Anya's dinner

[Deleted]

"I do," Selyse said sincerely, looking Anya steadily in the eye. "He makes me laugh, and comforts me when I'm upset...especially about my mother. I don't feel lonely or afraid when he is with me. We like the same things. We certainly have our arguments, but they're aren't anything bigger than normal arguments."

[The Smith]

Anya smiled, "And everything else?" From the timbre of her voice there was no doubt about what she was speaking. She winked though, just to drive home the idea.

[Deleted]

"I'm afraid I don't understand, my lady," Selyse said politely.

[The Smith]

Anya rolled her eyes, "I am talking of the sex, dear. And stop being so coy."

[Deleted]

For a moment, Selyse wasn't sure what to say. It was not from shyness, but rather from mistrust. How would Anya use information that Selyse gave her? Would she twist it to serve her own ends, or entirely lie about it? Would she try to drive a wedge between her son and Selyse, or between Selyse and Jeyne? Selyse wished her mother was here, to give her advice. Her mother had known Anya very well.

Finally, she decided on the truth. "We have a healthy appetite," she said with an impish smile, eyes twinkling. "Can't my lady guess why Rodrick built that lodge for me?"

[The Smith]

"I can think of a couple of reasons why he would want a secluded lounge in the woods." She smiled at Selyse, "Especially with such a pretty wife."

[Deleted]

If there was one thing that she was not, it was "pretty", but Selyse admired Anya's confident bullshitting. "You're too kind, my lady," she said. "Though I fear we are currently comparing cocks. He's shot twenty deer, and I'm on my way to beating his count by a large margin, hopefully with a big bear thrown in so I can taunt him with it."

[The Smith]

"You should beat him soon." Anya said, "Rodrick could never concentrate on any single task for too long, he would always get distracted and run off on some otherwise foolish nonsense."

[Deleted]

"I've found that for some things, Rodrick is willing to complete a task all the way," Selyse said thoughtfully. "Perhaps because he is a man grown now, he finds his responsibilities more interesting, I think."

[The Smith]

Anya laughed, "All men are boys grown large. Believe me I know." She winked at Selyse, "Nothing will change Rodrick, he will alawyas be that uncontrollable brat." She smiled to soften her words.

[Deleted]

Selyse looked at her wine, and for a brief moment another dinner flashed in her mind - when the King and Rodrick had come for her mother's tourney, and Alysanne Blackwood had died, along with dozens of others. She had never forgotten that night, and it had changed her irrevocably.

"Everyone changes, my lady," Selyse said.

[The Smith]

"Women change constantly, my lovely daughter." She smiled, "Men get bigger. When you are older you will agree with me."

[Deleted]

"Have you changed, my lady?" Selyse asked, a teasing note in her voice. She wondered at her own boldness.

[The Smith]

Anya smiled coyly and nodded, "I have. I think of some of the things I did in my youth and blush occasionally. I may still be as wild as a wolf, but I used to be as wild as a Dire Wolf."

[Deleted]

Selyse looked at the Queen Mother. How old is she? Selyse wondered. Fifty, or more? She tried desperately to banish the image of the old lady being "wild as a wolf" in bed with some lover, or pair of lovers...no, no, she must stop there. It was a slightly terrifying thought.

"How...lovely," Selyse managed a smile.