The Gardens

Seamus eyes warm to his subject, and he unknowingly takes the air of a new teacher, much resembling his late kinsman, as he answers her questions. Alrigh' then. Let us see tae yer first lesson. Finding a ledge, he sits and gets comfortable, motioning Ghost to be at her ease also.Now. Firstly, Marie would nae be caught dead in th' armoury, bein' the upstandin' matron that she is. She leaves weapons play tae th' rest of us heathens. Sae. Look ye herre at th' hilts of this weapon. See how it hae enough grip fer one hand, with a bit of room for balance an' movement.He calmly pulls the scimitar from its sheath and holds it flat so Ghost can see. This be a one handed style hilt. It hae room ainly fer one hand tae move round upon the grip, wi'out havin' tae grasp the pommel at the end. If ye place both hands round the grip or tang is it be called, ye'll hae noo room fer movement when swinging. A hand-and-a-half grip weel hae that bit of room, but only just enough. Here, he moves his free hand to mime gripping the tang of the hilt below the pommel nut at the end, as a visual example, and continues A two handed grip weel hae room fer both hands tae slide oop an' doon th' tang whilst in use, wie enough room tae actually wrap three hands plus a wee bit round it wie knuckles touching. Sae, I could put both hands, plus half a hand on a two handed grip, an' still hae aboot a hand's breadth in between. Wie a hand-and-a-half grip, therre is nae quite that much space on the grip. Enough tae use it two handed, but still be balanced fer single hand use, if ye take my meaning.

Settling a bit on his ledge, he finishes by saying What I meant by "laying around" was tha' this blade werre on th' rack in the armoury, just sitting therre, an' nae being used. An' wherre ye be hidin' me, anaways? Eh? In yer skirts? I think not, lass. We both mun gie in great trrouble tha' way.

Ghost saw Seamus's eyes and facial expression and knew she had asked the right thing, his interest obviously piqued. She watched him settle against a ledge and she moved a little ways to the edge too, watching him, feeling at ease with him. Ghost laughed at the image he gave her of Marie and the armoury, nodding that yes she could see that of the matronly woman. As Seamus turned his attention to explaining the different grips on a weapon Ghost watched and listened, her knowledge a little thin on this topic and realising she needed to know more if she would have a full understanding of using a weapon. When Seamus removed the scimitar from its sheath, holding it flat for her to see.

It seems so natural for you, Ghost said quietly when he had finished explaining.

Ghost laughed as Seamus asked her where she would hide him, realising how silly it sounded, realising yes they would both look rather silly. Well true you would look silly in my skirts, she laughed looking at him, blushing slightly.

Once again taking Ghost's hand without thinking, Seamus murmurs Lass, dinna fash yerself over't. It seem like breathing for me, for I hae had a weapon in hand since I could walk. Livin' oop in th' high country, an' dealin' wie Reavers an' other such unsavory types hae made it necessary, else I'd hae noo muir practice than yerself. Plus, it seems, I hae been on duty since th' day I entered England. He shrugs, smiling, and puts the blade away, then puffs on his pipe waiting for her to respond or not as she wished.

As Seamus took her hand Ghost smiled at him, listening as he spoke. Ghost very aware of her hand in his, but not objecting, relaxed as she was, and she with interest as how he spoke about the high country.

Yes I imagine you have been kept busy, she said nodding, smiling softly. I guess I just lack the practice, but I am sure Cait will see to it that I will work hard, she laughed thinking about her training. She did not have a clue what it would entail.

One day I will have to go north... do what I set out once to do, before I was stopped... Ghost sighed, thinking so much time wasted, and none of it for herself. Ghost watched as Seamus put away the blade, and smiled as he puffed his pipe, the wood smell soothing.

Strange I expect you will think, but I find the smell of a pipe pleasant, she said quietly.

Seamus merely smiles warmly, knowing well what his cousin might have in mind, but not wanting to spoil any plans. Aye, lass. A guid pipe now an' then halps a body tae relax an' gather one's thoughts. Tis also a pleasant scent, as ye hae noted. Besides, I could hae been worrse. Had he lived, ye might well hae ended under th' gentle lash o' her brother, Sir Charles. Here he snickers, remembering the stories his cousin had told of training others, before he passed on. Just you ask Caiti aboot trainin wie yer actual blade, an' the scar on her shoulder. She got tha' from her lovin' brother in the Royal Guard training hall, once upon a time. Right after she kicked in his bad knee...

Ghost listened with interest to hear of Cait's brother, Charles. She knew very little of Cait's family so listened carefully. Seamus' snicker told her Charles' lash was not gentle and she smiled at him. Ghost was surprised to hear about Cait's shoulder and her brother's knee.

They fought a lot then? she asked laughing softly. I am guessing from how you are amused I will have my work cut out...

