Noah quickly refilled the King's goblet, and searched the familiar faces, "Jenny, thank heaven's." He nearly shoved the platter into a young girls hands, She looked up at Noah startled, "Jenny, you're ready for the job I know it! It'll be yours soon any way." The girl nodded after a moment and gripped the tray firmly. Her warm amber eye's filled with determination. Noah brushed a few wayward strands of Dark hair behind her ear before giving her a push towards the round table. The servers hall way's were familiar to him and he slipped into the hidden corridors easily, cursing at himself for being so careless with his actions. He found his way back to the kitchens soon enough. "Cook! I'm done serving, Jenny's taken over my shift, what can I do."
A tall sturdy woman in her late 40's gestured to a large pot of something boiling in the far corner. "Ah, Good someone useful, Noah be a dear and finish that filling for me, it's at step two." Noah nodded feeling himself relax in the older woman's presence. He threw himself in to the task at hand carefully adding sugar to the pot. He made sure the cooks back was turned to him when he fiddled with it, the lemon filling gaining a hint of lime undertones to deepen the flavor. He found working with the flavors and ingredients of the royal kitchen calming, the familiar smells soothing his racing mind.
Standing in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt too much, Taurin cleared his throat.
"Hello? I would like to speak to that boy who was refilling our drinks, if it's not too much trouble?"
He peeked his head in a little further and saw Noah standing over a pot.
"Oi, you there!" he called, more intrigued than aggressive, "I don't mean to interrupt your cooking, but… you're the one who banished that Fae, aren't you?"
Noah jumped at the sound of Taurin's voice, nearly dropping the wooden spoon he had been stirring with, "I, Well, um you see I'm, uh, at this particular moment uh, lemon, filling, needs, some stirring." Noah's moment of calm vanished instantly. The Cook glanced back at him from her place across the kitchen and sighed. "Joan, go take Noah's spot, Go on green thumb, you've already worked you magic on it." Noah reluctantly gave his spot up and met the Taller knight at the door way, fighting to control his trembling hands. Training kicked in when he greeted the Knight "Yes, Sir Taurin, you wished to speak with me?" The boy gave a slight bow before straightening, if it weren't for the earlier out burst One would assume the boy was in complete control of his emotions.
"No need to bow," Taurin replied with a slight smile.
That smile faded.
"I don't know if you're aware, but that Fae took out many of the guards before making it to the hall. I can't quite put my finger on what you did that worked, when all of these men fell. Do you know anything more than the rest of us do? You have our thanks for taking out the fiend, of course, but we're trying to figure out what happened, if we can."
Noah did his best to calm his rapid breathing, "I'm not more then a Kitchen hand with a lucky guess Sir, His challenge was simple, I fulfilled the challenge." Noah kept his voice level daring to hope it would not betray him.
Taurin chuckled.
“Just lucky, huh? Even so, you could’ve run back to the shelter of the kitchen. If nothing else, you are a brave one.”
He folded his hands in front of him, pondering whether to ask him the question he had been longing to pose to a suitable person. It had been over a year, and he had no luck finding a suitable squire yet.
Taurin swallowed, then took a breath.
“So, on that note, I have been looking for a squire. While I don’t know you very well, I understand you work hard, and what you did back there definitely caught my eye.”
Noah Was shocked by the suggestion, "I'm flattered by the offer Sir Taurin, Really I'm nothing special, I mean Anyone would know that completing a challenge means those of even the Unseelie court must return to the fae world, It's nothing I should be praised for I-." Noah stopped talking realizing he had let out a little to much information. Normal Kitchen Boy's didn't know about the Fae world much less about it's world. He shut his mouth hopping the Knight wouldn't catch the very obvious slip in information.
"You seem to know an awful lot about the Fae," Taurin said, not missing a beat, "To be perfectly honest, I didn't realize he was a Fae until after you returned him."
He smiled.
"I see you're a clever one, too."
"As clever as a Kitchen hand need be Sir. Did you not see the pointed ear's? I thought they were quite obvious. Normal Men don't usually call other Men mere mortal's either." Noah commented, relaxing in the Knights presence. He knew a thing or two about all the knights, from what he understood it seemed like Sir Taurin was a nice fellow, "I'll admit I have some knowledge of their way's my mother taught them to me at a young age."
"If it's not what you want, I'll leave you be, of course," Taurin said, "Although, know the offer still stands. I can see through all that humility, you would be a very valuable person to have on our team."
He smiled, "And well… I think most of us were too shocked to actually pay attention to his ears. And by the gods, I've had a wizard or two too many call me 'mortal,' so half of the time, I don't know what to expect. You responded better than anyone else in the room, my boy. No need to downplay what you did."
Noah paused, considering what the knight was asking. When he had first come to Camelot his goal was to become a squire. At the time he was to young so he got a job as a stable boy, when he was 14 he began working in the kitchens. He opened his mouth to refuse but found he couldn't. He stayed silent for a few moments more before "When I first arrived In Camelot It was my dream to become a squire, I would be honored to serve you M'lord."
