It was nearly mid morning when she had finally awoken. Slowly turning over she looked towards the place she remembered him sitting, but he had already gone. She laid there for a few moments longer just gazing at the chair until she deemed it time to make herself useful once more. Getting out of bed, she put on her robe and surveyed the room.
The book had been returned to the armoire. Next to it was a silver tray with a muffin on a plate, some juice, and a single Nymeia Lily. She took up the lily and held it to her face. She smiled as she slowly twirled it in her fingers.
It was about mid-day she received an odd letter. Standing in the street she broke the seal and unfolded it to read.
Lady Crofte,
I have to admit, I find myself rather, perturbed by you. I learn of your collaring from Ser Warren, bring him along to recover the needed tool of your removal, teach him how to remove a collar and set you free, and in return for my aid, you imprison Roen, and now have a dog named Gaspard sniffing where he shouldn't be.
I find this ironic.
I happen to visit the bar in the airship landing most evenings as I cannot stand the Quicksand and their prices. Should you happen to be in the area and see a Miqo'te with blue and gold hair, you should stop by and have a chat. I have so much to say about both Roen and your dog.
"There go any plans for this evening.", she said to herself.
It was later that afternoon she let Warren know as well. He had insisted on being present and she was of no mind to refuse him. Together they sat quietly in the lounge, waiting. It became apparent the man was not going to show himself now. Finally, she worked up the courage to break yet another awkward silence.
"Your presence has helped me sleep on more than one occasion now. I... I am almost scared to spend the nights alone now.". Warren seemed lost in thought. "... Coerthas? I was worried I would wake you. And if you like, I'll stand watch over you. Erm, for you. Uh... I'll stay."
"No, I cannot ask you to lose sleep as well."
"I'm used to scrimping. Honestly, sleeping full hours is throwing me off."
She brushed her bangs back only to have them fall forward again. "What I mean to say is, you cannot stay awake all night."
He looked away with an odd expression of shyness about him. "Erm... if need be, I'll prop myself by the door." His words trailed off, dying in his mouth as his eyes caught hers once more. She immediately looked away suddenly feeling very shy herself. Her voice lowered and went very soft. Almost to herself she said "You dinnae have te sleep on a chair."
"...well...", he grinned bashfully as he pushed his braids out of his face. "I... would like that." She smiled back to him as she tried to gauge his intent behind his eyes. "So... ye would have me?", she asked. His expression changed many times at the question, turning from a smile to a shy glance, back to a smile again. It was rather unbecoming of a knight to be at such a loss for words. He glanced at her once more then looked down toward the table. "If... If I may?"
"Ye already do.", she replied.
There was another long silence as they both scanned the room once again looking for Askier.
"Perhaps you will read to me again tonight?", she asked.
"It would be unfair to leave the story unfinished.", he answerd.
"Mm. Perhaps it will have a different ending this time."
More silence.
"Where is Askier, damn him!"
"Yes, it's rude to keep a lady waiting!"
Standing once again in the Quicksand later that night, Coatleque was speaking to a curious Miqo'te by the railing when she heard a familiar voice in her ear. "Lady Crofte? Are you on duty?". It was the lalafell stationed at the prison. "Aye, I'm always on duty.", she replied. "We have a bit of a situation here. You should probably get here, now."
"Aye, I shall be there shortly."
She apologized to the woman and excused herself from the room. As she made her way towards the palace her heart almost sank. She found herself quickly making an excuse into a separate linkpearl. "Ser Castille... it appears I am needed in the palace tonight. I do not know when I will be free once more, but I shall have to hear the end of your story another night." She grumbled. This had better be damned important.
The book had been returned to the armoire. Next to it was a silver tray with a muffin on a plate, some juice, and a single Nymeia Lily. She took up the lily and held it to her face. She smiled as she slowly twirled it in her fingers.
***
It was about mid-day she received an odd letter. Standing in the street she broke the seal and unfolded it to read.
Lady Crofte,
I have to admit, I find myself rather, perturbed by you. I learn of your collaring from Ser Warren, bring him along to recover the needed tool of your removal, teach him how to remove a collar and set you free, and in return for my aid, you imprison Roen, and now have a dog named Gaspard sniffing where he shouldn't be.
I find this ironic.
I happen to visit the bar in the airship landing most evenings as I cannot stand the Quicksand and their prices. Should you happen to be in the area and see a Miqo'te with blue and gold hair, you should stop by and have a chat. I have so much to say about both Roen and your dog.
~ Askier Mergrey
Bomb Maker Extraordinaire ~
Bomb Maker Extraordinaire ~
"There go any plans for this evening.", she said to herself.
***
It was later that afternoon she let Warren know as well. He had insisted on being present and she was of no mind to refuse him. Together they sat quietly in the lounge, waiting. It became apparent the man was not going to show himself now. Finally, she worked up the courage to break yet another awkward silence.
"Your presence has helped me sleep on more than one occasion now. I... I am almost scared to spend the nights alone now.". Warren seemed lost in thought. "... Coerthas? I was worried I would wake you. And if you like, I'll stand watch over you. Erm, for you. Uh... I'll stay."
"No, I cannot ask you to lose sleep as well."
"I'm used to scrimping. Honestly, sleeping full hours is throwing me off."
She brushed her bangs back only to have them fall forward again. "What I mean to say is, you cannot stay awake all night."
He looked away with an odd expression of shyness about him. "Erm... if need be, I'll prop myself by the door." His words trailed off, dying in his mouth as his eyes caught hers once more. She immediately looked away suddenly feeling very shy herself. Her voice lowered and went very soft. Almost to herself she said "You dinnae have te sleep on a chair."
"...well...", he grinned bashfully as he pushed his braids out of his face. "I... would like that." She smiled back to him as she tried to gauge his intent behind his eyes. "So... ye would have me?", she asked. His expression changed many times at the question, turning from a smile to a shy glance, back to a smile again. It was rather unbecoming of a knight to be at such a loss for words. He glanced at her once more then looked down toward the table. "If... If I may?"
"Ye already do.", she replied.
There was another long silence as they both scanned the room once again looking for Askier.
"Perhaps you will read to me again tonight?", she asked.
"It would be unfair to leave the story unfinished.", he answerd.
"Mm. Perhaps it will have a different ending this time."
More silence.
"Where is Askier, damn him!"
"Yes, it's rude to keep a lady waiting!"
***
Standing once again in the Quicksand later that night, Coatleque was speaking to a curious Miqo'te by the railing when she heard a familiar voice in her ear. "Lady Crofte? Are you on duty?". It was the lalafell stationed at the prison. "Aye, I'm always on duty.", she replied. "We have a bit of a situation here. You should probably get here, now."
"Aye, I shall be there shortly."
She apologized to the woman and excused herself from the room. As she made her way towards the palace her heart almost sank. She found herself quickly making an excuse into a separate linkpearl. "Ser Castille... it appears I am needed in the palace tonight. I do not know when I will be free once more, but I shall have to hear the end of your story another night." She grumbled. This had better be damned important.
***
