29.Aug.13, 10:53 PM
Aeldan was usually quite good at timing it so she could avoid the biggest of the crowds when it came to mealtimes. She'd lurk in the kitchens, doing whatever she could to help and keep the older women from shooing her out into the dining hall. "Aeldan, dear, what in Faranth's name are you still doing in here?" That was one of the more boisterous ones, who had a habit of tugging Aeldan into her side and pulling her along when she wanted the girl to do something. At first it had thrown Aeldan off, made her incredibly nervous, but now, she could almost admit to enjoying it. The woman--she was terrible at remembering names--would tell her stories, grand ones of the North. She'd lived in a minor hold near the Benden mountains, apparently, and never passed up an opportunity to talk about the giant rows of jagged peaks that she used to dream about as a child. They were all just stories, though, and most likely grossly exaggerated, if Aeldan knew anything at all about the woman's personality and proclivity for extravagant storytelling.
"Oh--nothing. Just trying to be helpful, is all!" She gave her best smile, hefting the empty basket on her hip as she paused.
"Well, no need for that, we've got too much help these days. Shoo, go find yourself something to eat. Put that down right here," she said, patting a clear space on the table next to her. Sighing mentally, she did as the woman asked, smile widening ever so slightly as she was pulled in for a one-armed hug before being released. Her expression grew markedly less enthusiastic as she emerged from the kitchens and made her way into the dining hall. She was quick to wend her way along the wall and grab herself a tray of food before turning rather abruptly, having every intention of getting to a quiet, hopefully empty or mostly-empty table. What she was not expecting, however, was to collide with a solid, unmistakably male chest. She squeaked and flailed a bit, sending her tray clattering to the ground with a clang that made her wince. Already stammering apologies she nearly dove to the floor, she fluttered over the spilled food for a moment before scrambling to gather up the dishes first. So busy trying to minimize the damage as much as she possibly could, she never bothered to look and see who, exactly, she'd run into in her haste to get out of the way (ironic, wasn't it?). The thought to do so had never even crossed her mind.
"Oh--nothing. Just trying to be helpful, is all!" She gave her best smile, hefting the empty basket on her hip as she paused.
"Well, no need for that, we've got too much help these days. Shoo, go find yourself something to eat. Put that down right here," she said, patting a clear space on the table next to her. Sighing mentally, she did as the woman asked, smile widening ever so slightly as she was pulled in for a one-armed hug before being released. Her expression grew markedly less enthusiastic as she emerged from the kitchens and made her way into the dining hall. She was quick to wend her way along the wall and grab herself a tray of food before turning rather abruptly, having every intention of getting to a quiet, hopefully empty or mostly-empty table. What she was not expecting, however, was to collide with a solid, unmistakably male chest. She squeaked and flailed a bit, sending her tray clattering to the ground with a clang that made her wince. Already stammering apologies she nearly dove to the floor, she fluttered over the spilled food for a moment before scrambling to gather up the dishes first. So busy trying to minimize the damage as much as she possibly could, she never bothered to look and see who, exactly, she'd run into in her haste to get out of the way (ironic, wasn't it?). The thought to do so had never even crossed her mind.