Introductions

The first half sped by and she was spellbound as the play unfolded. She was in turn amused shocked and intrigued. On more than one occasion she realised the kind was delivering his speech directly towards her, Being only 15' away from the action, eye contact was direct and almost visceral in it's intensity. Although up till that night, Henry for her had always been Tom, for those 70-odd minutes Kit held her imagination and emotions in the palm of his assault-rifle toting hand. Amy was aware, however that the man - the glorious man - to her left was just as enthralled as her. When the Siege of Harfleur speech "Once more into the breech dear friends, once more...." began neither of them could tear their eyes away from Kit's face. For a brief moment , someone looking at them would have seen two pairs of eyes staring into the void of battle, two pairs of lips speaking in unison with the actor on stage. As the speech ended with a flourish and the actors disappeared into that very breech, Amy and Tom exhaled at the same moment releasing the emotion within. Almost in unison, they glanced at each other, smiled and then returned to the action. As she felt her heart pounding, she wasn't entirely convinced it was the action that as solely to blame.

The act ended on a sombre, shocking and visceral note and all went pitch black. The audience erupted in applause before the house lights had come up and Amy felt a tidal wave of emotion. This was everything she had imagined it to be and more. She sat back, not aware until that moment she'd spent most of the act on the edge of her seat, mere inches away from Tom but for that brief timespan, completely oblivious. She turned to Jamie, who was actually grinning broadly at her, "It was never like that at school" he laughed "I might have paid more attention if it was!!"

She swatted his arm playfully "told you so!" she crowed in triumph.

"OK you win" he conceded "now do you want a drink while we recover from all that angst?" he said, standing up and stretching a little. She nodded

"yes please Jamie, water will be fine." she passed him some cash and he departed with a smile and a "back soon". She didn't really like crushed places and the bar more more than likely packed.

Turning round, she noticed then that the seats to her left were empty now. She was more than a little disappointed to be completely honest, although equally she really hadn't expected Tom and Benedict to actually spend the interval with her, a complete stranger. Even if she was intimately acquainted with Tom's knee. Oh well, she consoled herself, there was still another act to go, they would be back. Another hour in the dark only inches away from her hero was better than she could have hoped for before she came.

Just as she was about to pull out her phone and check for messages from home, she became aware of a figure standing at the end of the row, trying to attract her attention. Well she hoped it was hers as she stood up and shuffled along the now vacated row of seats. A member of theatre staff, the girl who'd checked her tickets actually - now approached her with a warm smile.

"Miss, if you'd like to follow me, Mr Hiddleston asked if you'd care to join him and his friends for a quick chat about the play?" They moved off and she felt swept along in a tide of surprise as they almost sprinted along a corridor and though a heavy door at the end into a small room.

Slightly dazed and a little uncertain, Amy walked further in to see a table covered in makeup pots, brushes, notes stuck to a mirror and all sorts of bits and pieces of what looked to all intents and purposes like junk! The mirror was surrounded by lights and on a chair in front of it, his back to her for a moment sat Kit Harrington talking to Tom and Benedict. They were perched on the windowsill next to him and Tom had a small white espresso cut in his hand which he was using to emphasise some point or other at that moment.

As she walked in, Tom's face lit up in a wonderful smile and both Kit and Benedict turned to face her too. "There you are!" Tom exclaimed, getting up and walking over, "come on in, we don't have long - apparently this man here" he indicated Kit " says he's busy in about 20 minutes!" and they all laughed. "I - err - we thought you might appreciate an audience with the King?"

Kit stood up and stuck out his hand, "Kit - Kit Harrington - thanks for coming to see our little play!" he said with a charming smile. Amy was star struck for the third time that night

"yes - yes you are!" was all she could squeak

Kit smiled gracefully ignoring her obvious speech impediment and said "so you like our version then? All army fatigues and assault rifles? Your very familiar with the text it seems!" he winked, adding behind his raised hand , "I could see your lips move". Amy blushed to the roots of her hair and down to her toes.

"Oh God!" she put a hand over her eyes in shame and embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, you must think I'm a complete nerd!" she wanted to curl up and die but Tom, ever the gentleman came to her rescue.

"No, no not at all," he shook his head, sitting back down on the window ledge again. "it's amazingly refreshing to come across someone who not only knows the words, but the right WAY to say them. The rhythm isn't easy." He and Kit nodded vigorously "taking time to learn the pentameter is a skill and you have it".

"thanks, I've loved it since I was 11 so...." she shrugged and they looked impressed all over again. "can I make one comment? since you asked?" she said, surprising herself with her boldness, Kit nodded, sipping from a bottle of water,

Amy swallowed, suddenly feeling both nervous and 3 pairs of eyes boring into her,

"you missed a bit - in the speech - you missed a bit," she bit her lip thinking she maybe shouldn't have mentioned it, but as she'd started, she thought she should finish "but I thought you saved it very well!" Her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment, waiting for Kit's reaction.

"Ha!" he exclaimed facing Tom "I TOLD you someone would notice! Well done Amy, you proved old Hiddles here wrong!" He clapped slowly, relishing the win.

Amy mentally shook herself and said to Kit in a voice lighter than she felt, "I do like the interpretation , modern dress lends itself well in this case. The sentiments are ageless aren't they? Henry is a tortured soul, much like any leader of any age. He has his faith though, and that will keep him going. It'll be shaken, but he will survive intact." she stopped, realising the room had gone very quiet.

Amy looked from Kit over to Tom. He was smiling, but not looking at Kit waiting for a comment. No, he was looking - staring - at her, as if lost in thought. His eyes were locked on her face with an intensity that made her glad she was leaning against the table. There was something in his gaze that she couldn't quite fathom. It wasn't just a smile, it was more of, well, an appraisal. Like he was trying to read her in some way. She smiled and looked at her feet for a moment, not wanting him to see through her and the feelings that were beginning to form in the pit of her stomach.

The others in the room seemed to fade into the background, there was just Tom and her, no-one else mattered. He looked as if he were about to say something when there was a discrete cough from somewhere and the moment was lost. Amy gave a slight start and Tom sat back down on the windowsill, suddenly very interested in his cup.

"Eh, sorry folks, time's up said Kit, the atmosphere taking a lighter turn again "I have to get ready for Agincourt!" Goodbyes were said, legs were wished broken and the three of them left to go back to their seats. As they walked back along the corner, Tom took the lead and Amy walked beside Ben, talking about nothing of much importance until he turned to her and said with a questioning squint of his eyebrows

"So how do you do it? Is it a skill you learned or were you just born with it?" Amy was confused, not for the first time that evening, and simply said with all the coherence she could muster

"Eh?"

"Get men to eat out your hand" he said with a shrug "First Kit (he NEVER hugs anyone other than his wife) then Hiddles - what you did to him in that room God alone knows!" he winked at her causing her to blush furiously.

"I have absolutely no idea what you mean" she said, thankful they had now reached their row,

"No" he replied, "I really don't think you do my dear. My wife would love you, just as sharp witted and with a genuine joy of life". he sat down and got comfortable before the lights went down. Amy sat back, astonished that Ben had seemingly given her the highest compliment he could. Comparing her to his wife whom he adored and respected above all others.

Tom sat quietly between them, fiddling with his cuff, looking very distracted. Amy hoped he wasn't angry with her but before she could get a chance to speak to him, the house lights went down again and they were once more in the fields of France. In the dark, illuminated by the stage lighting, she could make out Tom's features and importantly his eyes. Despite the action going on in front of them, his were trained on one thing and one thing only. Her face.