Set adrift amongst strangers

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia had come to wander the city for a time in order to become better acquainted with it. So far she had only managed to get as far as the market. So many things to see and so many people to watch. It was strange for one such as she to watch people. She tried her best to avoid them at the best of times. But now that she was to remain within Camelot and possibly build a life here. She felt that it was best that she start to inter act with the live around her.

Her form was still draped from head to toe in her dark robes. Her brother’s robes in fact. He had felt it would through off anyone that might be looking for a woman. He forgot that she was pretty much dwarfed by its size, and had trouble with the length. It was the reason why she was in the market this day coming out of a seamstress’ shop. The length and size of her brother’s cloak had been cut a good few inches from the ground, though the woman left some for stylish reasons.

Selphia smiled to the woman as she paid for the work done and ventured onward through the busy streets. She would continue through the marketplace. A mixture of all types of smells had her head turning this way and that. Her pale gaze taking in all that passed her and everything else that went on about her.

As the minutes passed she found the streets getting a bit more congested with people. Some possibly wandering about as she was, others busy and having things to do or places to get to. She was bumped from one side to the other. She was not at all enjoying this. Perhaps she would head back to the library brush up on her training. But that was proving impossible in this sea of people. She quickly got herself to one side of the street, at the entrance of an alleyway. Shrugging her shoulders as she headed down it not thinking as to where she might be heading.

“This way is least crowded.” She smiled as it was very much empty. She came to the end, and found several turns that he might take.

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn was singing as she skipped through the maze of alleyways she had found at the back of the city square. The roads were narrow and she loved the way that the crowded buildings either side towered high above her. Looking up made her feel dizzy, but she still thought it was beautiful.
She wished she had been born in the city, so she could have had the joy of walking through these streets every day if she so wished. She would have more friends, of that she was sure, but they would be different types of people. Not just the bumbling farmboys or the simple rural girls that she knew in this lifetime, but elegant and classy noble folk who like fine wines and who ate meat on a regular basis. Oh what a life that would be!

She continued to skip through the alleys, half singing-half humming the melody to her song as she munched on an apple. It was soft and slightly yellowed compared to the sorts of fruit they would eat here in Camelot, but it had been all she could get from the kitchen back home.
She only stopped as she reached a crossroad where directly opposite stood the girl she had briefly bumped into at the Harvest Bonfire.
"Hi!" She smiled brightly, tucking the apple away in the pocket of her slacks.

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia had turned down several alleyways before realizing that not one was going to take her back to where she needed to be. She had not even noticed just where it was that she has ventured to. She had passed a shop that was closed; in fact it looked to have been closed for some time. Another shop that looked as if it had caught fire. This she found odd. But then it was not like she had been given a map of the streets of the city. She would have to venture about until she found out just where she was.

She passed into a laneway that held a few more people. A few next none was an improvement; at least she felt it to be. She curled her cloak about herself. Making sure that none saw the money belt about her hip as she passed a local shop. Her fingers worked against the necklace that she wore. Her lips uttered a prayer as she continued onward.

She would pass a small group of men when she turned yet another corner. Their eyes locked upon her. She wondered if it was more so because of her appearance, those pale looks to their darken and dust ones. She hoped that it was the reason, though when they moved from the place that they had been resting it caused her heart to jump, and her steps to quicken. She glanced behind her back several times, to make sure they were not following her, or was it to see that they were following her. Panic filled her entire being, her fingers trembled and her thoughts were hard to keep straight.

When she turned about she collided with the same girl from the night at the bonfire. “Oh hello.”

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

"Katlyn" She smiled, holding out a calloused hand. "Pleased t'meet ya!" She folded her arms and waited for this ice-queen to introduce herself.

Once again Katlyn was fascinated by the girls beauty. She truly was stunning, Like a snowflake she thought to herself, a smile appearing on her face. There was something oddly mysterious and aloof about her, but Katlyn was drawn to it rather than put off. She wanted to know where she was from, what she did. Sometime Katlyn Blake was far too inquisitive!

