The more time she spent around Alexander, the more she began to feel comfortable. It has been so long since she'd been able to just accept what she was and truly relax. Yet he..?
She studied him as he wove his tale. He had not cast judgement or even cast her out when she'd accidentally harmed him with her touch. She blushed at that. She could see a man like this married with children- all of them sitting comfortably around the fire. He would tell them stories. He'd have a daughter, trying to come up with brave stories of her own, wanting to be like her soldier father.
Then she realized she'd been dreamily staring and quickly averted her gaze. But soon her cheeks were heating to pink.
"I guess I owe you a story now," She went on, sheepishly.
"It won't be grand as yours nor near as long... but it begins with a young woman in the forest. A snowstorm got her lost on her way. But then as the snows parted sge found herself in a clearing where she'd come across a series of birds. She wasn't sure it would be safe to touch them, but when a handsome soldier came out of the woods- she wanted to run away- believing he'd be angry with her. Instead; the man invites her to hold one of the baby birds in her hands. And though she wore gloves, she could all but feel their soft feathers and their curious nature through the gloves. And as she admired the bird in her hands do you know what happened...?" She asked; catching his gaze and holding it befire revealing it in the most serious of tones. She even leaned forward, daring to get closer to him- as if to whisper the secret.
"It pooped" she paused, holding his eyes for a dramatic moment. "Right there-" and she pointed to her hand.
Her face was so serious, so dramatic that after a few beats from the reveal- all seriousness cracked as she actually snorted when she attempted to hold back a laugh. Her eyes went wide, mortified as she cupped a hand over her mouth.
And snorted again. Her whole body shook as she tried to hold back the laughter that threatened to explode, her eyes even watering..only to cause another most unladylike snort- which caused her to suddenly shy away from him as her laughter exploded.
And all she could do was laugh and laugh.
