The Courtyard

[King Uther Pendragon]

As you venture underneath the drawbridge, the Courtyard is the first place of arrival in the castle. Servants and soldiers cross the grey flag stones hundreds of times a day on their numerous errands. From their rooms and battlements, the nobles and royals are able to look out upon the courtyard, and observe the everyday life of the people far below.

[Merlin Emrys]

Merlin weaved in and out of the crowd, eyes never leaving the silver platter that he was gripping tightly on to. It contained Prince Arthur's dinner, and it was rapidly getting cold. As it was around tea time, the courtyard was packed. Servants criss-crossed in front of him, all carrying out their individual tasks and not looking where they were going. He stopped for a second, watching three separate carts delivering goods for the castle kitchens, each in turn being checked by the guards before the produce was removed. Crates of vegetables... Sacks of grain. His stomach rumbled.
Snapping out of his reverie, Merlin felt the top of the platter- it was stone cold. He pulled a face. Why was it the castle offered so many distractions? Finally reaching the opposite site of the courtyard, he eagerly sprung up the first flight of spiral stairs leading to Arthur's chambers, the silver lid slipped and a potato escaped, bouncing and rolling back down the stairs. Merlin rolled his eyes. Today just wasn't his day.

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Lillian Nile leaned against the stone wall and sighed. Nothing was happening and she knew hardly anyone. She knew some names, but she couldn't place anyone. With an annoyed huff she skimmed the crowded courtyard.

With no one around who she really knew she drifted into her thoughts. She was daydreaming...again.

It was quit normal for Lillian to daydream. Her day dreams involved sword fighting with the sword that lay hidden under her bed. She had always dreamed of using her father's sword to protect the land and the people of Camelot. But being who she was it was more complicated then anything else.

A screech pulled her from her pleasant daydream and she looked up into the bright sky to catch a glimpse of a small brown and black hawk. Paying it no mind she turned back to the courtyard.

Is it always this crowded? she wondered with bewilderment as she looked about her.

On her spot leaning against the wall she was well out of the way of most people. Now and then a servant would bump into her and offer a hurried 'sorry m'lady' before swiftly going back to their tasks.

Lillian didn't mind the servants occasionally bumping into her. She rarely did. She was in a good mood and she was glad for that. And if the servants had known her better they would have been happier then a coyote after catching its first catch.