Re: Yearnings - One Journey Ends as Another Begins

[Aasha]

Focus on the words, the ink, the pen, the parchment, the soft warmth, the gentle way sh-

"...add just one more florish, and there you go."

Dearest Tiffanyanne
Viscountess of Shrewsbury
Lady of the Elysian Plains,

I am most delighted to hear of your return to Shrewsbury, and would be grateful to attend Dinner at your convenience. However, Aimar will not be able to attend. The Honorable Red, Esq. TM of Stafford shall escort me in his stead.

Your obt svt,

"The only thing left now," he released her hand and drew back, "is to put your name to it."

[Aasha]

Dearest Tiffanyanne
Viscountess of Shrewsbury
Lady of the Elysian Plains,

I am most delighted to hear of your return to Shrewsbury, and would be grateful to attend Dinner at your convenience. However, Aimar will not be able to attend. The Honorable Red, Esq. TM of Stafford shall escort me in his stead.

Your obt svt,

Aas ha

She never thought she'd be disappointed when a task ended, but she was this one. She couldn't help but sigh as he released her hand, already missing his warmth at her back. - Think of how he shaped the letters, the easy way he wrote, the warmth of his hand in yours, how much you wanted to lean back on him...

no...don't think of that...

...the letters, how the letters were made, how he moved your hand to write them, his breath on your neck...

Aasha, stop it, the letters, not him, the letters... -

She was bright red by the time she'd written her name, it still wasn't as neat as his, and she'd gotten a huge blot of ink on her hand when she'd pulled the pen back, but she was proud, and hoped Tiff would think it was good when she received it. One more question hovered though, she'd asked the meaning of everything but the end, and had to ask. But Red...what's that fancy obt svt mean? If'n she asks an' I don't know what I wrote, she ain't gonna think I did good...

[Aasha]

Nearly overcome, Red dived deep into the impersonal refuge of the note and was remarkably proud of what he saw. Just a few hesitation marks...only a couple of smudges...hanging sarif...Aas ha? better not say anything...

"hmmm? Oh, that just means 'obedient servent'" he remarked off hand as he sprinkled sand over the freshly written note.

[Aasha]

Her mouth dropped in shock, her eyes were glued to his face even with him occupied with completing the note. Obedi'nt servant? But I ain't no servant fer nobody. Why am I writin' that?

After a moment's hesitation, she added; an' whats obedi'nt?

[Aasha]

This, he thought, was at least familar territory. Aasha the Indignant... Old attitudes came easy, but the strange new pull did not diminish.

"Obedient means a willingness to obey athourity. But that's not important..." he said with a dismissive gesture. "You've got to understand, these...people, the nobility, expect a certain deference, uh, respect from those of a lower station." He searched her eyes for a hint of understanding.

"It's just a matter of politeness. You use 'please' and 'thank you.' They use phrases like 'I beg to retain, madame, the honer of expressing my most sincere considerations' I know Tiff has been very nice to you, but nobles are nobles and they expect the appearence of formality. No one, least of all me, expects you to throw your lot into servitude because of one letter.

"The rules may be galling, but if that is what you want in life, then you must learn them."

Please understand Aasha...

[Aasha]

She tried to wrap her mind around what he was saying, but picturing Tiffany talking like that was hard to imagine. Of course, part of it she understood, wasn't that a reason why she wanted to stay so far away from anyone in authority? Not the only one, but it was a big one, yet here she was, seeking out someone in a position of authority, drawn to him in a way she'd never expected.

Realizing he was waiting for her to reply, she glanced up and smiled. I guess it ken stay...even if'n I ain't gonna be servin' her...if'n its somethin' that's in those blasted rules. Plain talk's easier ya knows. Standing so she didn't have to crane her neck quite so much, she took his hand again, regardless of the 'rules'. Seems I'm thankin' ya 'gain Red...maybe some day I'll figure these rules. Most don't make no sense to me.

[Aasha]

Red was vastly relieved that the storm had passed and that he held her hand again, however briefly. He sat down facing her, engulfing her small hand in both of his.

"Aasha, the rules may seem daft, but they have their purpose. Don't forget, the best part of learning the rules is learning how to break them," he gave her a conspiratorial wink. "Later, maybe I'll tell how the Earls of London fight over the King's chamberpot."

Reluctantly, he let her hand drop away. "There's just one more thing..."