Noah felt the words tumble from his mouth naturally and smoothly, as if fate had destined it to be so. "Sir, the feast, it wont be cancelled right? The only reason I acted as I did was to ensure the festivities would continue."
Taurin laughed.
"No, I doubt it. We're already a good way in. I think myself and some of the other knights will go investigate just to ease the minds of everyone else, and since the threat is gone now, we will tell them so, and the festivities should continue as normal."
He smiled.
"I won't pull you away from the kitchen if you would like to finish your job tonight. Just come see me as soon as you are able. Perhaps after the feast, or tomorrow."
Noah instinctively bowed once more, "Thank you Sir, I'll find you then." He straightened and waited for the knight to leave so he could return to the kitchen. He had a lemon filling to fix, and a pie crust to rescue.
Taurin nodded and smiled at Noah.
"Ah, before I go, could I have your name?" he called, leaning against the doorway.
He looked back into the hall, which seemed to be bustling still, but with a more nervous energy.
"Noah, Noah Thane." Noah replied beginning to turn back to the kitchen, "I suppose you'll see me with Dessert." He was painfully aware of the silence in the kitchen behind him, and the ten pairs of ear's listening intently to this conversation.
“Right,” Taurin said, “Thank you, Noah.”
He dipped his head.
“See you then.”
With that, he turned and went back into the hall. A few of the other knights had already gone to investigate some more, so Taurin sat himself back near the king and quietly began telling him what he knew.
The King had sheathed his sword soon after the encounter. He rose and waved to an older man to the side who nodded. King Arthur then began to speak, his voice reaching the entirety of the hall, "Ladies and Gentleman, Honored guests, please remain in your seats. This evil has been destroyed, let this serve as an example of the might this kingdom and it's people hold. Please do not let this occurrence dampen your spirits, let us celebrate our fine citizens who fight to keep us safe from such dangers." The King then accepted his goblet from Jenny, who had arrived at the table, and lifted it in a toast. The atmosphere in the hall became lighter, guests returned to their conversation and meal. Upon Taurin's arrival the King leaned toward the knight expectantly. "Did you gather information on the lad who dispelled this Fae?"
Taurin smiled.
"As you are well aware, I've been looking for a squire, milord. The young man who banished the Fae is a kitchenhand, and he seems to be a good fit. In fact, I just spoke to him about it. He seems more suitable to the position than anyone I've met in a long time. I didn't want to just take on anyone, of course."
The knight folded his hands in front of him and chuckled a bit.
"Who would've thought he was in front of me this whole time?"
Arthur chuckled at the knights comment, " Might I know the lad's name? I would like to thank him myself at some point. I darsay he'll probably be better fit for the job then the lad's who come looking to take up the position." The King looked out at the round table his eye's sliding over the young squires standing behind their masters seats. "Most don't understand what the position entails." He said softly returning his gaze to Taurin.
"Noah Thane," Taurin replied, "And yes, I have been searching for a squire for quite some time, though I don't necessarily want someone who's sought out the job. I want someone cut out for it, and even after seeing one act of bravery and having a brief conversation with him, I truly do believe Noah has some admirable qualities- ones that will make him a most excellent squire. I've been waiting for a reason."
The King paused at the mention of Noah's name , "Noah Thane you said? Interesting, The boy came here when he was 9 if I recall correctly, My first year on the throne. He has a tattered past that one. I'm interested to see what information you can gather on it." As Arthur said this plates were being cleared from the tables, there was a moment were no Server could be seen around the room. Then emerging almost as if in a dance, they returned with desserts. Noah was among them now with patters filled with pastries. He relieved Jenny of her post and after Dessert had been served resumed filling the goblets of the round table. The guest's themselves did not seem to recognize the boy but the knights were far more perceptive.
"I must admit, I don't know much about him. I came here a year or so after both of you," Taurin said, "I didn't even know the boy's name. He always seemed so involved in his work, I didn't think it would be appropriate to bother him."
Taurin folded his hands in front of him.
"However, I don't think I've ever been more certain of anything in my life. He definitely would fare well in our circle."
The King nodded in agreement, "There's the lad now, already back to work, I admire the lad, I'm sure many of your fellow knights will envy you Taurin once he's fully trained, Guinevere darling?" The King turned his attention from Taurin to his wife, ending the conversation.
As the night went on guests began leaving the tables to rest, soon the day's feasting was over with the kings departure. Noah stayed in the hall long after the guests left, he and the other kitchen hands gathered dishes to return them. He was about to join the washers in their task when cook grabbed his shoulder, "Now just a moment lad, you graduated from that job a year and a half ago, you're staling."
"Well, I, Just , they want, help?" Noah stammered slightly embarrassed at being found out. The Cook raised an eyebrow and pushed him to the door, "We'll miss you lad, be sure to visit on your day's off." With that she pushed him out of the side door and shut it. Noah now standing awkwardly outside the kitchen began the rather llong treck from the kitchen on the bottom floor to the knights hall on the second. He cracked open the door and slipped inside, his movement's so quiet even well trained hunters would miss his movement. He began scanning the hall for Taurin.
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