If Wishes Were Runners

Writers: Ames, Suzee
Date Posted: 4th May 2015

Characters: Danrina, Bryvin
Description: Things warm up a bit.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 17 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Xeladrie

Danrina

Bryvin

It had been a rather boring morning. Danrina had kept Lady Xeladrie
company along with the other ladies-in-waiting, but there wasn't much
going on to discuss. So when the Lady had requested someone go to get
some foodstuffs from the kitchen, Danrina happily complied. While
Xeladrie was not eating much, it was a good sign that she had at least
_asked_ for food to be brought up.

Turning the corner, she ran straight into someone with an "Oof!" The
tray in her hands clattered to the floor, sending foodstuffs spraying
every which way.

Bryvin dodged out of the way of the flying food, "What the..." but
then he saw who it was. "Here let me help you," he said and went down
on one knee to pick up some of the items on the floor and dump them
back onto the tray. He chuckled. and shook his head. "You need to
watch where're you're going."

Her cheeks flaming red, Danrina couldn't apologize enough, especially
once she realized _who_ she had bumped into. "I am _so_ sorry, m'lord.
I promise I will watch around corners better in the future." She
stooped to help pick up what she could. Looking down, she realized
some sort of sauce was currently dripping down her own dress. The red
would clearly be difficult to get out of the light blue fabric. She
sighed. Next she looked at the tray and realized she'd probably have
to make another trip to the kitchens as she clearly couldn't serve
this to Lady Xeladrie and the other ladies in the solar.

"Thank you for your help, m'lord. I can clean it up. You really don't
have to," she tried to reach under his hands to pick up the food. It
was demeaning for the Lord Holder to be cleaning up spilled food in
the walkway.

"Danrina," he said softly and put his hand on hers. "I wasn't born to
this you know. This position I hold now is as strange to me as new
clothes." He shook his head and looked at the floor. "It wasn't that
long ago when I had hopes and dreams that didn't involve the eternal
m'lord." His eyes pleaded with her silently to remember that man.
"Can't you just call me Bryvin?"

She looked down and up at him. She remembered when they had been on
even footing at the Hold. She'd almost _had_ to distance herself from
the Steward who had greeted her when she'd first arrived nearly a Turn
ago in order to forget that she had feelings for him. Lowering her
voice, she whispered, "I just don't want anyone to think I'm being
disrespectful. Some of the ladies and such can be terrible gossips. If
you would like me to, I can call you Bryvin, when it's just us of
course," she added. Her eyes flickered up to his and she smiled.

"Good enough," he said. He really did understand the demands of rank
though as mush as he'd wanted it, he had never really believed he
would achieve it. She was one thing he'd wanted then. She could have
been his wife but now he couldn't offer her the protection of his
name. His thumb moved slightly stroking the side of her hand. "I
still..." he stopped himself and rose clearing his throat. "Sorry."

At the feel of his thumb on her hand, she felt her breath catch.
Rising quickly after him she reached a hand out to his upper arm.

"You still what?" She asked almost pleading. All she'd ever wanted in
her life was to be truly loved. Her parents hadn't given that to her,
no one ever had. Yet, she had thought perhaps she would find that with
Bryvin...that was until things had to change. She knew she couldn't
have it now, but her heart still longed for it. He made her feel
special.

It was as if Jem knew exactly when to appear. The little green flit
popped into the air above them, flitted and squeaked before landing on
_his_ shoulder. Just another reminder of how Bryvin had made her feel
special. She treasured the little flit he had given to her, and
clearly Jem knew that as well and was showing her own form of
affection to the Lord Holder.

He lifted a finger to scratch a tiny green eyeridge. "I don't have the
right to speak of my feelings Danrina," he said softly. His mind
worked through the problem behind a mild and sorrowful expression. She
was an innocent and he knew in his heart he shouldn't but he wanted
her for his own and he would work out a way to make it happen. "But I
promise you this, I'll find a way to protect you."

There was something in what he said, the way he spoke and looked at
her. She knew that she wasn't the only one who had felt a connection
between them.

"I don't know what you can do about my father. He gave me a Turn and
that time is almost up. I wish things could have been different
between us. I," she looked down for a moment, and then back up at him
with a longing in her eyes, "I care about you."

Right then and there he gave up any mild inclination he might have had
toward letting her go. There were several ways he could go about this
but he would have to work out a way to keep her and give her
protection from gossip and recrimination from the hold populace. He
didn't want her just once. He wanted to keep her, though he doubted
his wife would like that. He might be Lord Holder but so was
Xeladrie's father and throwing a mistress in her face this soon after
their wedding could cause significant problems for Sunstone. He could
be patient.

"And I care about you," he said softly after glancing around to see no
one nearby. "But we can't speak of it." He lifted the flit from his
shoulder and set her on Danrina's "Lady Xeladrie will be expecting
you."

Last updated on the May 14th 2015

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If Wishes Were Runners