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MIDWINTER MAGIC: EIGHT
Thus with renewed enthusiasm and a whole new day, Arista Blackthorn entered again the great hall of Camelot. First seeing her friend and comrade Kimpo, her face lit up. It was the first time she'd caught him since she'd heard his news. She bounded over to hug him and with her usual unbridled enthusiasm exclaimed, "Married! Mama told me you are getting married!" Kimpo couldn't help but grin and put away his teacup on the bar before crouching a little so he could return the girl's warm hug, "Indeed I am, in about a week and a half now." A soft smile remained on his face, testament to his happiness with his ladylove. Arista was fixated on Kimpo's news, her young face eager, "So, am I invited?" With a soft chuckle and a quiet nod, the future bridegroom raised an eyebrow to Arista before answering, "But of course you are. I'd be honored if you could attend." Delighted by this as well, Arista wrapped another enthusiastic hug on the quiet Kimpo. "I'll tell Mama... and maybe I can get an escort...." She trailed off, beaming a smile at Kimpo before suddenly turning her leaf green eyes on Lord Corwin. "Uncle Corrie!" Quite like an untrained puppy, she ran to her uncle and flung herself at him, hugging him around the neck. Corwin, for his part, had been watching the young redhead with a soft smile ever since her exuberant entrance, so he was forewarned. "Well hello, Ari. How's my favorite niece?" He returned her hug and a playful tickle with his warm greeting. Arista answered back with a giggle and chided softly "Dinnae let my sisters hear you calling me your favorite, Uncle Corrie. They'd turn me into a frog or something." The verdant depths of her eyes twinkled and teased, very glad to see Corwin again. After gaining his agreement to keep the favored status a secret, Arista's countenance changed slightly, as did the volume of her next question. "Uncle Corrie... is... Kylan around anywhere?" "Oh, I think so. Did you need something specific?" Her uncle's eyes fastened on the blushing teenager, thinking perhaps something was wrong. Quite the contrary, Arista could barely contain her excitement. "He is? Do ye... er... well Kimpo's wedding is coming up..." Corwin's stance relaxed somewhat and he waited for her to continue, so she rushed on, "And... um...well... I want to go, and if he wants to go..." "Ah, you were hoping he might escort you there?" The smile on Corwin's face was now calm and accompanied by a knowing gleam in his eyes. Arista suddenly realized how very eager and pitiful she must sound and she lowered the gaze of those brilliantly green eyes. "He probably won't want to go with me though. Forget I asked." With a dejected sigh, she turned and started to walk away. "Wait wait..." Corwin caught her gently by the arm before she could leave. "I am sure he would be honored, but you will have to ask him. He is coming of age and I won't speak for him." The last was said softly, even as his eyes found the door and a smile curved his mouth. "And I believe you will be able to just that." "Uncle Corrie... I can't... he won't want to... and well..." Arista turned then, following Corwin's gaze, and she shut up, flushing a deep red as Kylan pushed open the door. The young knight-in-training appeared quite soiled and seemed to have developed a limp. He mumbled gruffly, although all that Arista heard was 'ducking when I should have rolled...' Her eyes went wide as she saw Kylan, and all was forgotten except the injuries she perceived on the young man. She stepped forward, her voice catching in her throat "Kylan?" Seeing that Arista's attention was captured, Lord Corwin grinned and shook his head softly before standing. He deciding that perhaps the gardens weren't too cold a spot for him to enjoy his hot tea. He gave his son a grin and a pat on the shoulder as he passed, closing the doors behind him. Kylan looked up and smiled warmly to Arista, "Well hello, cousin." He made to bow but winced a bit. Arista grit her teeth at the 'cousin' remark but still, her concern was overriding all else. "Ye've been hurt. What happened? God's boots, Kylan, dinnae make it worse! Here... come sit." She interrupted his bow and ducked under Kylan's arm to support him, gently leading him toward a chair. The knight-to-be laughed, "Well, I was practicing and doing quite well against the practice dummy, until I misread it after a hit, and it tagged my pride." He emphasized his confession with a rueful grin and a rub to the back of his thigh and his backside. Arista chuckled too, she couldn't help it. He was not hurt seriously, much to her relief. "Then perhaps sitting may not be what's needed?" "Umm, no, sitting is definitely not needed, unless we really need to get to the 'seat' of the issue." His handsome young face was flushed from his exercise and glowed with good health, despite this temporary trouble. Laughing