Dark One Rising(99)
Emerick cleared his throat and bowed to his king, then to Melenthia, leaving the two of them alone.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were so talented in the arts?”
He shrugged. “The subject never came up.”
“I’ve told you personal things about me many times, and you’ve never once given away any of your secrets.”
He took a big breath in. “Very well. From this point forward I promise that for every one tidbit you reveal, I’ll reveal two. Is that fair?”
She giggled. “Yes. But it will only appease me if you don’t pick and choose what you reveal and what you don’t.”
“I wouldn’t hear of it. Anything you want to know, I promise I will tell.”
***
She had been with him for over four months and was getting to know him well. They spent large amounts of time together, when he wasn’t involved in state affairs, and she was beginning to feel very comfortable around him.
He was handsome, the dark bags that had been under his eyes when she first met him were almost non-existent now. His pale blue eyes and bright smile were distracting at times, and she admitted to herself that she had an attraction to him, and it was growing.
He was funny and listened to her intently every time she spoke at length, always seeming genuinely interested in anything she had to say. He was easy going, and her zest for the mundane and her adventurous spirit was obviously rubbing off on him.
One afternoon after a filling picnic lunch and a good bit of ale, they were lazing by the pond at the edge of the copse of maple trees, behind the castle wall. The warm sun and the cooling afternoon breeze was intoxicating and they lay back in the soft green grass, looking into the sky, watching the wispy clouds wander by. They were both dressed very casual today, her in a simple linen dress with ties down the long sleeves, no corset, him in plain black breeches. He had traded his doublet for a plain white shirt, which was now unbuttoned, and both of their shoes had been kicked to the side.
He had his head on his bent arm which was tossed over his head. Her head lay on his upper thigh. Her red hair, just past her shoulders now, was splayed out over his leg, the curls tickling the back of her neck when they moved in the light breeze.
She took in a deep breath and sighed. He chuckled at her. She lifted her head and twisted her body so she could look at him. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. I was just marveling at how easily amused and content you are.”
She flipped back over and readjusted herself in her previous spot. “I’m not a high maintenance woman. Never have been. I’m quite capable of amusing myself.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Life is too short not to find contentment in ordinary things.”
“I wish I had had the insight to do these things before now. My life may have gone a different way.”
“It’s never to late, Dain,” she paused. “You know, you don’t have to be here with me, doing things that I enjoy. I’m only a guest under your roof, and you’re under no obligation to babysit me.”
He shifted and sat up, propping himself on his elbows. “Is that what you think I’m doing, babysitting?”
She turned to look at him again. “I didn’t mean to be petulant. I just meant that you don’t have to be with me every hour of the day, doing things you don’t normally do, just to make me feel more comfortable.”
“You can’t be outside the walls without escort.”
“Yes, I know. That’s not only what I meant.”
He looked into her face, brushing back a loose curl. “I’m not here because I feel obligated. I’m here because I enjoy your company.”
“Really?”
He laughed again. “Is that so surprising?”
“I guess.”
“Why?”
“Because no one has ever allowed me to be me in such an accepting way before, much less wanting to share in my joys. I’m not used to anyone wanting to spend time with me. And you have given me the freedom to be who I am. No one has ever done this besides Kevaan. Especially not a man, and definitely not a man of nobility.”
“Maybe I’m different. Maybe I’m not the man everyone thinks I am. There was a time when I was joyful and enjoyed the things that didn’t get me in trouble. But taking over a throne when I wasn’t ready and ruling a kingdom takes its toll. I started to lose the boyish exuberance I once had.”
She looked at him and frowned. She didn’t mean to upset him. “Forgive me, Dain, if I was insulting. I didn’t mean to imply that you were incapable of feeling joy for things. I didn’t mean to upset you.”