Post by kiz on Feb 1, 2010 11:53:39 GMT 10
Title: Morning on the Court
Rating: PG
Length: 508
Competitor: Uline
Round: 1/H
Summary: She was like nobody Kel had ever taught before.
The courtyards stood empty as Kel practiced shooting her huge Yamani bow. It was true that she hated the weapon, but her distaste had made her grossly out of practice. And if there was one thing Kel hated, it was being unprepared. Her arm muscles ached from the effort of the half forgotten instrument and she smiled to herself with a grim sort of satisfaction.
She didn’t know how long either of them had been standing there before she noticed Uline.
“Hello,” the older girl said lightly. She was dressed for comfort as much as she was for the weather, warm in a brown velvet dress with a pink overcoat wrapped tightly around her.
Kel gulped, her mouth suddenly dry. “Hello,” she said, almost cautiously. “Are you meeting somebody here, Lady Uline?”
Uline shook her head, her dark locks shaking prettily. “I was just walking, and saw you. That’s an impressive bow.”
“I take it my lady has never seen one of these?”
“No, I have.” Uline laughed, and fleetingly Kel couldn’t help but think that Neal was right: She did have the prettiest voice. “Queen Thayet had us try to learn them when the royal delegation came,” Uline explained. “I’m afraid I wasn’t much good at it, though.”
Kel shrugged. “Everybody says that about this bow at first. But it’s...it’s...well, there are worse things to learn.” She bit the inside of her cheek before adding, “I could show you, if you like.”
“Please do!”
Kel gestured, and Uline stepped across the court to join the young lady knight. They next few minutes were companionable ones. Kel was no stranger to this kind of teaching: She had done this sort of thing before, with Iden, with Warric, and with the children of Haven.
But as they worked, things began to change. It was something so subtle that Kel could not put her finger on it. But it was still there, glinting on the edge of her periphery, tantalizing and unfathomable. It was in the way Uline leaned into Kel as she checked her stance. The smooth plane of Uline’s cheek as she shared her wry commentary. The spark of tension when Kel’s fingertips grazed Uline’s hips, ushering them to point forward. In so many ways, this was completely unlike anybody Kel had ever taught before.
When Uline turned around and kissed her, Kel found she was not surprised. She only kissed her back, a nervous fire humming in her veins as she cupped the other woman’s face in her hands and parted her lips. Uline responded eagerly, pressing herself against Kel and burying her hands in the knight’s short hair.
Kel didn’t know how long it lasted. It felt like hours; realistically it was probably only moments. She did know that her lips felt swollen, and the nervous fire had not dissipated. She could feel her cheeks beginning to flush and absurdly, she fought the urge to bow to the other woman, palms flat on her knees.
“I’m sorry,” Kel said breathlessly.
Uline smiled. “I’m not.”
Rating: PG
Length: 508
Competitor: Uline
Round: 1/H
Summary: She was like nobody Kel had ever taught before.
The courtyards stood empty as Kel practiced shooting her huge Yamani bow. It was true that she hated the weapon, but her distaste had made her grossly out of practice. And if there was one thing Kel hated, it was being unprepared. Her arm muscles ached from the effort of the half forgotten instrument and she smiled to herself with a grim sort of satisfaction.
She didn’t know how long either of them had been standing there before she noticed Uline.
“Hello,” the older girl said lightly. She was dressed for comfort as much as she was for the weather, warm in a brown velvet dress with a pink overcoat wrapped tightly around her.
Kel gulped, her mouth suddenly dry. “Hello,” she said, almost cautiously. “Are you meeting somebody here, Lady Uline?”
Uline shook her head, her dark locks shaking prettily. “I was just walking, and saw you. That’s an impressive bow.”
“I take it my lady has never seen one of these?”
“No, I have.” Uline laughed, and fleetingly Kel couldn’t help but think that Neal was right: She did have the prettiest voice. “Queen Thayet had us try to learn them when the royal delegation came,” Uline explained. “I’m afraid I wasn’t much good at it, though.”
Kel shrugged. “Everybody says that about this bow at first. But it’s...it’s...well, there are worse things to learn.” She bit the inside of her cheek before adding, “I could show you, if you like.”
“Please do!”
Kel gestured, and Uline stepped across the court to join the young lady knight. They next few minutes were companionable ones. Kel was no stranger to this kind of teaching: She had done this sort of thing before, with Iden, with Warric, and with the children of Haven.
But as they worked, things began to change. It was something so subtle that Kel could not put her finger on it. But it was still there, glinting on the edge of her periphery, tantalizing and unfathomable. It was in the way Uline leaned into Kel as she checked her stance. The smooth plane of Uline’s cheek as she shared her wry commentary. The spark of tension when Kel’s fingertips grazed Uline’s hips, ushering them to point forward. In so many ways, this was completely unlike anybody Kel had ever taught before.
When Uline turned around and kissed her, Kel found she was not surprised. She only kissed her back, a nervous fire humming in her veins as she cupped the other woman’s face in her hands and parted her lips. Uline responded eagerly, pressing herself against Kel and burying her hands in the knight’s short hair.
Kel didn’t know how long it lasted. It felt like hours; realistically it was probably only moments. She did know that her lips felt swollen, and the nervous fire had not dissipated. She could feel her cheeks beginning to flush and absurdly, she fought the urge to bow to the other woman, palms flat on her knees.
“I’m sorry,” Kel said breathlessly.
Uline smiled. “I’m not.”