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Old 04-17-2006, 07:33 AM   #231
JennyHallu
The Pearl, The Lily Maid
 
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Linduial smiled sunnily at Garstan and held out a slim white hand to Lčođern, who moved to take it with an excited wriggle and half-jump. "We promise to return her in one piece!" she assured the anxious father over her shoulder, as she swept out into the courtyard and then to the street, Lčođern skipping alongside her, and Degas following.


The annual Horse Fair in Edoras was a huge affair. The streets were filled with people and vendors, and this was merely the beginning. Most of the booths and all the horses and events were set up on the grassy sward outside the city, and it was there that Linduial led her merry little company. Lčođern soon gave up on moving blindly through the dense-packed crowds of tall adults and rode high on Degas' strong shoulders, where she could see the layout of the fair and catch glimpses of what was going on all around them. Lin's obvious royal bearing had an almost magical effect on the crowd, melting people away so the laughing, happy trio walked almost unimpeded where'er Lčođern directed.

Lčođern's joy and excitement was infectious, and both Degas and Lin found it easier than they had expected to push their flirtation and attraction aside for a while, talking and laughing like old companions, and no more or less than friends. Lin still, however, found herself almost preternaturally aware of Degas' presence, and took pleased note of his tireless strength and patience, as well as the myriad of small kindnesses and shared jokes with the little girl bouncing up and down on his shoulder-blades. She masked her fascination with gaiety, and the three found a frank and often funny conversation about their various siblings to be a safe and welcome topic.

With many interruptions to stop and enjoy the performances of various buskers, dancers, storytellers, and acrobats, the three made their way slowly but surely to an area that seemed (from Lčođern's skyline viewpoint) to be mostly populated with finer merchants, calling out their wares from well-kept colorful tents. As soon as they managed to get there, they set happily to looking through the goods, staying together, and pointing out to each other whatever rare, pretty, or well-made items caught their eye. Linduial, with a wink and a gesture for secrecy, pressed into Lčođern's hot little hands ten copper pennies. Lin remembered well from her own childhood how dull it could be to go along on adult buying trips without the means to pick things out too.

Last edited by JennyHallu; 04-18-2006 at 10:18 AM.
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