[X] A Pleasant Afternoon {Austine}

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Prince Caspian

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Played by Cara

"Cara has managed to...create a character that is both mythical and life-like. Impulsive, moody, and yet kind and good-hearted, Caspian is just beginning to show the makings of a true leader."
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[Lady Vittoria Greco]

To Vittoria, there was nothing more rewarding after a dull morning of lessons – useless lessons, in her opinion, unless it was somehow related to anything equestrian – than a quiet stroll among the castle gardens. Especially when she’d only just had several more dresses made for her and she was, at present, wearing one of her favourites. She loved the sound of her skirts swaying about, the ever so faint rustle of them brushing against each other in the soft wind. Too, she could feel the few loose curls left to hang about her face swaying ever so slightly. It was a perfect day – neither too hot, nor too cold, and with a lovely breeze. She hated when the wind got aggressive; winds made it a task to walk straight and tall, tangling skirts and pushing hair out of place. And when Vittoria looked anything than perfect and pristine, there was an immense problem. One that might require any great number of household staff to attend to her. To say that Vittoria was a vain young woman would be an immense understatement. She was vain, a bit of a flirt, and while she held a skill in manipulation and charm, she was too naive to notice when someone might be manipulating her. As such, she often got herself into a great deal of trouble and she never saw it coming. 

She paused to admire a rather pretty bunch of flowers, thinking about the time and staff it must have taken to get the castle courtyards as perfect as they were. Why didn’t her own parents have such a garden? Of course, they had a garden, a lovely one even, but nothing that could rival that of the Queen and King of Archenland. Granted, that was probably the way it ought to be, but Vittoria didn’t much care. She’d like her own little private sanctuary back home. A lovely garden just for her. She would speak to her mother that evening, she would request that some work was put into their estate gardens. Perhaps Vittoria thought too loftily of her family – her father was only a minor lord, after all – but it would never change. Not unless, of course, she managed to marry up; then her family would hardly get much more than a passing glance. She was ambitious but unmotivated. Unfortunately for her, that generally meant her ambition didn’t take her much of anywhere at all. Still, she couldn’t help but think that one day she’d be somewhere much better off than where she was now. Didn’t every young woman hope to improve their status by a profitable marriage? She was sure she would make someone a good wife. After all, she was lovely, cultured and pleasant.

Up ahead, Vittoria spotted a figure she was quite sure she recognized. She neither hurried nor slowed her pace, keeping on at a leisurely speed. She’d catch up eventually, she figured, admiring every little pretty thing that caught her attention.  But there was no need to hurry on and look foolish or ungraceful. There wasn’t really anyone else around, but who knew who might show up out of nowhere? And she couldn’t afford to look poorly – her reputation had already taken enough of a battering. She couldn’t afford any more mockery, any more disdain. In fact, she wanted very much to put it all behind her.

Shortly thereafter spotting the young woman up ahead, Vittoria fell into step beside her. Perhaps she had sped up her walking to catch up, she wasn’t sure. Regardless, she allowed a pleasant little smile settle upon her lips. “Lady Austine,” she said brightly, stopping to give a deep curtsey of greeting, “A lovely day, don’t you suppose?”

[Austine Juuenis of Gria]

When Austine had married Dacian, she had been all too glad of the excuse to quit her duties as a lady-in-waiting, for it meant fewer responsibilities on her part. Dacian’s parents took care of most of Gria’s affairs, and they expected little of her. Austine liked it that way, and despite her longing to be a duchess, hoped that the duke lived to a ripe old age so that she could live her life to the fullest before she was forced to settle down. She supposed she could find nurses and tutors for her children, and stewards to take care of the household and fief, but the very thought of having children or a fief to think of was not something she cared to think about. So now, as always, she put such dismal thoughts from her mind, and turned to more pressing matters. For instance, what was she to do with herself, when it seemed at the moment she had no one to talk to?
 
One of the benefits of being in the queen’s service was that the Austine had always been surrounded by people. In fact, it had been her duty to be one of the Queen Callista’s companions. She had always had someone to confide in or share the latest gossip with, and she had never been bored. But now that she was married, she occasionally found herself alone, with everyone else occupied elsewhere.
 
This afternoon, Austine found herself in the middle of such an unpleasant state of affairs. Dacian, as always, was in the palace libraries. Besides, he never seemed to have anything interesting to talk about. All he cared about was his books, and they weren’t even novels, which Austine could at least partially understand the appeal of. Austine’s friends all seemed to be otherwise engaged, and even her maid Clarissa had begged the afternoon off to attend to some family matter.
 
