An Unwanted Proposal

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 26th August 2008

Characters: Teene, Arador
Description: Arador proposes to Teene.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 11, day 24 of Turn 4

Teene raced down one of the back staircases, trying to avoid the man she
had seen heading along the corridor in the main Vintner Hall building.
If she could just get across the open foyer she would be on her way -
safe and free.

Unfortunately, she didn't quite make it. Teene heard the loud booming
voice of Arador calling her name. "TEENE!" The sound echoed through
the corridor and reverberated in the foyer. There was no way she could
pretend that she hadn't heard him.

"Shards!" the foster-mother grumbled under her breath. With a sigh she
turned and faced the journeyman. "Journeyman Arador. What a surprise."

"Teene, you look as lovely as ever." Arador planted a kiss upon her
cheek and beamed. "I have something for you."

"You've given me quite enough," Teene said, edging away from the man and
wishing she could, with some semblance of politeness, wipe her cheek
clean.

"Oh, but this is something very special." Arador took Teene's hand and
guided it to the crook of his arm. "Come, let us walk together."

"Well -" She lived with children day in, day out. Why couldn't she
think of an excuse as quickly as they could? She eased her hand out his
arm. "All right. But I can walk along by myself, you know."

"I know," Arador grinned as he pulled a handkerchief from his pouch.
"Except when you're blindfolded."

"Blindfolded!" Teene's tone was not encouraging. "Arador ..."

"Humour me, Teene." The man held out the handkerchief, his smile wide
and warm. "I promise it's worth it."

"Well -" Could she make a scene? _Should_ she? "_You_ might think
it's worth it, but will _I_?"

"I think you will. Please Teene, it won't be for long."

She was too soft-hearted for her own good, she thought as she
reluctantly conceded. She had been trying to avoid the man for months -
ever since they first evening when they had shared a meal at the Tavern
- but her problem was that it was difficult to give him a direct 'no',
in part because she didn't like to hurt anybody's feelings but also
because the journeyman seemed impervious to hints.

Arador beamed as he placed the blindfold and secured it, though not too
tight. He then took Teene's arm and carefully began to lead her.
Perhaps it was because she couldn't see, but it seemed as if they walked
quite a ways, twisting and turning many times before they finally came
to a stop. The man let go of her and for a moment she was floating in a
sea of nothingness before she could feel his hands on the knot he had
created, undoing it and letting the sunlight back into her world.

He had led her to a place among the vines. They crept all around them,
beautiful in their own right, reaching across to one another, tendrils
caressing. Some drooped down, as if bowing to the visitors. On the
ground was a blanket, a basket, and a bottle of wine.

"This is ... Er. It's lovely, Arador, but you don't need to do
anything special for me," Teene said, wondering where she had gone
wrong. _This_ was romantic, and she didn't feel at all romantic about
the man.

"But I _want_ to do something special for you." Arador insisted and
motioned to the blanket. "I've got something extra special for dessert
as well. Please, sit, eat, enjoy yourself."

Gingerly Teene settled herself on the blanket and eyed the basket. "Did
the Hall kitchens make that up for you?"

"Yes, they did." Arador opened the basket and began to take out
bundles, unwrapping them. Roasted fowl, fresh red and citrus fruits,
bread that was still warm from the oven and cress and cucumber. There
was one bundle left, but Arador closed the basket, hiding it from view.
"A veritable feast for a lovely lady."

"You really are spoiling me unnecessarily," Teene said, setting to to
assemble a sandwich.

"Ah, but you deserved to be spoiled." Arador held up a finger and
winked at her. "No eat, eat. I don't want you to starve while on my
watch!"

"Right." Teene nodded. Eating was fairly safe, anyway. "And you," she
said, pausing before taking a bite. "You should have something to eat,
too."

The man laugh, the sound like thunder in the vineyard. "Indeed, I
should!" And he began to pile meat and vegetables on top of the bread.

By the time they had reached dessert Teene was running out of
conversation to make. Not that she usually had much opportunity to
speak, for when the journeyman got going he didn't seem to need much
encouragement.

"Done?" Arador gathered up the wrappings that had been left open as the
food was being consumed and scrunched them together. Then he reached
back into the basket and pulled out a small bundle. "I got this made
especially for you."

"There really wasn't any need for that," Teene protested, reluctant to
even accept the parcel. The pretty surroundings, the picnic meal ...
She had an awful feeling about what would be in the small package.

"I think I can decide for myself what there is a need for and what there
isn't." He motioned to the bundle that she still held. "Open it."

With a silent sigh Teene did so, finding a box within the wrappings and
a pretty silver ring within the box. "I can't accept this, Arador. I'm
sorry, but I just can't."

Arador reached out to cover Teene's hands "I was hoping you would. I
was hoping you would take it as a token of my affection for you. Teene,
I would be honoured if you would consent to be my wife!"

"I can't," Teene repeated. "It is an honour to be asked, Arador, but I
don't love you and I want to marry somebody I really love."

The smile upon Arador's face faded and he stared down at Teene,
flabbergasted. "But...I thought..."

"I'm sorry but we don't love each other, do we? We've been out for a
couple of meals and talked a bit, but it's not a -" She shrugged. "Not
fizzy, bubbly, exciting wine sort of thing, is it?"

"I _like_ you Teene." Arador insisted, letting his hands drop. "I know
I could love you and I know you could love me if you gave me a chance."

The foster-mother shook her head. "I know I could probably be happy in
most reasonable marriages, but that's not what I want. I want to fall
in love, like in the ballads, and marry and stay in love until we're old
and grey. That's what my parents have, and that's what I'm prepared to
wait for."

The vintner tried to compose his face, but he failed to hide the
disappointment. "I see. Well then, I'm sorry I'm not that kind of man.
I envy the man who eventually does capture your heart."

Teene felt awful. "That's such a sweet thing to say, and I'm sorry. I'm
sure you'll make somebody a wonderful husband." She bit back the
temptation to add: 'Just not me.' She had probably said enough. More
than enough - or not nearly enough early enough to avoid this.

What an awkward situation. The usually blustery man had lost his wind
and he gazed around. "Well then, Teene, I shan't keep you any longer.
Thank you for humouring me."

She got to her feet, feeling guilty for hurting the man and feeling more
warmly toward him now that she knew he could be hurt. But, still, she
was determined that she wasn't going to be dragged into marriage out of
some misguided sense of pity. "It was a lovely picnic, Arador."

"A lovely picnic for a lovely lady." Arador motioned to the path that
would take her from the vineyard, "Go on. I'll clean up here." Clean
up...and leave empty handed.

Teene's helpful nature warred with her common sense, but in the end she
did what he said. "Thank you. I'm sorry," she said again and didn't
wait for an answer.

Last updated on the August 26th 2008

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An Unwanted Proposal