A Romantic Tale

Writers: Estelle, Nici
Date Posted: 1st August 2005

Characters: Lindria, Alajeran
Description: Alajeran returns from his day's work to find Lindria reading one of Gevina's books.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 17 of Turn 3

If Lindria had opened the shutters and looked outside, she would have seen snow falling in the dusk and great drifts building up against the stone walls of the Hold, and felt a chill breeze against her skin. Since she'd already been one winter at Amethyst Cliff, however, she was happy to recline on a couch beside the crackling fire, with Calrian nestled in her arms. She had fed the baby boy and sung him to sleep, and now she simply enjoyed looking at him and drinking in every detail from his delicate eyelashes to his tiny feet in their woollen boots.

After a while, though, she remembered a certain book that Gevina had lent her. It was hidden just within reach, under the couch where it would not be found by the drudges or her husband. From what she'd read so far, some of the stories in it were rather scandalous and not at all suitable for a proper young lady.

Lindria had enjoyed every word.

"This is going to be our little secret," she told her sleeping son unrepentantly as she reached for the book and opened it at the last page she'd read. "No telling Grandmama!"

It wasn't long before she was so engrossed in the plot - which concerned the beautiful daughter of a Lord falling hopelessly in love with a simple harper, despite being betrothed to another man - that she didn't even hear the door of the sitting-room opening and closing behind her.

"Okay, if that story is about a travelling harper then I'm the youngest son and second in line to lead the Hold..." Alajeran had propped himself on the back of the couch and she'd been so intent on her book that she'd never heard him enter.

"Alajeran!" Lindria squeaked in surprise and sat up, earning a sleepy protest from Calrian. She shut the book quickly, hiding a _very_ detailed description of the hero of the story before her husband could get a glimpse of it over her shoulder. "Whatever makes you think that?"

"You blushed. You _never_ blush. The little lip nibble was particularly...intriguing."

"I didn't!" Lindria could feel herself blushing even more, to her immense embarrassment. "Anyway the story _is_ about a harper - so there." She tucked the little book away under a cushion and leant against it. "How was your day?"

"Long and dreary now that all the outside work is completely," he replied. "I was rather looking forward to seeing you until I came in and found you looking at a book with the same expression you _usually_ reserve for...more intimate times with me." He had to literally bite the inside of his mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. Lindria looked _so_ embarrassed and it was fun to make her think he was jealous of bits of paper and wherhide! "What's the book about?"

"You'd probably find it very dull," Lindria said, in the vain hope that her husband might be put off. It was very frustrating, how difficult it was to fool him! "It's nothing but the life of a famous harper who...just happened to say something once that made me blush."

"Uh huh...I can't imagine what _that_ could have been..." He let his hand brush her shoulder, all the better to try to gain access to the cushion she was leaning against. "You're sure that's all it's about?"

"Well, he did other things." She racked her brains for something that was safe to admit. "He wrote poetry..." The kind of poetry that no respectable harper would publish and would make a _real_ Lord's daughter swoon in shock!

"What _sort_ of things.." Now, Alajeran was truly intrigued!

"Oh, the usual things...flowers, mountain landscapes, sunrises. It's very passion...er, expressive," Lindria corrected herself hastily. She could practically _feel_ her cheeks glowing. Her husband had to know that something was up!

"Uh huh..." Alajeran gave her his widest smile and leaned over to kiss his wife, pulling her forward and giving his hand access to the book in question. "Aha!"

"Alajeran, _no_!" She tried, too late, to grab the book back. With Calrian in her arms, she couldn't even jump up and tackle him in order to prevent him from reading. "Give that back!"

"Oh no...I simply must know..." Alajeran flipped a few pages and grinned. "_Lindria_, what if I told your Mama!"

"Please don't! She'd probably faint clean away and then we'd both be in trouble with Lord Alalir." She eyed him suspiciously, then reached out and smacked his arm with her free hand. "And you can keep your eyes off it, too!"

He gave her a 'look'. "You were glowing so brightly when I walked in, perhaps I should _study_ it for inspiration, Lindria!"

"That's not necessary..." Deciding that some flattery was in order, Lindria carefully placed her drowsing son on the couch and reached up to twine her arms around her husband's neck. "You're _much_ better than any silly book."

"I should hope so," Alajeran hid his smile in her hair. "After all, I doubt your harper is going to walk out of those pages, so already I'm ahead of the game!" He kissed her again and it was a long time before he pulled back. "I doubt if he can do that _either_."

"No," Lindria replied, a little breathlessly. The romantic tales were entertaining enough, but they couldn't possibly compare to the real thing! Still, the spark of mischief in her spirit could not be contained, and she pouted. "But he does write the most alluring sonnets for his beloved. _I've_ never received so much as a verse."

"For which you should be eternally _grateful_. I've already admitted to having no skill as a harper....however, I think I can claim, without seeming too arrogant, to some skill in....certain other areas..."

"Oh, and what areas would those be?" Lindria asked coyly. She kissed her husband, taking his hands and drawing him down onto the couch beside her. "Ploughing...fields?" Another kiss. "Sowing seeds, perhaps? Plucking fruit from the trees?"

"Among other things..." Alajeran checked to make sure their son didn't roll off the couch while they were distracted by each other. "And those skills often translate well into different areas of life..." He let his hand brush along her shoulder and down her arm. "I could demonstrate..."

Lindria's smile made it clear she'd like nothing better. "Let me just put Calrian in his cot - I think he should sleep for quite a while. Long enough for a very...thorough demonstration."

Alajeran found it hard to keep the smile off of his face as Lindria rose to put their son safely to bed. If _this_ was the kind of welcome he got after a long day at work, then Lindria could read all the 'inappropriate' material she desired!

Last updated on the August 20th 2005

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A Romantic Tale