{ crossing the streams } all your life you've never seen a woman taken by the wind

[ladyquietude]

The opportunity to have a private conversation with Morgana doesn't come as swiftly as she'd like- not when there are so many things to attend to, around the girl's visit and everything else. First her presence must be explained; interrupted by Marpesia on their way upstairs, Petra is forced to think on her feet and god bless her daughters for

Comments

[magicalskeptic]

Since arriving in Deira, there has been a flurry of activity -- a relative which Morgana now knows to look out for, and watching Petrana smoothly explain away the newest arrival. Since everything said was a lie, all Morgana can take come from the conversation is that the woman is not trustworthy.

It helps when the girls say nothing either. Morgana can see Iola does not even twitch, and can't help but think the girl would be well suited for a life at court.

The next while is better -- almost normal for Morgana -- a maid with clothing in need of instructions, an arrangement of chambers, and the quickest glimpses of Isa. Twice, Morgana's seen her peeking around the open door, but pretends not to.

Two out of those three things would be perfectly normal for Morgana in Camelot but it does not mean she is not relieved to see Petrana. She guesses there are a few more things that will need to be clarified, before Morgana steps out into life here in Deira, for however long she is here.

"No forgiveness is necessary. I apologize for causing you this much trouble." Not that it looks like the room indicates anything is amiss; Petrana's staff is quick and efficient.

[ladyquietude]

"Not to worry," she assures her, sitting down on one of the sofas and releasing the kitten. (She visibly has no particular desire to hold onto it, but she isn't unkind - merely resigned to the presence of cats in her home, rather than particularly pleased about it.) "Now, this little madam is for you. My lord has so many cats that I feel certain he won't mind if you'd like one for your own, and I thought it'd make a suitable welcome."

[magicalskeptic]

Now, Morgana likes clothing -- nay, she loves clothing, and Uther was nothing if not generous when it came to his ward's love of them. It was so much easier than offering anything else. The clothing provided by Petrana are exquisite, even by Morgana's standards.

The chambers are beautiful and the promise of shelter is desperately appreciated. Despite that, the little gray kitten, almost silvery in the right light, will be what Morgana remembers most about the first few hours in Deira. Taking a moment, she sits on the opposite end of the couch, and holds out her hand, waiting for the kitten to be curious enough to come to her. When it does, she gently picks it up, cuddling it as gently as one would a newborn. "She is beautiful."

There's a pitiful mewling from the kitten. "Yes, I am talking about you, little one." There's an unrestrained grin at Petrana.

"You have been so wonderful to me."

[ladyquietude]

"It pleases me to be," she says, in an offhand sort of a way- while her own daughters are largely raised by their nurse, with their mother an affectionate authority who spoils them a little more than she really should, they're safe in the certainty she loves them both. Petra may not be an ideal parent or influence, but her warmth and easy generosity are hard to deny. "There are a great many things about Gatas that we'll have to discuss, but for now we have some time to ourselves and we ought to take it."

[magicalskeptic]

Morgana multitasks. One is to settle the kitten in her lap, and scratch the top of her head, trying to soothe her into sleep. It's a way of stopping herself from reaching for the Countess's hand again. Usually, she would not be so forward, but wants to be here, and uses the kitten to stop herself.

The second, and far more important, is turn her mind to the realities of life, no matter how long it may be, at Gatas. "Of course. I remember you telling me of some interesting political situations here in Deira, and, I am guessing, within your own home." She's deftly referring to the woman from earlier.

"I do not wish to cause you anymore awkward situations."

[ladyquietude]

Perhaps Morgana had noticed already that Petra has a small nervous habit - she touches her locket often, fidgeting with it while distracted or in thought, not precisely as if it's grounding. She's doing it now at mention of her sister-in-law, but it only takes her a moment to drop her hands and spread them eloquently, ruefully helpless. "My lord's sister," she half-explains, wry. "Marpesia disapproves of me, because of my history; she considers me an unsuitable wife for her brother, and familiarity has only, I'm afraid, bred contempt."

[magicalskeptic]

It is a habit Morgana's seen before, but would refrain from commenting on again. (She did so once, elsewhere -- though it was more its absence that brought about the comment than the habit itself.)

"Your girls share your suspicion." It's a way of both commenting, and complimenting the girls' earlier behaviour.

"As this is your home, and you were your lord's wise choice, her opinion on the matter is irrelevant. Is she a visitor, or will she require further details of our acquaintance?" Visitors, from Morgana's experience, will often ignore the less fortunate, as they are easy to dismiss, and Petrana's story, though eerily truthful, would put Morgana in that category. On the other hand, a permanent resident of Gatas would require further detail.

[ladyquietude]

"I'm afraid she's a resident of the castle...I have a few thoughts in mind, but I shall have to see if I can persuade some of my relatives from Demos to help. In the meantime, I will write to complain about the unsafe state of our roads and your missing luggage- I'm making arrangements for a seamstress, but it's merely lucky that I do think you'll be able to wear some of my own gowns in the meanwhile. Do keep those, my dear- I'm becoming too much of a matron to wear such cuts and colours."

