Lost! {open}

[Lady Gillianne Auvray]

Gill was happy that Sophia had accepted her offer. She loved getting out of the Castle during the working day, and always jumped at the chance to head to market when a servant was required. The feeling of earning money just wandering about the streets of Camelot was a good one.

She couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance when all eyes in the kitchen turned to face the Princess. Of course, if she had been in their shoes she would have done exactly the same thing, but it did nothing to dispel the stereotype of servants as nosy gossips.

"Sorry," Gill muttered in reply to Sophia's whisper, "The meat is kept just through here in the larder." She began to lead the way through the kitchens, and as the servants lost interest, it began to return to its usual bustle and noise. Gill grabbed a pinafore from a peg to wrap over her dress as she ducked under the low beam to the larder. Reaching around her to loop the apron's ties into a bow, she turned to throw Sophia an apologetic smile.

"Sorry m'lady, it's not often we have such royal guests in the kitchens. I don't think Uther or Arthur have ever been down here!" Gill grabbed a handy carving knife, "Now, what sort of meat would Cedric prefer? Beef or pork?" She indicated the several hanging corpses from the ceiling. "Or there's some rabbit and fowl in these salted parcels?"

[Princess Sophia Lyonesse]

“No need to apologize,” Sophia said as she followed Gill into the larder. “I usually send my maid to get Cedric's food. I am no stranger to kitchens, though. As a child, I used to visit the kitchens in my father's castle often. The cooks would always make me special treats, although they never let me help with the cooking. My father was angry when he found out about my secret visits, and forbade me to ever go there again.” She laughed. “It didn't stop me. I was quite the sneaky little girl, especially when it came to getting what I ...”

Her voice trailed off as the bloody scent of fresh raw meat assaulted her senses and she looked up at the variety of carcasses hanging from the ceiling. Sophia had watched Cedric eat many times from his little bowl of meat, and it had never bothered her. But here, surrounded by the sight and smell of dead animals, nausea assailed her. She had never been able to handle blood very well. Her face turned a sickly shade of green that contrasted starkly with the crimson color of her gown.

The little wolf reacted quite differently. He struggled so hard that the princess had to let him go. Prancing around merrily, he yelped happily, knowing that he was about to be fed.

Sophia struggled to keep her breakfast from making an unwanted reappearance. Cedric would not be small forever. If she planned to keep him, she was going to eventually have to let him hunt, which meant she would have to be nearby when he killed and devoured whatever prey he could catch. It was important that she inure herself to the smell of raw flesh, but at the moment, it was difficult.

She did know that she was not going to come down here again. When Kerensa had the day off, perhaps she could get Gill to bring a bowl of meat up to her quarters. As the wolf grew, he would eat larger portions, and Sophia could become accustomed to it little by little.

Not all at once like this.

“I … I don't know what he likes,” she said. “My maid Kerensa usually brings his food up to my chambers. Perhaps you could give him a small variety to see what he prefers?”

Sophia wanted to go back to the kitchen proper and wait until the meat was cut, but she did not want to make the servants uncomfortable. So she stayed where she was and watched Cedric traipse around the larder, trying to ignore the nauseating scent that permeated the small room.

[Lady Gillianne Auvray]

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.

[Princess Sophia Lyonesse]

It was a bit better when Sophia started breathing through her mouth. She could still see the bloody meat, but at least she couldn't smell it anymore. She supposed that she could close her eyes, but the she would probably trip and fall against one of the dead animals. Blood almost never came out of clothing, or so she had heard one of the servants say when she was a child and had a bloody nose. Her gown was new and it had been made from one of her own designs. She did not want to ruin it the first time she wore it.

Cedric seemed to have none of her qualms. The wolf cub ran around the larder and even tried to jump at the hanging corpses. Luckily he was too small to reach, but that would not always be the case. Sophia knew she would have to train the cub soon if she expected him to live among humans. If his curiosity and enthusiasm continued, he would scare so many people she would probably be forced to either leave Camelot or let him go.

And if she chose to leave Camelot, her father would never forgive her.

The young princess was elated when Gill mentioned going outside. Had the woman noticed her discomfort. Sophia felt rather green; she probably looked it too. “Yes, I think eating outdoors would be best. Cedric is rather excited in here.”

With a wan smile, she watched as the wolf cub sniffed the parcel Gill waved in front of his nose. “Now that he knows you have food for him, I think he will follow you anywhere,” she said, a hint of laughter in her voice. “When you are ready, please lead the way.”

[Lady Gillianne Auvray]

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...

[Princess Sophia Lyonesse]

Sophia breathed deeply of the aromatic herbs as she followed Gill out of the kitchen. She was relieved to be out of the larder, and she smiled as she watched Cedric pounce upon the meat that the servant had brought for him.

“Yes, I will be fine,” she assured Gill with a smile. “I'm certain you must have work to do and babysitting an errant princess is not part of it. I should be able to find my way back to my chambers. If not,” she laughed, “I will ask someone to escort me. I do not want to get lost in the corridors again.”

The young princess had enjoyed Gill's company and planned to utilize her services the next time she have Kerensa a day off. As the woman did not seem to be frightened of the wolf cub, she would be a very good choice.