It's Good To Have Friends

Writers: Francesca, Paula
Date Posted: 2nd February 2009

Characters: Lymria, Jadorin
Description: Lymria and Jadorin go for a ride.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 4 of Turn 5

The smell as they entered the stables was strong and very unpleasant
to Jadorin, who was used to the smell of dyes. However, he did not
plan to spend much time there, and outside the weather, and smells,
were very pleasant. The air became denser as they began walking past
stalls, many with runners inside. "This one's yours?" he asked
Lymria, when they stopped at one of the stalls. Inside was a runner
who, while not beautiful or elegant looking, seemed to be of hardy
stock.

"This one. She's been my since I was a little girl," Lymria said and
rubbed fondly the shaggy mare's muzzle.

"Was she a gift from your parents?"

"Yes, a trader needs her own runner," Lymria replied. She led the mare
out of the stall.

Jadorin nodded in agreement. Several stalls from Lymria's runner was
the mare he would be using for the day. The stable worker who had
greeted them said she was very docile, which was reassuring. "Where
are your children?" he asked Lymria conversationally as he walked over
to the chestnut runner.

"Either with friends or being watched by other fostermother," Lymria
replied. She saddled Nona without help by anyone.

Jadorin nodded in response, most of his attention turning to readying
his mare. They were soon both mounted and headed out of the stable.
"Do you know of any nice paths around here?" He had not been
runnerback since arriving at Amber Hills and supposed there were
numerous trails around the Hold, but he did not specifically know of
any.

"A few. I do a lot of riding. Nona needs regular exercise, or it will
get fat in addition of being old lady," Lymria said and patted the
runner's neck. "Shall we follow the river?" she suggested.

"That sounds great." Jadorin moved his runner alongside hers as they
began going down the path. "Having a runner is a good excuse to get
outside. Although, I'm not so sure it would be pleasant in the colder
months."

"Oh, it's not so bad. Of course I wouldn't go riding on blizzard,"
Lymria chuckled, "but it's just matter of dressing warmly. Nona has a
thick coat and she's weather-wise."

"I'll take your word for it." He glanced over at Lymria for a moment,
marveling at how comfortable he felt around her. He couldn't help but
think of his younger sister whenever they were together. They looked
nothing alike, but something in the way Lymria held herself, and in
her sense of humor, was comforting.

"Do you know what they say about Trader's word?" She asked merrily.

He smiled. "I have some idea, but why don't you tell me?"

"Either that you can trust it only as far as you can throw the Red
Star, or that you can depend your life on it," Lymria replied.

"Well, I'll choose to believe the latter, at least from you. Although
the other one is more poetic."

"Thank you, I feel flattered," Lymria said warmly.

They let the runners follow the path at their own pace, enjoying the
sun and warm weather. Jadorin thought about his friendship with
Lymria, because he considered her a friend, and hoped she thought the
same. But, he still didn't know much about her. She wasn't like the
friends of his childhood, who were cousins, or friends of the family.
"So, what do you do in your free time, besides taking your runner
out?"

"Nothing much, past the usual household chore and spending time with
my friends," Lymria replied. "Three full time children and irregular
number of part-time fosterlings don't leave me much free time. What
does crafter do in his free time?"

"Think about my craft," Jadorin admitted. "Even though I've been here
for a number of months, I haven't really made friends outside of other
weavers. Except for you, that is." He hoped she didn't think he was
being too forward. After all, they had spent a good amount of time
together the past month.

"It's good to have friends," Lymria said neutrally, but inside she was
little bit disappointed. She had wished for romantic interest from his
behalf.

"Yes," he replied amiably. He didn't know how to interpret her tone,
but he hoped it meant that they were friends. It felt juvenile to be
worrying about something like this, but feeling silly about it didn't
change what he thought.

Lymria flashed him a smile. "Race you to that grove of trees?" she suggested.

With a grin Jadorin yelled, "Let's go!" He gave his mare a kick and
click of encouragement and leaned forward, as he had seen jockeys do
in races. A quick look to his side showed Lymria and her mare edging
ahead, so he concentrated on the trees ahead and whispered
encouragement to his runner.

Nona was really more a long distance runner than speed runner, but she
still was better than the runner Jadorin was riding. Lymria reached
the goal first, but only by a half-runner's length. She laughed with
delight and cried:" I won!"

"Not fair!" Jadorin immediately yelled in protest, slowing his runner
down to a walk. "I'm not sure how, but I'm sure you cheated."
He wagged a finger at her, trying not to smile.

"I certainly did not. Pick a faster runner next time," Lymria replied
bit cheekily.

"Now we'll have to have a next time. I'll get one of the racers and
then we'll see what happens," he joked.

Lymria bent forward and patted her mare's neck. "Then I just have to
pick some steep, winding mountain path for a race track and Nona gets
really show you what she's made of."

"That would be even less fair!" Jadorin pretended to complain, but he
had a wide smile on his face. "Let's keep going in this direction,"
he said, pointing to the path they were on. "Slowly, so my poor
runner can recover from her loss."

Last updated on the February 10th 2009

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It's Good To Have Friends