Some bardmage to get you through the coming work week..
Once Upon A Time, not so long ago, lived a party of companions going on adventures side by side
The party didn’t usually get time off between travels and side quests, so a day at the fair? A shocking break from the average activity.
But Dustin The Bard saw the flyer on a tree outside of the newest village in their travels, and somehow convinced the others to have a little fun for once. Even Jane, who was usually very focused on the main quest.
For the last year prior, the party had been focused on trying to find and take down Jane’s former captors, rogue alchemists stealing children and using potions to turn them into Mages. Jane escaped at a young age and was taken in by the General of Queen Joyce’s army, and was raised alongside Prince William the Wise and his elder brother Prince Johnathan.
Dustin the Bard was not of noble blood by any means. His mother is a warm and kind tavern woman, and his father is unknown to him. His mother says he was a great man, but Dustin would not know.
He learned the lyre at a young age, playing for patrons of his mother’s tavern. Soon, he learned music is a magical thing.
Dustin reflected over this past as he walked the lanes of the fair, reminded of his mother when he saw a round woman playing cards against a man clearly intending for a con.
Michael was off with Prince William the Wise, joining in on the Tug-Of-War in the main square, while Maxine and Lucas competed in the archery arena.
Which left Dustin the Bard with Jane the Mage.
He had always thought her beautiful, since their first meeting. Her hair was long and a lovely shade of chestnut that caused his heart to thunder in his chest as of late.
He was unaware where this sudden attraction to the powerful maiden had come from, especially considering her brief dalliance with his companion Michael, but the feeling had become strong in the recent days.
He only realized he was staring at her as they walked when she turned her head and spoke.
“You are gazing upon me again. What is the reason?” She spoke definitely, as she always did, never spending time on showmanship or humor as Dustin often would.
He blushed and turned his gaze back to the ground as they walked.
“My apologies.” He said solidly and then looked back up towards the sky. “I became..distracted. You look quite lovely today, Jane.”
Had he truly spoken those words? His confidence astounded him. Perhaps he had drank one too many refreshments back in their last supply stop, loosening his tongue. She would certainly be offended by his callousness, he was sure.
Yet when he turned his face offer his apologies, he was beside himself to see a dusting of pink blossoming within her cheeks and across the tips of her ears.
Dustin understood that reaction. He had been a bard for many a time, he knew when a woman was flustered with romantic affections.
He paused his movements to address the subject with a weak word: “Jane-“
But she continued to walk, interrupting him as she came across a booth with an intrigued glance.
“Dustin, what is the purpose of this game?”
She was staring at a tent in which one would pay 2 shillings to toss a few darts towards ceramic bowls. There seemed to be an aspiring young con working the game, clearly tiring of the fair and barely speaking up to gain patrons.
Dustin stepped forward and looked at the game with a soft chuckle. Her captivity, followed by being raised within palace walls, left her a bit sheltered in the ways of the world. It did not bother Dustin, however, this simply meant he had the honor of teaching her new things.
“You destroy three bowls with these darts- and no magic- and you win one of those.” He pointed to the hand-sewed creatures sat on shelves above the bowls.
She studied the animals with a curious expression for a few quiet seconds before speaking.
She turned to him, catching sight of his surprise. He blinked and took a breath, practicing his response internally.
“You need not win me anything, I need not for a children’s stuffed toy-“ He explained calmly, shaking his head courteously.
“Nevermind that. You like amphibians, I shall win you that one there.” She pointed to the stuffed turtle and then placed two shillings onto the counter and grabbed the darts.
She was unsurprisingly, very successful at the game, hitting all three bowls with perfect aim, even with no magic. The adolescent running the stand pulled down the stuffed turtle for Dustin. Jane handed it to him with a lightly blushing smile.
Dustin thanked her and then was ready to move on…but noticed Jane staring up at the stuffed animals, specifically the cute rat sitting on one of the lower shelves.
“Would you like that one..?” Dustin asked gently with a smile, nudging her arm.
She did not answer for a moment, before speaking softly. “I have no more coins.”
Dustin sighed and then worked up his courage. He wasn’t the most athletic of the party, but he was definitely chivalrous. Anything Jane required, he wanted to get for her.
“I’ll win it for you.” He tried to speak casually, placing the coins down on the counter and grabbing the darts. Jane looked at him with a tilted head, but said nothing about his expected ineptitude.
He did not do as well as her, only chipping the first two bowls and breaking the last one. Luckily, the rat was a small prize and he was able to win the rat for her fair and square.
The blushing on her face was unavoidable now. She looked so beautiful, flustered and excited to receive her stuffed creature.
“Your rodent, m’lady.” He spoke with a charming, bardish smile of course.
She studied the rat and then looked up at him like he hung the moon.
“You are a kind creature, Dustin the Bard. You are certainly a close companion of mine and I very much enjoy your company. I find myself wanting to spend more and more time in your presence with each passing day. Do you find this feeling mutual?”
She spoke so casually. He had to just blink. Once. Twice. Three times. Then finally he spoke.
“The feeling- yes- the feeling is definitely mutual- 100%- very- yeah.”
He stumbled through the sentence, partially by the words themselves, partially by her casual demeanor.
His response seemed to make her perk up even more, even to the point of a true smile.
“Delightful…I look forward to spending even more time by your side.”
She squeezed the stuffed creature tighter to her chest and stepped forward to him. He could have exploded. She was so beautiful.
“I- yes- that sounds- yes…”
He nodded a few times and then heard the sounds of cheering from the tavern square. A woman passed by and he heard her whisper about a ‘fiery redhead’ and her ‘handsome companion’ betting on who could shoot an apple off of Prince William’s head.
He groaned and grabbed Jane’s hand without thinking about it- or attempting to not think about it.
“Where are we going?” She asked with calm confusion
“Our friends are being stupid.” He replied obviously, and she understood.
As they walked, he squeezed her hand and it became clear to him then…he loved her truly.
And he too could not wait to spend as much time with her as possible, as promised.
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