Is this the right place?

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia was hoping that this was the right place. Slowly she was becoming more and more aware of Camelot’s surroundings. The city was far more colorful then she ever imagined, as well as its people. Thanks to her new friend Katlyn. Well she was hoping to call her friend. Selphia was not use to people. Though it was for the lack of trying. People just tend to steer clear of you when they hear the word magic user in the sentence that follows one’s name.

She stood outside looking at the tavern door. Contemplating whether she was to enter. Slowly she climbed the steps. Her hands swept inward to gather her robes to her slender form. She had opted for a navy robe with darker trim; the inner lining was dark fur, stitched so that it would retain the heat. The hood was drawn as it always was. A gloved hand rose to the handle, about to take it when the door burst open. Quickly she step aside as two men came barreling out. She could not tell at first if it was laughter or a quarrel. That was until she saw the pair propping one another up, staggering down the steps and into the confines of the city.

Selphia stood for a moment looking at them. Slowly backing herself toward the door and then inside ~ The Ram ~ A cozy nook of a place. Though she was certain that no one would have ever called this place cozy. Her pale eyes drifted from the door to its frame, then they spanned wide and looked at the tables and the patrons within. It was quick the busy place. Groups of people sat about round tables. All lost in drink and stories. She wondered if Katlyn was here, lost somewhere in this crowd of people.

She carefully made her way forward. Avoiding people as the swayed back and forth amongst tables. The bar maid that seemed to move seamlessly between tables not spilling a drop of mead, as she saw to the tavern’s thirsty.

She was sure that she must have looked strange just standing there watching everyone. Drinking in, so to speak, the atmosphere of this new and strange place. Of course she had been in taverns before but not one such as this one. There was life here. She felt a slight tug in her cheek as she smiled.

Her pale gaze searching the tavern for the one face that she knew.

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn laughed loudly as Jack stumbled back to the table with another round of drinks. Her father had told the farm boy she was to have no more than 1 tankard of the mildest mead possible and unfortunately Jack had stuck to that rule despite how intoxicated he had gotten.
"Jack!" She giggled, tipsy due to the unfamiliar level of alcohol she had consumed. "You can hardy walk!" She laughed again, leaning into him as he began to laugh too. The other farm hands they were with shook heir heads, but smiles adorned all of their faces as they watched the pair in hysterics.

A sudden gust of cold wind rinsed Katlyn of her hazy mind and she looked up towards the door to see a familiar figure outlined against the background of falling snow. She had chosen this table specifically because it was close enough to the fire to be warm, but also beside a window where she could see the wintery weather outside. She had always loved snow- partly because it gave her a few days off of work, but also because it made being inside so much cosier. In Katlyns mind, curling up by a fire while heavy snow was falling outside was one of the nicest things ever. Perhaps almost as good as going to court with the nobles.

"Selphia!" Kat shouted, beckoning with her hands that the girl come join them. She wondered if she would or not. Selphia, although polite and friendly, had seemed a little awkward when the pair had first met and it had almost been a struggle to get the girl to talk. Perhaps it had just been the situation that had thrown them together but Kat didn't think that Selphia was as loud as she.
"Move up." She told Jack firmly, pushing him with both hands and shuffling up herself until there was enough room for her new friend on her other side.

[Selphia Dek]

There amongst as table full was Katlyn. She seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. Selphia tilted her head to the side, then glanced behind her to the door before returning her pale gaze to the rather red faced girl she had met earlier that day. Was she drinking? Selphia approached in timely fashion. She was often too cautious at times which people seemed to misunderstand and find odd. She was just shy. She had good reason to be shy. She had been in the town for a few weeks now, and she made one friend. The odd acquaintance, but no one that held a conversation for more then several minutes with her, Katlyn had been the first.

She approached the group nodding politely to them as she rounded the table to Katlyn’s side. Katlyn seemed to be having quick a lot of fun. Having gotten there way before her. Of course Selphia had talked herself out of the meeting several times before actually leaving her room, walking down the street, then getting herself through the door. But now she was faced with the possibility of making more friends it seemed. Her heart practically leapt into her throat as she stood there. A range of emotions rushed forth as she greeted them. Her voice cracked a little before she clearly it and spoke again. “Greetings.” She uttered softly, “Katlyn…”

Her fingers laced neatly together, as she stood looking to the man that rose on Katlyn robust way of getting them to make room for her. Selphia was about to protest that she would just sit where there was already room. But when the man rose swiftly after getting a push from Katlyn. She smiled to him and took the offered seat. Feeling a little embarrassed that she had now deprived him of a warm spot, and perhaps his place next to Katlyn.

