A Friendship Blooms? (5/10, Nat and Katalin, Open)

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

After receiving some encouragement from the Crown Prince, Natalie decided to seek out the Royal Physician. Riordan told her that she would most commonly be found in the gardens when she was not performing other other duties for the Royal Family. She had not had much opportunity to explore the gardens, particularly the portions that were of use to said Physician. Nonetheless, it was rather fascinating to her. She had been taught not to dishonor a garden in anyway, no matter how tempting it may have been to pluck a flower here or there.

For now, she was simply admiring the beauty of the flowers in bloom and attempting to ascertain the names of the various plants she saw here and there. Garbed in a dress of typical amber, she did not look the part of a gardener in the slightest. Gowns, jewels and fine things were more her forte than things that grew, but that did not mean she did not appreciate them any less.

Lifting her head from sniffing a particularly lovely bloom, she looked about the place, determined to find the Lady Katalin.

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

The gardens were ranked high on Katalin's list of favorite places to be, along with the greenhouse and her stillroom. While the weather was nice, she enjoyed tending to the healing gardens she grew personally, knowing the gardeners had plenty of work without her adding to them. At least today she wore a hat to shade her nose, having turned it a definite pink hue recently from working too long in the sun. Humming to herself, Katalin hardly looked the role of the Royal Physician, dressed in a loose fitting cotton gown with a smock over it to keep from getting too dirty while gloves covered her hands. It was her concession to her brothers' demands that she at least try to act the lady.

Unaware of the Lady Natalie's approach, Katalin was in the process of attempting to coax the seedlings to grow in the hopes of producing plenty of leaves and flowers for drying later in the season. The herb was efficacious in staving off winter sickness, and she discovered there was a definite lack of it in her stores. Better to have too much, she knew, though it was a little early yet to put the seedlings out. Still, there had not been a frost for two weeks and the sun was plenty warm. It was a risk worth taking!

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

Indeed, if one were to look at her in passing, a person would not take Katalin for noble lady, but rather a gardener. Natalie didn't think that to be a particular insult or failing on Katalin's part; it was simply who the woman was. Riordan had given her a brief overview of what to expect from the woman, and the most important thing that he seemed to stress was to not change who Katalin wanted to be. Unfortunately for the dear prince, Natalie had laughed right in his face.

"Changing her would be like trying to change me, Your Highness; an act in futility and foolishness. Worry not. I'll do nothing to besmirch what already sounds like a fine character."

Indeed, as Natalie drew nearer, the smile on ruby lips was growing wider. The two of them were a marked contrast. Katalin was dressed practically for her trade, and Natalie for her own. Again, a passerby would not assume them to be friends, but that was the fun of for Natalie. She did so greatly enjoy defying expectations. "Lady Katalin?" She inquired with a polite tone, and then curtsied playfully, "I am Lady Natalie Kendall. It is a pleasure to meet you at last."

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

Katalin made no excuses or apologies for who she was, or more importantly, who she was not. True, she was the daughter, the sister of a Duke, a Knight, a future Master Scholar, but Katalin considered herself a physician and surgeon first, a woman second, a gardener. Far down on the list of identities was noble lady; her rank was utterly unimportant to her in the overall scheme of things. If she was mistaken for a gardener, so much the better. It meant she was left alone to pursue what interested her.

Hearing her name, she furrowed her brow in confusion. Who on earth was looking for her? Hoping it was nothing born of an emergency or that the King had not been struck ill again, Katalin tilted the brim of her hat up to see who hailed her. Blue eyes blinked at the elegantly attired woman who approached her, though politeness had her stopping her work to heed the introduction. It took her a moment to realize who the lady was, then a more welcoming expression etched itself across her features. This was the Lady Natalie of whom the Crown Prince spoke. "Lady Natalie, the pleasure is mine. I'm afraid you've caught me at a disadvantage, though." The smile that accompanied her words was warm but a little shy for being at less than her best.

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

"That depends on your perspective," Natalie replied with another playful smile, "I argue that if we're going to be gardening during this conversation, then it is me that is at the disadvantage. And since that's exactly where we are, I shall admit to such." A wink was given before she waved her hand, "No worries, my dear lady. You are clearly doing what you love." Her gaze shifted over the various plants and herbs. "And it shows."

"I've never taken to gardening itself, but I do enjoy admiring them. I have been curious. What is the most challenging plant or herb you have to grow within here? Can plants be ..." she thought for a moment, and then smiled when the word came to mind, "finicky, like animals can?"

