< 04Molly > **The women smile at each other, as the men enter. and Morgan can just catch the words from Molly to Anna 'directed like a noble steed, as I was once told...' * Molly watches Morgan, and her eyes are filled with several emotions, though most obvious is her confidence that th situation has been pleasantly resolved * @Morgan comes to the table, bouncing Gawain slightly < 04Molly > Maelwys: *he goes to his wife, and lifts her deftly off her feet, kissing her passionately. This attracts the attention of the regulars who wolf-whistle and cheer. * Molly looks both surprised and pleased. She then turns her attention fully to Morgan, moving up to make space for him beside her * @Morgan shuffles into the seat < 04Molly > It went well? < 08@Morgan > better than I could have hoped for < 04Molly > Maelwys: *he heads behind the bar, Anna following* * Molly smiles softly < 04Molly > I thought so * @Morgan nods, boucing the boy * Molly leans down, taking Gawain's hand, his tiny fingers curling instinctively around hers < 04Molly > We are to stay then? < 08@Morgan > aye * Molly grins < 04Molly > I am glad, for I rather think myself too weary now to travel on! * @Morgan laughs * Molly smiles, but there is something solemn in her eyes < 04Molly > At least it is concluded now < 08@Morgan > aye... tis... * @Morgan cant help but let his accent slide into a more country brogue * Molly looks around briefly, and assuming them unobserved, chastely kisses his cheek < 04Molly > I do so love it when you speak that way * @Morgan takes her hand < 08@Morgan > if I'd but known there'd have been no need t' learn that forin way'o speakin lass < 04Molly > Maelwys: **from behind the bar there is a chinking noise, the sound of someone attempting to raise a toast** Will ye no' shu' the 'ell up?! * @Morgan looks over to the bar < 04Molly > **there is a great deal of laughter before silence falls on the pub. * Molly squeezes his hand gently < 04Molly > Maelwys: That's better, 'fore I send the lot of ye to yer beds wi' no more ale! I want to make a toast, to an old friend, and his beautiful bride to be! *he raises his glass, looking to Morgan and Molly, and is followed by the drinkers* An old friend, and his beautiful bride to be! * Molly blushes hard, but starts to laugh * @Morgan shakes his head in desperation before bouncing the baby and speaking to him < 08@Morgan > when you reach eight, you'll be older than your father * Molly nudges Morgan, laughing harder < 04Molly > Seven, at most < 04Molly > **Another regular drinker stands up and says "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... THE QUEEN!"* * @Morgan stands with a tankard in one hand, child in the other < 04Molly > *They all join in the toast. This then rapidly descends in to the toasting of Maelwys, Anna and the fine establish-a-ment, an degenerate further in to toasting of people's horses, and hats, the noise loud but the words not catching much attention. Anna and Maelwys return to the table < 04Molly > Maelwys: I 'ope I dint embarass ye too much... < 08@Morgan > no more than is normal < 04Molly > Anna: *she smiles at Molly, their united purpose having strengthened their friendship* Let's hope you're marrying less a fool than I did! * Molly laughs, looking to Morgan < 04Molly > I can see no way in which I can answer without causing some upset! < 04Molly > **the musics begins once more, and the clapping and stamping of the dancers makes for a cheery moo carried on the strong beat of the music * @Morgan shakes his head < 04Molly > Maelwys: Well now, when is the weddin' to be? *he picks up his tankard, drinking deeply* * Molly and Anna follow suit < 08@Morgan > late June < 04Molly > Anna: *she looks suprised* That's soon! You aren't....? *she looks to Molly* * Molly 's eyes go wide < 04Molly > Good Lord, no! < 04Molly > Malewys: *he laughs hard, one arm around the blonde* bloody 'ell, love, an' ye say I embarass ye?! * Molly looks to Morgan, cheeks burning red < 04Molly > Anna: *she looks to the table* I meant no offense, I'm very sorry < 08@Morgan > no you're not... for all your trying, you're as bad as Maelwys * Molly leans over, pressing Anna's hand in a gesture of friendship < 04Molly > Do not worry... had I been on the outside of this, I would have assumed precisely the same. It's always most intriguing if there's scandal. < 04Molly > Maelwys: Well, that's the end of ye wenching, for sure! *he looks to more with a laugh* < 08@Morgan > aye, but then how c'n a man complain wi' a prize such as this? * Molly blushes hard < 04Molly > Maelwys: *he looks to Molly. where on first meeting it was a lusty look, it is now tempered with