Red dripped wax onto the letter's open edge and stamped an 'A' with one of the seals from his collection. He presented the finished work to Aasha.

"If it meets your approval, I can have my messenger deliver it."

[Aasha]

She had to fight the temptation to put her arms around him again, that or climbing up on a chair so they were closer to the same height. - Neither is a good idea girl. One would convince him you were crazy, the other would only confirm you aren't a lady. Remember what Lady Kerri said about reputations. If you're not supposed to travel alone with them, you sure can't be touching them all the time. - Still, her hand was in his, and she'd be damned if she was going to remove it.

Both urges were removed before she could explore further though, as he sat down. She didn't have to look up at all now, and if she sat, she could still gaze into his eyes. Just the thought of that had her flustered, and brought a desire to be closer still.

Breakin' rules...thats somethin' I ken do fer sure, if'n it don't get me yelled at later. The wink did nothing to relax her, color came to her cheeks along with what could only be described as a dreamy smile. She sat without thinking, still searching his face. For what, she couldn't say, maybe a sign he was feeling these same odd urges she was so aware of.

She didn't blink again until he released her hand. - Did he look like he didn't want to let go? Wishful thinking Aasha? Pay attention you ninny. -

One more thing? Peering over, she watched as he sealed the letter. The seal wasn't as elaborate as the one he used, but it did make the missive look more official, even fancy. Ya gots one wit' a letter from my name? That's real nice Red. Meets wit' my approv'l? Oh, yah, yer mess'nger ken take it.

[Aasha]

Red let loose a sharp whistle to rouse his dozing messenger and gave the young boy a stack of missaves with her's topping the bunch and sent him on his way with instructions.


He turned back to Aasha now deeply unsure of himself.

"It's still a long while before the dinner, perhapes..." His voice trailed off, not knowing how to finish.

[Aasha]

The whistle made her jump almost as much as the dozing boy did. She even felt a little sorry for him when she saw him rubbing his eyes and trying to look more alert. The stack Red gave him was huge, just imagining how long it would take to write that much made her fingers ache.

Glancing down at her hands, she noticed the ink staining them now, they were beginning to look like Reds. - Only much smaller, one of his makes two of yours. - She rolled her eyes and grinned, for once her thoughts amusing rather than confusing. Not that it lasted long, the moment his attention was back on her, she felt flustered all over again.

They'd answered, but it still hadn't hit that she had a dinner to go to, until he mentioned they had a while before it started. - I'm supposed to wear that dress she gave me. Oh Jah, I never had Ellie show me how to put it on. And I invited Red? I'm going to make a fool of myself, and he will see. - Eyes wide, she looked up, hoping for a distraction, anything to keep the uncertainty at bay. Perhaps?

Lost, she was lost in his eyes. - Wrong distraction Aasha! Whats wrong with you? That's it, act stupid before the dinner, then he won't be surprised later! - A quick shake of her head dislodged those thoughts and she repeated; Perhaps what?

[Aasha]

"Perhaps..." He plumbed the emerald depths. "...you'd like to stay here a while, with me?"

[Aasha]

With the letter finished, she'd assumed he would be ready for her to go, so hearing him ask if she wanted to stay. - Spend more time with him. This means he wants to spend time with me! - Her face was glowing, eyes sparkling while the hope that maybe, just maybe this meant he was feeling the pull too. She found herself leaning a little closer as she murmured; Sounds better'n stayin' here by myself. - Idiot! Why couldn't you just say yes? - But she was suddenly flustered, her cheeks burning as she lowered her lashes.

[Aasha]

"I'd like that very much, Aasha." A true smile lit his face and his heart raced.

They sat for some time talking of little things . All work was forgotten and envoys were turned away. He edged closer and closer to her with each passing moment. And when he could no longer restrain himself, he draped his arm around her, and just held her while the sun sank from the sky.

[Aasha]

The bantering she'd grown accustomed to with him was missing, the awkwardness forgotten as she sat and enjoyed his presence. It was an opportunity she treasured, time to get to know him without expectations or rules. The tingling awareness didn't fade, in fact, each time his work threatened to interrupt and he sent them away, she felt it increase.

When the weight of his arm registered, her face glowed. - Rules be damned, he said I had to know them so I could break them! - Shyly, her arm slipped around to rest lightly on his waist, a feeling of contentment she'd never experienced overtaking her.

[Sponsored content]