"Uncommitted"

~o~

"The first time that he found himself unable to commit, he was only slightly discomfited. But as time went by and each woman passed his wavering dedications, he began to fear that something was seriously wrong."

~o~

"So you won't mind me going and telling Lady Lyndis that we're together?"

Sain blanched at the thought, considering the girl's words. Never be able to flirt with his lady? Or the delicious little Florina and all of the other beauties about the camp? "Oh, um, well..."

Rebecca shook her head, trying bravely to hold back tears. "See? You say the same words to every woman in camp. They don't mean anything. You won't ever commit to a single girl and that's why I can't be your girl."

When she ran away from him, Sain had to swallow hard. He was still fumbling to find the answer that would bring her back into his arms, reassuring her that she was special and that there was nothing to fear from his flirtations with other women. The words died a painful death without reaching the young archer. Taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh, Sain decided to take a walk along to river to regain his composure.

Besides, things weren't that bad! Rebecca was only a child, after all; nothing serious was intended. She would understand his position after she'd grown up and courted half a dozen men herself. Besides, there were all the other beautiful flowers about to keep his attention.

No need to waste his precious time upon a blossom that hadn't fully bloomed.

~o~

And so time passed...

Many of the ladies that Sain encountered were gladdened by his presence and charm. A few despised him or fled from his overbearing approach, but the knight was content to take such things in stride. So a few flowers had thorns? That just made their perfume all the sweeter to be attained.

Eventually, most of the women opened up to him and put forth the option of coupling together. Of course, all they wanted in return was the distinction of being his 'one and only'.

In each case, Sain found that he was unable to speak the words that would bind him thus. And in each case, a disappointed lady would walk away from him.

By the time that Fiora passed him by, Sain was becoming desperate. The field of flowers was rapidly becoming barren as other hands reached out and gave the words of devotion that bound them to a single beauty for life. And Sain's habits were becoming well known; whenever a new female joined, she would be sequestered and warned about the resident playboy by the rest of the female populace.

Sain was not a happy camper; imagine the gall of these women, impinging on his game like this!

Unfortunately, there was very little that he could do about it and almost no one that would lend an ear to his complaints. Kent listened with some sympathy, but his advice fell on deaf ears. "If you wish for them to take you seriously, then pick one girl and stick with it. Perhaps if you change yourself, they may reconsider." Sain huffed away from that encounter imperiously. What did Kent take him for? It wasn't as though his friend were beating off the girls with a stick now.

Still the thought rankled; change himself?

Why, he'd sooner drown than give up the delight of appreciating the world of femininity!

Why couldn't they understand that the Verdant Lance was dedicated equally to all women? His love was certainly wide enough to encompass them all, so why should their hearts be so singularly shallow? Alas that not all could be as understanding as his mother! She and his father got along quite well, thank you very much! Some had even gone so far as to suggest that Sain was addicted to the pleasure of flirting! Addiction was something that could be attributed to those who ate Elum blossoms for the mild hallucinatory rush that the plant's poisons produced.

Sain could proudly state that he'd never had the experience. He did have scruples, after all.

Thus he had to resign himself to feeling rejected after he'd played his last hand amongst the company. Vaida looked down on him and laughed. Laughed!

"You're a butterfly, little man. Pretty to look at, but blown away by the first breeze that comes along." The creature in female form had not been sparing. "Now run along before I tire of you completely and split your wings."

Those words had been an awful blow to his heart. Not even the violent she-demon wanted anything to do with him. And after he'd taken a day and a half to compose the epic poem in honor of her deeds!

Ah well, at least the women working the inns and taverns had no predilections for commitment. Until the next time, Sain could find his comfort there.

Perhaps he could drag Kent along for the company. Heaven knows that the man's perpetual brooding couldn't be healty for him!

~o~

"And thus ends the Tale of the Verdant Lance. He spent his days amongst many beauteous flowers, but found none that would take to him. Well practiced in the 'art of the lance', his dashing figure could be found anywhere that a woman of great beauty was announced. His exploits in chivalry and love traveled far and wide..."

"Like most rumors, they were mostly incorrect and highly exaggerated."

Finis.

~o~

AN: Quite a trip, eh? I needed something of a comic relief to offset the angst that I wrote recently. Thus Sain became my unwitting target, although the plot for this piece has been waiting patiently for roughly six months or so. Yep, I have way more story ideas than I can realistically write in any kind of a timely manner. It gets me in trouble at times.

[Epic Fail]

2. Anyone like the way Vaida tears Sain down? Here's hoping that it came close enough to her character that I don't get assassinated!

3. This is also partly in homage to Sain's ending, since he mostly doesn't get the girl(s). Rebecca starts things off, Fiora proves the point, and Vaida gets to finish the job.

4. Elum blossoms. Made that up off the top of my head.

Ice cream, brownies, and reviews welcome.