A Very Enthusiastic Ride (D2 EM)

[Davelyn Sand]

"I cannot prove to you that something that is not there is not there," he says, his smile looking a little sad.

He pauses before speaking again. "Yesterday you said that I got to choose my life and yours was chosen for you. Well, you have a chance to choose now. To choose to believe there is someone that has entered your life that would like to let them care for you. To not simply treat you like another piece in the political game. Or to choose to not believe me and live your life wondering if you should have taken the chance. Is not the chance of finding someone that cares for you not worth the risk that they are just another person that might cause you pain? Even if you find it hard to believe and trust me, I ask you to take the chance and just get to know me. To see that I am the man I claim to be and want to see you for the woman you truly are."

[Kaliya Redding]

She had studied him, carefully, and she had been doing so for much of the conversation. Perhaps it was the sadness that touched his smile that finally swayed her. "No, Davelyn, I do not believe that is a rrisk worrth taking." She paused for some time, her voice softer when she continued, "but I believe you."


---
Empathy (Awareness) 12 -v- 4 Davelyn's Passive Deception

[Davelyn Sand]

He feels a bit of relief wash over him at that. He didn't know how difficult her life had to be to become so distrustful of others. But he did know that if he could he wanted to allow her to have faith in at least him.

He slid a bit closer to her and took her hand. "Kaliya Redding, I swear to you that I will never lie to you. That any intention I have toward you will always be honest. And that I will never betray your trust."

[Kaliya Redding]

The filthiest travelling puppet show in Westeros would not give Kaliya cause to blush, and even now her cheeks didn't redden, but she shifted awkwardly, embarrassed, as he made his pledge. And though she would never insult him by letting her cynicism show on her face, she was struck by the bitter irony.

It was so perfect, wasn't it? The secluded clearing in the forest. The knight who pledged his honour to the lady fair. It was even spring. No one believed the romanitic tales, because this was how they went. And life wasn't a romantic storybook.

Kaliya didn't refuse his oath, she could easily see it mattered to him and, somehow, it felt like it would be important going forward. She believed he was making the fool's mistake, thinking the passion in his loins was love. Still, those sculpted features and his dusky skin biased her, she was sure of it.

Disengaging her hand from his, she got to her feet. "Thank you, Davelyn. I know this did not go the way in which you hoped. I am sorry. I will rride back now, but I should like forr you to finish yourr brreakfast at yourr leisure."

[Davelyn Sand]

He smiles at her. "I know this is difficult for you. I can see it Kaliya. And I want you to know that I expect nothing from you. If this is too difficult and upsetting and you did not wish to see me again I would understand. I would be disappointed, but I would understand. I am not stupid enough to think this is more than what it is. That it is love after less than a day. I am yet a young man and more than a little naive. But I am still a man of Dorne and in Dorne we understand the relationship between two people better than these northerners. That it is a fluid thing. That sometimes you feel passion, others frustration, one day hate, the next love, and all of the complexities in between. You are your own woman and I would not ever try to take that from you. I only hope to make your life richer by my contributions to it. Please enjoy the rest of your day lady Kaliya."

[Kaliya Redding]

She prickles at the mention of love, the word left a foul taste in her mouth. "We will talk tomorrow," and she swings herself smoothly into Perlera's saddle, she had too much too think about to say any more than that. Her lips are pressed together solemnly, and she nods to him, putting her heels gently to Perlera's sides and making her way back towards the town.


/exit

[Davelyn Sand]

He bowed his head to her as she left. She needed time and he could recognize that. As she rode away Dav gave a short whistle which drew Qitam to him. The horse reached it's neck down and nudged him on his shoulder, following by a whinny. "Qitam. I don't know what happened to her... but I want to. She must have been through hell."

He lays back on the blanket and pulls Qitams face down towards his chest. Slowly and steadily, the horse made it's way to a lying position next to Davelyn, resting it's head on his chest. It was heavy, but familiar to the Dornish bastard. Gently he stroked the horses black mane and laid there in silence. He was having an incredibly difficult time of figuring out what he would say the next day when he met with her. "But she did say she would talk to me tomorrow. That's good right?"

Qitam let out a deep exhale like a sigh of satisfaction, apparently not knowing or caring what was said, just being happy to be with his Davelyn.

/scene