The next day I always had to smile when I saw him and my face lit up and my eyes sparkled. He did smile a little whenever he saw me but turned away quickly when other people were around. But I did catch him watching me now and then. That made me feel good. At dinner we were both a little shy and neither of us mentioned what happened yesterday. But it did feel closer. He leaned closer and looked at me differently. His smile and his eyes were warmer.
Two days later all that changed. He hardly spoke at dinner and was in a bad mood. You could see he was brooding on something. Finally after a short and quiet meal, he told me to take a walk with him. We went outside the camp until it was dark around us and we were alone. He stepped away from me and turned towards me. I could hardly make out his features. He was a dark tower in the night. "Do you pity me?" he scowled, "and don't lie to me, I will know when you lie and I hate liars."
"I do pity the boy you must have been, I do not pity the man you are" I said slowly. "Why do you asked?"
"The Redwyne boy said you would only dine with me because you pity me."
"Why would you believe the man I refused for you? You know me." I was a little hurt and couldn't understand him.
He turned away from me. "Because it made sense. I am the second son of a low knight with no lands or titles. I am hideous to look at. Why would you dine with me?" he said with scorn in his voice. Now I understood and now I did feel sorry for him a little. Sorry, that he didn't think himself good enough to be liked.
"I dine with you because I like you", I bridged the gap between us with a step. "I like you because I feel safe around you, because I trust you." I touched his arm. "You don't lie, if you don't like the way I look you will tell me, so when you tell me you like me I believe you. You won't be nice to me and then turn around and mock me." I took a step and almost faced him. "I like you because you are strong and gentle at the same time." I took another step. Now I was standing in front of him. "I like your humour and that you don't think you are the most important man in the world". I put my hands on his waist and looked up at him "Most of all I like how you make me feel". And I wrapped my arms around him and leaned against him. I could feel his rough tunic against my face and smell him.
After a moment he put his arms around me too. For a moment his lips brushed my hair and he whispered "My little angel" We stood like that for a long time wrapped in the darkness around us. Until we heard some people coming close. He let go of me and rasped: "I'll take you to your tent" We walked in silence and close by each other to where my tent was. "Good night little angel" he said.
"Good night, Sandor," and I got up on my toes as high as I could and kissed his cheek ever so lightly.