[Flashback] Winter Wonderland (Rhuryc)

[Jean]

37th Day of Winter, 509 AV❧ East of Syliras Jean didn't like the winter. A lot of people thought snowy, frosted landscapes were beautiful, and they could be, but she still hated the season none the less. Everything got slippery and wet, and any temperature below 50 degrees was petching horrible. But she had responsibilities to Lebanon, and had to keep the mare in shape. Cooping her up in a stable or paddock all winter would be cruel, so every day the two went out for a ride. Pulling her thick cloak tighter around her shoulders, Jean hunched in the saddle. Everything around her was coated in frost, and the frozen grass crunched under Lee's hooves. It was better traction than the slick road, so they were keeping to the side. She sniffed noisily for about the hundredth time. If I catch a cold, that will be the icing on the cake, she thought irritably. The cold morning air bit at her nose and cheeks, but it didn't really effect her at this point. She'd stopped feeling her face nearly a bell ago. At least it would get warmer as the day wore on. Lee seemed to be enjoying herself though. That made one of them. She was looking all around, craning her neck to sniff at branches and bushes, and nickering at times for no apparent reason. "I don't know why you're so energetic today, you've seen all this before. It's just a bush," Jean told her as she explored yet another piece of brush. With a gentle nudge and vocal command, she cued Lee into an extended trot and steered her away from the road, toward the trees. Jean loved riding in the woods, so even though she wasn't enjoying the weather, she might as well make the best of the day. But of course that couldn't happen. For reasons unknown, Lee suddenly balked, whipped around, and bolted headlong for the road. Momentum ripped her from the saddle and she topped sideways onto the ground, landing on her back with a loud grunt. The moment she was in the dirt, Lee seemed perfectly content to stop and walk back to where Jean was lying. She dipped her head and sniffed Jean's face curiously, seeming to ask, "Why on earth are you trying to nap? Let's go." With a sigh, Jean reached up and gently rubbed Lee's nose. "Thank you, my sweet, loving horse. I'm probably going to have a nasty bruise now." She wasn't angry, but her day wasn't brightened either. Jean looked up at the cloudy sky, trying to muster the energy to get back up and into the saddle. I hate winter, she thought.

[Rhuryc]

Calm. Quiet. The wilderness beyond the walls held it's own music in winter; soft and sweet, serene, even the wildlife held itself in subtle silence, tempered only by the wind and the crunch of man-made footfalls. The chill nipped at his exposed nose. Reddened cheeks accompanied a steady trek along the empty roads, it's source seemingly content to pace along, unhindered, at peace. Crunch, step. The tail of his coat swayed in the afternoon breeze, sliding along the snow beneath and drawing its own designs. How long had he been wondering? The lone fool. It had been hours since he left the gates, spurred on by the crisp weather and a day free from the forge. Flakes of white hovered on his shoulder. And his nose itched. He sneezed. A sudden cacophony filled the otherwise silent air. Galloping. A horse? Rhuryc set his gaze forward as a hand reached for the hilt at his waist. His gloves cracked. Of all the days. Swiftly, he stepped off the road and placed himself behind one of the larger trees, his eyes narrowing and focusing on the incoming rider. That did not look comfortable. Rhuryc suppressed a laugh and release his hold on the sword. An unarmed woman, beaten from her horse, was unlikely intent on robbing him today. He watched for perhaps a moment longer than he should have before stepping out from his cover. He took a leisurely pace and paused as he reached the prone woman. One hand reached up to pat the horses side while he poked his head into the girl's vision, his arm extending to help her up. "Not to disturb your rest, but you looked like you could use a hand." He smiled.

[Jean]

She hadn't been lying very long, a hand still absently rubbing Lee's velvety muzzle, when she heard footsteps crunching closer. Jean wasn't worried though, if whoever it was had been a threat, Lee would've already warned her and they'd be galloping down the road in an instant. But still, of all the times to meet someone out here, she had to be on her back in the frozen mud. First his hand came into view, petting Lee's side, and then his face. Boy, was this embarrassing. She couldn't help but laugh though, and her eyes crinkled good-naturedly. "You're powers of observation are uncanny," she jested, firmly grasping his cold gloved hand and hauling herself to her feet. "Thank you." There was ice and grass caught in her hair, and her entire backside was wet with what she thought was probably mud. Wonderful. Picking a little of the grass from her hair, she shook his hand she was still gripping, then let him go. "My name's Jean," she said, smiling again, then felt the need to add, "I don't usually fall in the mud like this." Her already pink face reddened in embarrassment.

