dragon_twin | (no subject)

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Dinner is always a noisy affair at castle Din-Gonwy. Angela found that out last night at her first one ever, when she was the centre of attention for all of five minutes until the main crowd accepted Melou's story of where she came from and who she was, and then got distracted by something else.

Tonight's meal isn't shaping up to be much different, except there's less whispering and more friendly (or indifferent) smiles given Angie's way.

They're seated not quite in the middle of the table, closer to the head. Melou passes her a glass of wine and smiles.

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Angela smiles back. "Thank you," she says, taking the glass.

It's fine that she's not the center of attention. All things being equal, she'd still rather be invisible...as long as she's not invisible to Melou.

She's still looking around, watching people. Manners are different, and Angela's never been to any dinner with nearly as many people.

This is still so cool.

Manners are perhaps different. People eating with their hands, dogs going from person to person begging for food, children running around being only midly chastised by their mothers.

...perhaps not so different.

Melou nods to her plate. "Want anything else? Might not be anything left if you don't get it now."

Yeah, not that different. Except that Angela doesn't have a dog.

"Um...just a bit more bread, thanks." She grins. "I never have that problem at home. With just the four of us."

She looks happy, and far more relaxed than she has in a very, very long time.

She also doesn't feel like she has to keep looking over her shoulder. It's a big relief.

Melou reaches over a long arm and snags a few more pieces of bread for both of them.

"Yeah, just four of you, I remember. Reminds me of what it was like in Camelot when we were younger and it was just Mam, Mele and me."

"I guess they didn't do dinner this way, then." The court at Camelot must have been much different.

She tears a piece of bread off, and takes a sip of wine. She's still being careful, but she'll still probably be unsteady at the end of the evening.

"They did, Father just didn't want us eating with everyone else until we were old enough to behave ourselves." He smiles slightly and gestures to Doeg, his three year old cousin currently chasing one of the dogs.

Angela wrinkles her nose, grinning. "Yeah, I see what you mean." She feels a pang of sympathy for the serving girls who will have to clean up after this.

"Is your mother here tonight?"

"Yeah." Melou nods toward the head of the table, where three women are sitting beside each other. Two look very much alike, however, one of them is very quiet and seems interested only in her food. The other two women, obviously not blood related, are rather animated, talking to each other and those around them.

"She's the one on the far right. Other two are my my aunts. Ffion's Mam's sister, Nesta's the Queen."

"She's so quiet," Angela whispers, a little concerned. But she was the same one Angela had met in the bar, just a little older. "Is she all right?"

Melou frowns and shrugs.

"She's like that most of the time. Sometimes she eats with us, sometimes she doesn't." He sips his ale. "You can meet her later, if you want."

"I'd like that," she says. She hasn't met very many people here, but that's quite all right by her. After all, she is still very shy.

Well, he's frowning, and she can't have that. "What shall we do tomorrow?" she asks, changing the subject.

Melou nods. 'Later' might be a few days away, when he can find her in the right mood, but they'll meet.

"We should get you on a horse, finally. Especially if you're going to have to be going back in a few days."

She grins. "I've been looking forward to that, really. And I won't fall off."

She has Decided this. But someone should probably alert the horse.

She makes no mention of the 'going back' thing because she still doesn't want to think of it.

Alas, Melou is a Realist, so he will keep it in the back of his mind.

"We'll ride together at first so you get used to what it feels like. I won't let you fall."

Her smile softens a bit. "I know you won't." And being close to him is an extra bonus as far as Angela is concerned.

She goes to take another drink and finds that her glass is nearly empty. How did that happen? She looks cute when she's puzzled.

She does. Melou grins and hands her a new glass.

"You'll be fine. I know the perfect horse to use."

She grins back and takes the wine from him. "What is the horse like, then?"

She's so looking forward to this.

"He's a big, grey horse, older too. Sire of mine, actually, but he's nice and relaxed. Good for learning on." He nods and takes a bite of bread.

"That sounds good. Still a little nervous about it, but I'll be with you, so I'll be okay."

She grins and looks down at her plate, which is emptying slowly. There's a dog leaning on her leg, begging for food.

Dogs definitely never change.

It's a large dog, a hunting dog, but there's food and people and it's on its best behaviour.

It's also only a puppy, really. Melou tosses it the last of his meat.

"Trust me, you'll do fine. It's easy." He grins at her. "Almost done?"

She nods, and pets the dog, who is eating happily. "Yes," she says, pushing away her plate slightly. Her wine is about half-gone too.

"I think I've had enough."

Still watching everything, oblivious to anyone who might look at her and comment on 'that odd, dreamy girl Melou brought home'.

Others are gradually starting to leave the table and mingle about the room. Melou stands and holds his hand out to her.

"All right. We can go and sit and relax for a bit, then."

Angela gets up, wavers just a little till she gets used to being upright again, then grins. She's not used to drinking at all.

As long as I'm with you, I'll be okay.

She stays very close to him, not precisely leaning. At least she can walk. But...it's just nice to be close. She feels so safe here.

Melou puts an arm around her waist as they walk, partly to help her along but mostly as a gesture of possession. He finds a chair that's a little out of the way, although still with a good view of the room, and sits, tugging her into his lap.

"How're you feeling?" He asks, nuzzling her cheek.

Angela blushes, and puts an arm around his shoulders. "I'm feeling really good, actually. Relaxed."

And a little tipsy, of course, because she really isn't used to wine at all. She's not looking around the room so much as she's looking at him now, and she kisses his cheek.