Hiding from the World (Lettice)

[Henry Renold]

Henry wrapped his cloak a little tighter around his arms as the wind whistled across the park, biting into every bit of flesh it could find.
It was a bitter cold December day in Camelot but despite the weather Henry had decided to take a walk out of the slums, in an attempt to cheer himself up.

It had been weeks and weeks since Gill had left, and things had been strange since. The good news was that Henry was finally back to his old self- or at least the majority of the time, but that didn't make losing her any easier and often he found himself blinking back tears as memories of their time together crept in.
The truth was, he didn't really know what had happened to make her leave him. Henry assumed it was just his awful attitude and personality change that had driven her away, and of course he had no idea of the fortune her family had come into.
But walks like these helped him clear his head, get away from the memories for a little while- which was just what he needed.

As he crested a small hill, Henry noticed another lone figure across from him, seemingly doing the same- escaping the world.
Something about the girls posture and body language made him think of Gill and with a shiver, he tried desperately to bury all thoughts of her.

[Lettice Bellemis]

It was Lettice's first trip into the city. She was more than a little intimidated and as of yet hadn't spoken to anyone.

Ever since she had met a mage in the woods where she had lived as a druid, something clicked in her mind: the desire to visit Camelot. Her mother had been wary to let a young girl travel alone, but had relented, giving her a list of 'uncles' (former lovers) that she could seek out as contacts. Lettice had kept her opinions to herself and thanked her mother, but the men her mother had kept company with were far more likely to harm Lettice than help her.

Lettice looked at the brass coins in her palm. She had no idea of the value of money, and was unsure if this was enough for a loaf of bread, let alone a room for the night. She withdrew her hand into the warmth of her fur-lined coat and looked at her surroundings. Lettice had, without realising it, wondered into the only bit of greenery in the centre of Camelot. It made sense, it was where she felt most at home after all.

Glancing around out of her hood, she saw she was not alone, even this early on such a cold, frosty morning. The figure looked like a man; she squinted in his direction. It didn't cross her mind that the stranger could be a threat... not at first, and so she walked a little closer to get a better look instead.

[Henry Renold]

Henry just stood, staring at the figure until she was close enough for him to clearly see that she was very different to Gill. Her clothes were strange and she had different features and skin. He obviously just had Gillianne Auvray on the brain.

As he realised that this girl was approaching him and not just passing by, he instinctively reached for his blades, which as usual were hidden in his sleeves should he need them. He didn't click them loose just yet, for his temperament had reverted to its old way, of being more trusting than was perhaps wise, and looking before he leapt. Still he stroked the catches with his forefingers, just in case.

"Can I help you? Are you lost?" He called out, hoping to establish just what this girls intentions were from a distance.

[Lettice Bellemis]

Lettice was a little surprise when the young man spoke to her, and even more surprised when the words weren't rude or offensive. She had imagined strangers in the city to be that way.

"Hm? No, no I'm not lost." she called back, pausing for a moment before walking a little bit closer. It was true, she wasn't lost as such... "But I could use some directions," she added, "If you're not busy." Lettice was standing close by now, not intimately close as if they had known each other, but close enough so she could speak at a normal level and be heard. Lettice extended both hands from underneath her cloak and removed her hood so she could get a better look at Henry.

[Henry Renold]

At the girls words, Henry relaxed a little and let his forefingers rest amongst the others. Her voice seemed friendly although a little apprehensive and so although he remained on guard as always, he decided that as yet she was no threat.

"Directions?" He asked with a frown, "Are you not from around here?"
As far as Henry knew, everyone from the city knew how the land lay and he wasn't sure he had ever been asked for directions while in the heart of Camelot. True enough, travellers on the Kingsway were often unsure of which way to go, but this girl didn't look like a merchant or trader.

While he listened to the strangers reply, Henry studied her skin which was much darker than most he had seen. Her hair and eyes too were dark and exotic and overall she was beautiful in her own, individual way.