The Common Room of the Queen's Blessing

You enter a large room with panelled walls of dark wood and two lit hearths. One maid sweeps an already clean floor, the other polishes the sconces. Several round tables covered with tablecloths seat clean and sober men, wary of any stranger that might walk in. The common room is not one of the more elegant in Caemlyn, but it has an aura of comfort. To the north lies the kitchen, upstairs are the rooms and to the east is a hallway.

The late-afternoon sun shines weakly through the windows of one of the most popular inns in Caemlyn, but the fireplace provides most of the warmth to the rather small pre-dinner crowd.

Kasim Akylia is sitting in a chair at a table, alone.

Fayth steps into the inn, pausing in the doorway a moment to scan the room. Upon spying Kasim, a beaming smile breaks onto her face, and she heads straight over. Her hair is slightly tousled, and her face is flushed as if she's been running. It seems she left the room without her shawl, because it's nowhere to be found. Her armband is still tied to her arm, but her ring is also missing.

Kasim looks up with surprise and concern as she enters, his face taking on a serious tone. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you since lunch." Rather than angry, he seems upset.

Fayth stops short, and frowns. About to open her mouth to retort, she gets as far as putting her hands on her hips before pausing. Wrinkling her nose at Kasim, she shrugs. "I'm sorry. I should have...sent a note or something." She moves toward the table again, pulling out a chair and flopping into it. "I'm still getting used to...you know. Having to actually tell someone where I am."

Kasim grins and laughs allowed, unable to keep the joke long. "No worries, love. I've not been here that long anyway. I just thought you could use a taste of your own medicine." He smiles and waves a barmaid over.

Fayth gapes at Kasim a moment, as her mind tries to grasp what just happened. She narrows her eyes a bit, but can't help but laugh. "That wasn't nice." She crosses her arms and pouts. "For that, I'm not going to tell you what I did today. So there."

Kasim looks slightly hurt, and leans across the table, doing his best to look apologetic. "I'm very sorry, dear. Please, tell me what you did today." His eyes are still twinkling with amusement, but his face remains flat except for a small smile--or smirk.

Fayth waves a dismissive hand, and grins. "It's good to get a taste of my own medicine every now and again. Kind of an interesting turn of events. But you do understand, of course, that this means war?" She winks, then continues. "I didn't do anything exciting, I just finally brought Summer to the farm. You should have seen her eyes light up once she discovered where we were headed." She shakes her head, chuckling softly.

Kasim laughs quietly, still smiling. "That should be good for her. What did your family have to say about her?" He looks around the inn, which is slowly starting to fill up with patrons, and looks up as the waitress approaches. "Hot wine, please."

"Well, they knew she was coming. When I left, I was in such a hurry that I just dropped her off with Disa and told her I'd be back as quickly as possible to get her. I made sure Charisse went over there whenever she had a chance, just to make sure she was okay. When we stopped at the farm the other day, Father suggested I let her stay there. So I agreed." Fayth smiles politely at the waitress as she gets up and moves around the table to sit next to Kasim. (Fayth)

Kasim smiles as Fayth moves closer and the waitress moves away. "Well, that's good, then. I still can't get over how much Charisse looks like you. I would've recognized her even if you hadn't told me. Your parents are nice, too. Good people." He goes quiet for a moment, looking down a the table. When the woman returns with his drink, he takes it and gives her two coppers in exchange as he sips it quietly.

Fayth chuckles softly. "Yeah, but that's about where the comparisons end. We're as different as night and day. She was real good about visiting me once a week, though. We had a scheduled day and everything. Aside from Disa, she and Calithe were about the only people I spoke to for...a long time." She frowns, and reaches out her hand to squeeze Kasim's arm lightly. "You all right, hon?"

Kasim looks up as she touches him, and takes her hand off his arm and in his own. "I'm fine." He leans over and kisses her softly on the top of the head before taking another drink. "How much longer would you like to stay in Caemlyn?"

Lightly rubbing Kasim's hand with her thumb, Fayth shrugs. "At this point, love, I'm up for anything. Now that Summer's taken care of, my only priority is you, and your happiness. We could visit everywhere, if you'd like. Provided you don't mind coming back for a visit every now and again." Frowning slightly, she wrinkles her nose again. "I'm hungry." (Fayth)

Kasim chuckles, squeezing her hand softly. "You should have thought about that while the waitress was here a few seconds ago, yes?" He waves his hand for another one to come over. "And it seems that we have a conflict of interest. You're concerned about my happiness, but that's dependent upon your happiness." He grins as the waitress comes back, waiting for Fayth's order.

