H'tor took the bowl of strawberries from where Naomi had set it down.
She watched him balance the delicate bowl on the tips of his fingers. He
turned it slowly examining it carefully and drawing her attention away
from his narrowed eyes to a series of old scars running down his hand to
disappear beneath the sleeve of his light armor. As the hand turned she
saw thick calluses lining his palm and fingers. His touch had always
been so careful that for a moment she doubted the hand could belong to
the same man.

"I haven't had strawberries in years," he said. The sound of his voice
brought her out of her odd train of thought.

"That definitely sounds like an inadequacy on your part," she said with
a smile. As he picked out a well-formed berry and removed the stem she
continued unpacking their meal.

He consumed perhaps a fourth of the strawberries, his attention leaving
her occasionally to scan the skyline and then return to her. She felt
his gaze, there was no trace of shyness in his dark eyes.

She finished unpacking and retrieved the now-cooled sparkling wine from
the water. She filled two long-stemmed glasses and looked up at him to
hand him one. He took it, his eyes never leaving hers.

"So," she said after a moment. "See anything you like?"

"Yes," he said, his eyes never wavering. "The food looks wonderful too."

She raised her glass, "To good food and good company then."

"I'll drink to that," he said and the crystal chimed. As Naomi took a
sip she retrieved a strawberry from the bowl H'tor held out to her. The
sweetness of the fruit complemented the wine perfectly and she tossed
the stem over her shoulder with a sigh.

"Well H'tor," she said, opening her eyes and seeing that she had his
full attention. "Let's get to it."

"Agreed," was all he said. They began to eat.

They both had healthy appetites and ate with concentration and
appreciation. Each dish was discussed, if not at length then at least
essential details such as the source of the ingredients and method of
preparation. H'tor paid close attention to her, asking questions about
various aspects of the more local dishes. It was an enjoyable meal for
both of them. There was no mention of Warren business, current events or
anything that might have cast a shadow over their company.

Finally she withdrew the dessert. It was covered with a cloth and Naomi
set it down between them as H'tor looked on with clear interest.

"It's been said that you are not the biggest fan of Norwall's pastries,"
she began. "However, when I was a girl no older than Demee my
grandmother showed me how to make this," she said as she withdrew the
cloth with a flourish. "Recently I've just about managed to make it as
good as hers."

H'tor smiled gently and for just a moment she thought she saw a far away
and a slightly sad look in his eyes.

"It looks delicious and I'm very honored that you would share it with
me," he said softly.

He picked up the long knife she'd laid down earlier and quickly cut two
generous slices from the fruit tart. He served her and filled their
glasses with what remained of the wine.

Wineglass in hand he took a bite of his dessert, closed his eyes and
chewed slowly. After a sip of wine he spoke.

"Your grandmother was an extraordinary person Naomi."

"That she was H'tor," she said a little sadly. "That she was."

They finished their helpings in silence. It seemed appropriate somehow.
As she tipped her glass for the last time and drained it H'tor set his
dishes carefully down and studied what remained of their provisions.

"Without a doubt that was the best meal I've ever had," he said. "Thank
you for all your hard work."

"It wasn't so hard," she chuckled. "I just put all Warrenbusiness on
hold this morning while you were out on the Wastes gallivanting hither
and yon." She pulled her legs out from beneath her and stretched out on
her side. "Now why don't you make yourself useful and pack up what's
left?"

"I was just thinking along those lines," he said as he began cleaning
up.

Naomi watched his efficient movements for several long moments before
her attention wandered to the ancient oak that dominated the meadow. As
she ate the last of the strawberries she absently wondered aloud how old
it was.

H'tor guessed four hundred years which Naomi seriously doubted and told
him so. He acknowledged that he didn't know a lot about the ages or
relative sizes of trees. Her explanation of them naturally led to a
general discussion of plant life and then somehow became a specific
comparison of herbal remedies.

They had agreed that the bark of a birch tree was a fair remedy for
minor pain as H'tor secured the last dish and stood up to set their
packs on the only boulder for approximately twenty yards.

"We'll pick them up when the dragons are a little more mobile and it's
time to go," he said.

She looked around at the sleeping dragons lying entwined in the sunlight
a short distance away. When she turned back H'tor stood close enough
that she could take his offered hand but not so close that he
overshadowed her.

She cocked her head back and smiled up at him.

"What are your intentions sir?" she said, allowing amusement to tone her
words.

"I thought we'd take a walk upstream a little ways now that our food has
settled."

"An excellent notion," she said smiling. She put her hand in his and
allowed him to raise her from the checkered cloth she reclined upon.
There was a brief pause as they studied one another, then H'tor raised
his free hand to just beneath her chin. He lifted her head slightly,
applying no more pressure than the breeze at her back.

Naomi knew that she could stop him at any time. She knew this even as
she saw the question in his eyes that she'd hoped would be there. With
only the slightest movement, perceptible only by the touch of his
fingertips, she nodded her head.

He smiled and slowly leaned down. As he did so she turned her head
slightly to one side and closed her eyes.

They kissed. She tasted her grandmother's favorite dessert and smelled
the sweet herbal balm that protected the burns on his skin. He tasted
strawberries flavored ever so slightly with sparkling wine. They drew
close, Naomi raising her heels off the ground to press up towards him.

As gently as they'd come together they drew apart. Held together only by
the hand with which he'd raised her from the checkered cloth she opened
her eyes.

"How about that walk?" he asked softly.

"Mmm-hmm," she agreed. Leaving their picnic site behind them they
started towards the rushing water hand in hand.

=====>>> Norwall Warren <<<=====

They landed on the green a little after nightfall. Naomi met H'tor
halfway between the two dragons. Naomi noted absently that H'tor had
landed Haroc in such a way that their meeting was as private as
possible. She understood him more than enough to know why.

"So I drop the dishes and the leftovers off at the dining hall and then
go check in with Lacey while you put away the climbing gear and hit the
gym?" she verified.

"Sounds like I get the better end of the deal," H'tor said seriously.

"Isn't that just the way it goes sometimes," she said wryly. She reached
up and collared him by the armor below his chin. Pulling his down to her
level she kissed him firmly on the lips.

"Work hard H'tor," she whispered into his uninjured ear. "But if I
summon you I expect you showered, shaved and presentable within fifteen
minutes. Understand?"

"I am at your service at all times Naomi," he said softly.

She kissed him gently on the cheek and pushed him away. "Just so it's
clear who's the boss H'tor," she said as she turned and walked towards
the dining hall, Haroc moved quickly out of her way to open a path.

"Perfectly clear Naomi," he said. "Perfect, in fact."

She tossed her head back and laughed. She kept walking without looking
back, knowing he was watching her...

As he did until she disappeared into the dining hall...his smile growing
wider and wider.

***************

Chi Wen Tzu always thought three times before taking action. When the
Master was told of this, he commented, "Twice is quite enough."

Confucius, The Analects (Book V.20)