Moonlit Walk

Writers: Cymiri, Jelena
Date Posted: 23rd October 2012

Characters: Sinla, Daimhin
Description: Daihmin accompanies Sinla on her night's walk.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 9, day 22 of Turn 6

Sinla sighed heavily, as loudly as she could and looked to her side,
where her husband continued his snoring without any indication her
huff had done anything to awaken him. In frustration, she threw back
the covers and found her fur-lined slippers under the bed. Throwing
her sleeping husband one last look of disdain, she stomped out of the
room. In the small hallway, she listened for sounds, but all her
children seemed to be calmly asleep. For a moment she considered going
in to her supply of liquor, but as she had already had a few glasses
earlier she decided it might not be such a good idea. There was work
to be done in the morning. Finally, she could almost feel their
quarter's walls closing in on her. She grabbed her long coat, wrapped
it around herself tightly and fled out the door. Maybe a little walk
would ease her mind.

Oh yes? Figures in the dark usually earned a certain guards attention.
This time, though, it was even more taken, recognising as he did the
slim pretty shape that stalked past him, unseeing.

That hadn't particularly looked like a dash to get sneakily entangled
with a loved one, but all the same.... this could be intresting.

Quietly, he stepped out of the corner he had been occupying, intending
to follow her unless he was noticed.

Sinla did notice, even if it was just out of the corner of her eye. A
lady out at night on her own, she was cautious enough and she turned
around at the hint of motion behind her. "Hello?" she asked, not able
to make out who it was in the shadows.

Discovered, Daihmin was quick to step forward more clearly into the
light. No need to spook anyone.

"Daihmin, my lady. Is there something amiss?"

Sinla visibly relaxed when she recognised the man. "No, Daihmin,
everything's alright. Just going out for a walk, couldn't sleep."

A couple of saucy retorts ran across his tounge, but he bit them back.
This was the wife of a well respected master, after all.

"That doesn't speak well for your husband..."

Somehow, that one escaped. He quickly ammended it.

"...if I was to allow you to roam alone this late.. Don't mind me,
I'll not disturb your thoughts...but I think it would be best if I
stayed in your shadow while you walk."

Plus, he liked the view. But *that* he wasn't going to add.

Sinla had hesitated between agreeing with the man or getting angry at
the insult when he quickly corrected himself. "Actually, I wouldn't
mind a little company on my stroll," she said after a moment of
thought. "If you feel so inclined."

A flirtatious smile flitted across his face, though sternly moderated
by the need to retain a professional appearance and knowledge of who
it was he spoke with. He gave her a small bow

"Of course, my lady."

And stepped forward, shortening his strides to match hers.

"It is a nice night, isn't it?" Sinla remarked in a conversational
tone, even if she wasn't really looking for such idle chit chat. She
just couldn't think of anything that would be proper to say right now.

Daihmin caught the hint of her dillema in her voice, and allowed his
mouth to overflow with gentle chatter to ease the burden a little.

"The nights here are often nice. Not always pleasant, mind- I've
weatherd a few ones colder then I'd care to describe to a lady- but
nice, yes. I've seen some gorgeous skies of late. Like crystal. Like
some of your husband's best work made large." A soft smile. " It's a
pity there's only me and a few bored herdbeasts to see it, half the
time."

"That is true, I seldom get to see the night sky," Sinla replied with
a bit of melancholy in her voice. "Shall we stroll outside for a bit,
or are you supposed to stay in?"

"My duty's to see it that what the Hold holds dear stays protected.
There's little enough going on in here to justify leaving you
unescorted, my lady."

He smiled again a little. He didn't want her to think he meant it
would be a chore.

"Well, then," Sinla said, a small smile playing around her lips. "Then
I would like for you to join me for a moonlit walk." As she strolled
for the nearest exit, she glanced at the guard. "Do you enjoy the
night watch, Daihmin?"

He gave her request another short bow of acknowledgement, grasping the
door ahead of her and stepping back to allow her to exit before
following himself.

"Do I sound incredibly soppy if I confess the answer is yes? Oh, it
has disadvantages- the hours are a little antisocial and there's less
time for pretty girls.." A brief flash of a smile. "...or at least
pretty girls willing to live their life upside down for the sake of
their man. But it grows on you. I get to see a side of the hold few
other's do...."

His smile turned self mocking.

