Unexpected Temptations

Writers: Cymiri, Jelena
Date Posted: 15th February 2013

Characters: Sinla, Daimhin
Description: Sinla and Daihmin run into each other again
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 18 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Zelenka

Daihmin's step had a little spring to it. Make that a large one- he'd
feel slightly foolish, but was way too happy to. Nice to be up and
about in the bright of day for once, for all he was only *actually* on
his way to fetch an article of misplaced laundry. He was whistling
slightly tunelessly under his breath too.

Lovely day. Nothing could spoil it.

Sinla hadn't been prepared for her own reaction as she saw a now
familar face cross the hallway in front of her. A genuine smile crept
up on her face, one that reached her eyes as she recognised the guard
who had made her lonely nights feel just a little less lonely. With no
one else around, she didn't feel like she should hold back and she
curtsied with a devillish grin. "My, my, Daihmin, out in the
daylight?"

He started, just a little, before the grin spread futher.

"My lady! I almost didn't see you for the harsh glare of that strange
yellow object above us!"

The grin twisted with good humour.

"Indeed, its been known to happen. All the better to see you with!"

"I can imagine it might be hard on your eyes," Sinla replied with a
twinkle in her eyes. "Where are you off to, brave guard?"

"Oh, its a righteous mission to retrieve a lost article from one of
Zelenka's minions."

Even while smiling, quick eyes raked her. It was nice to see a happier
woman then his nighttime wanderings tended to unearth.

"Voracious laundry girls. I'll be lucky to come out alive."

"Sweet Faranth, I do hope you survive such a horrid quest," Sinla
chuckled. She seemed to consider something for a moment and then she
just went with it. "If you need a little something to strengthen you
before you continue your journey, I was about to have lunch. You are
welcome to join me."

Although his smile didn't fade, Daihmin checked a little and not only
from suprise at the offer to a lowly noone.

Because while *she* had made it, no doubt, in innocence, he wasn't
sure how wise it was. He enjoyed the woman's company and saw no harm
in it...but he was well aware of those who would, and who would also
say he did so too much.

So his answer was cautious, and left her room to change her mind if
she wished it.

"It would be an honor, m'am, if you are sure it would suit you."

"Of course it suits me, otherwise I wouldn't ask," Sinla replied,
ignoring the nervous little flutter in her stomach. After all, what
would people say? "As long as you don't go telling people, I don't
want lines of hungry guards forming at my door around lunch time!"
That was a good way to phrase she didn't want anyone to know, was it?

He chuckled appreciatively, also hearing the underlying request.

"We are, indeed, a terrible bunch of scroungers, and no one fool
enough to turn down lunch in the presence of a lady. Of course, half
of them wouldn't be able to *recognise* one of those, so you are
probably safe."

And safe in his hands, reputation and woman, for all the bonhomie
attitude he threw out. Whatever they were, she had her own sadnesses
to battle and he'd never willingly add to anyone's burden. The guard
could behave when he chose.

"Well, then, dear guard, this way please," Sinla smiled as she led him
the short distance to her door and ushered him in. Her husband was out
on craft business and her children were either out on play dates or
with the Harpers, so she had the house to herself. Well, they had the
house to themselves. How she would scold Genna for spending time in
closed quarters alone with a man. But she was an adult and Daihmin
just a friend, so there was nothing to worry about.

Daihmin was not unfamiliar with their home, of course, having dealt
with her husband times enough, but it was a different sensation all
the same, being there off duty. He stepped back decorously to allow
her to enter first, but it was not only manners. He couldn't know, but
his thought's were not unlike Sinla's own. Had he spied the little
exchange, innocent as it was, he would have been first to note it- so
he intended to make sure there was no chance of the same happening
here. Quick eyes scanned the area once before he let his smile settle
back onto his face and followed her in.

"Your husband is away on business, I believe. The captain assigned
someone to accompany him. It must be quite hard, him being in and out
so often."

It was a pure guard's answer- he never even paused to think it could
be taken less politely then the conversational way he meant it.

"Well, it is quieter," Sinla said, knowing that she should be missing
her husband when he was away, when all she felt was relief at his
absence. "But at least that means he is out and doing something." She
paused for a moment, withdrawing again as the subject matter came too
close to her inner hurting. Instead she focused on bringing her well
prepared meal to the table. "It may not be an awful lot for two
people, but it's good food," she commented.

"Indeed."

Daihmin hadn't tasted it yet, but he offered the reassuring smile and
words, aware she'd pulled back just a fraction at the mention of her
husband, though not sure why. He could only assume it was from missing
the man.

"Still, productive or not, its always hard to miss family, I know.
Still, you have your children."

Comfort to a woman's heart. Comfort to a man's too, if he were honest about it.

"Yes, I do," Sinla said, some of the motherly pride she was famed for
shining in her eyes at the mention of her children. "They do me
proud." There was a slight emphasis on 'they', giving only the
slightest hint of Sinla's dissatisfaction with her husband. She handed
the guard a serving and then sat down to start on her on plate.
"Children are a blessing. Are you hoping for a family yourself, one
day, or would you miss your wanderings of the night too much?"