respect, awe, and possibly a tinge of fear* Ye're right there, a real fire-cracker! < 04Molly > Arthur: *he comes over to the table* Are ye for dancing, Lady Forrester, or have you changed your dancing shoes for your future husband? *he nods to Morgan with a laugh* < 04Molly > *the music winds down to a stop* < 08@Morgan > Maelwys... do you still have that guitar I left? * Molly smiles at Arthur broadly < 04Molly > I would still be proud to dance, sir... < 04Molly > Maelwys: Oh aye, I'll get it for ye *he stands, and goes out in to the back room* < 04Molly > Arthur: Ye don' mind me borrowing your lass for a dance, do ye? *he looks to Morgan* < 08@Morgan > o'course not Arthur... I thought I might give ye someth' t' dance to * Molly looks intrigued < 04Molly > You play, dear heart? *she suddenly look suprised at her use of his pet name in public, and then shrugs slightly, with a grin* * @Morgan looks vague < 08@Morgan > I must admit its normally to drown out Maelwys * @Morgan hands Gawain to Anna, and goes to speak to the band < 04Molly > **They all laugh hard. Just as their laughter subsides, Maelwys comes in, strumming the guitar. He has very little idea of how to do it properly, so it sounds awful. He sings to himself, also badly, but wih enthusiasm. This is enough to start Molly laughing very hard, and seeing Anna do the same, tears stream from their eyes. Maelwys looks at them, confused, before following Morgan < 04Molly > Malewys: Bloody women... I dunno what's gotten in to 'em * @Morgan turns to face him < 08@Morgan > take the easy option on this one ol' friend... * Molly watches Morgan from across the room. Some of her reserve in publicly watching him is gone, and she relaxes as she watches each expression, each movement. < 04Molly > Maelwys: Aye, I'd rather not av another talkin' to! * @Morgan laughs < 04Molly > Maelwys: *he hands him the guitar* < 08@Morgan > you should meet her mother * @Morgan takes the guitar and props himself up in a corner resting it on a knee < 04Molly > Maelwys: Why's that? < 08@Morgan > fiesty doesn't even begin to desribe her... I've faced slavering hordes of fanatics... and I'd do it again rather than come to grief from the forrester women * Molly allows Arthur to lead her out to the floor, his old face beaming with pride, her easy company stripping many years from his face * @Morgan strums a few times < 08@Morgan > you'll join me Maelwys < 04Molly > Maelwys: *he laughs hard. finally regaining his ability to speak, he nods* What'll it be then? < 08@Morgan > drunken lullabyes... I think I'm alittle out for the seven deady sins * Molly stands watching Morgan still, eyes thoughtful < 04Molly > Maelwys: *he nods* Aye, that'll be... wait! *he runs to the bar, and leans over, sticking his head under the ale pump, drinking several mouthfuls. The drinkers laugh and clap. He runs back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand* Aye, go'on * @Morgan starts playing in earnest * Molly hesitates slightly, her feet betraying her suprise, though after a few of the fast notes, her love of dancing rises supreme and the steps of the quadrille come naturally. The skill of Morgans playing is matched by the surprisingly graceful, appealing way she moves to the rhythm. < 04Molly > Maelwys: *he begins to sing loudly, clapping his hands to the rhythm. It isnt that he's tone deaf, just that his enthusiasm pushes him towards mild sloppiness * @Morgan matches his way of singing, if not his tone < 04Molly > Arthur: *following the steps of the dance, he whirls Molly round, a dos-e-dos, a right hand star, a swing. He has danced this dance many times, to many musicians, in many packed taverns, but tonight, there's something magical here. He does not know what passed between the couples, but from their relief, he feels that the world is set to rights. He grins at Molly, who smiles warmly back * @Morgan plays hard, coming towards the end of the song < 04Molly > *slightly out of breath, still moving to the beat, Molly's words are broken slightly* You know Arthur,I rather fancy I'd like to live here forever! < 04Molly > Arthur: *he nods, tracing the last few steps as the song ends. He stands still, breathing heavily* Aye, ye'd fit in well here, lady though you are! * Molly looks to Morgan as the clapping begins. She is clearly immensely proud of him, and applaudes loudly with the others. Though she does not dance often, she does not seems as out of breath as the other dancers. * @Morgan sweats slightly, looking around < 08@Morgan > Maelwys... seven sins? < 04Molly > Maelwys: *grinning like a drunken fool, which he is, he gets up on to one of the tables. This is not an unfamiliar