Yet Another Masquerade ((Part 1))

Tamara's POV

Why on earth had I come to the gardens again after all? I knew that Elenet and Dalon would be there, and yet… the books weren't interesting, and the painting… I really don't want to be staring at that painting for too long, because that would mean I have to think. And that would be painful.

So I wanted to walk, and who should be there but Dalon, alone, beneath a tree out of sight and quite willing to talk about my personal life again. True, the man was well enough to look at and I admire his concern, but really. He has no business coming into court as though he owns the place and ruining my perfectly wonderful misery I'd worked myself into with his concern.

And he knew something he wasn't telling me. I know he did, the minute I saw his eyes leave that painting. For in the painting the only feature on the man's face shown were his deep, beautiful eyes, so like another familiar pair, yet shining with a certain light I'd never seen before in them. How could Elenet have seen, how could she have known? Mel surely wouldn't have betrayed me; it's not possible for her to be dishonest willingly. And I'd been so careful to conceal it, so for this perfect stranger to come along and see me so clearly when the one I want to know seems blind to what I hide from him, it was frustrating beyond all comparison.

"Lady Tamara? Are you still there?"

"Hm? Oh, forgive me, Dalon, my mind wandered."

"Does it do that very often?"

"Why do you ask?"

He looked at me with a completely straight face. "Because you may want to consider buying a leash for it if it continues to leave you."

Keep the fan out of your hands, do not imagine conking him upside the head with it, and remain calm and gentle as any court lady is. It is not tempting to hurt this man. Really. "Thank you for your kind recommendation."

Hearing the icy chill in my tone he looked close to crestfallen. "I've gone and offended you, haven't I? My apologies, lady, it shall not happen again."

He walked swiftly away from me, leaving me alone in the garden. What was worse, I could see him stop some distance away to speak briefly with the beloved figure of Russav.

Russav's POV

I really wish I knew what was going on. If Tamara loved Dalon, what would make him leave her in such a manner? If she did not love him, why did she look as though someone had taken her best friend away as she sat alone beneath the trees? If I go to her now, she will know I know and something may happen, but she saw me standing here so if I leave and she wanted me to come to her I may cause offense… there are too many possibilities leading to failure for me. And besides, I just had to try and smooth Elenet's frayed nerves, what was the matter with the women in court lately that made all of them so blasted unhappy?

Well, Tamara answered my unspoken question and she came towards me. Wonderful, now I'm thinking myself a coward for not being the one to offer security when she does even when she is upset.

"Good afternoon, my lady." I kept my voice as neutral as I could. "How are you?"

She sighed softly. "Nothing to trouble you about, Russav. What brings you here?"

"I needed time to think, then I ran into… an obstruction."

"What kind of an obstruction?"

I grinned. "The kind that bars your way and leaves you trapped in a little room with little light and…" I paused dramatically for a moment as I had always done when we were children. "No food."

She gasped theatrically, warming to the game. "Oh, good sir, however did you survive?"

"Well, my dear lady, it was quite simple. I ate the bars after three days and nights of acceptance of my fate and found myself free."

"You must have had quite the stomachache."

"I do have one, since I have only just escaped."

"Aha, I see your goal now." She circled him slowly, flicking her fan flirtatiously before her grinning eyes. "You seek a favor to ease the pain from a beautiful lady."

"I do, indeed, ma'am. Do you know where I may encounter one?"

She feigned shock. "My good sir, you wound me. Am I not beautiful?"

"You are, but you are my friend. A favor would have to come from an unknown maiden so I can broaden my horizons as my dear mother told me to do."

"Then I see we have no choice. We must find you such a maiden!"

"But my friend, there are no maidens in sight but you."

Always, we had stopped the game there, giggling and running off to play tag, as children are wont to do. But now… "Perhaps then, good sir, your mother would not be sorely disappointed if you sought a favor from me?"

I could see she was half-teasing, but there was something in her eyes I did not recognize. Even now I could not help but think that I was treading on thin ice, one wrong move and she could ruin my life at court. That might not be so bad, but it would mean disassociation with the king, which would be horrid. But since she offered… even a mocking favor of hers would be more welcome than anything else that could have been given to me. I nodded and she stepped forward lightly. I expected her to merely hand me her kerchief or some other token, but she stood on tiptoe and kissed me instead!

It was soft and short but perhaps the happiest moment of my life so far and she would never know what a gift she had given me in jest. But still, it made reality all the more painful because I could only have her love, her favor, when we were pretending.

When she drew away, we both looked into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity, and then as she began to leave I could not help but make some form of comment. "I thank you for your generosity, my lady."

She stopped and looked back at me, her expression unreadable. "It was my pleasure." Then she was gone, disappearing further into the gardens.

Danric's POV

Russav was pacing in my chambers when I returned from court. Again. Truly, does he live anywhere else? Anyway, I knew something had happened to faze him so much because he looked like a fox hearing the hunting horn. ((A/N I'm not sure if Sherwood has her characters go on hunts, but the analogy fits Russav's mood and the titles, so meh.))

"Russav?"

"Danric, I can't stand her. No, I can't… what do I do? You did this once, you're married, tell me what miracle possesses you to continue on with this hell."

"What happened?"

"She kissed me."

"Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?"

"Yes, and it was, but… it was only in jest, just a mask, a façade…"

"Speaking of masques…"

"Oh, no. No, no, no. And no. I refuse to let you manipulate me into acting anymore with her."

"I never said anything about manipulating you." I was very confused, but also very stubborn. I'd never seen Russav so visibly shaken, one would think he had never been kissed before in his life the way he was acting.

"You don't have to say anything, Danric, you're the king. It's your job to manipulate people."

"People from other cities who need it, or courtiers I cannot completely trust, yes that is my job. For you, Russav, I do not try to control you. You might try to knock me upside the head with the blunt side of a blade again."

"That was an accident, we were only just given the swords that day and I didn't know how to draw that blasted thing so will you let it drop already?"

"Only if you never say I am trying to manipulate you like a puppeteer again. I only want what's best for your happiness, Russav, and if that's helping you and Tamara see each other, then I will do my utmost to help you woo her if I can. You may or may not need it, but I am willing to help. Can you accept that?"

He was silent for so long I half feared that he would not answer. "Well, I did ask for you to offer me some advice, didn't I? All right, you win. I'll go to this ball of yours, but I won't enjoy a minute of it."

I very much doubt that, my friend. I doubt it.

Elenet's POV

I returned to my rooms sometime later, a little put off by the empty easels and frames my paintings had occupied for the past few weeks before they were taken to their new homes in Tamara's rooms. So preoccupied was I with these that I did not notice the note carefully folded and addressed to me in a masculine hand beneath a vase holding a rose that was so deeply crimson I could hardly stand the richness of the color without trying to paint it. Still, that could wait until I read the note.

Elenet:

Please accept my offer to escort you to the masquerade ball. I promise to be better about keeping away the gnats, if you will allow me to become one.

It was not signed but she knew who sent it. And she had no idea how to reply.