The Exile,Part II, Chapter XI: Her Own Woman

[a_g_doren]

Title: The Exile
Chapter: Her Own Woman Parts I & II
Author: AGDoren
Rating: Teen
Genre: Romance-Fantasy, AU
Spoilers: Up to and Including episode 4x9, also brief mention of the time in between 4x2 & 4x3
Characters/Pairings:  Guinevere, Arthur, OC: Adras, Ylsa, Ms. Alfonsa, Synove and Kerenza, mentions of Gwaine, references to my short fic Secure.
Summary:  Guinevere continues to struggle for security in her new life as an independent woman and while her relationships with her new friends grow and deepen.
Author's notes: This chapter was fun for me to write I got to put in some fun things and do stuff I'd been wanting to do with The Exile for a while. I hope you all enjoy and please feel free to comment.
Betaed: by myself and my roommate

Chapter XI, Her Own Woman: Part I



The Exile

Part II, Chapter XI

Her Own Woman

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This chapter was fun for me to write I got to put in some fun things and do stuff I'd been wanting to do with The Exile for a while. I hope you all enjoy and please feel free to comment.

The story thus far, Guinevere has a new home and a new name but security and employment elude her as she is pressed to choose survival over happiness. Will Gwen do what she feels it is best to do in heart or will she do as she has often done and make the smart choice?

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The rear of Madame Santiago's dress shop bustled with activity. Four women in various stages of undress were being fitted for gowns or other items. Madame's employees, also women, wearing simple kirtles with apron's and linen caps, worked on gowns or linings in various stages of completion. She'd seen a number of workshops in the past week. Many of them were strewn with notions, scraps of fabric everywhere. Not Madame Santiago's. Madame's shop had four neat and orderly workstations, each with its own dress form, rack for fabric, shelves for notions such as thread, cord, buttons, hooks etc…The bright scents of sage and rosemary were in the air. Guinevere sniffed deeply and felt herself smiling.

"You approve?" the voice startled her and Guinevere turned to face an older Galician woman standing in the doorway of study, expression smug, hand on hip. Like the other women she wore a kirtle and apron but hers was of a finer quality and richer color and her dark hair was loose about her shoulders.

"Madame Santiago?"

"Yes." The woman inclined her head slightly "You approve of my shop?"

"Oh yes." Gwen smiled. "It is clean and orderly surely a pleasant and productive work place."

"Precisely Ms. Jen," Madame paused. "Please step into my office."

The older woman's office had its own work station much like that of the younger women. However, Madame also had a desk, bookcase and fireplace. Unlike her employees Madame had a door that she could shut for privacy, she did so now.

"Please have a seat Ms."

"Thank you." Guinevere took the simple wooden chair that faced the desk.

"So Ms. Jenafere you are not from Wyeledon?"

"No ma'am. I am from Camelot."

Madame frowned.

"It is a small kingdom west of Cenred's lands and bordered on the north by Caerleon."

"I know something of Cenred's lands. He had some small war a few years back."

"Yes ma'am."

"Ahh. How long have you been in Wyeledon?"

"Four weeks."

Madame nodded. "Wyeledon is a city of travelers, immigrants and visitors. What languages do you speak?"

"My native tongue is Welsh, Latin of course, I also speak the language of the Francs and Anglos and I am learning Galician."

"Very good. Is it in vain to hope that you can read and write?"

"No ma'am. I have learnt to read very well and I can write a legible hand."

"So this outfit you are wearing, is it your own work?"

"Yes ma'am."  The outfit was dress and surcoat of rich murrey red. Under the surcoat she wore a white bodice she had embroidered with flowers and birds in gold, green and pink. She'd trimmed the surcoat with the same pattern as the bodice only smaller. She hoped the outfit impressed the older woman. She had gotten both compliments and envious looks on the street.

"May I?" The older woman held out her hands. Guinevere slipped off the surcoat and handed it to Madame. Madame Santiago studied the stitching, embroidery and structure of the piece.

