Muttering directions to herself under her breath, she found her way back to the kitchens, then out to the gardens. Tucking her skirt under her, she found a comfortable spot on a stone bench, shaded by the large oak tree. She paged through it with a feverish intensity, rereading lines as she went to commit them to memory.

She was making a mental note to purchase parchment and ink with her first week's pay when her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of giggling. Glancing up, she found its source; a rather pretty blonde, a high-born girl, she assumed by her clothes. Mona's eyes began to drift back down to her book when she processed the familiarity of the man the high-born was with. Leith reached a hand out to caress the blonde's face, looking around nervously when his eyes met his sister's and widened with alarm. She watched as he seemed to fluster rather quickly, cleared his throat, and stepped back. His companion followed his line of sight right back to her and, without another word, they advanced in her direction. Grabbing a nearby leaf to mark where she'd left off, she sighed and closed the book.

He tells me to stay out of trouble, but seems to have walked into a bit himself… Looks like I'm done reading for the day.

"Good afternoon, m'lady. Were you wanting to sit here? My apologies, I can move," Mona started to stand.

"Not at all. Lovely day, isn't it?" said the high-born, though her voice cracked as she tried to hold her composure.

Mona held up her book pointedly, though her tone remained that of sugar and honey. "A fine day for a good book. How may I assist you, m'lady?"

"You see, I-" she started to say, trying to find how best to put this delicately before Leith cut her off with introductions.

"Mona, Greer. Greer, this is Mona, my sister. She's not going to say anything," he reassured the blonde before turning to Mona with a tense smile. "Right?"

"Frankly, brother, I'm still in shock any woman would give you the time of day, especially one this pretty." She smirked and nodded her head towards Greer. "I saw you swat that wasp from her face. What would I possibly have to say about something so mundane, hm?"

"Erm… yes, a wasp," Greer let out a nervous laugh in relief. "Of course. Well, it was lovely to meet you. I really should get to my chambers to change for supper." With that, Greer nodded her head in farewell and retreated, leaving the two of them staring at each other.

"So," Mona broke the silence first. "She seems lovely."

"Don't."

"Don't what? I'm being genuine. She's beautiful and seems nice enough. How'd you two meet?"

Leith gave her a condescending look. "How d'you think? She was ordering food from the kitchens."

"Yes, but ladies don't just fall head over heels for every kitchen boy that brings them sustenance, now do they?" she playfully smacked him on the side with her book. "Details, you dolt! Details! I'm your only sister, I exist to give you advice on courting women. This is my one job in life."

"Oi!" he laughed, dodging her next swing. "Alright, alright! It's not like I can properly court her anyway. She's rich."

"I know that, you know that, and she knows that… and yet, here we are, defending maidens from imaginary wasps. Leith, if she was going to end it, she would have. When a prince has relations with the commoners, it's expected to turn your head and he can have as many bastard spawn as he has energy to create. When a princess has relations with commoners, she's cast out, stripped of her title, and labeled as a harlot. Your lady love risks much, so she must view her reward," she looked pointedly up at him, "as worth all of that."

Leith met her gaze, his face screwing up in a serious expression. "She also risks her sisters' futures as well. They can't marry til she does."

"I see. Well," Mona stood, holding the book to her chest. "Tread carefully and find out her favorite flower. I have a baking project in mind for you. In the meantime," she looked up at the sky, "we should probably head back to the kitchens. It's almost time to start cooking, yeah?"

"Yeah. Hey, where'd you get the book?"

"About that…"

Mona pulled her light brown hair back from her pail face, tying it up with a black ribbon.

"I tried for weeks to get you an opening and you're already leavin' me high and dry?" Leith asked though Mona could detect the mirth in his tone.

"I'm all thumbs. You don't want me in here anyway," she snickered as she rolled up her sleeves. "You said as much yourself."

"Seriously though, good for you. Your first day 'ere and you're already movin' up in the world," he pulled her in for a one-armed hug. "I'm proud of you."

She beamed up at him, though grunting from the force until he released after what seemed like a lifetime. "Thanks, that means a lot. So, I can start tomorrow?" she beamed, feeling her sides for possible damage.

"Yeah, I'll let the chef know. Just have Nostradamus submit the papers to formally release you from the kitchens."

"Will do! You're not angry?"

