Small Gifts

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 28th June 2011

Characters: Wirnan, Kaya
Description: Wirnan gives Kaya a small gift.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 11 of Turn 6

Wirnan

He was nervous. He shouldn't be, but he was. The small package was in
his hands, yet he feared he would drop it from the sweat that seemed to
plague him in his nervousness. What would he do if she rejected this
token of his apology? Wirnan gulped, uncertain. He'd been lucky that
some of the supplies had been easy to procure on such short notice and
no one even dared question him.

He moved into their rooms.

"Good evening," he murmured when his eyes rested on Kaya.

Kaya looked up, eyes wide, then relaxing. She still started, especially
when she was drawing. Especially then. Her hand and slipped and a
streak was borne across the picture she had been working on. She
straightened up, pausing in her work and not even noting the damage
that was done. "Good evening Wirnan." She greeted in return, offering
him a slight nod.

"I hope your day went well," he said, then moved across the room,
standing not far from her. "I, well, I have something for you." He
placed the small package in her lap then retreated to the chair across
from her, giving her enough room to do with as she pleased.

"It was fine." Kaya was about to stand so she could put away her
things, but then Wirnan placed the package in her lap and she looked
down at it. Staring. "For...me?" She asked, setting the parchment and
charcoal on the couch beside her.

"Aye," he replied, watching her intently. "It isn't much, but I thought
of you and I hope you like it." His hands sat in his lap, almost
wishing they had something else to do. He was nervous as he waited for
her reaction to the drawing supplies he had procured for her.

Kaya slowly reached for the package and carefully unwrapped it. It was
fairly sizable and once she could see the contents, she saw why.
Parchment had been carefully rolled and inserted into the tube was
charcoal. Not only that, there were coloured pencils, a rainbow
assortment that seemed to glitter and wink at her. That was the
biggest thing, those pencils. She'd never had colour to play with
before, but now, here it sat in her lap, hands clutching at the box.
"Oh...oh Wirnan!" She managed to contain her excitement, but her hands
shook. "Oh Wirnan!"

"You like them then?" He asked quietly, smiling despite his own fear
that she would have rejected the gift. His eyes were captivated
watching her. The smile that lit up her face almost took his breath
away.

Kaya's hands caressed those pencils. Real coloured pencils! For her!
She looked to the man who had given him. He hadn't changed. Not
really. It had been a moment, a weak moment and it had cost him
dearly. He had been trying to apologise, but this gift, it showed what
he truly was. "Yes." She breathed, hardly daring to believe what was
right in her lap. "Thank you."

He was smiling in earnest now. The weight on his heart lifted by her
joy and acceptance of the gift. "Perhaps you will draw me something
now. Something to show off those magnificent colors."

"Yes." Kaya's eyes dropped back down to the pencils. She couldn't
keep her eyes off of those magnificent colours. "I'll draw you
something."

"Why don't you spend some time this evening, if you want. I have some
hides to read. We could have dinner brought in. That way, you could
enjoy them now, rather than having to wait." He wanted to do anything
so long as it kept that amazing smile on her face. His heart felt light
as air each time he saw it and Wirnan wanted to see it more.

"Are you...are you sure?" Kaya's eyes widened. Of course she still
couldn't do anything publicly, but the very fact that he was so
supportive, it was...it was...it was more than she could have hoped.
"Thank you."

"You're very welcome," Wirnan replied. He rose, moved across the room
and opened the door. Finding a drudge in the hallway he called her over
and sent her to bring them their meal. It wasn't long before she
returned and Wirnan came back carrying the trays of still warm food.

"Would you care to dine alone so you can work? I can go work elsewhere
so I won't disturb you."

Kaya was eager - very eager to get at those pencils and start drawing.
But at the same time, eating alone, and making him eat alone after he'd
given her such a wonderful gift, seemed...ungrateful. "No. No,
let's...let's eat together. I can work after that."

He smiled and carried the trays over to the table. He pulled her chair
out and waited for her to join him, pleased that for the first time in
days things seemed to be _right_ between them after all.

Last updated on the July 6th 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Small Gifts