"This is well made and well fitted. Will you stand for a moment?"

Guinevere did as the woman requested and waited patiently while the other woman compared the embroidery on the two garments.

"Very consistent," Madame gave Guinevere back the surcoat and she slipped it on.

"Finish this flower."

Madame produced a kerchief that she or some had been embroidering. Guinevere took and picked up where the older woman left off. She'd been taking similar tests all week. She hadn't worked very long when Madame interrupted her.

"You are clearly quite talented Ms. Jenafere. As long as your references are in order, I may well have a place for you here."

Gwen did not feel her shoulders rise, but she did feel a tingling pain in the back of her head.

"Come, it is evident that you have worked in a great house before and you seem a sensible girl. Unless you were dismissed for some scandal or shame then you should have them."

"I had them." She spoke softly now all the vigor she'd had suddenly gone. "They were ruined during my travels."

Madame sat up and back then. The face that had been so friendly only a moment ago grew cool and shuddered.

'Scandal, shame, to return to Camelot is on pain of death.'

"Well you are a talented girl, but without references- I shall think on it. Return in three day's time." She rose as Madame did, face hot with shame. Not for the first time did Guinevere thank god for the coloring that hid the rush of blood to the cheeks.

"I see. Thank you for taking the time to see me Madame. I hope that you will give me all due consideration as I should very much look forward to working in your beautiful shop." Then Guinevere turned and walked stiffly out of the shop.

Gwen stepped into the late afternoon sun and found Tony waiting for her right on time. Father Flaeger had arranged for Tony to serve as her guide. He came from a peasant family. His mother, who was ill, could no longer work so the child took odd jobs.

"How'd it go?"

"Same as always, they like me, they want to see my references and when they can't I get "we'll think about it"." She sighed.

"I'm sorry Ms. Jen but why not write home for more?" His dark face was quizzical

She frowned; she'd been considering that herself.

"Far more easily said than done Tony," Gwen sighed "Paper is not inexpensive, I have to find someone going not just to Camelot but the capital and they have to give the letters to the people who wrote the original references. Then I still have to wait for the new references to be brought here. It is an expensive proposition."

"I spose'." The boy looked at her doubtfully.

"What about you? How did you do today?"

Tony smiled proudly "I earned four coppers while you were having your interviews."

"That’s great." Gwen felt a twinge of selfish envy and reluctantly paid the boy a copper for his work.         
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               Gwen kept herself busy working on heher wardrobe and helping Luisa, the housekeeper with chores when she needed a change of pace. Sometimes she helped weed the backyard vegetable garden, other times she helped Luisa prepare the evening meal; anything to keep her mind from her worries. The job with Adras could not start soon enough.
A gentle summer breeze stirred the parlor drapes making the room cool and comfortable. Gwen pressed her bare feet against the cool green and white floor tiles. The upstairs parlor was far too warm to enjoy right now and she wondered how comfortable the second floor rooms would be at the height of summer. Ms. Alfonsa did not have a flat roof that one might sleep on.

"You and Adras are going out tomorrow?"

"Mhmm," Gwen replied as she smoothed the thread before pushing it through the eye of the needle."You should come with us."

Synove's brow creased in the way it often did, but Guinevere had yet to figure out what it meant.

"I should accompany the two of you?"

"Adras needs fabric and you know the market very well."

"Jen I know you need references but Adras? What are going to make for her, pants? If you're going to be making gowns for women I don't understand how that could possibly help."

It was Gwen's turn to frown, "It will demonstrate my skills and work ethic."

"Perhaps, but you'd do better with some more conventional clients I think. Perhaps Mrs. Cerridwyn or Mrs. Ashdown or one of their friends needs new dresses. I'll ask around."

Gwen reinforced the last stitch in the hem of the powder blue russet dress she was working on and stood up. She pulled the dress over her head and smoothed it into place thinking over Synove's words. The dress was designed to fit comfortably over a chemise, stays and kirtle but she'd also wanted to wear it during the summer without the kirtle at least.

