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[ She goes where he leads her, not letting go of his hand as she follows. Her eyes move from him to the beauty around them and then back to him. It quickly develops into a pattern. ]

Are you sure I'm not intruding?

Not at all. You can be alone with my own thoughts too.

[His eyes glimmer with his own joke. They stay close as he leads her to a fountain. The tiles on the bottom and sides make the water a crystal blue. It is even more dazzling to the eye amidst the green of plants and bright jewel toned flowers. A bench is close by, made for enjoying the scene. The lady ship can be seated first. He sits after, close to her, daring to be as close as he had while they were in the saddle.]

[ Their thighs touch through clothing once again and Karen ducks her head as she feels her cheeks warm again. Yet she doesn't move away from him. She spots a lizard on the ground, keeping her foot still as she watches it make its way over. ]

I've never seen one like that before...

[If she is accepting of his presence then he so gently puts his arm to rest against the back of the bench, not quite embracing or trapping. Testing the waters. He has a rare, half grin.]

No? Silly, tiny things. They're harmless. They lay on the tile and sunbathe. As a child I was told that they are little priests and priestesses that worship the sun. That explains why they are peaceful and would rather run than fight if they're frightened---and they always seem to be frightened.

Some larger kinds have poison in their fangs and use this place to hunt.

[ Her eyes widen again and she turns from the scurrying lizard to look at him, ]

They hunt the little ones?

They do.

[As the way of things. He reaches up to gently brush back a lock of golden hair that has come astray on the ride.]

Have no fear. No priestling will fall to harm while we're here.

Will you stop them?

[ She's trying not to smile at the idea. She doesn't want to see any of the tiny lizards eaten but the idea of Frank kicking away the larger ones is more than a little amusing. ]

I shall. I wouldn't want to upset your ladyship on her day out.

[In a private, beautiful garden without any chaperone. He has no large designs to impede on her virtue directly but he likes the way the blue of her eyes look catching on the light that spills in through the domed lattice above.]

[ She finally does smile at that, ducking her head and looking back down at the small lizard moving ever closer to her boot. She watches as it wriggles onto the pointed end where her toes are. ]

I still find it hard to accept you would want to be so kind to me after how rude I was to you. The people here have been far kinder than I was ever led to believe.

[The movement makes it still and shrink to lay lower on the tile. Waiting for more movement. Waiting before rushing away.]

My younger years were filled with many things. And I can see when one does not wholly mean unkindness. It can so easily be painted on. That doesn't make it true.

[ She almost pouts at the way the lizard scurries away, watching it wriggle on away under some bushes. But her expression softens at the words, finding a remarkable amount of understanding and maturity in them. More so than she's experienced from her own relatives. ]

Have you met many Westerners in that time?

Only a hand full of people not related to my mother. Traders and merchants They smiled so much easier than the Dothraki. They spoke gently to me and call me small one and sweet one in my father's tongue and then runt and whelp in the common tongue when they thought I wasn't listening.

[He laughs a little at the memory.]

From then I started to pick up on the way that eyes would not brighten but stay cold no matter how sweet the words. I have felt the ice of your spirit, lady but not felt the same chill in your eyes.

Edited 2019-01-19 07:08 (UTC)

[ She moves a hand to rest on his knee, a brief, soft touch. ]

And I am feeling the warmth of yours. Perhaps it is not too late to learn better.

Knowledge is not a rare jewel or swift game to hunt. It comes to those that seek it.

[The touch is a surprise and he is so very careful about putting his hand on his own leg with the tips of his fingers touching against her own. Risky for a Western lady as it is to be here with an unwedded man. The ladyship is her own person.

And his lordship? Well. He is behaving as gentlemanly as he can with the desires he has.]

[ Risky perhaps. But she is a lion through and through. She places her hand over his, smiling, ]

It is a rare enough jewel among my kinsmen, I can assure you.

[Soft touch of a lady, indeed. Bold and he knows that if there is a misstep in his actions there will be claws. He slowly moves to shift to face her more, still keeping their hands touching.]

Would it be so bad if you kept all the riches for yourself? I have a feeling...you know how just to spend it and put its value to work. Helping your house. Helping others.

[ She laughs softly at that, shaking her head, ]

Were I to have any jewels to possess. Even if I did, I couldn't keep them to myself.

[ She already gave many of her actual jewels to her parents for money. It had been difficult for a moment but in her heart, she knew it was necessary. ]

What a rare and giving soul you are. That is a shine that nothing can touch or tarnish.

[He has heard many a thing in court. Her house is on hard times but the ranks have closed in. They're being tactical and every move measured. Exactly what he'd expect of Lannister lions.

Frank leans in closer.]

What other gifts do you possess?

[ She doesn't move away when he leans in even if her mind tells her she should. No, she must hold her ground. Blue eyes meet brown, ]

I don't know. What was once praised in one kingdom may not be seen as highly in another.

[ She licks her lips without thinking. ]

I am no warrior or scholar. I am no great beauty in my family nor am I royalty. But I do think there is beauty here and I can appreciate it for that.

[Sweet, bold lion. Frank's eyes follow the movement of her tongue.]

No, no. I don't believe what I'm hearing.

[She is a bright eyed beauty. Golden hair stolen by Lan the clever. And the way she carries herself and moves with grace and dignity. His fingers brush so carefully over her cheek.]

You're a wonder yourself, my lady.

[ She feels her cheeks grow hot at the touch, as light as it is. ]

I am starting to believe the same of you. If I may be so bold to say...

[ Because even with his Dothraki blood and lineage, he has been nothing but kind to her. Courteous and lending a supportive ear. ]

I greatly admire boldness.

[Since that is not a refusal for contact, he scoots on in closer.]

It makes you more attractive.

[ The suddenness of the compliment makes her laugh, surprised by it herself. ]

Does it? I do not believe I've ever heard that before.

[Many believe that because of his bloodline that he would take a woman by the hair and have his way with her. They forget that he also has a mother. A wise, wealthy widow that knows exactly the kind of man she wished her son to be.

Karen's bubbling laugh has him grin some.]

Most men fear a bold woman. That means they are not ready to court one.

[Purposely loaded words. He leans in and his mouth grazes her own. Hardly a deep kiss and rather brief if not sensual.]

[ She's not sure what shocks her more: the implication of the words or the action of the soft kiss itself. Her eyelids flutter and she gasps softly. Leaning back only slightly, she looks at him, her tongue darting out for her lips again. ]

Is that what this is? Courting?

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