Roisin stands, looking out the window at the children running and playing happily, not caring how scorching the sun is while Delyth wraps the cloth around her body to take her measurements per her request. When she found out that Delyth makes most of her clothes having learnt from her mother, she asked her to make some for her because she liked them better than how the seamstress would make hers. She even offered to pay her but Delyth refused to take it, though Roisin would find a way to sneak it into her bag whenever she wasn't looking.

She also admires the jewelry she sees Delyth wear all the time, surprised when she discovered Delyth made them as well. She tried to find out how but she only disclosed that she befriended a few goldsmiths who would allow her to make them whenever she wanted. Which is a lie that Roisin will come to know later.

Roisin looks at Delyth like she is staring at a phenomenal woman with extraordinary abilities. She envies Delyth's courage and willingness to do anything she sets her mind to even when there are people in the world to stop. She doesn't let the envy consume her to become a bad person, she converts it into where she emulates Delyth. Every day she is lucky that she came back to Swuybia, although she doubts Delyth is originally from here.

It has been pondering in her brain for the longest time. If Delyth is the person she is, who regularly gets herself in trouble then she would've known because Delyth would've found herself in her infirmary too many times for her not to know her. She focuses on the young girl who wears different hairstyles on different days, almost never repeating a hairstyle as she wonders who she is. She silently prays that she isn't a bad person because she doubts she can handle the betrayal having become close to her.

"I heard about your incident with a few dogs that Ruadhan let loose on you. Tiarnan seething when he told me about it." Delyth bursts out in laughter at what Roi called Ruadhan's guards. She is right. He did release the leash from around their necks and set them on her. Except the outcome wasn't what they expected.

"Yeah, I got a glimpse of his anger when we talked but like I told Tiarnan; I'm fine," she smiles up at Roi, who just laughs it off. On any other day, she wouldn't believe her but Delyth looks relieved and not at all weighed down or worried by what Ruadhan Dinan could do next.

"Good job on throwing them off the ledge, by the way," Roisin congratulates with the biggest of smiles. She realizes what she says and her smile falls just a little but the gleam is still in her eyes. "I mean, condolences for their deaths but congrats nonetheless."

Delyth gives the high-five Roi offers and the two friends laugh at how crazy it is to find humor in the dead but neither cared because the guards brought it upon themselves.

"Ohh!" They exclaimed, their mouths rounding to form the shape of an 'O'. Hearing them react to her failure was one thing but when she looked at them, she was still a little disheartened but laughed either way. More than half of them are holding their stomachs in laughter as if they saw the funniest act at the circus. While the others were either on their knees laughing or wiping their tears.

It is okay to laugh at this point because whenever they think she would get better at jousting, she doesn't. And she knows they're not making a joke of her, they're simply making a joke of the situation to avoid the looks of disappointment she expected them to wear. It has been days and it keeps getting funnier.

To make the whole thing even more humorous they called Tiarnan to watch without her knowing and when she saw him laughing, the embarrassing look on her face made them laugh even harder. Tiarnan tried to hold it in for as long as he could but it got to a point where it was too much and it burst out from him. Delyth's embarrassment turned into anger and she marched over to him and wicked him repeatedly but he only laughed more. She even tried to stab them each with the lance, which made them sober up quickly.

A long pause passed among them until another burst of laughter erupted from them, shaking their heads at her knowing she was only bluffing.

"If you injure us, we won't be able to help you," Tomas pointed out, slapping his thigh.

"I can find someone else." Delyth said. They exchanged a look among themselves then cast a look of pity at her.

"We're the only ones who like you, remember?" Despite how much it hurts, it is true. No one wants to be the most hated person ever. Not even Delyth. She remembers her life in Naelund when the people were nice and there was no time or place for hate towards anyone. And in Esadom, where at first they were a little wary of her at first but they warmed up to her after a while. Now in Swuybia, everyone hates her because she is breaking the rules of society and they hate her even more because she is actually succeeding.

