?Now that's a pretty piece you got there.? The jewelery merchant tilted the necklace in the palm of his hand towards the sunlight, catching a glint on the white gold. The Marketplace was crowded with people enjoying a day of spring shopping.
?Yeah, yeah it looks like an antique. I get it.? Eva tucked a loose strand of hair back behind her ear as she watched the older man with the locket Tucker had given her for Christmas. ?Do you have something to go with it??
?I rather fancy the velvet cord you've already got.? The merchant looked up at her curiously. The black velvet ribbon was short, almost like a choker, but wouldn't fit quite so tight. ?You say you want a chain?? At Eva's nod, the old man shook his head and extended the locket back towards her. ?I'm afraid I don't do custom work. You can see what I've got here, but I know I've mostly got silver.?
Eva sighed and accepted the necklace back from the man. She'd come to see him because he was familiar, having worked for him wrapping gifts in his stall before Christmas. Plus, she'd been hoping he'd be able to make her a good deal. Eva glanced over at the silver chains hanging and she could tell immediately that they wouldn't match. So much for that. She caressed the soft velvet cord a moment, then tucked it away in her pocket.
?Do you know someone who does??
?Aye, there's that fella, Johnny Smith, the one's just got married.? The jewelery merchant pointed towards the Northwest corner of the Marketplace. ?He's got a shop up there with his lady-love. Expressions of something or other. You can't miss it.?
?Alright, thanks.? Eva smiled faintly, and took a step back away from the safety of the stall towards the hustling crowds.
?I might have some matching earrings for ya!? The jewelry merchant shouted after her.
Eva shook her head and called back, ?No, thank you!?
The crowd lifted her easily onto its current taking her down the aisles, until Eva had to fight to break away in the direction she wanted. She stepped left to avoid a slow moving older woman, laden with baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables, and then stopped abruptly as two small boys chased each other across her path.
Eventually Eva found her way to the correct street, looking up at a sign that read Expressions of Hope. Her fingers wrapped around the necklace in her pocket, caressing the velvet ribbon as she stood just outside. A light breeze blew her hair across her face and she sighed. More like expressions of desperation. Pathetic desperation.
Eva shook her head and stepped towards the door. There was no use going down that road just then. She at least had to find out how much it would cost.
After the chaos of the Marketplace it was a relief to step inside a place of quiet. The shop was almost serene. Eva took a moment to look around, her eyes taking in the art on the walls, the sculptures, the glass cased jewelry. This was in a different league than the Marketplace. Like a gallery. Surely, she couldn't afford it.
Leaning over one of the glass cases, a young Elven couple were whispering and laughing. Behind them, Eva could see their hands intertwined, their bodies close, their intimacy obvious. They were looking at rings. Engagement rings.
Eva sighed and stepped to the opposite counter, turning her back on the pair. She pulled the necklace from her pocket and set the locket on top of the glass case. Who was she kidding? Tucker didn't want to have anything to do with her. What was holding onto this locket going to do? What was wearing it going to do? Other than keep her hanging onto a dead relationship? Keep her hanging onto a desperate, pathetic hope.
?Yeah, yeah it looks like an antique. I get it.? Eva tucked a loose strand of hair back behind her ear as she watched the older man with the locket Tucker had given her for Christmas. ?Do you have something to go with it??
?I rather fancy the velvet cord you've already got.? The merchant looked up at her curiously. The black velvet ribbon was short, almost like a choker, but wouldn't fit quite so tight. ?You say you want a chain?? At Eva's nod, the old man shook his head and extended the locket back towards her. ?I'm afraid I don't do custom work. You can see what I've got here, but I know I've mostly got silver.?
Eva sighed and accepted the necklace back from the man. She'd come to see him because he was familiar, having worked for him wrapping gifts in his stall before Christmas. Plus, she'd been hoping he'd be able to make her a good deal. Eva glanced over at the silver chains hanging and she could tell immediately that they wouldn't match. So much for that. She caressed the soft velvet cord a moment, then tucked it away in her pocket.
?Do you know someone who does??
?Aye, there's that fella, Johnny Smith, the one's just got married.? The jewelery merchant pointed towards the Northwest corner of the Marketplace. ?He's got a shop up there with his lady-love. Expressions of something or other. You can't miss it.?
?Alright, thanks.? Eva smiled faintly, and took a step back away from the safety of the stall towards the hustling crowds.
?I might have some matching earrings for ya!? The jewelry merchant shouted after her.
Eva shook her head and called back, ?No, thank you!?
The crowd lifted her easily onto its current taking her down the aisles, until Eva had to fight to break away in the direction she wanted. She stepped left to avoid a slow moving older woman, laden with baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables, and then stopped abruptly as two small boys chased each other across her path.
Eventually Eva found her way to the correct street, looking up at a sign that read Expressions of Hope. Her fingers wrapped around the necklace in her pocket, caressing the velvet ribbon as she stood just outside. A light breeze blew her hair across her face and she sighed. More like expressions of desperation. Pathetic desperation.
Eva shook her head and stepped towards the door. There was no use going down that road just then. She at least had to find out how much it would cost.
After the chaos of the Marketplace it was a relief to step inside a place of quiet. The shop was almost serene. Eva took a moment to look around, her eyes taking in the art on the walls, the sculptures, the glass cased jewelry. This was in a different league than the Marketplace. Like a gallery. Surely, she couldn't afford it.
Leaning over one of the glass cases, a young Elven couple were whispering and laughing. Behind them, Eva could see their hands intertwined, their bodies close, their intimacy obvious. They were looking at rings. Engagement rings.
Eva sighed and stepped to the opposite counter, turning her back on the pair. She pulled the necklace from her pocket and set the locket on top of the glass case. Who was she kidding? Tucker didn't want to have anything to do with her. What was holding onto this locket going to do? What was wearing it going to do? Other than keep her hanging onto a dead relationship? Keep her hanging onto a desperate, pathetic hope.