I get a little bit, she gets a little more (Elaine)

[Guinevere]

Gwen was already beginning to regret her decision to stay here a little longer.

It was why she had relocated to the park after dropping off Tristian with Merlin, with all of the paperwork that had landed in front of her, rather than staying cooped up in the office, however it had regrettably not made it any easier. She thought this brief trip to Trenale would mean that she would get a break from the drudgery of paperwork, however somehow it had found it’s way to her and she was currently making her way through various petitions of her people back home.

This one wanted more farmland, this one wanted to wed a nobleman despite not being of noble birth herself, this one had a grievance against his Earl who was threatening to throw him off the land he had bought with his own coin. She put that last one aside for Arthur to look at later, she had feeling he would want to butt in on that particular dispute.

She put the papers down for a moment as she sat on the grass and just enjoyed the serenity around her. The town was starting to look like its old self again although without the people to fill it yet, it had an eerie silence to it. No doubt that would change soon. She opened her eyes and brushed some leaves off of her dress.

She would need to sort that soon if they were going to stay here longer, she couldn’t continue wearing this ‘adapted’ dress of hers if they were going to stay here on a long term basis. She was still wearing her red medieval dress which she had ripped at the front for better movement, finding a pair of brown trousers and boots to wear underneath. Her hair had been put into a braid and pinned up behind her head to keep it out of the way but no doubt strands were sticking out now.

Gwen was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice that she was no longer alone.

[Elaine of Astolat]

It was strange to be in this place and hardly know any of it. At home she knew every inch of Astolat like the back of her hand. And she had often walked the grounds. She knew her people and they knew her. She knew her place in that world. She has yet to find her place here in Trenale.

While she was still unsure if her place in this world, she did not need to be unsure of the landscape. Today was a lovely day for a long walk anyway. And there would likely be people out and about. How anyone could stay inside on a day like this she could not know. There wouldn't be much nice weather for the rest of the season and she could use a nice walk.

She had explored the central school buildings already and knew where everything was. It sated her own curiosity for the place. She wanted to be able to draw up a map to send in her letter home to her father. As she assured him that she had not been kidnapped, she would also assure him that the place was quite safe and provide a small map to prove it. Of course, some things would have to be changed, but she could do that easily. Her father would be easily fooled. She had never lied to him before so he would not question it. She would deal with whatever guilt might come with that when it happened.

As she walked, Elaine noticed the other woman. She was regal in a way that other woman weren't and her dress was something quite lovely. At least it would be if it hadn't been ripped at the front. Of course, Elaine had to make allowances. This place had created trials for them all. "Homework already?" Elaine asked as she approached the woman. "I do believe it is a bit early for that sort of thing."

[Guinevere]

Gwen opened her eyes and looked round in the direction that the voice had came from.

In a word. Wow.

Tintagel and Trenale seemed to attract a lot of beautiful people to its domain however it had been a long time since she had seen someone as beautiful as this maiden here. Guinevere’s preferences lay entirely with men, however if she ever had to make the exception, it would be someone like this girl. The more she looked at her the more she started to feel even more shabby than she did previously. The girl was just so young and Gwen…well…thankfully Tristian hadn’t completely ruined her figure but sometimes she panicked that she could start seeing lines on her face. This girl looked like she didn’t have a single blemish on her, her skin looked like it was soft and smooth. And that hair…

She reached up self-consciously to pull at her own messy plait, pulling it over her shoulder before smiling at the girl in what she hoped was a friendly manner and said, “I suppose you would call it homework. Unfortunately not even a brief trip to Trenale can stop these finding me.”

She held up the petitions and got to her feet, she held out her hand for a handshake and said, “hi, I’m Queen Guinevere of the Summer Country and Camelot, it is a pleasure to meet you, are you new here?”

