Surprise
While they still had their arms around each other, a gesture that Estel had come to like very much, JT spoke softly in her ear:
“I have a surprise for you!” The tone of his voice was so excited that Estel leaned back to look at his face.
“Surprise? You spoil me! You surprise me already with nice hug from your arms.” “This is an even better surprise!” “Better? I can no imagine better surprise then you.”JT blushed and softly kissed her cheek. Curious the elf started to search for his pocket.
“Where is it then? In pocket?”He shook his head.
“Nope!”A puzzled look crossed her face. Where would he keep a surprise if not in his pocket? What would it be? Maybe he had gone to Carlotta and asked her to make some more soup? Or maybe he plucked apples from the tree in the Garden and left them somewhere, coming to pick her up so they could eat them together?
“You remember the Elven Quarter where we met the healer?” She nodded.
“The surprise is there. My friend Gwen gave us a gift; do you want to see it?”“Is it apple pie?” she asked hopeful. She heard this friend of his was a somewhat good cook.
Footsteps approached. A team of guards returned from wherever they had gone too. Excited about the surprise now, Estel waved at Hoagie who was amongst them and called out:
“JT has a surprise!!! And it’s not in his pocket!” Hoagie nearly choked and immediately gave JT an odd look, while JT besides her blushed really red with wide eyes.
Estel did not notice the exchange of looks between the men and watched the guards curious. Still blushing JT nodded towards one of them.
“That’s Eve… She’s an officer. Like Hoagie.” Surprised Estel stared at the woman and then again to Hoagie. Earlier she had been looking for an officer to whom she could give the bandages that she had made and JT had explained to her that…
“But she does not look grumpy and Hoagie always smiles?” Again JT’s face became redder then usual.
“Oh! They wear hats, is that what makes em diff’rent?”
“No, I have a cap too. I just don’t wear it.” At that moment Hoagie approached them and JT told him that he had paid Estel for the bandages she had made and that he was about to show her a surprise.
“Ooh! I know wha’ it is…! Lemme guess.” Hoagie said with a grin.
Estel frowned.
“I do not know what it is. What is it then?”
“It’s…” Hoagie suddenly kept his gaze on JT.
“Where ye left yer cap?” Quickly JT searched for it and put it on his head, Estel helping him with putting it straight on his head.
With a pleased look in his eyes, Hoagie nodded, and somewhat grumpily JT turned to a smiling Estel.
“Now you look like officer…” “Maybe others want see surprise too or is it only surprise for me?” JT leaned in and whispers softly
. “Just for you and me, melamin” She nodded and turned to Hoagie.
“Hoagie, you cannot come. Is only surprise for me.” The elf beamed happily. Somewhat uncomfortable JT shuffled shiftily besides her under the faintly grinning look of Hoagie. For some reason she seemed to have said things in a way that apparently was not entirely proper. She’d have to ask Lloyd about it… maybe he knew what.
Later the couple arrived in the Elven Quarter where JT led her to one of the trees. Overwhelmed by the kindness of JT’s friend she set foot inside it. They were gifted a home to stay in…