Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 19, 2011 0:38:35 GMT -5
I looked up at him, angling my bearing much less than usual, for he was taller than me, and we were almost looking each other eye to eye.
“Tell me, my lord,” I asked softly, after I'd worried at my lip just a moment, for I found my question so very daring. “Do you wish to live, still?”
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 19, 2011 0:47:13 GMT -5
"I do," I said to her. "It is an honor to die in service of ones country, but I still cling to life. I still want to look on the sky and the grass, and I wish to look on my family's faces again, and to speak with you." My words were completely sincere for already she had become a dear friend to me. "I'm going to fight because I honestly do not know what else I can do," I explained.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 19, 2011 1:29:21 GMT -5
I felt my cheeks become warm when Guy said he wished to speak with me again, and I smiled, more broadly than I had throughout our conversation. “-- I am glad,” I replied fervently, “And I will await your safe return.” I promised myself, too, that I would visit the temple of Camael, which I had precious little experience with, on his behalf.
There was aught else I wanted to ask him, and I hesitated, then took a leap of faith. “-- would you write to me, my lord? I should like to know that you are well, that you live, still, even on the battlefield.”
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 19, 2011 15:13:32 GMT -5
Her request was not a hard one, in fact I welcomed it. The very fact of having someone to write to, even someone who not long ago was a total stranger, lifted my spirits and I no longer felt the sting of tears in my eyes. “Of course I will! I’ll make certain that, no matter what happens, I write you a letter each week. And you’ll write me back?” That was a stupid question! Of course she would. That is how such things work. I wanted to hear her say it though.
I thought suddenly struck me as I got up from the rock, knowing it would be time to depart soon. I needed a sense of closure so I opened my mouth. “Geraldine … could I also ask a favor of you as well?”
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
|
Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 19, 2011 15:18:43 GMT -5
I felt stirred to take his hands, and reached for them, looking up at him and smiling happily, though my eyes were still humid with the tears of empathy he'd beckoned in me. “I will write back the moment your letter comes,” I promised. “And I will look for news of battle, every day. You will be awaited, I promise it.”
I wasn't promising him my endless love, or the exclusivity of my heart, or body. But promising him friendship, and a hearty welcome from the front lines, that was something I wished to do, and would. “Tell me,” I said, in response to his request. And again, I was giving him my undivided attention, hoping it was something I could grant easily.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 19, 2011 15:43:09 GMT -5
I took her promise at face value and locked it away, trusting this lady completely. “The last time I went to war... my family, father, mother and brother were all there to see me off, telling me to be safe assuring me that I was a fine soldier and would do great things. They hugged and kissed me and told me they’d be waiting and praying for both my success and my return. Today so many men are doing the same thing, but for me I have no one, except you. Would you do those things for me, but only if you mean them?”
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
|
Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 19, 2011 15:47:58 GMT -5
“I will,” I replied without a hesitation – in truth, he needed not to ask, such a thing was a given, and came with our newly established friendship. “Truth be, I'd not thought of acting otherwise, and would have been sad not to see you off. So I will go with you, and hug you, and kiss you as you wish, and I will stand until your silhouette is no longer discernible in the throng of brave hearts going to war.” I smiled a little more, fondly. “I would not have it any other way.”
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 19, 2011 16:59:05 GMT -5
This time the tears in my eyes were not from sorrow but from gratitude at all that this young lady had done for me simply be her presence and her words. I opened my arms and gave her an impulsive hug. I needed to. Pulling away brought me back to reality, not the sad reality, but simple reality. It was early morning and I needed to just go back to sleep, to calm my mind, get a drink later and maybe read those old stories of mine. Maybe I’d find something in them I hadn’t before. Maybe she could join me...
“I can take you back to the fountain, or you could visit my house, maybe know some more about your pen pal,” I told her, surprised that I managed to access my sense of humor.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 19, 2011 17:11:14 GMT -5
I was surprised and pleased when Guy took me into his embrace, and I returned it, however brief it was. It was short but long enough to tell me he was strong, long enough also that I might feel safe in his arms, and protected. When he pulled away I did not cling, but I kept my eyes in his.
“Your invitation is a privilege, my lord,” I replied earnestly, “And I would gladly join you, if you allow me first to go home and change, for as you see me, I doubt that my appearance would be proper, in a home as prestigious as yours.”
My dress was adequate enough, but the hem was wet, and the skirts were sprinkled with horse hair – as for my slippers, they were muddy, possibly beyond repair, alas. Yet I wanted to go, aye, I did, if only to see that he felt better, and safe, and was perhaps happier now than when we'd first met.
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Post by Guy de Mereliot (R) on Jun 19, 2011 18:16:40 GMT -5
I nodded, “Alright, Geraldine. I can drop you off at your home and then you can come to the Mereliot home in West Borough when you are ready,” I explained to her as I offered her my hand to help her back up the slope.
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Géraldine Grangier
Citizen
Former Heliotrope adept; Fully marqued
Thou, and no other.
Posts: 2,001
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Post by Géraldine Grangier on Jun 19, 2011 18:24:23 GMT -5
I slipped my hand in his, smiling a little. “As you please,” I said again as I let him lead me back towards his horse. I was quietly happy, because though it had been an emotionally harrowing encounter, and likely, even more for him than for myself, I felt as though I'd won a friend.
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