The Gardens

Watching the lady's face, listening to her speak, Seamus flicks a quick look around out of pure habit. Eyes coming back to rest upon her face, he allows a hint of a twinkle to enter his eyes, and murmurs Aye, lass...surprises. On foot, ye'll hae more time tae be lookin in detail. Ye migh' see, fer instance, tha' oddly shapen hare eatin up yer clover field is actually a ma hare an' her babies. Ye migh' get tae see a fox bring it's kits out o' their den fer the first time. Or all manner of critters wie their seasonal displays a-bein' amorous an' courtin'. A sly look covers his features just for moment, before he murmurs Who knows wha' a body might see, if they take the time tae look whilst hunting afoot. If yer be married, ye migh' e'en catch a fall display from yer ain mate. Ye neverr know what ye might see. He chuckles playfully at this, and tries to hide the fact that his ears turned crimson from teasing a lady so.

Ghost listened to Seamus speak and smiled at the things he spoke off. She had seen animals and their babies over the time, never a fox and blushed at the mention of courting. She watches his face closely as he chuckles, noticing his ears and cant help herself and laughs softly.

You are an incorrigible tease, Sir, she laughed, her voice light, looking away as she thought how best to say the next, not wanting to dampen the mood, not feeling sad about the fact, just that it is so. There'll be no displays now for me Seamus, she started quietly, turning to face him again. I am widowed.

Smiling gently she slipped her arm back through his. Shall we walk on?

Still having a playful look on his face, the young Scotsman nods amiably. Aye, let us move on. He continues on down the corridor of green toward an area seemingly overgrown with foliage. Winding along a tiny, naturally formed, path amongst the dense greenery, he points out a small gazebo type structure with a domed skylight. Herre be a wee tiny place tae sit quiet an' think heavy thoughts. What think ye?

Ghost walked beside him along the path and looked to where he pointed to see a gazebo.

It's very pretty, she answered smiling. Heavy or light I would have thought Seamus, she added smiling, looking around her. This area reminded her in some way of the walled garden area she had had in her old home with its tall green walls shutting out all outside eyes, allowing for privacy.

Looks a good place to rest.

With a grin, he says Precisely. Or nae think at all, even. Seems a good place for a body as wants tae sneak off an' hae a nice nap, also

Ghost shakes her head at him. So now the hunting over you need sleep? My my, the lack of stamina, she laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with merriment.

Shaking his head in mock disgust, young Seamus makes a face and growls Bah. I can gae as lang as you can. Got stamina all week lang. Having spoken thusly, he deliberately sticks his tongue out at her, being playful.

Ghost feigned mock shock at his sticking his tongue out but could do nothing for laughing. And what would keep your interest all week long that you would find the stamina for? she challenged playfully, looking at him with a mischievous smile. Stamina was lacking earlier in the Conference Hall, she said softly, blushing as she too did not last long, but then she did have a good excuse. She had arrived at the castle only minutes before going into the hall.

I have to admit after my journey here this walk and the company I have found myself in is far more pleasant, she said blushing slightly.

Seamus turns bright scarlet. Attempting to act all prim and proper, he says Err...Never ye mind, Mistress. As tae the conference, that werre nae lack of stamina, for my part, but lack of tolerance. My idea of diplomacy is the judicious application of a mace to the skull of the perrson yer dealin wi'

Ghost smiled softly at seeing his embarrassment and did not tease, as her nature was not to make another uncomfortable.

A mace... she giggled at the image he created with his talk. Then I hope you don't feel the urge to use a mace on my skull, Sir, Ghost said laughingly, half wondering. I know I talk too much, but I do hope I don't bore you.

Ears still red, but in an arch tone, Seamus murmurs Weel, I dinnae know we werre negotiatin' an'thing. Are we? Besides, I forgot me mace, sae yer lovely head is safe fer the moment. Beginning to calm somewhat, he smiles and continues Na, Lass, ye dinnae borre me. It is a privilege tae walk about an' converse wie a kind, intelligent lass, such as yerself. A most pleasant change from the front lines, an' constant patrols, indeed.

Ghost blushed at his reference to negotiating and shook her head shyly, at a loss to an answer, but relieved to hear her head was safe. Then I thank you Sir, she said smiling, giving him a mock curtsy. Your kind indeed Sir with your compliments.

Is it very tiring on the front lines... the patrolling? she asked, curious, looking at the young man, knowing he had some strength in him, and enjoying the time talking fairly freely, instead of the conversations she was used to, and that were expected from her. It's a pleasure talking with you, not about business or duties and expectations... such a pleasant change to banter with someone with a lively mind, she said without waiting for an answer to her previous question, voicing her thoughts without realising.

