Some promises Can't Be Kept

The next day his message came a bit earlier. She was just getting dressed when her hand maiden brought in his note as if she had been made queen. she was altogether giddy and excited by its arrival and practically danced while Narisa read it. "well...what does it say my lady?" she asked breathlessly. Two other girls came in to to her hair and makeup and they too got into it and Narisa soon found herself with 3 nosy girls whose only bit of romance was her courting Calaren. They all talked him up, told her how handsome he was, all except Margarine ofcourse who knew about her promises to Eagan. As she came in and learned what they were all talking about she frowned as she stepped away from the excitement to begin selecting out her riding clothes for her to select for today. If a letter came Margarine knew that she'd accept and it would involve riding. It was hardly her place to judge her but Narisa knew she really liked Eagan and she had helped her secure her night with him and kept it a secret all this time.

As the girls fanned out to their perspective duties she lifted up one outfit and set it up in front of her so that Narisa could look at it in the mirror. "This one goes well with your eyes, it was Eagan's favorite, I think," she said grumpily.

Narisa was expecting the message and accepted it from her hand maiden as she gave it to her. She read it and then wrote back a short reply. She was exhausted. For the second night in a row she had not slept. She had sat up all night thinking about Eagan and Calaren. Se wanted to write to Eagan...to beg him to come to Edoras and speak to her father, but she knew she could not. He had asked her not to write to him for fear that one of their letters might fall into the wrong hands. The girls were all excited, but she really did not smile. She knew that now she had two men's hearts in her hands and the weight of this decision was overwhelming.

She slowly walked over to pick out something to wear that Margarine had laid out for her. As Margarine picked up one to show her, she heard her comment and she immediately felt herself become upset.

"That will be all Margarine," she said, excusing her.

Calaren waited at the same gate as he had before. He rode his leggy red called fireheart known for his speed and endurance. He was crisply dressed in a green and white uniform of Gondor with a gray cloak with his rank displayed upon his lapel. He was eager to see Narisa again. More and more he began to feel that she was the 'one' to tie his heart strings. She was both beautiful and strong willed. He imagined having her argue with him often and he smiled just thinking about that. He liked a great argument and imagined an even greater scene of making up with her. Many people and friends of his thought that he was crazy but he knew different. She was wild and would not be tamed by any man and he wanted it that way. He didn't want a typical wife. He wanted one that would compliment his own wild spirit and he knew she was her.

Narisa decided that she would make Calaren wait for her for a time past when she was supposed to meet him. It was just another way for her to test him and to make him understand that she would not always do exactly as he wanted. Nearly 20 minutes past their meeting time she finally showed up. Just as yesterday, her long, dark wavy hair was pulled back into a loose braid to keep it from her face. Onyx was well groomed and his coat practically shone in the sunlight.

"Shall we go?" she said, offering no excuse for her tardiness.

Once more they headed out across the field. However once they reached the trees Calaren took off like a thunderbolt. He weaved in ad out and raced along the small path. He saw Onzy and Narisa coming up fast though and as he wanted, her guards were well and away from them. The race was on and Narisa would know that Calaren was playing for some pretty high stakes. The ferns and brush could trip a horse easily and he rode Fireheart for all he was worth. In the small glade he drew his horse in. Both horses and their riders were panting and as Narisa prepared to hand him 2 crowns Calaren shook his head and looked around for her gaurds. "No...I want something else as payment," he said and slid his horse in beside hers. It was clear he aimed to receive a kiss and thought he was deserving of one and her.

Narisa had not been expecting Calaren to take off as he suddenly did and it took her a few seconds to realize they were now racing. She gave Onyx a few swift kicks and he took off after Calaren and Fireheart. In the open, Onyx would have easily won, but among all the brush he was slightly slower than the slimmer mount of Calaren's. As they reached the small glade Calaren pulled Fireheart to a stop and Narisa stopped alongside him. She hated losing anything, but especially when it came to horses so this was a particularly painful blow. She began to reach into her pouch for 2 crowns, but Calaren would not accept them. It became clear to Narisa then that Calaren was seeking a kiss from her. Thoughts of Eagan quickly filled her head, but she was also not a woman to not pay her dues. She hesitated a moment as she glanced at Calaren and met his gaze. Ever so slowly their heads drew closer to one another until she could feel his warm breath on her lips. 'Please forgive me Eagan,' she prayed silently before closing the gap and kissing Calaren.