"Are you...lost?" Katlyn asked, seeing the sort of confused look on the girls face. She was fairly good with directions herself, and she was pretty sure she could guide Selphia back to wherever it was she wanted to go. Whether it was the Kingsway, and out of Camelot, or the market square. Speaking of which Katlyn had probably be getting back herself soon, lest her father get worried and start to panic as he always did. She sighed.

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia looked at the girl’s hand extended hand then back to her face. ~Katlyn~ was it? She would tilt her head to the side recalling her a little more as they stood there. Selphia could not help but wonder why on earth this girl was wandering down her, while she, herself was lost. From the looks of the men she had passed a moment ago. This was not the place to simply walk about.

“Oh…I’m Selphia.” She said as her slender arm extended and her hand reached out for Katlyn’s. The sleeve slipped back over her wrist, revealing her pallid looking hand. One would think upon her touch that it would be cold, but in all actuality it was warm. Long skinny digits curled about the girl’s hand. Her handshake was firm, concealing a hidden strength. She would release Katlyn’s hand and step back. Her left hand rising to tug her sleeve back down before curling it back under her robes.

Selphia’s gaze traveled over Katlyn’s shoulder to the small group that had started to follow her. They paused and muttered something to themselves before turning away. At that moment Selphia had never been so happy to see someone. She would have to thank the girl in some manner later.

Feeling Katlyn’s gaze bore practically through her while she stood there. Selphia knew why she looked at her. Curious or not, staring was staring and Selphia was uncomfortable with it. She recalled the woman’s gaze at the bonfire was pretty much as it was not. Questioning. She perhaps was wondering why Selphia looked as she did. Why she held little to no colour in her flesh. Not even her eyes and hair, they were equally as pale. It was hard for Selphia to see the beauty in her looks when people seemed to like comparing you to a demon, or a mischievous dryad. She heard whispers in fact it was hard not to recall them at that moment. She bowed her head and placed two fingers along the side of her head across her temples. She would give it a moment of two before looking to Katlyn apologetically.

The girl’s natural hues seemed to gain Selphia’s attention once the headache passed. Her soft flowing glossy brown locks dipping pass her shoulders. The soft touch of sun upon her face revealed much to Selphia, of one that spent sometime in the fields. She looked warm and earthy to Selphia, a pleasant change from the cold one she saw when she caught sight of her own reflection.

“Lost?” she turned and looked about her. That was an understatement. She was beyond lost. She had taken wrong turn after wrong turn, then gotten turned around there. “Have you a clue as to where I might be?”

Selphia’s tones were often soft, calm and controlled. Never rising above the other to be heard. She had been in the company of rude people that needed attention upon her journey to Camelot, and that was enough. She need not experience it any further nor assault someone else with it. It was pour manners and Selphia had been taught proper manners and etiquette. There was much to Selphia that remained a secret. But perhaps it was because no one asked the right questions. “Yes I am. I was in the market Square and managed to get here. I was only hoping to return to the library in the castle. Do you know the way.”

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn paused and waited as Selphia bowed her head and began rubbing her temples as though she were tired of the world. Immediately Katlyn began to panic, for that was the exact same ritual her father began when he was about to start yelling at her. Had she asked too many personal questions? Stared too much? Assumed wrongly that Selphia was lost? The questions raced through her mind, but as hard as Katlyn tried, she couldn't for the life of her remember what she had said.
That was Katlyn's biggest fault, letting her mouth run away without her mind.

All her worries and suspicions left her though, when Selphia looked back up and smiled apologetically. Why would she be apologising? She thought, It was me who offended her! But her thoughts were completely brushed aside when the girl spoke, confirming that she was in fact lost and needed to get back to the castle.

