Wenn & Wolf Tales

wwe0150 (new 06/15/2000)
~~~ Wenn Opportunity Knocks ~~~

First thing in the morning, Wenndolyne dressed meticulously and fussed for some time with her hair. It was being particularly willful or perhaps her nervousness only made it seem that way. She tied her pouch to her belt and stored her journal there, after slipping out the notice from the Admiral. Smoothing her soft heather green dress just one more time, she squared her shoulders and left for the Chancery.

Wenn had read the notice several times and there still was not much in it, no detail of the post at any rate. Most of it was the usual speech of politics, "the office of... having some reason to... in the interest of... for the preservation and forward progress toward..." etc. It was legible and if one sorted through all the pomp, there was indeed brief mention of some position to be filled, having to do with the Ministry of Affairs and dealing with visitors to the realm. At least it was a post to be held here in Camelot and not to be carried out in some embassy elsewhere. That was the most Wenn could get from it. The notice begged more questions than it answered.

Wenn purposely slowed her pace as she approached the Chancery. She didn't want to seem too anxious or harried, even though she was both. She gawked at the marvelous architecture. The Chancery itself was a two-story, rather square building of some size. To either side of that, were one-story extensions coming forward, creating a u-shape. The space between was laid with cut stone as well as small sculptured garden spots, all very nicely placed around a fountain. The courtyard was cool and restful, filled with the moisture and soft sound of the water. The song of the fountain and Wenn's own footsteps were quietly echoed in the arched colonnade that formed the walkway along each wing and across the face of the Chancery.

Feeling a bit too self-conscious to traipse across the open courtyard, Wenn selected a wing and walked in the shade of the open passageway. She strolled past door after door, not all of which were marked, but most appeared to be the offices of the ministers and such. At the juncture with the main building, she was greeted with a reserved smile and a nod from a black-uniformed guard posted in the breezeway there. He did not ask her business, so she did not tell, but she offered him a 'Good Morrow' and a curtsey before proceeding. Now she could look through the windows of the main building, trying not to stare, as she searched for an entrance.

Two large doors stood open in the center of the face of the Chancery's main building. Cool air passing between the shaded entry and the courtyard, felt good on Wenn's face. She was starting to get nervous again and intensely curious about the reported post, but, had the Admiral not said she was selected, in a way? Had he not indicated that the Chancellor was likely expecting her?

The entrance foyer was grand; beautiful stonework, lovely tapestries, banners of Camelot and others she did not recognize. In the center toward the back, poised between two sets of ornate doors, was a large, high desk. Behind the desk stood a very well dressed and patient gentleman, as he silently waited for Wenn to stop gazing about and approach. Embarrassedly, she finally did, dropping a brief curtsey to the fellow, which almost made her disappear from his sight, due to the height of the desk and his platform.

"Wenndolyne of..." She paused for her voice seemed too loud in this hushed vaulted entryway. "Wenndolyne of Flaxley, to see the Chancellor, if that would be convenient. I've been sent by the Admiral Cartwright, sir."

The fellow merely replied with "I see." then began to page through a register of some kind. Wenn thought it rather odd that he'd not have it open to record today's visitors. In fact, she began to find it humorous that he was straightening his sleeves so pointedly and making a sort of exaggerated display of his task. He picked up a quill and flourished it in the air before being all too ceremonious about dipping it in the ink. He smoothed his hand over the page he'd finally selected, then curled slightly to write. He stopped though, looking up under his lashes with an ounce of... disdain? in his gaze. He'd caught Wenn grinning from behind her hand. In her nervousness, she felt lucky she hadn't laughed aloud at the pretentious man.

