Rory and Ceri Vignettes: Ceri's Gift

Ceri sat outside with her work just before the noon meal so she could take advantage of the light without getting too warm in the afternoon sun. She had some cloth in front of her and was sewing two of the pieces together when Rory came from the stable after replenishing Gringolets water. He came over to the table in the dooryard to see what Ceri was doing.

"Och, that looks like a sleeve," he remarked.

She smiled affectionately up at him. "Aye, it is. It is your sleeve."

Rory looked pleased. "Me sleeve? A shirt for me? Och lass, that is so lovely." He kissed the top of her head, noting how warm her hair was from the sun. It smelled of rosemary.

"If I can get this done in time you shall wear it when we go back to Lawrencium in a seven-night," she explained as he came to sit next to her at the table.

"Aye? 'Twould be that fine to have a new shirt," he grinned happily. "How long does it take to make one?"

Ceri told him, "The shirt will not take long, but I want to embroider around the neck. Some nice Irish symbols if you can advise me on that."

His eyebrows went up and in general his face lit up. "Aye? Very beautiful that would be! Aye, I can tell ye some images oft seen in Irish carvings and jewlry and other things, including embroidery. D'ye know what a Celtic knot is?"

She looked up from her sewing. "Oh aye, I do.. they are so lovely. Would you like that? In many colors?"

He kissed her cheek. "Like it I would and with me thanks, darlin' lass."

She regarded him for a moment. "You are always such a sweet happy man."

"And why d'ye think that is, sweet Ceri?" He kissed her. Then he looked at her sewing again. "How d'ye ken how to make it so 'twill fit me?"

"I put your shirt on the cloth when you slept late the other day and cut around it."

He put one arm around her waist. "Sure and what a clever woman ye are," he exclaimed. Then he asked, "What may I be after givin' ye in return?"

"Oh, Rory, you have already given me all my heart's desire... but, you could sing to me?" she suggested.

She was startled when he jumped up from the table and stepped back, throwing his left arm out in a grand gesture and touching his chest with the fingertips of his right hand, his right elbow at a humorously cocked angle. In a dramatic voice he pronounced, "The lady wishes the Irishman to sing!"

He then started to sing a very lurid love triangle song, complete with murder and lamentation. He acted out all the voices, making the husband's deep, the wife's high pitched, and giving the young dashing lover a lisp. His facial expressions alone had Ceri laughing so hard she had to put the needle into the cloth and put it away from her. She clapped and laughed. When the song was done, Rory started to do a funny little skipping dance. Ceri laughed even harder and begged, "Oh, please Rory, stop! I cannot bear it any longer!"

He stopped and went over to her and leaned to put his arms around her. "Och, Ceri, God grant ye always laugh and smile so merrily."

"As long as you are with me, I know that I shall..."

Next: Sword Play