Trying a Picnic Again (D4 MA)

[Davelyn Sand]

He nods in agreement. "Yes, and you need not go to the sea to view them. You can create gardens of them within your own home." He smiles. "I imagine that is something that you would enjoy, having a garden to just sit in and enjoy?"

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya murmured, "yes, I imagine I should."

[Davelyn Sand]

"Well, you obviously like the deserrt irris. But what norrtherrn flowerrs do you like? I'm perrsonally a fan of lilac myself, with it's pastel colorrs and the gentle scent."

[Kaliya Redding]

She considered, "I am fond of the flowerrs when the apple trrees arre in bloom, but how could I hope to have a favourrite when therre arre too many to chose frrom? The foxglove, corrnflowerr, bluebell, rred hawthorrne." Kaliya shook her head, knowing that she was forgetting far more than she could think of in that moment.

[Davelyn Sand]

"Therre is such a varriety. A garrden wherre they could all be brrought togetherr would be a sight to see. I imagine it would have to be huge. I wonderr if Lorrd Ashforrd has a garrden in the castle?"

He offers the final bite of plum for her, holding it by the pit.

[Kaliya Redding]

"Sadly, no," Kaliya shook her head before taking the last of the plum. She sighed, gently, suffused with a sense of wellbeing. It was warm and comfortable beside the Dornishman, with no where else she needed to be. Even Perlera was warming up to Qitam, whom she was permitting to use his teeth to scratch a spot over her spine.

[Davelyn Sand]

"That is a shame. I would have liked to enjoy an afternoon in a garden with you while we are here," he says with a smile. "Well, that does not mean there will be a shortage of things for us to potentially do. Perhaps, we might explore the woods in search of wild flowers, and you can teach me their names instead, since we don't have a garden."

[Kaliya Redding]

"That sounds lovely, though I did not brring any drresses parrticularrly suited forr rrambling. I imagine I can make do, howeverr, if my rriding drress should drry prroperrly."

[Davelyn Sand]

"Were you out in the rain with it yesterday? Or did you have an accident?" he asks curiously. "I imagine that you made it to be sturdy, but I hope it is not damaged."

[Kaliya Redding]

"Perrlerra and I forrded a strream this morrning that was deeperr than I had anticipated," she left out the part about trying to catch up to the huntsman. "I was soaked from the knee down. No damage done, I do not think, but I have had to ask the serrvants to trry and find rroom forr it in the castle drrying cupboarrd. Though, I imagine such space is at a prremium with the rrain, and I will not be surrprrised if they have brrought it back to my pavilion alrready."

[Davelyn Sand]

"I hope that they can. If not we could delay a few days," he says. He did not have a great deal of money or he might suggest buying something for her. But he does not have the money to buy her something that was truly worthy of her. "The airr is not verry good forr drrying though. Perrhaps we'll get some sun and warrmth tomorrow to help."

[Kaliya Redding]

"Perrhaps. I am surre that the Ashforrd castle serrvants have some trricks up theirr sleeves. I know my brrotherr-in-law's household have an extensive array of talents." She did not seem particularly concerned on the matter, and she reached for a piece of the chicken.

[Davelyn Sand]

"Well then I will look forwarrd to a pleasant walk thrrough the forrest with you Kaliya," he replies.

As she eats a bit more Davelyn picks up one of the last two quinces, calling Qitam over. He hands it to Kaliya. "Rrememberr, carry, and rrepeat it once. If not, he'll bite down harrd on the frruit."

Looking to the stallion after it nudges him. "Listen Qitam."

[Kaliya Redding]

She looked at Davelyn with an almost gleeful expression, eyebrows forming a question as if to confirm that it was really okay. Taking the quince, she wet her lips and sat up straighter, "Qitam, carry," and she offered the fruit, her hand flat, "carry."

[Davelyn Sand]

Being a completely new hand to take from, Qitam sniffs it for a moment. But if Davelyn trusts her, Qitam does too. He takes the quince from her gently and then stands there and waits.

Davelyn looks at her and nods, to let her know to go to the next part. Not saying anything for the moment, just smiling.

[Kaliya Redding]

She had to think for a moment, she'd really been too enamoured with the demonstration to pay attention to the actual details, but it came back to her. Indicating to Perlera, who was perhaps quicker on the uptake than her master, at least where food was concerned, and was looking on interestedly, "give," she said clearly. She was fairly certain he'd only said that once.

[Davelyn Sand]

He nods to her again that that was correct, just as Qitam moved over to Perlera once more, holding the quince out for the other steed. He waits patiently for Perlera to take the fruit from him.

Davelyn watches the whole thing with a wide smile, happy that Kaliya seemed to truly be enjoying herself. That made him feel happy for her. He'd seen how distant she could be when he tried to get close, but in this moment she seemed quite pleased with the situation. He didn't say anything as she watched as well.

[Kaliya Redding]

Understanding the game now, Perlera accepted the quince much more readily and Kaliya appluaded as the stallion returned for his reward, "verry well done," she cheered. She held out the quince for him to take before looking to Davelyn, as if for his approval.

[Davelyn Sand]

He nodded again, happy that she seemed to be enjoying this. After Qitam takes his treat and walks away a bit, Davelyn turns to Kaliya, taking the hand that had been holding the quince gently in his own, his thumb caressing softly. "I think he might like you more than he likes me right now." He lets out a soft chuckle. "You don't think we've spoiled them too much do you?"

[Kaliya Redding]

"Most men arre fools forr a prretty face, and I cannot say I blame them. But if it werre you, would you prreferr to be fed by me, orr that strrapping Marrcherr lad frrom the otherr night?"

[Davelyn Sand]

"Prefer? You, with no doubt. Not that I'd mind being fed by a man like him, but he is not you Kaliya, and could never compare." He smiles warmly at that.

[Kaliya Redding]

In that moment, Kaliya was not looking for meanings and motives, and simply enjoyed the comment for its face value. Then, as if recovering some long-buried memory of her childhood, she settled once more at Davelyn's side, nestling against him without guile or calculation.

[Davelyn Sand]

It was a beautiful moment to him. It for some reason it felt like staying quiet was the right thing to do. And so he did, resting his head against hers and holding her close. This is what he wanted for her. He was very glad that he was the one to share it with her, but if she could feel happy... that was what he wanted.

[Kaliya Redding]

The sound of the Cockleswent was calming, not so much as the roar of the ocean, but soothing nonetheless, and she was content to linger in silence for the moment.

[Davelyn Sand]

Feeling at peace, Davelyn sat there with her by his side for a few minutes. Eventually, though, all things must end. Even lovely moments like this. He turns to her and puts a hand on her cheek. "I have rreally enjoyed this time with you Kaliya. And it means a lot to me that you chose to spend the afterrnoon with me. But while I would enjoy grreatly spending the entirre day, therre arre things that we must both attend to I'm surre." His eyes have a mixed look, as he gazes at her. A bittersweet feeling taking hold for a moment before the acceptance that they both had other things to do. For him they would not be better things.