Her guards were coming fast and he separated from her lips regretfully. Her eyes were fixed on his, her cheeks a bit of crimson, the response he wanted. He had tried to make it a good kiss after all. The guards came quickly and then stopped at her flank. "Princess, it would not due for you to do that again. e have orders to protect and serve you Princess," one of them said in irritation. "You will check your tone guardsman...I was near if any trouble befell her," Calaren said. He dismounted and they walked their horses a while among the trees.

"I was serious when I said I want to go to Gehenna," he said softly. "I want a large field where horses could graze and a barn and stable to keep them. I don't want a servant to do it all. I want to...with my own hands and my own wits. Wouldn't it be grand?" He asked excitedly. "With you there with me...it would be a life worth living...for ourselves and the animals," he said as he petted Fireheart's neck. "And you'd be doing your father a service...we both would by supplying him with horses. I've seen you with horses, you're a natural. Any other life would be a waste of your talents Narisa," he said. She would know it wouldn't be long now, maybe days, a couple of weeks at the outside that he'd ask her officially for marriage.

For a brief moment all thoughts of Eagan left her head. Calaren's lips were warm against her own. They were soft and yet firm at the same time and he kissed her like she had needed to be kissed. She barely heard her own guards come up as they parted. Intense guilt gnawed at her. She knew that no matter what choice she made that she was going to hurt either Eagan or Calaren. There was no avoiding it now.

As the guard began to speak she looked over at him, feeling her own irritation grow. She hated being constantly followed around and having very little privacy. She was about to say something in response when Calaren spoke up on her behalf. She couldn't help but feel impressed by his words. She dismounted her horse and walked along side him. She listened to Calaren as he spoke about going to Gehenna and working with horses. It was the first time he had included her in his future plans and she knew then that a marriage proposal was coming.

"It would be nice just to be able to work with horses and do what I love," she admitted. "I'm tired of being a 'princess' and everything that it entails. I want to feel free and to make my own decisions."

He paused and put a hand on her forearm gently. "I told you, I don't want a wife to just put on my arm and warm my bed and care for my home. I want a friend and a companion. Someone who cares about horses as much as I do and not because they have value or worth. But because their hearts beat wild and free like hers does...and mine he said as he put her palm on his chest and turned to face her. His heart felt like it was going to pound out of his chest. In that moment he didn't care who saw them. He needed to make this connection with her. He wanted her to understand him.

Narisa listened closely to what Calaren said. His words struck true with her because it was what she wanted as well. She knew he wasn't saying these things because he knew she wanted to hear them, but because he truly meant them. She could feel his heart beating hard in his chest against her hand and she could feel her own beating just as hard as her eyes met his.

The ride back wasn't a fast and they talk about all sorts of things and he asked all sorts of questions about her which she seemed quite happy to answer. The few days that followed were more of the same. A stolen kiss here, a touch and a few, whispered words there. Their rides were always enjoyable and Onyx had begun to let Calaren actually touch him without trying to bite his fingers off. It was the following week that Calaren had to go out on patrol. There were no letters ofcourse, no rides, no kisses or whispered words or gestures of friendship. He was just gone however he had done something she did not expect, each morning when she left her apartments a servant came up and presented her with a blue flower called, Glory of the Snow. Very rare at this time of year but she received one each day that he was gone. Blue for the colors of his family. White for the purity of his love for her.

In truth he had missed her as well. He very much enjoyed her company and how she seemed to tremble when she knew he was going to kiss her. He wasn't exactly certain though that it was just from his touch...something else was afoot there.

He met a party on the road as their patrol was on their way back. A friend, Eagan was among them and then it all just clicked into place. He and Eagan were friends when he was in Edoras. An excellent rider and eager to learn. They rode with them and they became reacquainted in that time. Narisa's name had come up and it was now clear to him why exactly Eagan had come back. He came back to ask for Narisa's hand. This was a blow to Calaren, he loved Narisa but felt that she had had her heart set upon Eagan. All the little signs she had given off now all made complete sense to him. He felt he had begun to break down those barriers she put up for Eagan's sake but he never wanted to tear two people who loved one another apart. No matter how he felt about her though he wasn't certain he could face her now that her man was coming for her. He would have to be patient, and hope to chance that she might pick him instead but he didn't believe in chance and so he would rely on patience and on Narisa.

ooc: new thread