A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 1st July 2011

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

Wirnan

Kaya's fingers played over the flat package she had so carefully
wrapped. It had been rather odd, wrapping it, but wrap it she did. It
seemed so feeble. So small compared to what he had given her. He had
given her colour and light. He had given her a spark to add to her
imagination. This was such a small thing.

Maybe she shouldn't give it to him. Kaya stood in the sitting room,
staring down at it. He'd be there any moment. Maybe she should put it
away, hide it before he came. Maybe he'd laugh. After all, what he'd
given her was worth so much more, both in marks and in what it meant to
her.

With a sigh, Kaya turned. She'd hide it, take it back and put it in her
trunk. She didn't want to give him something he wouldn't like. She
wanted to give him something that he would enjoy and while he had asked
her to draw him a picture, she just wasn't sure if this was good enough.

The door opened and closed in that moment, and Wirnan's gaze fell on his
wife. "Good evening, Kaya. How has your day been?" Had things been
different between them he might have walked up to her and drew her into
his arms, but that was _not_ the relationship they shared with one
another. Whether they ever would have such a relationship was
uncertain, but at least they were being cordial, friendly and even
kinder to each other now. Things _seemed_ to be looking up.

She had waited too long and Kaya turned, slipping the item behind her
back. "Oh...hello Wirnan." She turned to face him, but that package
remained out of sight. She licked her lips, then cleared her throat.
"How...how was your day?"

"It was fine. And yours?" He asked, slipping out of his jacket and
draping it over the chair. He looked in her direction for a moment, his
eyes narrowing a bit. "Is everything alright?" Something seemed
different with her, though he couldn't quite place what it was. His
eyes moved to her hands and he noted they were behind her back as if
holding something. For a moment he felt his heart almost stop. Was she
hiding something from him? Something she didn't want him to know?

"Everything's fine." Kaya assured him quickly. When the expression on
his face changed, she stiffened and he was staring at her. More to the
point, he was staring at her hands. Her fingers fiddled with what she
held behind her. He'd noticed, that much was obvious. "Um. I
just...need to put something away." She stated as she slid her foot
out to inch toward the bedroom.

His throat went dry. Did he want to find out what it was that she hid?
He was curious, but did he really wish to arouse suspicion when things
were finally starting to look up. "Alright," he replied, tearing his
eyes away from her and moving towards the sidebar where he poured
himself a drink of water and quickly drank it. Anything to ignore the
thoughts of uncertainty that had entered his mind.

The look on his face and she paused in her step. What was it that
warred over his face? Uncertainty? Fear? Concern? What was he
thinking? Had she troubled him? Kaya shifted and bit her lip. She
didn't want to worry him. Maybe she should show him. But what if he
laughed at her? But he _had_ asked her to draw him a picture, and she
had drawn this for him. It was the least she could do, especially
after that lovely present. "Actually...I...I have something for you."
She managed almost before her mind had quite finished deciding.

"You do?" He asked, turning to look at her with a question clearly
evident in his eyes.

Slowly, with some hesitation, Kaya pulled the slight package from behind
her. In truth, it didn't look like much. Just a very thin, very flat
thing that was wrapped in fabric. She fingered the edges, then held it
out for him to take. "Here."

His eyes were curious as he looked first at the thin package then up at
her. Sitting down the glass, he moved across the room and took the item
gently in his hand. "What is it?" He asked, looking down at the package
wondering what he would find inside.

"It's...really nothing much." Kaya folded her hands and let them rest
before her. "Open it." She watched his fingers pick at the fabric,
unwrapping that bit of parchment that was so carefully covered. It was
a view he would know well, a picture of the scene that always welcomed
him, or anyone else, when they went to the tower. The land stretched
out before them, the hold and the hills beyond that stood like
sentinels in the distance. The sun was shining in the corner,
spreading light throughout the scene. Her teeth continued to worry her
lip as she watched for his reaction.

His eyes opened wide at what he saw as a slight gasp escaped him. He
looked up quickly at her and then back down at the scene laid out in
front of him. With his free hand, Wirnan traced the view that he found
so breathtaking and soothing. He felt almost for a moment like he was
standing on the tower itself looking out upon the peaceful scene before
him.

"This is amazing," he stated with genuine feeling, looking up at her.
Then, without thinking or caring what she might think, he moved forward
and drew her into an embrace. "Thank you, Kaya. I couldn't have asked
for anything more beautiful," he whispered, releasing her and drawing
back.

He gazed down at the picture in wonder once more. "I shall hang in in
the bedchamber where I can look on it each day."

Kaya stiffened, but the hold on her was gentle, lacking in any sort of
harshness or attempt and capturing without letting go. She relaxed
after a moment and slowly let her hands rise to return the hug.
"You...like it?" Of course, it was a silly thing to ask. Hadn't he
just said he would hang it? And somewhere he'd be sure to see it every
day! "I'm...I'm glad you like it." She had been so worried he
wouldn't, and she was rather shocked at the wave of relief that passed
through her. "I was hoping you would."

"I like it very much," Wirnan replied, gazing at her with a different
emotion in his eyes. If things had been better between them he would
have pulled her towards him once more and kissed her. Yet, he refrained,
uncertain if she would take that the way. He was not about to spoil the
good turn since the argument by crossing any lines that would make her
uneasy.

Kaya's lips lifted, the corners turning up to alight in a small smile.
"I'm glad." Her eyes drifted about and she took a breath and let it
out slowly. "Should we...go get some dinner now?"

"I would like that very much," Wirnan replied, setting the drawing on
the nearby table and holding his arm out for her. If this start to the
evening was any indication, then things were definitely looking up for
the both of them.

Last updated on the July 22nd 2011

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A Picture Paints A Thousand Words