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

The woman had style and wit, Katalin admitted, trying not to feel frumpy by comparison. However, Lady Natalie put it into a perspective she couldn't argue - she was gardening and correctly dressed for the consequential aspects of it. A small, proud smile tugged at her lips when Natalie added that she could see Katalin's love for her work. "I do love it. Some of my earliest memories are of working a garden similar to this with my mother in Oakdale." The blue eyes dimmed a little; Lirianne's loss was still very fresh in her daughter's heart, the moreso for the moments they would no longer share.

Glancing back down at the seedling she'd just put into the little hole, Katalin made a point of covering its roots and gently pressing the soil around it to give it a firm base for transplant. She was rather grateful for the change of subject, a quick laugh ringing out before she answered. "They absolutely can be finicky. Some prefer full sun, some like to grow where it is cool and dim. Other plants want it all - sun, shade, lots of water, little water. It takes time and practice to know what keeps them happy." Humor crept back into her eyes as she looked up at Natalie. "Have you a favorite plant, Lady Natalie? I think my personal favorites are roses. Lovely and useful at the same time."

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

"Oh, I might argue that I am something of a rose myself. Lovely to look at, but no touching, I might just prick you," she waggled her finger, her expression full of mirth that never seemed to end. Indeed, Natalie always seemed to have some fashion of a smile on her face. It was when there wasn't one in place that might have cause for concern. "As for my favorite plant? I think I have several." The woman brought a finger up to her chin to think.

"My favorite plant to eat is a radish, since I enjoy its peppery touch. My favorite plant to wear is the lavender or vanilla, since I adore their scents. My favorite plant to view is one of the many passion flowers. They grow in the wild in my homelands." She smiled in memory of such things, "The fruit is quite good, too, if you find it at the right time." Moving a little closer, she crouched down to gaze at the seedling, but was careful not to get her dress in the dirt too much.

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

The conversation progressed easily, allowing Katalin to relax and be more herself. The topic of plants was one she conversed on gladly, welcoming the opportunity to do so with someone who understood (or was good enough to pretend to understand). She laughed softly, hearing Natalie compare herself to a rose. "I think that is most ladies who have an active mind. What separates them is the hue of their petals, maybe? You would obviously be a lovely golden yellow rose." A nod indicated the amber skirts of Natalie's fashionable gown as evidence to validate her opinion.

Sitting back on her heels as Natalie went on, she shifted to make room beside her for the seedling to be inspected. "Vanilla orchids are lovely. Difficult to grow here, though. They like it very warm and humid, so they do best in a greenhouse." Katalin reached over to lightly touch the seedling. "This is comfrey. It has a lovely purple blossom, but it's the leaves that have the benefit. I use them in a salve to treat painful joints and bruises."

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

Natalie certainly wanted Katalin to be herself above all else. The young woman was not a creature of the courts, but she was still an intelligent, capable and beautiful woman in her own right. "Ohh," she toned at being called a golden rose and then she glanced down at herself. "Thank you. I would deny that I try to spread my petals out as far as I possibly can. What can I say? I enjoy being admired." And it was evident in the style of dress she had.

Looking at the seedling once again, she smiled, "Comfrey sounds much like comfy, or comfortable. The name is very fitting for what it does for us moving types. How interesting," she reached down to lightly touch its leaves." She paused a moment, "I think it's wonderful what you do. I am always thankful to have healers within the kingdom."

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

Lady Natalie had a clever turn of phrase, Katalin immediately noticed. The lady had a way with words that no doubt left heads shaking and spinning in her wake, a skill she herself did not possess. Perhaps she might learn something in this sudden acquaintanceship! "It is a rare person who does not enjoy it; we all savor our time in the sun, even the flowers. And I believe petals might best be kept close? A naked state is an exposed one, I've found." Blue eyes sparked with the curious humor Katalin possessed, a look slanted in Natalie's direction with a wry smile.

Following the look to the seedling as she prepared a small hole for the next, she considered what Natalie said, a thoughtful nod agreeing. "It does seem appropriate, especially as some of the older courtiers have a fondness for the joint salve my mother and I make. It eases the pain and stiffness for them, we've noticed." The discreet addition of cayenne and mint didn't hurt either, but Katalin saw no need to mention it. Brightening a little at the compliment, she ducked her head down to hide her blush. "Thank you. It's good to know that my skills have a use and a place."