sight to Morgan, but seeing it, Molly laughs hard* Whenever ye're ready, sir! * @Morgan sighs and puts his guitar down and joins Maelwys on the table * @Morgan starts 'singing' seven deadly sins < 04Molly > Arthur: *he bows to Molly, and takes her in his arms, in the sot of country dancing style only seen in common taverns across Theah, too 'inappropriate' for the nobles. She allows herself to be quickly waltzed around, giggling loudly, immersed in the dance, and in Morgan's voice, having never heard him sing before* < 04Molly > **Those not dancing join in the singing, or clapping. Anna, who can't clap, dances around with Gawain in her arms * @Morgan sings loudly with Maelwys repeating the last line three times * Molly laughs hard when the last beat of the song stops, and Arthur releases her. She smoothes her toussled hair a little, and with a broad grin, skps over to the table he's standing on < 04Molly > Morgan, that was wonderful! < 08@Morgan > no, it was an abomination... but better than our usual * Molly looks up at him < 04Molly > None of it! I thought it was wonderful! * @Morgan climbs down off the table and embraces her < 04Molly > Maelwys:*with no regard for his safety, or property, Maelwys jumps down, and goes straight to the bar* * Molly wraps her arms around his waist, and rests her head against hs chest, head tucked beneath his chin < 04Molly > Would you like a drink, dear one? < 08@Morgan > please... * Molly goes to the bar for more drinks, meeting him back at the table. The drinking continues for a while, and with Maelwys and Anna at their table, more and more drinkers come to sit with them. Molly now quite tipsy, whispers in his ear < 04Molly > Dear heart, I am getting a little squashed... would in be horribly inappropriate for me to sit on your lap? < 08@Morgan > terribly so... but I think we can suspend such rules for now * Molly grins. She stands, and is watched with interest by the others, who all automatically fidget to take up the extra space. Molly very gently settles herself in to his lap. With a giggle, she slips her arm around the back of his chair, fingers restng gently on his shoulder < 04Molly > Am I making you uncomfortable, dear heart? < 04Molly > **The music continues in the background* < 08@Morgan > not at all blossom * Molly smiles softly < 04Molly > I am glad to hear it. < 04Molly > **The conversation passes easily, talk of the years coming harvest, of improvements to the village, of long distances travelled. One of the drinkers pipes up with 'Well, _I_ have been to Londinium!' followed by 'I have been to Innismore!' which illicits gasps of awe from the others. Maelwys and Anna's eyes both go to Morgan, in anticipation * @Morgan takes a drink < 08@Morgan > well _I_ have been to... Vodacce, Castille, Montaigne, Eisen... though I still haven't found anywhere as welcoming as Avebury < 04Molly > Maelwys: *he laughs hard, as do many of the others* So, take that an' stick it in yer pipe! * Molly smiles wryly, and listens to the music. The next song begins, one Molly knows well, as do many of the other women. 'My bonny blue-eyed boy' is sung along to be all and sundry, but Molly's low, soft voice, and the similarly soft yet desirous look in her eyes are directed purely at Morgan, _her_ bonny blue-eyed boy... < 04Molly > **The rest of the evening passes in a mix of drinking, laughter and singing, a throughly rawkus time. Midnight comes and goes, and eventually maewys, slurring badly, orders them all home to their beds, and their bed mates, declaring that's exactly where he intends to go. From beside him, Anna lets of a yelp and a giggle as he pinches her behind. Blowing out the last of the tavern candles, Molly leads the way up to their rooms in the dark, her solid memory her only guide. Getting to the door, she stands in the pitch black, holding his hands tightly, standing close to him. She smells wonderfully warm and rosy. She breathes slowly, a tension there between them < 04Molly >  in the dark, her solid memory her only guide. Getting to the door, she stands in the pitch black, holding his hands tightly, standing close to him. She smells wonderfully warm and rosy. She breathes slowly, a tension there between them < 04Molly > Morgan, I... < 08@Morgan > aye? < 04Molly > I...I... I must go in. I can not stay here with you any longer tonight and be able to prevent myself giving you the through kissing I yearn to! * Molly squeezes his hands * @Morgan nods < 04Molly > Goodnight, liebling... < 08@Morgan > goodnight my love * Molly opens her door, and goes in. If hes listening closely, he will hear her sing to herself of the bonny blue-eyed boy once more