Private Tales From Root to Petal

[Faye Valimir]

A union between two was a celebration many looked forward to, no more than those of the intended couple.

For Faye, it was infuriating to plan a wedding. She used to dream of this day, to bask in everything there was to it, but each day of their engagement felt like an eternity of time and indecision. She had a constant hunger for Talorgan, often seeking his company and conversation whenever she needed time away from her workshop and medical work. They insisted on getting to know one another, and perhaps that is what made this engagement much easier to bear. They rushed into this relationship, carried by the current of passion and need, but at the end of the river came the drop. A waterfall misted with elation, of companionship, and most of all, trust.

She had lamented to him how torn she was over planning it all. Had even met with his mother and father over tea and cakes, where her only surviving relative, her Aunt, was fashionably late to. Suggestions had been made, and only one thing Faye had settled on.

Talorgan's family had offered to host the wedding at their family's country seat. They told her of a time when Talorgan learned to climb every tree in their fruit grove, and how the area always saw a freer version of the man she was going to marry. Even Talorgan had told her of childhoods spent up in those trees.

It was two days from now, and she rose from her bed to cross the room. His mother insisted they sleep away from each other, and Faye only obliged to keep her happy.

There was a party today, where the wedding guests would arrive over the next two days before the wedding was to begin. Faye had a small guest list, for she kept a small circle of true friends. It was a deeply woven mix of them, for they all knew one another. Not uncommon since Faye served in the Thunder of Thanasis as a medic and was very well experienced in her field. Her specialisation in dragon health meant she met a great many of dragon riders.

A knock at her door sounded as she sat up in bed. Her dark hair braided down her spine, smoothing over the silk night dress she wore. After a moment, the doors opened and a maid pushed in a trolley filled with fruits, small cakes, and tea. Breakfast was to be served early to ensure there was enough time to dress, in which Talorgan's mother insisted a maid help her ready. She was no fan of the fussing, but appreciative to have the opinion of another to help her prepare herself for the day.

"Good morning." She smiled. "Do you know if Talorgan has awoken yet?"

 

[Talorgan]

Talorgan had been awake long before the sun finished clearing the horizon. Sleep had come in pieces without Faye beside him. It was something he had become accustomed to far too easily. He had spent most of his time sleeping in the wilds near Beirsys.

He knew his mother meant well, insisting upon tradition, but it felt wrong to open his eyes to a quiet bed when every instinct urged him toward her. His mother had taken the news well. An artisan was an excellent match for an errant third son, as far as she was concerned.

So he’d dressed early and ignored the hovering attendants who tried to press him into more formal clothes than the simple linen shirt and trousers he preferred this morning.





"Yes, my lady. Lord Talorgan asked that I inform you he would meet you in the quiet room after breakfast for a walk."

 

[Faye Valimir]

She was dressed and headed out to find the quiet room. Faye often stuck to dark colours in her daily attire, but Talorgan's mother had seen to her stay to be filled with dresses of rich silks and vibrant colours. And so, Faye was dressed in a deep blue today. It made her grey eyes look blue too, and her hair had been braided down her back. The staff all stared as she passed, and the maid that saw to help Faye dress and prepare herself lifted her head high.

As if it truly were an honour to tend to a most beautiful woman.

"This door, to the left." Her maid piped up, and as Faye put a hand to the door to push it open, she smiled at the maid. "I will see you later, mistress, as the Lady Vulcarys has put together a family luncheon. You will meet the other young sirs of your intended's siblings, too."

"Thank you, Phee." Faye smiled and waited a moment before opening the door.

Inside that room, Talorgan stood by the window and looked out to the quiet gardens he had shown her nearly every day so far. He was not dressed in clothing his mother put aside, but even if she felt overdressed, Faye knew he would eat her up once he saw her. After all, she saw herself in the mirror this morning and knew she looked unfair.

"I think your mother may convince me yet to embrace the nobility life if I get to wear fine things like this each day." She grinned, pausing in the middle of the room filled with bookshelves, couches, and a single desk empty of any work. It looked like a small library to her, but in this house, it was called the quiet room. "What do you think, Tal?"