Marafey headed towards the wash room. Singing as she went. There was hardly anyone about, so no one could tell her to be quiet. She loved it when that happened, it was brilliant. She could be as loud as she wanted. She loved to sing, it always made her feel happy when she was upset. It also helped her feel closer to her mother. Though she missed her, she gave her a wonderful gift to have. Her mother taught her everything, she could make clothes, mend them and wash them, but this was quite a different task altogether.

Pushing the door open she put the wicker basket she was holding by the window along with her little black book. Sorting the clothes would be a daunting task. She had no idea how to do it. Tying her hair up she sat town by one of the big washing tubs in the room. Staring into the basket she saw all the folds of the multicoloured fabrics. Knight's capes, the King's and Prince's tunics the occasional servants uniform.

Mary wandered down the corridor, chattering and laughing happily with one of the kitchen hands. In her arms she cradled three of the Lady Morgana's gowns, two a rich peacock blue and one a deep crimson. They were all gorgeous - satin and silk, trimmed with lace and with inticate beading. The gems sown around the collar and hems probably cost more than Mary made in several months.

Laughing at an impression of the newest cook, Mary bid farewell to her companion and turned down the corner to the washroom alone. A moment later, she was nudging open the door with a bony hip and stepping over the threshold. Pushing back memories of a heated embrace in this very space, Mary placed the dresses down on one of the side tables before looking around.

Marafey was next to the large window, sitting in the pool of sunlight seeping through the pane so it danced off her dark curls. She'd pulled her hair back away from her face, revealing large eyes and elegant features warped by confusion. Mary grinned and cleared her throat.

"Everything okay?" she asked, turning back to the dresses and selecting the top one. Holding up the yards of dark blue fabric, Mary eyed the gown critically, biting her lip before sighing and placing it down. The redhead moved towards the dying fire, peering into a pot placed over the embers to see if any water had boiled.

"Everything okay?" asked a voice from the doorway. Looking up Marafey grinned, it was Mary. She was carrying a couple of dresses in her hands, a peacock blue dress and a deep crimson dress. They were both beautiful. She hadn't seen stuff like that since her mother last made one.

"Oh, wow," Marafey said absent mindedly. When she looked closer at them, they appeared to be made of satin, decorated with intricate bead work.

"Are they the Lady Morgana's dresses" asked Marafey. Sighing she looked down at her own clothes. A green dress with a leather belt around her waist, plain and boring. Compared to those dresses, she may as well be wearing sack-cloth. Normally she wasn't particularly vain but it was hard not to be when she saw stuff like that

"Oh, wow,"

Mary sighed, holding the palm of her hand over the water to feel the steam tumbling off it. The hot mist burnt her already overworked skin, made it flush an angry red. But the Laundry Maid's hands were tough after so many years, and the heat didn't make her flinch. It would need a little while longer before the water was hot enough to steam anything... Mary pulled her hand back, wiping off the droplets of condensation that covered her skin on her apron. She across glanced at Marafey.

"Are they the Lady Morgana's dresses"

"Mmhmm." Mary made a vague noise of agreement, striding back to Morgana's dresses, her fading red skirts brushing the damp floor. "They're beautiful, aren't they?" She ran a hand somewhat wistfully over the top of the peacock material, feeling the sheen of the fabic beneath her touch. She'd have loved to wear a dress like this. Just for a day. But sadly, the closest she ever got to such riches was here in the washroom. Her own dresses were passed down, or brought second hand at the market, and then taken in to fit her.

"Horrible to clean though," she added good-naturedly, offering a wicked grin in Marafey's direction. Mary reached up to her hair, poking a few scarlet strands back into the confines of her cap in a futile attempt to keep them off her face. As she did so, the older woman walked across to where the girl had sat, peeking into the haphazard basket of clothes. "How are you doing?" she asked, "Any progress?"

"Are they the Lady Morgana's dresses"

"Mmhmm." Mary vaguely agreed, striding over to them. "They're beautiful, aren't they?" They were, Marafey had never seen anything so beautiful. The intricate bead work seemed to reflect the light, sending it in different directions, contrasting with the deep peacock blue of the exotic satin fabric. "Horrible to clean though" Mary said giving a wicked grin.

"I can imagine," said Marafey laughing slightly. Marafey looked back down to the basket beside her. She was unsure how to start, she knew she had to sort then into colours and stains, but where could she start. She looked back at the cape Mary had told her to remember before. It had had a blood stain on. Marafey then invontenteeraliy shivered. Blood was something that always made feel uneasy, she always would wonder what or who's it was. And that could be deppresing at times.

"How are you doing... Any progress?" Mary asked peering into the wickar basket beside her.

"No... not sure how to start," Marafey said biting her lip. She picked up a tunic, deep crimson and slightly worn, the King's she eventually concluded.

"No... not sure how to start,"

Marafey bit her lip, plucking through the piles of clothes and eventually selecting one of Uther's tunics. It was a deep red, richly died and finely woven, although starting to become worn at the elbows.

Mary smiled softly to herself, reaching out to select the bloodstained cape from where it hung over the edge of the basket. She picked absently at the stain, frowning a little. She'd long ago got used to the fact that the Knights often got covered in all manner of gruesome substances, and any disgust she may once had felt had died away. She just let them get on with their job, and she got on with hers.

"I'll soak this," she offered, tucking the crimson fabric over her arm. "Why don't you sort them into colours and whites? Then the colours into light and dark." With a warm smile, the redhead strode back to the fire, placing the bloodstained tunic beside Morgana's dresses. She busied herself around the boiling water, using an old bucket to pour some into a battered washbasin, which she then lifted. With an effort.

