Outfoxing the Fox
Hi to everyone! I am so very very sorry for not updating in months again, but writer's block and no time to work and no ideas and so much homework and life in general has made my fingers not want to type anything for a while. But I felt bad about not writing so I am back to torment Sherwood's characters once more in whatever fashion I please. I do not own her characters in this story except for Dalon, and I'd prefer it if you did not steal him. I'm planning on switching point of views several times during this chapter, just so you know. I'll make it pretty clear that I did that when I do.
Tamara's POV
"Elenet?" I knocked on the wooden frame around the tapestry at Elenet's door, the other hand thoughtfully touching each place that Russav had touched me when he'd bumped into me in the middle of the hall. It took Elenet a moment to answer her, so I had only a moment to remember what it had been like for even just a little to be so close to him, to have spoken with him. He seemed so distant and sad, even more so than his usual courtly grace allowed. What was troubling him so?
Thankfully my thoughts could turn onto another avenue when Elenet let me in the room, blushing slightly. I came inside and saw Dalon standing and looking at one of Elenet's paintings appraisingly and I understood why the other woman was blushing. Even I would have had difficulty keeping my self from blushing if someone had found me with an attractive man in my rooms.
"Tamara! I am surprised to see you, I thought you had said you would not come by until this evening." Elenet's tone was warm but reserved. She had not made any friends over the past nine months she did not already have but preferred to stay alone or invite Nee and Mel over for tea occasionally. And I had never been one of Elenet's favorite courtiers, most especially after I had begun my conquest for Danric's heart.
"I know." I flipped her fan lightly in an apologetic gesture. "I am running a little ahead of schedule, I hope it is not inconvenient."
"Not for me, certainly, but you may have a difficult time bringing one of the painting to it's new home since it is not dry yet."
"May I see them?"
"Of course. If you will excuse us for a moment, Dalon, we shall return shortly." Dalon nodded distractedly, and I wondered if he had even acknowledged my presence at all. Not that that would have mattered.
Elenet led me to another room where several paintings hung on walls, leaned against covered furniture, were piled in stacks, or were placed in various other sections. Elenet picked up a small pile wrapped in cloth and looked around for a moment. "It's too dark to see properly in here. Come on." And she led me back to the main room and unwrapped the paintings and stood them up on the furniture so that I could see them.
Each one was exactly what I had asked for. All were of flowers or rivers or mountains, yet there was a subtle hint of something other, something that went beyond nature and creatures that lived in it. What that something was, I could not say, but Elenet had understood what she meant the moment I tried to describe it. In every picture there was a hint of the debts of Russav's eyes, or was that my imagination running away from me again? Elenet could not have done anything like that, she could not have known. Could she?
"They're beautiful, Elly." I said softly. The nickname I'd heard a thousand times from Nee and Mel was hard to say but was the only thing I could think of that would convey the bond of gratitude that I felt.
"You've not seen the last of them yet." Elenet pointed to the drying painting that Dalon was still looking at and I came to stand beside him, stifling a gasp as I saw the marvelous painting that Elenet had done. Everything was black and white, innocent or evil, stone or living, except for a single feature of a man's face. Drab and gray but looking as though each figure would jump from the canvas to embrace or attack the viewer, the painting was the most wonderful thing that I had ever seen. No wonder Dalon was so obsessed with it.
"I cannot accept this…" I finally managed to whisper.
"We made a bargain, and you paid in advance. I am honor-bound to give it to you regardless of what you may say."
I knew that I ought to protest, but I also knew there was nothing that I could argue that was even close to enough to change Elenet's mind. So instead I sighed and went back to studying the painting. Elenet went back into the back rooms to put away her paints and Dalon was the first to break the silence.
"It is magnificent, isn't it?"
I looked up at him, startled. "It is, that."
"Almost as though she saw into someone's heart and painted what was there."
"Surely you jest. It is simply colors on a canvas, nothing more." I hated saying it, but I had to say something to keep Dalon's mind away from hearts.
"Art is much more than colors, my dear. It is a soul captured and exposed for the viewing of any who wish to see it."
"Which is why this painting will only be in my private rooms after today." I snapped.
"Pity that such beauty will be hidden."
I backed away from him slightly, my fan flicking in agitation before me. "Lovely weather we have been having."
He chuckled low in his throat. "Ah yes, weather. I fear we may be in for a storm if we are not careful."
"Storms only come if they are encouraged first, if you recall."
"Is that a warning or a threat?"
"A statement of fact only. How could I threaten you?"
He looked at me in surprise. "You are one of the most influential women of the court."
"The key word there is woman, Dalon. I have hardly any influence with the men."
He coughed, but not in time to completely hide his laughter. "And you accuse me of jesting, dear lady. You have but to drop a token and the men will fight a duel to the death over it, and you have no influence among them."
"I have no use for men who confuse infatuation of an idea for love of a woman."
"I had heard you have a sharp tongue, Tamara, but I had hoped I would be spared being cut by it."
"Make a comment, get one in return. That is the way of court, Dalon, as you well know, or should. You have been here long enough by now to realize that words cut deeper than blades."