Her hood and robes remained in place. Not feeling to keen on removing them. Sometime she would have to remove it, but she was unsure of how people perceived her. The first thought was sickly looking. The next odd, because by that time she was nervous, and unease, therefore she rambled about things that no one knew or could know. Then it was just uncomfortable.

She settled herself neatly upon the plank. Her hands resting against the edge of the table, once again a little awkward, she lowered then quickly into her lap, knowing not what to do with them. She would turned to Katlyn and offer a smile before speaking. “Have you been here long?”

She knew that she had been here for sometime. Her mood was cheery, in fact very cheery, her cheeks rosy perhaps due to drink. Her gaze would drifted between Katlyn, and the interesting knot upon the table.

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn smiled as she made room for her friend and the girl came over nervously. Katlyn couldn't even begin to imagine how it must be to be as shy as Selphia was. She had nothing against shy people at all, but it must be so boring to be too afraid to talk to someone new or to laugh and joke with a group such as this one.

Both of the girls had rosy cheeks although for 2 very different reasons. Katlyn's was from the warm environment and the mead she had drunk, whereas Selphia's were from the cold and the embarrassment she felt at being made teh centre of everyone's attention suddenly. There was 7 of them now seated at the table, and with another small push Katlyn sent Jack off to get a new round of drinks. Sometimes Katlyn felt bad at the way she could persuade the farm boy to do whatever she wanted, but he was always more than willing. She suspected that he was a little sweet on her.

"Oh I have been 'ere for a couple o' hours." She laughed, hugging her friend. It was probably a bit of a forward action seeing as they hadn't known each other for a particuarly long time, but Katlyn was getting a bit carried away thanks to the alcohol.
"Where have you been?" She asked, poking Selphia in the arm accusingly, but gently. "You took ages!"

[Selphia Dek]

Upon taking a seat at the table Selphia cast her gaze about. Katlyn had quite a few friends. She bowed her head toward those that greeted her, smiled a little as well, while she took her seat. Her hand moved to the edge of her hood to keep it in place. She would eventually have to remove it, but for the time being it remained upon her petite form.

It was natural for Selphia to be as shy as she was. She hardly grew up trusting people, not to say that she didn’t trust anyone. She just found it hard to trust those that she could hear whispering about her, or plotting against her. Her abilities made it impossible to ignore. Some people were lucky to live in the ignorance of the world and what it held. Selphia found herself at times wishing that she were more like Katlyn. Able to speak without coming across as strange, that friendly carefree attitude, Selphia could not help but like the girl.

Selphia’s attention turned from those at the table back to Katlyn. A brief smile graced her lips as she listened to Katlyn explain how long she had been there. Her voice was indeed louder then when she first met her. Though the tavern was lively at this hour. Drinks were being poured, people laughter, shutting over one another in order to be heard, while music by a lone musician in the corner played away.

Katlyn’s arms wrapped about Selphia’s shoulder and tugged her toward her in a big hug. Selphia’s hand moved to pat Katlyn’s arm, surprised by the sudden gesture. When she was released she would explain that she was unable to figure out what to wear. Besides that and the weather.

“It’s snowing again outside. Thought I was able to get lost in it.” She explained briefly, and then realized no one really cares for details about snow. “So what is the occasion?”

She figured it was a special occasion of sorts for Katlyn to be drinking as she was. Perhaps it was just nothing. Getting together with friends. Selphia sighed as she sat there a brief smile and then looking to the table crowded of people she didn’t know. Galeon would be proud that she was making friends. She hoped….

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn looked out of the close by window and nodded. "Oh so it is." She sighed. "I hope I can make it back home to the farm tonight, otherwise I might find myself staying in the city- which i suppose wouldnt be so bad." She smiled wondering if Selphia could see how much she loved Camelot.
"I do like the snow though. Do you?" She wanted to know more about her friend and hoped that the fact that a group of rowdy farm hands were all around didnt put Selphia off.

It didnt seem to and soon Selphia had made conversation of her own, asking what the occasion was tonight. Katlyn laughed, it was unusual for her to be at a tavern for no reason- for one thing her father never let her out! But he had been feeling bad about her illness recently and she thought he might have just wanted her to have a good time and enjoy herself.

"I dont really know! Perhaps just a celebration of the snow?" She replied with a giggle as Jack tickled her.
"Jack!" she moaned wriggling from his grasp.
"He is so annoying!" She whispered to selphia.

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia sat for a good part of the time listening to those about her. They were a friendly lot. Her gaze returned to Katlyn as the chattering came to a stop. Selphia turned her gaze to Katlyn. She seemed to enjoy the weather, perhaps more then Selphia. Katlyn seemed oblivious to the fact it had been snowing. How long had she been here? The thought of how long folks liked to remain in such establishments was lost on Selphia.