Carrying the hot basin of water to a table close to where Marafey sat, Mary grabbed the cape and carefully lowered it into the scalding water. With a sigh, pushing her hair from her face, the older woman braced herself against the tabletop, letting it creak under her weight as she eyed Marafey curiously, watching her work.

"So is it just you and your Brother at home now?" she finally asked, breaking the silence. Given a choice, Mary would much rather talk than work quietly. Especially here, where recent events plagued her mind and constantly threatened to overwhelm her. Her worn fingertips drummed an irregular rhythm against the worktop.

Mary plucked out the bloodstained cape from the basket. "I'll soak this,” she offered warmly, ”Why don't you sort them into colours and whites? Then the colours into light and dark."

“Ok,” Marafey said turning back to the basket. She put the tunic in her hand to one side and pulled out another, grey this time with mud stains, it was small too, she guessed it belonged to a child. For a moment she considered which pile it would go on, grey was a similar colour to white, but Mary said to separate the colours from the whites. In the end she just put it on the colour pile. She continued in this way, humming to herself quietly.

”So is it just you and your Brother at home now?" Mary asked, her fingertips drumming an irregular beat against the table.

“Yeah, it’s just me and Aeric,” Marafey said, placing another tunic on the colour pile. It was starting to get rather big now; there were only a few white shirts in the basket. “Makes things awfully quiet though, I’m used to having my parents with us… but… well…” she trailed off, it was rather difficult talking about them now, considering how it happened. “How about you? Your family all live together?”

“Yeah, it’s just me and Aeric. Makes things awfully quiet though, I’m used to having my parents with us… but… well…”

She trailed off, and Mary shot a sympathetic smile in her direction. She could imagine how strange it would be, to have your family suddenly half, to suddenly have so much space... When her whole family were home, she wanted nothing more than to get away from all the petty arguments and incessant chatter. But as soon as she had the house to herself, she wanted nothing more than to have them back. She often ended up dragging people for a drink in the tavern, just so she wouldn't be in there on her own.

When she was married, a voice chimed in the back of her head, she'd be on her own a lot. Unless Robert found another job, of course, but what proof of that did she have? As far as she knew, he hadn't even started looking. She bit her lip uncomfortably, reaching into the basin of water to lift the scarlet cape.

“How about you? Your family all live together?”

"Yes," Mary smiled, dragging herself from her thoughts. "My Parents, sister, brothers and me all live just before the lower city. Though I'm getting married in the Autumn, so I'll be moving out..." She shrugged, lifting the cape from the steaming basin and holding it out. It dripped steadily into the water, creating ripples over the surface. The bloodstain was starting to come loose.

Mary reached to one side, grabbing a washboard from one side and placing it in the tub. Taking a deep breath, she started to scrub, feeling the rough skin of her palms catching occasionally on the sides. Within minutes, the taunt muscles in her shoulders and arms were aching slightly. After another long moment, Mary paused and nodded to Marafey's right. There was a small clay pot on one of the sides, filled with dried herbs and lavender.

"Can you pass me that?" she asked, wiping her damp hand on her apron and reaching out for the pot. "It helps get the smells out," she grinned. The contents of the pot had a sweet, sharp scent to it - like the castle gardens in early Summer.

"Yes... My Parents, sister, brothers and me all live just before the lower city. Though I'm getting married in the Autumn, so I'll be moving out..." Mary said smiling. Marafey would have loved to live in a house like that, rather than just her and her brother. I must be interesting, having so many siblings, she supposed it would be more difficult, but where was the fun in that?

"That's a lot of people," Marafey commented. "Your leaving though? Who's your betrothed?" Getting married. Something she supposed she should be starting to think about. Most noble's where married before now. She sighed, none of the men around here were exactly nice, or decent for that matter. Well none of the one's she had met anyway.

"Can you pass me that?.. It helps get the smells out," Mary asked, holding her hand out for the pot. Marafey turned to look for it, eventually finding it, she picked it up. The aroma that came from it was very sweet, various herbs, definitely lavender.

"This smells nice," Marafey commented. The smell definitely reminded her of something, perfume? Her mother... she always smelt of lavender, an absent minded smile crossed Marafey's face.

"That's a lot of people... Your leaving though? Who's your betrothed?"

Mary smiled vaguely, suddenly concentrating very hard on scrubbing the bloodstains from the cape. It wasn't that she wasn't excited for her wedding - she was - it was just... it was difficult. After all, it had only been days ago that she'd kissed Tal in this very room, when everything had been so mixed up and confused. When everything had changed. Perhaps when Robert returned, things would become clearer, and she could make a decision rather than staying awake all night fretting.

"His name's Robert," she finally told Marafey. "Robert Lay. He's... he's a merchant. I've known him since I was seven." She smiled across at the younger girl, before quickly dropping her gaze as the smile faltered and died. "How about you?" she smirked, hoping to divert the attention of the conversation. "Being courted by anyone?"

"This smells nice,"

A vague smile shivered across Marafey's face as Mary took the clay pot from her hand, and she wondered what she was thinking. The sweet scent of lavender wafted upwards, and the redhead took a pinch of dry herbs and sprinkled them into the piping hot water. It was the same smell that haunted Mary herself, that stuck to her hair and skin after every day in the washroom. It was almost impossible to wash this smell away.

"It does," she agreed, with a wicked grin. "But you have to like it really... You'll be permanently smelling like it within days."

Mary smiled vaguely, seeming to concentrate more on scrubbing the bloodstains from the cape. Marafey raised an eyebrow, this was obviously a difficult matter for her. Deciding that it was a better idea not to press her, she looked back at the piles of clothes she had made. Now she had to separate light colours from dark colours.

