The Lady never thought that when she woke up that morning, he would be there once more. Of course, there was the underlying hope to which she would internally criticize herself. As she grew older she knew better than to wear her emotions on her sleeves. She thought she had grown colder and perhaps she did.
However, it did not change the fact that he would always cause her to stop in her tracks. What started out as a simple trip to Bree-town to check the market and to partake in the humdrum of everyday errands. Turned into banter in the hallway of the bustling inn that continued to call her name. The Prancing Pony. It was just the tale as old as time yes? The tale of men and women. If he was drawn to her she hadn't known, but she certainly felt, drawn to him. She went through the encounter with caution and friendliness. Appearing as genuine and sincere as she possibly could, that is until there was an interruption. Oh, how she hated interruptions! It was a woman. A woman to which she had seen before but never caught the name of.
A Bree-lander by her looks but her speech was business-like and indicated some form of education. There was an air of purpose about her and of someone who would not be easily swayed. The lady's vice would be proprietary and firmness as she faced the uncertainty that came to her through this individual. Naturally, there was wordplay between the two women, making their male companion chuckle. Biting his tongue before he got himself into something he clearly should not. It wasn't clear who won the battle of wits or if there was anything to be won at all. What she did know though was that he owed her a drink. She would hold Audun to that and waited for it to happen. Excusing herself kindly, after his associate asked for a word with him.
She went to the commons and later would share a drink with him. Only occasionally looking him in the eye as they spoke. The Lady would try and keep a respectful but genuine tone in his company. But in each passing moment, the fondness that she had for the man one that she had intended to keep dormant rose up. Her speech went from eloquent to rambling and stuttering! Like she was some love-struck girl again.
Dagramir always had his charm, through her eyes, he used it either to calm the storm or for his own benefit. Those were her observations. He was unpredictable that was his reoccurring theme, yet still, she wondered if he would ever be fond of her again? Fate had a twisted sense of humor, for somewhere during the conversation she had found that he was her neighbor. Why did it have to be Ashforde that he 'supposedly' settled down in? She tried to push it as far away from her mind as possible. These days she did what she could to keep to herself. There always would be those that looked at her with distaste or misunderstanding. But she could not control the actions of others, the power that she strove for was no longer in her grasp. Solitude was a lonely thing, but sometimes, solitude was the only answer. "Stay safe Aell." Those simple parting words hung in her mind. She replied by briefly squeezing his hand. It was all she could do for the sake of caution, "Aye, be careful out there." She hoped that the man's uncanny luck would still be present or the unseen hand that helped him survive impossible odds. His departure making her feel empty, but this emptiness she would keep only to herself. It was no one's burden but her own. If it was one thing, she found in the man, it was familiarity. The familiarity of what it means to be so far from home and living a foreign life. A life that you never expected to have but yet find yourself unable to break away.
