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Loria woke slowly. Bright sunlight was streaming into the room from the west window. She rolled over carefully, shifting her legs slightly as Pepper, who'd finally managed to yowl his way into the room a few hours previously, sunk his claws into the comforter. She stretched a little, yawning. Kevil, who was sleeping with his back to her, mumbled something and rolled over, pulling the blankets up around his shoulders. Careful not to disturb him, Loria slipped out of bed and dressed quietly. Pepper, blinking sleepily, gave her a cross look as she gave him a quick good-morning scratch behind the ears. She paused for a moment after dressing, looking down on her lover from the end of the bed. Her lover. She smiled to herself, a warm glow settling across her stomach as she looked at him. She turned and left the room, closing the door all but a few inches behind her. Pepper would cry and complain if she did not. A cat, after all, is always on the wrong side of a closed door. She moved into the kitchen and picked up the thick cookery book Glossaria had loaned her. She flipped quickly through it and settled on a breakfast recipe. She consulted the list several times, checking the items against what she had in her cold box, then proceeded to mix several eggs, milk, sugar, rum, and spices in a bowl. She cut several slices of bread, dipping them in the mixture. She stoked the oven, putting a bit of butter in a pan on top of the stove. A moment later, she quickly fried up the bread slices. Except for one piece, which she forgot to turn on time, the breakfast came out rather well. She tossed the one smoking piece of toast out the window with a slight frown, then stacked the rest on two plates and buttered them. She fished around in the cold box and pulled out some boysenberry syrup, which she poured on the stacks. She put forks on the plates, then, taking a plate in each hand, walked back into her bedroom. She sat one stack on the bedside table, near Kevil's side of the bed and sat down at the foot of the bed with the other stack. "Good morning..." she said, nudging Kevil with her foot. "Well, it's good afternoon, really, but I thought you might want some breakfast." Kevil woke with a start as she nudged him, blinked twice in confusion, then smiled as his eyes came to rest on Loria's face. "Good afternoon, then." He sat up, letting the blankets fall to his waist, and reached for the plate. "I dreamt I smelled nutmeg." He smiled at Loria, and reached out to brush her hair from her shoulder. "Thank you," he said, and his eyes said that he meant for more than the breakfast. He leaned closer and kissed her briefly, then applied himself to the toast with the dedication of a man half-starved. As he used the last piece of toast to sop up the last of the syrup, he glanced up at her with a grin. "Ve'y..." He paused to chew and swallow. "Very good - my thanks." He set the plate down, then stretched, as thoroughly and expansively as a cat (despite Pepper's obvious disdain). He stood, poked tentatively a bruise on his hip, and picked up his plate again, holding out a hand for Loria's. "Give me a few moments to wash and dress, and I will clean up, yes?" Loria nodded, handing him her plate. She stood up, picked her hairbrush up off the dresser and went to work at straightening out her thick, tangled hair. "So, I'm sort of new to all this..." she waved her hand around, indicating the bedroom. "What do we do now?" Kevil carried the plates into the kitchen, placing them carefully in the dishpan, and went back into the bedroom. He grinned at her question. "The options are many," he answered, pouring water into the wash basin and washing his hands. "Most likely, I dress myself, and wash the dishes, and leave, as I have business to attend to, and I seem to have slept most distressingly late, even for me." He lowered his head to the basin and began splashing water over his face, groping blindly for the soap. When he straightened again, his face scrubbed and hair slightly damp, he continued, "Whether you permit me a kiss before we part ways or invite me to return at some point in the future depends entirely on whether you have quite tired of me." He grinned at her. Loria raised an eyebrow delicately, indicating Kevil's clothing, which is scattered all over the floor. "You didn't sleep late... you just slept on a different schedule." She continued to brush her hair. "Well, I would certainly be happy if you came back. Unless, of course, you've tired of me?" She grinned back at him, her eyes a little wary. Kevil laughed. He walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her body against his. He kissed her neck, and whispered into her ear, "Were I not pledged elsewhere in an hour, I would show you how very *un*weary I am with you." He chuckled low, and kissed her neck again several times before releasing her with obvious reluctance and bending to pick up his clothes. Loria kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him against her for a long moment. "Ah, well... " She stepped out of bed slowly, pushing some of Kevil's things towards him. "I shall occupy myself while you're away. Today's my day off, you know, so, when you're done with your other business?" Kevil nodded as he pulled on his clothes. "I am playing at the Dragon's Den this evening - I expect that will last until late. You are, of course, welcome to come. If not... I will see you afterward, d'va?" He finished lacing his shirt and leaned down to kiss Loria again, then straightened with a grin. "And now - onward - the