Why Not?

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 8th April 2008

Characters: Thalia, Kiomo
Description: Kiomo presses his suit.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 9, day 10 of Turn 4

"Excuse me, Ladies!" Kiomo smiled as the drone of chatter died down to a hum of whispers and all heads turned in his direction. "Forgive me for disturbing you all, but I am afraid Lady Thalia has some business of some importance which requires her immediate attention. Is she here by chance?"

The two nearest him exchanged looks and tittered, and it was up to one of the older, married women to speak to him. "Lady Thalia hasn't joined us yet this morning. I expect that she's still with her son. You can probably find her in Aslian's nursery."

"Ah, then I shall seek her out there. Thank you for your help." Kiomo gave them an exaggerated bow along with a rather cocky smile. "Good afternoon, ladies."

It was slightly disappointing that the lady had not been there. If she was indeed with her son there was a good chance that dratted nurse would be with them as well. Although, she was not hard on the eyes either...
He gave the door a smart knock before peeking his head inside. "Am I interrupting anything?"

Aslian was laughing but sobered quickly at the sound of a male voice.
Thalia looked up from where she sat on the ground and smiled. "Holder Kiomo! To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Why, to _me_ of course! And I expect payment in full..." He cast his eyes quickly about the nursery. "Where's Liddy?" "Her child was crying so she stepped out for a little to go for a walk."
Once one started, the other was likely to mimic, and two babies crying was more than Thalia could handle. "It's just Aslian and I for now, I'm afraid."

"And me now." He lowered himself to the floor beside her and reached out to tickle the little boy's belly. Kiomo had learned long ago the way to some women's hearts and good graces were through their children. "Good afternoon, Lord Aslian. Have you been attending to important Hold matters today?"

"Ba-Ba!" Aslian waved a stuffed sheep at Kiomo. "He has, indeed. He's just learnt what an ovine says, isn't that right?"
Thalia asked her son. Aslian beamed back at her, drooled, and threw his sheep onto the floor at his feet.

"Oh, is _that_ what an ovine says?" Kiomo chuckled as he picked up the stuffed toy and handed it back to the child. "I had always wondered about that."

Thalia smiled. "It's a good thing that you're not next in line for the Hold, then, if you just learnt what an ovine said today! At least Aslian is still a baby!"

"There weren't too many ovines at Ancient Stones Hold. Too hot." He leaned a little closer and whispered, "So what do pretty young mothers say?"

Thalia blushed a deep crimson, despite the apparent innocence of his words, it was apparent that Kiomo was implying something else entirely.
"They say 'please' and 'thank you' and 'mind the roses', I believe."

"So if I told you that I really wanted to kiss you right now, would you say 'mind the roses' in response?" he asked, his lips closing in on hers.

His kiss made her thoughts scatter and her knees go weak; his tongue touched her lips gently, and she ached for him to hold her. But...
Thalia pulled away reluctantly. "I can't - Liddy will be back any moment!"

He chuckled softly as he leaned in once more. "That's not something young mother's say..."

"I just said it, so it is _too_ something I would say."

"So what if she sees?" he murmured, grazing her cheek with his fingertips. "How long are we going to keep this secret?"

"You know my reasons, Kiomo." Thalia stared at her hands for a moment, then reached out to pluck Aslian from the floor and place him in her lap. The child smiled as she bounced him on her knee. "It is perhaps my fault that... I never meant to lead you on in any way, but.. I have my son to think of."

"I see." Now they were actually getting somewhere. "And just what is it in my credentials that makes you believe that I wouldn't be the perfect match for you _and_ your son?"

"Your credentials have nothing to do with it," Thalia said sharply. "I'm just not sure that... I can't..." It was so hard to put what she felt into words that wouldn't be hurtful. Thalia had thought about it, long and hard, and had come to the conclusion that while she enjoyed spending time with Kiomo, she wasn't sure how good a father he would make. And then there was the issue of the pregnant holder girl who had claimed that he was the father, and even though it had been disproved... a niggling seed of doubt remained. Thalia found that she couldn't quite completely trust him and what was worse, she wasn't sure if that was because of anything he'd said or done (which seemed unlikely) or because deep down, she didn't care for him in the manner she told herself she did. She sighed. "My son is my primary concern, as is securing my own position within the Hold so that I can protect his interests. Until I do that, I cannot announce anything. Please respect that."

He reached for her hand. "But I could _help_ you protect his interests.
Can't you see that I am the answer to so many of your problems. If you married me, you would never have to leave Garnet Valley. You could stay with your son always."

Thalia smiled tightly. "That's what my last husband said, too."

"Thalia, think about this realistically. I am of the Blood, same as you. I have connections to a rich Hold - connections you and your son and this Hold could profit from. I have turns worth of experience in Hold management - experience I am not only passing on to your Warder, but that I could pass on to your son as well. If you marry me you can stay here in Garnet Valley Hold until your son comes of age and never have to move beyond it's borders. How many proposals of marriage do you expect to get with that kind of guarantee?" He met her gaze with eyes dark and pleading, schooling his expression through turns of practice manipulating women to get what he wanted from them. "How many of them would feel about you the way I do?"

She sighed and looked away. "Please don't, Kiomo."

"But if you would just consider it..."

"Please don't... insist. I... perhaps someday, but I'm just not ready to marry again. Not right now."

Kiomo pushed down his frustration. This was taking much sharding longer than he had anticipated. Perhaps he should lean a little harder on Ishek. Or Penryn... "I know. And I don't want to push you. But the time will come when you will need to marry again. Just promise me, when that time comes you'll think about it."

"I'll think about it," she said.

It was enough for now. But only for now. "What do you say once Liddy comes back you and I go out for a little walk?" He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "I promise I won't bring it up again."

Thalia sighed, feeling torn and wishing she could dump Aslian with Liddy and leave Kiomo behind. Talk of marriage made her feel skittish and trapped, but Kiomo was so kind to her... "A short walk," she said after a moment's thought. He would try to kiss her, of that she was certain, and just as certain was the fact that she was in no mood to be kissed, and to have her mouth claimed by a man. But she'd just turned down his suit, and to refuse to step out with him now would wound his pride further.

Last updated on the April 9th 2008

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