HELLO!!!!!!!!!! I BACK! By the time you get this I will have 50 reviews, because I made that goal when I reached 45! Soooooooo, it wasn't unreasonable... NE hOw!
*.*.*
"Good evening Daja."
She started out of the reverie that she had lost herself in.
"Oh! Hello Ifan!"
"How goes it?"
"Great!"
"Shall we?"
"Ok."
She took the offered arm, as she had done for nearly three weeks. Every day, Ifan had met her on the way home from the forge, and escorted her home. She had received merciless teasing for it, but still enjoyed Ifan's company. No one, including herself gave her much sympathy for being picked on, she talked about him nearly nonstop. Looking at him, she was still slightly amazed at how slow he was taking it with her. Many had told her that Ifan was quicker with the girls than some grown men. After the last three weeks, she no longer believed the rumors. He was a good friend now, and to think she had barely known his name a few weeks ago! She started again when she realized that he had asked her a question.
"Excuse me?"
He looked at her strangely.
"I said, how were lessons today? Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine, lessons were wonderful, we worked with gold."
"What did you do?"
"We were drawing wire to press into a dagger hilt, some duke in the south wants it done here."
"Really, who? And what design?"
She screwed up her face, trying to remember.
"I can't remember the duke's name, but the design is beautiful. It's two triangles in put together so that they look like a star. In the middle, there is a sunrise with a bean plant just sprouting in front of it. Behind the star, there's a circle, I think he wanted it for his daughter."
"Wow, it sounds pretty."
"We aren't even done yet, that's just on a piece of paper right now."
"Did he send you the design?"
"Yes, now I'm fairly sure it was for his daughter, it's a design she made."
Now that she was back in the present, she was surprised to find that they were not anywhere near discipline. Instead, Ifan had led her to a secluded spot in the orchards.
"So, would you mind telling me where exactly we are?"
He flashed her a smile.
"In the orchards."
"I noticed, do you know what Crane will do to us if he sees us?"
Giving her a coy smile, he stepped closer.
"Hang us in the well?"
She giggled.
"That's Rosethorn!"
Ifan had heard the stories about Rosethorn and her temper, the same as he had heard of shreik and when Briar had nearly fallen off the roof.
"Oh excuse me!"
She snickered, then looked up only to find that he was an inch away from her face, before she could react, he had kissed her, hard. As much as she enjoyed it, she was nervous as well. She had never really been kissed, and had no idea how to act. Well, she thought, I guess the waist is safe, cause if I don't hang on to something, I'll fall down! Unfortunately, he seemed to take it as encouragement. Her hands remained on his waist, but his seemed to be drifting upwards, and they weren't going back. She was incredibly thankful when the rustling of trees startled them both. Dropping his hands, Ifan half led half dragged her to the road again. She was to shocked to protest, all she could register was that it was dedicate Crane. Thinking, she decided she was now scared to death to be alone with Ifan anymore, it was not a good thought. When they arrived at discipline, Ifan was over the surprise, but Daja was still muddled. They said goodnight, and she walked into the yard.

Dedicate Crane pondered what he had seen. There was no question in his mind that the girl had been surprised, but whether it was by his arrival or by the novice's actions he couldn't quite tell. He had a feeling it was the latter. Plants could tell the emotions of even those they were not connected to them by magic. To save Daja's feelings, he decided to inquire with her teacher about him before doing anything else.
*.*.*
hmmmmmmmmm this has nothing to do w/ r/c but I decided id put it in ne way, as ive said before, this is a winding circle fic, with a r/c romance that just * happens* to be incorperated... aw heck, it was a r/c fic that turned into a winding circle...* sigh* ill stop rambling...