Finding the Right Words

[Lord Sebastian de Winter]

Sebastian had been very busy with several projects at once. With Samar's help, the schematics the Master sent from Linten had been successfully translated. Now he was working on implementing them into his own designs where he saw fit. The project was an ambitious one. The house he was designing for Katalin was going to incorporate the best elements from each culture. It would have the Treniatan endurance with Lintenese openness and Demerian elegance and practicality. To be certain, it was not going to be like any other home in Triadon!

However, he knew the Masters of the University were not going to be satisfied with simply the design of a house. Thus, he was also designing improved civil structures, such as a new hospital. For this structure, he borrowed elements from the desert people of Fairfield and Katalin's suggestions. The new hospital was not going to be a closed off, dowdy structure, but one that was open that allowed air to flow through it freely. During the cold winters, Sebastian introduced thick shutters to ward off the cruel chill. The wings were designed isolate sick people from each other, but to ensure they had plenty of space and fresh air.

Sebastian hoped for construction to begin within the next few months. Already, he had been in several meetings with the masons and stone workers both in Triadon and from other duchies. The de Vere masons, he learned, were the most interested in the project.

Then there was the other "project."

The letter to Lady Silver had been a challenge for him. Even though Katalin had impressed upon him that he only had to be himself, it was still a challenge to write. In the back of his mind, Sebastian was convinced that Lady Silver had rather liked him, but he was concerned of messing matters up. It was a back and forth. Eventually, Sebastian tired of battling with himself, drew in a deep breath and began writing a letter. Or, perhaps it should be said, letters.

The scholar penned several copies. None of them were finished, except for one.

My Lady Silver,

It has been sometime since our encounter and I do not know if you even remember me by this time. I was the scholar that offered to escort you home the night of the masque. Your feet had grown tired and you had taken off your shoes to ease them. At first, I had offered to escort you out due to my upbringing as a noble and a gentleman.

But I find myself pleased as a simple man that I had the opportunity to meet with you. I still remember every detail from our encounter: your gentle voice, your soft laugh, your smiles, your clever observations and, most importantly, your beautifully kind nature. It was my true wish to see your face. Not to admire your beauty, but so that I could devote your face to my everlasting memory.

I have been seeking you. I felt a connection with you that I find both exciting and frightening. I've never felt this way about a woman before. If you feel the same way, I should like to see you again.



Sebastian was having difficulty with the ending. The words from the heart, rather than his mind and thus made him feel vulnerable. It was, as he said in the letter, both exhilarating and terrifying. Maybe it was too much. Maybe she would not want it. He needed to step away from it for a moment.

Thus, Sebastian stepped out of his study to get a breath of fresh air. He had forgotten two things, however. One was that he did not completely close the door. And the second? He had forgotten that Samar was coming to deliver another schematic complete with a translation.

Samar Rousseau

[Samar Rousseau]

Wrestling with Sebastian's schematic took Samar some time, but eventually success reigned supreme. Careful to protect the integrity of the document, notes and the translation itself were written on separate parchments, numbered and ordered to correspond with quarters assigned to the schematic itself. It was a respectable piece of work, if the Master's assistant said so personally. The papers were gathered, rolled and protected with oiled silk; no one at the University could ever accuse Samar of negligence or disregard where the work of others was concerned.

Carrying the roll through the corridors of the University towards the quarters occupied by the students, Samar was on a mission to deliver them to the patiently waiting Sebastian. He had been gracious about the delays due to a struggle with grammar and syntax, but an agreement was made and the youth honored it. Approaching the door, a frown appeared to see that it was slightly ajar. A hand rose to knock lightly, presuming that Sebastian was in residence. A few minutes' wait received no answer or invitation to enter, resulting in a second series of knocks, firmer than the first. When they too went unanswered, concern took over as the door was pressed open.

The room was empty, dark eyes swiftly noted, but there was evidence of work in progress. Compelled by curiosity, Samar went over to see what Sebastian toiled over, the schematic and translations set aside as the form bent over the desk, only to snap back upright in shock. He was writing a letter... to the woman he'd encountered the night of the masquerade. Panic seized Samar for a brief moment, looking around wildly as if Sebastian was about to spring out and demand the truth. A breath was dragged in when no such occurrence descended, but Samar bent to read the letter more closely, interest piqued.

