Art Appreciation

Writers: Ainsley, AL
Date Posted: 4th February 2009

Characters: Nimroy, Aiyana
Description: Nimroy notices Aiyana's rapt appreciation of a tapestry and makes a tempting offer
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 21 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentor Approved

She stared at the tapestry, as if by doing so she could make it come to
life. In truth, she was merely studying it, taking note of the
colours, the fine stitches, and envying the person who was able to do
that sort of work. Her own attempts at embroidery were passable,
perhaps even decent, but compared to that master piece, they were
nothing. Aiyana couldn't help but reach out and touch it. The texture
was smooth and inviting and it caused the young woman to let out a soft
sigh of appreciation.

Nimroy had paused when he noticed the young lady examining the tapestry
with such intensity. She looked as if she were devouring it with her
eyes and had it been wine, surely she would have been drunk. As he
watched, a smile spread across his face. Her timid touch was like that
of a young maiden with her first love and the sigh...Nimroy couldn't
help but chuckle at the analogy.

The woman jerked from her reverie at the sound of the soft laughter and
pulled her gaze away from the tapestry to let it fall upon the man who
stood near, watching her. Sharp, grey eyes, the colour of the clouds
that dust the sky, heralding the arrival of deeper, darker clouds to
come held his for a moment. Her cheeks were suddenly dusted with an
array of pink and she lowered her eyes as her hands clasped together,
then unclasped, a nervous gesture under the man's
scrutiny. "Ah..." She started, then whatever words she was about to
utter died upon her lips. She nodded politely, then began to turn away
down the corridor.

"Wait," Nimroy pleaded. "I am sorry. I did not mean to intrude or to
laugh. Please do not leave on my account."

Aiyana paused and turned back toward Nimroy. She nodded slowly, though
really, she did not see why she should stay. She had simply been
interested in the tapestry, admiring the work. It was hard for her to
do that under the scrutiny of someone else. "I...should probably move
along anyway."

"You seem to have an apt appreciation for this wall hanging. What is it
that you like so much about it?" Nimroy continued, reluctant to allow
her to flit away though he could not say why.

"I was...simply admiring the work." Aiyana glanced over at the subject
of their conversation. "I've done a bit on a small hand loom, but
nothing like this." Of course, what she could do was restricted since
she was, after all, only a woman and not allowed to craft. She had
never been able to get such detail. Her patterns tended to run more
abstract, though she felt she had a good eye for colour, at least.

Nimroy nodded as he looked up at the tapestry. "This was the work of a
master, and a truly gifted one at that," he commented before turning
his attention back to the young woman. "What is your position here?"
he queried.

"I help in the creche." At least, she would until her father married
her off. She was grateful that he didn't seem in to particular a hurry
to do so, his mind mostly upon his craft. Her mother hadn't made a big
production of it either. Aiyana had managed to dodge marriage longer
than most women her age. Of course, it probably didn't hurt that she
was the last of her siblings to be at home. She had a feeling her
mother was willing to cling a little bit longer.

"Are you coming or going?" Nimroy wondered if she had seen some of the
more impressive tapestries in the family wing. He could not say
exactly why the grey-eyed young lady had captured his interest, but she
had.

"I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean, sir." Aiyana stated
politely. "Unless you mean whether I am on duty or off. If so, I have
just recently been released from duty."

"That is precisely what I meant. There are some magnificent tapestries
in the family wing. Have you seen them?"

"Ah, no." Aiyana had never been over in the family wing. To be honest,
she had never had a reason to go over there. In fact, she wasn't sure
if she was _allowed_ over there.

Nimroy's blue eyes sparkled, wondering if his forwardness would scare
her off. "Would you like to?"

"Oh!" The invitation startled her and she glanced around in
uncertainty. Should she? "Are you sure we're allowed?" She asked
softly. Aiyana certainly didn't want to have either of them get into
trouble.

Biting the inside of his cheek, he looked down. It had been some time
since he had not been recognized as the son of the Lord Holder. He
should tell her. He really should. "I think it will be alright. So
long as we do not disturb anything or anyone," he finally answered eyes
dancing with silent laughter.

