By the Banks of the Tisa

[wheatencrown]

The river is quiet as is the land around them, hidden under the quiet of Winter as Demeter brings Attila through holding a picnic basket,

"Welcome home."

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[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila leans to look in the basket, which puts his shoulder against hers, his dark hair swinging to tickle her cheek.

"They look strong," he says with a smile. "I heard a rhyme once - a pine for me, an ash for my son, an oak for folk in years to come."

[wheatencrown]

"They are strong and I will make sure they grow tall and proud for many years."

She leans back against him, kissing his hair gently,

"After lunch, we shall walk and you will decide where to plant them."

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila nods. "I have never planted a tree," he admits, "but I know how it is done. Perhaps the host here can tell us where to obtain some thorn branches to protect the saplings until they are grown enough to be safe from the stock. Sheep," he said darkly, "will nibble anything and even they aren't as bad as goats!"

[wheatencrown]

"Its a simple but powerful act as is tending and growing anything."

Demeter grins at him, she has other ways of keeping plants off of her plants.

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila smiles wryly. "I never really got the hang of farming," he said. "Was bred to fight, see. But I could see how essential it was. It's what I should have been doing - making it safe for the people to till their fields and bring in their crops. I don't know how it got so - out of control. Too late now but," he looked from her to the basket, "at least I can help give them a good start."

[wheatencrown]

"You made it possible for others to tend without worry and that is a great thing so I will not have you speaking down on yourself."

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila shakes his head. "I ruined more crops than I ever protected," he admitted. "But that was then and this is now. It's heartwarming that here, where I was a protector, I am still remembered. As are you - every time a man puts his hands in the soil with good intent, it is in some sort, a prayer to you."

[wheatencrown]

"By your hand others could grow crops, hold onto that."

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila smile and touches her hand, seeming small against his massive scarred paw. "Thank you, lady," he breathes then looks up as the host approaches with a tray.

The man nods warily and respectfuly then sets out the dishes which Attila inspects with approval.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter smiles up at the server who finds himself answering with a grin as he moves away,

"Now, does any of this look familiar to you?"

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila frowns and draws his knife, using it to manipulate the food with the casual ease of someone for whom forks are just a recent fad.

"Meat - fairly fresh by the smell of it," he said. "I don't recognise the seasoning on this dish but that is lamb roast with rosemary. Bread, also fresh, and unbelievably puffy. No greens - you need your greens to stop scurvy. Maybe they ran out. Is that cheese. It smells like cheese. Only it's hard."

Attila continued to poke around with all the curiosity of one who once said, "I wonder what would happen if I invaded Dacia?"

[wheatencrown]

"Probably a touch of paprika along with some salt and pepper. We can of course orders some greens if you like."

Demeter's smile has turned into a grin, seeing Attila discover his home again.

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

"I'm all right," Attila said. "I had my breakfast koumiss - as good as a whole cabbage except it doesn't make you far... um - fat, I was going to say fat." He grins back at her and begins to transfer items of food to a dish for her.

"This food is a banquent," he said. "Though it's the company that adds savour."

[wheatencrown]

"Thank you, Attila, I'm glad to share it with you."

He gets another kiss on the cheek as Demeter starts to eat.

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila smiles into his beard at the kiss. There's a little voice in the back of his mind suggesting that next time he jerk his head round and catch her lips on his own. But there's another suggesting that he's having a good tim and it would be a pity to spoil it.

He's inclined to agree to the latter so piles his own plate and tastes the bread.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter wouldn't mind, she plans on kissing him properly later when they have more privacy.

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

He ate quietly, keeping an eye on her food intake so he could offer more, but not talking. Times past he had eaten in the saddle more often than not and had never understood the fascination Roman's had with food and the rituals with which they had surrounded its intake.

The host also brought jugs with beer and wine and horn cups. Attila smiled and nodded and then inspected the brew.

[wheatencrown]

Its a fine one brewed in the area and Demeter does not stint in her eating, she appreciates the work and care that goes into all that's before them.

In time she is licking her fingers and whispering to the lady of the house who soon returns with a wonderful dessert full of honey and lovely fruits.

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila loves a woman with a good appetite. Those Roman dollies who either picked at their food or who gorged then took a trip to the vomitarium outraged him during his stays in Rome and lesser cities.

He tastes the beer and nods approvingly at the depth of taste, Then his nostrils twitch as he scents the sweetness of the next dish.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter laughs and offers him a piece of the honey dessert from her fingers.

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila smirks and brushes his hair back out of the way before ducking his head to bite the piece of sweetness carefully from between her fingers. His lips caressed them and he glanced up at her before he began to chew.

Then he took another piece and raised it to her lips.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter slowly eats it off his fingers before giving him a gentle kiss on the lips,

"You look happy."

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

"I am happy," he said, his voice low. "I'm warm, I have good food and good beer, nobody's trying to kill me, which makes me content."

He smiled, teeth white in the darkness of his beard. "But it's being with you that makes me happy. You soothe my soul, lady."

[wheatencrown]

"I'm glad that I can but you have such a warmth in your heart that soothing your soul is a joy."

She takes her time finishing dessert and praises the cook with a smile that lights the room.

[453-died-angry.livejournal.com]

Attila adds his praise, causing the other people in the room to tilt their heads and smile - a little puzzled - as though half hearing something they half understand. Then while Demeter talks to her subjects he finishes his beer and watches her with gladness and affection.