Bibliophiles Unite!

[Zero]

Keiran's smile brightened even more when Lyssa took his arm. Escorting young ladies was an expected duty, but with the sweet girl beside him it didn't seem such a bothersome chore. "Well it is such a beautiful day that I thought we might have tea at one of the garden gazebos. I hope that is alright."

He lead them down the winding stone paths through the grounds. The campus was littered with gardens, but he had picked the most beautiful one for tea with Lyssa. For some reason he felt nervous about making a good impression. "I sent the letter to my father, but I doubt I will hear back from him until late tonight or early tomorrow. As soon as I receive his reply we can submit it to administration and enroll you."

[DragonSong]

"That sounds lovely, Keiran, thank you." She smiled, rather pleased they would be outside- it really was a gorgeous day, it would have been a shame to spend all her time cooped up indoors, especially when she'd be working the evening shift at the library anyway.

"Oh..." Her eyes were wide as she looked around, drinking in everything she could. "This is beautiful," she murmured wonderingly, a small smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes snapped back up to Keiran and her heart suddenly gave a nervous jump up into her throat. "Oh, thank you!"

She smiled, but her nerves had suddenly kicked into overdrive. This was really happening- of course his father could always choose not to sponsor her, she had to remember that, not get her hopes too high.

[Zero]

"I am so glad you agree." It really was a gorgeous day and he was pleased that he'd made a good choice in having tea out in the gardens.

The gazebo was brilliant white, clean and inviting, and surrounded by deep maroon blossoms. Keiran hadn't consciously chosen it because the flowers matched Lyssa's hair very well, but they really did compliment her breathtakingly well.

In the center of the octagonal structure was a table draped with a white tablecloth and two matching chairs. Servants were laying out fine china for them, a beautiful little ornamental tea set and matching glass platters held a small assortment of pastries and cakes. He moved forward to pull out a chair for Lyssa, smiling gently. "Have a seat and help yourself, Miss Lyssa."

[DragonSong]

Again, Lyssa murmured an almost nervous, "Thank you," as she took her seat. She cast curious glances at the servants and murmured thanks for them as well- she'd never actually been waited on before, she wasn't sure what the protocol was.

Her eyes flickered over their surroundings and a soft smile curved her lips. "This is so lovely. How can the students ever bear to be inside when this is all so close?"

[Zero]

Keiran's smile deepened at her thanks as he moved around the table to sit across from her. The servants gave smiles in response to her thanks, but merely moved away once everything was placed on the table.

"Well they do not have to stay indoors when they do not wish to. There are very few structured lessons here. Most learning is down with only a few students interested in the same area of study and a tutor. It is not uncommon for these small lessons to be held outside on prettier days." He gestured around them, for the gardens were far from empty. Keiran wouldn't call them crowded, by any means, but there were small groups of students and staff walking or sitting together dotting the grounds within view.

He plucked a small raspberry tart from a tray and took a bit, humming happily. There were a handful of strawberry and blueberry tarts as well, plus a few lemon and honey cakes. "I was not sure what you liked with your tea, so I had a small selection..." Keiran gave her a slightly sheepish smile.

[DragonSong]

"I see." She smiled happily at the thought- yes, it really would be amazing to be allowed to study here.

His sheepish smile made her blush a bit and she murmured yet again. "Thank you." Her hand reached automatically for a strawberry tart and she took a bite. Her eyes widened a soft sound of pleasure managed to slip passed her lips, eyes sliding closed.

"What- who makes these?" she chuckled in something like wonder.

[Zero]

Keiran filled both their cups from the tea pot as Lyssa reached for the strawberry tart, and he smiled widely at the sound she made upon tasting it. He set the pot aside and tilted his head with a grin. "Kia's Garden has a large kitchen with highly skilled cooks and bakers that prepare meals for both students and staff."

He paused thoughtfully before adding, "The school is well-staffed with servants. As I am sure you know, many very privileged young people attend this college who are used to a certain level of attendance. It is actually not uncommon for students to bring with them family servants from home to serve them while they study. There is an entire dormitory for them separate from the students."

Keiran shrugged his shoulders. "I know you will not have your own servants to bring, but those employed by the school will always be happy to help you at any time."

[DragonSong]

"Oh." Lyssa blinked at that, then gave a little shake of her head with a bemused smile. "Well that's...not what I'm used to." She laughed a little awkwardly. "I think- I'll probably do my best to take care of myself. It's what I've always done."

She shrugged and sipped at her tea, closing her eyes for a moment to enjoy te flavor.

Yeah. None of this was what she was used to.

[Zero]

"I am sure that you will, but it is always good to know that there are people there to help at any time." Keiran knew it wasn't the type of lifestyle that she was used to, but he sincerely hoped she would grow accustomed and comfortable to life at Kia's Garden.

He nibbled on his tart and sipped his tea, feeling more relaxed than the previous evening, but still held a pinch of nervous jitters. Keiran still wasn't sure just why he wanted so badly for Lyssa to love it here.