[Rhuryc]

"Annnd up you go." Rhuryc put his strength into the pull, aiding the girl as she stood. He offered her a jovial grin and made an effort not to laugh at the mix of mud and flora that adhered itself to her backside. Instead, he busied himself with the removal of his coat, leaving him down to the tunic beneath. "It's no problem, here." He extended the large, leather article for Jean's betterment. Although worn, and beset by the soot of a forge and years of patched holes, there was something comfortable about the coat. If anything, it was warm. "Rhuryc," He nodded. "And I usually don't find riders falling off their horses in the middle of the road. So, consider us even." A pause followed. Not awkward in any such way - Rhuryc held himself with a quiet sort of confidence, his shoulders set back and posture uncannily straight. No, it was a momentary lapse of observation. Although he made little effort to appease them on a daily basis, he could not help but feel that the gods had smiled upon him for once. Jean was, despite the recent additional of wilderness, entirely too gorgeous. He could already feel his wits leave him.

[Jean]

"Thank you," she said, taking the coat. It was heavy to her, and would be warm, which was much welcomed. She grinned as she slipped her arms into it, shrugging it into place. It was sooty, with a lot of repairs. It must have been well loved over the years. "Pleasure to meet you, Rhuryc." Jean smiled in embarrassment, shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know what came over her, she just spooked and took off. Guess I wasn't prepared." She motioned to her mare. There was a silence between them, and Jean took the opportunity to get a good look him. Rhuryc was very handsome and built well. Her head felt like it had been filled with cotton; she was a sucked for good looking men. He carried himself confidently, and was clean shaven. Usually the men she met, at least in winter, had some kind of facial hair. He was dressed simply, so she was having a hard time gauging his status. But there was soot on his coat. Jean assumed he must work around fires. Breaking the silence, she asked with a crooked smile, "So what brings you out here? Do you often come out in the middle of winter to rescue muddy damsels?" Lebanon snorted and pawed at the frozen ground next to them, the leather rigging of her tack creaking.

[Rhuryc]

"It's an annual event." He offered her a jesting smile, albeit, that was the truth of it. Something about a giant fish flooded to the front of his mind. "Otherwise, I prefer to just get away from the city sometimes. Clean air, and all. The forges don't do much for the lungs." He paused, if only to ascertain the source of the mare's interjection. He grinned and patted the animal on her side again before motioning back to the road in the direction of Syliras. "The least I can do is escort you back to the city, unless you prefer you the nature look. I hear mud is in this year." He moved, then, stepping aside to allow Jean the right of it, and keeping himself off to the side out of the horse's way. He was terrible with the beasts. There had yet to be one he had not fallen of off. His hesitance, as it was, was almost palpable, but that did little to discourage the assumed trek.

[Jean]

"I guessed right then. You do work around fires. I assumed, after all, because of the ash on the coat. I've always admired your line of work, it takes a great deal of strength, I imagine. Is it hard?" she asked conversationally. "I agree, being out here would be good for you. Especially the winter, with the air being crisper." She frowned, making her forehead crinkle. "Even though the cold is petching awful," she mumbled. But her face smoothed into a smile again as Rhuryc patted Lee. The mare seemed to like him. "I think I'll stick with nature for a while. It's a trend I can agree with. People must finally have good taste." She inclined her head as she moved past him, with Lee following a little behind and to the side. She noticed his hesitation and twisted, walking backwards to keep moving but also to face him. "Do you ride? I don't know many people who would walk all the way out here if they had the choice of hors-" Jean cut off as her foot slipped on a patch of ice, which she would have seen if she'd been walking the right way, and she nearly fell. Catching herself by grabbing a fistful of Lebanons mane, she blushed and righted herself, rolling her eyes skyward. "Ignore that, would you? Act like it didn't happen. Just another wonderful thing about winter. Ice." Lee twisted her head around and sniffed Jean's hair, snorting as if to say, "How graceful of you."