Katlyn’s question left Selphia pondering it. The cold never really affected her as it did most. Another trait about her that troubled people about her, so she had become rather good at pretend to be cold when she was not. “It is cold, and slippery.” She said, as she kind of chuckled. Recalling the rather large gent that was having trouble with the ice moments before she had come here.

Selphia was actually partaking in conversation. It was in the midst of that conversation that she seemed to open herself up. The thoughts that traveled about her seemed to be fused upon those within their small group. Since she was mostly concentrated on Katlyn that was where her focus was. She could feel something stirring about her. Thoughts of her father worried about her, feelings of guilt, and over-protectiveness toward her. These feelings caused Selphia to become more concerned herself, in regards to Katlyn even though she had only known her briefly so far.

Selphia’s head tilted to the side as she listened to Katlyn explain the reasons for their celebrations. More often that serious side of Selphia came to the surface. “But you had not known that it was snowing until I told you, just now.” Selphia explained, her right hand gesturing toward the window. Selphia watched the way that Katlyn reacted to the boy, Jack. She was picking up huge vibes of like from him.

“Annoying?” Selphia said, and without second thought continued. “He likes you….”

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

"Oh i knew it had snowed!" Katlyn laughed, "But i did not know it had begun again!" She laughed and leant heavily on her friend, pulling her into a kind of stretched out hug. She pulled away abruptly though as her friend replied, telling her that Jack liked her.
"Pfft!" She snorted. "He so does not." Her face set into a frown, but the look on both Jack and Selphia's faces soon caused her to laugh again.
"He just doesn't know any other girls." she whispered close to Selphia's ear, "But in truth it does get a bit irritatin' when he wont let go." She smiled at her friend.

After a few more minutes of idle conversations and teasing Jack, Kat stood up and grabbed Selphia by both hands. It was late now, but the night was still young as far as she was concerned and it was apparently time to dance. The floor was already full of spinning dancers and drunken men swaying to the music of the lute and fiddle.
"Come on!" she shouted amongst the hubbub of the tavern and with a strong pull, she tugged at Selphia's light form and wound her own way into the throng of dancers.

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia felt her cheeks warm, even just slightly. She had not meant to sound so patronizing when she explained to Katlyn that she had mistaken herself in terms of the snow outside. Her left hand moved to her brow to push the edge of her hood back a little. When Katlyn hugged her it had fallen forward. Katlyn had an infectious laugh that Selphia chuckled always with her. Her right curled into her lap as she sat for a time looking from Katlyn to those about her. She seemed not to enjoy the thought of Jack having a crush upon her. In fact she seemed to rebuff Selphia’s statement and jack’s advances. Though Selphia was sure that Jack didn’t understand Katlyn’s words at all. She figured he never heard what she had said.

Selphia sat looking from Jack back at Katlyn as she broke out laughing again. Selphia then leaned forward when Kat came to whisper to her. ~ He just doesn't know any other girls. But in truth it does get a bit irritatin' when he wont let go. ~ Selphia leaned back not entirely sure what she meant. Before she could have Katlyn explain she was being pulled from her seat. The glass of ale that she had been sipping upon teetered in her hand. A bit sloshed over the side and onto her hand, as she stood up. Katlyn explained something that Selphia had missed. She was about to protest when she finally faced Katlyn. The girl looked delighted with the setting about her. The music that played rather loudly, or it had started of slow, and picked up when Katlyn made her way toward a clearing in the center of the room.

Selphia’s pale eyes widened, “You want to dance? Oh, Katlyn I don’t know how to dance…” Selphia pulled herself quickly to Katlyn. The panic in her tone noticeable, or she hoped it was at least to Katlyn. She did not know how to dance. Her hands trembled as she looked to Katlyn hoping that she would allow her to sit back down.

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn cocked her head to one side in puzzlement. Was it possible not to know how to dance? She certainly wasn't used to it if it were. The women and men alike in her village had always known how to dance- fast jigs and slow swaying dances alike- and they would spend every celebration dancing the night away until the first light of dawn broke. She figured now that it must have been a tradition in Avalon alone to be natural dancers, but she didn't fully comprehend why.

"But dancing is easy i promise you Selphia!" She tried to take the girls hands in her own, meaning to help her follow the steps and movements as she did them herself.
"Just put you left foot like that" She moved her own foot back a step, "And then this foot...there!" She placed her other foot to the side a little.
"Now you just repeat that but the other way round...." Once more she showed her friend the steps and smiled to herself, pleased with her short lesson.
"Its much more fun if you move your body with the music too! Watch!" She twirled round behind Selphia in one swift movement, and using the girls arms and legs like those on a childs doll, she began to try and mould Selphia into a perfect dancer.