Edana felt her lips parting in shock. Her father had tried arranging a match for her? It smacked of him wanting more than a soldier's life for her, but... He cupped her chin, tilting her eyes up to his. "Face it... one way or another your stuck with me. We even ran away from it but where one went the other followed. She blinked, wrinkling her brow. It was rather ironic that their fathers' plans seemed to have come together, despite the mess than had happened in the middle. She felt her lips twitching. I dont bend easy but if there is something you want badly enough the little "trick" I whispered to you since we cant fulfill the second part of the bet should do. You will just have to sit there and wait until I agree."

 

She wrinkled her brow again, confused. What trick? she wondered. She sifted through the evening in her head and shook her head, coming up empty. So much had been said since he'd rescued her from the doorway, what could he possibly be referring to?

 

~Edana

When he pulled back he continued. "Granted it wasnt even a discussion. More like your father knowing mine and knowing that we choose for ability. I dont think they said ten words about it since that would be something to discuss when we were older. However my father made sure yours knew he was interested in the arrangement when that day came."

 

Not much of an explanation. He didnt mention his father was looking at several other possible matches too. Let her enjoy the though that maybe... just maybe this was all meant to happen. Not the death of her father nor the manipulations of the Aes Sedai that got him here changed that.

 

OOC Post number 8 for the little trick. He leaned over the table and whispered it to her. I didnt actually put what he whispered.

Edana smiled and shook her head, slowly. "I can't imagine I'd have been very interested in the arrangement. I haven't really ever liked people telling me what to do and if it forced me into a life I wouldn't be comfortable in," she shrugged her shoulders.

 

"How involved are you?" she asked, her voice hesitant. "It's apparent those people knew you and well enough to be friendly to me because of it. I don't think I can do that very often," she moved her eyes back down the street towards the building they'd left earlier. "I'm not noble, Sandre. I'm not sure how much I can pretend to be, either. Sooner or later, the truth will come out."

 

~Edana

"Not involved enough to care if they found out." He shook his head. "I have ever believed nobility was a birth right... never. Its defined by ones actions. That being the case you can be as noble as you choose to be, and your social status is what you make it... or what we make it."

 

He smiled down at her and gave her a kiss. The look of pride on his face that she was his unmistakable. "You will do fine as long as you behave. Can you not do that?"

 

The moon light did odd features to her. Her skin looked lighter and her hair darker. He was trying his best to make sure she didnt know how much being pressed against her and seeing her in that dress was driving him. He was thankful the silk was thick.

"You will do fine as long as you behave. Can you not do that?"

 

Edana laughed, shaking her head and snuggling against him. It felt good to be so far away from everyone else. There weren't many rules here, she could be as free with her emotions as she wanted. At least, within reason.

 

"I make no promises about my behavior, Guardsman, and you'd do well to remember that." She grinned as she said it. "I can control most of my temper, but sometimes it gets the best of me. Elyan could tell you all about that, if you've need to ask." He was one of the few people who'd witnessed it firsthand, at any rate.

 

~Edana

Sandre nodded. "I had a temper problem once. You learn to control it when guilt sets in from using it on someone who doesnt deserve it." He looked down in her eyes. He was around her more than anyone. One day she would lose her temper on him. The one person who fully opened his heart to her. (How far will you go that day my love? Anger could destroy everything...)

 

He decided to let such thoughts go. One long drawn out kiss to make him forget and he was back to normal again. He fingered the necklace he gave her and wondered that she wasnt feeling tired. There was armor lighter than that thing.

 

"You may want to hide this... not that I dont trust your fellow trainees but... you could buy a small estate with it. Should you need the gold in an emergency think nothing of selling it. I would feel better knowing you were taken care of if I couldnt be there to do it myself for some reason."

 

 

Edana smiled and returned his kiss, not wanting to remind him that she'd beaten up on her own brothers badly enough that they couldn't just follow her when she'd lost her temper with them. She'd like to think she'd outgrown that... and they really had deserved it.

 

His fingers on her necklace reminded her it was there. She'd grown accustomed to the weight, though she wasn't sure when that had happened. "You may want to hide this... not that I dont trust your fellow trainees but... you could buy a small estate with it. Should you need the gold in an emergency think nothing of selling it. I would feel better knowing you were taken care of if I couldnt be there to do it myself for some reason."

 

Edana choked, her hand flattening on the links and stones dangling down her chest. A small estate? Her mouth opened and closed and her fingers twitched. She wasn't sure what she'd been thinking, but it suddenly felt heavier now that she knew it was worth that much. Had she really been that focused on the dress? She felt dizzy and reached for his arm, her first instinct to take the thing off and give it back. How could she accept such a gift? Even from him, it was... well, it was expensive! That he could afford to just drop it off, hand it to a peasant like she was...

 

Who was she kidding? She couldn't do this! Her mind franticly worked through endless possibilities of horrible things that would fall on her head if this relationship continued on the path it was on. He'd said it didn't matter to him, but...surely it mattered to someone! Her voice was breathy with shock, but she managed to ask, "Where did it come from? Sandre, I..."

