"We could go sit in the courtyard by the town hall for a spell, if you'd like." Rastellion says, as they head down the cobbled street.
"Sure an' I'd like that plenty." She said, shifting the basket again. "An' it'll give me a chance t' put this down. It's getting a mite heavy."
"Let's go then!" Rastellion replies with a grin as he motions her ahead of him, leaning over to whisper in her ear and causing Immalaine to blush. She replies by playfully slapping at his arm. "Really Rast!" she says, though she smiles at him.
With a wink and a grin at her, he starts to stroll down the street. "Just sayin'" he answers, cheerfully.
As they get to the town hall, Rastellion veers away from the building where he jumps on one of the large rocks and sits down. "I probably got to learn t' be more careful where I sit when I'm stuffed into this damn ball gown," he mutters, sitting on the boulder anyway.
Scrambling up the rock as she follows Rastellion, Immalaine hikes her skirt up so she can climb. Settling down beside him, she sets her basket down with a sigh. "Well, ye and me both. Climbin' ain't as easy in this dress as it were in some o' me other things."
"Seems Breetown's trying to make city folk out of both of us!"
"Or at least someone is ..." Immalaine mutters, referring to Lady Zandrianna, though it's said with quiet affection.
Idly waving a hand at the Town Hall, Rastellion continues. "Gotta say, though, once I showed up in these damn threads - and I'd swear they mean to strangle me some afternoon - with my new factor's seal... well, they started taking me more seriously in there."
Studying the collar for a moment, her lips pursed in consideration, Immalaine reaches up and she adjusts it, slightly loosening it without making it appear obviously loosened. "There, that should 'elp that a bit. An' I reckon I understand what ye mean. It do seem they take city folk more serious in general 'round here."
"Yeah, that they do." he replies as he grins at her. "From what I hear, Lady Zandrianna means to make a proper Lady Immalaine out of you!"
"She seems rather fond o' th' idea. Sayin' I'm t' dress proper, an' learn t' speak proper, an' ..." she adds, "I got all these books I have t' study. Me head's swimmin' wit' all the stuff she wants t' teach me. But ..." Immalaine adds rather excitedly, "Lady Zandrianna did teach me one new thing that I love!"
Rastellion smiles at her enthusiasm. "Oh? What's that?"
After setting down her bag, Immalaine smiles and pulls from it a small harp. Running her fingers along the strings, she begins playing a melody, perhaps not perfectly as she misses a few notes, but clearly enough that Rastellion can hear the music.
Smiling up, entranced, he says. "I didn't know you could play so fine!"
"Lady Zandrianna only able t' teach me a couple o' songs so far, but she says I got a talent fer it and she'll teach me more as she can."
A crooked grin crosses his face. "See, now, what'd I say that first day we met, hm? Mayor in under ten years!"
"I reckon me playin' some songs on Lady Zandrianna's old harp ain't gone make me mayor material." she says, as she giggles and misses a note.
Rastellion leans back, watching her, and shakes his head. "Oh, you never know ... It'd be a better reason than how many pork pies you can eat, and sometimes, you've got t' wonder if that's been a key factor 'round these parts..."
Placing the harp back in her bag, she settles down to sit with Rastellion once more. "I reckon that was one o' the most special things anyone's e'er taught me t' do." She turns and chuckles at Rastellion's comment, thinking too that she's seen a few men around Bree who seemed overfond of their evening meals.
"Lady Zandrianna's got a heart as big as her... well, she's got a big heart!"
"She does at that," Immalaine says as she slides over a bit, leaning her head against Rastellion's shoulder with a sigh. "But I reckon I worry 'bout her sometimes."
"I do too. Like to wear herself out worrying and caring. And the baby!" He looks down at her, kisses the top of her head. "What has you worried 'bout her?"
Immalaine pauses, wondering if she should tell Rastellion or not, but it'd been bothering her for some time. "Well, since I been home, I hear her sometimes at night, crying. One night, I went into her chambers, what to see if I could get 'er t' talk 'bout what was botherin' her. But Rastellion ... she were sound asleep, an' yet she were cryin'."
"I bet it's Komatsu," he says, softly. "I know how hard she fell for him, and then - still newlyweds - he was snatched away from her, not once, but twice." He shakes his head. "That sorta loss can't be got over quick.I'll... maybe I'll talk to her when she gets back. She knows she can trust me."
Immalaine snuggles against Rastellion, then looks up at the sky as she feels the first large drop of water hit her head. "Oh! It's rainin'!" she exclaims.
"Oh! Quick.. under the portico there!" Rastellion says, grabbing Immalaine's arm as he helps her climb down from the rock. Together they rush to the safety of cover, and Immalaine shakes her head of the bit of moisture clinging to her auburn locks. "Well, that were sudden." she said.
A wry glance toward the town hall has Rastellion sighing. "Maybe a sign I should be getting back to searching in there," he mutters.
"I can keep ye company, if'n ye like. If I'd not be in th' way."
"Careful what you offer, Immalaine. Bunch of dry old parchments in there, including the ones they brought down from Trestlebridge while the place is rebuilding."
She looks out at the rain, and then back at Rastellion. "I ain't gettin' home for a spell anyways, an' I reckon I like spendin' time wit' ye, no matter what yer doin'."
Rastellion turns toward her at this, a slightly shy smile on his lips, then he leans in and kisses her soundly, for all the world to see, before ushering her into the town hall.
(Credits and love go to Rastellion, who provided the voice of the male characters in this story. *Blows kisses to Rastellion and grins widely*)
