Niane Tesmani

[shelley_winters]

Moving slowly and deliberately. Eyes where her opponent's would be.

The sword feels heavy in her hands, dragging, making her arms ache even though it is only for practise, but she holds it stubbornly raised.

Move one, two, three. No rush. It's a temptation to go faster, but that's unnecessary. Accuracy is.

The girl called Zera finishes her move and attempts to hold it, though her aching arms make the blade shake. Good enough.

Comments

[shelley_winters]

"I'm not."

Zera shakes her head. "I just... He's just looking after me. That's all."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane tilts her head curiously. A look of confusion on her face.

"What a silly thought."

A brief pause.

"I have not seen him half as happy since... the incident. Not till you came."

[shelley_winters]

Rather than making Zera look happier, or thoughtful, it only makes her bite her lip and look away.

If she's distracting him, then well enough.

But... She can't help wondering, if she didn't have flame red hair or pretty green eyes, would he still like to walk with her?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane's hazel eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned towards Zera with one index finger raised with as much menace as the young girl could muster.

"Now, Lady Zera, I mean this in the most kind way I can... But if you hurt him."

It takes a moment for Niane to devise something suitably threatening, and a little longer to summon the courage to say it.

"Why... I will pummel you with as large a rock as I can lift!"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

"Niane Tesmani!"

Lyrae Addam advances sternly from behind the two girls, having heard Niane's unwisely loud warning.

"Is that any way for a young girl to speak to a guest? Particularly a lady?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

The menacing look on Niane's face crumples into a cringe as her shoulders fold in on her small body. A few moments before she manages to squeak out a reply.

"No, Lyrae Sedai."

[shelley_winters]

Zera flinches as well, out of some universal sense of guilt instilled by an angry mother.

"I- I think she was speaking hypothetically..."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane whirls around so quickly she almost falls. Nodding as quickly and vigorously as she possibly could with a too bright, and uneasy grin.

"Yes, any reference to large rocks was purely hypothetical."

A brief pause as she unwisely continues.

"Lyrae Sedai, the discussion of large rocks, and the impact thereof is the latest metaphorical vogue. You know, for love, and all."

A long blink as she tightened her lips at what she just said.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Lyrae just tilts her head, raising her eyebrows at Niane.

"Was it indeed, child? And who has caught your fancy?"

Her arms are primly folded, and she taps her fingers on the side of her arm patiently as she waits for the girl to answer.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane gapes slightly and her hazel eyes dart away as she thinks for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, she folds her hand in front of her and shyly glances away. A small, coy smile as she spoke softly to Lyrae Sedai.

"Oh, Lyrae Sedai, I cannot bother you with such things..."

She thought herself quite clever.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

"But I am the one asking you, child."

Lyrae is the picture of gracious patience.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane's eyes darted back and forth and a flush crept on to her cheeks as she pursed her lips. That had not worked nearly as well as she had hoped.

Hazel eyes pleaded to Zera for intervention as she stumbled over her words.

"Well... Umm... You see... I... um."

[shelley_winters]

Zera, biting her lip hard to stop a smile, takes pity.

"It's probably a... secret that she promised not to tell."

She looks encouragingly at Niane. Unfortunately, Zera is not a particularly good liar, but is doing her best.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane gives a small smile and glanced away. Her voice was shy and quiet, she made sure to give Zera a thankful look.

"I was... speaking abstractly. I wanted to keep it a secret, since I do not think he likes me. I wanted to ask Lady Zera's advice. She is good with men."

[shelley_winters]

She recieves an indignant look from Zera that says 'see if I ever help you out again, miss!'

"I hardly think so, Niane. I have only ever spoken to two that I remember!"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane glanced away rather sullenly and twisted her body with hands clasped behind her back. Chewing her lower lip idly, she spoke in a somewhat dejected voice.

"Well... I thought that... because..."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Lyrae eyes the girl.

"Try not to make assumptions, Niane. And please, stop biting that lip, you will make it sore."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane hung her head, as she quickly released her lip. Her voice overly remorseful, the syllables drawn out too far. Hazel eyes darting around.

"My apologies, Lyrae Sedai."

[shelley_winters]

Zera slips down off the wall in the disapproving silence wielded by Lyrae. The redheaded girl brushes her skirt down while searching for a change of topic.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Lyrae gives Niane another quelling look - carefully hiding any trace of amusement at the child's predicament.

"Well enough, then," she says, finally shifting her attention from the young girl.

"I take it your practise is over for the day, Zera?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Niane, still with head bowed, mutters to the two women. Hazel eyes darting back and forth carefully.

"Lyrae Sedai, Lady Zera... Go in peace."

The girl gave a hasty wave, before scampering off, green dress waving behind her as she ran. Tripping over her slightly over-sized sandals, she picked herself up, and dusted her dress before continuing her flight.

[shelley_winters]

Zera tries not to laugh nervously, as she waves after the girl.

"A-and you, Niane."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

Touching a few fingers to her forehead, Lyrae Addam shook her head. She could not keep the slight smile from her face. A slight fondness creeping into her voice.

"Such trouble that child... I do not envy her mother."

[shelley_winters]

Zera leans back against the wall.

"I like her. She's the only girl that's ever come to talk to me before. It was nice of her."

Even if her questioning had been a little uncomfortable.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mother_dearest/]

A light chuckle as Lyrae calmly looked Zera over to make sure she was well now that the little minx had scampered off.

"She is a gregarious child, so I am not surprised that she came and spoke to you."

A cool glance out at the other houses.

"This small village can be rather insular."