Lily Maid of Astolat

[livedinfantasy]

A maiden enters, young, barely more than a girl, her skin fair and her hair bright, though hidden by her travelling cloak. She looks around her and speaks in a voice as bold as she can muster."I seek here the greatest and fairest of knights. I know not his name, though he left his shield in my care and took my sleeve on my helm. Know ye of him

Comments

[a_bit_obtuse]

A voice seems to come from nowhere; if Elaine looks, she might see a man off to her side, speaking softly and almost trying to disappear. He is terribly shy, yes, but he certainly wants to be noticed.

H-h-hello, miss, and welcome--I know not of this 'greatest and fairest' unless you mean Hamlet, but I w-w-would be glad to give you any assi-ssi-ssistance possible...

Typist: Girlish fair maiden of bright hair? There's nothing (at least, nothing female and/or non-Danish) that a J. Alfred Prufrock likes better!

[livedinfantasy]

She looks back at the ground. Now she's reminded of her place, perhaps by the man's very timidness.

Please, sir. I don't know what assistance you could give me, for I hardly know what I need do. I left my father to find this knight, and now don't know whether I could find my father if I tried.

[a_bit_obtuse]

And he, in turn, is made even more shy by her looking-away... oh dear.

Fathers are not always meant to be found, dear l-lady.

And, having been surprisingly blunt, he blushes a little and tries to change the subject.

Will you tell me, if it is not too forward of me to ask, where you have come from?

[livedinfantasy]

"Oh, not forward at all, sir. I am of Astolat, my lord."

[rightismight]

*gently, with all the kindness and the courtesy of his breeding* Indeed, lady, I do know this knight.

[livedinfantasy]

She curtsies politely to the stranger, eyes lowered, trying to keep her voice demurely level. Do you know, then, where I might find him, my lord?

[rightismight]

*he bows, then, still watching this strange girl with a sort of cautious curiosity* He is in my service here.

[livedinfantasy]

Her brow creases for a moment. In this man's service? But who... She thought through the tales he'd told, and as it became clear who the man before her must be, she pales and blushes simultaneously, giving another deep curtsey.

"My thanks, your majesty. Perhaps, then, I shall be blessed with the chance to meet him again.

[knightly_affair]

*Here he is, then, giving a short bow* Lady.

[livedinfantasy]

She drops straight into a deep curtsey, her eyes fixed on the ground before her. Fair lord.

[knightly_affair]

*watches her, privately wondering what on earth Guinevere's going to think* The man you seek does not deserve such praise, lady.

[livedinfantasy]

Her eyes are still intent on the ground before her, and perhaps his feet, those blessed feet. "The man I seek, dear lord, is the greatest and fairest of men. He deserves more than what humble praise I can give him."

[illgotten]

Oh, this ought to be fun.

[fingersofleaf]

"Hi, there." He--or, rather, at the moment she--smiles her friendliest smile. "I'm Percy. I guess you're kind of talking about Galahad. He's the best."

[livedinfantasy]

She curtsies and can't help but smile in return, especially now that she's finally heard his name.

"I thank you, my lord. I am called Elaine of Astolat." She tilts her head slightly. "Galahad. Yes. That is a name noble enough to be his."

[fingersofleaf]

Hey, is it our fault if some of us did not get the Lancelot memo? Percy is Galahad's contemporary, and Lancelot really doesn't carry the same weight he does with some of the older knights. "Nice to meet you! Would you like some pears? --It's a nice name!"

[livedinfantasy]

Not at all, though it's been causing the girl a good amount of confusion.

She smiles again at the offer. "I am fond of fruit, my lord. But would not take from your harvest."