They Arrive .... ( Open )

[Deva Rose Cowen]

The Lord and Lady arrived with their servants trailing them. They were dressed in their finest traveling robes made of fine wool to keep them warm and lined with the softest fur. The Lord wore fine trousers and leather boots, his shirt was of the finest silk topped with a satin vest. The Lady wore satin slippers, totally impractical for the cold but fully fashionable. She wore a beautiful gown of dusky rose and cream, the golden stitching standing out against the silk material. A tiny little cap topped her golden curls and white silk gloves covered her slender fingers.

Behind them trailed a tiny little maid laden down with cases and bags. Her tiny feet were buried in a pair of sturdy shoes, her skirts were too long causing her to trip over them every other step, and yet she managed not to drop the cases precariously balanced in her tiny hands. She wore a white frilly cap to cover the majority of her firey red curls, and a thin old woolen cloak over her shoulders not even thick enough to ward off the cold. Several other servants followed laden with trunks but the little red head was the one that stood out. She had beautiful amber colored eyes and a sweet young face lined with concentration as she tried to keep from dropping her heavy load.

Each step was carefully taken as she could not see past the piles of boxes in her arms, which consequently got her into trouble yet again. Unable to see that the Lord and Lady had stopped, she kept walking and bumped into her Lord, dropping the boxes onto the floor and landing on her pert little backside. She squeaked and humphed as she landed, the breath knocked right out of her. She winced as the Lady's shrill voice filled the air. "How dare you embarass us you clumsy little twit. " the woman hissed sharply. The Lord glared down at her. Inwardly Deva sighed then scrambled to her feet quickly gathering her burden uttering appologies under the frowning glares of her Lord and Lady. The woman shook her head wondering yet again why they kept the girl in their employ.

Deva was greatly thankful that the boxes were well sealed so that their contents didn't spill all over the ground. When she was ready they continued their trek through the streets. She breathed easier once they reached their rooms in the Inn where they had reservations, glad that she managed not to drop another box. The Lord and Lady moved across the room checking out their accomodations while Deva set their boxes in place and began to unpack them. She followed her instructions and soon had the room neat and tidy once more. With a nod from her employers she was given permission to have some time to herself and so she slipped out of the room and headed out of the Inn eager to see if she could find some food for herself and then some for her Lord and Lady as well as she knew they would be calling for food soon.

Tiny feet scraped over stone as she made her way down the street, her head was down so as not to make eye contact with anyone but then that was perhaps her mistake because she did not see the body moving down the walk towards her and instead of stepping out of the way.... she bumped into them and for the second time that day she wound up on the floor rubbing her sore tush.

[Deva Rose Cowen]

Breanna Keelan

"You not so graceful." the woman with the thick twists in the lyrical note of voice said one day as she careened with an unknown assailant ," That happen to us all now and again." It would be easier to mend offended areas with touch if one sat not on them, yes? A hand was offered her, sculpted for art but no alien to work. She was a curious little bit to wander the halls without reason but what was reason if not something one found along the way? Take her for example: Wayward wanderer residing in a westward inn with the family who kept a cottage in Luib and another store within this very capital. What was the purpose of sleeping in one room to pay for when you had others for free? Reason, as duplicitous and curious to come by a sthe reason for the girl inside the hall. "Are you going somewhere, dah?" What she was exactly was everything and nothing. Blessedly different. (d)

Deva Cowen

The girl gasped and looked up at the woman with wide amber eyes. For a moment she was struck silent torn between laughing in amusement at the woman's words and blushing in mortification as she sat there as if struck dumb. She chose silence at first as she quickly scrambled to her not so nimble feet and blushed profusely. " I am sorry Miss. You are right I am not so graceful... " She stood brushing her backside free of debris while trying to hide the fact that she was rubbing the sore appendage as well. " Aye Miss, I am headed to the Kitchens." The little redhead stood there, her cap askew her red curls falling down her shoulders and back, knocked almost completely loose by her second fall of the day.(d)

Breanna Keelan

"It is forgiven. No one is hurt. The kitchen? Well you know the steps for kitchen that way. You miss it by just little bit..." Now her hand pointed the direction to the holy land. Breanna couldn't help but to find amusement in the amused. As color crept up on the girls face as embarrasment sign..she shook her head. "No need be as red as hair. Very pretty." The gypsy woman wouldn't be so impertinent as to touch what was covered. Women were modest in this way, even her own held to the practice but she blasphemed it for the sake of making the world go round a little better. Her own dark red-russets were as free as a bird . "What is your name, little one?" (d)

Deva Cowen

Those pretty amber eyes lifted in surprise. No sharp admonishment came, no yelling for her clumsiness, nothing to show the woman's displeasure. She stood a little straighter as she looked at the woman and offered a bit of a smile this time " Thank ye Miss. my name is Deva Cowen Miss." she answered shifting from foot to foot. Deva stood all of five foot tall and weight no more then 110 pounds soaking wet. The shiney red curls that escaped her cap were glossy and obviously well cared for despite her ragged clothes that did not fit her well at all. the skirt was far too long and dragged on the ground, the top was too big for her slight frame, the arms too long and rolled up to her wrists. She was quite the sight indeed, she even had a few dirt smudges on her cheek from wiping strands of hair from her face while working. (d)

