oh and the learning to read thing? well, those words i had her spell were hard, but....shes been at it for a while, remember? time passed quickly...spring...summer...fall...
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It was a quick kiss, not lasting longer than a moment. But it stunned Terrin more than anything else in his life. What was he doing? The mere fact that Lianah hadn't slapped him yet was a slight consolation.
Drawing back, she gave him a quick but brilliant smile before she stumbled back a bit giddily and vanished into her room.
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The girl, once behind closed doors, twirled in a circle happily. "He likes me!" she whispered joyfully to herself, as she entered the steaming, perfumed bath that had appeared like magic in her chamber.
By the time she came out from her washing, Lia's mind was under control once more. What if he didn't mean it... Maybe it was just the moment, she told herself. Maybe it was just an accident...If it was, she would be heartbroken.
Waves of self-conciousness fell over her like rain as she opened her closet. Staring at the wide selection for a while, Lia finally fingered the gown she had placed at the far end, one she had deemed too pretty to be worn at all. Her fingertips caressed the fine cloth gently.
"Well," she said to herself, not knowing she spoke aloud, "If it was just a mistake or not, i shall at least put up a fight, and look the best that i can." Determined, she took the dress out from its hidden place of honor. Dressing quickly, and even adding accessories, she was out of her room to start the dinner she planned to make as part of her campaign.
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Terrin had paced his room for an hour before he worked up the nerve to meet her for supper. Tiptoeing out to the kitchen area, he saw Lianah industriously laying out food on the small oak table...His attentions were immediately diverted from the sheer mass of food to hear appearance...she looked amazing.
Could he believe his eyes? She was wearing a dress made of fine white silk, which started off the shoulder and fitted snugly around her slender waist. The golden embroideries, golden moons and stars so intricately it was almost like brocade, winked in the dim light of the wall candles. A gold circlet, inset with an emerald, was placed gently over her flame-colored hair bound in a heavy bun at the base of her creamy neck, which was adorned by a network of fine golden chain, each bearing its own oval emerald.
Luckily, she didn't notice his presence for quite some time, or she would have caught him staring for a long while. As it was, she looked up and saw his eyes, wide with admiration.
"I cooked," she managed to say, suddenly shy.
Tearing his gaze away from his friend, Terrin glanced at the table. "Great gods, Lia! This is a feast!" He grinned at her smug expression.
"I like cooking," she insisted defensively. "The more the better, don't you agree?" Her expression changed from slightly frightened to relief at the usual banter they always indulged in. Thankful for the naturally comfortable conversation, they dug into the vast array of dishes she had prepared.
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"Stuffed!" Terrin groaned, feeling uncomfortably full. Lia nodded likewise.
"Remind me never to do this again!" she emphasized, equally full from her meal.
They cleared the dishes and washed in companionably, scrubbing the fine porcelain with fragrant soap until they shone.
Lia wondered if they would take their customary walk outside tonight. As they sat on the couches, the empty silence was overbearingly nervewracking. It rang in her ears with a mocking buzz, and her mind evilly told her that he didn't love her after all...
With a jump, the boy stood up and stretched. "Ready to go?"
She nodded, and they grabbed their cloaks as usual and went out the door. "Which direction today?" Lia asked, scanning the darkened horizon. The moon was bright enough tonight, even if it was still early evening. She lit the lantern she had hastily snatched off the table, because it was growing darker by the moment.
"Things were so much easier during summer, when it was light out for hours more and cloaks and such were never needed," he thought out loud. Considering the palace grounds, he asked her "East or West?"
"Which is...?"
He pointed. "East is forest, West is frozen lake."
She shuddered. "Let's stay away from cold water for a while!" He grinned at her dismayed expression until she began to laugh instead of look horrified.
Shivering with mock fright that wasn't entirely faked, Lia held out the gilt lantern out to the moonlit trees. "It's not that dark," the boy teased, "and theres no wild animals!"
She lifted an arched brow. "And what if there is?" Holding the lantern defensively in front of her, she advanced into the gleaming shadows cautiously.
With bold, strong steps, he walked faster and she trotted to catch up, her breath coming in quick white puffs in the cold air. Halting, Terrin turned back to her. "Lia, are you really afraid?" His eyes were questioning as she shrank back from a extending branch.
Looking up, she nodded a bit. "I've never walked in the woods at night before."
"Lets go back, then." Gesturing cheerfully with his head, he indicated the trail back.
She shook her head emphatically. "No, really. It's fine, theres a first time for everything, right? What if-" she smiled slightly, "What if I need to walk in the woods at night alone, and i'm not prepared?"
He smiled back, his handsome face bowed down to look at her from his greater height. "As long as its fine with you...and right now, you're not alone."
Butterflys took flight inside her chest, forcing her heart to pound quickly. "I'm glad, you know," she managed to say, her head light.
"I'm glad too, then," he replied somewhat shyly, as he caught a glimse of her chafing her hands together for warmth. "Need gloves?"
She nodded. "But both our pairs got soaked from the dunking today."
Turning to her, Terrin held out his hand. "Here." Scarcely believing what he was doing, he took her slender palm in his when she offered it, clasping his fingers warmly around hers. A flush rose to his face, and even her cheekbones were rosier than usual...
"So." he said awkwardly, keeping his grip on her hand loose in case she wished to remove it from contact. Blushing, but not taking her green eyes off of his, neither side gave any indication or releasing or drawing away from the other's hands' warmth.
Facing each other, they stood silently in the woods for a moment before walking on, still with their hands clasped tightly together.
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copyright sorka robinton 2001