"I...suppose." Aiyana took a hesitant step toward the man. She had to
admit she was curious about the wing, and she would certainly like to
see the tapestries he spoke about.

"Come on then," he said encouragingly as he headed in the appropriate
direction. "You said you've worked with small hand looms. Did you
ever dream of doing a bit more? Would you have chosen to craft, had it
been allowed?"

Aiyana gave Nimroy a sidelong glance as she walked alongside him. Was
he baiting her? Why was he asking her those questions? "Yes. I
suppose I would have...if I had been a man." Perhaps that was a safer
way to answer.

"Fair enough," Nimroy stated with a nod, noticing that the girl was ill
at ease. He did not even know her name, but if he asked he would be
obliged to give his and she might know him then. He was enjoying his
anonymity. Nimroy did not know why he was acting so out of character,
but he was finding a bit of fun in it. "I wanted to craft, but my
father wanted me to stay here."

"You couldn't have crafted here?" Aiyana found that odd. The hold held
all manner of crafters and she couldn't think of a single craft that
wasn't represented at Amber Hills.

"I was interested in Seacrafting and my father was against it," Nimroy
replied quietly before opening a door so the young woman might pass
through. He continued to lead her to the family wing, which was
actually in another building. "So do you like your work in the
creche?" he asked hoping to redirect the conversation.

"Yes, I do." Aiyana did enjoy being with the children. They were all
such wonderful little unique persons, yet at the same time, they were
constantly being reshaped, formed, growing and changing into the people
they would eventually become. She drew delight in them, despite the
fact that it wasn't necessarily what she wished she could do. "It's
always interesting, if hard at times."

"I can very well imagine," he responded, having a new appreciation of
how fascinating but difficult little ones could be after time spent
with his own son. "Ah, here is one I wanted to show you," Nimroy
stated stopping before a tapestry. The moons were full casting an
ethereal light on the hills of the Hold, where a green dragon flew
parallel to the horizon. The colors and detail were exquisite in this
piece.

"Oh!" Aiyana seemed to forget all about Nimroy as she drew close to the
tapestry. One hand reached up, fingers playing against her parted lips
as her eyes soaked in every inch, every detail the scene had to
offer. She reached out, gingerly fingering the work of the piece,
admiring the refinement and magnificence of the fibers. "Oh...oh it's
just gorgeous!"

"It has always been one of my favorites." Watching the young woman's
enthusiasm for the tapestry was almost like seeing it again for the
first time. "When I was a boy I would stand and stare at it for almost
a candlemark. It seemed so real. My brothers would tease me
mercilessly."

"When you were a boy?" How often did the fellow come into the family
wing? "Do you work directly for the Lord Holder's family?"

Nimroy cleared his throat, "Well, actually-" an elderly drudge trundled
up just in time to interrupt his confession.

"Lord Nimroy, tha steward an yer older brother is lookin' fer ya an'
said I was to find ya an' send ya straight away to the steward's
office."

"Yes, thank you. I will be right along," he answered curtly wondering
why some of the drudges chose to use a title that rightfully belonged
only to the Lord Holder himself. He turned back to the young
woman. "As I was saying..."

Aiyana's eyes widened and she took a step back, one hand reaching to
play at her throat. She hadn't realised! "I...I'm sorry my lord! I
didn't know!"

"I am the one who should apologize, not you. It was unseemly for me not
to introduce myself and ask your name. Perhaps you will allow me to
remedy that. I am Nimroy, one of the many sons of our late Lord
Holder. Might I ask your name?"

"Ai...Aiyana." The girl glanced around nervously, as if she were afraid
that someone might berate her for daring to speak to the Lord Holder's
son. "I should probably leave you be."

"It is very nice to meet you Aiyana," he said politely, paying little
attention to the latter statement. "As much as I would enjoy showing
you some of the other tapestries, it seems that duty calls. Perhaps
another time?"

"Yes sir." Another time? Aiyana highly doubted it. She was surprised
there had been a _first_ time at all. The young woman swept and low
curtsy to Benaroy's son and then swept from the hallway, heading back
to a more familiar wing.

Last updated on the February 10th 2009

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Art Appreciation