Fayth snickers. "Yeah, yeah. If I thought about everything when I was supposed to, my life would be a completely different story. And your happiness is more important than mine. As long as I get to be with you, I'm happy." Turning her attention to the waitress for a moment, she places her order, then peers at Kasim. "Are you hungry?"

Kasim waves the waitress off. "I've already eaten. And if all each of us require is the other's company and happiness, then our life together might get dull." He winks and laughs again.

Fayth grins. "So be it. I can think of worse things." She leans over to kiss Kasim lightly on the cheek before continuing. "So. I told you about -my- day, now it's your turn to tell me about yours." She shifts in her chair carefully, so as not to disturb Kasim, and waits patiently.

Kasim smiles pensively, taking another sip of his wine while appearing to be thinking happily. "I met a young man today. Cadmus Buirges; one of those Younglings from Tar Valon. Like me, he was fed up with that establishment and left to come here. He's quite a fellow. He tried to bait an Asha'man today, but the blackcloak wouldn't bite."

As Kasim speaks, Fayth's eyebrows slowly creep higher and higher until eventually they appear to be trying to leap off her forehead. When he finishes, she closes her eyes and shakes her head, muttering what is likely a prayer to the Creator. "He tried to bait an Asha'man? Was he trying to get himself killed? And where were you while this was going on? Certainly not with him, I hope." (Fayth)

Kasim chuckles abashedly, color rising in the non-scarred part of his face. "Well, the Asha'man was something of a jerk. And I was, uh... about three feet away." He quickly adds, "I didn't help, though!"

Fayth gasps. "Kasim Akylia! Are you trying to get -you- killed?" Narrowing her eyes, she glares around the room. "Where is this Cadmus fellow? I think it's time he and I had words." As the others in the room start to turn and stare, Fayth blushes, and lowers her voice. "I can't believe you! I leave for two seconds, and you pick a fight with an Asha'man??"

Kasim winces slightly, letting her go on. When she reaches the end of her tirade, however, he counters. "I nothing to do with it, Fayth Elbar! There's nothing I can do if some fellow off the street wants to pick a fight with an Asha'man. I don't see how you can blame me for this at all." Unlike in the past, he seems unwilling to apologize. Challenge rises in his eyes.

Eyes flashing, it seems Fayth has no intention of backing down on this one, either. "I don't blame you. I blame this other fellow. But you have absolutely no business being anywhere near an asha'man, -especially- one who is being provoked. How, pray tell, did you expect to defend yourself if that man -had- decided to bite?" (Fayth)

Kasim narrows his eyes. "I think I've been pretty considerate these past few days, but who are you to tell me who I do and do not have business with?" A few people at nearby tables begin shooting looks over as Kasim's voice slips above the conversational level for a moment as he takes control of himself. "If that man had decided to bite, then Cadmus would be dead." He clenches his teeth. "I wasn't involved."

Fayth blinks. "I'm sorry. What? You said yourself you were only three feet away from him. What makes you think that after he finished with Cadmus, you wouldn't be next? And who am I to tell you who you do and do not have business with? I'm Fayth. Remember? The one who is trying to keep you alive? The one who cares whether or not you live or die, and is concerned for your safety?" She gestures wildly to punctuate her words, and slams her fist down on the table when she's finished.

Kasim scoffs incredulously. "Contrary to popular opinion, dear, they aren't all raving lunatics. Besides, this one was particularly low the food chain, which means he wasn't very powerful. And he'd have a flock of higher-ups falling on him like a hammer on an anvil if he tried anything in the Oval Plaza." In stark contrast to her, he remains perfectly still when he talks, looking at her sideways.

Fayth tilts her head. "Oh? And do you suppose they would get there before, or after he destroyed you with a thought?" Shaking now, her face begins to flush a deeper red. "I don't care if he wasn't very powerful. There are some forces that you can't fight with your wits and your sword, Kasim. If an Asha'man decided to destroy you, you would be dead. I don't think you are quite grasping the concept of how dangerous it is to provoke someone who wields the Power, and frankly, that scares me."

Kasim frowns, and looks as though he's wavering for a moment, but his face steels up again. "That is my business. If I want to walk right up to Rand himself and give him a boot to the ass, then I can deal with the consequences. I don't have to remind you that you're not my mother, nor that I'm nearly five years your senior. Not to mention that unlike you, I had some experience with danger growing up. So please don't lecture me about caution." His knuckles turn white has he grips his mug tightly, but he doesn't take another drink of it.