His smile looked faintly sad

"Oh, I want a family. But there's not as many girls willing to live
their lives upside down as one could hope. Fewer still with a touch of
brain and sophistication."

Aware of the complicated feelings the question stirred up again, he
smiled a little brighter,

"And now you probably think me a snobish brute, but I like smart women."

"I rather like smart women myself," Sinla laughed, before she came
forward a little and spoke on a conspiring tone. "To be honest, some
of the ladies I am forced to socialise with are earth shatteringly
stupid and it bores me silly."

He shouldn't laugh *quite* so loudly in the presence of a lady, he
supposed...but he did it anyway.

"Dear lords and ladies, I can only imagine."

His eyes met Sinla's. He'd a great respect for what he sensed was a
smart and -he also speculated- stifled woman, and for a second he was
more serious then the conversation warrented.

"Of course, we all suffer from that at times. I've known some horribly
boring crafters. Sometimes geniuses make the worst dinner table
companions!"

"Oh tell me about it!" Sinla laughed, enjoying the recognition of one
of her pet peeves. "My husband might be brilliant at his craft, but he
isn't the most sparkling of personalities." And for a moment she
didn't even realise she had just spoken ill of her husband to a man
who was practically a stranger.

One eyebrow crept marginally upward, though he managed to supress any
other sign of his mild suprise.
"Hmm... I knew a vinter once. Wonderful things he did with the humble
grape. I thought *that* alone would be worth it. But he bored me to
death so many times I surrendered. His booze was magnificant, but not
even it was enough to suffer through another chat."
The words were partially a distraction, too, from his inner thoughts.

"You're lucky you didn't marry him, then," Sinla said on impulse. For
a moment she felt ashamed, but then something stirred inside her. Why
shouldn't she talk about this? Of course her husband coomplained about
her behind her back, to his fellow crafters, she was sure about it.
Didn't all men? And she kept playing happy charades with everyone she
met. Why couldn't she confide in a friend?

"Ah, no. I admit I didn't. He was already married, see."
The touch of humour didn't negate the look that flashed over his face,
not the empathy that lingered.
"You are not as happy as a woman like you deserves to be, are you
Sinla? I'm..very sorry about that."

"Well, I'm not sure what I deserve with the choices I made," Sinla
said with a little shake of her head. "But no, I'm not happy. It's an
unhappiness I 'shouldn't' talk about, though, and that makes it even
more hurtful."

Dark eyes darkened futher with empathy.
"I'm sorry to hear you say that. You're a good woman and a good
mother. With a good man, but I am not so naive a fool to thing that
means everything will automatically just works. Still, it grieves me
to think of you unhappy."

He laughed, a little painfully, dreadfully embarassed at allowing that
to slip out, and looked away a moment. As though she should care what
some guard thought?

"You may talk to me, if you wish. I've mentioned before and I'll say
again, I can hold my toungue well enough when I wish. And I'd not seek
to damage you. I am well aware that sometimes things just don't work,
however little fault lies on either side."

Sinla reached out suddenly, taking his hand and looking him in the
eyes intensely. "That means a lot to me. It's good to.. to have a
friend." Had she ever really had friends? Allies, perhaps, in her
little schemes. But a true friend?

The gesture shocked him, for unexpected boldness and for the offer of
friendship.

It also touched him, more perhaps then it should have.
Instinctivly-because he would never have done it had he been fully
aware of it- he brought one of his hands to cover hers. Common sense
*almost* managed to make it seem purely brotherly.

"I'm glad to hear that."

He said softly. His ever-candid eyes told no lies, even to her direct
stare. It was the truth. How true, though, he kept to himself.

Sinla kept Daihmin's gaze longer than she knew she should, but there
was something in the moment that sent shivers down her spine and she
could not break it off. Finally, she pulled her hand back to continue
her lunch. A smile still lingered on her lips though and she wasn't
able to wipe it off. "You're no on duty tonight?" she asked, suddenly
conversational. She needed time to organise her thoughts.

He relinquished her hand easily when he felt her pull it back,
disguising his own reluctance under an appropriate smile that
pretended to notice nothing.

"Actually, I am meant to be. Not for long, though, but I do need to
take reports for the captain. Still, the lure of a daylight prowl was
too strong for common sense. Not to mention the glee of shock value.
As it turns out, it was more worthwhile then I thought."

Oh, silly double entendre, how did you get there? He raised his fork
from the edge of the bowl in explanation.

"No one who's tasted night shift cooking turns down a real meal from a
skilled and gentle hand."

He could only hope the face he was wearing looked unthreatning and
unsuggestive and wholesome and sensible, as he hoped, rather then
brittle and demented, which it felt.

Sinla did quickly catch the double meaning of his words, but it only
made her smile grow a little. It had been such a long time since
anyone had said such things to her. "Well, anytime for you, my
friend."

Last updated on the February 26th 2013

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Unexpected Temptations