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[Arden de Aquitaine]

The Lady Arden had been granted a day away from the family household to do some shopping for her mother. Inside her coin purse was a list of stores that fabrics could be bought in. Mother had a though in mind to get some new dresses for herself and her three daughters.

Arie was to pick out the colors which she thought would be best from her female family's complexions. She was very good and had been doing this since she was deemed old enough to travel to cities without only a maid and guard.

It was a beautiful day and the girl had been permitted to ride Adder, her handsome black gelding. He had, uncharacteristically, been calm and well-mannered on the half-day's ride to Mont-De-Marsan. One of her mother's maids had been placed on a placid little mare, with Landyn on his regular, also placed mare. He had had his ever-present scowl on his face.

Lady Arden smiled back at the maid who was having alittle trouble on her steed. The woman wasn't used to riding. A few stray strands of hair were coming loose from the long braid down her back. A small pale hand reached back to unsuccessfully pat them back into place.

The trio had been riding through the city for a few minutes before Arie spotted the first store. Landyn dismounted and helped his Lady down from her perch on Adder. The maid almost fell dismounting; the guard and Arden had to hide their smiles at the woman's misstep.

Landyn held open the wooden door. Arden and her maid swept in. A few other ladies were inside the store. One or two turned at the sound of new steps.

[Marguerite d'Angouleme]

Marguerite was in the store at the recommendation one of her ladies had gotten from the Queen's women. Though Marguerite had more than enough clothing for the court, she enjoyed walking about cities and meeting the ordinary people wherever she went. The local styles were a bit different from those the middle class of Paris wore, so she found herself ready to commission a gown or two in order to blend in better.

To that effect Marguerite had donned her simpler clothing. A mauve gown had the underlining of a cream colored kirtle. Both had light embroidery along the edges, but it was simple, white on the mauve, mauve on the white. Any merchant's daughter could afford such a dress. What they perhaps couldn't afford was the amethyst pendant which was currently tucked into her bodice, or the silver hair combs. They were not exactly gilt. Her shoes also marked her status. They were fine doeskin, stained and embroidered to a deep purple with an dye that was almost un-Christian in expense.

Marguerite sat in the chair the merchant provided for his customers. The man was rummaging through his wares, trying to find a shade she had requested. Her ladies in waiting were with her as well, to keep her company though she hardly needed them for the errand. She was feeling lonely in this hostile land. Sh was also becoming impatient with the pale little man who had been attending her when the door to the store creaked open. Marguerite spared a quick glance. A lady it seemed, with her own attendants. Her ladies took a more careful stock.

One leaned over, and to her Marguerite tilted her head.

"Arden de Aquitaine, m'lady. Niece to their majesties."

With the identity known, Marguerite was able to pay the lady what she was due. Standing from her seat Marguerite glided to stand in front of the girl, and dipped a curtsy.

"Arden of Aquitaine. We haven't met. I am Marguerite d'Angouleme, sister to the King of France. I am ambassador and guest to your Uncle's court. These are my ladies in waiting. May I offer a chair?"

With her hand extended to said chair, and a smile on her face, Marguerite waited for the girl to be seated. She hadn't realized the King's nieces were so young. Perhaps this young girl would be less cautious of her tongue, and Marguerite could charm some more detailed information of the courts from her. Then again, it was just as likely that this Arden was entirely ignorant of the nobles of Aquitaine. Either way, it would have been exceedingly unintelligent for Marguerite to fail to make the acquaintance.

[Arden de Aquitaine]

Landyn looked towards the lady that spoke to his mistress. She had named herself the sister of the King of France. The maid looked alittle frightened to have an important woman look their little group over.

Arden turned at the sound of a new voice. Marguerite d'Angouleme, the sister of the King of France. The young Lady gave the appropriate curtsy to the woman, a small smile on her lips. She also acknowledged Marguerite's ladys-in-waiting with a nod. This was going to be interesting.

"Pleasure to meet you Lady Marguerite. I had not heard of any ambassadors coming to my dear Majesty's court." Arie wasn't trying to be rude by saying no one had every mentioned her arrival, but it was certainly true. It somehow must have been unexpected.

She noticed a store attendant was carrying another chair to the group. "I implore you, take back your seat. Tanlen brings one anon." Lady Arden smiled at the attendant, who knew the Lady's name by now, as many times as she and her mother had come to this store. She was offered a glass of wine, and her maid and Landyn were offered to come back to the small kitchen and have a glass or two of ale. Arie nodded for the wine, and her maid left her for the welcomed cup of ale. Landyn had stayed to keep an eye on his mistress.