"His name's Robert... Robert Lay. He's... he's a merchant. I've known him since I was seven." Mary finally answered, smiling across to Marafey, dropping her gaze quickly. Marafey had definitely hit a difficult matter. Biting her lip she tried to think of something to change the direction of the conversation. "How about you?.. Being courted by anyone?" Mary said before Marafey could say anything. Her lip had now become a deep scarlet, she had no idea how to answer that question. Yes, boys found her attractive, but they were always the wrong sort.

"I'm not sure how to answer that," she admitted. "Boys find me attractive but... they always seem to be the wrong sort." Marafey supposed it happened because she looked older than she was, that was always a problem for her though.

"This smells nice," Marafey commented. The smell definitely reminded her of something, perfume? Her mother... she always smelt of lavender, an absent minded smile crossed Marafey's face.

"It does... But you have to like it really... You'll be permanently smelling like it within days." Mary smiled wickedly. Not that Marafey minded, she loved the smell of lavender.

"I don't mind, It kinda reminds me of my mother," Marafey said.

"I'm not sure how to answer that... Boys find me attractive but... they always seem to be the wrong sort."

Mary smiled, pausing in her scrubbing and leaning against the washboard. She tilted her head, her cap catching her curls from falling her face, examining Marafey. She was very pretty - it wasn't surprising she'd had male attention... When Mary had been her age, she'd been a short, skinny, a little wild and best friends with Robert. He was more or less the only boy she'd ever paid any attention to.

"Well, boys your age tend to be idiots," she smiled. "Robert was twenty when we started courting. That's eleven years of him being ridiculous... They get better." She grinned at Marafey. She was sure the newest laundry maid would get her fair share of attention from the kitchen and stable boys. Those lads seemed unable to think with anything above their waists...

The scent of the herbs blossomed, making the air in the washroom thick and heavy. The closeness of the steam reminded Mary of the other day, and she felt her head spin unpleasantly. Taking a step back, away from the scented mist, she made her way towards Morgana's gowns resting by the door. Her worn fingers curled around the edge of the table.

"I don't mind, It kinda reminds me of my mother."

"You must miss her," Mary replied, looking gently towards the girl by the window. Her own Mother was getting on, her scarlet hair had turned grey and wirey, but the woman still ran her fruit stall every day. Catherine helped out, of course, but both their parents still refused to retire. In a way that was a blessing... Mary wasn't sure how they'd cope without those two incomes.

Mary took a deep breath, gathering the crimson gown into her arms and moving back over the room. Her soft shoes made little noise against the damp flagstones as she came to rest close to the dying fire.

"What happened to her?" she asked, her back to the girl. Then, realising her question, Mary spun on the spot to gaze at marafey, her features contorting in a wince. "I'm sorry," she corrected herself, stumbling over the words. Embarrassment flared in her cheeks, colouring them a gentle pink. "That was rude. You don't have to tell me."

"Well, boys your age tend to be idiots... Robert was twenty when we started courting. That's eleven years of him being ridiculous... They get better." Mary said grinning at her. This reassured Marafey... sort of... boys round here where often rude towards her, this usually lead to Marafey slapping them round the face.

As the smell of lavender blossomed in the room, Marafey's memory's of her mother began to flood back. The way she spoke, the way she sang, the way she laughed. All wonderful memory's. She never wanted them to go.

"I don't mind, It kinda reminds me of my mother."

"You must miss her," Mary said. It was true, she missed her a great deal, but her mother had told her not cry over her. It was so difficult, but she managed to keep the tears at bay. "What happened to her?.. I'm sorry... That was rude. You don't have to tell me."

"It's ok..." Marafey said, she thought about how she could answer, it was difficult, she wasn't sure herself how. It was some-sort of taint, that she was sure of. Her brother and her were lucky enough not to catch it. "It's kinda complicated," she finally said. "It was some sort of taint, that I'm sure of. I think that it was caused by the water, a few months back, It effected everyone. I think..."

"It's ok..."

In the brief pause that followed, the redhead seriously regretted asking the question. Sometimes she was sure her mouth didn't bother to consult her brain before she spoke. Mary used her toe to slide a stool towards her, before gathering her skirts in her hand and hopping up onto it. Stretching upwards, the Laundry Maid struggled for a moment to hang Morgana's gown up over the boiling water. The hot steam should loosen the stains and start to remove the creases.

"It's kinda complicated... It was some sort of taint, that I'm sure of. I think that it was caused by the water, a few months back, It affected everyone. I think..."

Mary jumped down from the stool, letting her skirts fall around her ankles once again. She sighed, crossing her arms awkwardly over her chest. She remembered that - of course she did. She had no idea why her Family had escaped that particular disaster. Probably because they'd drawn a lot of water from the well before the pandemic had started. She'd heard it was sorcery. But when you worked in the castle almost everything was blamed on sorcery at one point or another...

"I remember," she told Marafey, sympathy making her stomach curl unpleasantly. "I'm so sorry..." she trailed off hopelessly, glancing down at her worn hands crossed over her apron rather than meet her gaze. Mary moved between the numerous tables and surfaces to stand beside the new Laundry Maid, looking at the clothes sorted into colours and whites.

"Shall I take these?" she asked, reaching out and taking the bundle of white undershirts and sheets from where they lay beside her. Mary cradled the white fabric close to her chest, running her gaze over the remaining coloured clothes. "Need any help with anything? Once they're done you just need to put them in to soak, then scrub them with the lavender... Like i did with the cape?"

"I remember... I'm so sorry..." Mary said helplessly. Marafey wondered why she kept apologising , it's not like Mary done anything wrong. She guessed it was because Mary couldn't of anything else to say.

