A Hesitant Beginning

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 2nd April 2015

Characters: Demir, Rethisa
Description: Rethisa bids Demir farewell... for now.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 1 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Faldrimme, Zathris

Demir

Rethisa could not shake the feeling that she had been left with after
meeting Demir of Hidden Meadows. She wasn't sure what it was about the
man that left her so disturbed but she found herself feeling fluttery
and nervous at just the thought of seeing him again. In the time he
had been at Amber Hills she'd bumped into him occasionally, and mostly
at evening meal.

"Too bad that handsome Demir is leaving. Rumor was that he was going
to be visiting Amber Hills more because they'd hoped to make some sort
of arrangement between him and Faldrimme."

"Lucky her." A huskier voice added with a giggle.

Rethisa's fingers stopped, the threads of the loom slipping through
her fingers as she dropped her hands to her lap. He was leaving?

"I wonder if he will be back soon?"

The blonde glanced sideways at the other two maids in the room who
were hand stitching intricate details on some of Lady Benani's
dresses, which had been tailored to fit her expanded waistline.

Rethisa did not know how far away Hidden Meadows was, but the thought
of not having the chance to see Demir again was a little panicking.
**That's just silly, Rethisa. You don't even know the man.** But he
had been kind and courteous to her every time they'd met, and that
counted for something. **Just because a man knows how to behave in
public doesn't mean he's worthy of your affections.** She scolded
herself.

Despite her inward battle, Rethisa excused herself from the presence
of the other two women, and left the quiet parlor. She had to catch up
with the man before he left. **What are you going to say to him?** She
wondered wildly, even as her feet carried her quickly through the
corridors.

Holding up her skirts to free her feet as she glided down the stairs,
Rethisa squeaked when she nearly collided with a solid frame at the
bottom of the stairs. "Oh, my apologies, I -" she looked up and found
herself staring into the brilliant blue eyes of the very man she had
been looking for, "Demir."

His arm snaked out to steady her willowy frame. "My Lady," he replied
with a warmth in his eyes. "Are you alright?"

The warmth of his arm burned through even the thick material of her
dress, leaving her skin tingling, "Oh yes, I was actually just coming
to see you. I heard that you were leaving today."

He tilted his head with a small smile and released her. "You were
looking for me?" That statement was like music to his ears. "Well I
was going to find you to say goodbye."

"Oh!" The surprise in Rethisa's voice was evident. **He was not going
to say farewell to Faldrimme then.** She didn't know why that thought
pleased her, but it did. "Well, I suppose running in to one another
was fortuitous then." She smiled back at him, a light shade of pink
threatening the tops of her high cheekbones.

"Very," he said warmly. Her heightened color at their simple exchange
emboldened him. "Lady Rethisa, If I may be so bold to ask. Would you
approve of my speaking to your brother? I feel a great interest in
learning to know you better and would seek his permission to do so."

Rethisa blinked up at Demir. He wanted to ask Zathir about her? It
felt like such a short time since she had been away from Verlow that
the thought of even skirting the idea of marriage was frightening.
When she'd been trekking through the snow and cold by herself,
desperately trying to make it to Amber Hills, Rethisa had vowed that
she would never be married again, no matter what her father or brother
said. Never would she allow a man to own her again.

Yet here was tall, handsome blue-eyed Demir of Hidden Meadows wanting
to court her. **It's just a formality, Rethisa, it's not a promise of
anything. It would seem incredibly rude if you said no, and weren't
you sad that he was leaving?**

"Ah, yes that would be fine."

He couldn't have called himself a true beastcrafter if he didn't know
how to deal with skittish beasties. To his mind this one was indeed
skittish. So, until he knew the reason and could help her over the
hurdle he would proceed slowly and with the utmost caution. His blue
eyes fixed her with a kind and understanding look. "I am most pleased
my lady," he said softly. "I hope to see you again soon," he said and
swept a respectful bow.

Rethisa couldn't help but sense that Demir some how knew that she was
hesitant to accept his attention- while at the same time wanting to
get to know him better- and so she returned his bow with an inclining
of her head and a small smile, "Safe travels."

"I shall return," he smiled back. He wanted to touch her but knew it
would be the wrong move so he opted for humor instead. He turned a
walked a few steps toward the door. Then turned back and looked at her
burning every detail into his memory. "Miss me alright?" He winked and
dodged through the door.

Last updated on the April 10th 2015

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A Hesitant Beginning