"Adras's behavior simply does not trouble me."

"Yes I can see that," the other woman replied dryly and Guinevere ignored her.

"Help me with these laces," She'd added lacing on either side of the dress just below the arms. The ribbons were both practical and decorative. They'd allow the dress to be tightened and loosed without being refitted, which would ideally make it work without a kirtle. Synove tied one side while she did the other.

"Well, look at that," Synove said as they faced the metal mirror Ms. Alfonsa had loaned her."I think it works."

The bodice of the dress was fitting smoothly, the powder blue was bright against her honey brown skin and the embroidered ribbons were pretty darned cute. Gwen smiled. She needed to go flower picking; some dried flowers would look nice in her hair. She didn’t need fancy metal clasps.

She faced the other woman then. "What do you think about the neckline, lower?"

Synove grinned and her brown eyes twinkled mischievously "Much lower and you should widen the neckline too. Show just a bit of shoulder and display that lovely collarbone oh and do you have any of that ribbon left?"

Gwen nodded.

"You should make it into a trim for the neckline."

She smiled "I think you're right."

Gwen undid the ribbons and pulled the dress over her head.

"Now about the market, is there nothing I can say that will convince you to accompany? You know the market so well."

Synove started to speak but paused "I had better not come with you; I do have some work to do. However I can tell you who will give you best prices and more importantly what to say to them"

Gwen considered for a moment before nodding in agreement. It seemed that this was the best she was going to get.

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Neither she nor Adras knew how to find the fabric market. Tony was recruited to escort them with the promise of a half-piece.

"This is a new dress," Adras remarked as they walked the streets.

"Yes, I just finished it."

"The ribbons are a nice touch especially with the trim one the neckline.Its quite" she paused a moment before smiling "bold I like it."

"We could always make you one but I don't think it would suit you."

Tony interrupted whatever Adras was about to say just then.

"Here we are Ms. Adras, Ms. Jen."

"Thank you Tony." Adras paid him and Gwen said a quick good-bye to the child before he hurried off to continue plying his trade.

Once in the market Gwen had a fairly good idea of where to go. She remembered the locations of a couple merchants and Synove had told her where to find a few others.

"Had you considered colors at all?" Gwen asked.

"Maybe copper if we can find it."

Gwen nodded "I was also thinking of walnut, virgin blue and emerald green."

"I like those colors."

"What about a nice brocade?"

"For trousers?"

"Yes, why not or perhaps a formal length tunic?"

"A formal tunic?" Adras seemed far more incredulous than she'd expected.

"Or not."

"No, I would love a formal tunic. It's just that every seamstress I've dealt with has always had to have been coerced into making me a tunic for formal wear.

"Well you're employing me now Adras," Gwen smiled, "and you can have whatever you like."

The redhead's eyebrows arched into her hairline and she chuckled.

"Careful Jen, you may yet regret that offer."

"Not if you pay me well enough," Gwen countered cheekily.

The two women shopped for some hours finding the fabrics that best suited Adras' needs and complexion. In the end, they bought all of the colors that Guinevere suggested, two brocades and a few muslins to serve as linings for the new garments. Gwen was going to be busy with this work for some time and her anxiety about finding employment began to ease.

"So Jen, fancy some lunch?" Adras asked.

"It is about that time, sure."

"Do you have a taste for anything in particular, lunch is on me."

Gwen considered for a moment "Fish actually it's so very fresh here."

Adras smiled "Are you sure? We can get red meat and cheese if you like with white bread?"

"I know its simple peasant fare and I do enjoy the richer foods but sometimes cabbage and turnips and peas with a little butter and fish and fresh brown bread just seems heavenly, unless you'd like something else?"

"Oh no Gwaine and I grew up on that simple food and you're right it can be heavenly." The two women shared a smile. "We'll get some fresh fish and whatever vegetables are at the market and walk over to Snake's Wineskin. They'll cook it for us.  The cooks at Snake's really know what they are doing. They provide all the herbs and seasonings for you."

