be revealed!" He wiped his hands together and started for the exit, but turned around halfway when he realized that Lorelyn was not following him.
"Are you not coming?"
She blinked stupidly at him. "Why had you not said a word, Irick! All this time and leaving everyone anxious! Well, come on!" She rushed past him, grabbing his hand on the way and exited the stables. They briskly walked along the path that went from the stables towards the court and Lorelyn craned her neck around the fences to see what was going on.
Halfway down the footpath, she slowed their pace and straightened herself, pushing stray tendrils away from her face that had detached from the knot she made at the back of her head. She straightened the skirts of her dress and brushed any soot and ashes that were caught on the cotton. Well, if she was the one that they were waiting for, then at least she could make herself look presentable.
She turned to Irick. "How do I look?"
He squinted and scrutinized her appearance for a few seconds before responding, "Like you had just finished working."
If there was one thing that you could count on Irick for, that was his honesty. He was the worst liar ever. She sighed and blew a strand from her eyes helplessly.
"You're right. Why do I even bother?" She started walking down towards the square again, and when she reached the entrance there was a blockade of people blocking the access. She couldn't see over their heads and was about to try and step through when suddenly a horribly thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd, causing her to flinch.
She stepped back and frowned, looking around for any sort of passage that the both of them could pass through. There was one, around the crowd and she turned back to Irick, taking hold of his hand.
"We're going to have to squeeze through, alright? So do not let go of my hand." Without waiting for his reply, she slid through the small access with Irick at her heels and subtly pushed through the mass of people. The last time that she had seen everyone together at once was the first night being here at Camelot, and since then, their population had grown some, and unfortunately the space of the courtyard hadn't, making everything crowded.
Lorelyn wasn't paying attention to anything, only on the task of getting past everyone, and thus failed to hear Arthur speaking over the hushed talking of everyone around her.
"There she is! Lorelyn!" She did hear that cry, though, and froze in place, looking up as more than a hundred sets of eyes turned to her. Her heart started racing and she tightened her grip on Irick's hand. Her face started to heat up as she was looked at with many voices crying her name out.
"Um, yes?" She said after everyone quieted down, looking across their bright and smiling faces, confusion settling about her.
"Lorelyn Cabanis, please come to the front," she heard a voice say and immediately recognized Arthur's steady tone.
She didn't have time to react, as she felt someone pushing her to the front of the throng and with much squeezing and apologizing, she arrived in front of Arthur and Guinevere in even more disarray than she had entered in.
When she regained her breath, she pushed her hair away and smiled contritely at them. "I apologize greatly for not being here earlier. I had not realized that you were waiting for me!"
Arthur nodded and smiled at her. The expression on his face caused a minute alarm to Lorelyn, being that he looked elated and younger beyond his years this very night. She was excited and confused so very much, it was starting to overwhelm her.
"We are glad that you made it, Lorelyn. As it was, we had been anticipating your arrival because it is urgent that you hear our news," Guinevere said to her and Lorelyn tilted her head.
Before she could respond, Arthur cleared his throat and turned to his people. "As you all have suspected, this night had been a night of celebration, a celebration that was not unveiled until this very moment." He paused and took his wife's hand. Lorelyn noticed the gesture and her eyes widened in realization.
"Well, to accompany our joyous manner, we have great news." He took one look at Guinevere and smiled. "We are to have a baby."
A boisterous applaud came and Lorelyn laughed merrily as she saw the queen's face flushed. She immediately rushed over to her and gave her a hug, laughing as she pulled away.
"Well, finally you have convinced him to step out of his tight trews!" she exclaimed, and laughed even more when Guinevere swatted her arm, her face reddening at the lewd comment. But she was grinning the whole time, and Lorelyn smiled when she noted the shining in her good friend's eyes.
She gave her another hug. "I am happy for you two. It will be such a delight planning yet another pregnancy!" she told Guinevere just as Vanora approached them with a big smile across her face.
"This is such a joy! Now you will know and experience all the thrills of pregnancy!" she said, laughing at Guinevere's grimace.
"Oh, you will have to brace me for what's to be expected," she turned to Lorelyn and took her hand as well and said, "both of you. Lorelyn, you have long helped Vanora with her pregnancy and childbirth, so I will be expecting your aid as well. So don't you make excuses for removing yourself from this task."
