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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Jun 19, 2011 22:11:19 GMT
Gill wandered through the city streets in a daze. She had spent several weeks up at the castle, in her new position as a lady, not maid, and this was the last night before her new husband would ride down to Camelot to join her. For the last few days she had ventured into the slums, her least favourite part of town, in the hope she would meet Henry. She hadn't quite plucked up the courage to tell him yet... but the first step of the plan had been to find him, and that had failed.
Gill wrapped her cloak around her, not from the cold but from a shudder of sickness that ran through her from time to time. She had gotten used to them ever since her wedding night. So much had happened since she had last seen Henry, he had been dark and angry because of his friend's death, and he had hurt her. Despite everything, her trip home, and her new marriage and position... somehow her feelings refused to change.
Gill had made her way into the main part of the city without really thinking, but now she stopped and took in her surroundings. She didn't want to go back to the Castle. Should she search in the slums for Henry, one last time? No. She reached up to her shoulders, out of habit, to push away hair that was no longer curled around her neck, but was instead pinned away in neat braids. Her hand dropped back to her side. I am a ghost of my old self. She thought sadly. When she caught sight of the stocks and hanging platform across the corner from the Green, she berated herself mentally for being so pathetic. Other people had it far worse...
"I need a drink." she announced, out loud, to no-one in particular. Feeling like her life had a little more direction now she had made that small decision, she pulled her hood up and pressed onwards, determined to stop at the very next inn she saw.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Dec 30, 2010 13:14:26 GMT
Shall i start? Somewhere in the castle?
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Dec 27, 2010 16:20:00 GMT
Hi Aslinn, Gill has recently married into wealth, and a title, and has just returned to Camelot. She doesn't know any of the nobility as she was a maid before- would be good to RP?
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Dec 5, 2010 17:38:57 GMT
Gill, sitting in a carriage that was bumping along the road back to Camelot, stared at the open page before her. She twirled the quill between her fingers. A flash of gold caught the sunlight streaming through the window.
She wrote:
I am married, I am a wife. I am a noble, I am a lady.
She looked at the words feeling sick, then added.
I do not love my husband. How can I tell Henry?
She pressed so hard the quill snapped and ink trickled down the page like blood.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Oct 28, 2010 0:06:17 GMT
Gill, masked in white lace, and in a plain white linen dress, pressed through the crowds that had gathered around the jesters. After having smuggled Henry from the prison, and changed into suitable party attire, they had made their way to the celebrations. It was Gill's last night before she left for home...
Her dark head of hair bobbed through the crowd, contrasting strongly with her pale face, mask and clothing. She threw a glance over her shoulder... Henry wasn't behind her anymore... he must have got lost in the crowds. She rocked up on her tip toes, craning her neck and tilting her chin up to see over the revellers' heads. Gill couldn't see Henry but she did see the jester steal a mask from a young man not far from her. She snatched it back from him deftly, and the jester cackled and darted into the crowd.
"Here you go!" she offered, moving around to face the jester's unwitting victim.
Gill froze in her position, a smile still on her face and her arm outreached. It was the Prince. The prince whose cell Henry was supposed to be in right now. Henry, who would probably be looking for her right now!
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Oct 23, 2010 23:48:56 GMT
"Gill... Dante...He's dead."
All of Gill's anger and annoyance at Henry drained away as he spoke those words. Suddenly, she understood why he looked so haggard and so broken. She hadn't known Dante well, but he had helped save her when she was abducted, and she knew that him and Henry were close.
"I'm so sorry." were the natural words that came to her lips. Gill had heard them from a young age when her mother had died. She knew how little comfort they offered. She crouched down, resting her forehead against the iron bars. "I know that doesn't bring him back." She moved her hand through the bars, laying her palm gently on top of Henry's hand and sliding her thumb across his with a sad smile. Whether or not Henry wanted to share this with her, she would be here for him while she could.... even if that was only tonight.
Henry was obviously hurting now. And the dungeons were not the place for them to talk things over or make amends. As far as Gill was concerned, all that mattered was being with Henry, and being there for him.
"It's Uther's birthday celebrations," she explained, "I can get you out of here tonight. I know the guard, and by the time anyone finds out it was me... well, I won't be around the Castle. It'll be easy to hide an escaped prisoner in amongst the festivities, I'll get you a mask, and a change of clothes..." Gill gave Henry's hand a squeeze. How had she forgiven him so easily? He seemed to have that effect on her...
"I'll be back." she whispered, her dark eyes flashing as she leaned in as close to the bars as possible. "And don't eat that food; we'll find something much better once you're out." She gave a small smile so Henry knew she has forgiven everything.
In one fluid motion she stood, her dress sweeping about her feet as she moved to the prison exit to speak with the guard.
-fin.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Oct 9, 2010 9:39:42 GMT
Gill was too angry to notice the hurt look of surprise cross Henry's face. She waited for an answer to her request, but all Henry seemed capable of was repeating her name.