"Yes, well... Wennnn-doh-lynnnnn... of...Flacksssssley..." He pronounced it all very slowly as he scribed it in his ledger. He scritched a bit more then popped the parchment crisply with the point of the quill to finish off his entry. Still with too much ceremony, he placed the quill back in its place, just so, then stood straight again to address his temporary charge. "The Chancellor will most likely be found in the Hall of Records on the second floor. Proceed through this ballroom..." He swept his hand out toward the partially open doors on his left. It was a move he must have practiced, to make it look so grandiose. "Then up the left staircase and you shall see." There was a brisk flip of his wrist to indicate 'upstairs' then he brought his hands together before him and firmly set them upon his registry book. He had completed his task and was done with her, apparently.

Wenn tried not to grin too broadly. She wanted to share a warm smile with him but not let him realize how silly she thought his exaggerated execution of his office has been. She curtsied and thanked him then took a step toward the doors he'd indicated. She paused though and turned back to him. "If I may ask, what is your name, sir?"

The receptionist cocked his head at her and blinked. His name? No one ever cared to know who he was. He was just the bloke who passed all the 'important' people through these halls. "Felder. My name is Felder." He couldn't help but bow as she curtsied to him again.

"Pleased to meet you, m'lord Felder."

"Yes, and you as well, M'lady... Wenndolyne." He watched her smile turn and disappear through the doors. As he took up his official waiting stance again, the corner of his mouth was turned up. She had addressed him as 'milord'. How good that felt.

Wenn forced herself not to tarry in the ballroom by making a promise that she would take a quick tour of it on her way out. It was a vaulted space, two stories high and opulent, from the quick glance she allowed while proceeding to the stairs. She gathered up her skirts and began to ascend but kept looking back over her shoulder, over the open staircase, to try to catch more details of the place.

"Looking for something, m'lady?"

The voice startled her and Wenn whirled around, wide-eyed, taking a moment to recognize the elderly gentleman who had now met her on his descent. "OH! M'lord Wolf!" Immediately she curtsied and made much ado of it because she felt so silly having been caught at sightseeing. She was blushed when she looked back up to him. "I seem to have lost my concentration. I've rarely seen such magnificence."

The mage smiled back at her and again she noticed how alert his gaze seemed, despite the apparent age in his face and white hair. His long robes were stark white as well, neat and prim. "Well, mind your step, the first one missed could be of consequence."

Wenndolyne giggled lightly. "Yes, yes indeed. It's a long journey back to start and one I'd not care to take too quickly." Her appointed task caught her thoughts again so she looked up the stairway then back to Lord Wolf. "Pray tell, is the Chancellor about?"

"Yes, though you may have to negotiate the maze of shelves to find him." he chuckled. "The man is forever in those stacks. One wonders what he finds so fascinating in there."

"More than likely, us." She grinned, thinking what information the Chancery must have, perhaps on each and every citizen of the realm. "I'll not detain you further, for I'm on an errand to see him."

Wolf smiled and nodded, knowingly. "So you are. Perhaps we can speak more at leisure in the firehall." His offer was sincere. From that day in Water Deep, Wolf had watched Wenndolyne, when opportunity permitted. There was much about her that he found charming, but more than that, he found the soft warm light of her personality refreshing. Having lived so long, this was a rare commodity which he highly valued.

Wenn nodded and curtsied again, her hands still clutched in her skirts. "I would like that, very much. Good day to you, M'Lord Wolf." She exchanged a lingered glance with him as he wished her a good day as well, then Wenn turned to continue up the stairs, this time without pausing to look back until she reached the top. She dared turn then and watch the graceful gentleman in his snow-white robes sweep from the ballroom and out of the Chancery. It still puzzled her, how even a mage could be wolf and man, but perhaps this was something they could discuss at their leisure, as he'd said. He seemed the sort to be able to explain such a thing and have the patience to, unlike Rannis, who was glib about being man and cat and panther. Wenn mused that Rannis might be covering the fact that he didn't really understand it himself.

Now, she thought, to find the Chancellor and see what this notice really means and what it may mean to her.