"Relieved would be a better word, lucky even. Your head's always in the clouds. That doesn't fare well in a kitchen and it only gets worse once the various balls and banquets begin again."

She winced but nodded. "Fair."

The following morning, she retraced her steps as best she could. Having to double back a few times, she finally found the door she was looking for, ajar and open for business. She knocked as she pushed it the remainder of the way open. "Nostradamus?" she called, holding his book in her arms. Having not heard a response, she entered to return the book to its rightful place on the shelf.

"You've finished it already?" came a voice from behind her, causing her to jump, yelping in surprise. She turned to find him in the doorway from which she'd just come.

"Yes, though I'll be obtaining some parchment soon for notes. Where'd you come from?"

"Gathering herbs. The castle priest uses my tinctures for migraines and he ran out." He held up a basket filled with dandelions in bloom and several other flowers and roots.

"Ah. Well, my brother is fine with me working with you instead of in the kitchens, relieved even," she chuckled. "He said I'd need to have you sign some forms to release me from the kitchens into your employ?"

"I'm unfamiliar but will enquire. I've not taken on a student before," he explained. "Shall we get started with your lessons?"

After her first lesson on the priest's tinctures, Nostradamus seemed impressed by how quickly she appeared to be absorbing the information. She carefully measured out each ingredient with intense focus, mixed them thoroughly to ensure maximum effect, and kept the workstation tidy and pristinely clean. He smiled down at her, nodding with approval.

"Very good! You seem to be a natural."

"Thank you," she replied, dropping the last cleaning rag in the laundry basket. "Now what?" she asked eagerly, her eyes alight with excitement.

"Now," he handed her the basket he'd been carrying earlier, empty now save a parchment with a list of each ingredient and a rough sketch and description, "you go out to the forests to fetch more ingredients. Gather as much as you can before dark."

"On it."

The spring weather made her walk in the woods a bit more pleasant. The trees provided enough shade to save her from the sun's heat whilst glimmers of light still shone betwixt the leaves. The wind rushed through the branches high above, causing thousands of solar spotlights to dance on the grass below. The chirping of birds and chitter of chipmunks lulled her into a false sense of security as she delved further and further in. Soon enough, she found she could not tell which direction she'd come from. She'd been so proud of herself, having found an abundance of all but the final ingredient on the list; Lemon Balm.

"You're certainly a long way from the kitchens," Bash smirked as Mona tripped over a root hidden beneath the fallen leaves. He lowered his sword to rehouse it in its sheath. "What in God's name are you doing this deep into the forest?" he asked incredulously.

Mona rolled to face him, brushing the dirt off her hands and dress. "Jonathan? I could say the same as there's not a horse in sight."

"Hunting," he gestured towards the bow and quiver on his back. "You? I can't see them sending you this far out for spices for dinner."

"Well, you see…" she chuckled nervously, trailing off.

"Let me guess, you're lost," he crossed his arms, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Come with me," he said, his tone exasperated. "It'll be getting dark soon," he bridge the gap between them, reaching down to offer her assistance.

"Thanks," she grunted as she stood, immediately bending down to gather the various plants that had scattered from her basket upon impact. "I'm working with Nostradamus now. I was gathering ingredients for what I can only assume is a sleeping drought, but I'm missing a vital ingredient."

"You're certainly making quite the promotional climb. From the kitchens to working for the Queen's right hand," he raised an eyebrow.

"The sciences of medicinal herbs aren't exactly encouraged in the tiny village I'm from, especially for women. He needed extra hands, and I needed a teacher. The arrangement seems to be working out thus far, though it's a bit early on to tell for sure." She straightened up, brushing the wild strands from her face. "Would you, by chance, know whereabouts I could find some Lemon Balm?"

He scoffed. "Did you not hear me? It'll be getting dark soon. You shouldn't be in these forests at night. I doubt Nostradamus would want his student missing or killed so soon into his lessons." He paused for a moment, taking in the determination playing across her face and calculating the approximate time until sunset. "I'll tell you what, you come back to the castle with me now and I'll take you out to a grove where it grows in abundance tomorrow morning. Is that compromise amenable to you?"

Mona weighed her options or lack thereof. The fact that he refused to just point her in the right direction and wasn't leaving her out here alone told her she didn't have much choice.

"Promise?"

He nodded.

"Fine."