Can't Wait for Tomorrow (1/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 15th February 2006
Characters: Daigoro, Cinale
Description: Daigoro asks Cinale to go for a walk to talk
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 10, day 14 of Turn 3
Daigoro paced back and forth in front of the kitchen door. Maybe he should wait. Maybe today was not the right day. He could use another day to practice anyway. Yes, that's it! Another day. He just needed one more day to practice.
As he was about to turn to leave one of the kitchen girls opened the door. "Good night Cinale," she called over her shoulder and all but ran into the Hallsecond. "Oh, excuse me, Master Daigoro. Are you coming in?"
"I... uh..." He could see the cook through the crack in the door, kneading away at her bread dough, getting it ready to rise for the morning baking. She looked adorable with flour streaks on the side of her face and up her arms. "Uh... Yeah... I just need a cup of klah," he smiled. The big man reached over the girl and held the door open for her. "Have a good night, Praga."
Cinale paused in her kneading to look over a shoulder. "I thought I heard your voice, hon! Come on in. There's a pot of klah over the hearth heating up if you want some." Jio's advice flashed through her mind, and she flushed a little. Ducking her head, she continued to slap at the dough until it was rounded in a shape to her liking. Would it be this evening? Could she actually gather enough courage and tell him?
"Thanks," he smiled as he reached for a mug. "Do you... have many loaves to go?"
"A couple more." She turned her face up to smile at him. "But I could use a break. Let me just pop _this_ in the oven first..." Taking the baking sheet filled corner to corner with his favorite type of cookie dough, she bent over and slid it in, making a face as the sweltering heat made the loose hairs stick to her brow.
"Hmmmm... cookies. You were expecting me, I take it?" Daigoro grinned despite his nervousness. It was all those little things she did that he liked to imagine she did just for him that made him love her so.
She grinned back as she rose, brushing her hair back from her eyes and incidentally smearing even more flour on her reddened cheek. "I always have cookies for you, hon."
"Yes, you do." Daigoro grabbed a clean cloth out of the draw and wet it in the basin. "Hold still a moment." He walked over and leaning over the table and the flour and the dough he gently began wiping at the flour on her face. His conversation with Ariavin ran through his mind. 'Why Cinale?' the cooper had asked. Daigoro had the perfect answer for that question, but looking at her now, he wasn't sure he could put it into words again. There was just too much to say.
Her eyes closed of their own volition, very aware of every spot on her face the tips of his fingers happened to brush against as he wiped at the white smear. Shards...he was so close. She caught her lower lip lightly between her teeth. So deliciously close, and yet as the words danced on the tip of her tongue, she couldn't find a way to string them into a coherent sentence.
Daigoro let out is breath as he pulled his hand away. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding it. Shards, he had to do it now. What was he so afraid of? He smiled at the thought that he was a big strong man, and yet this woman could make his feel like a scrawny adolescent again. "Cinale," he finally said. "When you are through with this, do you think we could go for a walk? There's... something I want to talk to you about."
Her blue eyes flickered as they lifted to his. "Of course." She hoped her voice sounded natural. "I'm almost done, Daigoro..." And with that, she bent over her workspace and began to finish her baking duties, resisting the urge to reach up and finger her cheek.
"Thank you," he smiled. "I will let you finish your work. I'll wait for you outside. On the bench by your herb garden."
He didn't have to wait too long - Cinale made sure of that. After molding the last of the bread dough and putting her impliments away, she debated on whether she should fix her appearance up just a tad. And then, once that brief debate was over, she berrated herself for acting so silly. Grabbing her coat and scarf, she checked one last time on Fey and the hearth before heading outside. The winter breeze stung at her nose and the tips of her fingers, and she hunched into the warmth of the fur-lined coat, digging her hands into the pockets. "Do you need a hat?" she asked as she approached, her blue eyes glinting with teasing mischief. "I still have the one you used last time..."
"Well, I don't think it brought me much luck last time," he said, rubbing his back with a teasing smile. **And I need all the luck I can get...** "Just no slipping on ice this time."
"I promise to behave." She smiled down at him. "So where are we walking to?"
"Ummm..." He hadn't really thought that far... "Just around the herb garden maybe?" Shards, he sounded like a fool. The herb garden was as big as the entire kitchen! It would take all of thirty seconds to walk abound it. **Stupid, Daigoro. Real stupid...** "Actually lets not walk. Lets... just talk."
Cinale took in a breath. Maybe he would...so she wouldn't have to...maybe... But maybe she was wrong. Cinale shivered despite herself. "Are you all right, Daigoro?" she asked, slowly sinking down to the bench.
"All right? Yes," Daigoro said absently as turned his body to look at her better. "And no..." He took a deep breath. Ariavin had said there was no need to be nervous. The brewer just had to get it out and then it would be over... "I have been thinking a lot lately. And... and... Well..." Shards it was hot outside. "Just a moment," he said closing his eyes, trying to think of how to put it.
A slow, soft smile began to light her face. She didn't know how she knew. Perhaps it was woman's intuition. Feeling both shy and bold at the same time, Cinale gingerly moved closer to him, her hand reaching out to touch his. Her fingers gentle, tenderly coaxing him to open to her.
The touch was enough for him to understand. He opened his eyes and smiled. Daigoro could see it in her eyes. Perhaps too many words were not necessary, and they didn't have to be pretty, or perfect or right. In the end he just whispered, "Shards, Cinale, but you are the most wonderful woman I have ever known," and he leaned down to softly touch his lips to hers.
Last updated on the February 15th 2006