He studied her for a very long time. "And whose words have cut you today, that makes your eyes cloud the way they do now?"
My fan snapped open and I fluttered it before my face, concealing my expression from him angrily.
Elenet's POV
Perhaps I will never know what went on between Dalon and Tamara in the short time that I was gone, and perhaps I do not want to. Anything that could make Tamara look like she is about to beat someone upside the head with her fan is something I had best keep out of.
Danric, I did as you asked. I took the ideas Tamara had for her paintings and improved them, purposefully making them to remind her of Russav whenever I could. I do not know what good it will do, but I hope you are right. I hope this helps rather than hurts as I thought it would, but I did do it. For you.
Life, I am such an idiot. I cannot still love him, I will not. He is married now, and more in love than any other I have ever known, and still ignorant of my feelings for him. Mel knows, she told me so when Nee was not able to come to one of our teas. She apologized for knowing, and wanted to assure me that she had not told but wanted me to know she knew because she hated feeling like she was keeping something from me. Dear Mel, thank you for understanding.
Coming back and seeing Tamara staring wistfully at the painting while trying desperately to conceal her anger while Dalon was standing not two feet away from her, concern written across his face as surely as love was written in my paintings, was enough to startle me, though. What to do? Dalon may have inadvertently ruined everything Danric planned, the fool, by spoiling this moment for Tamara.
"Tamara, why don't you wait here and read a book while the paint finishes drying, then you can take them home. Dalon, I want to take a walk in the gardens but if I go alone I may have difficulty with gnats more commonly known as younger courtiers."
Dalon grinned. "I am afraid I will not be much use brushing them away from you, for I may just forget myself and join their ranks."
"Then the afternoon should be entertaining. Will you be alright by yourself, Tamara?"
"I would be delighted to be alone, thank you for asking and offering your books to pass the time."
Dalon took Elenet's arm and escorted her to the gardens, glancing back somewhat worriedly at Tamara once.
I have to keep him distracted, Elenet thought. Flirt with him, talk to him, something to keep him from being… from being male. "So, Dalon, what did you think of my dabbling with colors?"
"You know very well what I think about your masterpieces, Elle, you don't need to try to puff up your own ego by listening to my tangents about your brilliance."
"Colors are brilliant. People are intelligent."
He laughed. "Oh, I wish I had grown up here like most of you have, it would have been such fun learning to turn a phrase the way you do. Tell me, does it take years of practice to become an overpowering wit or are you born to it?"
They had stopped beneath a willow near one of her favorite areas of the garden, and it took a moment for Elenet to comprehend what he had just said, he was standing so close and her head felt light. "I'm just lucky I guess."
"That would make the both of us lucky, then, since I get to enjoy the effects of your humor."
Oh, my… he is tall, and very handsome to look at, and everything else the courtiers say about him. I had never noticed. His hair is dark, like midnight, and eyes like the leaves around us, he'd make a good painting if I could only capture that something, that unknown emotion that is somehow familiar that takes hold of me when I allow myself to think about Dalon instead of… instead of who?
While Elenet's thoughts rambled, Dalon had placed a gentle hand beneath her jaw and was looking at her as though there were secrets in her eyes that could easily be seen if he only looked hard and long enough.
She broke away from him, backing up slightly. "Dalon… I, I need to go…"
He sighed. "I will see you later, then, Elle."
Elenet did not answer, but made her escape as fast as she could without risking impoliteness.
Danric's POV
Why did it seem familiar when Nee and I were bent over a piece of paper, conspiring again? Ah, yes, because we'd done it before, though last time it was not voluntary on both of our parts. Funny old world, isn't it?
"Danric, what are we going to do? Russav thinks that Tamara loves Dalon, and there's no way to tell how Tamara feels."
"I've already considered that, my dear. Elenet's been painting some things for her, and I planted an idea for the artist's paintings that should help us figure out what her feelings are."
"And what if she does love Dalon?"
"Why would she? Tamara is not one to want the new boys in court, and he's not really the type of person she generally goes for. She prefers ones closer to power from what I know."
"She's changed a lot since then, Danric. Who's to say that hasn't changed, as well?"
"I don't know, Nee, but it seems a pretty safe assumption that her taste in men has not changed because there's little reason for it to have done so."
Nee rested her head on her palms and groaned. "I cannot believe I am having this discussion with King Vidanric, of all people…"
"What do you mean?"
"The romantic preferences of a person I don't generally like and it's affect on everyone I do like, summed up in one or two implications you make with every comment."
So much for both of us helping voluntarily, I thought dryly. "You are the one that signed up for this, if you recall."
"Are you implying anything by that?" She peeked suspiciously at me between her fingers.
Innocently, I choked down the laughter threatening to bubble up and shook my head. She mumbled something uncomplimentary and went back to studying the paper.
"I just don't see how we can make this work."
"You really don't want my opinion on that comment, my dear, so instead I will explain in part to you what our plan is. Once we know if Tamara likes him even the slightest bit, we will have to play our cards very carefully because they're both too proud to admit to each other that they're interested."
"I'm not a fool, Danric."
