My Lady [Gwen]

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As much as Brianna enjoyed getting up early in the morning from her few hours of sleep that she hardly got anyway, she loved spending time outdoors during the evening hours. The cooling air seemed to brush away all of the thoughts in her mind as it penetrated her skin, and the smells of greenery and a larger body of water brought Brianna peace. Now that she had all the free time in the world, she thought she would perhaps be practicing her swordfighting or her archery, but the lake had drawn her in ever since she arrived, and not taking a stroll to it would be terrible.

She was dressed in jeans and in a loose sweater, with a locket around her neck, and her hair merely brushed down her neck (yes, it now reached her neck). Adapting to the style here in Trenale was the easy part; not playing the role was a bit more complicated. But Brianna managed it. She was a quick learner and decided to not be the only one here who hadn't seemed to understand what was really going on. It was a peculiar world indeed, wait til Jack hears about it. He probably wouldn't believe her anyway. Or he might. Who knew? She felt guilty for not thinking about Jack as much as she once did, and wondered if he thought of her every once in a while.

Hiding her cold fingers in the pockets of her sweater, Brianna shook off the pang of guilt she was feeling towards her "love life", and continued walking down the path, with the lake in sight. It was truly a beauty. There were no lakes in Camelot. In Albion, perhaps, but it was quite a day's walk to one. Nevermind the reminiscing. Brianna wanted nothing of that. She wanted to live the present and stay in it. Perhaps it was her destiny to be right where she was at the moment. Everybody had a destiny, did they not? Brianna never much cared for hers, but if she was taken here, then this might be it.

Alas, someone was making their way toward her. Well, maybe not on purpose, but it seemed to Brianna that they would meet along the path. Company was always nice, unless this person wanted to be alone. As the figure came closer and closer, Brianna could make out a few features, until the person was in clear view. And she stopped. And stared. Like Arthur, Brianna hadn't personally met his fiancee, but she'd seen her from afar. Up close, she was far more beautiful than even the gossip said she was.

The only thing Brianna could bring herself to do was to instantly get to a knee before Lady Guinevere, take her hand, and kiss it, as chivalry and what she'd been taught back home, kicked in. "My lady," Brianna said, almost afraid to look up. She probably to most likely had just made a fool out of herself. Nobody did this here. Nobody bowed to anyone, nor kissed hands here. Great. She reputation had just...died.

[Guinevere]

Guinevere had decided that it was no use in letting her horse grow fat and lazy in the stables when she was still perfectly capable of riding. The only problem was that she was afraid too. She trusted her horse, really she did, she was a beautiful and loyal creature but even those kind of animals had their bad days, and the last thing she wanted was to be thrown from her horse. However, she was determined and had ridden the first few miles…if only very slowly and every time the horse wanted to break into a trot Guinevere had stopped it.
 
She wasn’t taking any chances.
 
When they had reached the lake however she had given up, the fear being…too much. Walking around the Lake she had been leading the horse allowing it to stop and graze for a bit, or drink from the water. It was calm, peaceful.
 
Which was why she was so surprised when the young man dropped to his knees in front of her, took her hand and kissed it. “Young sir,” said Gwen looking down at him….and then making a second judgement, “I mean my young lady…arise…tell me your name and why you kneel before me.”

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Brianna was so engrossed with being chivalrous to Lady Guinevere that she almost hadn't heard the other woman talk. This was a big deal for Brianna. If she was meeting all the people she didn't think she'd meet for a long time now, then this was good. Meeting Arthur, and speaking with him personally was quite possibly the most exciting thing she'd done. Like...ever. Because how many people really met the prince unless they made it to the king's court to speak of what treacherous magic they had seen?

Upon request, Brianna got up to her feet again, and still only stared for a moment before she found words. "My name is Brianna of Tyndale - er...Lady Brianna, now, I suppose," she stuttered. Wow. This was worse than when she met Arthur. Quit it, Bree! Stop being such a coward! "I...I am to become a knight of Camelot. I've sworn my loyalty to Arthur for now." For now? Knights could switch lieges, right?

"You're the Lady Guinevere. Princess Guinevere." Goddess, she was such a fail at this. And now she was completely mortified. Brianna turned a slight shade of pink, and tried to hide her embarrassment. Then, she cleared her throat and tried again. "Arthur says that when you become queen, he is sure you will take on lady knights. But until that day comes, I've been sworn to the prince." And the Lady Guinevere cared why? She probably didn't. So Brianna was most likely just making the name for herself look really terrible about now.

Too much talking, LADY Brianna. She shook her head at herself.

[Guinevere]

Ah so this was the young female knight that Arthur had been speaking off recently. Guinevere looked her over as the woman spoke. She had a good build on her, she certainly looked the part of a knight that was for sure, and there was a determination in her that seemed to shine through. That was good, could cause recklessness but it was good. Once the girl had finished stumbling over her words Gwen smiled.

