Ordhan was oblivious to how much of an interruption he was. Perhaps it was because he always assumed talking to someone who was not otherwise occupied was just that, and if he let his own misgivings stop him each time, he would never speak at all. But from time to time the urgings of questions or the cautious ventures for friendship drove him beyond his reservations. This was one of those times.
Even if he had suspected that she would want solitude, her smile and easy acceptance of his offer would have driven away his doubts. The smile was only half-returned, barely altering his usual solemn expression, as he knelt and immediately set himself to the chore.
He did not speak his mind at first. It would come across like he had an ulterior movie for helping her--which, he had to admit to himself, he had, but that he wished he didn't. Several clean bowls were piled beside him before he worked up the courage to speak. "Today has been strange," was his comment, and he derided himself immediately for not cutting straight to what he wanted to know. Even that statement was shaded with a tinge of nervousness, so the casual approach was more than wasted.