Still with an ornery smirk on his face, Seamus says Na, lass, they dinnae fight for real. Ye see, cousin Charlie werre a firm believer tha' one should never practice wie anythin' but the weapon that ye'll take th' field with when it be for real. 'E worked his ain self thrice as harrd as any he taught, an' never laid hand tae a practice blade, rather usin' tha' great blue sheathed oriental monster tha' Lairrd Gregarious now has. Curved, an' hand-and-a-half, it be. An' worth enough tae purchase all of Cumberland, outright. When I werre a lad, I watched him fight a bandit... once. Th' only time I ever saw him lay hand to a weapon, it was. 'E used that monster blade of his tae right peel tha' poor sod out o' his armour, right therre on the spot. Made the mon pee his kilt, he did. He like tae practice just like it werre a real fight, too. Since I came south, I hae hearrd the odd whisper amongst th' street thieves at times, tha' they still remember that sword. I wonder why. With that last, he gets an impish grin on his face, his liquid brown eyes twinkling with familial pride.

Ghost listened as Seamus explained about Charles, seeing his smirk and smiling as a result. He sounded animated and Ghost listened to the effect it had on his already lilting voice. She laughed as he told his tale, surprise by his words hidden in her amusement.

And of course you'd know nothing to do with that at all? she asked laughing, her eyes catching the twinkle in his, a warmth about his eyes.

Seamus tries, and fails utterly, to look innocent. Chuckling heartily, he says I?? Na, lass. Am humble serf type fellow. Strong like ox. Dumber than tha' which drops behind said ox. I am nae great one, as werre me cousin. Hagman, they called him, but Charlie he werre tae us, and a grreat gentle mon he werre at hame. I hear 'is public face werre sommat different, however, though I dinnae get tae see it. Squire tae Dame Ophelia, he werre, though it werre by postal rider they spoke. That because he spent his entire squirehood riding partrol out o' Carlisle.

Ghost laughed at his effort to look innocent, shaking her head at him. You so fail, she laughed. Hearing him call himself humble she is shook her head. No no, don't say such things, she said as he described himself further. You are a fine man Seamus, she said her hand going to rest on his arm without thinking. Hearing him compare himself to his cousin she shook her head. He may have been great in his own way, but you... she stopped, embarrassed by herself, not finding the words she sought.

At her words, young Seamus finds the grace to blush, but can find no word to answer...

Ghost sat for a few minutes composing herself, aware of Seamus near her. She glanced sideways at him and smiled gently.

I didn't mean to embarrass you Seamus, she said quietly, nudging him with her elbow to get his attention.

For a long moment, Seamus just looks at Ghost, his eyes seeming more gold than brown, a mystery in his look, and says nothing. Slowly his right hand rises, as if toward her cheek. Then he seems to wake, and shake himself out of his thoughts, and lowers his hand, blushing furiously. He mumbles, Ye dinnae. Tis just that I be nae smooth hand wie ladies, an' me ain shyness be me bane...

Ghost looked back at Seamus, smiling at him softly. She saw his hand raise and watched it, Seamus dropping it as he seemed to remember himself. Seeing him blush Ghost lowers her eyes slightly, so as not to make it worse.

Nothing wrong with shyness, Ghost said, her voice low, telling herself she is a right one to speak on the subject. I think we get on mighty fine I am sure you'd agree Seamus. Looking up at him she smiled softly.

Still bemused, Seamus murmurs "Aye, lass. I am nae comfortable wie many, but we seem tae fit nicely. A pleasant change, too.

Ghost nods, surprised that she is comfortable with someone so soon, but looking at him and his twinkling eyes she thinks she knows why.

Yes it is pleasant, she smiled looking at him.

After a moment, Seamus says thoughtfully, Mayhaps it is simply tha' herre we need nae wear our "armour" so tae speak.

Yes I think you are right, Ghost agrees smiling with him. They both were relaxed, away from the Conference, and she laughed softly thinking how both had sought escape from the mass. Yes she did not have to be the official out in the garden with Seamus, She could relax and rest.

Seamus sighs contentedly, and murmurs Tis sae peaceful herre, I could fall asleep in an instant, an' ne'er worry aboot a thing

Ghost smiled, understanding what he meant about resting, but then a mischievous thought came to her at his words and she laughed softly.

You wouldn't worry about a thing? Hmm... she said laughing.

Fixing Ghost with a gimlet eye, but still playful, Seamus growls Oye..dinnae ye be getting any strrange ideas, there, you. I bite.

Bite? acht you wouldn't, she says trying to look shocked, but her eyes giving her away.

Seamus says not a word, but crooks a single finger in a "come hither" motion...

He leans close, very gently cupping her chin with one hand, and gently but firmly nips her on her little upturned nose. Letting go he leans back and cackles.