Cillian, Tiarnan, Roisin and the guys are the only ones who actually like her and tolerate her because she is different and they see her difference as a good thing. Not to leave out Ravi, but he's another story.

Presently, she glares at the lance in her hand, silently threatening to break it. She knows it's impossible to do so because it's metal which brings another thought in her head. She can find a way to melt it and make jewelry from it. She shakes her head, ridding her mind from the absurd thought and focuses back on the difficult task at hand.

Outlaw nudges her arm with his head and nods his head up at the grapper. It is his way of telling her that she can do it. She has to. She nods her head and smiles at him. He shakes his body in a gesture for her to hop on.

Ruben sees the determination in her eyes and smiles widely. She is ready. He can see it. This is it. He calls to the others to look too and they rub and shake their hands together in anticipation, in hopes that she does make it. He moves towards her and holds the lance for her as she climbs onto Outlaw.

"Are you good to go?" He asks.

"Does it matter? I'm making that mark." That's what he likes to hear. That's what they missed all these days. The fire in her soul. He taps her leg and steps back, giving her the space and time to set off.

Delyth looks down at Outlaw and rubs his neck. She kicks her leg back and they run off. She raises her lance and everyone watches nervously. They all grip onto each other's hands and clothes. She is getting closer and closer. It is all too much. Their stomachs are in the pit right now as it twists and turns. As she draws closer to the grapper, Filip covers his eyes with his hand, afraid to look. Michal punches him in the arm and forcefully removes his hand. If everyone is watching, he has to watch too, even if she missed it again.

It was in. It is really in. Silence falls around them. No one moves. No one said a word. There is dead silence. Delyth opens her eyes to notice she actually puts the lance through the grapper and it wasn't a dream. Outlaw raises on his hind legs in celebration and neighs loudly. Delyth ensures to hold on tightly this time to not repeat her mistake from before.

Everyone cheers and whoops, running towards her. Delay drops the heavy lance and before she has time to climb off Outlaw herself, she is lifted off the horse by Cillian and passed around in the air.

"You did it. Finally!" They rejoice loudly.

"I closed my eyes at the last moment," she confesses, causing them all to laugh, making their hold on her loose. Afraid she might fall, she taps the hand of whoever's arms she is in for them to let her down.

"You're ready," Tomas states. They are all wearing the same giant smile on their faces. It is a big moment for them.

"Not quite. Let's call that an accident. We're doing it again," she tells them and they punch the air.

"That's the spirit!" One of the knights proclaims. And she did do it a thousand times more until she felt it was near perfection.

Getting wind of Delyth's success from Cillian, Tiarnan ran to tell Roisin and they rejoiced. On Delyth's seventh try on putting the lance through the grapper, Tiarnan took the opportunity before she made her eighth attempt to inform her that Roisin invited her to dinner.

Despite being proud of her, Tiarnan is more nervous than he has ever been for anything in his life. When he was first knighted, he didn't feel like he was going to hurl in his mouth. When he got his first kiss, it never felt like the world was spinning out of its axis. Being alone was never like this. Their times alone came naturally. It gave them no time to overthink, it just happened.

Dinner with Roisin was like an acceptance into the family through their parents. It meant a lot to him if she was to accept her into the family. She may say it was a celebratory dinner but he knows his sister. This is an excuse to not only have her friend over, but see how well she fits in the family.

She said years ago when their mother died that the day when he meets a girl that he seems awestruck by, she will be offered the first cup of tea.

"A little overdressed, don't you think, little brother? It's only dinner." Roisin raises her eyebrow with a dampened smile and her index finger curves like a hook as it rests on her lower lip. He is wearing a white lace trimmed shirt and a long skirted blue silk waistcoat with wide cuffs. Tiarnan looks down on himself, smoothing out his coat. He thought none of his shirts were good enough, so he bought the best he could find at the last minute.

He casts her knowing look. "It's not only dinner and you know it."