~~~~~~~~~

She stood patiently at the end of an aisle. She'd cautiously walked past several aisles of tall shelves, looking for someone she'd never seen before, but assuming that she'd know the Chancellor, perhaps by dress or age or demeanor. There had been several folks, who were obviously clerks or scribes, filing and shelving and extracting, carrying stacks of parchment and scrolls. At last she came to one aisle where stood an older distinguished man in fine dark blue robes. He was tilting his head this way and that, while slowly leafing through a large tome. Wenn simply waited, quietly. She had no wish to startle him or disturb his reading. He would surely notice her soon enough.

At last the man in robes closed and reshelved the tome, then turned as if still heavy in thought. When he finally looked up, his frown of concentration quickly changed to a warm smile. "Wenndolyne!" He crossed to meet her with his hand extended to take hers. She was surprised that he knew her name, but his smooth and gracious actions were no surprise. His manner was exactly as she would expect from one of his post.

She extended her hand, while dipping into a curtsey. "M'lord Chancellor, tis an honor to meet you, sir." As he kissed the back of her hand, she added. "And more than flattering that you know me by sight and name."

The Chancellor straightened and chuckled, then looked briefly about at all the stacks of information at his fingertips daily. "Well, tis my job to know. Come." His arm circled her shoulder without touching her, but it was enough to prompt her to turn with him and proceed from the aisles of records, to a group of tables near the open center of the area.

The Chancellor pulled out a chair for Wenn, then as she settled, he sat casually on the corner of the table. "So which of my emissaries convinced you to come see me? I assume you are here about the vacancy in the Ministry of Affairs?"

"Yes, Admiral Cartwright gave me a copy of your notice." She only now realized that it was wrung into a rag in her hand. She hoped the Chancellor didn't realize it or would find no disrespect in it. "Actually I made inquiries before but for another post. I'd been sent to Camelot from the Stone Warren, as a possible gem mistress, but, seems that need has been filled." She left off mentioning that she was grateful for that, feeling totally inadequate for it. It was the main reason she stalled in actually visiting the Chancery.

"Indeed, we've a gem mistress on the Council in fact, but we are about to lose a valued member of our staff in Affairs. Lady Morvil has been a fine help to us but through a change in family, and her inheritance of a significant trust," he grinned, "she has come into a new property which lies too many leagues from here to make it possible for her to continue with us."

"Lady Morvil... Is that not the Admiral's lady? Although I have not seen her since my arrival in Camelot, I've heard well of her. I assume she has been away tending to these things you mention." And, Wenn thought, leaving Simon with no one to really care for him. She had to put that issue away for the moment.

"Yes, the Admiral was called out yesterday to join her, but he shall return. There are no plans as yet for him to leave us, that I am aware of, but I assume it shall happen eventually. In any case, we find ourselves in need of another who can serve the realm as Lady Morvil has and you, dear Wenndolyne, would appear to be a prime candidate, from all reports."

Wenn blushed profusely and began her protests. "But, M'lord Chancellor, I haven't even an inkling what this post may be about and cannot fathom how I may be of such service. Honestly, I have done very little here in Camelot, save befriend a few and gotten rather fond of the Admiral's charge, young Simon." She neglected to mention Poet. She neglected to mention how distraught she would be if Cartwright left after having just agreed to be her guardian. She neglected to mention how sad it would be to lose Simon when he would presumably ship off with the Admiral.

The Chancellor chuckled, "But when you know more of the office, you will see that it is precisely this friendliness that is needed, as well as your courtly manner and your fine education. All these things were rumored of you, rumors only, until today. Now I see for myself that they are true. Tell me, Wenndolyne, do you find persons of a certain status intimidating?"

She thought on this for a moment, quickly sifting persons she had met. In her younger life, at her father's estate, they had often received visitors and she, in her mother's absence, played hostess. Her father had seen to a fine education, certainly, in both letters and courtly protocol, though she was a bit out of practice in the latter. With the Stone Warren, she doubted that any here in Camelot's court would recognize the stature of those she'd met, but Wenn valued much more than mere titles. She'd been privileged to share meals with very wise and knowledgeable persons, as a simple by-product of being so close in Othala's care and living with her for a time.

"No... " she answered at last. "No, I don't suppose I do. I respect authority, certainly, but..." She was blushing again and uncomfortable speaking of herself so candidly. "But, I do my best, sir, to favor all I meet with attention and respect. With or without title or power or even two coins to rub together..." At last she met the Chancellor's eyes and he was listening intently. "Are not all persons due just consideration? Wee folk to lords to royalty, everyone including me, are all deserving until we prove otherwise. Such my father taught me. So, tis how I am... sir." She looked down then at the ragged parchment she was wringing in her lap, feeling she had prattled on and preached too much.

"You see, not all have such a noble attitude, nor the ability to express it. Your father must be proud." He leaned and patted Wenndolyne's hand.

