Promised Roses

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 4th May 2006

Characters: Thalia, Penryn
Description: Thalia asks Penryn to help her with her garden, and loses a game of cards.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 11, day 11 of Turn 3

Penryn seemed to be in a good mood when she visited him after dinner, in his office, and perhaps lost a game of chess or a hand of cards to him, so that was when Thalia decided to spring her request on him.
Their mugs of klah were almost empty, and the candle in the corner had burned down a bit since she'd first arrived, and Penryn looked...
relaxed. Thalia smiled at him and crossed her ankles. "Oh, and I almost forgot..."

"Yes?" he asked as he laid down a seven and picked up another card from the pile.

"I asked Ishek the other day for a garden, and he agreed. Is there a spot somewhere close by where I could plant one?" She eyed the seven, placed an eight on top of it, and picked up a card.

"What kind of garden?" he asked, laying down two lady holders.

"A flower garden. I'd like to plant some roses, and if you'll let me, move a sour apple tree. And maybe some shrubs..." She sighed. "I miss having a flower garden. Ishek even said that he wouldn't mind if I recieved cuttings from home on the next caravan. Provided that you don't mind, of course." She glanced up at him through her eyelashes.
"Do you?"

"No, of course not," he said as he pulled a card off the pile and slid it over to her. "You didn't say 'Felis Juice'." He looked at his won cards and put down a two, knocking the table once. "You will need more shade than just one tree, won't you?"

Thalia made a face; another seven. "If you wouldn't mind. Maybe a lilac? There's some by the north wall.. perhaps one could be transplanted." She put down a pair of fours.

"I love lilacs," he said absently as he put down two red sixes on top of her fours. "Why not a few of them. They would be easy to grow and they smell so beautiful in the spring."

"So you can find me space, then?" Three sevens followed.

"I think so," Penryn nodded, frowning down at the pile. He drew two new ones. "Hmmmm... Your turn... How much space do you think you need?"

Thalia raised an eyebrow at his action. "I don't know. Enough room for a few trees, and perhaps a bench. Perhaps a walled garden of some sort... how much room can you spare?" She hesitated, then lay down a ten.

Penryn looked at the ten a moment, picked it up and slid it and a card from the pile back to her. "You played the wrong card." He then laid a black ten down on the sevens. "I will have to look, but I'm sure we have plenty of space. What kind of a wall do you want?"

"Beast!" She stuck her tongue out him and slipped the cards into her hand before replying. Obviously one of the rules had to do with colour. "Stone, perhaps. Something I could train vines against.
You'll really help me with this?"

"Sure," he nodded, studying his cards. "After all, a Lady once told me I need to work on my tan."

"Oh Penryn, that would be wonderful!" Thalia grinned and lay down a Steward. "I'm not really sure how to go about this."

"Well, I have plenty of experience with fields, so I know about soil and planting. Gardening can't be much different I think." He frowned down at the Steward that quickly turned to a smile as he laid down a Lady and a Lord on top of it. "Last card."

"Oh!" Thalia bit her lip, knocked once on the table, and lay down a black two. "You're going to win again, aren't you!"

"Not if you keep laying cards like that," he chuckled as he reached for two cards from the pile. "Do you think you could draw me a rough sketch of what you want in your garden?"

Thalia breathed a sigh of relief - it was _hard_ not knowing the rules! **Then again, I agreed to play, didn't I?** "Only if you'll show me the space I'm alloted, first."

"That's fair I suppose. Perhaps we can walk the area together."

She suddenly felt shy. "I'd like that very much."

"It's your turn, you know," Penryn prodded when she grew quiet.

"Oh! Sorry." Thalia took a moment, then lay down a black five. "Can I do that?"

"Of course you can," he nodded. "How high of a wall are you thinking?"

"Oh, I don't know. High enough for some privacy, so.. five feet?
Maybe six? I'd like to perhaps grow some shrubs to a suitable height as well - they don't seem as severe. And roses."

"Hmmm," Penryn said thoughtfully as he fingered his last three cards.

"If you just wanted a rough garden wall, I could build that. If you want something nicer, we'll have to find a mason to come in."

Thalia bit her lip. "I wouldn't want to trouble you, or anyone. I know spring is a busy time."

"Well, it might take me into the summer, but I could do it. I've built enough walls to keep bovine out of the fields in my day," he reassured her. "It would be no trouble. Truly." And it would give him something to do other than _work_ everyday...

"That would be marvelous! Perhaps tomorrow we could go out and you could show me where I could plant. I've got all _sorts_ of ideas!"

"I am at your disposal as always, my Lady," he nodded as he laid his two Lord Holders down on the pile. "And I'm out."

"You beast! You're horrible!" Thalia stuck her tongue out at him and pretended to be miffed, even though she was laughing inside. There was no way that she could possibly be mad at a man who'd all but promised her a rose garden.

Last updated on the May 4th 2006

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Promised Roses