Castles Made of Sand Fall in the Sea

Writers: Aaron, Suzee
Date Posted: 28th October 2024

Characters: Corofel, Faldrimme, Vardamon
Description: A hold resident witnesses some scandalous shenanigans! Unknown to him... she's a twin of Lady Arippa
Location: Emerald Falls Hold, Printer Hall
Date: month 13, day 30 of Turn 12

Corofel

Faldrimme

It had seemed innocent at first, when Vardamon had seen Lord Corofel
with Lady Arippa. She was, after all, the wife of Corofel's Warder.
There was no reason they could not have cause to speak to one another.

But they certainly began to seem... a little overly familiar. This was
much more than mere talking. They were running around together!
Laughing! Corofel even found every excuse to touch her. It was
unseemly!

- - -

"Have you had a chance to do any dancing?" Corofel asked with a sly
smile. He had not looked that way when he had danced with all of the
young ladies the day before. Then, he had almost seemed bored. Perhaps
it was because he already had eyes for a bit of forbidden fruit...

"Corofel!" She smiled and floated across the room toward the new Lord
of Emerald Falls. "I have not," she smiled back.

"It's so good to see you!" Corofel laughed as he offered her his arm.
"I didn't think I would. It would be my honor if you would join me on
the dance floor. For at least one or two."

"Of course," she smiled and looked around not seeing anyone she leaned
in and kissed his cheek. "I've missed you," she said softly and took
his offered arm.

Corofel's smile broadened more than he thought possible.

"I've missed you, too." He had not realized how much, but he had. "I'm
glad you could be here. I'll have to throw parties this big every year
if it means we get to do this every time." He grinned and led her
toward the ongoing festivities.

"That would be fun," she smiled back. "You know how much I love to
dance. But now that you're the Lord will we have any time in private
without them missing you?"

"Oh, I'm sure I can find an excuse to vanish someplace a little
quieter for a little while. Would you like to see the new Printer
Hall?" Time in private sounded like music to his ears to rival any
Harper tune.

“That would be lovely !“ She smiled at him. “I hear they have a new
lending library. I’d love to see the books. “ Then she winked and
smiled again.

Corofel's blood quickened at the wink.

"Oh, I would love to show them to you." He took her hand and led her on.

She followed his lead until they got to the new building and he'd
pulled her into the library. She couldn't believe her eyes as she
looked around. "Oh my Corofel, this is amazing!"

"It really is," Corofel agreed. "I'd send you any book you wanted. Any
time. Maybe you could build a library all your own."

Books were so very expensive that she had very few of her own. "That
is incredibly generous," she said. The establishment of the Printer
hall was making things less so but the supply was still very scarce.
"Thank you," she said softly, looking up into his eyes.

"Of course. Fire, I am so glad you came." Corofel smiled back down at
her. He was going to have to figure out how to start seeing her
regularly again. "It's been so... much. Coming home. Being here again,
with all this..."

She reached up and caressed the side of his face. "I know you can do
this. Zathris is certain of it." She stepped a little closer. "Aunt
Benani is so proud of you."

Corofel closed his eyes for a moment. Having Faldrimme with him was a
little bit like being back at Amber Hills in a way that Arippa
obviously could not replicate. He found himself wishing she did not
have to go back.

He opened his eyes and leaned in closer.

"I'm glad to know it."

Something inside pushed him onward, and he kissed her.

She melted into the kiss with a sigh. Her arms went around his neck.
She'd never been held like this or kissed by someone she truly liked.
When he released her her eyes were as big as saucers. "Oh Corofel,"
she breathed.

Corofel was relieved. He had acted so impulsively, he had not even
considered that this might not go the way he had hoped. But she had
kissed him back!

He certainly was not thinking of any of the several young women he was
meant to be considering for political reasons. The only one on his
mind was Faldrimme.

"You really are Dreamy." He grinned.

She smiled at the inside joke as that was her pet name in their
family. "Thank you My Lord," she grinned. "Please do that again."

"I'd be honored." And Corofel kissed her again. There had never been
anyone who had made him feel this way, especially none of the reverse
suitors... Maybe it had been because he always knew deep inside that
he was missing Faldrimme.

This time when he let her breathe she laid her head against his chest
overwhelmed by the experience. She'd known she had strong feelings for
Corofel but this had taken her beyond their former boundaries and she
didn't know where they were going.

Corofel held her close as he caught his breath. He knew he was never
going to forget the smell of her hair in this moment.

"I want you to stay," he breathed. "Stay with me."

“You know I want to. But you also know why I can’t.”

Corofel expended more than a little self-control holding in whatever
pitiful whimpers his body wished to expel at hearing this.

"I'll give you anything. Everything you ask for. Tell me what you
want, and it's yours. Anything."

“Corofel,” she said softly. “ I cared deeply about you before you had
anything to give me. You know that. That isn’t going to change. “ She
snuggled deeper into his embrace. “Kiss me. “

First, Corofel kissed her. Then,

"I would never have offered you everything if I didn't know you
already loved me..." Not just cared for. Loved. "I only wish I'd
realized sooner how much I love you."

“I love you too,” she whispered with tears in her eyes.

- - -

Scandalous! Scandalous, indeed! It had taken Vardamon some time to
follow them without being noticed. But he had arrived in time to see
the incriminating kisses! To hear the jaw-dropping confessions of
love!

He would have to tell someone. Tell _everyone_! And what better way to
do that than to find one of those journalists who published their news
with the Printers' Paper? They could make sure everyone knew the new
young Lord was every bit the philanderer his father was and not the
least bit as good at hiding it.

Last updated on the November 4th 2024

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Castles Made of Sand Fall in the Sea