Baron Aiden Lowell ap Ailil, Lord of Silverwolf, sits by himself out in the garden on a lazy Sunday morning. Under Marigold's supervision, and the care of Bink the Gnome, it has flourished. Just on the edge of wild, untamed riots of wildflowers buzz happily with honeybees and are visited by hummingbirds and nevers alike. Roses grow unchecked alongside cornflowers, and squirrels, safe in this place from the encroach of the dogs that find them fair game on the trails, jump and chatter easily through the branches. The ornate stone fountain burbles happily with secrets known only to water nymphs (or possibly Selkies or Rusalka, but they aren't telling either).
He sits on a bench next to a statue of... well, of himself, or a younger, version, sitting with his wife and child. Aiden's hands lay slack on his lap as he sits, lost in his thoughts.
A door opens, and closes, and a pair of footsteps approach. One light and delicate, the other the clop of hooves, different but in tune with each other.
"My Lord?" Julius inquires tentatively. "Bluebell and I are back from our vacation. I wanted to apologize, for my rash behavior. And Bluebell also has an apology to make."
The rabbit pooka curtseys low, and murmurs, "Thank you for your most gracious of gifts, O Lord of Dragons and Flowers.
Aiden looks up - it takes him a few moments to register, so lost was he in his memories. Not dangerously so, but deep, none the less.
"Julius. I am certain that both Marigold and Dame Lavender will be glad to have you back at work. Please review the contractor statements for the guest house as a first priority."
As easily as that, any earlier arguement is brushed away, not quite forgiven, but rather, ignored as something that that is beneath him to bother with or give any account.
"Bluebell, I'm afraid I do not understand." He says, not impatiently, and raises a brow to Julius.
"We turned my... sabbatical into a bit of a whirlwind cruise, my Lord." Julius holds up his hand, intertwined with Bluebell's, and both of which sport new rings that glitter in the sunlight. "And I am afraid that somehow..." A glance over at Bluebell, but he doesn't throw her under the bus, no! "MY funding source was replaced by the Silverwolf card for some of the transactions."
"Ah." Aiden looks taken aback a moment, but then smiles. "It will be as a wedding gift, then, from myself and my lady. That is, unless she has planned aught else."
Julius pauses. "Are you certain, Lord? You haven't seen what was spent-"
He is cut off, "I have said it will be so. Unless you wish to decline the offer?" The slightest hint of sharpness coloring the Lord's mild tone.
"No sir. Thank you sir. We'll have to share pictures with you once we have then printed, Sir." Julius quickly adjusts his tune, and then squeezes Bluebell's hand.
She moves forward, and reaches forward to take both of Aiden's hands in hers, and curtseys over them. In a soft voice, she recites.
"I left you in the morning,
And in the morning glow,
You walked a way beside me
To make me sad to go.
Do you know me in the gloaming,
Gaunt and dusty grey with roaming?
Are you dumb because you know me not,
Or dumb because you know?
All for me? And not a question
For the faded flowers gay
That could take me from beside you
For the ages of a day?
They are yours, and be the measure
Of their worth for you to treasure,
The measure of the little while,
That I’ve been long away."
Aiden blinks. "Ah?"
She smiles, and says softly, "You're a good man, Charlie Brown. Worry not about Snoopy, he hasn't forgotten thee."
Julius looks baffled, but Bluebell has rejoined him, and gently tugs his arm. "Then, uh, I'll go see to those reports, then."
Aiden straightens up, and nods his head, gesturing in a gently dismissive manner. "Do so. I have business to attend to."
The couple bow again and head back inside, and Aiden is left, alone once more, but no longer lost in thoughts. He stands, gathering a few flowers, and heads inside, in search of his Lady.
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