"You don't have to apologise for anything y'know," Marafey said. "It's not like you had anything to do with it." Marafey gazed at the clothes beside her. They would definitely need washing soon.

"Shall I take these?.. Need any help with anything? Once they're done you just need to put them in to soak, then scrub them with the lavender... Like I did with the cape?" Mary said, picking up the white pile.

"Ok," Marafey said quietly. She had begun to think about her mother again. Working would be difficult now. Still, she had to try. She stood up, went over to pick up a washbasin, filled it with hot water and then went over to the table. Picking up a navy blue tunic she bathed it gently in the water, being careful not to scold herself. She tried to think of something to change the subject with. She couldn't really ask about family, it would just lead back to her parents' deaths.

"Do you have anything you like to do in your spare time?" It wasn't the best thing to ask, but at least it was something.

Marafey made a murmured agreement, before scooting off of the windowseat and onto the damp stone floor. Mary sent her a brief smile before glancing down, at her own hands submerged in the hot water. The skin on her knuckles had flushed, become red and sore in the heat, as it always did. Taking her hand from the suds, Mary ran the pad of her thumb over the dry skin, wincing a little. She'd have to collect some ointment from Gaius... Or maybe Tal had some left?

With a sigh, she dropped her hand back into the water, creating a splash and a series of ripples over the surface. Glancing up, the redhead watched as Marafey moved around the room, her dark hair bouncing where she'd pulled it back from her face. Mary tried not to look like she was keeping an eye on the new girl, but it was hard. She just wanted to make sure she didn't make any mistakes...

But Marafey seemed more than competent, and Mary quickly turned her attention back to her own work. Pulling the cape from the now slightly brown water, she rung it out so a stream of water fell from the coiled scarlet fabric.

"Do you have anything you like to do in your spare time?"

The older woman glanced up, then offered Marafey a genuine grin. "Erm..." She stepped back from the washbasin, still holding the dripping cape. "I don't have a whole lot of spare time, if I'm honest... I work a lot, and help out around the house, and plan my wedding. I have a drink in the Talon with the other servants quite often... I sew, I cook, I visit friends... Nothing too exciting, I'm afraid."

As she spoke, Mary reached the thick clothes line that ran from one corner of the ceiling to the other. Hanging up the cloak in the far end of the room, she brushed the remaining water droplets from her hands and smirked in the dark haired girls direction, shaking her own crimson curls from her face. "How about you?"

"Erm... I don't have a whole lot of spare time, if I'm honest... I work a lot, and help out around the house, and plan my wedding. I have a drink in the Talon with the other servants quite often... I sew, I cook, I visit friends... Nothing too exciting, I'm afraid." Mary said offering Marafey a genuine smile. "How about you?"

"Well as you saw before, I draw," Marafey said eyeing the black book on the table. "I can sew, and cook. I don't know many people here despite living in Camelot all my life, and I sing sometimes." She finished cheerfully. Singing, something her Mother had taught her to do and the most wonderful thing to remember her by. Marafey turned back to her work, picking up some lavender and beginning to scrub it into the shirt. The lavender was very strong at the moment, making it difficult to breath, but almost as soon as she had began to to scrub it in, it had began to fade.

(OOC: Bleh, sorry it's so short :( Brain ain't working properly)

"Well as you saw before, I draw. I can sew, and cook. I don't know many people here despite living in Camelot all my life, and I sing sometimes."

"Really?" Mary glanced up, smiling at the sudden lightness that had entered the young girl's tone. One thing Mary could never claim to be was musical - her sister often told her she sounded like a cat being strangled when she attempted to sing. Not that it stopped her humming in a slightly out of tune way when she worked. And she recognized good music when she heard it - Tal and Erina, for example.

"My best friend, Taliesin," she told the girl, looking down at the suds in her basin, feeling her cheeks and neck flush "He's a Bard, and he sings and plays at court. You should speak to him sometime." She smiled, feeling her lips quirk into a small smile with the topic of conversation. She mentally chided herself - she really needed to stop being so bloody obvious. With a heavy sigh, the redhead quickly heaved the heavy bucket of water into her arms. Still, Mary couldn't help but stumble a little as she carried the used water towards the window. She caught herself before any water spilled, placing the heavy object on the windowsill as she swung the window open and peered out.

Satisfied no' one was walking beneath, she tipped the dirty water out, and it fell with a splash down onto the courtyard. Brushing her hands down, Mary left the window open and placed the now empty basin on the floor by the wall. She moved to stand by Marafey, within the heavy cloud of lavender seeping from the new girl's washing and peering into the suds.

"Be a bit rougher with it," she advised. "I don't know what these Nobles do all day, but they really do manage to cake themselves. It needs a bit of elbow grease sometimes." She smiled kindly, then moved back to where Morgana's dress was still steaming.



[OOC: No problem, love. I know the feeling. :P ]

“Really” Mary asked glancing up, smiling slightly. “My best friend. Taliesin… He’s a bard, and he sings and plays at court. You should speak to him sometime.” Marafey noticed a slight blush in Mary’s cheeks and neck, her lips forming into a small smile; Marafey wondered whether Mary liked Taliesin, more than the norm. Shaking the thought from her head, she told herself to stop being nosey. It was incredibly rude and none of her business. With a heavy sigh, Mary stood up, picking up the bucket of water in front of her. She stumbled a little, re-sprouting Marafey’s curiosity. She began to wonder whether this Taliesin was something more than a friend to Mary. Of course it was probably nothing, Marafey always looked a little too deeply into things.