[Elaine of Astolat]

Elaine smiled gently. She could understand that work might follow one here, especially if leaving home was unexpected. It was entirely understandable. She was quite certain that her father would be sending her how accounts to settle as soon as he could. And it was just as likely that he would want her advice on how to handle situations that came up.

She was quite surprised when the woman stood and introduced herself as Queen Guinivere. She took the hand, leaning over to kiss it. “Your majesty,” she murmured. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” She released the hand and sank into a deep curtsey. “I am Elaine de Blank of Astolat, at your service.”

She rose slowly. She had never met royalty before, but her mother has prepared her for such if an occasion ever rose. For all her mother's faults, she had not packed in giving Elaine the education of a lady. “I am glad that you are safe. Word had reached France that you and your husband had disappeared. It created quite a stir in Astolat.”

[Guinevere]

“Just Gwen-” she started to say, when the girl leaned over and kissed the back of her hand.

Of course, this would be the proper way of greeting if the two of them had been back in their own lands, barely a few days here and she was already slipping back into the usual ways of Trenale. It was something that was common back home, however here in Trenale it seemed so out of place. She smiled down at the girl and again started to say, “that’s not really neccessar-”

Then she was telling Gwen her name and that they had heard of their disappearance. Gwen smiled kindly at her and said, “Arthur and I are both quite well, thank you for your concern Lady Elaine, we have travelled to this domain before it was just something of an…unexpected trip. I am sure we will return home soon now that the portals have-….”

She trailed off herself this time, as she took in the girl before her. “Lady Elaine of Astolat,” she said quietly, looking at the girl, “The Lily maid...I have heard tales of your beauty Lady Elaine…I am pleased to see that the troubadours were not exaggerating in their poems.”

She was so young and so beautiful…they really had not been kidding…that used to be her…and now Gwen was…older…something stirred within her…it was not a good feeling.

[Elaine of Astolat]

Elaine was pleased to hear that both the king and queen were well. It would be such a relief to everyone at home that all was well. It was interesting that they had been here before. And then the queen trailed off and she got a certain look on her face. And then she spoke.

Oh no. Color rose in her cheeks, unbidden. The troubadors had made their way to England. They had sung of her beauty all throughout France which was bad enough. Now it seemed that she was well known elsewhere too. Her beauty was the reason that she had so few female friends. It was one of the many reasons she had been keen to study and learn beyond the scope of her brothers. It has been the cause of many tears. And it was happening again. There was nothing she could do to stop this. She wished she had done something to deserve the hatred of other women because that at least would have been justified.

She carefully kept her face blank of negative emotions. No matter how low her heart sank, she would never allow it to show on her face. “You are too kind, Your Majesty,” she responded trying to keep her voice light, but she sounded grave even to herself. “Those songs are much embellished.” They were a great source of discomfort for her as well. She'd had a great many admirers over the years who expected little of her than to be beautiful when she had much more important work to do. And now the queen, who was still a great beauty, would feel less. She would shun her instead of embrace her. They would never be more than acquaintances now. Elaine would have very much liked to learn from her Majesty, if she could, but now it seemed unlikely.

She would accept whatever came of this interaction with grace and serenity as her mother had taught her. “I am so very please to make your acquaintance. We have heard many things of you in France. Your fairness of judgement and great beauty are widely spoken of, as well as your wisdom.”

[Guinevere]

“Not at all Lady Elaine,” said Gwen with a warm smile on her face, “in fact, I would go so far as to say that the troubadours were restrained in their praise of you. They failed to mention your intelligent eyes, your exemplary posture and your kind demeanour. Fear not, I shall correct them on my return and demand they alter their poems to reflect such assets.”

It was difficult to keep that smile in place. For a while now she had heard the glorious poems of the beauty of Astolat, and the more she had heard the more irked she had become. However now that she actually had a chance to meet the young woman she was even more annoyed. Because she was modest, and very obviously kind, and thus all the bitter thoughts that were racing through her mind made her feel even worse. If she had been arrogant and brainless she wouldn’t have thought twice about allowing such cutting remarks to fall…however…this girl had done nothing wrong…

Gwen fought down the irritation that rose when Elaine indicated that they had also heard of the beauty of the Queen. ‘Perhaps once, but not when compared to you Lily Maid’ she thought.

