Woman Talk Over Archery [Izzy x Eldar]

Her smile fully returned and she shook her head. "You think I'd put you in that kind of position without instructing you first? Folly! I will teach you every step of the way!" Now having her answer her nerves calmed considerably and she exhaled to fully relax. "Anything you wish to learn, ask. Finance, rolling dough, making fillings, even cake decorating; I will withhold nothing from you." After all this time she finally remembered that she'd taken one of her cakes out and laughed. "Now I wonder how long this has been sitting here unattended!" He didn't look too terribly certain about her dream, and it tugged at her heartstrings. "Likelihood of me seeing battle is slim since my initial order was to run the shop. Archers don't stay on the battlefield either, we stay far back and high above, so even if I did get called I don't think I'd have to worry about being run through."

She moved her hand away from his and hugged him as tightly as she dared. "Please, don't worry for me. Battle is a far and away fancy for the moment, and I simply detest seeing that sad look on your face, do smile for me, please?" They still had most of the afternoon ahead of them, and the sun was still bright in the sky. "But really, what shall we for the rest of this sunny afternoon? Besides eat sweets and laugh about our conspiracies to spend more time together, that is." It wasn't that she didn't adore sitting with him, but she was so accustomed to working all day that sitting still now seemed foreign and unusual to her. "I'm afraid I'm not much used to sitting still, hence the fidgeting. Woman's work is never done as the saying goes." She offered him the sweet she'd pulled earlier and pecked his cheek.

All this sudden energy over a light peck on his cheek...? She'd have to get used to kissing him then if this is how he acted! "Well...That all depends on whether you feel up to being left in a cloud of dust. I'm fairly used to running about." Upon actually looking up at him she felt her knees begin shaking and quickly turned her gaze to the ground. "Just looking at you makes my face heat up and my cheeks blaze red." It wasn't an understatement surely, her cheeks appeared as if it'd been drenched in red dye or painted like a jester's. Her close proximity to the scholar didn't do much to help her situation and between the blushing and shaky knees she wasn't quite sure how she had managed to keep her composure all this time. "Surprised I'm not babbling like a confused idiot."

"If you wish, I shall start, but I fear I may tackle you to the ground instead of merely tagging you. Unless you would prefer to catch me? That is, if you're fast enough." she teased gently tapping her index finger on the end of his nose. "You're it!" she chirped dashing off behind the tree and peeking around it. "Catch me if you can!" She forced herself to forget her quaking knees and unsteady nerves and focus on the game, for if this boy could outpace her she'd be in for a long afternoon of running with him at her heels, and she at his. "Or are your feet planted to the ground as pitch to a sheet of linen?" He said it had been years since he last played any sort of amusing game, and to a point she believed him. Staying trapped in a study for days, weeks, perhaps even months out of the year sounded like more than enough to drive any person insane.

A half turn pulled her upper body out of his direct line of sight and she stood waiting behind the trunk of the tree, noticing it was a maple tree in the process of hiding. Thoughts of different ways to utilize this new bit of information drifted through her mind, and for a brief second she forgot the game, only to hear a twig snap and jump back into reality, then remember the game and how she'd just teased Stefan. It was a waiting game now...

Running this way and that way had had no effect, she soon found herself on the ground with her hair a total mess and a smile plastered to her face. Him being over her for even a few seconds set her heart racing and she rested her head against his shoulder to catch her breath. "About time indeed! And yes, a lot more fun than anything else I've done lately, except maybe going to the Festival of Life." More than just her hair had gotten disheveled in the game, her skirt now had grass stains aplenty and her shirt was close to slipping off one shoulder. She relaxed further once she stilled her frantic heart and forced herself not to react to him rubbing her arm. Though after a short time her shirt finally drifted off down her upper arm and she could swear she felt his hand touch her bare shoulder.

"Is. . .Is there any time you wanted to be home by? I'd hate to keep you out here past curfew." she mumbled still staying cuddled up to him. She'd worry about her shirt later, so long as it didn't come off entirely she wouldn't pay it any mind. Reluctantly she pulled away from him and retrieved the basket before snuggling up to him once again. "Care for the rest of that pastry now?" she inquired as she sat back up to get a bite to eat. Now the sun was starting to sink and if anything her mother could simply say that they were spending the evening stargazing, but she hadn't any idea if his parents would even ask. Her mother knew what was going on and likely wouldn't so much as blink if they stayed up together all night, but Stefan's mother seemed a bit flighty.

