❖ ００１ ; ＶＯＩＣＥ ⇨ ＶＩＤＥＯ （ ＳＥＥＬＩＥ ＋ ＵＮＳＥＥＬＩＥ ）

[graciousness]

[ the voice that can be heard is full of nervousness and skepticism ]

Alright, then. I know this is working, it worked for everyone else, no reason it wouldn't for me - aside for the matter that I do not know what I seem to be doing at all -

[ but then, video! at first you might see only freckles and then she'll step back and you'll see a young woman with dark curls, a purple, flowery dress and one bottom lip that seems to be busied between her teeth. ]

-- Greetings to both courts, I have heard there are two. I hope there are not more and if there are -

[ she might be offending someone. oh no. she'll take a quick yet graceful curtsy ]

to those who can hear - see! me. My name is Gunievere - Gwen, really. of Camelot! I - the fairies -

[ the fairies. this is so unsettling ]

I was told I was brought here to help. I will do all that I can but I - I am but a maidservant. I do not know what I can do, truly but whatever you might need of me, I am in your service.

-- They will send us home when our duties are through, will they not? I have other.

[ erm ]

duties! at home. I am already in the service of a Lady and she might be unsettled with me being gone.

[ and morgana being unsettled is bad news to all ]

--- It's nice to meet you all, I'm certain. Whatever I can do, truly.

Comments

video.

[rube]

It don't matter who you are or where you came from, not to these people.

[his tone isn't sympathizing, just informative. he didn't see this woman at the feast, so he's just relaying some of the facts he knows will be helpful. or sort of helpful.]

Been here almost a year and I been home once. Time don't work like usual when you're here-- everythin' stops.

video.

[graciousness]

I - suppose that's fair.

[ said carefully because if he were a king, he might not have said it but then again it probably means he's not a king - !! ]

I- if people must be taken like this from their homes, at the very least they all get the same chances at this new land. Not that I want to! have. new chances. I was quite happy with my old ones, really. not me but for other people - I suppose that is fair.

[ ...oh gosh she's babbling. ]

I - stop? do you mean, with.

[ deep breath, gwen; you can say the word, uther isn't here. ]

magic?

video.

[rube]

[that's ...a lot at once, and the way she speaks has him trying to catch up with her. he runs his hand over his face, wondering why he thought she would be any different from the rest of the new arrivals. at least she seems smart.]

If it ain't magic, it's somethin'. Everybody got the same kinda stories, far as I know.

video.

[scinlae]

[ Unsettled? That is a kind way to say it. Morgana is more than a little unsettled, so much so she does not think to turn her locket to voice only when she sees this. She sits dressed in fine purples with her long hair braided over her shoulder.

Guinevere.

Everything stops and goes silent, the sound of her own heartbeat coming thunderous in her ears. Why her? It was bad enough that she stole Morgana's throne─

She inhales sharply, the state of Gwen's dress piercing through the veil of fury that blankets her eyes. Gwen's dress. Her words. 'I am but a maidservant.' 'I am already in the service of a Lady and she might be unsettled with me being gone.' How can that be? Gwen is supposed to be queen, wearing a crown that is not hers.

She is not queen, not yet, by some magic of the monarch her former servant has not ascended to her throne. How utterly fantastic!

Morgana laughs, soft yet keenly unsettling. She laughs and her raven caws, wings flapping. In between laughs she manages a "Gwaine, please" and the bird silences. When she regards the locket it is with a smile on her face, but not the sort her dear friend will remember. This smile is splintered in places, no longer fitting right. ]

Gwen.

video.

[graciousness]

Morgana?

[ she looks like morgana and she sounds like morgana - gwen has kept herself hidden in the feast but she would have seen morgana, would have known her anywhere so how can it - ]

Morgana - my Lady! where are you? are you alright? I haven't seen you, how could I -

[ the other court! ]

I will find you. Do not worry, I promise. I'll ask them for a horse and I will find you. I promise I won't leave you alone - you look -

[ different. ]

very beautiful, my Lady.

video.

[scinlae]

No.

[ She all but yells, the force of which amplified by her magic and her raven so near, it shakes the room. The very walls of her castle itself. She could kill Solais for this, yet thank her at the same time. If she lost her shard would she not be able to return to Camelot? Her problems could be solved before they even have a chance to begin. ]

No. The ride is too long and you do not even know where you are going. I am well, as you can see, no need to worry yourself.

[ It would be easy, she could pretend as she did those years ago ─ only it is not easy, she struggles against itself against every desire she has to scream and yell and curse her. I hate you! ]

video.

[graciousness]

[ gwen frowns for a long moment. morgana hadn't often told her what not to do. she so rarely told what what to do as she was never one to command, always to request even though she was a lady and gwen was but a servant. they were always friends first.

she looks at morgana as if she had spoken in another language altogether. if the situation was reversed, she knows she would stop at nothing to find her or any other friend -

so why this, now? ]

Morgana - are you alright?

[ she might not be safe, might be afraid to say something over the - odd - locket but - ]

I am used to horseback riding, I will find a map. You know I will never leave you.

[ her tone has a question in it, an unspoken don't you? ]

But I am - very relieved that you are well. Don't worry, we will find each other. We always did.

[ smiling because it's true. it was always like that. morgana and gwen riding to help merlin's village, arthur risking his life to save merlin - friends are always there for friends. ]

video.

[graciousness]

I am sorry you have found yourself away from home for so long.

[ said with warm sympathy. gwen, as it happens, doesn't need to know someone for long to genuinely feel for them. ]

If time stops, then it allows me to help the - fairies and then go back home unnoticed. That's - a relief. And the sooner we finish helping them, the better. That way we can go back home.

video;

[burping]

Camelot? [ another person from camelot. although perhaps not the same camelot as she.] I was taken on the road from Camelot.

video;

[graciousness]

You were? I was too!

