Great Room of the Lakeside Tavern

Passing through the double wooden doors to the south brings you into a massive room with mighty wooden beams supporting a soaring ceiling. A fireplace and hearth of natural grey stone covers one entire wall of the room, with iron kettles full of stew and crispy golden baked game birds turning on a spit. Fresh bread bakes in small alcoves set in the fireplace. Large wooden tables and benches fill the room and provide seating for customers hungry or weary from travel. A wooden bar carved with fish and birds in flight sits against the back wall and holds bottles and jugs of various beverages. Next to the bar is a set of wooden stairs leading up to a loft. 

Grace, the innkeepers daughter, waits to serve your meal.

Fayth steps through the doors, holding it open for a moment to allow Kasim to enter behind her. She nods politely at the serving woman, and moves to sit at the table closest to the fireplace. Her stomach growls slightly as she spies the food, and, moving a chair out for Kasim, gestures for Grace to come over before making her way to her own seat.

Kasim smiles softly as he follows Fayth in, nodding to the serving girl politely as he takes the seat Fayth pulled out for him without complaining. "This is a quaint family tavern. Not as nice as anything in the city, but certainly more inviting." He waves to Grace as she comes over, a sign that he doesn't want anything.

Fayth sits, resting her elbows on the table and using her hands to tent her chin. "I like it. Not as crowded. You know how much I love crowds." She wrinkles her nose in Kasim's direction, then beams a huge smile at Grace. "I am famished, child. If you would be so kind as to bring me your largest meal, and perhaps some..." She raises an eyebrow at Kasim. "...wine? Tea? Water?"

Kasim chuckles. "I'll have water, thank you." Grace nods and curtseys before turning and walking back to the kitchens. After a moment, Kasim leans forward and clasps his hands on the table. "Speaking of our mutual love for crowds, I visited the old cabin the other day... after meeting Lannes. It's in rough shape, but undamaged. I'm thinking about fixing it up."

Kasim nods when Fayth lights up about the cabin, his smile widening at her reaction. When she asks about Lannes, the smile slips a bit and he shrugs. "Well enough. He asked for a draw after I took his weapon. I gave it to him. I suppose that means his heron is mine, but I didn't worry about it." He shrugs and smiles as Grace returns, taking his water with thanks as she sets down Fayth's meal.

Fayth narrows her eyes and grumbles something extremely unladylike under her breath. "That man does not deserve a heron. He does not deserve to call himself a warder. I was responsible for bringing his bondmate to be trained, and I have half a mind to march myself back there and ask her just what she thinks she's doing bonding a half-wit like that creature!" She harrumphs loudly, then notices the food. Digging in energetically, the rest of what she has to say comes between bites. Pointing her fork at Kasim and making a stabbing motion to help punctuate each word, she continues. "You know. You should get yourself one of those blades. You're definitely good enough."

Kasim smirks and takes another gulp of water. "More effort than it's worth, honestly. Only way I know how is to take it from a living Blademaster. And that means killing, typically. Lannes looked pretty upset when I told him I would be keeping his." He laughs quietly as Fayth continues shoveling food into her mouth in her patented unladylike manner.

Fayth glares into her food a moment, then lifts her head, looking very much like a petulant child. "Stupid sword. You should have kept it. Next time, you'll just have to kill him." The petulance fades slowly, until she finally sighs. "Well, obviously I don't believe that. But the thought -is- tempting. If he had hurt you..." She snarls.

Kasim laughs aloud, grinning broadly. "I always knew that you would have done better in the Green Ajah instead of the Yellow." He takes her hand and squeezes. "Worry about me when I provoke Asha'man, but don't worry about me when I have to deal with little boys and their swords. I've had practice."

His touch calming her immediately, Fayth chuckles and rolls her eyes. "I don't think I have the stamina required to be a Green. And don't think I didn't notice that you said 'when' instead of 'if,' either." She grins at him and squeezes back. "But you are absolutely right, and so I am forced to agree." Having managed to clean her plate, she gestures to Grace, and waits for her to move over to the table before asking for some tea. (Fayth)

Kasim doesn't let go of her hand, rubbing her fingers with his thumb. He rolls his eyes back when she mentions his if/when discrepency, and smiles softly. "And don't think I didn't choose my words carefully." He winks and waves Grace off with his free hand after she takes Fayth's order.

Fayth giggles, and takes a few moments to simply gaze at Kasim, that ever present goofy grin on her face. It isn't until Grace returns that she breaks eye contact, the sound of the cup being placed on the table startling her momentarily. She sighs contentedly, but doesn't bother to remove the goofy grin. "So. Tell me more about what you're planning with the cabin."

Kasim smiles back at her, watching her amusedly ever after she looks away. "Cleaning it up, obviously. New furnishings from what I've scraped together. Might add a fourth room, too. Make it a big kitchen. And a porch, too. The water in the pool is as clean as ever, which is very good." He trails off, apparently lost in thought.

Fayth nods after every idea, and when the kitchen is mentioned, her eyes practically dance around with excitement. "A porch! I can -definitely- help with that! Porches I can do. And I bet I could convince my family to reveal their trade secrets, if they have any suggestions as to how these projects can be done easily and more efficiently. Uh, if you don't mind, that is."

Kasim nods, his own smile widening at her overt signs of excitement. "Of course, dear. Anything you want. Why would I mind?" He pauses a bit, and coughs. "Maybe, when it's finished, you and I could live there together?" Looking away quickly and taking a drink from his glass of water, much longer than his previous ones. "I understand if you don't want to," he adds quickly. He looks somewhat sheepish, and seems to be very interested in the architecture of the inn.

Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head vehemently. "Oh, no no no no no. I want to. You better believe I want to. I want to so badly that I'm about to march us both right out of this inn and head over there whether it's ready to be lived in or not." Fayth pauses, and looks down at the table, her face an even brighter shade of red at her forwardness. (Fayth)

Kasim looks back suddenly as she speaks, and his eyes shine with surprise and joy. "R-really?" His voice is quiet, incredulous, as he looks into her eyes for any sign of a prank or a joke. "W-well, I could go get it ready, actually. Clean up the worst of the mess, and have it ready in a few hours... do you wanna see it?"

Fayth throws back her head and laughs, her eyes filling with tears. "Do I have to scream it out for you? Yes! YES! YES!!!" She can't stop laughing, and the tears slowly start to fall, making her look rather silly. She stands up, abruptly pulling her hand out of Kasim's, and makes her way around the table. When she reaches him, she squeals, hugging his neck as tightly as possible. "Why are you still here? Would you like me to go with you to help?"

Kasim hugs Fayth back, pulling her close as he stands up, not saying anything for a minute, apparently too overwhelmed with joy. "N-no, that's ok. Give me three hours, and then meet me in the Oval. I'll have it ready." He continues hugging her.

Fayth nods. "Three hours. I'll head back to the farm and get some of my things, and meet you in the oval. I'll be there in less than three hours if I can help it. Oh! And I'll bring some dinner, so we don't have to worry about that. And I'll come ready to work." She beams her special smile at him, and does a little mini jig for a second. "I can't wait." She kisses him impulsively, then gently nudges him toward the door.

Kasim smiles and begins to walk with her, one arm still around her as they move slowly to the door. "Neither can I, hon. I'll come early, if I can." He gives her waist a gentle sqeeze before he moves in front of her to open the door.