"We've got plenty of time to get back into the city before it gets dark, and once its dark I can either walk you home or you can stay as my guest for the night. I'm fine with either to be honest, since I know this won't be the last time I see you." The idea of spending the night under the stars had crossed her mind, but he didn't seem like the type of person to enjoy that sort of thing, not to mention they'd be locked out of the city if what she'd heard about the gates closing was true. If Stefan ever got it in his head to propose, she knew she'd say yes no matter the circumstances. "I could spend eternity here, so long as you stayed with me."

At the mention of rumors she couldn't help but laugh. "You do realize I have enough material to shut up the entire female middle class population, right? Half the rumors currently going around in our area start in my shop, or that's where it spreads from. The women who gossip the most also have the most material going around about themselves. I don't think we'd have to worry about rumors even if someone found out we were seeing each other. Not that I'm ashamed, I just don't like being stared at walking down the street." She returned his hug upon standing and smiled. "Thank you, but I realize I didn't bring anything with me for supper, so if you'd like you can stay long enough for a decent meal?" Then she remembered that he'd have to meet Sinyaya at some point and started off to the gates.

"Also have a friend you'll be meeting, but you have to promise me two things before you see her: one, you can't tell anyone you've met her, and two you can't panic. You'll see when you meet her, but she's a real sweetie." Going back in was easier than coming out, less people were out in the street, less of the women she knew was the biggest thing. All this time her mother had been planning a rather large party with one of her friends, and she'd not a clue that there would be two invitations on her counter when she walked in. Nor did she have any clue that Sinyaya was going to be overly-ecstatic to see both of them. The latter made her presence known long before Lourna ever knew about the invitations however.

"Lori Lori Lori!" she squeaked running over to her as she saw them walk into the shop. Hopefully Stefan wouldn't be too shocked to see a baby dragon in the bakery, and Lourna reached down to pick her up. "Stefan this is Sinyaya, she's a baby Night dragon. Yaya you remember Stefan." Said dragon purred and wagged her tail at the boy, blinking her wide shining eyes in an attempt to get him to pet her. "She won't bite, I promise. All she wants is for you to pet her." She could only hope he reacted as well as her mother did. "Please, please don't panic Stefan." Yaya could tell Lourna was sad, but why?

Lourna laughed and hugged the little dragon close as Stefan tried to wrap his mind around this new thing. "Her egg was handed to me during a scouting mission in a nearby city. I thought it was some sort of stone until I came home and found convex pieces of it lying on the table. Later found that this little sweetheart left flour prints on the floor and she's just stuck around since then. Siofra knows about her, and my mother for all her insanity likes her. I take it she's wormed her way into your good graces as well?" Yaya displayed her first little trick and walked over to Stefan at eye level and looked him over. "You like Lori? She is very special, make her happy." Her tail flicked back and forth and she gave him a small cuddle before returning to the floor. "Bye!" she squeaked running off to chase the rats out.

"She fills the same role as a cat; being a pet, a companion, and taking care of the pests in the shop. Nobody's seen her, she sleeps during the day and hunts the rats at night. I doubt I'll need to worry about it until she gets bigger, but with more of our generation getting used to the island, I doubt anyone will oppose me keeping her once she's grown. Now would you still like to stay for supper, or will I be eating alone tonight?" She hoped he would still stay for a short while, her cooking was almost as good as her baking. "I'll go do prep work while you think of your answer." That being said, she walked back and started carving up a slab of beef. Randomly the thought occurred to her that while she was properly dressed, her visitor had seen her in far less and to come to that realization was mortifying.

Once she had the main dish cut and ready to cook, she quickly chopped up some carrots and potatoes to put in a creamy butter sauce. Hopefully she'd soon have a second set of hands, otherwise it'd take a while. Pattering off to the side signaled that her dragon was indeed tracking a quarry, squeaking soon followed as well as a soft snap. Yaya soon headed off to a dark corner to finish off her catch, leaving Lourna rather amused. "Good job Yaya!" Encouragement was essential to make sure her friend never got moody. "Where's Stefan?" the dragon called looking around.

His rambling reply, mixed with stuttering, only succeeded in making her smile. When he proceeded to ramble on she placed a finger to his lips to tell him he didn't need to explain. "Well you can peel and cut up these potatoes while I do the carrots, sound fair?" Noticing the look on his face at what he thought was a serious blunder, and if she had been anyone else she'd have likely been angry. She knew Stefan tried to be careful with what he said and decided to have some patience. "It's alright, Stefan, I'm not angry with you. And I can see where you were going, I think." She set a knife beside her and waved him over. "Come, I'll show you how to cube these; it's pretty easy. The tough part is cooking them enough, leave them too long you get mush and not long enough yields mostly raw produce." She began peeling the carrots and cutting them into easily chewed medallions.