"Mayhaps the Lady Marguerite would enjoy a glass also, Tanlen." Arie suggested to the attendant when her wine was brought. She took a sip and was rewarded with a chilled taste of some very well-aged white wine. It was truly wonderful. The Lady made a mental note to ask the store's owner, Master George, what the name was. She was sure her father would love this particular drink.

Her blue eyes traveled along the racks and racks of fabric. There were so many, but soon she found some that would be good for her mother and sisters. A bright green damask for her mother with her chestnut hair, and a lavender for little Eda and Edsel with their black hair. They would be most happy for the new and beautiful colors.

As the bolts were being sought out by several attendants, Lady Arden looked the new Lady over. She supposed if she wasn't friendly, that it would somehow get back to her Uncle and then to Mother and Father. "How long are you in Aquitaine for, Lady Marguerite?"

[Marguerite d'Angouleme]

"Pleasure to meet you Lady Marguerite. I had not heard of any ambassadors coming to my dear Majesty's court."

Though the smile on Marguerite's face did not falter, a sinking sense of disappointment came to her chest. So the girl was uninformed. Not all royal families were as close as Marguerite's, but the level of this ignorance indicated a much deeper rift than she had supposed. There were other explanations of course. Perhaps the family had not been in Bordeaux when she arrived. Perhaps her father didn't trust this little Arden girl to keep her mouth shut about important things. Marguerite knew her own status as adviser to her brother was the exception, not the rule in royal households.

"How strange! The arrangements were, as you might guess, rather extensive. I am only glad we finally have met," she responded.

Marguerite turned to see that the girl was indeed correct, one of the shop's employees did bring a chair. Tanlen, was it? Marguerite fixed the name and face into her growing repertoire of Aquitaine citizens. A worker employed at an establishment close to the King's family could become useful, in time.

Ah, so it seemed that the girl wasn't the brightest. Of course the shopkeepers wouldn't dare slight a princess, even if they did loathe her nation. Wine had been offered and duly refused. Marguerite didn't take drink without some food to precede or follow it.

"Oh, no, Madame Tanlen, don't worry yourself. I have already been offered libations, Lady Arden. I thank you for your attentiveness."

Marguerite remained silent as Arden made her selections. Green and lavender damask. Marguerite cringed internally. Summer was coming, and new dresses in such heavy fabric would be practically useless. Cotton brocade, or linen, even satin would be lighter and more wearable. Damask was beautiful, but only good for the cooler months as far as Marguerite was concerned. Then again, she was outside far more often than most ladies were, so perhaps practicality was higher on her list of importance.

"How long are you in Aquitaine for, Lady Marguerite?"

Marguerite turned her eyes to the girl beside her with a small smile, almost indulgent in it's form. Truly the child must know nothing of the intricate workings of court and nations. Marguerite was constantly disappointed in her sex in this regard. True, most women didn't have the choice of education and bettering their minds, but Lord what she wouldn't give for an observant bone in every woman's body. At the very least the child should know that one never addressed a Princess as Lady anything, especially not when she held lands in her own right. She was a Princess, a Duchess, and a Countess without the help of a husband. But Marguerite wouldn't reprimand Arden. She was sure the girl didn't know better, and besides it wasn't in her nature to make people feel low.

"I'm sure I have no idea. I am hear to facilitate a friendship between my family and yours, your nation and mine. France is not fond of the fighting our countries have done. I shall leave when I have judged that task complete, or when my brother has need of me. May I ask when you will join the court?"

Marguerite couldn't help but recall that when she was Arden's age, she has been at court for years, and was well established by her own actions, rather than her relation to her brother.

[Arden de Aquitaine]

She smiled and nodded as an attendant brought out another shade of green for her mother. "That is of a different fabric, yes? Lighter in weight, more cooler? It will be good for summer, or if my mother ever even goes outside." Arie's mother and sisters had a tendency to stay indoors. They hated all seasons and prefered the comforts of the house.

The girl looked to another fabric that the attendant was holding. "No. My sisters wouldn't like that color. Thank you though." She smiled at the woman and took a sip of the chilled wine.

"Ah well, Father has only begun sending me to court; so I am not up on all of the comings and goings of the ambassadors and other important people." Arie sent a glance at Landyn. He had an abnormally restless look on his face. She was sure he didn't like this foreign woman and wished to be far away from any dress shop, no matter who was in it.