Gwen nodded.

Adras made arrangements to have her purchases carted over to Ms. Alfonsa's and then headed over the fish market.

Adras purchased a good sized salmon, a small cabbage, an onion, some garlic and turnips. The Snake's Wineskin  provided the herbs and seasonings.  The atmosphere was friendly not unlike the taverns back home plaster walls and ceilings supported by wooden beam and simple wooden chairs and tables. They waited in a short queue to hand the fish and vegetables over to the cook and then found a table.

"We have no...taverns -taverns is not the right word- like this in Camelot, seems rather convenient."

"Supposedly it is a Roman kitchen."

"Do the merchants imitate the empire in all things?"Gwen faintly amused, "I'm surprised they don't wear togas and leather skirts."

"Oh some of them do! Come July you'll see them walking about full of pride at their civilized ways rubbing their swollen bellies, with gold wingtips on their sandals."  Adras shook her head in bemusement and Guinevere laughed, not at all certain if she wanted to see the picture Adras' words created.

They didn't have to wait very long for their food to be brought to them. The plates were beautiful. Turnips and peas cooked to perfection, dressed with little sprigs of parsley, salmon lying alongside it, in perfect fillets, the spicy fragrance of pepper, garlic and onion teased their nostrils.

"It smells wonderful," Gwen said wide-eyed.

"I told you Ma is the best."

The two women dug into their meal. Guinevere savoring first the warm buttery taste of the salmon and then the slightly sweet tender flavor of the turnips.

"You did well back there."

Gwen wiped her mouth and sipped at the mead. "What do you mean?"

"With the merchants I always pay ten times that amount."

"Ten times?"

"They come to my house and I bargain them down of course. But damn, I never get deals that good. Perhaps I should start going back to the market."

"Perhaps," Guinevere shrugged."Adras 'um were you planning to write Gwaine about meeting me?"

"Yes actually but I hadn't yet."

"Would you mind terribly not writing him yet?"

Adras was silent for a long moment brown eyes locked on hers.

"Why?" She said at last and took a bite of her food.

"I didn't leave under the best circumstances." She pleading tone creep into her voice "I'd like to write him myself once I'm more 'er established."

Gwen bit her bottom lip and watched Adras intently. She knew that the other woman wanted Gwaine to know that she was doing as he'd asked. She just hoped Adras didn't mind waiting a little while yet.

Finally the red-head nodded and Guinevere relaxed.

"Thank you."

"Just short while though," Adras admonished and Gwen nodded in agreement.

"Yes of course." Guinevere took a bite of her fish then and sighed as the warm buttery taste of salmon filled her mouth.

"You're really enjoying that," Adras said

Her eyes flew open and she smiled. "It's really good. I'm glad we came here."

"Good," Adras sipped her mead and leaned forward a bit "Tell me how it is that you know my brother."

"He didn't tell you?"

The other woman shook her head negative, wiped her mouth and took a sip of her mead.

"No. Letters from Gwaine are few and far between seeing as how he never learned to read and write. He only told me that you were a dear friend, "that you were a wonderful, kind and caring woman, there was some trouble afoot and to please look out for you." I know very little of your history or your friendship with Gwaine."

"Well it's very simple he is a knight to the king and I was a maid at the palace. After he became a knight he did not become unfriendly to servants and so we retained our friendship."

Adras nodded "That is very like him. Though," she paused "I still don't understand how it is that he became a knight at all. That is certainly not something he ever wanted before. I thought surely when he left for Camelot he'd back in a few months but…I just don't understand it. The Gwaine I know wanted no part of nobles or royalty."

"Ahhh- the king of Camelot is somewhat different. He promoted a number of commoners for knighthood and respects all people no matter their station."

"You speak highly of him."

"He is a good man, I suppose." Guinevere frowned. "But Gwaine is a good man too. He and a good friend of mine are very close." Gwen launched into the tale of Gwaine and Merlin's first meeting.

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Chapter XI, Her Own Woman, Part II