A storm in a tea cup (tag Rose)

Thomas made his way down to the gardens. More than annoyed really. He had been pulled out of bed by his mother. Forced to bathe and dress up.
He knew his bride to be had arrived last night, but he had not seen her yet. This was to be their formal first meeting.
Walking through the hallways he tried his best to ignore his mothers advice on how to charm the girl. Pushing her away when she stopped him and started to straighten his clothes and his hair. "Mother. Enough. No need to smother me. I'll do what I can...." He said leaving her behind.

Once outside he shielded his eyes a bit with his hand from the sunlight. Perhaps he should go out more often. Or maybe not, that didn't really appeal to him.
Moving to the center of the garden where there was a water fountain. Standing there waiting for the lady to arrive. Wondering who she was and what she looked like. His expectations weren't high or anything. He just assumed his parents would have him wedded off to a troll of some kind just to get him off their hands.
Twisting his hands a little nervously. Not knowing why he was feeling so nervous really.

Rose had put on her best dress. She was off to impress her suitor.. He was some sort of a lord. Her father had arranged it. And Rose had agreed to it. It seemed like a good match. He was around her age. What she had heared of him it seemed to be a difficult person. He was a bit shy.. But she could break through that. Rose arrived at the gardens. Finding him in the gardens shielding his eyes from the sunlight. He was handsome. Rose put on a soft smile.

''Lord...Dayne?'' She asked as she approached him.

Thomas turned around to the sound of the voice. Seeing a fuzzy female figure. Slim he could tell by her frame. And blond. And she wore a red dress. Her house colors perhaps.
Thomas opted to move closer. Her image starting to clarify just slightly. Seeing hints of gold in her dress. So a Lannister was it? He thought.
He was feeling very nervous and out of place. Bowing to her slightly. "Thomas is fine.... Lady???" He asked raising himself to stand straight. Looking her in the face. Still not yet close enough to see her appearance to detail.

She saw his hesitation. Shy perhaps. Perhaps he felt nervous.. However he made her nervous te way he was looking at her dress. He bowed and introduced himself. Thomas.. Lord Thomas Dayne. Rose nodded. Giving him a courtsy. "Rose Lannister my lord..." She felt nervous. The same nervousness she had felt when she was added to the Queen's council. Would he like her? What were thr costums in this land? Did they do things differently? Were there different rules?

"I must say Thomas.. The gardens here are breathtaking... It would surely be nice if one can spend his day here don't you think?" She asked with a smile. "Or would you rather stay inside lord Thomas?" She held out her hand for him to place a kiss upon. Or perhaps he would take her by the arm and lead her around the garden.

"Pleasure to meet you lady Lannister." He replied maybe a bit monotone. He wasn't sure if it was a pleasure for her or even him.
Taking her hand and placing a quick peck on it before letting her have her hand back.
Feeling a little awkward with her. Was she mocking him? With the staying inside thing. Well if she wanted to walk the gardens he could do that with her. "Let's walk then..." He said starting to move down the path. If she wanted to follow she could.

He didn't seem excited. And he wasn't trying to say the least. Walking away from her. She guessed that he expected her to follow. Aurora brought her arm around his. Giving him another kind smile. "I understand you must've been pushed to entertain me. And that you might not even care or want to spent your time with me..." She said. "But if you do not give me a chance to atleast show you that I am not a waste of your time... And to prove to you that I'm just not another stupid desperate wench that is wet for attention..." She laughed softly. "Well.. Then why do we even bother?" She asked. "Let's atleast try Thomas. I heared that you aren't the easiest person. That you were shy." Rose caressed his arm. "But I am not giving up just yet. I want to get to know you Thomas. If after we have talked some you still think I'm a stupid wench then we can atleast say that we tried." Rose gently let go off of him. "What do you say?"

He turned to face her. Finding it odd that she thought that she was the problem somehow. As far as he could see she was beautiful. Far too beautiful for him.
Her touch on his hand made him tense. Listening to what she was saying although her caressing his arm made it hard to concentrate. He felt like she was violating his personal space and yet it felt good. The conflicting feelings disturbing him more. Feeling relieved when she let go. "It is not that I find you a bother or as you said a wench... I just don't see why you would choose to meet with a man like me while you could have lords in higher position any day." Starting to walk again slowly so she would have a chance to keep up this time. "If you knew I was not an easy person to be with why would you even want to meet me? Much less consider marrying me."

Rose pursed lips. She walked with him. "Well for one I like a challenge. And I do believe that nothing should be gained easy. I could easily get a lord with a higher rank yes. But perhaps you're worth the effort." She said with a smile. "Nothing should be easy." Rose said. "But please tell me a bit more about yourself. I've only heared that what I just said. Do you not have any things you like to do?"