Despite the jealousy stirring within her she continued to smile in a friendly manner and said, “I thank you for your kind compliments Lady Elaine, I do what I can for my country and my people, I hope only to continue to do right by them in the years to come.”

Motioning to where she had previously been sitting she said, “Will you sit with me? I would love to hear more of Astolat, and I am eager to learn why you have not come to court sooner. Did your father think that by keeping you in the fair lands of Astolat he might keep you from all the young knights begging for your hand in marriage?”

[Elaine of Astolat]

Elaine held herself perfectly still to keep herself from squirming with embarrassment. This was so much else than she could have hoped. She knew she already looked flushed, and she felt herself redden as the queen spoke. Both women knew that the songs were over the top in describing Elaine. They called her the Lily Maid after all. If that was not over the top then she had no idea what that could mean. "No, please, I beseech you, do not correct them. It is not necessary. Truly." Had she been a lesser lady she would have utterly melted with embarrassment. As it was, it was taking very nearly all of her focus to stay as she was.

Women had always been jealous of Elaine. She was beautiful and it caused so many problems among women. She had no desire to incur such emotions from the queen, a woman she had long admired. She has so much to learn from such a woman. However, she knew that she would learn nothing if the queen was too jealous to teach her. She could very easily make Elaine's life difficult and the both of them knew it. But no matter what happened, Elaine would simply do her utmost to make the best of the situation. She would survive. And perhaps she would write to her mother for advice.

Elaine inclined her head gracefully at the thanks. Guinivere was so diplomatic in her words and yet it was simply the truth. How elegant her phrases.

Elaine was not sure if the invitation was a real or a real suggestion, but as she was far outranked she could hardly refuse. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I would be happy to sit with you." She sank slowly to the Earth, arranging her lung limbs comfortably. "My mother's eyes are poor so my father relies very heavily on my influence with our people. I should have loved to go to court, but there would have been no one to escort me. My brothers are very successful knights and Father cannot leave Astolat. My mother would be most uncomfortable in traveling and I am not so ungrateful that I would insist upon it. I am quite happy in Astolat." She could not speak as to why her father had kept her away. "I am sure my father has good reason for not finding me a husband yet." Though she was 25 now so there was no excuse why she remained unmarried. Perhaps her father had not found any knight to be acceptable for his daughter.

[Guinevere]

The girl moved with such grace and elegance as she descended to the ground beside her, it sent another envious jolt through her. She would have to control this or it would get out of hand, the girl was only doing what she had asked after all, it wasn’t her fault. Keeping her features arranged in a friendly smile she reached forward and pulled another cup out of her bag, taking the flash beside her and pouring a second cup of tea as the girl spoke.

Her story seemed genuine enough, and a sad one at that, she nodded in sympathy with the girl as she talked about her mother’s ailing health and her father’s restrictions because of it. Although, she suspected that the father may use the mother’s poor health as a way of keeping Elaine close not just for her influence, but to keep her from leaving them, of meeting some knight and running off with them…or perhaps to keep her from the court where he knew a girl of her beauty would make a lot of enemies as well as a lot of broken hearts.

“I do hope your mothers condition improves, I have a Physik back in the Summer Country who really is quite excellent, I will ask her to attend to your mother in Astolat and she if there is anything she can do for her eyes,” said Gwen, picking up a bit of paper and making a note of her intentions so that she would not forget, “your father sounds like a kind man, although how unfortunate that he has deprived of us of your company at court. I will write to him and ask that you kindly be permitted to attend court. If your influence, which as you say your father relies on, is to grow then where better to cultivate it than at the courts of Camelot and the Summer Country?”