 

I, what? she asked herself, fighting the urge to pace through her racing thoughts. I can't ever get used to wearing a small estate around my neck? I can't stand the thought of letting you down when you need a lady by your side and all you have is me? Her breath caught in her throat and she had to acknowledge that one. It wasn't the nobility that frightened her. It wasn't the fortune in jewels or gowns that bothered her. It was the fact that, someday, she'd let him down, that she wouldn't be good enough when it really mattered that ignited her need to run from him. She hadn't been good enough for her own brothers, after all. This man owed her much less. Could she bear to look into his eyes knowing there was nothing in her power that would help him?

 

 

~Edana

She seemed almost dizzy when she found out what it was worth. He almost wanted to laugh. "Edana Keller did I finally manage to impress you with something?" The sarcasm in his voice was obvious. "I needed something to keep my mind sharp in case I ever had a chance to command. I chose trading. My family deals in iron from its mines and weapons so I gave it a shot and it turns out Im pretty good at it. I became better when I started talking to my family again and had their backing. I dont need the gold... It was just for the mental exercise."

 

He held her tightly a moment. "Your not worried are you? I dont think you are getting this Edana. I dont need a lady by my side. I dont interact with the Nobles that often. Thats eldest brother's job. Im a soldier so I need a strong woman. A woman strong enough that I dont have to become softer to keep her happy. I need a woman who wont fear the nobility or anything else. The role of the second, my role is one of intimidation and a demonstration of power. You just need to be your usual beautiful and deadly self and not be afraid to open your mouth to defend me or you just as you are on the yards. These guys will not hurt you. I wont let them."

 

His smile to her was one of great pride for her. "You dont realize how perfect you are, not just for what I need in a woman for the public eye. You are perfect for me here." He said as he pushed her hand over his heart. "You want to know how to fit in to this part of my life? Then be Edana Keller."

Edana felt the steady thump of his heart under her fingers and met his gaze. He knew what to say, she had to give him that. She had no doubt he felt it, too. Was that why she was so afraid?

 

"I nearly killed them," she whispered, her eyes not leaving his. "I hunted my own brothers down in that tavern and took them on, one at a time, until they were all on the ground. I don't think I wounded them bad enough for much more than a lot of pain and scars, but I don't know if they died afterwards or not. I haven't been home since I left Camelyn." She paused and shook her head. "My temper, my pride... they're my curse, Sandre. I took on my own brothers because of rumors they were spreading about me and nearly killed them for it. That's who I am."

 

She looked down at her hand on his chest. "I'm afraid," she whispered. "I can kill whatever is thrown at me. I can run a horse to death. I can butcher a trolloc. I can take on my own brothers and win. But you," she said, her eyes meeting his again. "You scare me more than any of those things."

 

~Edana

She was spilling her guts out to him. He wasnt exactly sure what to say. Was she expected or what she wanted. "Whatever you have done I forgive you." he shook his head. "And Im not afraid. I am here for you when you are angry or when you need to be taken down a notch." He said with a small smile. "We havent had much of a chance yet but I can give a decent massage... and if that doesnt calm your anger there are other ways..." he said with flirtation heavy in his voice. He wondered if he was holding her too tight. He was afraid she would leave if he let her go. He wasnt going to let her go, not like this. "I give myself to you Edana Keller, every thought, every breath. If you have a problem with Pride then defend what we have with pride. If you have a problem with anger then use me and allow me to calm you. I will compliment your flaws if you let me and make them your strengths. Thats what you do when you love someone."

 

He wasnt sure that was what she was looking for. He loosened his hold so she could breath a bit though he was nice feeling her pressed against him. It was killing him that she was still a trainee.

Edana felt the last little piece of resistance fall away and closed her eyes. Aye, she loved him. That's what scared her most. The last people she'd loved had betrayed her badly. She knew in her head she could trust Sandre, that he wouldn't do what they had done. Her heart shuddered just thinking about taking that chance again.

 

She didn't answer him, mostly because she didn't know what to say. She stretched up and kissed him quickly. She could trust that he wasn't going to hurt her, at least for tonight. He'd done it once already, though, so her heart was a little slower to agree to it. She smiled at him, meeting his gaze. "I wish I had my promotion," she murmured. "It will come soon, I keep telling myself. Just not soon enough."

 

She cupped her hand around his cheek and smiled. "I think I love you, Sandre Kaldun. I pray neither of us live to regret it, but..." She laughed softly and shook her head. "It's all your fault for not giving me a choice about it!"

 

~Edana

He looked down at Edana as though she were his world. She was in truth. If he had to forsake all oaths and friendships to be with her he would without a second thought. (She loves me. Thats a start.) "Well if you love me then we are just getting started Edana. It means that I have to try harder. No matter where our relationship goes I am not going to allow it to settle into a routine. I will court you the rest of our lives." It was a large promise he was making. To never allow the relationship to dull. But he wanted to be more to this woman. He wanted to give her the type of relationship she dreamed about as a child. He wanted to give her a love like out of a story. A happily ever after.

bump