He didn't know what to think about her treating him a challenge. Was he just a new feather to her hat. Just something she could brag about.
Or was she truly interested in him?
Taking a deep breath and releasing it. "Nothing much anymore... I used to train to become a knight, but that wasn't meant to be.... Anything else you want to know?"

She looked at him. "That's sad to hear..." She said. Rose looked at him. "I'm sorry for you..do you have another thing you liked to do?" Rose asked. Laying her hand on his. "You could be my knight." She said with a soft smile. He seemed much more like a damaged man now. Perhaps that was why he build such a wall around him. Thomas seemed like someone who would give up easily. Would he have been disappointed when he became a knight and quit?

He let out a deep breath. She asked if he had anything else he liked to do? Wondering if he should make up something to impress her and maybe not sound so boring to her. But he didn't really see any point in lying to her. She would only insist on doing it with him.
"No, not really." That answered her question and turned down her suggestion of him being her knight.

Rose sighed softly. He seemed so sad. And not really reacting to her flirtations. Rose stopped their walk. This wasn't really going anywhere. Taking hold of his hands. "I like dancing. Do you like it? I could teach you some moves." Rose smiled softly.

"I know how to dance..." He mumbled. He did know how to dance, but it probably wasn't the most elegant way of dancing. He had never bothered to polish that skill. He had wanted to be a fighter, not charm ladies.
"And we have no music here in the gardens." He replied. A nagging notion in the back of his head telling him to respond something nice to her. Thinking his mother had invaded his head. "But perhaps we can dance later today.... If you like...."

She nodded. "Let's do that later then." He seemed to warm up a bit. "You want to ask me something instead?" Rose asked. Noticing he hadn't pulled back from her grip on his hands. Rose gently let go off him. Not wanting it to be awkward.

He noticed that she had let go of his hand. Was she starting to regret trying to get to know him? Probably. "uhmmm.... How are you liking Dorne so far?" That was the first question that came to his mind. It wasn't probably something she meant for him to ask.

Rose smiled. ''I like Dorne so far. It's different from Lannisport..Allot different.'' She said. ''My little sister wasn't so please that I came here. She didn't want me to leave her alone.'' Rose sighed. Before laughing softly. '''You should meet her one day..''

"Perhaps she senses a bad match for you when she hears of one...." He tried joking. "Perhaps I shall meet her one day if you indeed decide to marry me." Not really looking forward to persecution from Rose's sister.

Rose raised both her eyebrows when he joked about the bad match thing. ''Oh...You think this will be a bad match?'' She asked. Gently taking hold of his hand. ''I told you to give it a chance lord Thomas...'' Rose smiled a little. ''Am I that bad?'' She asked teasingly.

"Why do you think it's you who is bad?" He asked her. "I am sure you will grow tired of me eventually." He sighed. "Does your father force this match on you or is it something you are choosing for yourself on your own?"

His words concerned her. He thought she was going to become bored of him? Rose smiled softly. Giving his hand a gentle squeeze. ''Father gave me a choice. And I chose to come here to Dorne and meet you.'' Rose tried another smile. Bringing her other hand to hold his other free hand. Letting her smile fade softly. ''You didn't have a choice?''

"I did.... Been turning down meeting eligible ladies for a while. I suppose my parents are tired of me not doing anything with my life and want to pass me on to someone else..." Sighing he pulled the other hand free so that she was only holding one of his hands. It didn't bother him that she was holding his hand. What did was that he felt more restricted when she was holding both of his hands. Just like his mother would.
"I figured I'd just let them set up the meetings and see for themselves why I am not marriage material."

He let go off of her second hand. "Tell me if you're uncomfortable.." She said with a little smile. "But how do you believe you're not marraige material? What makes you think that?" Rose asked. "Perhaps I'm the one who isnmt marraige material." She laughed softly.

He just raised a skeptical eyebrow at her comment. "You are kidding? Besides my temper and my lack of skills in anything?" He sighed. Should he mention that he felt like she was constantly mocking him with things she said. He felt like nothing important and she kept trying to present herself as lower than him.

There it was. Some.. some sort of passion. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to insult you." She said looking at him. "Who ever said you have lack of skills?" She frowned a little. Gently letting go off of his other hand. "I highly doubt that. Perhaps you haven't found your skill yet." She said. "There's no shame in still having to find your skill." She crossed her arms. sighing she looked down to the ground. "if I may ask.. lord Thomas.. What happened to you? That you feel so.. well to me it seems angry.. angry at the world.. perhaps even at the gods. Or sad? If you do not wish to share that you have any right to refuse answering, my lord.." She looked at him concerned. Rose relaxed her arms.

He didn't like it that her notions about his emotions were hitting the mark. Looking away from her he took a step back. "I'm just fine..." He hurried to say. Taking a couple steps along the paths. "If you want to follow me...." He said starting to walk along the path again. Thinking that perhaps he should give her a tour of the gardens instead of talking utter nonsense about his feelings.