"green ivy, hawthorn & holly I bear for pledges of the returning sun"

[bravegoewin]

Goewin and Lleu are determined to fix a sprig of holly to every single window in the Mansion.  They probably won't find them all, but they are going to try.

Their merriment is laced with something sober, as they reckon this traditional ward against evil might actually mean something here in a way it didn't at home in Camlan, a month or a week ago or

Comments

[floweredknight]

Florence is, as usual in his spare time, lurking; although he is so inoffensive, so quietly candid, that it doesn't really come off that way. He spots them as he turns a corner, and on recognizing Lleu his face brightens in a smile. "Good day!"

[lionbright]

Lleu is working on the library and has been crackplotted just dropped the holly twig he was holding. He is staring at his wrists--they are bound in dull iron bracelets like shackles. There is another iron band around his throat.

[floweredknight]

"Cousin?" then, more doubtfully. "Sir?" Florence comes up lightly behind him, apprehensive -- his uncles have Moods, he knows when to be cautious.

Oh, you are evil.

[lionbright]

Lleu turns around, and breathes out a long breath. "Oh--Florence." He is still holding his hands out, palms up, and staring at the bracelets incredulously. "What was that?"

[sissy_queen]

Well. Guinevere is around, should either of the twins want to talk. She has been acting strange, lately, walking around with a wide smile on her face, stinging herself while working on her tapestry, and constantly, constantly singing.

She also disappeared for a whole morning, and has been more hollow-eyed, if noticeably happier.

She'll offer both her wards a grin, and offer to help silently - but she still is beaming.

[bravegoewin]

"Merciful God, it is true about the magic! Everyone is different today."

[sissy_queen]

"Is that so, dearest?" Guinevere gives Goewin a bright grin. "You certainly look happy."

T: Also, should yours or anyone else's want to stir some drama, just a bit later on, Gwen is the right age, still not a mother, though.
Here: http://community.livejournal.com/desperatefans/1307310.html?thread=79993774#t79993774

[bravegoewin]

"I'm well enough. I like the holiday. It's strange to have the same feast twice within a fortnight."

T: Lleu's aged a little as well... here, and in comments above. Not much, but he's post-Camlan too.

[morgansorceress]

*And who would this be but an Aunt Morgan, who for reasons of the typist's incompetence did not come to greet Goewin, standing and regarding the twins' efforts impassively* What do you expect that to do? Or is it just for decoration?

[bravegoewin]

"We didn't expect it to do what it did do," Goewin answers in exasperation. They both appear a little stunned. "It is supposed to be a ward against evil."

[morgansorceress]

Well, things work differently here. You should be more careful.

[bravegoewin]

"Well, I don't see how one is supposed to know what to guard against. Snakes under rocks. Huh."

that's the one caution she has been given...

[unhappysteward]

Of course Kay will notice this, and tilts his head at the kitchen window when he sees it. Should his path intersect with one or both twins... he might actually not mind that much. Not that he'll ever admit it.

[bravegoewin]

Goewin cringes when their paths do cross. She curtsies cravenly behind the basket of greenery in her arms.

"Sir, I am so sorry about those birds. Not yesterday's, the ones I brought in this morning. I had to go back--"

Ugh. She bites her lip and waits, because anything she says will just sound like excuses.

[unhappysteward]

"To go back?" He's hard to read at times, and he doesn't seem angry, at least for now, though he would clearly like an explanation if she'll give it.

[bravegoewin]

ack.

"I had caught four, and that was all I could carry. But when I found Lamorak I had to leave two of them so I could help him to his brother's place. The waste, I know, but he was barely clothed and burnt and shaking, and-- Anyway, I went back and found them again this morning. And they'll do, but the crows had been at them..."

ack ack ack. She puts down the basket and waits, her head bowed.

[knightsdaughter]

Molly most definitely wants to help, and though she's not met Lleu yet, either or both twins would be fine. She's not been educated much on the magical uses of plants yet, as it's not something her mentor seems to do much with, but she can feel a tiny thrum of power. And also, it just looks festive.

[bravegoewin]

"Molly! You are just the one I most want to see this moment--an apprentice wizard. Please come explain this to us. And meet my brother Lleu, who I found waiting for me, not long after I met you."

He'll be standing at the window next to her, looking rather white and dazed.

[knightsdaughter]

"I'll do what I can, sure." She peeks behind Goewin's shoulder. "Hey, Lleu. I'm Molly."

[lionbright]

He is staring at these damned iron fetters around his wrists. There is another iron band around his throat.

"I'm not dead," he says inconsequentially.