Meeting a Pretty Girl - Ferris and Marie

[Ferris mab Eideann]

I nodded my head in agreement. "And if you're the only one, there's no one to demand your time, or watch your reaction. There's just you and the quiet."

[Marie Legard]

His words described it perfectly. "Oh yes, that's just it," I said, looking up at him again and smiling. "You get to finally be yourself and not who everyone else thinks you are supposed to be, even if it's for just a few moments."

[Ferris mab Eideann]

"Who do people think you're supposed to be?" I asked, my voice soft. I knew that the question would probably cause her smile to dim and as much as I didn't want that, I could tell that she needed to talk about it.

[Marie Legard]

His question caught me by surprise. For all that it was the natural one, it was so candid.

And yet, I found myself answering in a soft voice.

"A good daughter and sister who gives her life and future to tending her father and brothers," I told him, looking away and down, my hair shading my face some.

[Ferris mab Eideann]

She hid her face as if ashamed. I knew the feeling only too well. Wanting more than just your duty, but knowing it came first. "They are fools not to see that you can be more. I've just met you and already I can see that you can be so much more. If you wished."

[Marie Legard]

Again his words surprised me and I looked up, meeting his eyes. For just an instant I feared he was mocking me, or humoring me, he wouldn’t have been the first to do either.

He was doing neither though. There was understanding and truth in his eyes.

My throat felt tight at the emotions that filled me. “Thank you,” I managed. My fingers tightened on his arm without me thinking about it.

[Ferris mab Eideann]

I nodded my acknowledgment to her thanks as her gaze held mine, and we continued down the street. If there was one lesson I had learned since my father died, it was when not to ruin a moment with words. And what we had just shared certainly qualified as a moment. Perfect understanding between two strangers. It was something out of the old stories.

[Marie Legard]

The silence between us was comfortable in a way I had never really experienced before, and it was lovely.


I hated to ruin it, but eventually I had to speak. “It’s just around the corner there,” I told him softly and with a smile.

[Ferris mab Eideann]

"Wonderful," I replied, my voice just as soft as hers as I guided her where she said. I looked at her for a moment and smiled before tearing my gaze away to take in the street. "That must be it. The Black Boar."

[Marie Legard]

He looked at me and smiled and I felt a weird and wonderful tightening in my chest.

"Yes, that's it," I said, nodding slightly. I felt a sudden unwillingness to go inside with him. I knew the place would be crowded, it always seemed to be from the outside, and I was so enjoying being almost alone with him. I hid my reluctance though, not wanting to ruin this even a little.

[Ferris mab Eideann]

We approached, and I knew immediately that I would feel at home in there, just from the quality of sound filtering out from inside. I didn't let my guard down, but there was certainly a little knot of tension between my shoulders that eased as I held the door open for her.