Breanna Keelan

Why should it? Who is not prone to knock in to another, to tap another, or to faulter? If she were perfect she would have been a Goddess; it was enough that she was this thing in her husband's eyes (if not to the people who threw coin at her feet when she danced. If she were a whore she would ahve made a further fortune, but unlike covered hair her people's stance on loose women could not be so easily abandoned.) Breanna was easy to impress; a sense of baring, a little spirit, and being earnest took you far with this woman who's eyes were lined in khol. It made the brass-gold color of the orbs a thing not to pass up. "Well, Miss Deva. I like the name. Deva. Sounds like spirit or fairy or something like this. My name?" She offered a shrug, a shut eye before a smile "Breanna. This is enough, Breanna Azrae Lor'lie Keelan is mouthful." She tilted her head as she watched the girl. She would need a belt to hold up the skirt, well several. Goodness. "So what bring you here to look for this kitchen. Come, we go. I will show you, you not get lost." (d)

Deva Cowen

She smiled a little bit, liking this woman, and rather amused at her wit. Further more she was impressed that she showed no ill will to a lowly servant girl who was clumsy enough to nearly knock her down. "A pleasure tae meet ye Miss Breanna." She shifted from foot to foot and glanced in the direction of the Kitchen in which the woman had pointed a few moments ago only to have the woman mention it a few seconds later almost in tune with her glance it would seem. She blushed again thinking the woman had very nearly read her mind. She looked down. " I was seeking a plate for myself Miss. And also one for my Lord and Lady to take up to them when I finish." She cringed a little as she mentioned the Lord and Lady and quickly glanced up the stiars to make sure niether had followed her. Satisfied she returned her amber gaze to Breanna. (d)

Breanna Keelan

Wit was a thing she had in spades along with a real deck of cards from time to time . The way to the ktichen was not a rough one, only steps to go down, a turn to take around. The girl was going to eat, then feed her lord and lady. A Servant then? It was not so bad a life if one could find worthwhile people to serve. Breanna was terrible - she served her own artisic self interests and at most her husband's need for ink. No, it didn't make her terrible. Only exact, no more strange than the fact she wore raspberry colored skirts with brown tiers sewn in over one of a grass green having no place in a winter world. Her wool shirt was decorated by a crafty needle, little bells, beeds, and the high belt of leather cinching in her waist. "Yer lord and lady hm? And you all come from big island or this smaller one" The Big island was Scotland, as locals refered to it, this smaller one seemed a world unto itself most of the time. Breanna leaned against the little post of the kitchen door, putting the sole of her shoe against it to support her. Naturally the green skirt was loved, older. The front ones were hiked up to avoid the soggy ground or inside dust. (d)

Deva Cowen

Deva paused at the door to think a moment on how to answer. "Aye, from Iverness, Miss. Or that is where m' Lord and Lady are from." She spoke clarifying that no she was not born there, she just lived there now. Her face fell for a moment as she thought briefly of her father and brothers and wondered how they were doing. the last letter she had gotten from her oldest brother Aidan was that their father was not doing so well. He had fallen ill the middle of November and still was not fully recovered. She shook her head and pushed the thoughts of family aside and laid a tiny hand on the door to help hold it open so Breanna could slip through and then she herself could follow. She looked up at the woman for a brief moment studying her as she waited for her to slip through the door. She was infinately curious about the brightly colored skirts and the sewn in bells and beads, she had never seen anything like it but she was far too polite and shy to ask about the woman's own heritage. (d)

Breanna Keelan

"Oh, I see. What bring your Lord and Lady to this island. business. Pleasure?" She was guessing and trying to draw from those guesses for inspiration. Deva might be finding some in the colors of Breanna, but hadn't said. "So, we in kitchen. What will you to eat?" The question was a basic one. The girl should be able to answer that no? She smiled as she thought to pester the cook for a bit of cider (d)

Deva Cowen

"They come tae see the King and Queen. I am not sure their exact business Miss other then that." She shrugged slender shoulders and glanced into the Kitchen seeming almost surprised at the question. Usually she did not have her choice of meals, just what Cook handed her. She thought for a moment then answered. " A bowl of stew I think will do just fine." Again she glanced into the kitchen and uttered quietly, " and perhaps some fresh bread if it's available." For her Lord and Lady she would order something finer, some fine steaks and steamed vegetables, a bowl of soup, and of course bread and butter and perhaps some cheese as well. (d)

Breanna Keelan

"The King and Queen. My, my. Such house as to have business with them. My. my." What glorious gossip would be conjured here for the keeping? Cookie passed a warm cup of cider to Breanna. Fiddle faddle, fiddle faddle. Why so meager a fair for her but a feast for them? Inequality was the constant sign of the have and have not. The girl's clothes didn't even fit right. "Why not get a little more..for you, a cheese or a bread. I pay. Think not of it. Either you must fill clothes better because they large
but still you eat better, give them meat and you not have but stew. Psht." (d)

Deva Cowen

The girl eyed Breanna for a moment. The woman was actually offering to pay for her to have extra food. As much as she was tempted she shook her head. "Thank ye Miss Breanna, but I don't think that is a good idea..." She trailed off, not saying more though she looked like she wanted to. When she was given her bowl and bread she went to sit with Miss Breanna steering the conversation to more pleasant things such as family. She told the woman about her Father, and her brothers, that her mother had died when she was but three years of age. She told her of how she came to work for the Lord and Lady. So engrossed with her conversation she had lost track of time and jumped when Cook tapped her on the shoulder and let her know the Lord and Lady's meal was ready. She bid her farewells to Breanna and thanked her for her company and help to find the Kitchen then slipped off carrying the heavy tray up the stairs. (d)

Continued In:A Search for Flowers in Winter