"And now I was lyrical and make you wonder if I should have rather
been a harper, eh? In the interests of not spoiling that, tell me
lady, what has you out of bed so late? Is all well?"

"Oh, don't tell anyone I told you this," Sinla said in a conspiratory
tone, even though she had no intention of sharing the real
frustrations that kept her awake. "But my husband snores something
terrible."

Daihmin gave her a slightly quizzical look. Whether he actually
suspected or merely considered that the answer could be false wasn't
clear.

All the same, he was very polite in answering, "That's a tough one
indeed. I know more then one couple with seperate beds because of it.
You should speak to the healers, though. They can sometimes help."

He added, more softly "If you look to the left, you'll see the moon
between those trees. It always hits it like that at this time of
night. Rather like Dark thoughts- but much prettier"

"Makarl is way to busy for the healers," Sinla sighed. Makarl and his
precious craft... When Daihmin distracted her from her thoughts
suddenly, she gasped. "That's so beautiful!"

Daihmin had to smile. Women were charming creatures, especially when enthused.

"Crafter's are like that. I know a healer who's to busy for
healers...as i've asked him, what sort of advert is that?"

His brow creased a little though, aware she was skirting around
something- and dying to know what, whilst being ery aware of how much
he *couldn't* just ask.

"Yeah, well at least Makarl makes use of his *own* craft," Sinla
shrugged, reaching up to touch the intricate pendant she always wore,
a gift from her husband. It wasn't there, though, it was still on her
nightstand. Somehow, that made her feel a little more free for a
second and she smiled at Daihmin. "So, you really are a creature of
the night, aren't you?"

He returned the smile

"Oh yes. Even when I was young my parents had trouble with me getting
them up at all ends of the night. My first captain took one look at me
and booted me over to night work. I guess I..." It was hard to
quantify all the things he found attractive about the night, even with
the drawbacks it sometimes created too. "...like the peace." He
eventually settled on. His eyes had flickered to follow her hands, but
flicked away again swiftly when he realised that whatever she'd
reached for was not there- wouldn't be done to be thought to be
staring at *her* too closely. "Ladies should all be spoiled with
jewlery. If you can make it yourself for them, so much the better."

"I can understand that, there's something magical about the night,
isn't there? It's like all the day stuff doesn't really matter." She
paused for a moment to listen to him and then shrugged. "There are
more important things you can spoil a lady with other than jewelry."
She had learned that the hard way.

"Yes."

He said simply in agreement. Without turning around, eyes still on the
view, he asked a very gentle question.

"You are not very happy, my lady, are you?"

He added, a few seconds later, still neutrally watching the view
rather then trap her with a gaze

"You don't have to answer me, of course, if you'd rather not."

"There were times when I was happier," Sinla replied with a small
shrug. "But that's just life, isn't it?"

"Oh yes. But then again, one shouldn't be actively unhappy, either."

That earned a quick but candid glance.

"The question is always deciding which you are feeling. If you are right in it."

"But how does one really decide such a thing?" Sinla asked, now
honestly curious about his thoughts. "And more importantly, what if
you do and there is no turning back?"

He turned back to her.

"I don't think there's an easy answer to that one, my Lady. Sometimes
its obvious. Sometimes you have to weigh pros and cons in the dark and
hope you get them right. Sometimes...you just jump, and hope it all
turns out alright."

He looked away again.

"Its foolish advice, mind, and you'd do well to ignore it, but
personally, there are times when I've found its better to do anything
at all then remain still and dying slowly by the minute."

That was exactly how she felt at the moment, like she was dying a
slow, suffering death, smothered by her loveless marriage. She looked
at Daihmin silently for a few seconds and then sighed. "You certainly
give a lady things to think about," she commented softly.

Several ribald retorts flashed to his mind, but he'd never so much as
consider extending the Master's wife one. Instead he settled for
"Its a pleasure to have been of some service, Sinla."
He glanced at the moon, used to timing his watch rotas by the same.
"It's getting late. If you are feeling better, I should probably see
you back to your quarters."

"You are probably right," she said with a nod, smiling a little at him
just calling her 'Sinla'. She liked it somehow. "Thank you for keeping
me company. It was a nice change."

"Nicer change for me to have the company. It's been a pleasure."

With which he turned to usher her back home.

Last updated on the November 17th 2012

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Moonlit Walk