She looked up with a bright smile. "Yes, I believe he was." She left it there, for the Chancellor nodded slowly in understanding.

"At any rate," he leaned back, "The Admiral spoke truly of you. Now tell me is there anything that does intimidate you?"

Wenn giggled lightly. "Speaking too much of myself!" He shared her laughter then she thought a moment and continued. "Oh, sometimes personal situations may be a bit challenging and, well, magic. I never considered my stone lore to be a form of magic and to be honest..." she whispered conspiratorially, "I'm not terribly well versed in it." Leaning back again, she vowed silently to just shut up and not carry on so, but she had one thing more to say on the topic. "So, I haven't had much to do with magic and must admit that something so far outside my experience can be quite intimidating."

"Really, now this surprises me, for Lord Wolf had made no mention of such concerning you." Before Wenn could even think through that statement, the Chancellor rose to his feet and offered his hand for her to rise as well. "Let us venture to the Ministry of Affairs office while we continue and I shall introduce you to Lord Whitcomb."

She listened and answered as required while they walked. She hoped her responses and demeanor were not as distracted as her thoughts. Lord Wolf had spoken of her to the Chancellor? Had she just been interviewed for this position? She still had little idea what it entailed and yet was on her way to meet the person to whom she would answer, IF they offered and IF she accepted. And Simon... How much she would miss him if the Admiral went off to marry the Lady Morvil and took Simon away.

Lord Whitcomb was a bit more business-like but personable enough. As the conversation proceeded between the three, he seemed to warm to Wenndolyne and did agree with the Chancellor that she would suit nicely as Amitress. Wenn had never heard this word before, which was a rather unusual occurrence, but soon she saw the appropriateness of it as Minister Whitcomb explained the duties of the post.

"So generally, while the lord or viscount or some such is embroiled in conversations over territory and trade with Camelot, their ladies and children are lost for what to do and where to go in a strange place. They are of course accustomed to attendants, but those who come along in their entourage are not likely to be of much help. Thus, we established that there should be an Amitress, one who greets the visiting dignitaries, sees to their satisfactory accommodations, keeps them informed of social functions and, generally, introduces them to Camelot. It is all in the name of amity and we have found that thusly greased, the wheels of commerce turn much more smoothly."

Wenn began to think that Felder had been trained by Lord Whitcomb, but she didn't let on to those thoughts with more than a secret smile. By the end of the discourse, she felt she understood what her role would be and couldn't imagine a more exciting task than helping people enjoy Camelot as much as she had. It seemed a little strange that she would serve in this way, even though she was still so new to the shining city herself, but the Chancellor pointed out that this may be the perfect way to prepare for the job. Wenndolyne would take a fresh look at what the city has to offer, that she may be knowledgeable of it to be shared with their visitors.

It was exciting too to think of such events as were further discussed. She would be in attendance at many of the social functions usually reserved for someone of status or property. Wenn was not interested in the pomp of such occasions but neither were they usually short on entertainment. Perhaps even Poet was in the habit of doing readings or sharing song at these events. She would have to remember to ask him.

The conversation wound down to wages and Wenn assured them that this was not a large consideration. She begged not to elaborate, but assured both the Chancellor and the Minister that she had no real need for coin as payment. She did not think it appropriate to explain about the pouch of gems hanging at her waist. Fleetingly, she realized she had not explained this to Poet either. Yet another mental note to add to the growing stack. Despite her protests, they decided on a more moderate wage than originally offered but added to it, her own stateroom within the Castle of Camelot. This was something Wenn could not turn down. It made sense that she be near at hand for visitors who would be staying at the Castle as well. It was also something that appealed to her. Nice as her room was at the fine inn down the way a bit, a stateroom there within the Castle sounded just marvelous.

So, a deal was struck and Wenndolyne would henceforth be officially, Lady Wenndolyne, Amitress for the Ministry of Affairs of Camelot. The Chancellor and Whitcomb both insisted on 'Lady' which technically was correct, for she was Lady Wenndolyne of Flaxley, even if she was loathe to tout it. She would, whenever remotely appropriate, insist that she was just Wenn.

(dp/dj - log conversions IC and OOC and some more after that)