"As for the scrolls, yes Yaya's a Night dragon." She finished with the carrots and put them in a stewing pot that she intended to put on to boil then paused to look at her guest. "I'll finish up here, you go sit down. You're my guest after all! I shouldn't be making you help me cook." She put the meat in the pot with the carrots and picked up one of the spuds to start peeling it. Seemed like the day was starting to catch up with her, her legs began to ache and her movements felt slower than they were any other day. "I think I may have overexerted myself today." she mumbled putting the vegetable down and inhaling slowly. Having finished her hunting, the little dragon trotted over to check on her companion. "Lori...? You okay?"

How she managed to finish getting dinner started was a miracle, because she looked like she was going to collapse when she sat down with a bottle to pour Stefan a drink. "Hope you don't mind mead, it's the only thing I seem to have." she explained with a slightly embarrassed look. "All my energy just left me, I'm sorry I'm sure I'll perk up in a minute after I rest." In order to keep herself from face-planting into the table, she quietly rested her elbows on the table and sipped on a cup of the sweet drink.

Luckily for him, Lourna had little use for a man who couldn't listen to her or treat her at least somewhat kindly. Sure there were some attractive men in the army, but it seemed to her that most of them preferred a different kind of woman from herself. In fact she'd had some worries that she was too much of an army woman for Stefan. "You're a better cook than you give yourself credit for." After musing over the meal and taking a bite, her smile returned. "You know, just from a jesting standpoint, if we got married I think I'd turn the cooking duties over to you after a little instruction!" The next bite however, Sinyaya decided to steal off her fork! "This is good!" she declared snitching a chunk of meat from Lourna's plate. "Sinyaya!" said girl reprimanded as the dragon took off with her nibblet.

"Ah well." she said with a resigned sigh. "My little friend was right though, your food is very good." To prevent any more nibbling off her plate, Lourna got up and made a small plate with just meat for Yaya. "Here you are, come on you can sit at the table if you like." With a cat-like hop the azure hatchling made herself comfy and began eating, tail swishing back and forth as if she were sweeping away the dust like a furious broom. Now and then she could be heard purring while she munched. "For all her antics she's a sweet little thing, except when she steals pastries when she thinks I can't see her." What sounded like a snicker sounded from the end of the table where Yaya was eating, clearly she was amused at the idea.

Perhaps she'd send some sweets home with him for his parents. She didn't want him to leave, however, and it was debatable as to whether she wanted to let him stay in the back room, or send him home in the middle of the night. There was also the matter of the men who'd harassed her not too long before. "I know you said you wanted to go home after eating, but do you remember when Siofra and I were hassled at the Festival? Well his 'friends' came after us recently and for the sake of your well being I'd like for you to stay over in the back room. I keep spare bedding and whatnot, and I'm just really hesitant to send you home if it means putting your life at risk."

After him saying he wanted to leave her honor in tact she was rather shocked he agreed to stay. "Yes but they want something from us, and they'll do anything to get it. They didn't know about you when they last decided to harass us, so I shudder to think of what they might do to you if they find out." The little dragon had long abandoned the table and gone back to watching the stock room, since her plate had been licked clean and Lourna wasn't going to give her seconds. "Guess now I've a few questions for you. Where would you prefer to sleep, do you have allergies to certain kinds of sheets, do you want dessert before I turn out lights, and anything else you need to do before you go to sleep, just ask." That was just about the most speaking she'd done consecutively in his presence. She was getting better at this!

"I'm grateful that you decided to stay at any rate. I suppose my question about dessert should have been the first one I asked instead of the last, too. Anything you want, you can have. Most of what's left at the end of the day usually gets distributed amongst my regular customers anyway due to the fact that they're not good much past a day. I'm sending some home with you tomorrow as well, but for now let's just get ready for bed." Having him around made her feel much better than being alone, especially when she had a good few secrets to keep as it was, not including that she had a young man staying in her home. "I don't think I have any sleeping clothes that you'd feel comfortable wearing, sorry."

After washing plates and making sure doors and windows were locked, she took Sinyaya out of the supply room and ushered her upstairs. It wouldn't do for those men to come snooping around and see her chasing rats. "Suppose now my other questions need answers. I won't mind if you sleep upstairs, less likely you'll get hurt if they break in." He'd been upstairs whens he was sleeping before and he'd behaved, so letting him stay up there again didn't seem like such an issue.

