rj.theshadowrising-第41章
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her。 〃I made one for the majhere last night。 You'd have thought I had given her the Stone。 But yours will be much prettier；〃 he added hastily。 〃Much prettier。 I promise。〃
〃Rand； I …〃
〃I will be careful。 It takes only a trickle of the Power。 Just a thread； and I will be very careful。〃
Trust。 She had to trust him。 It was a small surprise to realize that she did。 〃I would like that； Rand。〃
For long moments he stared at the fluffy mound in his hands； a slow frown on his face。 Abruptly he let the feathers fall； dusting his hands。 〃Flowers；〃 he said。 〃That's no fit gift for you。〃 Her heart went out to him； clearly he had tried to embrace saidin and failed。 Masking disappointment in action； he limped hurriedly to the metallic cloth and began gathering it over his arm。 〃Now this is a proper gift for the Daughter…Heir of Andor。 You could have a seamstress make。。。〃 He floundered over what a seamstress might make from a four…pace length of
gold…and…silver cloth； less than two feet wide。
〃I am sure a seamstress will have many ideas；〃 she told him diplomatically。 Pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve； she knelt for a moment to collect the feathers he had dropped into the square of pale blue silk。
〃The maids will take care of that；〃 he said as she tucked the small bundle securely into her belt pouch。
〃Well； this bit is done。〃 How could he understand that she would keep the feathers because he had wanted them to be a flower？ He shifted his feet； holding the glittering folds as if he did not know what to do with them。 〃The majhere must have seamstresses；〃 she told him。 〃I will give that to one of them。〃 He brightened； smiling； she saw no reason to tell him she meant it as a gift。 Those thundering butterflies would not let her hold back any longer。 〃Rand； do you。。。 like me？〃
〃Like you？〃 he frowned。 〃Of course； I like you。 I like you very much。〃
Did he have to look as if he did not understand at all？ 〃I am fond of you； Rand。〃 She was startled that she said it so calmly； her stomach seemed to be trying to writhe up into her throat； and her hands and feet felt like ice。 〃More than fond。〃 That was enough； she was not going to make a fool of herself。 He has to say more than 〃like；〃 first。 She almost giggled hysterically。 I will keep control of myself。 I will not let him see me behave like a moon…eyed girl。 I will not。
〃I am fond of you；〃 he said slowly。
〃I am not usually so forward。〃 No； that might make him think of Berelain。 There was red in his cheeks； he was thinking of Berelain。 Burn him！ Her voice came as smooth as silk。 〃Soon I will have to go； Rand。 To leave Tear。 I may not see you again for months。〃 Or ever； a tiny voice cried in her head。 She refused to listen。 〃I could not go without letting you know how I feel。 And I am。。。 very fond of you。〃
〃Elayne； I am fond of you。 I feel。。。 I want。。。〃 The scarlet spots on his cheeks grew。 〃Elayne； I don't know what to say； how to。。。〃
Suddenly it was her face that was flaming。 He must think she was trying to force him into saying more。 Aren't you？ the small voice mocked； which only made her cheeks hotter。 〃Rand； I am not asking for。。。〃 Light！ How to say it？ 〃I only wanted you to know how I feel。 That is all。〃 Berelain would not have let it go at that。 Berelain would have been wrapped around him by now。 Telling herself she would not let that half…dressed snip better her； she moved closer to him； took the glittering cloth from his arm； and dropped it on the carpet。 For some reason he seemed taller than he ever had before。 〃Rand。。。 Rand； I want you to kiss me。〃 There。 It was out。
〃Kiss you？〃 he said as if he had never heard of kissing before。 〃Elayne； I don't want to promise more than。。。 I mean； it isn't as if we were betrothed。 Not that I am suggesting we should be。 It's just that。。。 I am fond of you； Elayne。 More than fond。 I just do not want you to think I。。。〃
She had to laugh at him； with all his confused earnestness。 〃I do not know how things are done in the Two Rivers； but in Caemlyn you don't wait until you are betrothed before kissing a girl。 And it does not mean you must bee betrothed； either。 But perhaps you do not know how …〃 His arms went around her almost roughly； and his lips came down on hers。 Her head spun； her toes tried to curl up in her slippers。 Some time later … she was not certain how long … she realized she was leaning against his chest； knees trembling； trying to gulp air。
〃Forgive me for interrupting you；〃 he said。 She was glad to hear a touch of breathlessness in his voice。 〃I am just a backward shepherd from the Two Rivers。〃
〃You are uncouth；〃 she murmured against his shirt； 〃and you did not shave this morning； but I would not say you are backward。〃
〃Elayne； I …〃
She put a hand over his mouth。 〃I do not want to hear anything from you that you do not mean with your whole heart；〃 she said firmly。 〃Not now； or ever。〃
He nodded； not as if he understood why； but at least as if he understood that she meant what she said。 Straightening her hair … the strand of sapphires was tangled beyond mending without a mirror … she stepped out of his encircling arms； not without reluctance； it would be all too easy to remain there； and she had already been more forward than she had ever dreamed of before。 Speaking up like that； asking for a kiss。 Asking！ She was not Berelain。
Berelain。 Perhaps Min had had a viewing。 What Min saw； happened； but she would not share him with Berelain。 Perhaps she needed to do a bit more plain speaking。 Obliquely plain； at least。 〃I expect you will not lack for pany after I go。 Just remember that some women see a man with their hearts； while others see no more than a bauble to wear； no different than a necklace or a bracelet。 Remember that I will e back； and I am one who sees with her heart。〃 He looked confused； at first； then a little alarmed。 She had said too much； too fast。 She had to divert him。 〃Do you know what you have not said to me？ You have not tried to frighten me away by telling me how dangerous you are。 Don't try now。 It is too late。〃
〃I did not think of it。〃 Another thought came to him； though； and his eyes crinkled with suspicion。 〃Did you and Egwene scheme this up between you？〃
She managed to bine wide…eyed innocence with mild outrage。 〃How could you even consider such a thing？ Do you imagine we would hand you around between us like a package？ You think a good deal of yourself。 There is such a thing as being overproud。〃 He did look confused； now。 Quite satisfactory。 〃Are you sorry for what you did to us； Rand？〃
〃I did not mean to frighten you；〃 he said hesitantly。 〃Egwene made me angry； she's always been able to without half trying。 That's no excuse； I know。 I said I was sorry； and I am。 Look what it got me。 Burned tables and another mattress ruined。〃
〃And for。。。 the pinch？〃
His face reddened again； but he faced her firmly even so。 〃No。 No； I am not sorry for that。 The two of you； talking over my head； as if I were a lump of wood with no ears。 You deserved as much； both of you； and I won't say different。〃
For a moment she considered him。 He rubbed his arms through his coat sleeves as she momentarily embraced saidar。 She did not know Healing to any degree； but she had learned bits and pieces on the edge of it。 Channeling； she soothed away the hurt she had given him for the pinch。 His eyes widened in surprise； and he shifted on his feet as if testing the absence of pain。 〃For being honest；〃 she told him simply。
There was a rap at the door； and Gaul looked in。 At first the Aielman had his head down； but after a quick glance at them he raised it。 Color flooded Elayne's face as she realized he had suspected that he might be interrupting something he should not see。 She very nearly embraced saidar again and taught him a lesson。
〃The Tairens are here；〃 Gaul said。 〃The High Lords you were expecting。〃
〃I will go； then；〃 she told Rand。 〃You must tell them about … taxes； was it not？ Think on what I have said。〃 She did not say 〃think of me；〃 but she was sure the effect would be the same。
He reached out as if to stop her； but
