PSL- In which there are horses and, just barely, time enough.

[gavesugar]

The Wisemen are in consultation - where, Sheila knows not, but while they consult Ash has little to do but sit around and bask in his victory.

And she'll be damned if he's going to bask with Arthur's serving wenches.

It's her idea that they go riding, somewhere close enough to the castle that they shouldn't bump into any straggling but well-armed skeletons and far enough away that they may enjoy each other in privacy.

She is the envy of some, the baleful regret of others, as she combs the mane of her mare and waits for him to find her in the stables. He is something of a late riser, but she knows he will arrive.

Late or no.

Comments

[gavesugar]

"And what if I doth not belong, either." She shifts her gaze to his face, the intensity of her words evident yet laced with hope.

[thisismyboomstick]

"Would you come with me if I asked?"

[gavesugar]

"Mayhaps," she says to her knees. "Would ye make safe passage to me to this new world."

Sheila has never known love. Not before Ash touched her. The possibility of what he brings is so new, so frightening.

[thisismyboomstick]

"Would you be willing to leave everything behind?"

He has no sense of medieval propriety, so he's unaware of just exactly what she would be leaving behind.

"Pretty sure people here want you to stay."

[gavesugar]

There isn't much propriety left in the situation; he just barely avoided a hanging himself, little does he know. Ladies do not give themselves away as she has.

"I am Arthur's poor relation," she says. "The ladies of the court know me well enough, but we are not bosom chums. Who will miss me?"

She picks up a pear and rubs it between her fingers thoughtfully. "Have I told thee of my mother?"

[thisismyboomstick]

He hasn't been around long enough to pick up on the social issues of the time. In his eyes, she's pretty damn royal.

"No." He shakes his head, idly picking up more bits of food.

[gavesugar]

She is, honestly. The second cousin to the king. Not that that matters because ladyparts.

"Perhaps ye may have noticed that Sheila is not a common name of the land. She was a Gaeol lady, from the isle to our neighboring north. When her family contracted her to marry my father, she left her homecastle at three to learn the language, to become a servile lady of the former queen's court. She wert forced to adapt. I would do like the same." She looks at him evenly. "For love."

[thisismyboomstick]

He sighs. "You talk to the wiseman about this?"

He's the one dealing with the whole time travel thing, after all.

[gavesugar]

"Mayhap," she says pertly. She's a smart cookie, for all of her so-called primitiveness. "What wouldst thee do to have me with thee?"

Suspicion. She can't help it.

[thisismyboomstick]

If she really wants to try to fit in in his time, he'd definitely rather go than stay here. Watching everyone around you die from stuff that's easily curable or preventable in your own time just doesn't have a lot of appeal for him.

"I think I'd like that. Depending on what the wise guy cooks up."

Possibly literally. It's hard to tell what the old guy's talking about sometimes.

[gavesugar]

That's only one of the reasons Sheila's excited by the prospect of the future. That and the relative safety from big winged things is decreased by all of the cement.

"Truly?"

She needs his sincerity.

[thisismyboomstick]

"If he can find a way for me to bring you along without destroying history or whatever, yeah. Sure."

[gavesugar]

She leans into his shoulder. "What place hath I in the scheme of things? What grandness?"

[thisismyboomstick]

"You never know."

He wraps an arm around her, holding her close.

"Some of us think you're pretty special."

[gavesugar]

She raises an eyebrow but tucks her head in the lee between his neck and chin. "Some of thee?"

[thisismyboomstick]

They fit well together.

"Okay, I think you're pretty special."

She's gonna make him say it, isn't she?

[gavesugar]

She smirks, smugness radiating from her haughty features. "La, this I ken'd. But 'tis well worth hearing thee say so."

Yes, Ash, she is. Reassurance is something of a necessity when traveling 500 plus years into the future.

[thisismyboomstick]

Okay, she's earned the smug.

"I'll be glad to have you with me."

Give him time, he'll work his way up to the L word eventually.

[gavesugar]

She certainly has.

"La. Then to the next adventure." She picks up the apple, gives it a juicy bite, then passes it up to him

She'll wait on those words, Ash. If only for a little bit.

[thisismyboomstick]

"That's the spirit."

He takes the apple, chomping a large bite.

... you sure this is the guy you wanna cross the centuries for, Sheila?

[gavesugar]

She's never had a doubt in her mind. Not even for a second.

Even with him drooling down her wrist.

"Twil be worth it in the end."

[thisismyboomstick]

"You're darn right it will."

He finishes the apple, tossing the core aside.

"It's gonna be pretty wild."

[gavesugar]

"Wild art a way to put it," she smiles, wrapping her arms around his neck. "What shall ye tell Arthur once we reach home?"

[thisismyboomstick]

"'Like it or not, she's coming with me'?"

Yeah... probably not.

"I don't know, I'll figure it out when we get there."

he pulls her closer with his free hand, unreserved with the hugs.

[gavesugar]

This face.

"He shalt not react well to that, love."

She just buries her face in his neck instead.