dishes!" He grinned and strode toward the kitchen. Loria giggled as she watched him charge into the kitchen like a crusader. She waited a moment, then came after him. "Um..." she blushed, looking at the floor. "Can I ask a personal question?" Kevil paused in the act of gathering the dirty dishes and looked at her curiously. "Of course, raindrop. What is it?" She blushed again. "I never..." she looked up at him briefly. "I never did anything like that before. Did I? Was it... " She chewed on her lip, trying to figure out how to phrase the question. "Was it all right?" "It was much better than 'all right' - especially considering your lack of experience." He smiled gently at her, and started scrubbing the frying pan. "Whatever your doubts, allow me to allay them: you were a wholly delightful lover." He glanced over his shoulder briefly, his eyes twinkling. "You had to ask?" Loria sticks her tongue out at him. "Like I would know!" She laughed, handing him another plate. Kevil chuckled as he scrubbed the plate and set it aside to dry. He turned and picked up a towel, drying his hands. "And now, I fear, I must go." He pulled her into his arms again, smiling. "I will see you later this evening, and you may then attempt to explain to me how terribly inadequate I was, and I will of course endeavor to make it up to you." He grinned and kissed her lingeringly. "Well," she put her hands on her hips and tapped one foot. "You'll just have to keep practicing until you get it right, I suppose." She laughed, then pushed him in the general direction of the door. ********************************************************************* Temire drifted out of her restless sleep once more and sighed feeling Ilarion's arms around her. She lay there trying to bring her jumbled thoughts in order and as she had all evening, failing. *Yohko-sensei's going to push me harder because I didn't sleep well and got caught like that. What was Roni remembering that was so awful? I wish I could do something for him.* Temire realized only one of Ilarion's arms was actually still around her. The other was lying on her breast. She bit her lip as she felt the nipple hardening against the soft flannel of her nightgown, for a moment forgetting all sensations except the warm touch of his hand. *Roni, wake up and touch me. I'm sorry for being so cruel to you. But....* Temire's thoughts trailed off in a disjointed jumble once more. *I should get up.* Temire regretfully extricated herself from Ilarion's arms, being careful not to wake him and then quietly left the room. Temire returned, dressed in shirt and breeches once more, placing an apple and a note on the table next to the bed before leaning over and kissing Roni 's hair. "I'm sorry love." Ilarion rolled over, catching her arm. "I thought I was the one who was supposed to sneak off, leaving breakfast and a note." He looked up at her, his hair a little tousled and his eyes still sleepy. He yawned, stretching. "What're you sorry about, Mira?" Temire looked startled as Ilarion moved, then sat down on the edge of the bed, looking away from Ilarion at the floor, "For tempting you like that..." Ilarion sighed, running one hand through his hair. "Somehow, Mira, I think I'll survive." He laughed a little. "Aside from that, I really was tired. I'd..." He blushed a little. "I'd hate for you to think badly of me because I didn't take the time to do the thing right." "I just...I didn't...You were...I was worried about you...but...I just..." Temire starts crying softly. Ilarion pulls Temire to him, holding her against his chest. "Everything is all right now, isn't it? You're not too hurt anymore? I'm fine, too. Just a little tired. I shouldn't have pushed it so hard, but... I don't like seeing women hurt. And I couldn't bear to see you like that, all battered." He hugs her, burying his face in her hair. Temire turns, holding Ilarion tightly and crying on his shoulder, "I'm not hurt...I'm not hurt...I'm not hurt..." Ilarion absently runs his fingers through Temire's hair. "You may not be hurt, Mira, but you are hurting..." He rocks her a little bit. "Want to tell me what's wrong?" Temire cries for a few more moments then speaks softly through her sniffles, "Roni...What did you see?...After you healed me..." Temire continues sniffling, her brow buried in the crook of Ilarion's neck. He stiffens a little against her, as if restraining the urge to pull away. "Old memories, Mira," he speaks softly, looking far away. "Something I keep hoping to forget. I... I don't know that you'd like me as much, if I told you... told you about the stupid mistakes I made when I was younger." "I made stupid mistakes last night...::sniffle::...I think...::sniffle::...I think I ki... ::sniffle:: ...killed...::sniffle::...some of them." Temire's tears started anew. Ilarion rocks Temire back and forth, humming softly under his breath. "It's all right. They attacked you, didn't they? It's only right for you to defend yourself." Temire cries harder, "But if I'd drawn...my sword...as soon as... I... I was... trapped... I wouldn't... wouldn't have hurt them. I was so... so angry. I wanted to... kill..." Temire becomes incoherent. He sighs. "Yes, it's very easy to want to kill the people who've hurt us, or who hurt the people we loved." He strokes her hair, his fingers trembling a little. "Did you ever... hurt anyone before this?" Temire nods, unable to speak. "Mira," he says, looking at her. "You had the right to defend yourself. Should I tell you about my own experiences? Yes, I probably should." He pushes her away a little, making some