[Lord Sebastian de Winter]

The brisk walk had been just what he needed. It was amazing what a change of scenery and fresh air could do with the mind. In fact, he had even come up with a proper ending for the letter. He wasn't all that certain Samara would accept the request or even reciprocate his feelings, but he could at least say that he tried. Sebastian had spent far too much of his life taking the safe road and the easy path when it came to personal relationships. It was always safer to choose the comfort of a book than the company of a woman. A book could not hurt you emotionally... at least, not on the same level.

Yet, that was a coward's way of living. Sebastian had to seize life and take what he wanted from it. This determination spurred him to his study. However, upon arriving, he noticed that the door was open. Who- Samar! He sent a note that he would be stopping by his office! The letter! Oh no! What if she was reading the letter? Panic suddenly filled him and it took him a moment to calm down. He would have been nervous about sending the letter, anyway.

Thus, he opted to creep toward the door and peek in to see if Samara had found the letter and what she thought of it.

[Samar Rousseau]

Realizing the letter was intended for her, even if Sebastian did not know it, Samar reared up sharply in astonishment. Why was he writing to her? They had met only once in that incarnation, and she had not revealed her face. How had he... No, this had to be something else for someone else. Tearing away from the letter before reading anymore, the decision was made to leave the schematic and retreat to the safety of Gareth's apartments to resume the work waiting for translation and so forth.

As Samar turned towards the door, the form paused upon hearing something or someone in the corridor outside the door. A look of combined horror and embarrassment crossed the dusky features as panic took hold, looking for a means whereby to hide or make a discreet, unobserved exit. Deeming it best to depart the room, Samar crept closer to the door, intending to peek out and see who it might be.

The last thing she expected to see was Sebastian himself, a startled yelp escaping as the form windmilled back in reaction.

[Lord Sebastian de Winter]

What he expected to see was the small woman looking at the letter, maybe getting all gushy, mushy and other shies. What he saw instead, however, was a dusky face peeking out in much the same manner as he was peeking in. "Gah!" The startled cry easily matched hers, causing him to leap back and stumble. Fortunately, he did not fall, but he could feel his heart in his throat!

Great. Now what was he supposed to do? He couldn't just ignore her! Maybe he should just pretend that nothing had happened. He heard a sound and he went to investigate. That was a simple enough explanation, wasn't it? But then how was he going to explain the letter when Sebastian brought it to her? Drat!

Sebastian drew himself up, went to the door and opened it. "I think we've proven we're not all that skilled in sneaking about." Really? That's what came out of him? Inwardly, Sebastian groaned.

[Samar Rousseau]

Samar stumbled back in like manner, startled to see Sebastian himself peeking in similar fashion. Recovering quickly as a hand clutched over the heart, the breath ragged, the youth took a moment to settle down. A good thing that Sebastian hadn't seen anything he shouldn't, such as Samar poring over papers that were private. Large, dark eyes peered up when the door opened and framed the scholar, trying to think of what to say when the absurd remark escaped. Samar stared at Sebastian for a moment, then two before doubling over with laughter.

It really was an absurd moment. A hand waved absently as the mirth poured unchecked, the form stumbling to collapse against a chair. Not that skilled in sneaking about proved to be the understatement of the century today, and the irony that both thought to do the exact same thing only added to the hilarity. Poor Sebastian, but Samar was far too lost in the giggles to stop now.

[Lord Sebastian de Winter]

Sebastian's embarrassment was doubled when he heard Samara starting to laugh, but it only took him a moment to realize just how ridiculous the entire scene proved to be. After all, wouldn't this just be their luck? It was a fluke chance they encountered each on the street that night and it was a fluke they were meeting now. Perhaps it was a form of fate, but Sebastian himself was too busy laughing to contemplate the grander meaning of it all. Sometimes life was simply absurd.

"Oh, dear me," he wiped at his eye, "Such is our life as of late: a series of fortunate accidents."

[Samar Rousseau]

When she finally regained control over herself and caught her breath, Samar looked up at Sebastian with shimmering eyes. This was too funny for words, too ironic for fiction and too strange for truth. "You startled me, b'gods. I thought you were here and worried something might have happened so I let myself in," by way of explanation, "and then heard someone coming, so I spooked." It wasn't an elegant explanation, but it was the truth.

[Lord Sebastian de Winter]

Once the giggles and laughter had subsided, he was still left the question of... now what? Had Samar read the letter? What did he think of it? But- THen he realized that there was a solution to it all. On the one hand, he wanted to 'out' Samar then and there, but his sister's voice prudently reminded him that it would not go over well. "Ah, yes, of course. I was the one that left the door open. I needed a breath of fresh air."

As he said this, he moved over to where the letter had been found, "Samar," he began slowly... "I have a strange request to make of you." He paused for a lengthy moment, trying to find the right words once again. "I encountered a woman during the masque a few weeks ago. Though our encounter was brief and I could not see her face, I felt a connection with her I cannot readily explain. She never told me her name, but I did see that her skin was ... dusky, like yours. I was hoping you might know who she was?"

[Samar Rousseau]

Making an effort at composure, especially when the male version of the name was spoken in such a serious tone, Samar straightened to listen attentively. He had a request? Intrigued, the brows furrowed as he spoke of their brief encounter after the masque and inquired about the woman. Laughter and dismay in equal measure welled within Samar, the features controlled with inhuman effort. Dark eyes narrowed at him, not suspiciously but in thought. "I believe I may know of such a one. What is this request you have, Lord Sebastian? If I am able, I will lend my aid to you."

[Lord Sebastian de Winter]

The urge to ask for the woman's name was incredibly strong, and thus he gave into it, "What is her name?" Then he caught himself, "No, nevermind. She may not even be the same woman. If she is, then she will give me her own name in due time." At least, that is what he hoped. "I would like to you to give her this letter." He indicated it with a free hand.

That hand then raised into a point, "I mean, I have to finish it first. I've been working on it for a while. I think I've gone through many drafts," he chuckled dryly at himself and then he realized that he was revealing all of this to Samara. A blush started to creep up along his cheeks.

[Samar Rousseau]

Trying not to let the relief show when Sebastian retracted his question, she smiled a little, watching his face. "I can do that. It may take me a few days to deliver it but should I wait for a response?" She tried not to let the smile deepen into a grin, seeing the blush - Samar was amused, not so much at Sebastian himself but the entire moment. "Perhaps I could help you with the letter?"

[Lord Sebastian de Winter]

A moment of panic swept over him at her offer to help him finish the letter. Gah! That would mean she would read all of it, judge him, judge his words, his feelings, his thoughts and - oh, bloody hell, he was acting the part of the fool now, wasn't he? "I would appreciate that. I can be patient. That's something I've practiced, you know, being patient. You know, being a scholar and all that-" Oh, by the Triad, I am babbling.

"Help?" His voice, unexpectedly, went up an octave. "Oh, er," the blush deepened even further and he started to look very much like a beet. "Oh, u-uhm, I'm looking for a conclusion. That's always been my greatest weakness. Not knowing how to stop." Oh, was it ever!

[Samar Rousseau]

He was babbling and it was rather sweet. Intrigued by the way he behaved, Samar studied his face, taking note of the blush spreading across his features as he fumbled with words and tripped over his tongue. Taking pity, the youth nodded understanding and indicated the scholar should resume his position at the desk to resume writing. "You want to keep it simple but sincere when speaking to a woman. Say what you feel but do not beleaguer the point. If you wish to see her or receive a response, say that you hope to do so soon. And that you are thinking of her."

Samar nodded firmly, confident in the stance taken. "Then you sign it and seal it. I will see it gets where it needs to go."

[Lord Sebastian de Winter]

Sebastian settled into the chair and gazed thoughtfully at the letter. He didn't need to indicate that he was thinking of her, since the content of the letter made that perfectly obvious. Thus, he could tell that he was ending the letter on a good conclusion. It just needed a few more words.


My Lady Silver,

It has been sometime since our encounter and I do not know if you even remember me by this time. I was the scholar that offered to escort you home the night of the masque. Your feet had grown tired and you had taken off your shoes to ease them. At first, I had offered to escort you out due to my upbringing as a noble and a gentleman.

But I find myself pleased as a simple man that I had the opportunity to meet with you. I still remember every detail from our encounter: your gentle voice, your soft laugh, your smiles, your clever observations and, most importantly, your beautifully kind nature. It was my true wish to see your face. Not to admire your beauty, but so that I could devote your face to my everlasting memory.

I have been thinking of and seeking you. I felt a connection with you that I find both exciting and frightening. I've never felt this way about a woman before. If you feel the same way, I should like to see you again. I do look forward to hearing your response.

I wish you all the best health,

Lord Sebastian de Winter

Before he could change his mind on any of it, he quickly rolled it, and sealed it. To take it even further, he quickly handed it to Samar. A breath escaped him. "Thank you."