'I want you to fight beside me …'
Sitting along the bank of the small pond, Desiare cast her rod again, sitting back to think about her recent conversation with Altheric. Not having seen him in some months, she had been surprised to run into him in Bree. The conversation had been pleasant, she'd kept it that way on purpose. Looking around the town square, she thought for a moment, before finally saying. "I was just going to my house to change and grab my fishing rod. Would you care to join me? I do seem to recall your fondness for fishing."
On the way to her house, they exchanged small talk, Desiare not sure what mood Altheric was in – the man, always hard to read, had now become impossible – his face a mask of neutrality. Once at her house, she waved him to look around while she went to her rooms to find something suitable to wear for their fishing trip. In the meantime, he too had gone into a separate room to change into the old clothes he wore for fishing.
When she returned, she went to grab her fishing rod near the fireplace, Altheric watching her grab it before approaching her. “Desiare. I have not seen you in ages. Now you are so very different than before.”
Desiare rubs her finger along the rod, looking up at Altheric. She nods. "No, you haven't. Nor I you." she agrees. She looks at him carefully. "Zandrianna says I've grown up since I left." Sighing, she shrugs.
“You've grown colder,” he replied. “I once knew you to burn with fire.”
Briefly confused by his statement, Desiare turns, looking at the map on the wall. "I have simply learned to control it ... control myself." she said, biting her lip. "It was for the best." Reaching up, she tugs a lock of hair. "I had to grow up sometime.”
“And what do you control?” he prompted.
"Myself. My emotions ... " Blinking, she smiles at him. "Like Zandrianna tried to teach me for so long. I had to learn it for myself."
Altheric cups her hand in his own. "And you've learned much in these passing months?"
Confusion fills her eyes as she stares down at her hand in his, before looking back up. "Yes ... I've studied many things in Rohan ... the plants, the animals there. I even ... I went to see my father."
“And did your father answer anything for you?” he asked her.
Desiare took a deep breath, looking up. "He answered enough. My betrothal was nothing more than payment of a debt. I .... I know he loves me now, but I was so angry to find out. I ..." she purses her lips, her grip on the rod tightening. "Still, I'm no longer bound to that agreement. My father has seen to it. And I told him that some way, I will pay his debt off."
Altheric nods his head. "Honour.” he said simply, before speaking her name. “Desiare...”
Thinking about her visit with her father, she absently nods, as she starts to reply. "Yes, I supp ... yes Altheric?" she asks.
His eyes unreadable, Altheric looks down at Desiare. “I feel that I led you down a hard path”
"I'm not sure I understand." she says, shaking her head in bafflement.
“When you fell.. you know of what I speak”
Desiare shakes her head, confused. "Fell ... the only time I fell was when I fell in ..." she pauses. "Altheric, you don't have to tell me I was a fool." she says. "I've learned to accept that you ... that no man ..." She looks away, glancing over at the table, her mother's lute sitting off to the side. Taking a breath she pulls her hand from his and heads over to the desk. Reaching over to grab it, she suddenly wished to take it with her.
Altheric places his hand firmly on her shoulder. "No man.. no man. Tell me.”
"It's not important Altheric." she says with a shake of her head, turning to look back as her mouth tilted in a wry grin. "Besides, I'm sure fishing is a lot more interesting than talking about me." she adds.
“I'm going back to the East... I have no plans to return” he said bluntly.
"I understand. You're a soldier." she replied, accepting the inevitable.
Continuing, he said, “I am and my place is among the let blood.” For a moment he paused, then added, “You can come with me. I want you among my company.”
Desiare nods, and looks down at her hands. "You'll be missed here, by ma ... I ... what?" she asks, looking up in surprise. Her eyes wide, she stutters, before taking a deep breath and starting over. "Me? But why?" she asks.
“I want you to fight beside me, or support me. Either way, I need somebody I can trust.” he said, looking at her carefully.
Desiare looks back at him. "I can do that," she says, nodding.
Altheric frowns shortly, before his face returns to his normal cool. “I see.”
"Won't the others in your company ...” Desiare considers. “Well some men don't generally care to have a woman fighting alongside them." she continues, baffled by his quick frown.
“I have no patience for such trivial concerns,” he said, his voice sharp. “Women will be welcome in my company. They are worth more than luggage or to warm a bed.”
“Then if you want me to come along, I will.” Desiare nods. "Zandrianna will not be thrilled that I am leaving again. But she'll understand." she says.
Altheric says, “She will. She will know you are with me. I will contact you when we leave.”
(Thanks to Altheric for providing his own voice to this story. *hugs* Altheric.)