"Your staying at the castle?!" Katlyn practically yelled, staring wide eyed at the newcomer. All of her previous wonder at the girls semblance had gone, and now she saw her as just another person, instead of the ice-maiden she had before.
"Cor, I never knew that anyone could actually stay there, 'sept nobles o'course. Are you a noble!?"
Katlyns questions came flooding out again with no regard to her earlier panic of saying too much. She was in too much shock, that someone could actually stay within metres of prince Arthur, to care for the words that were erupting from her tongue.

"Well I can sure lead you back there." Katlyn smiled after Selphia had answered her questions. She reached out to take her pale hand, which was hidden in her robe sleeves, and pointed forwards.
"Come on its this way!"

(OOC: Selphia all of your apostrophes and speech marks are showing up as strange character combinations.
Prince Arthur made a thread about it if you want to have a look... Its in the ooc help and suggestion thread

[Selphia Dek]

The headaches slipped away. Selphia stood looking at what one would perceive as a new friend. She could not recall the last time that she had a friend. But a long time came to mind. The girl was rather jovial and pleasant. Selphia was taking a liking to pleasant and jovial; rather then those of stand offish and cold traits.

Selphia did not care if the girl never stopped talking. In fact Katlyn’s conversation seemed to keep Selphia from hearing the thoughts of the men that were a fair distance back but still watching them. Selphia could not help by step back when the girl erupted with excitement, or something that resembled for excitement. She shook her head. “I am not staying there. I am training there.” She explained herself, though she was a little unsure as to what to tell her that she was training. “I have a small room that I am bordering in the other end of the town, or at least I think I am. They took my money and gave me a key. So I am guessing I have a room.”

“Noble, Uh…I am…” Selphia started unsure of how to word just what she was. Station was important or so she had been told. The question to her lineage was always a question with her. Sure she knew who her parents were, but as to their history it escaped her. She knew her parents had coin, lots of coin, but that could just mean that they were good with money or they were thieves or they came from money. Selphia just did not know how to word it. “not…”

Her brow furrowed at her answer, then lifted as she smiled. As far as taking her back to the castle Selphia hoped that her answer did not bring more questions that she could not answer. She did not like that she sounded as if she were lying. “If you would guide me back I would be very appreciative.”

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn was puzzled at Selphia's answer, or perhaps lack thereof. Still, the girls acceptance of her offer wiped all confusion from her mind and she grinned, happy that she was theoretically rescuing someone.
She started off down the alley, back towards the market square. She had only just come this way and the route was easily etched in her mind.
"Come on then!" She called smiling, if she wasn't careful she was going to leave this girl behind.

The pair continued on, passing no one save a group of rather shady men. Katlyn sensed Selphia's uncertainty, but growing up on a farm herself, meant she was no stranger to mens advances and this group certainly didn't phase her.
"Lost something?" She shouted, marching past. One of the men laughed and started to approach her but she stood her ground bravely.
"Hello love" He slurred. Drunks.
"Don't even think about trying anything." She replied swiftly, taking Selphia's hand and pulling her along with her. They didn't get far before another of the men blocked her path, but Katlyn's quick thinking and sheer defiance got them past. With a deft stamp on his foot and a sharp tug on the other girls hand they were running away as quick as their legs could carry them.

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia did not realize that she had not answered the girl’s question and had not meant to void it neither. Selphia would soon follow in step behind Katlyn. A soft smile of her own exchanged with Katlyn as they headed back to the castle, or so she hoped. She did not like the city streets so far. Or perhaps it was the getting lost and followed she did not care for. She was grateful for the girl’s aid. Perhaps when she was back in her familiar area she would reward her.

Selphia made sure to remain close to Katlyn in the hopes of not getting lost. She would not care for that one bit. She quickened her steps as Katlyn started to trek back to the castle. When they came upon the group of men that Selphia had tried to avoid and whom she had thought Katlyn’s arrival had warded off, were now watching them with great intent.