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

Natalie suddenly laughed, rather enjoying Katalin's observation. "Oh, dear me. I can see what you mean, but unfortunately, I cannot help myself. I sometimes go to great extremes to get attention, but I have fortunately learned how to control myself in the recent years. The Courts can be cruel at times, unfortunately." Yet, if one were to look at Natalie's happy expression, one would never guess that she had been put down or otherwise hurt. Nonetheless, it had happened plenty of times.

"Is it a long tradition within your mother's family? To be healers and herbalists?" Natalie was again curious, watching the woman. She did not receive all that much praise for what she did, but Natalie could tell she did not necessarily depend on it, either. There was a self-confidence that Natalie could see. Katalin was doing good work, and she had every right to be proud of it, but she didn't let it get to her head.

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

"It can. I think that is much of the source of my disdain for it," Katalin confessed quietly, easing the seedling free of its temporary home to set it into the small hole that would serve as its permanent home. "I can't understand the need to play such games, knowing someone is inevitably going to be hurt or trouble result out of a cruel remark or a prank." She was also possessed of a rather sensitive nature, unable to stand idly by when someone who was not as well connected, wealthy or attractive was tormented by those more fortunate in life. It led to a display of the temper she kept rigidly in check, and caused no end of embarrassment she'd promised Sebastian, Jasen and Christopher she would not bring on their name in Triadon.

The distraction of a question was welcomed as she finished the transplant of the comfrey, sitting back on her heels to survey a job well done. The rows were neat and orderly, the plants properly spaced with plenty of room to prosper as her mother taught her. "Mm, yes. My mother was a very skilled herbalist, as was her mother, and her mother's mother before her. " Katalin was careful to refrain from mentioning that her matriarchal line was Artonese; the hereditary hatred for the Empire ran strong in Triadon. "What of yourself? Does your family have a long-standing tradition of being skilled courtiers?" It was a subtle compliment, a wry little smile added to the words.

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

"A bunch of nattering magpies if you ask me," a bright grin suddenly graced feature, easily catching the light of the sun. Indeed, true to the discussion, Natalie felt as the many blooms showing off their petals, wishing to lure pollinators and other admirers closer to her. "I have had several years to observe my former Duke and subsequently my lady Duchess's court in action. The de Vere Court can be one of the most cutthroat, yet exciting experiences of your life." She shifted to become more comfortable, watching Katalin tend to her charges with interest. Natalie was also clearly thinking. "It's refined barbarism," she concluded, "Though there are times we want to do so, we cannot necessarily go all about, swinging swords and lopping the heads off of our perceived enemies. That is not civilized," the statement was a dry one. "And so we turn to other means: working from the shadows and using our words and influence in place of blades."

The comment about being a skilled courtier made her smile, "It takes a good deal of practice and observation, just as you learned the healing arts from your mother. My family? We've had to make good with what we have. Life can be tense on the border at times," the smile grew. "It's how I become who I am today, though. There is no point in being grim or scared all of the time. The sun still rises in the east and sets in the west. The flowers always come in the spring, sometimes sooner, sometimes later. There is always something you can count on, no matter the circumstances. I embrace that, and thus, I enjoy life to the fullest."

[Lady Katalin de Winter]

Katalin had heard of the de Vere duchess, though she'd never had the occasion to make the lady's acquaintance as yet. The chances of doing so while in Triadon were higher, but the opportunity had not yet presented itself. There was plenty said regarding Carissa de Vere, as well as her two most faithful supporters. The trio were best watched and kept at arm's length for one's own protection was what was said most commonly, intriguing her but not enough to step out of her usual shell to see the Lady of Shalefort out.

"I know all too well how life can be on the border," Katalin replied quietly, her eyes returning to her work to conceal the sorrow felt in their depths. Her father had been killed days before her mother's mysterious passing in yet another incursion over the border by the Artonese. "You're wise to view it as you do, and to embrace life so openly. It can end so suddenly, we both know."

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

"Oh, yes. I apologize. I had forgotten that your homelands are on the border, as well, and that you have to tend to a gate." She shook her head, "I think Arton is still chewing leather over the fact that they lost control over this region so long ago. I would imagine they'd love to have it back in the fold, but ... I do not think we can let that happen. The freedoms we experience here in Demeria are not so in Arton. My liege lady, for example, would not be allowed to rule her duchy." She frowned at that, but then smiled. "Fortunately, that is not so."

She looked about the garden before clasping her hands, "I feel like a useless lump sitting here, watching you do all of the work. Is there anything I can do to help you?"