Revelations of a Complicated Kind Pt 2

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 19th March 2013

Characters: Karhal, Loella
Description: Karhal reacts to Loella's confession
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 6 of Turn 6

Karhal

Loella

The room became suddenly uncomfortable and she found she didn't quite
know what to do with her hands. She didn't want to see it in his face
if he was going to reject her so her eyes slid to the laundry folded
neatly in the basket she'd just brought. "I... um.... need to go," she
said motioning to the door but not looking at him. "So I'll just be
going... then..." her voice trailed off and she turned to flee.

Karhal stood the moment that she looked away and moved around the desk
on quick feet to grab her arm. It wasn't a tight grip, but enough to
stop her. "Wait." His jaw twitched and his voice was soft. "I didn't
know." He lifted his hand to her chin to get her to look up. "Why
didn't you say anything?"

She gave an involuntary sigh almost a sob when he touched her and she
turned back though her knees threatened to buckle. "I couldn't, could
I," she breathed looking squarely at his chest. "You were married to
my sister." She almost choked on the last word. "I'm sorry," she said
as she half-heartedly tried to pull her arm from his grasp.

His reaction was instinctive; he gently pulled her back and embraced
her, one hand stroking her hair. "Shhh.. It's okay. I didn't know." He
suddenly understood why she had refused suitors, why she constantly
checked up on him. It wasn't duty to her. He felt a surge
of guilt for not realizing it sooner. "I should be the one apologizing."

"No," she said but truthfully didn't know what she was protesting. She
was right where she'd wanted to be for Turns. But now she felt trapped
and silly. "I shouldn't have told you," she said as her eyes filled
with tears. But though she was stiff at first she couldn't help it
when her arms went around his waist and she clung to him for what she
was sure would only be a moment that would have to last her a
lifetime.

His hand continued to stroke her hair. "I'm glad you did." He exhaled
slowly. "I do care for you, Loella, and I'm honored." He debated his next
words carefully. "And I don't know exactly if I'm ready to do anything
about it or if I should. " The admission was difficult for him. "Give me
a bit of time to wrap my mind around this. And then...if you're willing.."
He paused and brushed his lips over the top of her head. "If you are
willing, I will approach your father for permission to court you. If this
happens, it'll happen right."

A shiver ran down her spine at his words. But she continued to cling
to him though he towered over her. The word's were not a promise but
'if' was a much bigger word than it seemed. It was hope that she'd
never dared to have before.. He hadn't really promised her a single
thing except he'd opened a tiny crack that gave her a reason to hope.
Hope was a very big thing

After the feel of his kiss on the top of her head, she lifted her tear
stained face to look up at him. "I'm willing," she said softly.

With the pads of his thumbs he swiped lightly at her cheeks to brush
the tears from them. "Okay then. So no more tears." He gave a slight
smile, then as if acknowledging how closely they were pressed
together, gently pulled away and took a deep breath. "Now, you need to
go back home. " He stroked her cheek again and dropped his hand away.
"You'll see me soon, alright?"

"Alright," she said a little shaky. She didn't know if she should
laugh or cry. Loella nodded her head and turned for the door. She
paused a moment to look back at him with shining eyes but she had no
more words and ducked through the door.

Karhal watched her go, but as she walked through the door and left,
he took a deep breath. What in Faranth's name was he doing?
He moved to sit back down at his desk and stared at the hides that lay
in front of him blankly. How could he have not realized? And was he
doing the right thing?

Last updated on the March 23rd 2013

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Revelations of a Complicated Kind Pt 2