“Lady Brianna, his highness Prince Arthur has spoken to me of your request to become a knight,” she said, still smiling, “and of your loyalty to his cause.”

The horse tried to move forwards to continue their work and Gwen took a couple of steps forward as well. Motioning to Brianna she said, “come, walk with me. You can tell me a little about yourself and I can tell you of the warrior maidens of the summer country.”

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It was strangely nice to know that Arthur had actually discussed a lowly somewhat knight with his betrothed. It meant that Arthur really did care about each and every single one of his knights. But this also made Brianna a bit more shy around Lady Guinevere. Why? Well, she'll be damned if she knew. "I...he did?" She was more than pleased to know this, really.

When she was invited to walk with the Lady, Brianna didn't know if she was pleased or excited about it. She had the chance to get herself noticed, and alas, by Lady Guinevere herself. Brianna was sure that once the laws were changed, she would switch loyalties, and dedicate herself to the Queen, wilst still fighting for Arthur, or more, the Pendragon dynasty. Knowing a liege personally might do Brianna good for the future.

They walked for a few seconds, Brianna walking half the time with her hand at her side, as if she was protecting Guinevere, ready to strike at anything that would attack. But Brianna one, didn't even have a sword, and two, knew that this wasn't the dangerous woods of Camelot, but rather a peaceful lake.

"There is not much to tell about me. Only that I initially had a reason for wanting to become a knight. I was ten when I began training," Brianna explained in a softer voice, almost afraid to say more. For some reason, she was a lot more timid with Lady Guinevere than she had been with Arthur.

[Guinevere]

“Ten?” said Guinevere turning to look at the young woman with a somewhat surprised look, “that is a young age indeed for a lady to begin training in the art of weaponry…of course, it is strange enough that a lady of Albion learned to fight at all. I am given to understand that it does not happen much in Prince Arthur’s land.”

Well now wasn’t this young girl full of surprises, although in her head Guinevere was beginning to piece together what she thought had happened. The young girl had taken on the persona of this ‘Brian’ much in the same way she had taken on ‘Gawain’ so perhaps since she was ten she had been living this double life. Gwen could barely have kept up Gawain for as long as she did, but since she was ten…

It was a long time.

“And what prompted you to learn these skills Lady Brianna?” asked Gwen kindly.

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Brianna nodded eagerly at Gwen's repeating of her age. She was pleased to know that the Ldy Guinevere was pleased with Brianna's decisions. She was only dreading being asked the reason of this young conquest. Brianna would not be so respectable then. But perhaps the Lady would understand her side of the story. And at such a young age, too.

Shaking her head, Brianna gave a small smile. "No, my lady. The law forbids it, that women should attempt to train in the royal courts to become knights. Truthfully, I was never one to dote upon the duties of being a lady, even as a little girl. I was far more interested in doing what my father was doing, be it agriculture or my version of weaponry. My younger sister was always more of a lady, ever since she was born."

Brianna wouldn't trade in her knowledge of weaponry, or her years of training, for the world. She didn't care if her parents disowned her for her abandonment, or if her sister would grow up hating her. If they didn't approve of her actions, then they could be content with what they had that moment. Brianna wasn't looking for redemption, or forgiveness. Being a knight was reward enough for her entire life. Her family would one day thank her for her actions, as unacceptable as they were.

But when that question came by, Brianna's head bowed in shame. She could only answer this the way she knew best. "I am afraid that the answer to that question is not one of honor. Not a glorious answer, as perhaps most knights' answers would be," Brianna said slowly, then lifted her head again to glance at Lady Guinevere. "

"You see, long ago, over ten years, my father owned land with another. The other cheated on the deal my father and he made, and we lost everything. Even my own life was bargained, but my father refused to give me away. The man, Burton, is a cruel, cruel human being, could care less for mankind. All that matters is his wealth," Brianna explained. "I needed the chance to avenge Burton's acts. To redeem my father's honor. I wanted to try Burton by combat; I would obviously win, for he lacks skills with a sword, and kill him in the process. But to try anyone by combat, I must first be a knight, for a lady of my stature cannot challenege a man like Burton."

Shrugging, Brianna took a deep breath. "At first, my conscience was clear. I felt no guilt in knowing that I would murder a man. But doubts are starting to fill my head, now that I am a knight. My reasons for becoming a knight...are not the same reasons I now value this title. A knight who kills a coward, is a coward himself. Or in this case, herself."

She shook her head. "I apologize, my lady. I am certain to have bored you with my tales. I am working on speaking less with my tongue and more with my mind." But she had one last thing to say. "However, Lady Guinevere, I do aspire to one day swear my fealty to you. One day, when the law of the land changes, and you take on lady knights." Brianna bowed her head at this statement, as if in reverance to the Lady.