"I know, Nee, otherwise I'd not have my beautiful queen to come home to after a day of managing affairs of the country. Anyway, Russav knows we're plotting something but he's not sure what. He'll be on his guard often enough that we won't get many chances to do what needs to be done. Still, I had been planning a masquerade ball to celebrate the fact that it's been a year since Mel accepted my proposal, and all the courtiers are being asked to attend."
"Meaning if they don't come they will be in social ruin." Nee grinned.
"Exactly. And since they won't know who each other is…"
"I don't know. It's risky, they could send someone else in their place to pretend to be them since we won't be able to tell who's who."
"Then we'll have to have someone ensure that they go. It should not be too hard, Mel could get Tamara to come simply to make sure I don't kick her off the dance floor and back into bed before she's good and ready to go herself, and I can ensure that Russav is there myself since I'll need an entourage to help me make my grand entrance."
"Alright… but I think you're using my idea for bringing you and Mel together, you know. It's too brilliant an idea to belong to you."
"Well, what works, works. I can't help it if my ideas are strokes of genius."
"But they're my ideas, not yours!" Nee snapped.
"I am the king. My subject's ideas become mine if they're good ones and they give them to me for free."
"Must be nice living in a world of delusions."
"Oh, it is." I grinned. "Mel lets me live with them too often."
"I really don't want to know what Mel does or does not let you do if it's all the same."
"I seem to recall that you were married long before she was, my dear. You should know what married couples allow and don't allow without my having to tell you."
Nee made a sound like a teakettle letting off steam and left me laughing in my rooms. After a while, I managed to stop and went to the bedroom I shared with my wife, looking down at her peacefully sleeping form lovingly for a moment before curling up around her and going to sleep as well.
LadyStarFire's POV
Elenet angst, Tamara's dawning realizations, Nee and Danric arguing, should I mess with another character's life a little? Oh, yes.
Russav's POV
I still cannot believe what I heard. Tamara, in love with another man, one who perhaps loves her more than I ever will? No, never that much. I cannot just let her go, not like this. Tamara, why? Why can you not see how much I love you?
Because you won't let her, another part of me whispers. I drive her away whenever I can, and never once have I shown the slightest inclination to loving her, so how could she know? How can I tell her now, not knowing what I know? Or thinking what I think? Or… whatever.
The gardens are an excellent place to think. Quiet, serene, perfect… wait, is that Elenet running as though she had an army on her heels? Perhaps I had best see what is wrong with her.
I have to run to catch up to her, which maybe I should not have done since she seems to be even more frightened now that she's stopped than she was while running.
"Are you alright?"
"Why would I not be?" Elenet's voice was as calm as she could make it.
"I don't know. I just wanted to know when the big race you are training for commences. It would be astounding to watch beautiful women racing each other in dresses as though their lives depended upon it."
She laughed, and I was pleased that I could make her mod change so easily. "There is no race but with myself, and I always finish last and first."
"Well, that's the way to play the game, isn't it? Somehow I don't see you racing to win anything, though. Just racing for the thrill of it."
She blushed lightly. "Please, Russav, leave me be. I have had a trying day, and wish to retire to my rooms until dinner."
"Do not allow me to hold you back. I shall see you later?"
"Yes, Russav. Goodbye." She left and I watched after her thoughtfully. She seemed to be an understanding girl. Could I talk to her about Tamara as I did to Nee? Danric certainly seemed to trust her, so perhaps I should begin to try to do so, as well.
With the beginnings of a smile on my lips I turned, and it disappeared quickly. Life, no, not today.
She was coming down the path towards me, a predatory light in her eyes. I had liked the minx for some time, but not long enough and not enough for her. I flirted, won her heart, and lost interest as I had with many other women. How was I supposed to know she would not understand that?
She had been amusing at first, yes, but no longer. No, she was definitely not the kind of person I needed to see right now.
"Russav." She all but purred my name. "How delightful to see you."
I nearly choked on my own words as I bowed. "The pleasure is mine."
"Have you reconsidered your rash actions?"
"Have you reconsidered leaving me in peace?"
She smiled fondly at me and I placed my court mask where it did it's own work. "Come, now, Russav… you can't mean that. Not after all we had, all we shared…"
"A kiss. That and one or two token courtship gifts, not anything of real value. I told you, I am not interested in you anymore."
"No! You love me, I know you do, just admit it!" She grabbed my sleeve and I pulled away roughly.
"Don't touch me, don't talk to me, just leave me be! I am sorry I ever expressed an interest as seeing you as anything more than a silly girl child!"
Having shouted this I turned and stormed away, shaking. Life, I hate losing my temper for no reason like that, but she just makes me want to kill something. Preferably something soft with long blonde hair and fluttering lashes hiding blue eyes.
Now… surely, nothing else can go wrong today.
I am an idiot. Just as I think that, I see Dalon and Tamara, walking through the garden together. Not touching, but together.
I turn and, like Elenet, run from conflicting emotions. I hope it helped her a lot more than it helped me.
LadyStarFire's POV (again)
Ah, well, it's late so I'd best go to bed now and leave you to wonder what happens until I'm next able to update. I hope it's soon, and I hope that you like the latest chapter since it was a little weird to write and all that.
