Maundy Thursday

[truant_horatio]

As last year, the Prince's consort, or perhaps just a simple quiet man with tired eyes and a weary smile, is sitting in the main room with a large basin, a pitcher of water, and a towel, and offering to wash the feet of anyone who will come.

And I say to you, do to one another as I have done to you, he says, and he sits and waits for you. His

Comments

[border_princess]

Helen also looks rather quiet and tired today. A lot happened and a lot more is probably going to continue happening, most likely for the worse. She is muttering to herself in Ukrainian and barely even notices Horatio. But she does and gives him a polite nod. "Hello, Pan."

[truant_horatio]

"Bid thee good day, Sir," he says softly; gestures to his pitcher. "Wouldst give me leave to wash thy feet?"

[border_princess]

"What?" This is a custom they did not have back home. "Why, Pan?"

[truant_horatio]

"On the night He was taken, our Lord Jesus did wash the feet of his disciples, and bade them do unto each other as he did unto them, and show equal love to one another, saying, they shall know thou art my disciples by thy love." He smiles; it makes his face tired. "Therefore I wash the feet of my brethren on this anniversary of that time."

[border_princess]

"We do not have that custom in my land. But I would be happy to oblige you." When he smiles, Helen smiles. It has the opposite effect on her face. Smiling makes her glow.

[truant_horatio]

"I thank thee." He's using the thou, the familiar, because to-night everyone is a child of God, and all brothers and sisters. He goes down on his knees before her, offering her the chair to sit in.

[border_princess]

Helen smiles and sits down. There is a split second of akwardness before she adjusts and sits as a great lord or lady would, used to people kneeling before them. Nothing is really meant to be snobbish, regal is just her default mode.

[truant_horatio]

That's all right; Horatio's grown up in a royal court and is lover to a Prince. It makes him more comfortable, honestly. He takes her feet gentle in his hands, removing her shoes and potential stockings, and then begins to wash, ever so gently, with his hands.

[border_princess]

They are just well worn peasant's boots, no stockings, and the feet beneath are rather large for a woman, but small for a man. She sighs and feels some of the tension of the day dissipate as he washes them. It was an interesting day.

[truant_horatio]

If he knew, he would have great sympathy--he's had days like that himself. But he just continues until he takes her feet from the basin and begins to dry them with the towel.

[border_princess]

"Thank you for your kindness, Pan."

[truant_horatio]

"I thank thee, Sir."

[border_princess]

"Vasil," she smiles and, if he is done with her feet, begins to put her boots back on.

[truant_horatio]

He is; he watches her respectfully.

[border_princess]

"What is your name, Pan?"

[truant_horatio]

"Horatio is thy servant's name."