Tansy of the Wilds

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tansy toned down her talking and chattering for most of the trip back to the lumberyard. Especially when Tenzin was around. The reminder of him telling her to shut up was thick inside of her and it churned her stomach. So she did her best to be quiet like Tenzin wanted, at least around him. She knew he's right. He was important to the family business, she should have been thinking more of his comfort than her own need to talk without end. It was selfish of her to ramble on like that without the thoughts of how he might feel about it.

However Xer'tal's words still lingered inside of her.

'All I hear are dreams, thoughts, a mind that reflects upon itself. Wild words that shouldn't be silenced. That's rare. Why would I want to quiet that?'

So she still allowed herself to chatter at Xer'tal but her voice was low and she consistently checked to see where Tenzin was located before she would start. She knew it was selfish to make Tenzin uncomfortable but she also wanted to continue to talk to Xer'tal, especially when he told her it was okay, that he liked her chattering.

However she could tell he was getting more and more agitated every time she slipped over to his side and talked to him, keeping her voice low. Even worse was the dark look on his face every time she would go to speak but then stop because Tenzin was too close. He grunted, not really speaking and it made Tansy nervous. Anxiety made her wonder if he was getting upset with her and perhaps he had changed his mind about her talking as much.

It continued like that, her talking growing less and less until they made camp for the night. They had found an existing campsite, clearly there for travellers, and she set out her bedroll while Xer'tal started the fire. Tenzin ate his rations, a sour look on his face and that concerned Tansy as well. The man was... well he was finicky to say the least. It had taken her father over a year to convince him to take the job as a carver and little things upset him.

Xer'tal came over and grunted at her before he bent down and moved her bedroll a touch further away from the fire, making sure he had his bedroll almost between her and Tenzin's before he sat down, a dark scowl on his face.

"Is..." Anxiety bubbled in her stomach and had her feeling like she needed to swallow back bile. "Are you okay, Xer'tal?" She asked it softly as she sat down on her own bedroll. A thick silence fell as he glared at the fire before he shifted, blocking her view of Tenzin who was setting up his own bedroll.

"Y'know, Tansy..." He started, his voice a deep but low baritone against the silence of the night. "Ya ain't got to please that prick at yer own expense, this ain't right." His words were low and they had a surprising concern in them, as did his redtoned gaze as he glanced back at her. "Ya shouldn't have to tone yerself down because he's a piss ant." He nearly spat the word and a curious melting sensation filled Tansy to the brim.

Relief had her almost slumping as she reached out and touched the back of one of his strong hands before she gave Xer'tal a soft smile of appreciation. "Thank you, Xer'tal, but it's just till we reach the lumber yard. I don't wish to ruin my papa's months of negotiations." She flicked her gaze to where Tenzin was before she shifted closer to Xer'tal, lowering her voice so only he could hear. "Tenzin has shown himself to be quite... finicky. He would make demands on ridiculous things and would get upset and stop replying to letters if my papa wouldn't acquiesce."

She kept her voice low, unwilling to let Tenzin overheard. "He is the only carver who was close enough that my papa wouldn't have to spend too much in moving him to the lumberyard. We have been treating him with kid gloves since we learned what he is like." She glanced over at Tenzin for a moment, just to make sure he was where he was prior. "I believe that no matter what I do he will be unhappy but if I tone myself down until we reach the lumberyard he will be less likely to immediately demand my papa have him escorted back to Berget."

She watched as Xer'tal's frown only deepened as she spoke. He glanced towards Tenzin as the man settled into his bedroll. He gave an agitated sort of grunt. "Stupid woodcarver." He muttered it and Tansy had a feeling it was more to himself than to her but it had her fighting back a smile that he was upset on her behalf.

Her heart pounded slightly as she moved her hand from touching the back of his to gently grasping it. Xer'tal slowly looked back at her and her cheeks flushed. "Are you sure you are okay with me talking so much?" She asked it hesitantly and he scowled down at her

"How many times do I need to repeat myself to ya, woman?" He snapped it out but while there was fire in his voice, there was no bite and it had Tansy struggling very hard not to smile up at him. "I like yer talkin' just fine. I just hate meddlin' piss ants who can't keep their fuckin' mouths shut." He threw another dark look in Tenzin's direction and Tansy gave his hand an appreciative squeeze.

"Thank you, Xer'tal, for liking me how I am. Talking your ear off included." She meant it, she truly did and she had the realization that she was more than a little in love with him because of it. It made her breath catch in her chest

"I don't need two ears, one would work just fine." He seemed to grumble it out and Tansy laughed, beaming up at him.

"It would be a shame for you to lose an ear. They are both so lovely." She let his hand go to reach up, touching the point of his ear that was so similar to an elf's. She always thought it was interesting that orcs and elves had such ears, all long and pointed. She brushed her fingertips against it and the look he gave her was so intense it had her almost freezing. It was like fire was reflected in his gaze, heated and dangerous.

He seemed to shutter something in his expression, shutting out that heated look as he seemed to give himself a shake. "I'm a damned orc, ain't nothin' lovely about me. I'm fearsome, intimidatin'."

That had Tansy laughing all over again, her eyes dancing with mirth as she pulled her hand back from his ear. "Absolutely. You are a fearsome and unmatched warrior!"

He let out a bark of laughter. "If I didn't know ye were serious, I would think ya were mockin' me." His grin was rough but it made her heart flutter in her chest all the same.

"I would never mock you, Xer'tal." She meant it, she truly did and he nodded.

"Aye, I know ye wouldn't, Tansy, that's part of yer charm." He said it softly and glanced over at her. "Ya gunna attempt to tame yer hair now?" His gaze fell to it and Tansy reached up and patted her braided bun. "Let the wild thing free?" His voice was teasing and she laughed, reaching over to playfully shove at him.

"Oh stop it you!" She was giggling as she said it and his own chuckles filled the night air. She smiled up at him, taking in his rough features as they were highlighted by the fire, the shadows making the angles of his face grow sharper.

She wanted to sigh, like a wistful maiden at the mere sight of his handsome features but she also knew she couldn't do that. She wasn't the type of woman that sighed over men, nor was she the type of woman men liked back.

She was just Tansy.

Plain old Tansy