A Walk in the Gardens

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

Removing herself from the parlor to better allow for open dialogue between the Princess, her cousin and her primary lady in waiting, Selena gladly availed herself of the Lady Rosalie's company. Aware that by rights, the two were rivals in the strictest sense of the word - their fathers were, at any rate - she did not know any of the lovely St. Claire ladies and viewed this as an opportunity to rectify that. Friends, regardless of their last name, were a precious commodity, one Selena intended to increase on her own behalf.

She waited in the hall for Rosalie to join her, judging the lady's age to be two or three years junior to herself. As she pivoted to fall into step beside the golden haired lady, a friendly smile was offered to Rosalie before she broke the silence. "Have you been to Meirin before, Lady Rosalie? Perhaps during the King's hunt?" 


Lady Rosalie St. Claire

[Lady Rosalie St. Claire]

Following Lady Selena from the parlor, Rosalie drew in a deep breath and resisted twirling around like a little girl. Instead, she strolled alongside the other, quite content for the time being. While the Lady Selena had been nothing but a passing acquaintance, for now there was a chance at getting to know her. Returning the friendly smile with one of her own, Rose shook her head in denial to the question. “Alas, no, this is my first visit. I just arrived to Triadon prior to the masque, so I doubt there was any time between then and now that Meirin was even mentioned.”

Curiously studying the other lady, she noted that Lady Selena likely was older than her but decided not to let it bother her too much. She would take her chance at a new friend. “How about you, Lady Selena? It seems to me this isn’t your first visit.” Point to the fact, it didn’t, for the lady seemed to know exactly where she was going, while Rosalie was distracted by the sights themselves. She could already see the repeat of the walk in the castle gardens, almost tripping into the Princess herself and then being so distracted that she hardly remembered anything she was supposed to. Thankfully this was a far easier venture than the one before.

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

They were not too far apart in age temporally but some of what Selena had dealt with in the past year or two had granted her a maturity that presented her past her years. It wasn't too long ago that she'd been as innocent and giddy as Rosalie, and there was a part of her that missed that chance to simply be a young girl. Rosalie's sunny nature was welcome after the less than warm greeting she'd received on arrival, not that Selena expected to be welcomed with open arms. Right now, she was an unknown entity, a cypher in the game between the Carlisles. As patience was one of her virtues, she accepted the situation for what it was, enjoying instead the late afternoon warmth and the myriad of sweet scents rising from the garden. "It's been some time since I was last in Meirin. I'd forgotten how serene it can be here..."

Certainly the lodge was peaceful, nestled in a clearing in the heart of the forest with a small lake. A picturesque landscape, her mother would have called it before capturing it in a sketch or a painting. "It isn't my first visit, but as I said, it's been some time. My mother brought me along on a trip she took with the late Queen, when Queen Liadane wanted a retreat from the city. It's one of my most fond memories," she added with a smile, moving easily along the paths that rang with familiarity and remembrance. "Have you had much chance to explore the gardens since you arrived?"

[Lady Rosalie St. Claire]

Grinning at the mention of the gardens, Rosalie couldn’t resist a twirl this time around. Funny how her energy was spent best when walking instead of running when that was what she would’ve loved to do. At least here, she could do it to her heart’s content, and it seemed like Lady Selena wouldn’t mind at all. “Oh, yes, I had, in fact that was where I’ve met with the Princess first time,” she explained, resisting the urge to clap her hands in delight. “Aren’t they just beautiful? And Meirin’s are much the same, though of course they are different from each other.” Musing to herself rather than the young woman next to her, Rose resisted a race and kept her pace with the other one.

“It certainly serves as a great retreat. Do only the royal family members come here?” Eyes bright with curiosity, she looked toward Selena, wondering about it. So far, she really met very few people on her wanderings, then she tried not to go too far from the cottage. For once in a while, even she enjoyed peace and quiet, however restless she was. Sometimes she was that way, others it was easier to stay still. And the gardens were there to provide the outlet. After all, one wasn’t supposed to run in the palace, at least so long as one wasn’t caught. Decidedly pulling herself from her thoughts, Rose grinned cheerfully toward the Lady Selena, thankful that neither the Princess nor the Ladies with her seemed to mind her usual attitude as of yet.

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

Rosalie's enthusiasm was infectious, prompting Selena's spirits to rise simply for being in her company. The smile came more easily, lingering on her features as she contentedly followed Rose through the paths. There was a measure of pent up energy in her, she noticed, and better to let her set pace and path. For her part, Selena was content to be out in the sun and the air, surrounded by the lush beauty of well-tended gardens. At least there were people present to appreciate them now, however brief a sojourn it would prove to be.

"As a rule, yes. Only the Carlisles and their invited guests come here, though the royal family has traditionally been very gracious about allowing the lodge to be used by others. There have been any number of weddings and hunts held here," Selena and her brothers often accompanied their parents when the Duke and Duchess traveled, allowing them to gain experience and advantages in the court at early ages. Seeing what appeared to be a yearning expression, she added lightly, "There are any number of paths through the trees to explore. The forest itself is well-patrolled, you should be safe so long as you do not venture off the paths. I haven't been down any in some time, but I believe you will find all manners of interesting sights and discoveries."