Welcome to the Jungle... {OPEN}

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Bedroom allocated, few possessions unpacked and wardrobe full, Elaine had left the room she had been told would be her home while she was a student of the school, and ventured into the grounds. She hadn't yet met her room-mate, but that was currently a blessing - she had been shocked enough that she would have to share her living quarters with another, and having passed a few of her fellow students in the corridors on her brief tour of the dormitories, she was more than a little nervous that her room mate would be... something a little different to what she was used to at home.

On discovery of the knowledge of her shared living space, she had almost begun to write a letter home to her father, requesting his intervention, when she remembered why she had been sent here. She was to learn independence, to improve her self and learn more of the world around her. She wasn't going to do that by running to Daddy every time something went wrong. So she petitioned the administrator herself... and was met with immediate failure. No, there were no single rooms available. Yes, she would have to share with those who already lived in this room. No, her status as future lady of Astolat would not gain her any privileges, didn't she think they had people of higher status than that here? Apparently status meant very little here.

And so, resigned to the fact that her space would be shared with others, and slightly excited by the idea of possible royalty somewhere nearby, Elaine had stepped out into the courtyard, wondering where to go first. She looked around, and felt suddenly overwhelmed. She had no idea what she had let herself in for, and no idea where to go or what to do. Moving towards the fountain in the centre of the courtyard, she sat on the edge of the wall surrounding the water, and leant down, letting her hand run across the top of the water and smiling as the ripples distorted her reflection. She adjusted the blue flowers that were plaited into her hair and looked down at her reflection again, wondering if perhaps fate had sent her here for a reason... the town was home to royalty, and with royalty came knights... Despite being so far from home, perhaps the knightly husband she so longed for wasn't all that far away after all...

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Henry strolled into the commons area, hands stuffed in his pockets, whistling a song. He had been planning to buy an mp3 player, but recent events had left him vaguely destitute, so that would have to wait until one of his job applications panned out.

He scanned across the courtyard on his way over to the dorms, looking around at the surroundings. Surprisingly it wasn't entirely busy, even with the weather cooling off so that it wasn't deadly to be outside for more than half an hour. In fact, looking around the only figure that he saw was a pretty girl sitting next to the fountain, looking rather dismal.

He wasn't one to leave a damsel in distress, at least not while someone could be watching.

"Hello there," he said, sauntering over. "Is anything wrong? You look a little sad."

He fished in his back pocket for his handkerchief before remembering he left it in his other pair of pants. The dressy ones. So he bit his lip and tried to think of a solution, but it wasn't even like she was crying anyway, so it didn't really matter.

"I don't believe I have seen you before. Are you new to Tintagel?" If she was that could explain everything. She didn't know what was going on, she didn't have any friends...it was all a tough break. His heart went out to her. Or at least it would have if he'd had more of a heart.

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Jumping as someone spoke to her, Elaine turned to look at the newcomer so fast she nearly fell into the fountain she was perched on. Steadying herself and blushing furiously, she looked up at the speaker, opening her mouth to assure them she would be fine - and ended up sitting with her mouth open, staring, as her breath caught in her chest and her heart leapt into her throat. Elaine had seen her fair share of handsome knights in Camelot, but the man standing in front of her... Elaine could barely form words.

Recovering herself quickly as he spoke again, Elaine stood and curtseyed, dropping her gaze to the floor as she attempted to speak again. "I am new, sir, I arrived only today. I am Elaine of Astolat, newly arrived from Camelot."

Raising herself from her curtsey, she risked looking into the face of her companion once again. Managing to stop herself from swooning, or stumbling, or losing all sense of coherence, she smiled, holding her hand out. "I am glad to meet you, sir. I have been feeling rather lonely and overwhelmed here on my own. This place is rather different to my home." Elaine silently prayed he would introduce himself as a knight. That would be too perfect - and she certainly wouldn't mind taking him home to ask her father for her hand.

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Henry really hadn't meant to scare her so much. He automatically stretched out a hand to try to catch the girl, but she managed to steady herself and he drew back, hoping he didn't look too awkward or like he was trying to cop a feel. He vaguely wondered why she was having such trouble breathing or speaking; he wasn't exactly used to girls falling all over him.

"Well," Henry said, bowing in response to her curtsy, "It is very nice to meet you, Lady Elaine." It was far too easy for him to copy back her high manners. Not only was it exactly the sort of thing he had been trained to do, but it was also the sort of mirroring that he was used to.

He took her hand and kissed it--again, somehow it just felt right--and rose again from his bow. "I am Prince Henry Charming. I am sorry you are feeling so lost here at Tintagel. Would you like for me to show you around?" He extended his arm and sent a short prayer up to God that Lottie wouldn't see him walking around with Elaine.

"So tell me, Miss, what is your home like? A beautiful palace next to a golden sea? Unicorns playing in a meadow? Or maybe a world of princes and kings rushing to save young damsels in distress?" It was his careful way of teasing out whether she was from his world or not, though he doubted it.