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

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

A small smile from the girl as she put a hand to her mouth and smiled slightly. Hazel eyes dart over to the bevy of girls across the way.

"Oh, um... Thanks. I see you all the time out here practicing with Lord Joar."

[shelley_winters]

Zera nods.

"I'm out here a lot, now, I suppose. He's teaching me. I'm new at this."

She smiles wryly. "As you might have seen."

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

A light giggle from the girl, and a brimming grin.

"Oh, you are doing fine, Lady Zera. You can't expect to be able to match someone like Lord Joar in such short amount of time."

[shelley_winters]

Zera leans the sword against the wall and pulls herself up to sit next to the girl, wincing slightly at the jolt to her aching arms.

"I should- hope not. No, he holds back when we fight, enough for me to learn without being snapped in two."

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

A glance at the ground, and a slightly worried look.

"Oh, he would not do that. He is very gentle."

A pause, and a small squeak.

"Excuse me, my lady. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Niane Tesmani, Ulizia's daughter."

[shelley_winters]

"It's nice to meet you, Niane," Zera smiles.

"And- you're right, I don't really think he would."

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

A shake of her head, and a faint flush as she scrutinized her hands.

"No, especially not you."

[shelley_winters]

"Yes, I'm delicate. I know," says Zera cheerfully.

"I have to be pretty careful even when exercising."

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

A slightly confused look for a moment, and then a slight shake of her head. This girl was possibly more dense than Joar.

"Well, obviously... I mean, it is only natural for him to be concerned, what with..."

An unsteady moment.

"All the time you two spend together."

[shelley_winters]

Zera glances at her.

"...Maybe it is. He's been very kind, anyhow."

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

Niane gave a slightly coy smile as she beckoned Zera a little closer with a flick of two fingers. Her hazel eyes seemed to almost glow from the smile on her face.

"Lady Zera..."

[shelley_winters]

Zera obediently leaned towards the younger girl.

"What is it?"

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

Niane does only a fair job of repressing a giggle, and could not stop the beaming smile as she whispered conspiratorially.

"I think Joar likes you."

[shelley_winters]

Zera blinks. And again, eyeing her.

"...What do you mean?"

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

Niane giggles and glanced away shyly. Her voice laden with implication. A grin peeking from behind her turned cheek.

"You know..."

[shelley_winters]

Zera blinks in silence for another moment before laughing quietly, ducking her head.

"Oh. No, I- I don't think so, Niane. Not that way."

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

Disappointment flickered across her face for a brief moment. A confiding smile as she leaned in closely.

"It's okay... He is a gentleman."

A warm smile, and a hint of a flush on her cheeks.

"I think it is sweet the way he spends time with you."

[shelley_winters]

The flush echoed on Zera's cheeks would be attributed to the exercise if she called attention to it.

"Well, he is. And... it is, but I really think he is just being kind."

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

Niane planted her hands on her hips, and gave Zera as stern of a look as she was capable of.

"He enjoys spending time with you! I can see it on his face. He is a great man and his time is very valuable... And he spends it with you."

Her stern facade collapsed in on itself with stifled giggles and a touch of curiosity in those hazel eyes. She hangs on the word kissed slightly.

"Has he ever kissed you?"

[shelley_winters]

"No," Zera laughs back, not realising at first that she's whispering too.

"He has not, thank you very much."

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

Niane looks rather crestfallen, but rebounds quickly with a smile.

"...Shouldn't say I'm surprised..."

A pause, and a flash of inspiration.

"Joar is very distracted by his music! You will have to take the initiative. He is a forward-thinking man. He will understand."

[shelley_winters]

"Niane."

Zera shoots the girl a determinedly stern look.

"I certainly will not. Joar and I are friends, that is true, but- nothing else!"

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

Niane cowers slightly, her voice quick and polite.

"Yes, my lady..."

A moment of thought for the little girl seemed to deflate. A note of defeat in her voice.

"...It is just... I have not seem him half as happy since..."

She glanced up at Zera, her hazel eyes softer than usual, and her voice barely above a whisper.

"I want him to be happy."

[shelley_winters]

So do I, she thinks, looking down at her feet dangling just off the ground.

"I do as well," she says softly, but aloud. "But... I don't think it's the right way to go about it, is what I mean."

(His fiance was a willow thin girl, pale with fire-red hair, and pretty green eyes)

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

With furrowed brow, Niane looked rather sullen as she glanced up at Zera. Her voice spoke of her confusion.

"Well... I thought... that... because... You're good for him."