[ she smiles because someone who might understand. ]

-- Not from the road from Camelot, from Camelot itself. The halls of the castle, as it happens. Not that it matters since we were both taken from the same kingdom though I fear I do not remember you.

[ .... ]

--- My Lady. Forgive me, are you well?

video.

[scinlae]

I am fine.

[ A lie that does not seem so convincing, the shockwave of her yell messed up her hair, the strain on her expression too difficult to hide. So she doesn't. It flashes across her face, shines so brightly in her eyes. She is not alright, not in the slightest.

Briefly she thinks of calling for Saber, but smothers that thought quickly. Her mind fixes on Erik instead, glancing out the corner of her eyes. He would have felt that surely if he is still present in the castle. ]

The ride is two months long, even more, you will be killed before you have the chance to find me.

[ Go away, go away, go away. I don't want to see you. ]

video.

[graciousness]

It doesn't matter.

[ she says it easily, lightly because in truth, when had bad odds ever been a factor that came between them? not once and not ever. bad odds are simply an obstacle. ]

You know I would do anything to find you. I don't care how long it takes or how perilous the rode might be. I can wield a sword and I will be fine. I -

[ she smiles, hopeful and sympathetic ]

We only now gotten you back, Morgana. I was - it was awful, with you being gone. I am not losing you again because of a dangerous road or a long ride. We will find a way to solve this. Do you remember - when I was taken by the bandits, I always knew you would not stop until I was back home. We may not be in Camelot but - I will never leave you like that. Not ever. I will ask here in the castle, I'm certain someone would help, they all look very kind.

video;

[burping]

That's because we weren't acquainted as far as I know. [ her smile is kind as she returns the one this girl gives her.] I'm Princess Mithian of Nemeth. I'm quite well as the circumstances allow, thank you for asking.

Hopefully you are well?

video;

[graciousness]

Princess!

[ she is certain she has never heard the name before but then camelot had so many royal visitors. she sinks into a curtsy. ]

It is a pleasure, princess Mithian. I am sorry you have found yourself so far from home. I am - well, myself. Given everything, of course.

video;

[burping]

Yes, being taken like this has been... unsettling. But there are so many friendly faces here. And I am glad to have found another from Camelot. [ although none from nemeth.]

video;

[graciousness]

It is a relief to find someone from home. You must find all -- these things to be as confusing as I do.

[ a beat ]

Not that I mean you don't understand them. I only mean that - well in Camelot! And probably in Nemeth - they are not very common. at all.

[ a sigh ]

Forgive me, I said too much.

video;

[burping]

Do not fret, Gwen-- [ she laughs ] I take your meaning. [ shaking her head, she glances at the locket then away.]

It is quite confusing, in fact. I met two who knew of Camelot but did not know of Nemeth. And it seems they are from a far different Camelot than our own.

Video - accidental

[scorchedchivalry]

[At first, Saber was not overly concerned when she turned to her locket to see what was going on in Drabwurld. She wasn't even paying much attention to this message until that name was heard. THAT NAME.

Guinevere of Camelot.

Saber didn't mean to activate her locket and turn the video on when that name grabbed her full attention.

The king was dressed in her hunting clothing, which meant she looked far more like a young man than she did a woman, with her hair tied back in a low tail, the ends of enchanted black ribbons draping over her shoulder. Her eyes were wide with an unbelieving expression.

In short, Saber was shocked.]

My dear wife... Not you too...

[Her words were heavy with regret. So very heavy. She knew this was not actually her wife, that this was the Guinevere from the other Camelot. She looked different than Saber's wife did, but Second Magic was cruel. Very cruel.

She did not want her wife - any version of her wife - here.]

video.

[scinlae]

Stop.

[ This is worse than she could have predicted, the war waging inside of her is violent and furious and makes her feel as if there is a fire underneath her skin. Burning, scarring, threatening to consume her until there is nothing yet. ]

This is different this - You cannot come.

[ She needs time to breathe, to calm, to formulate a plan. ]

video;

[cinnamoned]

It's working. And I'm sure you'll find there are plenty of others around here who also have...pressing matters back home. But all we can do now is make the best of things as they are here.

[A slight tilt of the head, an almost sympathetic smile.]

Everyone needs their support. Maids, friends. I'm sure you will find you can do more than you think to help, Guinevere. Or, is Gwen your preferred name? I'm Snow, I just got here myself more or less.

video.

[brainiest]

Camelot.

[ Hermione's voice is soft when she speaks and she can't bite back her smile. ]

Are you a friend of Lancelot, and Merlin?

video;

[choreographics]

[The word "Camelot" tips him off a bit, as does her name. But he's not going to mention that just yet because poor Gwen looks sort of completely out of her element. So instead he just waves as the picture settles in.]

Loud and clear, Gwen of Camelot. [A smile follows that.] I've noticed that they're not really that picky about who they bring in to help out around here. And anyway I'm sure you have some skills that can be put to use. Everyone has something that they figure out eventually.

video;private;

[knightscode]

Guinevere. Where are you?


[ HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE TELL HIM WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT THIS SECOND. ]

video;private;

[graciousness]

Lancelot?

[ excuse her while her eyes widen because gods, hadn't it been a long time? the last time she had seen him he saved her life and since then - ]

You're here? You're - of course you are here. You are - are you alright?

video;private;

[knightscode]

I am fine.

[ ISN'T ]

Tell me where you are? Are you within a court?

[ Please be in his court. Please. ]