at his pun, Arista peered up at him, then ducked from under his arm but left a hand gently squeezing his. "Hm, then let me get ye something to drink at least?" It was on the tip of Kylan's tongue to ask why she was making such a fuss, but his thoughts were distracted and he decided that if she was going to do it, he may as well just let her. "Sure. Water, please?" Giving Kylan a quick nod and a last look to make sure that he was okay, Arista finally broke contact with him to fetch a tankard of cold water from Lumiere. In short order, she handed the tankard to Kylan and used a booted foot to draw forth a stool for herself. She sat next to him and looked up. "Kylan... I um.. Well, Uncle Corrie said I needed to ask ye something." Kylan's wandering thoughts returned and he remarked on what had distracted him earlier, "New perfume, Ari? It smells nice, what is it?" Then, realizing he had interrupted her, he continued, "Huh? Oh sorry.. Go ahead and ask away." Now it was Arista's turn to have her thoughts skewed. He had noticed her perfume? She peered at him curiously and blinked. "Oh... um... it's... just a little something. You like it?" "Aye, it's very nice." He smiled again, "Now what did you want to ask me?" Like a sunbeam peeking through a winter grey sky, Arista grinned, then the smile spread. He had noticed! And he LIKED her new scent! "Oh..." she had to get her mind back on her question! "Well, Kimpo and Kyrie are getting married on Midwinter's Eve, and well, I am invited to the ceremony... and... I really want to go with you, will you escort me please?" She had run the last bit together rather quickly, as if all one word, and her voice was a little softer, as though hurrying through the difficult question was the only way to bolster her courage. Kylan did not give her long to wait, having processed the quickly spoken question. "Well, I do not have any other plans and would be honored to escort you, Ari." The young redhead had closed her eyes at the end of her question, loath to see his face during his rejection, and when the rejection didn't come, she popped open first one eye, then the other. Suddenly a smile burst forth and the light inside her ignited. "Truly? Oh Kylan... thank you! Thank you!" She leaned forward as if to kiss his cheek, however she stopped and with a blush, simply squeezed his hand. Again her voice lowered, and she spoke softly. "If.. you've time later... there's something I want to show you. Will you be around?" "I have more training to get in but I will try." Kylan could not help but smile at the change in expression on her face. Arista nodded, being aware of how busy his schedule was. "It won't take long, but if you can't... I understand." Now he was intrigued by the secret his cousin was holding and he pressed her a bit further, "I will try, Ari. What is it you want to show me?" Displaying far more feminine wile than even she was aware she possessed, Arista gave Kylan's hand another squeeze, and a shake of her head to indicate that she was not ready to share, not here, not yet. "It's nothing awful, Kylan. I promise. Nor anything that will get us into trouble. Will ye trust me?" The look she gave him would turn men inside out once the girl was a bit older and learned its power. For now though, the young man was immune and, with his normal cheerful nature, replied easily, "Aye, Ari, I will trust you. But for now, I should go and get in some more practice before it gets too late." "Aye.." Arista nodded, "and I should probably see to home, and dinner, and things." She moved to rise and extended a hand to help Kylan but he waved her off as he smiled and stood, testing his leg. "See? All better." The girl grinned back at him, part of her mind occupied with thoughts of a dress for Kimpo and Kyrie's wedding. She chuckled and winked at Kylan, the gesture reminiscent of her mother. "Must've been the water." He could not resist the urge to tease her back. "Aye, must have been... or else, 'twas the perfume." He winked too then made a brief bow. "Well, I will find you later, cousin, and you can show me your surprise then." Pink cheeked and smiling, Arista nodded, "Aye, see you later, Kylan." Then, with the exuberance of the young, she bounded off the stool and over to Kyrie and Kimpo, hugging them both. "It's going to be the perfect wedding... just... perfect." She made to leave the firehall then, but before she had turned away, Kyrie handed to Arista a fold of parchment to deliver to her mother. Inside was a request penned by the bride to be, who'd not seen Skye since the night the news was shared of her upcoming wedding. After taking the parchment and offering her thanks, Arista fairly waltzed out the door. One of her mother's favorite Gaelic love songs spilled from her lips as she made her way toward home. END EIGHT © 2002 DP & SO along with all other participants ~ This and other stories may be found at Willow's End |