Lorelyn laughed and squeezed her hand. "Of course I will. I will be around you so much you may end up being sick of me," she told her and Vanora nodded in agreement.
"And when you get the mood swings, you will not want this one hanging around." She winked at Lorelyn who scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"But you will be grateful in the end, trust me. I am going to leave you two to have your womanly talk now. I must go and congratulate your husband. I'll be back." She left them and strode over to Arthur, where his knights and his people were congratulating him.
He caught her eye and smiled, excusing himself from someone and walked over to her. "I have never been so elated in my life!"
She laughed at his glee and touched his cheek with her hand. "Oh, Arthur, I am so happy for the both of you! A child! Can you believe it? There will be so many preparations, so much waiting, oh, I am excited to start working!" she said ardently and he laughed.
"I will be a good father, right?"
Lorelyn pursed her lips at his skepticism and grabbed his hand. "Arthur, I assure you that you will do everything you can for this child. You have your wife and everyone else to see to that. So don't you be getting any doubts; this is a time for celebrating!"
His face relaxed and he bent down to give her a small kiss on her cheek, an action that surprised Lorelyn. It was so rare that Arthur showed his tenderness for others in public and in doing so right now, she knew that he must be very happy about this news.
She let him go and the minute he stepped away from her, Bors came over to him and let out a loud cry, clapping him hard on the back. "Welcome to fatherhood! Make sure you have plenty of wine to suffice for the oncoming months…"
Lorelyn shook her head and turned away, watching as the town returned to their celebration, the men grabbing even more drinks and the women talking excitedly about the new child. It brought a smile to her lips at the loyalty and love these people had for their king.
She frowned though, and started looking around the area in search of Irick. At some point her grip on his hand slipped and she lost him as she was pushed through the crowd. Her eyes now frantically looked around for a head of blond hair.
"Are you looking for someone?" a voice from behind her asked. She jumped and put a hand to her chest.
She turned her head sharply and scowled at Lancelot as he grinned deviously at her. She punched him on his arm, frowning. "Do not do that to me, Lancelot!"
He shrugged and sipped out of his cup. "Do what? I had only asked you a simple question. How was I to know that you would be frightened at my deep and sounding voice?"
Lorelyn rolled her eyes and turned back around. "Please. Your voice is nothing but a whiny buzz whenever I may hear it."
Lancelot chuckled. "It seems to soothe the women here," he said blandly, gazing around in nonchalance. She felt herself scowl even more at his words. The women? What was she then? Some pageboy dressed in female clothes?
"Well, I apologize for not swooning over your voice. Maybe some women here in this town have a mind of their own to actually detest that incessant nag of a voice you possess." She turned back around and decided to ignore him.
He raised a brow at her curt words and wondered why Lorelyn was so testy this night. He noticed her biting her lip though and sighed, observing the frustration etched onto her face.
"Lorelyn, what is the matter? I did not wish to anger you, and for that I am sorry," he told her softly.
She turned to look at him and realized that she had been very sharp with her words. "Oh Lancelot, I did not mean to snap at you. It's just that…I lost Irick and cannot find him anywhere. It is causing a great distress on me."
"Irick? Silly girl, he is with Bronwyn in the kitchen getting food," he said.
Lorelyn closed her eyes and exhaled in relief. For a second she was about to go off in an anxiety attack over that boy. She laughed softly and looked up at Lancelot's amused face.
"Oh hush. I do not need your mockery right now," she said to him heatedly, but he smiled at her.
"My mouth is not open in jest. I understand your concern, but you really should not stress yourself over such things. He is safe here, don't worry."
She sighed and rubbed her eyes, the busyness of the day straining her mind. She was tired, and she needed to sit down. "I need a drink."
Lancelot laughed again and started walking them both to a table nearby. Gawain, Tristan and Galahad were sitting at the benches and when the two of them approached, they all lifted their cups to them.
"Lo! So glad you came over! Here, sit with us," Gawain told her but before Lorelyn could reply, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her down next to him. Galahad handed her a goblet.
"Here, drink. You've had a long day, had you not?"
She nodded and gratefully drank the wine, savoring the taste as the cold liquid flowed down her throat. Not even ten seconds after she was handed the drink, she slammed it down on the table and grinned.
