Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 6, 2008 18:33:13 GMT -5
I rushed over to him, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him away from the door.
“No please…don’t go…not like this,” I begged, almost frantic. “Please don’t apologize, you did nothing wrong, I promise. It was me…I should never have let myself.” I realized I was crying again and wiped at my eyes with my sleeve. “Troy…please don’t go.”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 6, 2008 19:20:39 GMT -5
The last thing I expected was to have her rush over and pull me away from the door; I was so stunned that I moved with her without even thinking. And she was crying again. Each tear burned me, hurt me, and I gathered her up in my arms again before I could even think. I didn't know if she'd pull away again, didn't blame her if she did, but I didn't want her to cry. I didn't want to see her so upset, to see her beautiful face contorted with emotions that I couldn't make better. My arms went around both hers and I held her carefully, murmuring soothing noises into her shiny hair.
"If I didn't, neither did you," I said softly. "Please don't cry Leyna, you've done nothing wrong, nothing. In fact, you did it right, you stopped before I could make the mistake of kissing you, of making a grand ass and putting you in a bad spot. Don't cry," I said again, whispering softy, wishing I could make things right and knowing I couldn't. The voice in the back of my head told me to let her go, to leave, but I couldn't, not while she was like this. Not unless she told me to.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 6, 2008 19:27:31 GMT -5
I wanted to bury my face against his chest and just sob. I’d been a stupid twit and made such a mess. Instead, I forced myself to stop crying and wiped at my eyes again with my sleeves.
I stepped back again, though this time it was just so I could see his face. “Please don’t go yet. Please, sit down and have drink…let me try and make it up to you,” I whispered.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 6, 2008 19:47:52 GMT -5
Beautiful Leyna.
"I shouldn't, really," I whispered as I looked at her, my hands falling away as she stepped back. "I shouldn't... I don't want to hurt you any more than I have." I didn't touch her again, no matter how I wanted to, and I tore my eyes from hers to look at the wet sleeve of her dress. Gods be damned! I wanted so badly for so many things, for one simple thing, and none of them could happen. None of them could come true. Swallowing back my emotions until I was alone, I brought my eyes back to hers, hoping she couldn't see anything, if only to make things easier on her. "Mayhap I'll see you again sometime, and save you from another faulty structure," I offered, trying at a smile and not knowing if I failed or succeeded with it.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 6, 2008 19:55:01 GMT -5
My throat closed up as I fought against the urge to cry again, even though I felt the tears in my eyes.
“You haven’t hurt me, not ever,” I whispered. “I won’t make you stay.” I turned away and wrapped my arms around myself.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 6, 2008 20:03:20 GMT -5
Her back to me.
It was like a blow to my chest, and I stood behind her, my breath heaving in my lungs, not even knowing how long I'd been breathing like that. I reached out to touch her, to comfort her, and I remembered before I did how she pulled away. I didn't want to feel that again. I didn't want to see her like this.
Without giving myself the chance to think about it, I turned and picked up her glass of wine as well as mine, and came to stand behind her again. "Your glass," I said softly, not trusting my voice to be any louder, as I held it out to her side.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 6, 2008 20:22:40 GMT -5
I’d turned away so I could cry again, tears running down my cheeks as I waited for the sound of the door opening and closing. His voice behind me surprised me and I turned to look at him.
“Thank you,” I said, instinctive manners kicking in when none of the rest of my mind would work. I reached out and took the glass, but my hand was shaking so much I spilled some and hand to hold it with both hands.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 6, 2008 21:21:23 GMT -5
I had to curl my hand in on itself to keep from putting my fingers around hers, to help steady he and soothe her. Swallowing hard, I turned and picked up one of the small linen towels that accompanied the lunch, then silently handed it to her. "Do you want to sit?" I asked softly, using every last ounce of courage, every last thing in me to smile, to smile for her, to help dry her tears.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 6, 2008 21:31:16 GMT -5
I used the towel to dry off my hands and then wipe my cheeks.
I nodded at his words and moved to one of the chairs at the settee. I took a long drink of my wine before I looked at him. “I really am sorry for putting you in this position, for not behaving better,” I told him softly.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 6, 2008 22:12:11 GMT -5
I stood for a moment and watched her, my smile faltering and failing. "You did nothing wrong Leyna," I said quietly, reassuringly. "Neither of us did in truth, so there's nothing to apologize for, right?" Quietly I walked and sat next to her, close enough that I could touch her without much effort, but far enough to give her her space. I didn't want to crowd her.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 6, 2008 22:16:43 GMT -5
I looked down for a moment, trying to sort out my words. “I know we did nothing wrong,” I said slowly, looking up at him. “But I saw your face when I pulled back and you were about to leave. I am so sorry; I never meant to hurt you.”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 6, 2008 22:59:16 GMT -5
There it was again, that flash of an easy smile. Her tears were gone - it was easier to come by, if not exactly simple. "I'm fine, Princess, truly. I knew everything when I came... I knew you were betrothed."
How proud I was at that - I said it with no bitterness, with no frustration. I merely said it, trying to make things right again, knowing desperately that if they didn't improve I would go crazy. I had no rights to Leyna, and I knew it, but I wouldn't back away. Not yet. Not yet.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 6, 2008 23:09:02 GMT -5
He used my title again instead of my name and I flinched.