“What’s Taliesin like? I haven’t met him before,” Marafey asked, raising an eyebrow slightly. She had stopped scrubbing the tunic before her, the suds sprouting rapidly.

"Be a bit rougher with it… I don't know what these Nobles do all day, but they really do manage to cake themselves. It needs a bit of elbow grease sometimes." Mary advised smiling kindly, moving over to where Morgana’s dress was still steaming. Marafey looked back to her work, scrubbing quickly, making the suds appear even quicker.

“What’s Taliesin like? I haven’t met him before,”

Marafey lifted a slender, dark brow, pausing for a moment with her work. God - had she guessed? Paranoia taking over, Mary concentrated hard on emptying the basin, shoving the empty bucket to one side and hurrying over towards Morgana’s gown. She heard Marafey restart with the scrubbing, and ran her own worn hand over the yards of satin that made up the dress. The steam was starting to remove the creases, the hot mist getting the fabric to fall into gentle waves and folds.

“Tal?” she sighed, then reached up and unhooked the dress from the rack above the fire, taking care to keep it away from the flames and bubbling water. “He’s lovely. I mean, he's very Welsh, and amazingly shy – he can’t say two words without blushing scarlet. But.. he’s a brilliant musician, and sweet – I’ll introduce you next time he visits here.”

She was talking with her back to the younger girl, still working over Morgana’s dress, hiding the coy smile embedded into her features. But now she turned, cradling the richly colored material to her chest and grinning broadly towards the other girl.

"Is that done?" she asked, changing the subject and nodding towards the cloth in Marafey's hands. Moving to a spare table and spreading the dress out over the surface, Mary examined it closely for stains. "You know," she told Marafey, "you should come out with me and the other servants some time - it'll give you a chance to get to know everyone out of work."

Morgan entered the washroom. She didn't really know Mary and Marafay all too well. She only knew them by name. Morgan thought it was a good time to introduce herself properly to the two young women. Stepping closer towards them, Morgan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Er...hello there. My name's Morgan. I hope it is okay if I lend you two women a hand." she said, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Morgan clasped her hands in front of her waiting for one or both of them to reply.

(OOC: I hope you two don't mind me roleplaying with you. I'm trying to post as much as I can now I have more time on my hands)

"Tal?" Mary said sighing. "He’s lovely. I mean, he's very Welsh, and amazingly shy – he can’t say two words without blushing scarlet. But.. he’s a brilliant musician, and sweet – I’ll introduce you next time he visits here."

"He sounds nice," Marafey said, casting a critical eye over her work, it seemed to be done, there weren't any marks to be seen. Marafey brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face, deciding that the tunic was done.

"Is that done?" Mary asked, nodding towards the cloth in Marafey's hands.

"It seems to be," Marafey said glancing over it again.

"You know... you should come out with me and the other servants some time - it'll give you a chance to get to know everyone out of work." Mary told her. Marafey, looked up from the tunic. An afternoon with the other servants would be brilliant, and it definitely would be a help to meet all the other servants.

"That'd be great," she said smiling broadly across to Mary. Marafey then noticed movement by the door.. A girl had come in> she was tall and willowy, with blond hair and pale ivory skin. She couldn't have been much older than Marafey's brother, in her early twentys at least. She was definitely pretty, or what you would describe as pretty.

"Er...hello there. My name's Morgan. I hope it is okay if I lend you two women a hand." she said, a slight twinge of nervousness in her voice.

"Hello, Morgan," Marafey said kindly. "I'm ok with you joining us," looking up at Mary she waited for her response.

(OCC: I'm cool with it, It'll be interesting RPing with more than one person :) )

"That'd be great."

Mary returned Marafey's broad smile for a moment, before there was a movement by the doorway. The older woman's dark eyes flickered towards the entrance as the heavy oak was pushed open, prompting a gust of clean, fresh air to wash into the otherwise humid room.

On the threshold stood a girl, probably around the same age as Mary's younger sister. She was tall and slender, with golden hair pulled into a bun and a worn dress that fitted in nicely with the rest of the servants. The redhead smiled at her, reaching over the table to where the toughed block of white clay rested. She cradled it in her hands for a moment, watching the newcomer. She knew her vaguely - she was the newest seamstress. Mary had spoken to her occasionally when she'd found a fallen hem or a loose thread. She realized, with a pang of guilt, that she didn't know her name.

"Er...hello there. My name's Morgan. I hope it is okay if I lend you two women a hand."

Mary felt a rush of relief. She had no idea where the rest of her Laundry Maids had gone, but they were all helpfully absent. Doubtless they'd been roped into helping out elsewhere in the castle, but it wasn't any good to her. Another pair of hands was always welcome if any of them expected to get home before sundown.

"Hello, Morgan. I'm ok with you joining us."

Marafey glanced to Mary, who offered Morgan her broad grin, her freckled features lightening and premature wrinkles appearing around her eyes. "You'd be saving my skin," she grinned kindly. "We'd be here for hours otherwise..." She looked around her, still holding the lump of white clay in her hand. Several washbasins, all full to the brim with hot water and soaking various garments, stood by the far wall. The older woman nodded towards them. The eldest of four siblings, and one of the most senior Laundry Maids, she was used to giving out jobs.

"You couldn't change the water in those, could you? The bucket over the fire's just boiled... and if they clothes are clean could you please hang them up to dry?" She looked hopefully towards Morgan, tucking a stray corkscrew of scarlet hair behind her ear and breathing in the lavender-scented air.



[OOC: Absolutely, m'dear. The more the merrier! :P ]

Morgan smiled broadly as the two women greeted her. She entered the room and looked at the both of them.

