Thread: Being Fair to the Fairy (Lano & Darkangel)

That sweet word of thanks, carried more sweetly than a robin's song... It didn't just pleased him, it made his heart leap. Perhaps she could see a little more of his true intent. The honey had been but a stroke of luck and he discounted his part in it, overlooking that he had paid handsomely for the strained resource. Nevertheless, her obvious delight and pleasure thrilled him. He knew he could deny her nothing. How had this fairy lass so captured his heart? It was no spell, for the geas protected him. It was not yet true love, and yet the glimmers of that oft sought, frequently maligned, and rarest of emotions was wiggling its way past long held reserve and inner defenses. Her innocence disarmed his fortress of loneliness, carefully erected block by block from the coldness of court ladies. Samuel had to turn his face from her to hide his smile as she switched from tongue to spoon. He would need to instruct her on human court manners as soon as able. Lady Marie, you shall have all the rest you need, and any food and drink you can take. Which reminds me. Do you eat cooked fish or animal flesh? If not, I will need to make provision for you. Her waifish voice contained so much worry that he actually winced. Sergeant, go and greet your wife. The Lady and I must chat alone. Once he had left, and the happy sobs and excited squeels of the children could be heard, Samuel dismounted, to look up at her and take her smaller hands in his own. Marie, your presence makes me so happy, and I can't even tell you why. Did you think I would drag you down as a hound does a hare, and ravish you? Please accord me a little more respect. Here is my offer to you. An initial courting proposal, not to be answered until we both are ready to consider, and accept or reject what will be. You are no slut or trull for me to use and abuse, but you are, as I have named you, a foreign lady. Let us grow to know and appreciate one another's background, experience and beliefs. I long to hear of your rich history, to while away many a firelit evening as you tell me tales of old. And it is my hope you might care to know a little of what exists in Samuel. So I would give you a bracelet, representing that for the next five years at least, we are meant for no other than each other. With that, he slipped a cunngly worked bracelet on her wrist. It had forest scenes of birds, woods, hares and foxes all seeming to scamper around in play. We shall always shared the same room, when under the same roof. I would like to share the same bed, even while nothing of the flesh passes between us. But I have the feeling that were I to crawk into bed with you tonight, something within you might shatter. So for now I shall set out a guest cot next to the bed, and you shall take my mattress, while I rest on the cot, with my good sword by my side. In this way, you need not fear your protector, who stands ready always to protect his lady. For all will know, as we share a room, that you are my lady, and not to be lightly approached. It is the best protection that I can give you. When you are ready, we shall enter the house...our house. For as I said, truly, what is mine is yours.