02:30 2005-03-22

The Great Hall is filled with laughter as two of the maids, a weasel jill and a hare doe, are playing some sort of game with dice at one corner of the table. The stakes seem to be hazelnuts, and judging from the size of the piles, the jill is winning at the moment.

Yavuz skips into the Great Hall, a huge smile spread across her muzzle. This only widens as she spies the two giggling beasts. She makes her way over to them, calling out a amicable, "Hello!"

Shalina looks up at the ermine, grinning. "Hi there. D' you wan' t' sit in fo' a bit? Anna isn' much competition, I'm 'fraid." she says, giving the doe a teasing jab with the elbow.

Yavuz cocks her head, eying the hazelnuts with curiosity. "What exactly... it is?"

Shalina rakes in her winnings, adding them to her pile of hazelnuts. "Oh, we're jus' playin' dice..."

The doe looks up, nodding. "Yea, the healers won't let us do anything else, wot." She indicates her rather inflated belly - both maids appear pretty far gone pregnant.

Yavuz blinks a little as she stares at their bellies. "Oh! How w-wonderful for you both. Congratulations."

Shalina smiles, rubbing her belly a bit. "It's m' first. Anna's entertainin' me wi' stories abou' how't is t' give birth. Tho' I think she's lyin'." The last comment is said with a wink to the doe.

"Am not! It's all true as... as... as something true!" the doe protests, looking indignant.

Maika walks in, quietly sitting in a chair near the fire. She is apparently unhappy, and the red rings around her eyes betray the secret tears she has shed.

Yavuz grins, glad to be amongst such jovial beasts. This is why she came here. "Well, I hope it goes well for the both of you," she says, pulling a chair up to the table. "I'm Yavuz. Pleased to meet both of you."

The doe nods. "Yea, we do very well... So long as Shal isn't cheating with the dice, wot!"

Shalina huffs and leans across the table towards Anna, putting on a mock angry expression. "Wha's 'at?"

Elbows on the table and head in her hands, the ermine leans forward as well. She looks at the doe, a big grin on her face.

Maika munches quietly on a candied chestnut.

Shalina turns her attention to the squirrel, smiling. "'ello. Did y' find who y' were lookin' fo'?"

Maika shakes her head slowly.

Yavuz frowns and follows Shalina's gaze. "Oh," she breathes, "Didn't hear you come in. Are... are you okay?"

"Looking for who?" The doe looks up from the nuts as well, turning to the squirrel.

Yavuz squints, trying to make out the creature's face. "Miss, are you alright?"

*** I must have left out one of Maika's lines somehwere here. ***

Shalina tilts her head, smile fading. "Oh. Tha's who's missin'. 'as 'e been gone long?"

Maika slowly speaks in a small voice. "We were sailing to the wedding when we were attacked by corsairs. They dragged me off, but I managed to escape. That was more than a season back."

Yavuz sighs and hangs her head.

Shalina looks down at her hands, playing with the dice some. "Oh..."

Anna looks from the squirrel to Shalina, then back at the squirrel, a stricken look on her face. "Oh."

Maika smiles slightly. "He's a good fighter. I'm sure he survived."

Head still hung, the ermine asks, "What is his name?"

Maika says, "Magramba."

Shalina scratches her ear a little. "Don' reco'nise 't. Did y' ask Kevarr?"

Maika nods her head sadly. "Yes."

Yavuz remains silent. This whole business makes her incredibly uncomfortable. She wishes she could say something to make the lass feel better, but she doubts she could find the words. Instead, she just sits there, back hunched, eyes on the floor.

Shalina sits quietly, playing with the dice.

Maika looks up. "It's alright. I am staying here for now."

Maika has disconnected.

Yavuz sighs as she watches the squirrel maid leave. "Poor thing. I don't know what I'd do..."

Shalina looks up, shaking her head. "Yea. 't's sad..."

Yavuz turns back to the table, "Come, let's play."

Shalina looks over at the piles of nuts with a frown. "Sorry, bu' I sort o' lost m' int'rest..." She drops the dice and puts her paws on the tabletop to heave herself out of the chair. "I think I'm goin' t' lie down fo' a bit."

Yavuz makes a face. She's disappointed, but the weasel needs to care for her health. Yavuz bows her head, "It was a pleasure meeting you, ma'am. I hope to see you soon."

The doe gets up as well, and starts to collect the hazelnuts with a shy glance at the ermine. "I... think I had better return these or the cook will go crazy." She makes a little attempt at a grin.

Shalina nods, and makes her way to the stairs, while the doe collects the nuts in her apron and takes them back to the kitchen.