Well, I'll keep posting anyways, just because I'm so loyal and devoted and all.

Yes, I"m here! Thank you, book wizard, for putting out the detective's notice! I had completely forgotten this RP!

And so we continue. Everyone, post at your own risk, though....we still have a mystery to solve! I'll get a post up within the next few days. 

Oh yay! This has returned! I was so hoping it would, I rather liked it. I'll write soon!

I'll start writing as soon as someone claims the maid I created on page two!!!!! Spammie says fezx. Do you mean Fedex, Spammie? 

I'm continuing from the breakfast scene....

Lady Hazel

Three days later, after a flurry of many more annoying lords, dukes and what-not, everyone had arrived. It seemed not one person of nobility had wanted to miss the the anniversary-25 years- of our Majesty's coronation.

Hence, that made me feel a bit...on edge, so to speak. Nothing like a collection of the nobility for an assain strike. Her Majesty's words stil rung in my ear..."Girls, if you have a choice, never be a Queen. For every bit of power, there is ten more pains to go with it." What a cyrptic message the Queen left us!!

The next morning, all of us ladies in close contact with the Queen were told to head down to breakfast. "But sir!" Lady Ann cried "The Queen! Who will escort her?"

The gruff servant shrugged "Don't rightfully know. All I was told was to escort you lot down to the tables".

We followed him, though unwillingly. An air of foreboding hung over us. Even the weather seemed to play up the mood- a crackle of thunder shook us as we minced our way down the grand stairs. 

I always found having an early meal admidst strangers a bit disconcerting. The guard had lead us to our seats in the long hall, and I found I was not with someone I knew well. 

Ah, yes, small talk. What a lady must do all day. Oh course, the topic today was the oppressing weather. My neighbors were kind, but none seemed very interested in our conversation, if you must, and instead kept delicatley craning their heads for a glimpst of the QUeen.

After ten minutes of waiting, I was getting anxious, and had nearly made up my mind to ask one of the guards where she might have got when in she came, craning her head regally over the assembled mass.

"My apologies. I'm afraid I was indiposed. Breakfast then, hm?"

I tried to push away the thought that came, unwanted, unbidded, to me and focused my attention to perhaps another conversation with my neighbors. Oddly, though, that same thought seemed to have risen in their heads, and the rest of the meal was spent in silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The second we had been bidden to rise, I scuttled off after the Queen. I needed reassurance from someone, however false it might be.

By the time I had navigated the bustling hallways, the Queen was already secure in her room. Even my tries at flirtation with the guards wouldn;t gain me entry, "It wouldn't matter if thy were the Queen of Scotland, orders still be orders! No visitors!"

My feelings even more ary, I headed down to the kitchens to try and filch some information from the cook, whom I was on friendly terms.

"Oi, Madam, I beg your pardon," one page yelled after bowling into me, running off with his message in one hand, a hunk of bread in the other. I laughed to myself. The page boys were always scruffy, underfed things, but this one seemed like he'd go to the ends of the earth for a wedge of cheese.

After tumbling down the stairs to the palace kitchens, I found myself in a tumultous wave of human crys. '"What be amiss?" I asked the nearest girl. "Its Agnesse!" she cried. "Who? Whatever is the matter?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Duh, duh, dun! 

I can write some, maybe tomorrow? Not sure where Sorah will come into this, but I'll figure something out!  

@ The Chocabookaholic: Perhaps Agnesse would like to be Evelyn's maid?

Evelyn ~

Breakfast went on without any more delays or hitches. Though as I discreetly observed people during the meal, it became immediately evident that everyone here was on edge. Something was amiss. It was especially prominent among the ladies-in-waiting, their eyes continued to flit across people's faces, including my own. 

After breakfast, all the stuffy dukes, duchesses, lords, ladies and all other high and mighty people either departed to their chambers, or off to the parlour to chat away meaninglessly. My adventurous side was stirred, and I was desperate to explore. 

Heading down a back stairwell that I figured was only used by servants, I decended into a narrow corridor. Voices wafted down the hall to me. Some were loud and boisterous, others grating and commandng, hollering orders for servants to go here and there, clean this, chop that. I was about to turn away and head in the opposite direction so as not to get in the way, when a particular set of raised voices caught my attention.

"It's Agnesse!" a voice cried, though the rest of their statement or any replies were drowned out. Curious, I slipped closer. Peeking inside the doorway, I found myself just outside the palace kitchens. A group of kitchen maids, ladies-in-waiting, and servants were clustered around a tall girl who's eyes were wide with shock and was panting as if she'd just run the full length of the palace.

"It's Agnesse," she repeated, laying a hand over her heart. "She's been accused of theft! Thieving from the queen!"

A series of gasps escaped from the gathering, and hushed whispering and twittering filled the room. Even the cook had stopped her tasks to come over and listen.

"Nobody's quite sure who sounded the alarm, and who pinned it on her, but nonetheless there are items missing from the Queen's personal library, and the guards are holding her until it can be proven whether she is innocent or not!"

I backed away, aghast. I'd never spoken to or met Agnesse, but I'd seen her hurrying about her duties with a dedicated and cheerful air, and I'd heard her talking at breakfast. I simply couldn't believe that she was a thief. No, I couldn't prove it, but I felt it in my soul. She wasn't guilty.

Determined to prove her innocence, I backed away and hurried back up the stair, heading directly for the guard's quarters. Upon arrival, I was greeted by two tall, straight-back guards standing on either side of the door. Undetered, I marched forward, head high. If I was lucky, I would appear wealthy and dignified, and they would therefore assume I had purpose for being here, and not bother to ask questions. Of course, I was not a lucky sort of of girl.

"Halt," the right guard said, putting his hand out in front of me. "No one is to enter, commander's orders."

Inside, I could hear the commander's firm, commanding tone, berating someone with questions.

A small, yet firm feminine voice replied,m"But I tell ye sir, I didn't do it! I would never steal from the queen! I'm as loyal as the day is long."

"I'm aware that no one is to enter," I snapped, "but this is of upmost importance and concern to the young woman whose very life could potentially be on the line, and I demand you let me in this instant."

The two guards looked at each other, as if weighing the legality of my statement. Finally, the left one rapped smartly on the door, and stepped inside. After a moment, he returned, holding there door open.

"M'lady," he said, waving me inside. I stepped in, and was greeted by the commander's cold, hard stare.

"I pray you have a worthy reason to interrupt?"

"Yes," I replied smartly, stepping forward. My eyes glanced down to Agnesse. Her tangled brown hair was slipping out slightly beneath her head scarf. Her hazel eyes were wide holding fear, yet a spark of fire beneath. She gazed at me wonderingly.

"I plead to this girl's innocence," I said, staring the commander straight in the eye. I kept my head high, shoulders back, attempting to attain what I hoped with the picture of dignity and grace.

"And how do you intend to do this? Do you even know this girl?" the commander asked, a hint of mockery in his voice.

"Yes I do," I said. "Agnesse was my maid and happened to be with me during the time of the theft. She was helping me to prepare for morning meal."

This was a stretch and a total bluff, but I prayed that the theft had been nothing of any great value, and a simple, unlikely lady-in-waiting wouldn't be truly held of any great suspicion.

"Is that so?" the commander demanded, leaning forward.

"Yes it is," I repled cooly. While it wasn't a trait I was especially proud of, I was a talented liar. Many years of hiding and disguising escapades had helped cultivate it.

I held my breath, and prayed that the commander would be forgiving and let her go.

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@ The Chocabookaholic: You can disgard or change this if you like, I was just throwing something out there. 

--
Lonnie

Can I join? I don't want this to die!!!!!!!!!!