Seamus takes a long moment to gether his toughts, during which he absently reaches under his collar and fiddles with the ancient silver torque resting round his neck. Eventually he looks at her gravely, fully serious, and murmurs Lady, a soldier's life on the line is whole orders of magnitude beyond tiring. Neverending patrols. A full time state of ceaseless wariness, even when one is trying to sleep. It is cold, wet, hot, dusty, hungry, thirsty, and utterly exposed to the elements of weather. An' dinnae even get me started on the uncertainty of supplies. The supply situation during the siege of Carlisle was a disgrace. The pubs were bared utterly, on the rare occasions we could get to one, an' we lived upon that which we ourselves could get. A soldier up north dinnae speak tae those he does nae know, excepting only his unit mates. An' even that is not much beyond what is required of a particular moment's duty. For example, the Cumbrians know each other well, some being second and third generations resident. Yet, when the lines are called up, even neighbors dinna speak much past the traditional wishing of luck upon each other. The lifestyle can bore a body to tears, yet is punctuated at times with moments of absolute utter chaos, when hostiles hit the lines. Needing to pause for breath, he stops a moment to see what his companion's response might be, murmuring shyly I thankee fer the compliment. Tis a pleasure and a relief to just chat, and not about business.

Ghost listened quietly as Seamus spoke, listening to him carefully, realising the truth in his words. She felt for him, yet respected him at the same time. She had heard many stories about Carlisle and nodded as he described the disgrace, remembering others speaking thus about that time. As he finished talking Ghost instinctively reached out and laid her hand on his arm in a comforting way, wanting to tell him she understood, as much as one such as she could.

A lonely type of existence then Seamus? Ghost said quietly, and smiled at him gently. And then in contrast you get some woman taking you away from some beautiful women all in one room, persuade you to walk with her... Ghost laughed quietly.

Smiling a quiet kind of smile, he grunts Aye, lonely. Yet dinna mistake me. I chose my profession. I could so easily hae walked away, instead o' accepting when I was asked tae serrve as Town Commander an' defender of the city. Rather, I chose tae stay. I chose tae advise the Earl Marshal tae tell the other armies tae form a secondary line, behind us several cites away. I also chose tae make them carry me from the wreckage of the walls, when NNGO forced the gates. A self deprecating shrug follows and he continues, This is what I am. This is what I do. Tis as simple as that.

At her last comment, he smirks. She who bespeaks the moment gets the prize. Another self deprecating shrug and he finishes, saying Such as it is...

Ghost nodded as he spoke more on his profession. I am sure you are a mighty fine soldier Sir, she said. If what you do is who you are then who can fault that? Not I. I think you honourable and steadfast from what you have told me.

Ghost laughed softly seeing him smirk and slipped her arm through his again at his last comment. I am glad then to have got the prize. Blushing at her forwardness Ghost smiled at him, feeling the heat in her face. A fine prize at that.

Not knowing what else to say, Seamus murmurs Why, thankee, lass. Sae. What about yersel'? Surrely we canna spend all yer visit talking about me.

Ghost looked at him and shrugged smiling, not knowing what to say, not used to being asked about herself. What would you like to know Sir?

Striking and innocent, and totally facetious pose, Seamus grins Why, everything, of course. Or at least that which ye be willin' tae discuss.

Ghost looked at his pose and tried not to laugh, too much. Mind if we sit down? she asked indicating the small gazebo they were near. There isn't really too much to know about me, she said modestly thinking that apart from her work for the Embassy, her daughter, the little travelling that she had done Ghost was not sure if he wanted to hear about her studying, even the teachng she had done. I live a simple existance when alls said and done, she said thinking her life so far had been far from simple with one drama after another.

Ghost paused and looked around them, thinking before turning back to him. What would you like to know Sir? she asked smiling. I have wishes and dreams, nothing exciting to many, but mine all the same.

Listening to the lady, Seamus raises an eyebrow, and says, I am sorry if I werre prying. What dreams, though?

Ghost smiled at his words and shook her head. You are fine Seamus, please I don't mind answering you... My dreams... I have had several that I sort of pushed aside for one reason or another. Ghost looked thoughtful for a moment and then looking at him smiled again. I would still like to see Scotland for one, and then there is a wish to go sailing... I have most of the skills needed now. Ghost thought of the lesson needed to complete. One dream that I wish more than anything... I want to find peace... somewhere where I can live happily... no more dramas, no more...
Ghost stopped speaking, blushing profusely at her words and just looked at Seamus.

With a quiet smile, Seamus murmurs An' wha' be wrong wi' those dreams? A fine set of dreams, if ye ask me.

Ghost smiles at him, a gentle blush in her cheeks. A person can dream, just maybe one day...

Speaking so softly as to almost be inaudible, Seamus says My favorite dream is th' one in which my Clan lives again. A harrd dream, but tis a fine thing tae wish for. Sae dinna gae thinkin' yer dreams be daft, lassie. Rather, keep 'em fresh an' whole. Who knows. They may come tae pass one day.