Post by Lisa on Apr 4, 2010 13:59:32 GMT 10
Title: Social Obligations (IV)
Subtitle: A Ball
Rating: G
Length: 611 words
Character: Wyldon
Summary: Lady Elasabenne does not like seeing Wyldon in love… even if she was the first to suggest he move on and begin courting again.
“I’m happy to see you smiling a bit more, Wyl,” Elasabenne said, snapping her fan shut. “I know it’s been a difficult year for you, but even in the darkest of times, there’s a reason to continue.”
He nodded once in agreement.
“Have you given any thought to the notion of courting again? I think you’re the kind of man who needs to be married.”
“What does that mean?” He did not look her in the eye, but scanned the ballroom. Perhaps, she thought, he was already looking for a suitable marriage partner.
“You know full well that your one goal growing up was to be married and have babies. Well, other than your goal to be the best knight in the realm.”
“I don’t think you can still hold me accountable for the daydreams I had when I was nine years old,” he murmured. “Besides – I’m a knight, I’ve been married, and I’ve had my babies. Why should I try it again?”
Elasabenne scowled. “Because your girls need a mother.”
He gazed at her levelly. “My youngest is married.”
“Then your grandchildren need a grandmother.”
“Stop pushing, Elasa. I’ll re-marry if and when it suits me.”
She pressed her lips together, saying nothing. He was a stubborn man, she knew – he always had been. But he knew better than she did if his heart had healed enough to consider finding love again.
Wyldon handed her his goblet suddenly and took off across the ballroom at a determined pace, cutting through the wall of people on the opposite side. Elasabenne was astonished to see him return through the throng with a lady on his arm. She was a pretty enough thing, despite her ridiculous height. Her clothes were simple but elegant, like his own.
“Who is that?” she asked her husband.
He took one uninterested glance at the dance floor. “The lady knight.”
Elasabenne frowned, watching how closely Wyldon held the disreputable girl. She had questioned his choice in Lady Vivenne, so many years before, but this was nothing in comparison. Lady Knight Keladry was the absolute worse kind of match Wyldon could make for himself.
“Stop scowling,” Dermid said softly, taking her hand in his.
“Do you see him, dancing with that… that…”
“Noblewoman?” her husband filled in, eyebrows raised.
“Oh, come off of it,” she snapped. “I know you opposed her as much as Wyl did when she was first training.”
He shrugged. “That was before I saw her fight. Would you like to dance, my dear?”
“No.” She didn’t like how her brother’s entire face softened when he looked at the girl dancing in his arms. “I should’ve known something was going on when he agreed so quickly to come to this ball.”
“He’s a grown man, Elasabenne,” Dermid said, exasperated. “If it’s a mistake, it’s his to make.”
“Vivenne would be—”
“Glad to see her husband moving on.”
“And my nieces? When they find out they’ll be—”
“Astonished, at first,” he completed. “But relieved that their father isn’t wasting away in misery.”
She sighed. “Wyldon wouldn’t know how to waste away if he tried. He’s too practical to wallow.” Studying her brother and his dance-partner, she recognized that they were happy. She’d seen him smile like that only occasionally before, when he was gazing at Vivenne.
Dermid followed her gaze. “You’re not going to say anything this time, are you?”
She flushed. “He’s worth ten of her.”
“You said the same thing of Vivenne and nearly ruined your relationship with him thirty years ago.”
She looked up at him, grimacing. “Then I won’t say one thing this time.”
“Good. Now will you dance with me?”
Subtitle: A Ball
Rating: G
Length: 611 words
Character: Wyldon
Summary: Lady Elasabenne does not like seeing Wyldon in love… even if she was the first to suggest he move on and begin courting again.
“I’m happy to see you smiling a bit more, Wyl,” Elasabenne said, snapping her fan shut. “I know it’s been a difficult year for you, but even in the darkest of times, there’s a reason to continue.”
He nodded once in agreement.
“Have you given any thought to the notion of courting again? I think you’re the kind of man who needs to be married.”
“What does that mean?” He did not look her in the eye, but scanned the ballroom. Perhaps, she thought, he was already looking for a suitable marriage partner.
“You know full well that your one goal growing up was to be married and have babies. Well, other than your goal to be the best knight in the realm.”
“I don’t think you can still hold me accountable for the daydreams I had when I was nine years old,” he murmured. “Besides – I’m a knight, I’ve been married, and I’ve had my babies. Why should I try it again?”
Elasabenne scowled. “Because your girls need a mother.”
He gazed at her levelly. “My youngest is married.”
“Then your grandchildren need a grandmother.”
“Stop pushing, Elasa. I’ll re-marry if and when it suits me.”
She pressed her lips together, saying nothing. He was a stubborn man, she knew – he always had been. But he knew better than she did if his heart had healed enough to consider finding love again.
Wyldon handed her his goblet suddenly and took off across the ballroom at a determined pace, cutting through the wall of people on the opposite side. Elasabenne was astonished to see him return through the throng with a lady on his arm. She was a pretty enough thing, despite her ridiculous height. Her clothes were simple but elegant, like his own.
“Who is that?” she asked her husband.
He took one uninterested glance at the dance floor. “The lady knight.”
Elasabenne frowned, watching how closely Wyldon held the disreputable girl. She had questioned his choice in Lady Vivenne, so many years before, but this was nothing in comparison. Lady Knight Keladry was the absolute worse kind of match Wyldon could make for himself.
“Stop scowling,” Dermid said softly, taking her hand in his.
“Do you see him, dancing with that… that…”
“Noblewoman?” her husband filled in, eyebrows raised.
“Oh, come off of it,” she snapped. “I know you opposed her as much as Wyl did when she was first training.”
He shrugged. “That was before I saw her fight. Would you like to dance, my dear?”
“No.” She didn’t like how her brother’s entire face softened when he looked at the girl dancing in his arms. “I should’ve known something was going on when he agreed so quickly to come to this ball.”
“He’s a grown man, Elasabenne,” Dermid said, exasperated. “If it’s a mistake, it’s his to make.”
“Vivenne would be—”
“Glad to see her husband moving on.”
“And my nieces? When they find out they’ll be—”
“Astonished, at first,” he completed. “But relieved that their father isn’t wasting away in misery.”
She sighed. “Wyldon wouldn’t know how to waste away if he tried. He’s too practical to wallow.” Studying her brother and his dance-partner, she recognized that they were happy. She’d seen him smile like that only occasionally before, when he was gazing at Vivenne.
Dermid followed her gaze. “You’re not going to say anything this time, are you?”
She flushed. “He’s worth ten of her.”
“You said the same thing of Vivenne and nearly ruined your relationship with him thirty years ago.”
She looked up at him, grimacing. “Then I won’t say one thing this time.”
“Good. Now will you dance with me?”