"Thank you so much for allowing me to help. I could've sworn that there'd be more of you. Oh well, I don't mind the workload." Morgan said kindly.

"You couldn't change the water in those, could you? The bucket over the fire's just boiled... and if they clothes are clean could you please hang them up to dry?"

Morgan smiled at Mary. "Oh, it is no trouble at all. I'd be happy to do just that."

She quickly walked over to where the washbasins were and carefully pulled out the garments in the dirty water, one washbasin at a time. Morgan wrung out the garments and hung them on the clothesline. Once all the garments had been removed from the washbasins, Morgan headed over to the bucket of the fire and carefully changed the water. She looked at Mary curiously.

"I heard that you're getting married. How's everything going regarding the planning and so forth?" Morgan asked with interest.

"Oh, it is no trouble at all. I'd be happy to do just that."

The redhead nodded and smiled as the blonde moved towards the washbasins at the side, lifting out the clothes that were soaking. Mary dragged a pestle and mortar towards herself, grinding the lump of white clay into a powder that she could eventually use as a soap. Usually they had decent herb stuff, which had been boiled and properly prepared, but with Irick's royal family staying at the castle it got used up very quickly. Mary gritted her teeth as she continued to grind up the rock, hunching over the small bowl and putting all her strength into the task at hand.

Glancing up after a moments silence, Mary let out a deep breath, her shoulders sagging as she ceased in her relentless work. Morgan was finished hanging up the clothes, was moving towards the water boiling over the fire. Marafey was still working on the bundle of clothes they had brought from the courtyard.

Following Morgan, Mary stood a few steps behind her, waiting to take some water of her own. The young seamstress was changing the old water, spilling the old out and filling each basin with bubbling, clean liquid. The redhead sighed, tucking a rogue curl behind her ear as the newcomer sent her a warm, but curious glance.

"I heard that you're getting married. How's everything going regarding the planning and so forth?"

Mary groaned good-naturedly, throwing her head back in exasperation. "I've never been so stressed in my life. Things keep coming up... I swear, if one more thing goes wrong I'll just force him to elope with me." She smiled tightly, then grabbed a spare basin and poured some hot water into it, letting the steam billow up around her. She wasn't quite sure who she'd get to elope with her... The blush that crawled up her neck and throat was deep and hot, and she hoped she could pass it off as an effect of the steam.

"You're both welcome to come," she added, turning on her heel to smile at first Marafey and then Morgan. "The ceremonies just family... well, and Tal... but we're having a party afterwards, a few streets down from the Talon Pub? I think a lot of the servants are going."

"Oh, it is no trouble at all. I'd be happy to do just that." Morgan said, walking over to the washbasins Mary had indicated. Marafey looked back to her shirt. She submerged it back in the water. Unsure as to whether it was what she was supposed to do. Taking it back out again she wrung out all the water, being careful as to not get any on herself. Placing the shirt down on the table beside her, she picked up a bucket to change the water, waiting behind Mary.

"I heard that you're getting married. How's everything going regarding the planning and so forth?" Morgan asked Mary with interest.

"I've never been so stressed in my life. Things keep coming up... I swear, if one more thing goes wrong I'll just force him to elope with me." Mary said throwing her head back in exasperation, making Marafey smirk slightly. "You're both welcome to come… The ceremonies just family... well, and Tal... but we're having a party afterwards, a few streets down from the Talon Pub? I think a lot of the servants are going." Mary said smiling at Marafey and then Morgan.

"I wouldn’t mind.” Marafey said, returning Mary’s smile. “My brother would want to come with me though. He can be rather… overprotective.” Marafey frowned, he had been like this since their parents died, almost as if he thought he was going to loose her too.

Mary groaned good-naturedly, throwing her head back in exasperation. "I've never been so stressed in my life. Things keep coming up... I swear, if one more thing goes wrong I'll just force him to elope with me."

"You're both welcome to come," she added, turning on her heel to smile at first Marafey and then Morgan. "The ceremonies just family... well, and Tal... but we're having a party afterwards, a few streets down from the Talon Pub? I think a lot of the servants are going."

Morgan carefully washed the clothes so that they didn't damage. She smiled at Mary. "I'd love to come! I haven't been to any celebratory events since...well, ever."

Morgan removed the now clean clothes and hung them on the line. She looked at Marafey when she mentioned her brother.

"Why is your brother overprotective?" she asked, curiously.

(ooc: Morgan doesn't know that Marafey lost her parents, by the way)

"I wouldn’t mind. My brother would want to come with me though. He can be rather… overprotective.”

"I'd love to come! I haven't been to any celebratory events since...well, ever."

"Oh, he'd be welcome," Mary replied, "You all are. The more the merrier." She smiled. After all, what harm would a few more people do? She was sure the reception would be filling the street as it was. A part of her was massively looking forward to it - the part of her which had always enjoyed any excuse for a party, partnered with the slice of her heart which was still determinedly Roberts.

But then the rest of her...

Mary took a step back, shaking her hair from her face and heaving the heavy basin of water into her arms. Her lower back complained a little, sending a ripple of pain up towards her shoulders. People didn't think how sore you could become working in this room - dragging buckets brim full of hot water, constantly scrubbing and stretching to hang things up, carrying piles of garments around the castle. It took its toll after a while.

"Why is your brother overprotective?"

Mary avoided looking at the two girls for a moment, instead placing the heavy bucket on the sideboard and adding the recently crushed clay. The water took on a slightly cloudy quality as she stirred it with an old wooden paddle, continuing until Mary glanced back up at Marafey. She looked on curiously as she picked up Morgana's gowns from the side and carefully submerged them into the hot water.