I know I’m betrothed too.. that’s what makes it my fault. Something occurred to me suddenly and I looked up, startled.
“Did you come here just because of my title? Because you thought you had no choice?” I asked, aghast at the thought that he might have thought that.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 6, 2008 23:42:26 GMT -5
Her question made me look at her fully, and I drew up a few inches. "No," I said immediately, without hesitating. "No, not at all, not in the slightest. I came.." Oh gods, I had to say it. I had to, lest she thought I cared for her only because she was a princess. "I came because I care for you," I said, my voice softening considerably. "Because you asked me to. And because I would give anything for another moment with you."
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 6, 2008 23:49:03 GMT -5
I felt relief, and then I realized what he’d said.
“Oh gods,” I breathed, my voice with a mix of happiness and confusion. “Oh Troy.” I reached out to touch his hand, then stopped, realizing I probably shouldn’t. “I…i…I don’t know what to say.”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 7, 2008 0:30:33 GMT -5
I heard the happiness in her voice and my heart leapt for it, but I didn't want to push her again. I dind't want to make her uncomfortable. "Don't say anything, you don't have to," I said with a soft smile, more glad now than ever that I wasn't prone to blushing. I reached up and tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear and let my hand fall, not allowing myself to let it linger, afraid I'd cup her face and kiss her.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 7, 2008 13:19:33 GMT -5
I was still happy, and honored by his confession, but I was also so very confused. I toyed with my glass for a moment, trying to sort out my thoughts and emotions, only to realize it wasn’t going to happen right now, not while Troy was so close.
I looked at Troy and smiled softly, but an honest smile. “Would you like some lunch?” I asked, motioning to the tray and trying to find a safe reason for him to linger.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 7, 2008 16:22:48 GMT -5
Relief flooded through me that she didn't ask me to leave, didn't turn away again and I let out a breath that I hadn't realized I was holding. "I would love some," I said quietly, smiling softly at her. "Would you like some help getting it set up?"
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 7, 2008 18:28:53 GMT -5
“Yes, thank you,” I said, smiling still. I’d been afraid he would insist on leaving and I relaxed more when he hadn’t.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 7, 2008 20:26:13 GMT -5
I rose and turned, holding a hand out for her in a strictly polite, gentlemanly way, though all my senses were attuned for the brief anticipated touch of her hand on mine. Sweet Elua, sweet Naamah, I was falling hard for the pretty betrothed princess in front of me. I was falling and I didn't want to stop myself even when I knew I should. I should, because it was what was best for her. "You're more than welcome, Leyna," I said ever so softly. Much, much more than welcome.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 8, 2008 0:13:00 GMT -5
My smile grew when he said my name. Not only did I prefer it to my title, but I like the way it sounded when he said it.
I took his hand and stood. “We can eat at the table in the corner, or there’s enough room on the bench by the pond,” I said. “Which would you prefer?”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 8, 2008 22:17:21 GMT -5
"The bench," I said without hesitation, smiling as I led her over towards where the food was. "There's so much propriety.. I'm sure you know what that's like," I said with a look that hinted at tease. "Lets relax while we can, even something so small as eating on a bench."
I was trying so hard to lighten things again, to help her forget it all, to help me forget. I wanted the little time we had together to go well, to go smoothly, not to end up in tears and loss, even if in the end loss was all I would feel. But that was alright as long as she was happy, and she was safe.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 8, 2008 22:57:04 GMT -5
“That is magnificently said,” I told him, smiling happily. We reached the food and I somewhat reluctantly released his hand. “I’ll get the tray with the food if you’ll refill our glasses and bring them.”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 9, 2008 10:19:04 GMT -5
"Deal," I said with a smile as I moved to retrieve our glasses from where they sat. I looked at her as I came back, though didn't let my eyes linger, no matter how enticing her slender frame was. "Lunching with you definitely wasn't how I saw my day going," I said with a chuckle as I filled first her glass, then mine.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 9, 2008 13:08:52 GMT -5
I picked up the tray and carried it over to the bench, then began arranging everything where we could both reach. Everything was meant to be finger food so it made it easy.
“Oh really?” I replied, glancing over my shoulder and smiling at him. “How did you see your day going?”
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 9, 2008 13:12:25 GMT -5
"Well," I said with a smile as I walked back over to the bench, handing her her wine glass before taking a seat myself. "I figured I'd stroll Mont Nuit for a while, maybe play a game of dice or two in a tavern, and make my way back to Jasmine for dinner. Relax, maybe see if I could pester someone into fencing with me, then eventually go to bed. Uneventful," I added, casting a grin to her.
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 9, 2008 19:11:41 GMT -5
“And lunch with me counts as eventful?” I asked, chuckling.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 9, 2008 20:49:24 GMT -5
"Incredibly so," I said with a soft chuckle. "Even if all we did was sit on the front lawn and eat crackers, it would be."
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Leyna de Somerville
Royal
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; Future Comtesse de Somerville; House Somerville
Posts: 5,711
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Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 10, 2008 11:21:43 GMT -5
“You are such a flatterer,” I said with a laugh and a smile. “How does anyone resist your charm?”
I set my glass down and picked up a sandwich.
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Post by Troy nó Jasmine on Sept 10, 2008 13:43:29 GMT -5
I laughed and took a cookie, figuring I'd eat my dessert first. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean," I said, grinning at her rakishly.
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