(Lost) You don't bring me flowers anymore.

[akonken.livejournal.com]

I took the flowers with a sinking feeling. This wouldn't work. Yet another strike against us in an already losing battle. I didn't care about punishing her at all, if I was honest (which I never was out loud if I could help it); I cared about us. We needed her in order to have more of an advantage, to hopefully not all die horribly. We needed everyone we could get, and I was terrified I wouldn't convince her to stay, that she wouldn't listen to what I had to say. If her head was too full of romance and drama and tragedy for me to get through, I didn't know what we'd do.

I lifted my chin imperiously and spoke: "Now, what's this I hear about you leaving us and running along to Inverness?"

She froze and looked uncertain. Uncertain was good. I could work with uncertain. Honesty? Should I use honesty for once? Would that appeal to her heart-strings? I considered it and cast it aside. Half-truth should be enough.

"I just don't want you to agree to be punished and then go running to the other end of the country crying about how mean we are to punish you. Our reputation is bad enough; we don't need one more thing piled onto our list of things we did fairly bemoaned by someone too spoiled to deal with it, do we? Or even by the boys and girls sniffing after you who think that 'taking your side' is the best way to get into your pants."

"I think I rather thought that I should be compelled to swear for another year anyway. I mean, His Terrible Autumnalness will not let me perform punishment duties in Hatfield without being sworn," she said in that story-child way of hers, her voice trembling slightly as she continued. "I...I suppose you have the right to Oathbind me from leaving the domain."

Oathbinding? We could but people would still say 'oh, poor Rosie, those Stalwart Guards are so evil'. I flapped that idea away. "Oh, calm down."

Rosie squeaked in protest. "But I'm not being excited! I'm being logical."

She would think that logical. Why couldn't she- Right. Truth it was. "Sweetie, oaths are not the only logical solution. We're not going to do any such thing, although I dare say we'll be rather disappointed in you if you can't be a grown-up for once in your life and face things. I'm not talking about punishment here, sweetie, I'm talking about life. I'm suggesting you stop acting like a spoiled little girl and think about the bigger picture for once. Not the Story, but life. Dunasheen doesn't need you, not by a long shot. We do."

There was a long pause. I studied her, scarcely breathing. "You are right. I was selfish," Rosie said finally, looking miserable.

I beamed insincerely to hide the relief. Thank you, Rosie. "Happens to the best of us, sweetie,"

"I'm not your sweetie," Rosie said absent-mindedly. "Have you and his Terrible Awesomeness decided whether you wish me to continue to spread misinformation through the markets, or there something else you desire?"

Bless her. I wondered briefly how someone so well-meaning could be so much trouble, then realised that was its own answer. "No, honey, you're phenomenally useless. Now. Snaggle will want reassured that you're not going anywhere, as he is rather depending on you to help him. I want you to soothe him about that, and tell him that you know you were being selfish in wanting to abandon us at our darkest hour or what have you."

The sigh escaped; I'd been hoping to keep it from burbling out of my chest. It was time to just conclude the business and get her out so I could scream victoriously into a pillow. "As for the rest, there's the tithe mentioned and all. Snaggle's talking about branding, but I think that's tacky."

Rosie frowned a little and nodded obediently, shoving the flowers at me. "Is...is that everything, ma'am?"

"Yes, yes, unless I can convince you to think before you act in future, but Lord knows I'm more able to stop the sun from shining. Run along." I shooed her out.