"After tea we can tour the grounds a bit, I am so looking forward to showing you the school's library." Not that the public one she worked at wasn't lovely, it was, but the one here was certainly a bit more opulent and grand. For some reason he preferred hers. Although he suspected that if Lyssa was at the one at the school he would go back to favoring it.

[DragonSong]

"Really?" She perked up a bit at the mention of the library and her smile brightened a few degrees. "That would be lovely, thank you, Keiran."

She shifted in her seat a bit and took another sip of her tea. She was feeling anxious, fidgety, though she really wasn't sure why. She thought she would've relaxed some once she was actually on the grounds, but for some reason just sitting here was making her even more nervous.

"I, um..." She trailed off, cleared her throat, then tried again. "I don't suppose- we won't um r-run into many other students will we?"

Lyssa winced at her stutter and dropped her eyes. Well, that was certainly some of her nerves- those girls from the library went to school here right? Maybe that was why she was so jittery.

[Zero]

"It is my pleasure Miss Lyssa." Keiran smiled, waving away her thanks as he took a drink of his tea, giving a soft hum of appreciation for the subtle flavor.

He noticed the way she seemed uncomfortable, as if worried about something, but he couldn't fathom what might be troubling her. Although, while his composure had thankfully returned, he still felt nervous fluttering in his gut - all in all a very peculiar sensation that he wasn't familiar with until very recently.

"Ah, is that was has you uncomfortable?" It would make sense and he felt foolish for not realizing it sooner. "We may run into some of them, but you will be their classmate soon. Those young ladies from yesterday will not trouble you again, I promise."

[DragonSong]

"Oh." She blushed even deeper at how easily he switched to attempting to reassure her. "I, um- I don't want to be a bother. I mean, I suppose...it is their school. That is...your school. For...people like you."

Her cheeks were deep emerald now and she dropped her eyes, feeling distinctly out of place.

[Zero]

"People like me?" Keiran questioned gently, keeping any offense out of his voice. He thought he knew exactly what she meant - wealthy, privileged, high society people. It stung a little that she thought that way. "Lyssa this will be your school too, and you have never been a bother to me."

[DragonSong]

"I just...I feel so inept here," Lyssa mumbled. "Everything's so beautiful, and elegant. It's not the world I was born to, Keiran." She shrugged helplessly and looked up at him, then tried to force a smile.

"But I- I really would like to learn. I'm just...scared I guess."

[Zero]

"You are far from inept, and there is nothing for you to fear." Keiran said with a concerned frown. He felt terrible, had he pushed too hard for this? Suddenly he felt selfish, because having her closer, attending school with him had been what he had wanted.

Feeling almost desperate to reassure her, he reached across the table to gently grab her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Keiran hoped that his sincerity would be obvious as he flashed as charming of a smile as any he'd ever given to anyone. "Miss Lyssa, I assure you, you are just as beautiful and elegant as any other young lady that has, is currently, or will ever attend this college."

[DragonSong]

Her eyes went wide behind her glasses and her blush went from emerald to nearly pine green. "O-oh, I- I'm not- I mean..."

She nearly choked on her own tongue and had to duck her eyes, though she gave his hand a soft, grateful little squeeze in return. "I... Thank you, Keiran. That's- that's very kind of you to say."

[Zero]

"I only say it because it is true." Keiran said warmly, letting his hold on her hand linger for a little longer before gently pulling away. Well he wasn't lying. Lyssa was a very beautiful young woman, and her personality only made her even more lovely. Despite his feigned obliviousness to the attention of young women Keiran wasn't completely hopeless to recognize attractiveness.

It just served him better to ignore such things. After all, attraction played such a small role in choosing companionship. His father would be far more concerned with the breeding of his future wife than whether or not Keiran felt attracted to her - physically or emotionally.

"As soon as you are ready we can begin exploring. I will show you anything you wish to see." He smiled, clearing his throat softly.

[DragonSong]

Lyssa took a moment to collect herself, then cleared her throat again and nodded quickly. "I, ah, I'm ready. I think." She gave a nervous little laugh and moved to stand, though she snagged her toe on a leg of her chair in her haste and nearly fell back into it, sending the depths of her blush plunging into the emerald spectrum again.

[Zero]

Keiran stood when she began to, and it was truly an instinctive reaction when he reached for her as she nearly fell back into her chair. He managed to pull his hands back before actually grabbing onto her, and turned the action into smoothing his robes. Lyssa was acting so nervous around him, and that only made him feel jittery and nervous in turn - she had seemed such a vivacious and confident girl at the library.

"Yes, well let us go to the library then, I think you will quite enjoy it." He held his arm out to her, attempting to regain his usual confident and casual air.

[DragonSong]

"Oh!" The young woman immediately perked up at the mention of the word library, blush fading in favor of sparkling eyes and a small smile. "That sounds lovely, thank you."

She hesitated only a moment before taking his offered arm, not quite sure of the "proper" way a young lady should accept an escort.