space. Without looking at her, he begins: "Without going much into detail, circumstances forced me to leave my mother's home when I was a little younger than you are now. And, being half-elven, I was even less mature. I headed east and ended up in Waterdeep for a while, where I took classes at the wizard's college for a while. I spent time at classes, and writing my books. Within a year, I was pretty well settled. Had money from my writing and from what I'd taken with me when I left my mother's place. I was coming home from class one day and found a woman in my garden. "And I mean that, literally. She was half-dressed, exhausted, and had been accosted on a few occasions. She'd crawled into my garden, hoping to die. I didn't know that at the time, so I brought her into the house, cleaned her up as well as I could, and had a cleric come to treat her injuries. "She woke up the next day and told me her name was Carrie and that she was in a great deal of trouble. She wouldn't tell me what the trouble was, or where she came from or anything like that. I was curious, naturally, but she was convinced that I would be better off not knowing. She stayed with me for two years. At first we were friends, and then more than friends. By the end of the third month, I'd have died for her without a whisper of protest. "Eventually we talked about getting married. She was three months pregnant with my child at the time, and we didn't want anything to spoil it. We set the wedding date." He stops, looking at Temire. "Are you sure you really want to hear about this?" Temire bites her lip and nods, her face pale. "Anyway, about a week before we were going to be married, I came home, noticed the door was slightly ajar, and became a little worried. Carrie had always been very careful to lock the door. All the time. She was fanatical about it. Sometimes she'd wake me in the middle of the night to make sure the house was secure. "I found her on the floor in the kitchen." He stops for a long moment, swallowing hard. "She'd been beaten almost to death. She was... she was covered in blood and both of her arms were broken. I barely had the presence of mind to do anything for her, I was frantic with worry. I sent a neighbor for a cleric, but it was too late for our child. The cleric healed Carrie and left. "She finally told me the truth then, that she had run away from her husband and her marriage just before I found her. Her husband... " he swallows again, his eyes angry and sad at the same time. "Her husband used to beat her and she finally left him. He had, she said, been watching us for the last few weeks, waiting for his opportunity. He broke into my house and..." He trails off again, blinking. "I was furious over what he'd done. I... it didn't take me as long to find him as it had taken him to find her. I broke into his room at a fancy inn and stabbed him. A lot. The militia men had to drag me away from his body. I couldn't... I couldn't stop wanting to hurt him, even though he was already dead." Ilarion sighs. "Turns out her husband was a very rich and powerful man, with rich and powerful relations. The cleric who had healed Carrie went missing and we couldn't find anyone to witness for us that Carrie had been beaten as badly as she was. The family of her husband was accusing us of murdering him, to get his money and estate. I... I even wrote to my mother, to beg for assistance. She couldn't be bothered, but the rumor got around of who I was. So, they changed the accusation slightly, said that Ceridwyn had enchanted me, used me to murder her husband. I was sentenced to six months in prison for being so weak as to fall under such a vile enchantment, and to make sure that the enchantment was broken. Ceridwyn... " he blinks back tears. "Ceridwyn was sentenced to death. She was stoned to death, right outside the window of my cell. There was *nothing* I could do. Nothing but watch her die." Temire hugs Ilarion fiercely, crying once more. "I'm sorry Roni...I'm so sorry...I didn't know..." * Ilarion looks at Mira, trying to wipe away her tears. * Temire continues crying for several minute before slowly calming down. <Ilarion> So... ::looks around sort of helplessly:: You're not the only one who's done something really stupid and people have ended up dead because of it. We should have just run... there was no need to take revenge on him. We could have left... * Temire pulls back and glares at Roni, "NEVER say that! Family and children are the most important things in the world. I'd never be able to forgive anyone who let their child's death go unpunished." <Ilarion> ::looks out the window:: Do you like children? * Temire nods, "That was the hardest part of leaving home. I had to leave my sisters behind." <Ilarion> I think Carrie was happy to be carrying my child. Those last few weeks together, before her husband found us... ::he sighs:: * Temire looks down, "I'm sorry for bring up such painful memories." <Ilarion> ::shakes his head:: You didn't bring them up, Mira. I live with them every day. * Temire sighs then looks at Roni, "Do you have any happy memories?" <Ilarion> I have lots of happy memories, Mira... ::he smiles at her:: What happened in the end doesn't change a single moment I had with Carrie. * Temire looks out the window a sad expression on her face, "I should probably go or someone will know that I was here." <Ilarion> ::shakes his head:: I shouldn't have told you about it... I'm sorry. * Temire shakes her head and looks back at Roni, "No...I'm glad you told me...I always assumed that she was some friend of yours...I'd wondered why you