She hadn't any idea how to respond at the time, except blush and do as he asked. Upon waking the next morning, she heard the snuffly breathing of her sleeping dragon baby and pulled herself from her warm bed rather reluctantly. If she already didn't want to wake up and it was just her and a small dragon, it would've been much worse had her guest slept upstairs with her. In her night clothes, slippers and robe and all, she sank down the stairs and ambled back to where Stefan was supposed to be sleeping. "Stefan, are you awake...?" she called gently. Part of her hoped he was still asleep, for whatever reason, and the rest of her wanted him to be awake so she could cuddle up to him and get away from the chill that settled into the lower level. She pulled her robe tighter around herself and shivered a bit as she lit a fire in the hearth.

Yaya would stay asleep all day this time, and had actually only moved to cuddle into the warm spot Lori left when she got up just a few moments prior. A night of hunting had worn her out entirely, as well as her friend's odd companion. Back on the main level, it seemed like a good idea to wake up Stefan, and make sure he could get home to change before anyone knew he was there. If there was even a hint of suspicion her name would come up repeatedly until either something was proved or she explained the situation. Explaining things to a group of women who gossiped no matter what was fact or fiction was impossible. "Stefan, Stefan it's time to wake up." she whispered.

There was an hour or two that she still had free to get fresh pastries made and set out before she ever had to open her doors, and hopefully today would run smoothly. Without even bothering to change into proper work clothes, she set to work on getting bread and simple filled pastries in the oven to bake before preparing for the more complex ones that she would be doing throughout the day ahead. After getting a tray or two started she went back to check on her guest. "If you're still sleeping I'll sit on you like mother used to do to me to get me out of bed in the morning." she warned. There wasn't a drop of anger to be heard in her voice, she just liked people to be up when she was, if it wasn't a problem at least.

"You're always welcome here, you don't need to ask." she stuttered out as he did everything in a flurry. Having just received her first kiss her mind was scrambling faster than she could really process. "I'll try to think of what we can do later today, I suppose I'll see you sometime later then." With that it was back upstairs to properly dress for the day and get back to work. The morning didn't really drag on like it did most days, and surprisingly none of her problematic worries over rumors really came to anyone's attention. Several women had asked her who she'd been out with, since she'd closed up shop ridiculously early the day before, and they'd seen her walking through the streets with a young man so it wasn't like she could deny it. Therefore the entire gossip chain would soon know she had an interest in the young librarian, but at this point it was sooner or later. She'd have preferred "later", but sooner meant more time to get accustomed to being questioned about her love life.

Some time later around noon or so, her mother came in and reminded her about something that she'd previously not thought about, the envelopes on the counter. "Mother you set up this big to-do without telling me?! And you expect me to just go along with this and drag Stefan into it? I'd rather not!" Of course Verunia knew her daughter better than anyone else, and had fully understood the frantic hysteria she'd be inducing by going behind her back and setting the party up. "I expect you to follow through and not make us both look like imbeciles. I'll be by later to get you dressed up and make sure your escort is properly dressed as well. If Siofra stops by give her this." With that she laid down an envelope and a few coins, grabbed a pretzel, and strode back out the door to get the finishing touches on this scheme put together.

With a groan she looked over the vast order someone had placed just a short while ago, and then it clicked: this was one of her mother's friends who had a bit more money than her own family did. This woman threw a good many parties throughout the year, and recently she'd been able to decline going for career-based or training-based reasons, but with everything all planned and only sals baked goods and a handful of people, there was no backing out. Hopefully her shy bookworm would appear soon to help her with this order, because otherwise she'd be there well into the afternoon and that was going to be a major disappointment. "Ah well, guess I'd better get this started. Mother's likely got another of her insanely outlandish dresses in the works." Oh the horrors of being social...!

"For the millionth time, this wasn't my idea Stefan." she hissed a bit irritably. Having Siofra there just sort of grated at her nerves, but above all she was her superior officer and therefore she couldn't just get flaming infuriated at her like she could her own mother, or even her bookworm if it came down to it. "About as ready as I can be considering my devious mother." At first she thought having her friend there would be nice, but then she remembered that Siofra was a co-conspirator with her mother in this whole ordeal. Verunia meanwhile had been overjoyed to see Lourna in another of her insane dresses, despite the looks the poor girl was getting from a lot of the mothers present. She'd already been answering questions left and right at the shop, and she was frazzled from the rather large demand her mother had made of her earlier, so her fuse was rather short.