The men laughed and Galahad poured some more into her cup, laughing about something that Tristan had said. Lorelyn sat back and enjoyed the company of her beloved knights, their laughter and the smile on their faces. She was glad that they were smiling more often now and began to let themselves have fun.
After she had two cups of wine and the jug was now empty, she offered to go and get more from the bar. Those at the table had just kept laughing on about something obtuse, and Lorelyn lifted herself to her feet, shaking her head at their drunkenness.
She took the clay pitcher and started towards the bar. On her way there, many people greeted her joyfully and she waved back, laughing at their exhilaration. The whole liveliness of this town was enough to sweep her off her feet.
When Lorelyn reached the bar, the stools had been all occupied and she had to maneuver between two men to actually get to the counter.
Heinley, a burly man that helps with the merchant work, laughed and wrapped an arm around her waist, obviously inebriated. She giggled and swatted his hand away, patting him afterwards on his full and flushed cheek.
"You keep your hands to yourself! What will Nori say if she catches you? I certainly will not lie for you," she scolded but Heinley laughed again and slapped the counter in mirth.
"Oh, but you will soon discover your love for me and then what will I do with you?" Only in drunkenness will any man in this town say anything that refers to love or talk of Lorelyn's pretty face around her. Her lack of femininity was to blame, that she was sure of.
She sighed and turned to the front, waiting for the barmaid to see to her. "Simply leave me be."
A man to her right laughed at her remark. Heinley snorted and returned to his drink.
After a few moments, it seemed that the barmaid was busy with other patrons, so Lorelyn turned around and leaned her elbows back on the counter, surveying the area around her.
"So, have you done enough riotous behavior, as you practically are one of the men? Maybe later you'll get drunk and challenge some poor man to a game, because he won't be interested in doing anything else with you."
Lorelyn rolled her eyes at the sticky voice and turned around, facing familiar blue eyes and sneered. "Have you finished whoring yourself around?"
Saiffra gave her a disgusted look and flipped her chestnut hair over her shoulder, a gesture that Lorelyn found incredibly revolting. This girl in front of her was so lost in pleasing herself all the time that she never saw anything real anymore. And yet sadly, Lorelyn had no ounce of pity for her.
"What is it that you want?" Saiffra finally asked, her duties as a barmaid overruling her desire to turn away.
Lorelyn placed the jug on the counter and said, "Be a good maid and fill this up…please."
Saiffra said nothing but proceeded to refill the contents in the jug, returning it to Lorelyn, but she didn't pay attention to the girl and instead set about flirting with some man who just arrived at the bar.
Lorelyn shook her head and walked away, not wanting to spend another minute there with Saiffra. Oh, how she ostracized that girl! She was so infuriating, so self-absorbed, lacked morals and was absolutely the complete opposite of Lorelyn.
When she went back to the table, the men were now playing a game of darts, and none seemed to notice her return except for Lancelot, who was presently the only one sitting. He smiled crookedly at her.
"Let us go on our rendezvous."
Lorelyn looked at him in bewilderment. "Now? But what of everyone else?"
He shook his head and got up, going over and gently pulled Lorelyn to her feet. "They are not going to miss you at the moment," he said and she frowned playfully, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Oh, but on the contrary, the ladies will miss you."
Shrugging, he tugged her hand and started pulling her away from the festivities. "Well, right now I am only with one woman."
Lorelyn tried to ignore the burning blush and walked behind him as they exited the courtyard onto the path that led to the gardens. Once away from the loud laughter and music where the air was cool and the voices were distant, they slowed their pace and strolled along the garden path. The moon was bright that night and it illuminated everything, giving the blooming flowers an ethereal glow in an array of colors.
As they walked, Lorelyn sighed and smiled at the pleasant comfort between them. Lancelot looked down at her and smiled at her calmness. Her eyes were closed and the breeze was tousling the stray strands in every which way. Lancelot soon frowned and cleared his throat, not understanding his thinking at the moment about the way Lorelyn looked.
"So, I saw Heinley make a grab at you at the bar. He was drunk, yes?"
She shook her head in disappointment. "Are you implying that men only flirt with me when they are drunk?" she asked and watched as Lancelot's eyes widened.
