* Meghan steps into the Inn from the warm afternoon and glances around. She is wearing a dark green sleeveless dress and her hair is tied back with the same color tie

* Kevil is sitting in the quiet common room quietly playing his lute. One leg is propped up on a chair.

* Meghan spots Kevil and smiles softly walking slowly over to him,listening to his music

* Kevil looks up as she approaches, though he continues to play. "Lady Meghan! How nice to see you! Please, sit."

* Meghan smiles and sits next to him saying nothing just listening to his music

* Kevil is playing somewhat aimlessly, wandering through music of many different styles. He smiles at her. "And what brings you here this fine afternoon?

<Meghan> Just wanted to seehow you were doin. Seems like it's been a while since we talked and I missed you ::she smiles softly at him::

<Kevil> ::chuckles:: My ego thanks you, Lady. Less than two weeks, and already she pines... ::he strikes up a syrupy ballad with obvious leanings toward melodrama::

* Meghan laughs softly

<Kevil> ::he grins slyly at her and lets the lute travel toward something a little less obnoxious:: And how do you fare, Lady?

<Meghan> I'm ok. Have not been feeling my best but am getting better. I've been mostly hiding away at home. :: she shrugs slightly her gaze falling on the lute and resting there a moment::

<Kevil> Hiding away? From what do you hide?

<Meghan> ::glances at him a moment before taking a breath:: Val I think. Gloss maybe too.

<Kevil> ::raises his eyebrow:: Why?

<Meghan> I'm worried about how I feel. That it will be a cause for problems. ::she turns her gaze across the room and out the window:: I saw Val the night after we returned. I think my feelings have done to opposite as I had hoped

* Kevil stops playing and looks at her steadily. "You have feelings for him, still?"

* Meghan nods her gaze falling to her hands in her lap

<Meghan> ::Softly:: I do

<Kevil> Have you... analyzed your feelings? Are you certain you know what they mean?

<Meghan> ::shakes her head:: I have no idea what they mean. When I saw him that night ::pauses:: He just seems so lost, and I can't not help him. ::she looks up at Kevil:: If anything I think now I feel more strongly about him than I did before I left. It's as if everything in my life is more defined now, including my feelings about him

<Kevil> ::reaches across the lute to take her hand:: Bright star... You are the empath, not myself, d'va? I know how the different kinds of love feel to me, but in my language, there are different words for them, words to help define the feelings, yes? I... ::he breaks off as a new thought occurs to him.:: What of Michelle?

* Meghan winces at the sound of the woman's name "I think I have been hiding from her most of all" she sighes softly " I care about her Kevil. More than I can find words to describe. But it is so different than they way I care for Val. " She shakes her head gently squeezing his hand.

Notice -- Jeremy (Jeremy!~gothmog@blackops.3gi.com) is now operator (O)

* Kevil looks deeply into Meghan's eyes. "Of course it is not. They are different people, who fill different roles in your life, d'va?" He shakes his head. "This is not... I don't know if I am the one to give you advice, bright star. My ways are not yours."

<Meghan> Oh no Kevil I very much want your perspective. I have gone over and over it in my head and it just ends up in a jumbled mess every time. Please tell me what you think. It may be what I need to straighten the mess out.

<Kevil> ::sighs:: Ah, well... Only you know how you truly feel, yes? But... Whatever else, Vallel is your friend, is he not? And he helped you through terrible things, as a true friend must.

<Kevil> I must wonder - from the outside, not sharing your heart to know - if your feeling of friendship is confused by your gratitude for his help, by your desire for continued protection.

<Kevil> And he is barely more than an adolescent. It will not have escaped his notice that you are a beautiful woman, Lady Meghan. And before you learned to control your empathy, perhaps some of his feeling... leaked, if that word is sensible? Only without your knowing it was doing so?

<Kevil> ::he looks interested by this idea:: Perhaps a... a resonance, of sort? Listen: ::he plucks a string of his lute:: Quiet, yes? Now- ::he plucks it in a different place, and it rings louder - and the string next to it also begins to hum softly::

* Meghan listens quietly taking his words in.

<Kevil> ::he stills the first string suddenly, and the second takes several seconds to stop::

<Meghan> You could be right. It is an idea to further look into. ::she watches the lute strings pondering the idea::

<Kevil> ::smiles softly:: I could be wrong. But if you will be an empath, it seems to be good that you become... intimate with your own emotions, yes?

<Meghan> ::nods:: I have been trying to over this past week. But i think maybe I have been trying to hard. I have been looking to closely at my feeling and missing obvious things.

<Meghan> And I think maybe avoiding things instead of facing them and dealing with them outright has not been the nest approach either ::she smiles softly at him:: You'd think I learned nothing on my trip

<Kevil> ::smiles:: A dozen or more times, I heard Lady Michelle telling you that you were working too hard. It is not easy, I know, to simply rest and let the feelings flow through you.

<Meghan> ::nods:: Perhaps you should make a point of coming to play for me every so often to help me relax

* Meghan grins at him

<Kevil> ::smiles:: It would be my pleasure, bright star. I have excellent music for meditation. Perhaps it would be good for you to try to empty the mind, and merely *feel*.

<Meghan> ::nods:: I'm sure it would help. I must admit I have been looking for an excuse to see you more. ::she grins teasingly at him:: Although I am sure you are completely tired of my company by now

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Not if you will continue to caress my ego so!

<Meghan> ::smiles:: I could never tire of it

<Kevil> ::chuckles and picks up his lutecase:: Well, perhaps you will walk with me to the Meade Hall?

* Meghan stands and nods "I would love to"

* Kevil stands and slings the lutecase across his back, then offers Meghan his arm.

* Meghan slips her hand over his arm letting it rest gently there

* Kevil leads the way out, limping only slightly.

* Meghan glances at him frowning slightly "Should I ask?"

<Kevil> ::grins:: A noble injury, in the defense of innocent lives, I assure you!

<Meghan> Promise to tell me about it later. But tell me now you'll be walking fine again soon.

<Kevil> Oh, certainly. Friend Xarroch healed the worst of it, and another few days should see it right.

<Meghan> ::nods:: Ok ::shakes her head:: Xarroch too.

<Kevil> ::grins:: And Lady Nacheyla, and Lady Elgara'a.

<Meghan> Elgara? I don't think I know her

<Kevil> ::laughs:: Do you recall - that village we stayed at? I'd met a fascinating stranger after you and Lady Michelle had gone to bed? It turns out she was headed *here*, of all places - a friend of Lady Lisl's!

<Meghan> ::nods:: I remember now ::smiles at him:: did you sing her song to her?

<Kevil> ::shakes his head:: Not yet. ::he grins mischieviously:: I have been having fun... flustering her.

<Meghan> ::grins back at him:: Ahh I see