The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

mark12_30 · 10-11-2002, 04:57 PM

The next morning, Gamba was getting ready to go up to the Locks when Asta checked in. "How's your back?"

"Not bad."

"Shall I wash it for you?" She gestured towards the water bucket.

"Esta," he whispered.

She looked up at him closely, drew nearer, and replied, "What?"

"Phura and I saw the stars last night."

"The stars?"

"We swam out. Esta, it was so beautiful. I wish you could see them."

"I can swim, " she whispered. She drew still nearer, and he suddenly wondered if she was being coy.

"Swim?" He stammered. "Would-- would you swim out with me?"

She nodded, smiling , eyes shining. "Yes."

"You-- Esta, you would?"

She took his hand, and guided him to the bench at Phura's study table, and they sat down. She did not let go of his hand. "Yes, Gamba. I would. I would go with you."

His head spun. She was two years older than he was; he was just sixteen, she was eighteen. He stared at her in disbelief, and looked down at their clasped hands.

"All those years of chasing you around that circle, and wondering which one of us you would choose," he whispered. She giggled. "But-- me? You chose me?"

She nodded, smiling. "You." Her eyes sparkled and she waited.

"But... but the others are taller, stronger... "

"And you're the youngest in the group." She smiled wider, "And the spunkiest. The worst rascal. And tenacious? You never quit."

His face fell. "Esta, I almost did, these past couple of days. I was ready to."

She shifted closer to him, reached up, and gently touched his face. "But did you?"

"Thanks to my brother, no."

"All right then. That's the Gamba I know." And she drew still closer to him, waiting, and it occurred to him to give her a kiss.

He thought, am I really that much of a rascal? Perhaps I am. And I do think she wants one.

He leaned over, and kissed her, and the sudden pleasure took him by surprise. He gasped, much too loudly.

They heard footsteps, and the guard looked in, ducking to see into the low-ceilinged study. They both cringed, looking very guilty and feeling not a little frightened.

The guard's eyes softened, and a slow smile, which he tried to hide, spread across his features, and he shook his head. "Quibbling about poetry at this hour?" he chuckled loud enough for the other guards to hear. "It's time you two got to work. Why don't you set aside your literary interests long enough to have a productive day?"

"Yes, sir, " Gamba stuttered, and the guard, having now mostly hidden his smile, turned casually away.

Gamba clung to Esta's hands for a few moments more, and then got up. He was late. He stole one more quick kiss, snatched up a folded cloth holding crusts and raisins, and ran out into the main cave, and sprinted towards the Locks. It was several hours before he remembered his welts again.

Several people in the kitchen wondered why Esta was humming that day.

10-11-2002, 04:57 PM	#193
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	The next morning, Gamba was getting ready to go up to the Locks when Asta checked in. "How's your back?" "Not bad." "Shall I wash it for you?" She gestured towards the water bucket. "Esta," he whispered. She looked up at him closely, drew nearer, and replied, "What?" "Phura and I saw the stars last night." "The stars?" "We swam out. Esta, it was so beautiful. I wish you could see them." "I can swim, " she whispered. She drew still nearer, and he suddenly wondered if she was being coy. "Swim?" He stammered. "Would-- would you swim out with me?" She nodded, smiling , eyes shining. "Yes." "You-- Esta, you would?" She took his hand, and guided him to the bench at Phura's study table, and they sat down. She did not let go of his hand. "Yes, Gamba. I would. I would go with you." His head spun. She was two years older than he was; he was just sixteen, she was eighteen. He stared at her in disbelief, and looked down at their clasped hands. "All those years of chasing you around that circle, and wondering which one of us you would choose," he whispered. She giggled. "But-- me? You chose me?" She nodded, smiling. "You." Her eyes sparkled and she waited. "But... but the others are taller, stronger... " "And you're the youngest in the group." She smiled wider, "And the spunkiest. The worst rascal. And tenacious? You never quit." His face fell. "Esta, I almost did, these past couple of days. I was ready to." She shifted closer to him, reached up, and gently touched his face. "But did you?" "Thanks to my brother, no." "All right then. That's the Gamba I know." And she drew still closer to him, waiting, and it occurred to him to give her a kiss. He thought, am I really that much of a rascal? Perhaps I am. And I do think she wants one. He leaned over, and kissed her, and the sudden pleasure took him by surprise. He gasped, much too loudly. They heard footsteps, and the guard looked in, ducking to see into the low-ceilinged study. They both cringed, looking very guilty and feeling not a little frightened. The guard's eyes softened, and a slow smile, which he tried to hide, spread across his features, and he shook his head. "Quibbling about poetry at this hour?" he chuckled loud enough for the other guards to hear. "It's time you two got to work. Why don't you set aside your literary interests long enough to have a productive day?" "Yes, sir, " Gamba stuttered, and the guard, having now mostly hidden his smile, turned casually away. Gamba clung to Esta's hands for a few moments more, and then got up. He was late. He stole one more quick kiss, snatched up a folded cloth holding crusts and raisins, and ran out into the main cave, and sprinted towards the Locks. It was several hours before he remembered his welts again. Several people in the kitchen wondered why Esta was humming that day. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.