"Come on, there's something I want to show you".
Now that they were alone, the wedding had been cleared away, and the Rohirric woman, Maerle; another person it seemed that had travelled to seek him out, had been permitted to take refuge in the headquarters in exchange for caretaker services, he was finally free of Company business for the night. Or rather, the day, as the sky began to pale and the sun peered over the top of the trees, signifying another day of the beginning of new possibilities.
"This is my favourite part of the day, watching the sky change colour and mix. It is a thing of rare beauty, though it happens every day" he mused, looking out.
"I enjoy watching the reflection in the water, of the sky overhead. At least here, anyway. The water is too brown in Bree to see it" she replied.
One of the things Daphnee and he had in common was their birthplace of Bree-land, and also their seeming mutual dislike of the place on many topics. Though it had become more home for him than he had ever thought possible, and I imagine more than she had ever thought it would have done so, too.
"I believe you still owe me a dance" he smiled at her, chuckling. She looked different with her hair down, he mused.
"Even though there's no music? You seem to be the one insisting on a non-musical dance" she looked back at him. Almost perking a brow at him, it seemed. Huh. So that's what that expression looked like in reverse.
"Ah, not to worry. Old Jill taught me a few reels as a kid. I'm sure it'll keep the tempo for you".
"Who's Old Jill?" she asked, curiously.
"Oh, just the woman that looked after me growing up. You'd get on with her. She scowls at me worse than you" he grinned, holding up his hand so that she could take it in hers. "So, what would you like? Slow, medium or fast tempo?"
Sighing, she took his hand and he slid his hand round her waist. "Fine" she said, in a neutral note. "But I am clumsy, and I'm in a dress, and should I fall into the water beside us I'm dragging you in with me".
He chuckled at that. "Oh, you'll be fine. It's easy. You take two steps backward, two steps forward, we'll spin and then turn. Just let me guide you". Coughing a little to clear his throat, he apologised. "Well, if you'll excuse the gruff, monotonous voice of mine, I'll recite a medium tempo reel for you, and it should help".
Almost embarrassed at having to sing, yet rather pleased with himself in this moment, they began to move and he started the reel.
"Well I took a stroll to the Greenway Fort on a day-i-ah-i-ah. I met a little girl and we stopped to talk..."
Spinning her round, she moved rather elegantly underneath his palm as she returned to his grip, and they moved backwards again. He smiled at her, and he was sure she almost smiled back.
"And I knew right then, I'd be taking a whirl..."
To which instead of spinning her, he dipped her. And she almost shrieked.
"Furley! What are you- I'm going to fall!".
Pulling her back up, he chuckled, finishing. "Up the Old North Road to the Greenway Girl". Lingering near her for just a moment, he released her, and took a step back so as to give her space, not wanting to ruin the moment by making her feel discomfort.
She smiled at him, and they both shared a small laugh. They spoke of things, and before they knew it, the sun had begun to give way to the stars, and the light begun to fade. Yawning, he was about to say goodnight, till she asked him a question, and he felt momentarily rooted to the spot.
"What is your favourite and least favourite thing about me?".
Well... that had taken him by surprise. I mean, it wasn't exactly that he hadn't thought of it before, and therefore was stumped for an answer. It was more that he didn't ever think he'd see the day where he had to say it aloud. Biting his lip, he thought carefully on his next sentence.
"My least favourite thing about you is when I know you're right. Which is far too often. And despite how frustrating it is, I know I'm wrong. And there's nothing I can do about it".
She smiled at that. "And your most favourite?"
He flushed. "My favourite? That would be when you scowl at me, before I'm about to do something reckless and you know it. Something about that shows your care within you, and for some reason, it fills my body with warmth".
She looked at him, almost perplexed, but with a hint of a smile. "My scowl? Really?".
Nodding, he smiled back. "It's one of the favourite parts of my day, seeing that face". Before he flushed further, he turned on his heels and walked away to the camp, before he made more of a fool of himself or made her feel awkward.
"Goodnight, Daph" he called over his shoulder. Though whether she heard him or not he didn't know. He was too busy pacing away, and he certainly wasn't going to look behind to find out.