"I -will- lecture you, if I damn well feel like it! And don't you DARE sit there and preach to me about how you're older and wiser and have dealt with more danger than I have. If that is the case, then you're more stubborn than even I give you credit for, because you would know better than to take foolish risks." Fayth leans in, her face only a few inches from Kasim's, and her next words are quiet, but filled with no less emotion. "You aren't the only person you need to be worried about, Kasim. Not anymore. You gave up that right when we started sharing a room." Leaning back, she glares at him accusingly, her arms crossed tightly under her chest. (Fayth)

Kasim sits in silence for a moment, as if thinking. After a half a minute, he stands up suddenly, outwardly calm. "Excuse me for a moment." His voice is cold, and he doesn't wait for an answer as he moves to the stairs of the inn.

Footsteps coming down a few minutes later announce Kasim's arrival. When he enters the room, he's wearing his full suit of armor, all his weapons, carrying a knapsack, and wearing a thick woolen travelling cloak. He approaches Fayth's table, and leans down to speak quietly. "I suppose that I have my privleges back?" His voice is still cold, challenging. (Kasim)

Fayth stands when she hears the footsteps, and upon seeing Kasim with his things, all the blood rushes from her face, and her arms fall loosely to her sides. For a moment, she looks absolutely devastated, but only for a moment. Schooling her expression, it doesn't take long for her face to be completely devoid of emotion. Standing straight, she throws her shoulders back and nods slightly, the perfect picture of Aes Sedai serenity. The image is ruined only slightly by her shaking voice. "It appears as if that is the case. Congratulations." Turning her back on him, she stares around the room as if daring anyone to say a word.

Kasim stares at her back for a few moments, looking conflicted. He takes half a step forward after seeing the look on her face and her posture, but stops. He continues to stand there, looking at her, waiting for her to say something.

Whirling suddenly, Fayth marches toward Kasim, her expression unchanged. Her voice is calm now, the tone almost conversational. "If you didn't want me to come here, you shouldn't have asked me. I dropped everything for you, Kasim Akylia. Once I made sure Charisse was taken care of, I came running. It's not as if you didn't know who I was, or what I was like. If I was going to be a burden to you, you shouldn't have asked me to come." (Fayth)

Kasim looks taken aback for a minute, and responds, but his voice is much quieter this time. "I never asked you to come. You slipped me this ring so that you could find me, remember? And that doesn't mean that I haven't enjoyed our time. Because I have. But it goes both ways. You know what I am like. Well, you did, when you saw fit to tell me about major changes in your life." He stands still, looking much taller and menacing in his armor than he does in clothing.

Fayth narrows her eyes. "You did ask. Perhaps you did not come right out and say the words, but you did ask if there was a chance you could convince me to come with you. I didn't tell you I would come because I didn't want to give you false hope. Not again. And I didn't give you that stupid ring just to find you, though I am fairly certain we've already had that conversation." She stops before she gets too close to Kasim. "I do know you. At least, I thought I did. The Kasim -I- know wouldn't needlessly attempt to throw his life away the same day he tells me that all he cares about is my happiness. As a matter of fact, I can't think of -anyone- that would do something like that."

Kasim grits his teeth again in defiance. "I did not attempt to throw my life away." Each word comes out separately and slowly as he enunciates as clearly as possible. "I did not provoke that Ashaman. A man that I had known for less than five minutes did. I was not involved with him other than light conversation. There is nothing I could have done to stop it."

Fayth blinks. "Of course. This is a silly thing to be arguing about." She throws her hands up with an exaggerated flair. "Whatever was I thinking? Naturally, I have no right to be concerned. Any man in here could have been in your place." She gestures around the room at the rest of the patrons. "Tell me something, Kasim. Did you stick around and watch?"

Kasim narrows his eyes, looking very wary. He looks around quickly, looking as though he's trying to see something he missed. "Watch what?" His tone is cautious, unsure.

Fayth shrugs, her expression curious. "Well, you said that you had nothing to do with the encounter, right? I was just wondering if you stayed to see what happened."

Kasim blinks. "Nothing happened. There was no conflict. Cadmus kept saying things to bait him, but there was no response. I fail to see the point."

Fayth nods. "I see. So, all the while this Cadmus fellow kept trying to get this Asha'man to fight, you did nothing? Just stood there, watching?" She tilts her head at him and raises an eyebrow. "Is that right? Am I understanding this correctly?"

Kasim blinks. "If by "all the while" you mean the ten seconds during which Cadmus spoke to him, then yes, you're right. I sat there. It's not like I knew what he was saying beforehand."

Fayth nods again, then suddenly smiles, though there is no warmth in it. "Fair enough. It's obvious that I'm allowing my...respect...of the Asha'men to shade my better judgement. What do I know, after all. As you said earlier, I've never really had to face danger, so I am obviously overreacting. Since you've already taken the time and effort to remove your things from the room, I trust that you will be finding new lodgings. I'll leave you to that." With that, she spins around on her heel and heads out of the inn, ignoring the stares.