HOME | DD

Description
~ Dragobete ~

"They are lovely," her sunny chestnut eyes smiled back at him as she took the flowers in her hands. "But it is I who should thank you for saving my life back in the Devil's Vale. I still dream about it, you know - how I fell in the ravine and broke my ankle, how I spent that night alone in there, crying, thinking my life was over and no one would ever find me alive... how I saw you climbing down, easily like a spirit, how I clung to you and we scaled out - it felt like... flying! It still feels so unreal!" She took the flowers to her lips, breathing in their perfumed air. "Why did you risk your life, Codrin? Why did you not give up the search?"

"It was the thought of seeing you again that gave me strength, milady, and..." he fingered the rim of the woolen hat that he was holding, nervously.

"And?"

"...and what I feel for you."

She smiled but looked away from him as she arranged the flowers in her apron, twisting and tying it up in her waistband like a satchel.

"Close your eyes." He closed his coal-black eyes, waiting until she called out: "Catch me if you can!"

When he opened his eyes she was already over twenty steps away from him, laughing and running downhill, so he sprinted after her.

________________________________________________________________________________________
Codrin*, a young peasant, and the Boyar's daughter Savina*.

Because I had promised to make three love-themed drawings this month, I wanted to include one that celebrates the Romanian tradition of Dragobete (roughly, the Romanian version of Valentine's Day xD). The tradition isn't attested earlier than the 18th century, but it is believed to be based on a pre-Christian fertility celebration set in the mating season at the beginning of spring, now celebrated on February 24th. One custom taking place with this occasion is that girls and boys go into the woods together to search for the first spring flowers and upon returning to the village, the girl runs and the boy tries to catch her, and he does and she likes him, he is allowed to kiss her.
(In this drawing it's certainly not February, judging by the trees in bloom, but oh well, flowers look pretty for this occasion ^^)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
*These are the main characters of my short-story The Călușarii, inspired from Romanian folklore and taking place in Valahia (medieval Romania, the region called Țara Românească). The plot follows Codrin, leader of the Călușari ritual dancers, as he tries to unravel the mystery of the strange happenings in the family of the Boyar involving his daughter Savina and their guest, the son of the Transylvanian voivod.

Medie: coloured pencils

Excerpts from my illustrated short-story The Călușarii, featuring Codrin and Savina:

My other love-themed drawings this month:

Description
~ Dragobete ~

"They are lovely," her sunny chestnut eyes smiled back at him as she took the flowers in her hands. "But it is I who should thank you for saving my life back in the Devil's Vale. I still dream about it, you know - how I fell in the ravine and broke my ankle, how I spent that night alone in there, crying, thinking my life was over and no one would ever find me alive... how I saw you climbing down, easily like a spirit, how I clung to you and we scaled out - it felt like... flying! It still feels so unreal!" She took the flowers to her lips, breathing in their perfumed air. "Why did you risk your life, Codrin? Why did you not give up the search?"

"It was the thought of seeing you again that gave me strength, milady, and..." he fingered the rim of the woolen hat that he was holding, nervously.

"And?"

"...and what I feel for you."

She smiled but looked away from him as she arranged the flowers in her apron, twisting and tying it up in her waistband like a satchel.

"Close your eyes." He closed his coal-black eyes, waiting until she called out: "Catch me if you can!"

When he opened his eyes she was already over twenty steps away from him, laughing and running downhill, so he sprinted after her.

________________________________________________________________________________________
Codrin*, a young peasant, and the Boyar's daughter Savina*.

Because I had promised to make three love-themed drawings this month, I wanted to include one that celebrates the Romanian tradition of Dragobete (roughly, the Romanian version of Valentine's Day xD). The tradition isn't attested earlier than the 18th century, but it is believed to be based on a pre-Christian fertility celebration set in the mating season at the beginning of spring, now celebrated on February 24th. One custom taking place with this occasion is that girls and boys go into the woods together to search for the first spring flowers and upon returning to the village, the girl runs and the boy tries to catch her, and he does and she likes him, he is allowed to kiss her.
(In this drawing it's certainly not February, judging by the trees in bloom, but oh well, flowers look pretty for this occasion ^^)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
*These are the main characters of my short-story The Călușarii, inspired from Romanian folklore and taking place in Valahia (medieval Romania, the region called Țara Românească). The plot follows Codrin, leader of the Călușari ritual dancers, as he tries to unravel the mystery of the strange happenings in the family of the Boyar involving his daughter Savina and their guest, the son of the Transylvanian voivod.

Medie: coloured pencils

Excerpts from my illustrated short-story The Călușarii, featuring Codrin and Savina:

My other love-themed drawings this month: