Post by Rosie on Nov 5, 2011 2:47:43 GMT 10
Title: Stranger in Paradise
Rating: G
Prompt: #45, Passion
Summary: Cythera decides to help Thayet settle into Tortall. Part of the 'Women' series, with Lisa and Mandi.
--
"It's not that she's shy," Jonathan said, leaning back in Gary's chair. Cythera watched closely, certain the legs were going to break and the new king would wind up in an ungraceful heap on the floor. "I don't know, I can't figure out what it is. But she doesn't seem happy."
"Find out what she's interested in," Gary suggested, not helping his cousin's precarious position by kicking at the chair legs Jonathan was balanced on. "That's what I did."
Cythera had to fight a grin, having been initially perplexed when Gary had started expressing an interest in embroidery.
"I suppose that's not the stupidest idea you've ever come up with," Jonathan conceded, landing the front legs on the floor once more. "I just wish I had the time. I'm getting fresh reports of how wide the famine's spreading every day - and all I can think about is how uncomfortable she looks."
Cythera didn't say anything, not then. She wasn't sure that she would get along with the princess, or that Thayet and her grumpy shadow would appreciate the intrusion. But, the following day, she enlisted Gwynnen, and the two of them cornered Thayet after lunch.
"Lady Gwynnen and I are going riding in an hour, your highness - a small tour of the nearby forest. If it would please you, we should be grateful if you would join us. Er, and your companion is welcome, too," Cythera added hastily, unnerved by Buri's scowl.
She knew she'd done the right thing when Thayet's face broke into a smile. "Perfect. I love to ride. We will meet you by the stables in an hour, then, Lady Cythera."
--
They hadn't been riding half-an-hour when Cythera knew she'd done the wrong thing. Thayet and Buri had turned up in breeches, for one. For another, they certainly had no intentions of keeping to the sort of pace Cythera had attempted to set.
"I knew we should have taken her ice-skating instead," Gwynnen muttered.
"There's no ice," Cythera retorted. "Besides, this is - well, I'm not enjoying it either, not side-saddle anyway, but look how happy she is."
Gwynnen made the sort of noise which appropriately expressed how little she cared, just as Thayet circled back to join them.
"The scenery here is beautiful," she said, and Cythera couldn't help but think that she looked as though she belonged. "Thank you, Lady Cythera, Lady Gwynnen."
And how could you argue with that? Particularly when the person speaking was likely to be your future queen. Cythera continued the ride in peace, content at having cheered up three people in one fell swoop - even if it was at the expense of Gwynnen's happiness.
"We must do this again sometime," Thayet said afterwards, and it wasn't until later that Cythera discovered that the root of her smiles that day was not the horses, but the prospect of friends who would do things other than bow and scrape, and try to ingratiate themselves with the prospective future queen.
"Maybe next time, you could wear breeches," Buri suggested, her arms full of tack. "What?" she said defensively, when Thayet shot her a look. "They were slow."
Cythera couldn't hear Gwynnen giggling, but she knew her friend would be, all the same.
Rating: G
Prompt: #45, Passion
Summary: Cythera decides to help Thayet settle into Tortall. Part of the 'Women' series, with Lisa and Mandi.
--
"It's not that she's shy," Jonathan said, leaning back in Gary's chair. Cythera watched closely, certain the legs were going to break and the new king would wind up in an ungraceful heap on the floor. "I don't know, I can't figure out what it is. But she doesn't seem happy."
"Find out what she's interested in," Gary suggested, not helping his cousin's precarious position by kicking at the chair legs Jonathan was balanced on. "That's what I did."
Cythera had to fight a grin, having been initially perplexed when Gary had started expressing an interest in embroidery.
"I suppose that's not the stupidest idea you've ever come up with," Jonathan conceded, landing the front legs on the floor once more. "I just wish I had the time. I'm getting fresh reports of how wide the famine's spreading every day - and all I can think about is how uncomfortable she looks."
Cythera didn't say anything, not then. She wasn't sure that she would get along with the princess, or that Thayet and her grumpy shadow would appreciate the intrusion. But, the following day, she enlisted Gwynnen, and the two of them cornered Thayet after lunch.
"Lady Gwynnen and I are going riding in an hour, your highness - a small tour of the nearby forest. If it would please you, we should be grateful if you would join us. Er, and your companion is welcome, too," Cythera added hastily, unnerved by Buri's scowl.
She knew she'd done the right thing when Thayet's face broke into a smile. "Perfect. I love to ride. We will meet you by the stables in an hour, then, Lady Cythera."
--
They hadn't been riding half-an-hour when Cythera knew she'd done the wrong thing. Thayet and Buri had turned up in breeches, for one. For another, they certainly had no intentions of keeping to the sort of pace Cythera had attempted to set.
"I knew we should have taken her ice-skating instead," Gwynnen muttered.
"There's no ice," Cythera retorted. "Besides, this is - well, I'm not enjoying it either, not side-saddle anyway, but look how happy she is."
Gwynnen made the sort of noise which appropriately expressed how little she cared, just as Thayet circled back to join them.
"The scenery here is beautiful," she said, and Cythera couldn't help but think that she looked as though she belonged. "Thank you, Lady Cythera, Lady Gwynnen."
And how could you argue with that? Particularly when the person speaking was likely to be your future queen. Cythera continued the ride in peace, content at having cheered up three people in one fell swoop - even if it was at the expense of Gwynnen's happiness.
"We must do this again sometime," Thayet said afterwards, and it wasn't until later that Cythera discovered that the root of her smiles that day was not the horses, but the prospect of friends who would do things other than bow and scrape, and try to ingratiate themselves with the prospective future queen.
"Maybe next time, you could wear breeches," Buri suggested, her arms full of tack. "What?" she said defensively, when Thayet shot her a look. "They were slow."
Cythera couldn't hear Gwynnen giggling, but she knew her friend would be, all the same.
Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!