Finding the Courage

Writers: Devin, Bree
Date Posted: 2nd April 2007

Characters: Royani, Marod
Description: Royani meets a charming young man at Miralani and Daynar's wedding
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 2, day 28 of Turn 4

Royani ducked away from her latest enthusiastic dance partner and immediately slid behind one of the tents set up to protect the food and drinks. The man who she'd been partnered with had spent the entire dance giving her a pompous lecture on the benefits of an older husband while treading on her feet at every turn. It was hardly the first such encounter since the wedding dancing had started, and she was starting to think that being an eligible young lady wasn't nearly as much fun as she'd imagined it would be.

It didn't help that she felt more than a little fuzzy headed. She'd indulged in perhaps one or two more glasses of sparkling wine than was appropriate for a lady of her age and station, but it had seemed like the only way to endure the endless parade of men frantic to explain to her why she should give her life over to taking care of them. She was sure that her dance partners had assumed her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes were due to their charm instead of a slight state of inebriation.

Even knowing she'd had too much didn't stop her from sneaking another glass from the table on her way past. Before long she'd have to submit herself for yet _another_ boring dance with _another_ boring old man, and she'd need every advantage she could get.

"Um, excuse me," a voice said beside her.

Royani sighed and put her Proper Lady face back on before turning with a polite smile. "Can I help you?"

The dark haired man smiled shyly. "I feel very silly for asking you this, but . . . could you do me a favor?"

Well, at least he wasn't a boring old man! In fact, he was young and quite handsome. It made Royani's smile turn from polite to friendly. "I could certainly try!"

"Well, there's this woman, and she won't leave me alone." He rubbed his hands against his pants. "Maybe, if she sees me with someone else, she won't bother me."

"Oh." Royani hid a laugh behind her glass before taking a sip of the sparkling wine. "I think I could help you with that." And it would probably be a good deal more enjoyable than dancing with old men! Her brother could hardly take her to task for dancing _one_ dance with someone who wasn't a potential suitor, after all. And as handsome as this young man looked, she could tell by the cut of his clothing that he was not an eligible suitor for the daughter of a Lord Holder.

He smiled again. "Then, would you care to dance?" The man offered her his arm.

Royani set her glass back down on a nearby table and accepted his arm gracefully. "I would be honored--" She hesitated. "What _is_ your name?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Marod." It wasn't worth bothering with false names. Boesyn was too dumb to remember them and was sure to let their real names slip around the girl at some point. Probably within the first candlemark.

"Marod." She smiled again as she let him lead her to the dancing. "I'm Royani."

"Nice to meet you, Royani." They stepped out onto the dancing square. "I don't think I've seen you around here before."

"I came to visit with my brother," she replied easily, sliding her hand into his and resting the other on his shoulder. She rather liked feeling like he didn't know who she was, so she didn't elaborate. "Are you from around here?"

"Yes. I work with the herdbeasts." Marod chuckled nervously. "I hope I don't still smell like them."

Royani laughed. "Not at all. Do you enjoy your work?"

"I love animals. When I was a boy I used to cry whenever we had to kill one of them. I don't cry anymore, but it still makes me a bit sad." They swayed to the music.

"It must be nice to be able to be useful, though." She certainly yearned badly enough for it. Being decorative wasn't very exciting.

"You don't think you're useful?" he asked.

That had ended up being perhaps a bit more honest than she'd intended. "Well, I can do some useful things. I can sew and manage a hold." She smiled shyly. "Or I could, if I had a hold to manage!"

"I don't know if _I_ could manage a hold." Marod spun her around. "So it seems we're both useful."

Royani laughed breathlessly as he reclaimed her hand. He was a _much_ better dancer than the last few men! She was starting to remember now why dancing was supposed to be fun. "I suppose we are!"

"I'm glad I found the courage to talk to you. This would have been a much less pleasant evening." He smiled at her, knowing that his charm was working.

"I agree." She caught sight of one of her former dance partners out of the corner of her eye, watching her with a disapproving frown. The wine and excitement of finally enjoying herself made her bold enough to say something that wasn't quite demure and ladylike. "Maybe you'd like to share the next dance with me, too?"

"I would be delighted, Royani." Oh, yes. It was working very well.

Last updated on the April 3rd 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Finding the Courage