A/N: 2nd Chapter, romance is building up.
Anyway, on with the tale!
'In my room, I stood in front of my mirror, judging myself. My straight black hair came to just above my breasts, my light brown eyes surveyed my reflection. I had what Fian, from the Technoguild, had once described as an olive complexion, high cheekbones and a defiant jaw.
Moving my eyes downwards, I fingered my dark sleeveless dress, liking the way it flowed, and how it skimmed my body. It wasn't an ordinary Nightmeal. It was a celebration of the day that the 2 Misfit groups first met. It was required that everybody look their best. However, the only shoes I possessed were dirt ridden, due to my expedition to the Lowlands last Sevenday.
Suddenly there was a knock at my door.
Without thinking, I sent out a loose probe to find out who it was.
I quickly flung on a robe. It was him.
I heard the door click open. I smirked. She knew I was there. There was something very attractive about her. She didn't take anything from anybody, she was stubborn, she was…
'So do you stand outside doors for fun Slater, or do you actually plan to come in?' (A/N: I know that line is xtremely lame, but couldn't think of anything) came her piercing mental voice inside my head. I had no doubt she made it so painful intentionally.
I pushed the door open, and entered. Elspeth turned around rapidly, her silky black hair whipping across her back. She had a chocolate coloured robe on, and I wondered what was underneath it…
Elspeth's caramel eyes were fixed upon the box in my hand. Ah, I'd almost forgotten I'd had it.
"I thought you might like these." I said smoothly, striding across to her. I could smell her now, and thought I saw her cheeks redden.
She moved away. But not by much.
Elspeth took the box out of my hands and opened it.
I opened the box carefully, my fingers shaking slightly. He was standing quite close to me, smelling like soap and the mountains. But there was something wild about his smell too, like Galtha when we would gallop together across the fields.
Inside the box was a pair of shoes. They were aqua and bronze, wedged, and higher than any shoe I'd ever worn before. I raised my eyebrows at Slater.
"You expect me to wear these?" I scoffed looking down at them, though they were undoubtedly the best looking shoes I'd ever held.
I looked up, and was startled to find his face just an inch from my own. He nodded, his grey eyes scorching mine. I couldn't help noticing how good he looked up close, his brown hair falling onto his tanned face, his lips full and soft- looking. Then, before I could make a scathing comment and tell him to leave, he brought those lips to my face. I was paralysed, warm shivers going down my back. Slater then buried his face next to my ear.
"They'll look great on you." He whispered, before turning swiftly and exiting my room.
Stunned, I gently removed the robe from around my shoulders, letting it fall in a heap onto the floor. I sat down and gazed down at the shoes once more. I basically had no choice, though the thought of the smug look on his face was almost enough to make me change my mind. He would think that I wore them for him, no doubt, as people like Slater are wont to do so. Then I thought of his kiss. I was pretty sure I had no feelings for him. But he was a good kisser, there was no denying that.
I got up and walked over to my mirror, thinking of someone else who I'd fantasised about kissing. I smudged some rouge Kella had given me onto my cheeks and lips, and swiped some kohl (from Sador) across my eyes. Eyeing the shoes mistrustfully, I eventually put them on. They looked, to my surprise, better than I'd thought they would, shaping my slim legs with their height, the colours illuminating my skin.
Suddenly, the bell sounded for Nightmeal, and I left my room, ignoring the rush of cool air that hit me as I walked out.
To my dismay, the tables were set up outside for the occasion, and the few heat lamps erected throughout the area did barely anything to stifle the cold. I was to be seated at the table reserved for Guildleaders and Masters. I walked over to it wondering who I'd been placed next to. Last Moonfair it had been Kella and Maryon, and as Kella had been busy with Domick, I was left to talk to the lofty Futuretell Guildmistress.
I was placed in between Slater and Rushton. Well, this was to be an interesting Nightmeal.
As I was the first Guildleader there, I took the time to talk to search for Maruman, who I hadn't seen since his venture into the Blacklands.
'Maruman/ Yelloweyes! Are you there?' I sent out a farseeking probe. Incredibly, it found him. I walked over to him, sitting contentedly on the lap of one of the wards. As I approached, he jumped up and into my arms, stretching himself across my body.
'How have your wanderings been?' I asked him, scratching him behind the ear.
He didn't reply for a while, and when he spoke, it was about another topic entirely.
'The OldOne talked to Maruman/ Yelloweyes. Said that Innle will find her answers in the Barud.' I stared at him. So Atthis wanted me to stay at Obernewtyn, at least for now? I asked Maruman as such.
'Innle may stay in the Barud for now.' He conceded, purring, and obviously bored now. I let him down, feeling a pang of emotion for the battered old cat.
I turned around, and found Rushton talking to Fetini, a pretty Darthnorian girl. As I edged closer, I made out bits of their conversation.
'Rushton, you're awful!' Fetini laughed loud and hard, tracing his upper arm with her fingers, 'Where do you get these things from?'
Rushton just smiled amusedly at her, catching my eye over her shoulder. His expression suddenly changed, his green eyes more bold and daring. My breath caught in my throat. Whenever he gave me that look, and he made sure it was often, I got the feeling that he could see straight through my clothes. His eyes travelled down the length of my body, pausing at the hemline of my dress. I suddenly got the impression that it may have been a bit too short. My thought was affirmed by the familiar voice in my ear, 'Nice dress.'
I looked up at Slater, looking especially good in formal attire.
'Thanks.' I Mindspoke him, walking with him to the table where everyone else was now seated. Everybody except Rushton, who had joined the Darthnorian leader, Mikeish, at the head of the clearing.
'Good evening to all.' Mikeish began, 'I am incredibly happy to be here for the first celebration of the joining of our two Misfit groups. When we ventured north to the Highlands from Darthnor, we thought we were in a sense going into exile. Finding Obernewtyn, but most importantly, finding other Misfits who wanted to bring justice to our Land, was an unbelievable blessing, for which I'm sure all Darthnorians thank Lud for.'
'And we, the Misfits of Obernewtyn, are honoured to have you here, to help us oppose the Council, and to bring justice to Misfits once and for all.' Rushton pronounced, raising his glass. 'To Obernewtyn.'
'To Obernewtyn.' Went the murmur around the clearing, as hundreds of glasses were raised in unison.
A/N: so tell me, was that any better? just press that lil button