"Oh, he'd be welcome... You all are. The more the merrier." Mary replied, smiling. She stepped back to move the heavy bucket in her arms over to the side board. While Marafey moved over to the fire where the water was steadily bubbling with heat. Quickly changing it she glanced over to Morgan.

"Why is your brother overprotective?" Morgan asked, curiously. Marafey wasn't sure how to answer. Steadily picking up her water bucket, she moved back to the pile of clothes that she had been sorting before. Carefully thinking of a way to explain.

"Well... to be honest, I'm not quite sure..." she admitted. "I guess it's because my parents died a couple of months back." A lump formed in her throat, their death's always seemed to be coming up in conversation. "Still, you never know with Aeric." She said forcing a smile to her lips. True, Aeric was a bit of and idiot, but he was never like this before. She sighed. She didn't really want to think about it. He had began to drink more reacently... was he depressed? He wouldn't tell her... like he was hiding something.

Morgan rubbed her neck and glanced at Mary who winced for a moment. She knew how sore Mary must be because Morgan was in pain every day from her duties. She walked over to Mary.

"Would you like for me to do that for you? You just a little break, all right?" Morgan said to Mary softly.

Morgan then turned to Marafey.

"Well... to be honest, I'm not quite sure..." she admitted. "I guess it's because my parents died a couple of months back."

Morgan felt immensely sorry for Marafey. Morgan had lost her parents years ago but it still wasn't easy. She placed a hand on Marafey's shoulder.

"I am really sorry. I had no idea. I know what it is like to lose parents. My mother died soon after I was born and my father died when I was eight. I am here if you ever need to talk." Morgan said.

"Would you like for me to do that for you? You just take a little break, all right?"

"Thank you." Mary took a grateful step back, moving away from where Morgana's dark red gown was submerged in the hot water. The clay was doing its job, lifting the light smearing of dirt from where the hem dragged on the floor and leaving the crimson satin bright and flawless. "It just needs a scrub around the hem. Be careful - the beading's a little loose." Mary pushed a tendril of scarlet hair from her face, tucking it beneath her cap and absently swinging her arms at her sides, trying to loosen her aching muscles. Her shoulder gave a subtle click, and she winced. This job would be the death of her...

Mary moved to the windowsill that Marafay had been sitting upon, pausing on the way to collect a bundle of recently washed clothes from the side, along with an old wicker basket. Settling herself down, fading skirts arranged neatly over her lap, she picked the first clean undershirt from the collection and started to fold it neatly as the conversation continued lazily around her.

"I guess it's because my parents died a couple of months back. Still, you never know with Aeric."

Mary placed the folded shirt in her lap, smoothing her palms over it to remove the remaining creases and reaching for another. Her mind was already drifting, probably due to the heat of the room and the lazy murmur of the other girls conversation. She bit down on her bottom lip, turning her gaze out the window, looking down into the courtyard. The castle was teaming was life beneath her, bathed in gentle sunlight, servants and nobles alike hurrying over the stone square from one corridor to another. A man who may or may not have been Tal hurried in the direction of the grounds, and she felt herself smile a little.

"I am really sorry. I had no idea. I know what it is like to lose parents. My mother died soon after I was born and my father died when I was eight. I am here if you ever need to talk."

Catching the last of that conversation, Mary's dark gaze drifted in the direction of the remaining girls, before she flushed a little and dropped her gaze back to the folded clothes in her lap. She knew very little about losing family members, and felt awkward contributing to the conversation. So she remained quiet, sitting in the puddle of golden light seeping through the window, allowing her own thoughts to capture her attention once again as she worked.

"Would you like for me to do that for you? You just take a little break, all right?" Morgan said to Mary.

"Thank you… It just needs a scrub around the hem. Be careful - the beading's a little loose." Mary told Morgan. Beginning to swing her arms by her sides, Mary winced. Marafey heard the subtle click that Mary’s shoulder gave and winced slightly. She wasn’t looking forward to the day that it would start happening to her.

"Well... to be honest, I'm not quite sure... I guess it's because my parents died a couple of months back." Marafey said in answer to Morgan’s previous question. “Still, you never know with Aeric."

"I am really sorry. I had no idea. I know what it is like to lose parents. My mother died soon after I was born and my father died when I was eight. I am here if you ever need to talk." Morgan sympathised, placing a hand on Marafey’s shoulder. Marafey smiled weakly at her.

"Thanks,” She said quietly. “I still have my brother at least.” Her brother. She wasn’t sure whether he was still ‘Brotherly’. He drunk more, he comes home late, he’s late for work… and all the while he won’t tell her why. They were drifting apart. Still, that did seem to be changing just a little. But you never did truly know with Aeric. She gazed down at her work. She still had a lot to do. She picked up a deep blue tunic, bathing it gently in the water.

Morgan smiled as Mary said thanks and said, "You're most welcome"

"It just needs a scrub around the hem. Be careful - the beading's a little loose."

Morgan nodded and carefully began to scrub around the hem of Lady Morgana's gown. She took a bit of time as she didn't want to damage the dress. She turned to Mary whose shoulder had just clicked and after wincing slightly at the sound, Morgan said.

"I can mend Lady Morgana's dress. That is, if you want me to,"

Morgan then turned to Marafey who had just smiled weakly when Morgan had told her that she knew how she must be feeling.

"Thanks,” She said quietly. “I still have my brother at least.”

Morgan smiled a bit and said, "You're welcome" at Marafey's words.

"I can mend Lady Morgana's dress. That is, if you want me to."