Selphia’s hands started to tremble, as she did not know just what to make of it. Were they going to cause trouble for them? She was not sure. Selphia felt her heart lodge in her throat when Katlyn engaged with the men. Quickly she tugged firmly at Katlyn’s elbow. “Miss, I do not think we should entice them.”

The men approached with an eagerness that Selphia did not wish to remain here to bare witness to. Her pale gaze drifted along the street. Did no one patrol these streets to make sure that the cities patrons were safe at all times? What good were knights if they did not patrol or enforce that law by obeyed, but she did not know what law these men might be breaking?

Selphia could not help by admire Katlyn’s spunk, but she did not think it wise to test that spunk upon these men. “Miss…. please….” It was at that moment she felt Katlyn’s palm slip across her own and tug her forward. Selphia curled herself against Katlyn’s side. Her pale orbs locked upon the girl’s shoulder before they were once again forced to stop. Selphia looked to find another man blocking their path. Selphia slipped behind Katlyn, glancing behind her and seeing the other members of his small group approaching them from behind.

It was flurry of motions Selphia was tugged around and passed the man that had been blocking their way, as he now laid upon the ground and off to the side. They were now in a full run making their way through the streets of the Lower town, trying to get out now with their lives she felt. For when these men finally caught them, lord knows what they would do to them.

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn raced through the streets pulling Selphia behind her. She threw a quick glance back every now and again to check that the other girl was doing a good job of keeping up. So far she had found her to be just fast enough.

Soont he two of them emerged in the city square, where market stalls were crowded and people were bustling. Katlyn was satisfied that the men would leave them alone now for there were far too many citizens around for them to attack or kidnap either of them.

"Are you ok?" Katlyn asked, bending over and trying to catch her breath. She hoped the girl wasn't injured at all and that she wasn't scared anymore. The men were long gone now.
"The magicians guild is that tall tower over there!" She grinned pointing to the pointed roof that was visible over the other buildings.
"I'm not allowed inside so shall i leave you to find your own way now?"

[Selphia Dek]

They made their way through the back alleys of the lows without incident, what went well for them, as they were in fact two young girls. Selphia managed to keep a firm hold of Katlyn’s hand as they careened through the streets. Her hood flew off, only to settle in such disarray about her shoulders. Her pale eyes widen as she tried to make sense of where they were and where they were heading. She did not recall the Guild being so far. But she had managed to get herself lost. Therefore she could very well be anywhere in the city.

To look at Selphia would flag her as sickly, unable to fend for herself. But running she was quick and rather nimble. With long strides, and short breaths she could manage and would remain right behind Katlyn. Selphia made the mistake of looking behind them to see if they were still being chased, they weren’t. When her gaze turned about she saw Katlyn had come to a halt. Leaving no room for her to negotiate between Katlyn and herself, she collided into the back of her. Her hands quickly jerk out to grab Katlyn and try and steady her before they both fell in a pile to the ground.

“Yes, I am…thank you.” She said having stabilized herself as best she could. Her gaze looked to Katlyn as she bent over to catch her breath. Selphia took a moment to regain her own as she answered the girl. Her head turned in the direction that Katlyn pointed in. The magician’s guild was just a street away. Her lips curled into a smile of thanks to the girl. Though the smile fell away when she made note of being unable to follow after her. “Why can you not go inside?”

Selphia was curious now to the reason why Katlyn could not venture within the Guild, or was it the castle itself?

“Is there a reason?”

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn blushed pink. It was embarrassing to be reminded that she was only a mere peasant, especially when Selphia seemed to be a noble or of a class that let her inside the castle anyhow. She longed every day to be able to look inside the huge drawing rooms the castle contained, and to see the guild! Well that would be an honour.

"Nah, I can't go in." She smiled sadly, "The guards ya see, they stop me when they see i ain't noble." She didn't like discussing her background with a practical stranger and the usually bubbly and happy Katlyn was starting to feel uneasy.

"What are you learning at the guild?" She said quickly changing the subject, "I don't know much about magic. Wish i did though!" She smiled and began to walk down the final street to the guild, she turned and beckoned with her hand for Selphia to follow.