Petra taps her fingertips against the arm of the sofa, fading into her own thoughts for a moment before she refocuses and smiles at Morgana. "There is a great deal to explain to you, but first: is there anything you need?" Or would like to discuss?

[magicalskeptic]

"You are kind and the gowns are lovely, but I do not believe you could no longer make use of them." This is the third new world -- or land -- Morgana's not sure how to describe Deira, she's been thrown into, but she's not lost her manners. The Countess's presence might also be helping keep her calm, but that is not something Morgana would think about.

Absentmindedly, she pets her new kitten. Already, it's fallen asleep and that makes Morgana smile.

"I arrived with only what I carried. It is the second time in my life I have done that. The first time I was but 10 years old." In fact, she carries more in Deira than she was permitted to keep by a king insistent on providing everything. "But I was going to a guardian, whose duty it was to care for me."

And that brings her to her sole concern, "I do not wish to become a burden on you." While some of this can be attributed to Morgana's burgeoning independence, a larger portio is a fear that the Countess will, one day, see her only as s duty.

[ladyquietude]

This gives Petra a moment's pause, and she smiles at Morgana in a faintly obscure sort of a way. "My dear," she says, gently, "you aren't ten years old any more. You aren't a child for whom I am responsible and I won't treat you like one- I am glad for you to stay here as long as you may need to, and I am happy to give you all of my support for that time. But I don't expect I'll need to hold your hand each and every step of the way. You're a brilliant young woman and you'll flourish. Never think of yourself as a burden."

[magicalskeptic]

Morgana, as she often does when more emotion than she's accustomed to dealing with is involved, looks at something else. In this case, the kitten, who has promptly fallen asleep, curled up into a little silver ball.

Veda. Morgana is uncertain if she would ever want to explain the name choice to the Countess -- though doubts that will ever be a necessity. Naming the kitten, absurdly, makes it Morgana's. Gently, she strokes it, trying not to disturb the nap.

"I wanted to make it clear that should things become to uncomfortable," meaning Marpesia, or any other unfortunate family or political issues, "I would understand being asked to leave." Still remembering her manners, "but these chambers are far more than I could have hoped."

"I would though, with your permission, as I am uncertain as to the rules in Deira, or Xanadu, like to seek some form of occupation." What she's meaning, is some way to support herself.

[ladyquietude]

At the assertion of her willingness to leave if she must, Petra inclines her head and accepts it- she can't promise that such a thing would never come to pass, but she will endeavour to see that it doesn't. It is, on both sides, the best they can currently do.

"I think," on the subject of employment, "that we will have to see what can be done yet. It may be best to seek something in Xanadu, as you say, but we will see- of course you have my permission. We will look into what's most suitable."

[magicalskeptic]

Morgana has done very well in slipping back into the well-mannered, cautiously worded woman she's been for the better part of her adult life. Her time between places has not left too great a mark on her -- where she was slowly leaving some of that behind.

She pushes that brief part of her life aside, and focuses on the more rigid society in which she now finds herself. "I would appreciate your assistance in that matter. Until then, I hope to be of some use to you here"

There is something else she wishes to explain, and there has never been delicate way to phrase such things. "When you vanished, before, I, believed something had become of you." She uses the euphemism, as even at the time it occurred, Morgana had spent the better part of the week in shock and finds it surprisingly difficult to talk about now. She only brings it up to explain her initial reaction in the agora.

"I am sorry for being so demonstrative." Such things are rarely done in fine company. "I hope it was not disconcerting to your girls."

[ladyquietude]

After a moment - Petra can't fail to understand that - she half-smiles, shaking her head. "They've never seen me so free in front of anyone outside our family- but that was all that startled them." It's an oblique way of explaining that Marpesia is the exception and not the rule of her own home; demonstrative affection in Gatas is a happy fact of life. Davidias, she thinks, couldn't live any other way.

"A prim and proper lady would never have done for my lord," she adds, wryly.

[magicalskeptic]

"He must be more astute in his selection than most of the gentry with whom I am familiar." Relaxing a little more, now that the other issue has been swiftly dealt with, Morgana smiles. "I am anxious to meet your lord."

It's the same anxiety one feels the eve of a holiday, as opposed to something inducing a case of nerves. "Are you sure he will not mind that I have adopted one of his kittens?" Not that the topic in question would know she's been adopted, but she has.

[ladyquietude]

"He has so many, and he is forever assuring me that he's brought this new one home 'for the girls'! I am merely taking him at his word." In other words, Morgana isn't to worry about that at all. (Petra optimistically suspects that Davidias will like her simply because she likes his damn cats, and she's probably right.) "His duties keep him well occupied, but you will meet him soon. And Lady Ekatera and Captain Aithric, soon- dear, dear friends of mine, but I should warn you that the captain has a..." Her smile is amused. "Want of delicacy. Oh, he's perfectly harmless- but, ah, earthy."