003 [The Rumour Mill]

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

[There were always rumours in Camelot. People gossiped about their neighbours and servants gossiped about their employers and, of course, everyone gossiped about the royal family. Guinevere, working in the heart of the castle, could only shake her head as already tall tales grew taller still, but the rumours - even the rumours about Morgana and Arthur and their marriage - always burnt out as quickly as they started. In a way, it was nice to know that nothing changed. Although Uther's death had left the kingdom in a precarious position politically, life carried on.

These rumours, however, were different. People were going missing. There was no pattern and no apparent reason for it. They were simply gone. The cook's daughter, the boy who delivered the coal, the ostler's wife, the old man who lived next to the butcher and always gave Gwen a sprig of lavender if she wasn't smiling when they passed in the street. Perhaps there were others, too. People who did not have friends or family to mourn them and did not attract the attention of the gossips who held court in the markets and kitchens of Camelot.

Morgana and Arthur had concerns of their own. It was down to Gwen to find out what was going on. And, even if it hadn't occurred to her to connect the disappearances in Camelot to the Plane just yet, she would get to the bottom of things.

Turning a sprig of lavender - dry and brittle, a gift from a week previously - between her fingers, Gwen sat outside the library, wondering where to start.]

Comments

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

[So far, the people of the Plane had been more interesting to Conan than the buildings, but it was time to investigate those he'd decided. The library seemed like the best place to start -- if nothing else, the choice of books might tell him more about those tied to the Plane and the scope and interests of the Plane's creators.

He was surprised to see someone sitting outside, even more surprised to take in her manner of dress. Ha ... Guess that's more correlating evidence for people being taken from different times. About to move on, Conan's attention was caught instead by the flower the woman held.]

Is that lavender?

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

[She looked up from the plant in her fingers when the stranger approached, offering him a soft smile by way of greeting.]

Yes, it is. It was a gift from a friend.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Shouldn't you put it in water? Or -- you can hang lavender to dry it, right?

[Conan's knowledge of herbs was limited to those used to kill people, but he was sure that the sprig of lavender was a strange thing to bring to the Astral Plane.]

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

That was what I was doing. [She was too poor and too sensible to waste anything that could be put to good use.] I didn't mean to bring it with me to the Plane.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

Ah.

[Conan's about to continue on his way, when a thought occurs to him. It's a leap from one slight slip, but given the high frequency of worried people he's met on the plane ... ]

Something on your mind?

[sosweet]

[Saga didn't want to go home for the time being, so he decided to spend his time at the Library... until he finds Gwen sitting there. She may notice he's not wearing his Cloth but some sacred robes. There was no use to put on the mask and helmet because then no one would recognize him at first stance.]

Gwen... what are you doing here? [His voice giving a gentle tone.]

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

Just thinking. [She looked up at Saga with a smile, noting but not commenting on the unfamiliar robes that he was wearing.] I don't get much time to myself in Camelot.

[sosweet]

[And he appreciates it.] Did something happen?

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure. Quite a few people in the lower town seem to have disappeared.

[sosweet]

[Blinks at that.] Disappeared? [Now that's serious.] Has something happened out of the ordinary for that to happen?

[ex_oneiromancer912]

[Morgana frowned when she came across her maid.] Is something the matter, Gwen?

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure. Have you noticed any strange disappearances in Camelot?

[ex_oneiromancer912]

None have come to my attention. [That didn't mean there weren't any. People disappeared often--to find their fortune, or because their fortune had turned out to be an early grave.] You've heard of some?

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

Yes. Including people who wouldn't have left their families and friends without saying goodbye,

[ex_oneiromancer912]

[Morgana wears a heavy frown.] Have you noticed any pattern in them? And has anyone alerted the guards?

[sweeperpunk02.livejournal.com]

Hey.

[Passing by he can't help but notice how troubled she seems.]

You alright?

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm fine. Thank you. [She smiled softly, a little embarrassed.] I was thinking, that's all.

[sweeperpunk02.livejournal.com]

Alright.

I don't think I've seen you around yet, though. [He looks her up and down. Right of a renfair, huh?]

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

The Plane is a big place. I'm Guinevere. Gwen.

[sweeperpunk02.livejournal.com]

Sure enough.

Duo. Duo Maxwell.

[theoldmagick.livejournal.com]

[oh, hey, if it isn't the maid. hello, little maid. the Dragon's come to see what you're moping about]

Are you always so dour?

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

[Just the dragon that she'd been hoping to see. Or not.]

Of course not. I'm just thinking, that's all.

[theoldmagick.livejournal.com]

Thinking? I never would have guessed.

[onperfectlips.livejournal.com]

Thinking about something serious.

[theoldmagick.livejournal.com]

I fail to see how that changes my initial statement.