"I did not say that, Lorelyn. I only meant tha-"
"No, I do not need any explanations, Lancelot. Because that is the truth. I am not desirable when men see me in sobriety." She sighed and took a slow sip from her cup. "But it's okay, I don't mind not being pursued after by the men. It gets tiring after a while."
Lancelot laughed and looked forward. "You have much to learn then about being wanted."
She snorted in an unladylike manner. "I will not become Saiffra."
Lancelot looked at Lorelyn incredulously. "Why would you?"
"She is wanted every day and every night, and I just don't understand how she can stand being chased after by men who probably aren't pursuing love," Lorelyn said.
"It amazes me how you two share the same blood. She is everything that you hate to be."
Lorelyn shook her head. "It is not my pleasure to be calling her my twin. So, let us stray from that topic. I am so excited for Arthur and Guinevere!" She had wasted no time in changing the subject, and her vigor had returned with her eyes shining with glee.
Lancelot avoided answering her question by bringing his cup to his mouth, but nodded at her. He had just gotten over his minute infatuation over Guinevere and with this overwhelming news; it was a bit much to bear. But his silly feelings aside, he was elated for his best friend.
Lorelyn didn't notice his eluding, though, and continued gushing. "A new baby! I simply cannot wait for the new arrival! So much work to do; all the planning!" She sighed and clasped her hands in front of her, turning to look at Lancelot, her gaze turning solemn.
"You are happy for them both, aren't you?" She did not let his passive manner pass her, because she knew Lancelot too well for his facades to work on her.
He looked down at her. "Truthfully, yes, I am."
"And your fondness for Guinevere…?" She watched as something flickered through his eyes, and he sighed.
"Is past my heart now," he said, and a moment later, chuckled. Lorelyn looked up at him, her golden eyes questioning, and he asked, "Your keenness is never ceasing is it?"
She pressed her lips together and shook her head. "When it comes to those I care for, no."
Lancelot smiled at her. "Well, I am glad for your care."
Lorelyn laughed and patted his arm. "You should. It is a massive duty, caring for all you men. You all act like children and it gets tiring trying to decipher your emotions. Sometimes I ask myself why I even bother," she told him, smirking.
Her quip made him laugh and he placed his arm around her, a gesture all too familiar for him. "You bother because you know we would be lost if not for you constant nagging and commanding. You give us joy, Lorelyn."
She felt her face flush and thanked God that they were away from any light. She didn't know why Lancelot's words were causing her to act so much like a…girl. She has heard him say these words to her before, and never once had she broke into a rapid blush.
To avoid any confrontations with her heart at the moment, she blamed the wine and the fact that they were alone and in the castle's scenic garden.
She shook her head and the wind carried her scent up towards Lancelot and he inhaled lightly, tensing at the fleeting effect Lorelyn's aroma had on him. She had the natural scent of smoke on her, but what was more prominent was the smell of lilacs and gardenias together, a scent that he never noticed before. He knew it couldn't be the flowers, and wondered if Lorelyn had been wearing any oils.
It was unlike her to wear such a scent, and it was very strange how Lancelot was getting acquainted with such feelings about Lorelyn and her aesthetic traits.
"What is on your mind?" Lorelyn's question brought him from his musings and he looked down at her before looking back to the front.
"I believe this wine is too strong this night," he told her and Lorelyn laughed, taking his cup and drinking the rest of the liquid, smiling artfully as she placed it back into his hand.
She patted his cheek and winked. "Do not leave your mouth wide like that Lancelot or the flies will see to make it their new resting."
He rolled his eyes and tugged on a strand of her hair. "They will come soon enough for your own tongue, woman, with the things you say."
Lorelyn laughed at him and when they had calmed from their slight quarrel, they continued their slow trek through the gardens in silence, instead enjoying each other's company.
The wind however, did not cease its nuisance every time it blew between them, causing Lorelyn's scent to scatter Lancelot's thoughts, making his head heavy with confused ruminations.
When they had retired for the evening, he walked Lorelyn to her room, a corridor away from his own. But when she turned to him and bid him goodnight with a sudden kiss to the cheek and rushing into her room afterwards, he walked to his own room with jumbled thoughts, concluding that the wine must have been too strong that night.