It was unbearable to see him gazing up at her so sadly; she crouched down on the floor so that her eyeline was level with Henry's, and also so that their conversation would draw less attention from the guard. "You never came to meet me that day." Gill bit her lip as her dark eyes began to give away the hint of rejection she had felt when Henry had left her waiting into the night. "After everything that had happened between us..." feeling her voice trembling, Gill changed tack, hardening her approach. "You left me there that night; after I'd barely recovered for one day. And then these past days, weeks.... nothing? I've looked for you every day- I even went back into the slums to look for you. You said you'd explain everything to me..." the words were coming of their own accord now, and the tears that up until now had been held back by her dark eyelashes began to run silently down her cheeks. "You better have a good reason for all of this Henry. You said you'd tell me who you were, and you said you'd never leave me again. You promised. I don't know why I ever believed you. You blow hot and cold; I never know where I stand with you." She trembled to a stop. "I don't deserve that."
She slid her hands through the bars, and pushed the food so it lay within reach of him. "And now it's my turn to leave." Gill thought of the letter requesting her home. She would have so liked to spend her last week in Camelot at Henry's side, but it was too late for that now.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Oct 1, 2010 21:15:45 GMT
Gill raised her dark head to look in the direction of the shout. Her slanted eyebrows pulled together into a frown before recognition struck, and an involuntary smile crossed her lips.
"Henry." she breathed, clutching the dishes in her hand a little tighter. It seems their roles had reversed. The last time she had seen Henry, she had looked pale and gaunt in the recovery rooms. Now, she barely recognised the boy staring out at her from the jail. His features had hardened and he looked rough and unshaven. If possible, Henry looked even more skinny than usual.
Gill walked over to the jail and curled one hand around the bars, looking down to where Henry was crouched on the floor. The initial fluttering in her stomach had passed, and she remembered that she was incredibly angry with him. Henry had promised to meet her that first day she had returned to work after her injuries had healed enough, and then left her standing in the courtyard until nightfall. Now here he was, in trouble again, and probably expecting Gill's help to free him.
She let her irritation swamp her desire to look after him, to reach her hand through the prison bars to hold his. Instead, she dropped his food unceremoniously onto the dirty straw floor out of his reach.
Gill threw a glance at the guard who, so far, hadn't noticed the exchange. "You have some explaining to do." she hissed, her mouth pressing into a line.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Sept 26, 2010 10:14:39 GMT
Gill swayed down the steps to the dungeons deep in thought. The letter she had received that morning had played on her mind all day, and she had already asked for permission to leave her post as castle maid, and return to her family home the very next day.
A few weeks ago, Gill had pretended to have the job of feeding the prisoners so she could sneak past the guard and talk to Henry. It was ironic, therefore, that she was now genuinely assigned this post. She stepped off of the last spiral step, shifting the basket of food onto one hip, and unhooking one of the torches from the wall with her now free hand. As she walked down the dank corridor, she wrinkled her nose with distaste. The dungeons always smelt musty.
"Evening Moss." she greeted the guard amiably, placing the nicest food parcel from the basket on the table beside him. He was concentrating on carving something, and so Gill didn't stop to make further conversation but began her rounds straight away. She visited the first cell, pressing the food through the bars. The simple chore was carried out automatically; her mind still on her imminent departure early the next morning.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Sept 15, 2010 19:42:35 GMT
Gill had been surprised when that morning, during the daily meeting of Castle staff in the servants' quarters, she had been held back and handed piece of parchment. She took it with a quiet word of thanks, glancing at the wax seal, her eyebrows pulled down in concentration. It was the Auvray seal. Back in the day before they had lost all their money and status, she had seen it everywhere... it felt somewhat ominous seeing it again. She flipped the parchment over, and read her name; the ink had been scratched across the parchment in a sweeping hand, one Gill didn't recognise. As she inspected the letter, she walked to the back of the kitchens to one of the smaller store rooms, and leaned back against a table near the window. Opening the letter, her heart hammered; she was expecting the worst. Gillianne,
I am sorry that this is the first you have heard of us since you have moved away to Camelot. Father has asked me to write to you, and as I didn't know where you were staying, I have sent it with a messanger to the castle. I hope it finds you well. Gill, please don't be alarmed, I should have opened by telling you we are all well! In fact, this is a letter of good news. Trade has picked up again. Not the farm, father's old trade. It seems the kingdom of Gore have need for arms again (we ask no questions!) and we have let the farm and moved back to the old Auvray household once more. I can tell you, the transition back to luxury has been a lot easier than it was the other way around. And there is more good news. I am to be a father! Ava is with child- she has been for a good while as we think the baby will arrive within the next week. I would love for you to be there at the birthing feast (yes, we have feasts again!) Father misses you, we all miss you. We hope you can tear yourself away from city life and return to us? Please write back if you cannot, but if you can, your arrival will suffice as an acceptance.