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia had noted the blush that came to Katlyn’s face. She had not thought to embarrass the girl by asking such a question, as simple as why she could not attend the castle. Selphia felt oddly humbled by the fact that she had been granted such a privilege in order to hone her skills. “I did not mean to wound you by asking…. I am sorry for…I seemed to forget my head at times.”

Selphia was quick to ask forgiveness. At times, such as now it seemed as if she was the one always at fault. Was her lack of interaction with people the call for such behavior, she wondered? She would beg for forgiveness until it was given in fact. She gave close thought to what she was to say next. Stepping in front of Katlyn, a hand raised to the girl’s shoulder. She did not touch her in fact she made a point not to. “You could be my guest> I could explain to the knights or guards that you are my ….” Selphia searched for a word that seemed to escape her…family…sister…there was no likeness between them. In fact they were complete opposites. What then? She did not wish to offend the girl any further by suggesting her pretend to be her maid or helper. “Guild member? Or perhaps my brother’s wife?”

The girl’s next statement would catch Selphia a little of her guard. Had she mentioned that she was learning magic? She could not recall in fact as to what she might have said. Her left brow arched just slightly as she looked to Katlyn and thought of her reply. “I have spoke with Guild and they have allowed me to train or learn to control my abilities…” She looked down then back at Katlyn wondering just how comfortable with magic the girl truly was. Selphia fell in behind Katlyn, though she was wondering if they should go to the guild. She did not wish to embarrass Katlyn any further, but then she did not wish to bide her farewell neither. This was the first person to actually befriend her in Camelot since her coming here. It was pleasant.

Or was it pleasing…Selphia was confused as to just what it might be or mean…a friend. ~Could it be?~ she would asked herself, smiling at Katlyn’s back.

[Katlyn Isabel Blake]

Katlyn quickly forgot and forgave Selphia's ignorance of the socioeconomic classes that bound Camelonian life so tightly. She smiled and listened as her new friend made the suggestion of taking her to the guild under false pretences. Despite how often Katlyn dressed up and went to court with a number of nobles- magicians included- she was not particuarly enthusiastic about sneaking into the guild. She knew full well that two days past, a couple of thieves had broken in and that meant security was bound to be much tighter.

"Well," She began, not wanting to hurt Selphia's feelings, for she had taken a shine to her. "I don't think i should pretend to be someone i ain't to get in there. But maybe i could wait for you? Or meet you later?" She smiled warmly, and took the girls hands again in her own.
"I know a real nice place in town that we could go get a drink at later on? When you have finished your studies or whatever you be doing in there."

She half hoped that Selphia did wish to study now, for she felt plain next to the other girl and wanted to dress up a little. She also had a couple of chores to do that afternoon, but a drink later that evening would be lovely.

[Selphia Dek]

Selphia looked oddly at the girl before her. There was little that Selphia did not understand. As for class distinction, well that was a given. Selphia had thought to pass Katlyn off as a family member mainly because it would be nice to think that she had more family then she did. But also as a friend so that others did not think her odd. She immediately felt that she had offended Katlyn in some way, so she was quick to apologize. “I beg your pardon miss. I did not mean to pres you to come along with me. Perhaps another time, and I will get you permission.” She would smile gently to the girl before withdrawing herself a little.

Selphia curled her hands into one another, and beneath the sleeves of her robes while they stood there for a time. The thought of meeting her somewhere later sounded enticing, as she had never ventured anywhere then the library, the Inn to sleep and the parlor to read. She barely spoke to anyone in the castle. In fact when she saw people coming she would avert her eyes and bow her head to avoid eye contact and the like that would bring on conversation and then odd stares. That she did not need.

“That would be nice. Where shall I find you.” She said, thinking that she would like to get to know Katlyn better. Perhaps make a friend like her brother Galeon had suggested. She would smile and await Katlyn’s decision.