Mary frowned, thinking quickly over the mornings events to her meeting with Gwen. The handmaiden hadn't said Morgana needed that one any time soon... The older redhead smiled and nodded, still perched on the windowsill. "I think that'll be okay... Thanks. You'll have to wait for it to dry though... It should be ready in the morning. D'you want me to drop it round to you?"

As the other two continued with their talk, Mary carried on folding the items of clothing. The sunlight from the outside world was pleasant, warming her shoulders and neck as it fell over her freckled skin. With a sigh, Mary ducked down to take the last pair of breeches and fold them up, swiftly creating a small, neat square that she added to the pile in her lap. Scooping up the clothes, she dropped them all into the straw basket at her feet.

"Right." Mary jumped off the windowsill, picking up the basket and balancing it on her narrow hip, worn fingers curled around the wicker. Glancing at the two girls, scanning them with a critical gaze, she took note of the way they were each scrubbing the clothes. Mary liked to be sure things were happening properly - as one of the older women working in here, it quite often came back to her should something go wrong. But these two seemed competent, and that put her mind at rest. "Is there anything you two need help with? Otherwise I might drop these back." She nodded to the basket of Arthurs clothes she still held to her, her hand braced on the doorhandle.

"I think that'll be okay... Thanks. You'll have to wait for it to dry though... It should be ready in the morning. D'you want me to drop it round to you?"

Morgan nodded at Mary's words and said, "Well, if you leave it on my bed in the servant's quarters then I'll have it mended by sundown as I'll head into the village for some beading. Hopefully that will be as late as I'll take but sometimes clothing can be unpredictable,"

"Is there anything you two need help with? Otherwise I might drop these back."

Morgan thought for a moment and spoke, "I am currently fine at the moment, Mary. Of course, Marafey and I will work together to get the job done,"

Morgan smiled a bit when finally the hem on Lady Morgana's gown was free of any trace of dirt. She carefully lifted the dress out of the water and found a vast space on the line and delicately hung the dress so that no beading was to be ruined even more and so that the fine quality of the gown would be maintained.

Marafey wasn’t really listening to the conversation taking hold between Morgan and Mary. Her mind was now clouded with worry about her brother. What if there was something he was not telling her. The thought was very unsettling for; though perhaps she was just overreacting. Still, why wouldn’t he tell her, they were always so close.

“Right,” Mary said, jumping off the windowsill. This made Marafey jump slightly, she hadn’t really paying all that much attention.

"Is there anything you two need help with? Otherwise I might drop these back."

"I am currently fine at the moment, Mary. Of course, Marafey and I will work together to get the job done,"

Marafey smiled warmly, first at Morgan and then Mary. ”No, thank you, Mary. I seem to be ok at the moment. She gazed down at the clothes pile before her; there wasn’t all that much in it but it would still take a while. Rolling her sleeves up, she took the tunic that was in the water basin beside her out of it; it had sunk a little and wouldn’t have been able to get it without getting them wet. ”Is it just these you want me to do Mary?” she asked, gesturing towards the wicker basket at her feet before beginning to scrub the tunic a little.

Mary smiled as both girls replied in the negative, still stood at the edge of the room with the basket balanced on her angular hip. Absently, the redhead flicked over the tunic at the top of the pile, scanning her eyes over the freshly laundered clothes. She'd just drop these with Merlin, so he could take them back to Arthur. Then she'd do a run to the kitchens to collect any dirty aprons, hopefully get them put through before the end of the day... She needed to find Caroline as well, because the other Laundry Maid seemed to have vanished into thin air. If she'd been distracted by the Kitchen boys again...

Lifting her dark gaze back to the room, Mary glanced once more at Marafey and Morgan, before turning the handle and pulling the heavy door open. A wave of fresh air from the corridors swept through the washroom, stirring the stuffy, heavily scented air refreshingly, while steam swept into the castle.

”Is it just these you want me to do, Mary?”

Mary hesitated on the threshold, biting her lip and closing her eyes for a moment to think, running through the mental list in her head. If she didn't have such a fondness for ordering people around, she'd hate being one of the oldest washerwomen. "Erm... Well, once they're done, you could take the Lady Morgana's nightgowns back." She nodded to the side, where the freshly cleaned clothes were piled neatly. "Take them to Gwen? She's got dark curly hair, very pretty. And could you tell her Morgan's taking that other gown to fix it?"
She flashed a smile in the blonde's direction. "I should be back by then. We'll see what else there is to do later."

Mary stepped back out of the room, holding open the door with her hip as she heaved the basket further into her arms. "Thanks for helping, Morgan," she added, grinning broadly, early wrinkles appearing over her freckled forehead. "You're an angel. I'll be back in half an hour or so." She cast one last smile back into the room, before stepping back and allowing the door to swing shut behind her. Mary set off into the depths of the castle, her footsteps echoing through the stone corridors.



[OOC: Hope you don't mind her leaving - I've got a thousand threads at the moment. ;) ]

"Erm... Well, once they're done, you could take the Lady Morgana's nightgowns back." Mary instructed, nodding to the side, where the freshly cleaned laundry was piled neatly. "Take them to Gwen? She's got dark curly hair, very pretty. And could you tell her Morgan's taking that other gown to fix it? I should be back by then. We'll see what else there is to do later."

"Ok, will do Mary," Marafey nodded, scrubbing at the tunic before her.

"Thanks for helping, Morgan. You're an angel. I'll be back in half an hour or so." Mary smiled, before stepping out into the castle corridor and out of sight. Marafey kept working, unable as to continue the conversation with Morgan. She occasionally glanced up to smile at her, continuing with the work in the awkward silence. Eventually, Marafey just got sick of it.

"Sooo.... How long have you been working here?" she said as a feeble attempt to keep the conversation going.