(( After today's play... after doing Hewing the Wood... in the friendly camp on the northwest shores of Lake Evendim ))
- Everybody is off to make camp... everything is secured... the Company is done for the day
Lirandel seems to take only superficial notice of Sayvara's report.
- Mm hm... that's good lieutenant.
She pulls off her helmet... ruffling out her hair and smiles at him.
- You know what that means, don't you?
- Mm... huh? What?
She steps closer to him... tryign to make eyecontact and smile at him.
- We can spend the night together... find a nice secluded spot, make camp... and just be husband and wife... lovers.
All the time during the captivity, she dreamt and remembered the Thorns... her family. Playful bantering with Kellidir and Candil... making mischief with Adjanah... and of course: the touch of her husband. She thought it as all lost until they appeared again, as if brought back to life by the Valar. This only makes his reaction towards her hit her much harder.
- Mm... we could.
When he turns and just walks she blinks, stunned.
- Well don't overdo your enthusiasm...
The sarcasm is lost on him. He goes to make camp... hardly looking at her... giving an air of being displeased with something. After some hesitation she follows.
- Talk to me lover. What is going on here?
- Nothing...
- Lirandel... I know you. Talk to me, tell me what's wrong.
- Nothing! There is nothing to talk about. Now just drop it.
A sinking feeling forms in her belly... suddenly she feels herself losing her confidence... her strength sapped.
- Fine...
- Fine!
She sits down on the blankets he stretched out near the campfire. When she is done changing out of her armor he is already snuggled onto his blanket, his back towards her and the warmer blanket wrapped high on him.
She lays down on her own blanket... laying there watching him and her eyes silently mist until she can almost not see him. She reaches out, but cannot bring herself to touch him. As she curls up and pulls the top blanket over herself she has nothing for company except the sight of his back. With tears in her eyes she whispers, near inaudible...
- I love you Lirandel...
/S