(Loose Part 3 to Union of Amaken and Ana, though really its own story. )
Daphne had intended to let Furley finish whatever business he was doing, considering the celebration appeared to be over anyway. But both he and the woman he was speaking to, beckoned her toward them. It seemed the woman, who said her name was Maerle, was the sister of a man who fought beside Furley in Rohan and now needed somewhere to stay for reasons unspecified.
She hadn't meant to, but when she addressed Furley, it somehow became just the two of them talking in no time, and Maerle excused herself to find a drink. "Don't you ever take time to relax and celebrate, Furley?" Daph had asked the question which had tickled the back of her mind throughout the evening. "Oh, I do. But business seems to find me everywhere." He smiled before continuing. "Besides, Elthhelm waltzed you around so finely I'd have felt rude to interject." This caused her to cross her arms and raise a brow. "I didn't owe him a dance, now did I?"
"Wait. What are you doing, Daphne? Why did you bring that up?" She didn't know what she was thinking. If she was simply teasing, or she actually didn't want him to forget, she hadn't the slightest clue. All she knew was she couldn't blame it on too much drink this time. He didn't seem to care and smiled as he spoke. "Now that, you did not. But you lit up the room anyway. Besides...you still owe me. And I won't need music." "You might not, but it's hard enough dancing with music, for me." "Ah, I wouldn't need music. It's quite easy enough. But I'll pick my moment, I think." Daphne fought the urge to scowl. The last thing she needed was to owe a dance to someone who could choose any moment they fancied. Especially someone like Furley. She did not put it past him to make it into some kind of prank.
After they bade Maerle goodnight, he removed his feathered cap and dusted it off before folding it, sighing as he did so. "Good heavens, is anything not business these days?" Those words were amusing from him. "For you? Doesn't seem to be. Your pillow is probably made up of dusty maps at this point." She began twisting her hair into her usual bun to keep it out of the way, readying to bid him a good night as well. He'd chuckled at her remark, then gestured for her to follow him. "Come with me, a moment. And leave that hair down, will you? If for nothing else, then to see you looking relaxed for a change." This caught her off guard, but she let her hair down again anyway as she followed.
He led her near the river which flowed from the bottom of the waterfall near the Last Homely House, not terribly far from where it met another waterfall further down. They shared some pleasant conversation on their surroundings and areas in Bree-land. She hadn't thought before, of Bree-land, without some sinking feeling. Yet this time as they spoke, her mind was able to recall the pleasant parts of her homeland without the tainted memories her past and her knowledge of the land, lent it.
Then, somehow, the dance was once again the topic of conversation. "If Kildwin had won the tournament, you would have danced with him," was her question when he brought it up. He chuckled. "Perhaps. Perhaps you'll never know. Maybe I just thought of it as a reason, or maybe I thought it would be amusing to watch you scowl as you moved around so gracefully." He smirked before continuing. "Have you ever refused an executive order, hmm?"
She was tempted to refuse the dance just to be stubborn, at those words. But she decided to let him win this time and it somehow didn't feel like she lost. "Lead me well, because if I fall into the water I'm pulling you in with me without hesitation." He held out his hand. "I told you I'd choose my time. Isn't daylight easier for not tumbling over? And it'll be easier for you to have to look at me without starlight beaming down on my radiant eminance." She hated when he used words she couldn't understand completely, but she pieced together what he meant regardless. Though she hadn't noticed until then that it was truly morning.
She placed her hand in his and fought the urge to yank it back again once the warmth from his hand seemed to flow into her arm. "What's the matter with you?" She came up with some snarky comment and an eyeroll to combat her own stupidity.
He said he would sing to help with rhythm of the dance, and warned her that his voice was monotone. She fought the urge to smirk. He was self conscious. Him, of all people. She didn't think it possible.
She had little time to think on that, when he placed his hand on her waist and lifted her arm to his shoulder, gently guiding her closer in preparation for the dance. "Like I told Elth, I'll try not to step on you," she said quietly, now looking at her feet. She couldn't bring herself to look up at him while they stood this close. She'd settle for watching their feet in order to not step on his instead. Of course he teased her for feeling awkward, rather than just getting to the dance. But finally, he cleared his throat and began to sing "The Greenway Girl" as he led her through the dance.
She smiled. He wasn't one of those natural singers, but he was trying his best. He didn't sound terrible and she somehow enjoyed listening to it. It also did help in keeping with the correct timing, though his leading her made it easier also. He was gentle and patient in guiding her and she barely didn't step on him at all, which made her pleased enough with herself. Then, at the end as she thought he was going to spin her again, he chose to dip her back instead.
She may or may not have panicked a little. "Please don't drop me!" She'd pleaded rapidly. And he didn't. He brought her back up to stand gently. Her face flooded with heat as they both stood there for a moment while she kept her gaze at chest-level, unable to look at him yet. "Too...close. Get a hold of yourself, Daph." He stepped back and released her hand as he took his hand from her waist. She could breathe.
"You move well." She looked up and found that his face was also flushed, albeit less than hers. "He had a lot of wine before we came here," was what her mind told her. Then of course, an attempt at complimenting him led to him making some grander point that went over her head at first. Maybe she should have slept more over the past two...no...three days now.
As conversations go, topic changed. They came to the topic of his recklessness somehow, then how much of an arrogant brat he could be. He had grinned and admitted he'd always have that "boy" side of him. In response, she'd said she thought it could be a strength if he knew just when to use it. "It's sound advice. And it's swiftly becoming my least favourite reason to have you around."
This response, of course, led to a deep curiosity which caused her to ask what his least and most favourite things would be. His responses were unexpected. Truly, his favourite thing had shocked her. "The way I scowl at him??" So shocking ...that she burst into laughter. After a little more conversing, he somehow slapped a few more compliments on her. She'd jokingly stated it was all of Kild's knocks to his head, when in reality, she attributed it to the wine coupled with weariness. She felt bad for keeping him awake longer than necessary, though they both seemed to enjoy the time.
"I'll have to start calling you a vagrant again to tip the scales so you won't wonder where Furley's gone." She raised her brows threateningly and crossed her arms. "You do that and I might very well punch you. Besides, it isn't as if you don't pester me in plenty other ways also." At these words, she realized how far they had come. She trusted him and cared about him. When they first met, just seeing him made her frustrated. (Although that was likely due to bad first impressions all around.) But it wasn't just them, it was the entire Company. Everyone seemed to have come a long way. To have grown in such a short time.
His voice broke through her thoughts. "That's true enough. Well. It's always a pleasure, never a chore. Or...sometimes a chore.." He chuckled at his own words. She was about to give some typical Daph response, when he reached out and cupped her cheek. His thumb stroked her cheek once before he turned on his heels and strode off towards the camp quickly. "Goodnight, Daph," he'd called over his shoulder. All she could do was stand there and watch him walk away. "Girl. You've punched men for less."
She stood there for a little while after he was out of sight. Finally, she stepped a little bit away and sat down, leaning against the nearest tree, covering her face with both hands. She remained like that 'til it was time to rejoin the rest of the Company. Whether or not she had fallen asleep for any amount of time, no one would know.