She chuckles and waves her hand at him. "I don't know what you're talking about." Light knocks on the door, startles Tiarnan, setting his heart racing almost out of his chest. His hands start fidgeting in his hair, combing his fingers through it. He is so self conscious and nervous about her arrival, he doesn't realize Roi's presence in front of him.

She slaps his hand away and fixes it for him. She runs her across his broad shoulders and brushes away the non-existent dust. "You look handsome, Ti. Don't worry."

She walks towards the door while he stands there with his feet shuffling. His heart leaps as soon as the door opens to reveal Delyth standing as beautiful as ever in a pink, silk, long corseted gown that accentuated her breasts, half sleeved and lace on the end. Her bangs are hanging in front of her face, her hair in a ponytail and white scarf tied around her head. The same necklace with the three interlocked circles hangs around her necklace and silver beaded earrings dangling from her ears. She is shining like a star in the night, her skin as smooth as that of a newborn baby. No woman on this earth could compare to her beauty. Even if a candle couldn't hold to how remarkable of a person she is; it would look dim.

They exchange hugs and Roisin lets out a girlish shriek as he congratulates her on finally achieving the goal that has been a bump in her road. Roisin turns to look at her brother frozen in his spot, his mouth falling to the floor and if she looks long enough there might be a little drool on the corner of his lips. She shakes her head, wearing a pleasing smile and welcomes Delyth inside.

She knows this will be a dinner to remember.

"So tell me about your family, Del. I think it's fair to ask since we're friends. I mean we are friends, right. Hence, I believe I-" she pauses and looks across at Tiarnan who is sitting beside Delyth and motions her hands between him and herself. "We should know this about you."

Delyth shifts uncomfortably in her seat. She considers whether or not to tell them the whole truth. A large part of her is telling her to trust them but the little devil on her shoulder is telling her that it's not the right time yet.

"Yes, you are my friend. Uh, well I already told Tiarnan part of the story and I'm surprised he's still around. My parents were lovely people. They taught me to always be satisfied with the little we had. They taught me to always be happy with my life because it could be worse. I am grateful everyday for them and that I didn't take them for granted. I wish everyday for one more minute with them because our last moment together was wasted on tears." She stops, sniffles and wipes the tears from her eyes as she recalls the moment.

She continues. "They were killed by Silas Casteron. I couldn't save them; there wasn't enough time. So, I ran. I ran to Esadom where I found friends and got my happiness back, then I came back here to start a new life. I work this hard because I want to look Silas in the eyes and remind him what he took from me while I drive my sword through his heart."

Roisin blinks once. She blinks twice.

She is taken aback by the hardness in her voice and the sudden admission. The built up anger and vengeance in her eyes which she has never seen in her before. Thinking about what Delyth has been through, she understands why she is the person she is. She understands that grief will lead a person to do a lot of things. Many people move on but Delyth is the only one she knows who is brave enough to work her way up to get the revenge she rightfully deserves.

Tiarnan stares at Delyth who refuses to make eye contact with him. She holds her head down at her gown and fiddles with the lace on her elbows. He snakes his hand over and covers hers with his large ones. A sweet and comforting gesture that Delyth didn't know she needed until now. She finally looks into his emerald green eyes and he lets out an inaudible sigh. She doesn't know how much deeper he falls whenever he looks into her dark brown and expressive eyes that draw him in every time.

Silently, Roisin stands to her feet, looking between the pair who have lost themselves in each other's eyes before going to the side and returning with a teacup in one hand and a steaming kettle of tea in her other glove-covered hand.

She places the teacup in front of Delyth who looks at her in confusion, wondering when Roisin moved. She pours the tea into the cup and glances at Tiarnan who is now watching her with a genuine smile on his face and nods his head at her. They both know what the tea represents.

Delyth Aiken just got the blessing of Roisin and their parents.

"Thank you, Roisin," she says and sips on the tea slowly and carefully as the steam arises from the cup.

05/06/22

Au revoir...

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