Austine had pouted for a few minutes about being abandoned, before resolving to make the most of the situation. Criso claimed that it was refreshing at times to be alone, so she determined that she would use this time to be refreshed. But how to do this? Music came to mind first. Austine loved music, but her harp had stood forgotten these past couple of weeks. Perhaps she would play for a couple of hours to make up for that time. After just under an hour of singing and playing, however, Austine grew restless. She had grown a little rusty in even just a short time, and it was rather tiring to reacclimate her fingers to the instrument. She wondered for a moment as to what she should do next, when the call of birds from outside her window gave her an idea. She would take a walk in the gardens! They were positively lovely this time of year, and she was sure the fresh air would do her good.
 
A short while later found the former lady-in-waiting in the middle of the colorful palace gardens. Austine found herself actually enjoying being alone with the birds and the squirrels and the flowers. It was a pleasant day, with the sun shining brightly and a cool breeze blowing. She wandered between the plants, humming a little and stopping everyone in a while to smell some roses or admire a sculpted bush.
 
She was gazing at one of these bushes, in the shape of a dancer, when another young woman came up from behind. “Lady Vittoria! What a pleasant surprise!” Austine greeted the other eagerly, returning the curtsey. Vittoria was not one of the ladies she regularly spent time with, but as the two knew one another and got along, they were friends in Austine’s eyes. Her brief inclination for solitude quickly forgotten, Austine addressed the other’s question. “It is indeed a lovely day! And these gardens are beautiful this time of year, aren’t they? Have you been out here admiring them long?”
 
((Not much to respond to here, I know, but I was a bit at a loss as to what else to write. Let me know if you want me to add more, though, and I’ll think of something!))

[Lady Vittoria Greco]

Vittoria was pleased for the pleasant company; though not at all surprised that she’d managed to spot someone to talk to. These gardens were often a place of entertainment for the young ladies of court; just because there were so few other non-domestic activities that women were encouraged to take part in. Granted, today the gardens seemed rather quiet – a shame, she decided, considering just how lovely everything was. Her mind wasn’t solely on how lovely things were, however, even if that was primary. “Yes,” she agreed, “they are beautiful. I’ve not been out here long; only recently escaped from my lessons.” How she hated her lessons. What a useless waste of time they were. Why would she need to know how to stitch? Surely she would marry well, and hire someone else to do her stitching. Why would she need to know any numbers at all – she would also hire someone else to look after those. It seemed she was being educated just for the sake of being educated. Certainly nowhere as educated as any male would be – thank goodness! – but still, far too much for her liking.

“And how fare you, Lady Austine?” Vittoria asked lightly, walking alongside the young woman. “I trust you have been well since we had last had the opportunity to speak?” It had been a while. How long had it been? Vittoria couldn’t remember. Perhaps not as long as her memory claimed, but then, she rarely paid attention to such things. The girls weren’t close, but they were more than acquaintances. Granted, she was “more than an acquaintance” with most of the court. There were few strangers among the nobility; something that was both a blessing, and a curse. More so a curse, she’d decided with some bitterness as she thought towards her sister’s incredible popularity – namely with the young men. She certainly had her flaws; flaws that some people seemed unable – or just plain unwilling – to forgive. She’d like to go to a foreign court for the “fresh start” that it might give her.

Pressing her fingers to her lips to stifle a yawn, she wondered why she was so fatigued. She slept well at the castle, with little she needed to attend to and a lovely, comfortable bed to sleep in. Perhaps she was coming down with something. She hoped not; how she did hate to be ill! It seemed everyone avoided her when she was, afraid of catching whatever it was that she had. Which was foolishness, really, because she’d not yet known of any great illness to spread through Archenland. But those skittish maids, silly as they were, always seemed convinced that the utmost of distance was best and so they kept as far away as they could. Yes, being ill was a lonely time indeed; unexplained fatigue might be a warning sign. What a shame. At least she could get out of her lessons that way!

“How does your husband fare?’ She asked then, remembering her manners as she drew herself from her thoughts. “How does married life please you?” She would certainly like the certainty of being through with courting and be securely married; though the thought of actually being a wife was not a particularly pleasant one to Vittoria. She liked her stolen moments of freedom far too much. But to each their own, she supposed.

((Apologies both for how long it took to get this out, and how short it is. Perhaps we ought to figure where, if anywhere, we want this thread to go. lol.))