"Sorry for snapping Stefan, today's just been horrendously stressful." she mumbled as she walked into the rather crowded ballroom. "It's the Festival all over again." She held onto her partner's arm rather tightly, and for a moment she tried to remind herself that his arm wasn't made of steel, and it was far from indestructible. Once people started asking questions she feared she'd faint on the spot, being unaccustomed to the spotlight for any period of time. Stefan had been getting interrogated as well, but somehow she thought he was handling it better than she was. When questions died down and couples took to the floor to dance, Lori immediately shied away. She'd be dancing tonight, that was certain, but if she could get out of some of the quicker paced dances she'd be a happy cricket.

She was more of a waltz than a tango, despite showing promise and not having two left feet, but that didn't stop either of them being asked to dance by their peers. For what seemed like ages Lori stayed stuck to her escort's side, that was until her mother intervened and pushed them toward the dance floor. "Go on you two cut a rug!" she chirped cheerily. "Hope you know how to tango, Stefan." she muttered. Something worse was in store for them that night, in the form of a small soft baby dragon who wanted to see what all the fuss was about and was currently at one of the windows looking for Lourna. "Where's Lori...?" she squeaked to herself.

It wasn't tough to see that Stefan was more than just a little distracted by the dress she was wearing and instead of a scowl, her face began to flush red. Him whispering in her ear most definitively did NOT help the case. "If you wish me to smile stop getting me flustered." Her reply was accompanied by the requested smile, but only from the mention of leaving amidst all the hub-bub of the party. "If you insist on being devious, then yes, but we'll have to plan out how we're going to get away from both my mother AND Siofra. Everyone else is just sort of here to socialize. Shall we wait until everyone gets set into their social circles and stops caring so much that we're here?"

As Siofra approached his little corner, Julius, who'd been more afraid of losing his manhood than putting bread on the table for the week, brought a small packet of paper from his coat pocket. "Your requested papers, Madam." he greeted formally but softly, doing his best not to stare or drool. Normally somewhat crabby and none too taken with feminine charms as they stood with this woman, her mode of dress made it increasingly difficult to maintain that air of disapproval. His once stark black hair was now peppered with silver, but that didn't stop him from at least paying attention to his physique and trying to stay trim. His children were grown and had children themselves, his wife had left him some years prior, and for all it was worth this native woman was pushing his self-control to its utmost limits.

"Please don't be offended, but would you care to dance?" The tone in his voice wasn't necessarily one to say he feared rejection, more like he feared she'd castrate him on the spot simply for asking, but there was a slight bit of confidence behind his request. "This is a party after all, and to see you simply leave to do boring paperwork after everything you've already done, it just wouldn't do." Meanwhile the music had since changed again, and Lori glanced around the room before looking at her partner. "I hate to bring this up, but I think you're getting feverish, your face is quite red all over." she warned quietly.

"Oh it's no trouble at all, I'd rather see you home than worry over whether you'll get there." Amidst concerned looks and a lot of scrutiny, Lourna led her companion out of the house and paused. "You'll have to tell me where to go, I don't know where you live." After a little confused navigating and strange looks from passersby, she looked at him home in awe. "You'd think you were the prince living in this house." she remarked. Hesitantly she opened the door and led him in, trying to calmly adjust to the idea of being alone with him in the house. The rest of the night passed notably quietly, except his mother's slight worry about the fever, but that passed rather quickly. For a day or two there was some buzz about what could've happened in all that time, but Lourna wouldn't give them anything to speculate with and things soon died back down. Today was just an average day, nothing too special, but it was one of those days where business was at a standstill and closing up in the middle of the day was no big deal.

Instead of sitting about in her empty house for the remainder of the day, she packed up a few things and set out to see Stefan's mother, perhaps ask where her son was, and distract him from his studies. Upon arriving at his home, she was more than happy to oblige and tell her his whereabouts, in return for a fresh cherry pie the following day at least. With that, she set off again toward the library and needless to say there were those who weren't pleased to see her, but she didn't pay them any mind. Finding her bookworm was easier than expected and she crept up behind him to cover his eyes. "Gods forbid you go blind trying to read all of this at once." she teased. "I'm here to distract and/or steal you for the afternoon. I don't think your colleagues will mind too much. Will they?" Oh well, if they did she didn't care, if they didn't well that was even better.

While waiting for an answer she picked up an old book and admired the craftsmanship of the cover before actually deciphering the title and putting it down with a rather embarrassed blush. Suffice it to say it was not something she was keen on reading or concerning herself with. What something like that was doing in a library she didn't really know, but knowledge was knowledge she guessed. "What exactly have you been reading about today?" She saw some poetry scattered about, and tomes on things she knew he had an interest in, and then the wild cards like that book with what she assumed was an inappropriate title.