Your loving brother, Ferran Auvray. Well. Gill looked up from the letter, her mouth open in shock. It had taken her several years to adjust to their rural lifestyle after growing up as a wealthy girl. And she had only just begun to feel at home as a serving girl in the castle, and a citizen of Camelot. Still, the thought of being back with her family was too tempting to pass up, and have the old house back too! Gill folded the paper and pocketed the letter in her apron with a smile. She would need to ask permission to leave work for a while, and she would need a horse, and to pack... This had changed everything, again.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Jul 27, 2010 20:34:22 GMT
Gill followed Sophia's suggestion immediately and back-tracked into the kitchens. Cedric followed at her heels, still excitable, but luckily ignoring the other castle employees hard at work in the kitchen. It was warm outside, and Gill breathed in the scent from the herb garden that hung in the air outside the kitchen doors.
"Will you be alright if I leave you now m'lady?" Gill asked politely, "Unless I can be of any further assistance to you?" She had enjoyed her time spent with the Princess, and she hoped Sophia would enlist her services in the future when her maid took a day off. Gill bent over to give the wolf cub a quick pat on the head. Whilst she wasn't an animal person in general, it was hard not to be won over by his playful antics...
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Jun 22, 2010 11:47:43 GMT
Gill folded her arms around her cloak as they walked further into the grounds. It was getting darker, and the reflection of the castle's lights in the lake looked beautiful.
"They're well I believe." Gwen and Merlin were high up in the servants' pecking order, due to the fact they waited on such revered nobles. She didn't speak to them personally, except in passing, but she had seen them around the castle- and they had looked in good health.
Whilst Lancelot had answered her questions about his origins, his words seemed sad, and Gill half-wished she hadn't asked in the first place. He spoke without emotion, yet to be alone in the world... that had to be hard. "I'm sorry." Gill replied quietly, both apologising for asking, and for Lancelot's situation. She had a family back in her home town, so she couldn't fully understand how lonely his situation must be. "But you mustn't feel like you are completely alone. There are so many people in Camelot... and you are so charming, you must make friends easily." Gill smiled, trying to move the conversation forward in a lighthearted manner.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Jun 15, 2010 20:01:30 GMT
Gill wrinkled her nose and peered closely at the different hanging meats in what she hoped was a knowledgeable manner. The little wolf cub was soon circling by her feet, and making noises like an excited puppy. Gill smiled down watching him, then looked back up at the princess as she spoke.
It was only then that Gill noticed the pale green shade Sophia had turned. She silently berated herself for bringing her into the meats larder- it never smelt brilliant in here, but it was worse in the warmer summer months. Consciously hurrying everything along, Gill weaved in between the hanging corpses, careful not to brush against them and get blood on her cream overdress.
"I'll get one of these parcels." she called over to Sophia as she grabbed one from a shelf and bought it back toward the door. Using one of the large knives meant for cutting open corpses, Gill nicked open the twine around the brown paper, and unfolded it in her hand. "Um, pigeon and rabbit I think." Gill analysed the dark meat inside with uncertainty.
"C'mon Cedric." she bent over and waved the packet around in an attempt to distract the excited little wolf cub away from what must be a cave of wonders for him. "Perhaps he'd like to eat it outside? The kitchens back onto the grounds." Gill asked. It was a lovely day outside, and it was more for the benefit of Sophia who still looked a little unwell.
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Jun 15, 2010 19:35:22 GMT
Gill had heard of the nobles as Lancelot listed them. "I've only seen Lady Morgana and Prince Arthur from afar." she replied, remembering serving them both at formal dinners and feasts. "But I see Merlin and Gwen more, they're often in the servants' quarters, if they're not busy serving the nobles"
She blushed as the knight offhandedly complimented her, but hoped it didn't show on her pale cheeks. Gill was too easily flattered. "Lance." she repeated his name with a smile, it felt unfamiliar to address someone of higher ranking in such a casual way, but Gill enjoyed it. It reminded her of an earlier time in her life when her family were of a higher status...
They began to walk out of the courtyard and round the back of the castle to the vast grounds that spread out toward the lake. "So where are you originally from?" Gill asked interestedly, her dark mood had lifted, and her annoyance at being stood up momentarily forgotten about. "Do you have family in Camelot?"
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Post by Lady Gillianne Auvray on Jun 7, 2010 1:19:27 GMT
Sir Lancelot Du Lac. Gill dimly recalled the name, as if she'd heard it spoken at court, but as Lancelot's face was unfamiliar to her, she guessed he must be a knight only recently returned to the castle. Gill felt a rush of relief as he replied in a tone that was far from angry, and she smiled up at the polite knight who was concerned over her welfare.
She silently agreed with Lancelot's words that Henry was a neglectful friend, and in that moment she decided to push him to the back of her mind. There was no point thinking about him now, and beside, Gill was interested to make an acquaintance with the knight before her.
"I'm a handmaid to several of the noblewomen, and I just run general errands." she replied conversationally, having to consciously check herself from adding "sire" onto the end of her words. She watched coyly as the knight jumped down from his stallion and inquired her name and where she should like to go.
"Oh, I don't mind." Gill replied with a smile. She was just glad for the company and also a little flattered that a knight had noticed and stopped to talk to her; she curled a strand of dark hair around her finger self-consciously and continued, "Perhaps we could take a turn about the castle grounds? It's getting late but it's still warm out. And my name is Gillianne Auvray, just Gill if you like."
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