Shopping

by

Sidsel K. Olsen

Gwen stumbled out of her bed, giving the mirror her best glare. I look awful, she thought. Return of the bed hair...

She wondered whether Lorion was even capable of having bed hair. Not that she had ever seen him lie down to sleep, but still.

Back home, I would've dressed at once. Why not here?

Sleep's stealing my brains...she looked at the dress she had worn yesterday. It takes an hour to get into that thing!

Ah well. It was time to get going; they would be waiting for her. She slipped into an article of clothing that reminded her of a dressing robe, and headed downstairs.

Lorion looked up as she entered the room. "Good morning," he said cheerfully.

Too cheerfully. Gwen eyed him with wariness.

Evarian said nothing, merely nodded at her and poured himself some wine. She ignored him and dumped into a chair, watching Lorion. "Is there a particular reason for that disgusting cheerfulness of yours?"

"A little grumpy, are we? Tell me, why is it that humans have so bad tempers in the morning?" he asked.

"You're sidestepping my question."

"Yes," he admitted. "But why are you?"

"Scientifically speaking," she began, cracking a yawn, "our brains need some time to adjust from sleeping to waking. I blame it on the optimists, though."

"Ah. Another mystery explained," Evarian murmured.

"If I wasn't so tired, I'd..." Gwen faltered..."think of something witty to say."

"No doubt you would." He was smiling!

"Behave, children," Lorion lectured.

"He started it!"

"Bad-tempered and childish."

"Evarian..." Lorion said warningly. "Quit leading her on. I know just the thing to lighten your day, dear," he added, beaming affectionately at Gwen.

She looked at him, suspicious. Oh no...

"Shopping!" he exclaimed.

Evarian smiled. Smugly.

"Lorion," she began, a desperate tone to her voice. "I...really, I have all the clothes I need and more!"

He dismissed her argument with a wave of his hand. "One can never have enough clothes. And I saw the prettiest blue silk in town yesterday!"

She looked to Evarian, hoping for help. But no...with that sadistic smile on his face, there was no way he'd rescue her.

Feeling her heart drop down to somewhere below her feet, she listened to Lorion's rather long-winded speech about exactly where the silk was from. She winced at the price, though he never paused, and started a study of the cup of wine in Evarian's hand. Golden, simple but elegant; Lorion had obviously purchased it. Not a drop sloshed over the edge as he sipped from it; there wouldn't be---

No stain. Yet.

She fought an urge to smile.

Making sure that Lorion was engrossed in his speech and that Evarian was doing nothing but smiling and drinking wine, she reached out for the pitcher and - very deliberately - knocked it over.

Evarian yelped and jumped up from his chair, but the damage was already done. A large, crimson stain showed on his shirt and breeches. Gwen lifted a hand to her mouth, pretending embarassment while actually stifling giggles.

"Your clothes," Lorion said in despair as he leaped up. He grabbed hold of the pitcher and shook his head at Evarian. "That will never go away...it's...ruined!" He seemed almost in tears.

"I'm so...so sorry!" Gwen wailed, widening her eyes in feigned innocence. Evarian stared at her, then looked horrified. He opened his mouth to speak, but Lorion was faster.

"We shall have to replace them!"

"No! I...I have...other clothes..."

"You do, but just between the three of us..." Lorion lowered his voice..."they were getting a bit worn."

"They are a week old!"

"Precisely!"

"I feel so horrible," Gwen muttered, "destroying your clothes and all..." Lorion patted her back. "Do not, Gwen. It is not your fault that humans are such clumsy creatures."

"I suppose I have to go change," Evarian said in resignation. Warrior or no, there wasn't an Elf or human alive who could argue Lorion out of shopping. He shot her a dark look as he left the room.

Misery loves company, Evarian dear, she thought, smiling at his back.

"Well done," Lorion complimented her. "He never saw it coming."

"It's nothing...I can go now, right?" she said hastily.

"If you are sure that you would not like to come with us..."

"I am. Believe me."

"That silk will suit him better anyway," Lorion said with a faraway look in his eyes. He was probably doing measurements already.

She nodded, and left. Being here when the Elf returned and realized that he had been twice tricked probably wans't a good idea.