The shop's owner was making his way across the store to greet Lady Arden. He smiled and gave her a bow. "Master George! It's good to see you again. Mother sends her greetings to her favorite fabric merchant." The man grinned at the praise. "Please send my greetings and thanks back to your wonderful mother and one of my favorite patrons!" Master George said cheerfully.

"You have some wonderful colors for Mother and my sisters. Mayhaps you have some for me as well? For some new riding habits? I truly have torn most of mine." Arie smiled at the store owner as he bowed once more and whisked away to find the right colors for the Lady, he knew the exact ones she would like.

Arie turned back to the French ambassador. " I truly am sorry to keep turning from you, but Mother sent me with a list of several stores. I am running alittle late, we had a long ride."

A friendship between Aquitaine and France? A truly remarkable thing. Arden had thought no one would send ambassadors since it had taken so long. "Ah, well I wish you luck on that. And I will join court soon I suppose. Whenever Father sends me, or Uncle asks for me and my harp."

[Marguerite d'Angouleme]

Marguerite smiled a teeny bit when Arden asked after the fabric. So she had been quick to judge. That was what came of letting yourself get high and mighty. Marguerite tried her best to remain a worldly woman, connected to every walk of life in what realms she lived in, but good intentions were not the only thing necessary to maintain the proper mentality. Marguerite made a mental note to add the vanity to her next confession. A good dose of humility was due now and then, even for a Princess. With that in mind Marguerite paid attention to Arden's attendants for the first time. The girl just seemed generally flustered, but the man looked restless. It wasn't a normal state of affairs for guards to fidget ceaselessly.

"Oh, I see. I do hope you find court to your liking as you visit it more," Marguerite responded automatically. Smiling once more at Lady Arden, Marguerite turned her head to address the man-at-arms. The young woman was having a conversation with the shop's owner, and Marguerite hated to put anyone good at their job ill at ease.

"Monsieur," she called softly. No doubt the man was not expecting to be addressed. Once Marguerite had his attention, she continued to speak in a gentle tone of voice, far less formal that the one she had affected with Arden de Aquitaine. "I beg your pardon, but I believe you may have noticed- the men on the streets, all wearing the same shade of brown... I'm afraid they are my fault. Precautions, you see. But I assure you they are no threat to those who pass their time peacefully."

A friendly smile was on Marguerite's face. If her guards were indeed what had set Arden's man ill at ease, she hoped she had waylaid his worries. She was impressed though. The men she was forced to travel with wore largely unremarkable clothing. Few would have noticed them. That done, Marguerite turned back to face Arden, who was extending one apology or another to her.

"Not at all. I too have a mother who expects much from her children. We all know better than to cross those," Marguerite joked lightly.

As the lady mentioned her harp, Marguerite's smile grew naturally for the first time since she had begun speaking to Arden.

"Ah, how lovely. I am a bit of a musician myself. Now I insist you visit the court at my invitation instead of waiting for your Uncle's! I brought with me some pretty duets that may be played on the harp, and have yet to find a partner for them. Perhaps you can indulge me in putting on a very small recital? Only come at your earliest leisure, and I shall be able to call myself happy."

[Arden de Aquitaine]

George brought a lovely shade of blue out for her approval. It was a sapphire shade and Arden loved it immediately. "Wonderful! Might I have double the yards. Mother would also approve of a court gown as well as a riding habit." The girl smiled at the shopkeeper. She also choose a deep red fabric, and a rich purple, darker than her sisters' lavender. More various shades of green, purple, blue, and red were chosen for Arie and her family.

She sipped the wine and nodded her approval. "Thank you very much, Master George. These are wonderful fabrics. My mother and sisters will be very pleased with me today!" The shopkeeper bowed to the Lady. "Might I ask another favor of you?" Arie held the glass out to him. "Father would love this wine. Would you know the name of it, and where it was purchased?"

The shopkeeper nodded and told her of the place. It wasn't too far from the shop, and right on the path to the next fabric shop. Lady Arden smiled and thanked the man. She turned to the French ambassador again, she was conversing with Landyn. He nodded gruffly at what she was saying about her guards. He had noticed a few men looking slightly out of place on the street. His main concern was getting out of the dress shop as fast as he could. Arie liked Landyn, and drew alittle good-natured fun from making him uncomfortable.

"Aye! Another musician? This is truly a lovely surprise. I will certainly ask my father's permission when I get back. He will no doubt say yes." Arie took another sip of wine, then set it back on a table. "A recital? His Majesty would very much enjoy that. And I would enjoy playing with you. Certes I will play."