didn't talk about her..." <Ilarion> She was a friend of mine... ::he sighs:: Do you really have to go? I'd... I'd rather you didn't. * Temire closes her eyes and thinks for a moment, "Would I be intruding on her memory?" <Ilarion> I loved her. And she's gone. I can't change what I felt then, and I still cherish her memory. But Mira, it doesn't change how I feel about you. * Temire brushes Roni's cheek, "I know Roni...But I don't want to treat her memory lightly just because you're with me now...She deserves better than that." <Ilarion> ::half smiles:: She deserved a lot better than she got, too. I've done all I can for her, mourned her passing and moved on. Fourteen thousand copies of my novel have sold and there are men and women who will never know her face who know her heart. In the book, I was able to cheat death, and we escaped into freedom and happiness. * Temire smiles, "I hope you don't have a similar ending planned for my book." <Ilarion> ::raises an eyebrow:: I wasn't writing your book, dear heart. You asked me not to. * Temire leans against Roni, "I think I might have changed my mind." <Temire> Can I ask a favor though? <Ilarion> You can always ask, Mira. ::he taps her on the nose:: * Temire smiles and lays a finger on Roni's nose, "No love scenes. If we do, I don't want the experience ruined by already having read about it." <Ilarion> ::raises an eyebrow:: Well, it may be a while before I have time to get to anything new, dear heart. I've got two projects I'm working on. It may be two or three seasons before I start a new book. ::smiles:: * Temire looks innocently at Roni, "Oh? Expecting me to give myself in the next fortnight are you?" <Ilarion> I wouldn't object... ::he holds out a hand to forestall being bopped on the head with a pillow:: I'm just letting you know it might be a while before you have anything to read, one way or the other. * Temire smiles and kisses Roni's cheek, "Good. I wouldn't want anything but your best." <Ilarion> ::peers at her:: I'm confused. * Temire smiles, "I want you to take as much time as you need to do what you're going to do because I want it to be the best that you're capable of." <Ilarion> ::seriously:: I never turned a piece of parchment in to my editor without knowing it was the best I could write. * Temire smiles and shakes her head, "I was joking Roni...Well no I wasn't, but I didn't mean it like that." <Ilarion> ::continues to look confused for a moment, then comprehension dawns and he coughs, looking at the floor and coloring slightly:: * Temire smiles and stands, "Was there anything else you wanted to tell me Roni?" <Ilarion> ::mutters something:: I suppose I should, being that it'll be better if you find out from me. * Temire quirks an eyebrow, "Oh?" <Ilarion> Carrie's not the only woman I've been... better than friends with. And... ::he shrugs:: Kauriss and I are still friends, but not like that. She married a merchant about three years ago, I think. * Temire blinks, "And? Does she have your children or something? You already told me you'd been with other women. I assumed there had been several. It was finding out that you were almost a father and almost a husband that shocked me...And the horrible way it all ended." <Ilarion> ::blushes:: Well... she did, actually. When it looked like her family was going to find her a good marriage, she... she gave our daughter over to me. Ilya's in a boarding school. She'll be seven years old in about three months. * Temire blinks at Roni, "Why didn't you marry her?" <Ilarion> ::shakes his head:: She wouldn't have me. Second son wasn't good enough... * Temire blinks, "Then why?" Gestures vaguely. <Ilarion> ::shrugs:: Bad role models, maybe. Because I thought she might change her mind. Because I was stupid and young and in love. * Temire shakes her head, "Sometimes I think people weren't meant to understand love." <Ilarion> Not at all... ::he smiles, slightly:: Do you mind? About Ilya, I mean? She's a good child. * Temire smiles, "I'll have to meet her. Besides I don't want to step on the hem of her dress. She might like being the only woman in her father's life." * Ilarion makes a face. "Not in the slightest... she feels awfully lost without her mother. She keeps asking me if I'm going to buy her a new mother sometime soon." * Temire giggles, "Buy her? Oh dear, her mother was a merchant's daughter wasn't she?" <Ilarion> ::nods:: Very mercenary. I learned a lot about love the hard way from that woman. * Temire sobers and looks at Roni again, "I don't know if I can be a mother to her Roni...I still feel like a child myself most of the time...I'll try to be a sister to her though." <Ilarion> ::smiles:: We'll see how things go, Mira, my heart. I'm not about to let my daughter dictate my life any more than I would want you to compromise yourself for my convenience. If it works out, it works out. I'm in no hurry. All I want from you is whatever you're willing to give. I can live just for the now of it. ::he kisses her softly on the side of the mouth:: * Temire turns her head so that their lips meet full on, her hand sliding up his arm. * Ilarion returns her kiss, his hand sliding up her side. * Temire breaks the kiss, her hand caressing Roni's cheek as she looks into his eyes, "Was there anything else my heart?" <Ilarion> ::laughs a little:: Breakfast might be nice. * Temire smiles and hands Roni the apple, "Try to pretend to sleep until Yohko-sensei and I start making a lot of noise. Afterwards Michelle will make breakfast while I bath. Unless Na-chan beats her to it or they both sleep in this morning. After breakfast you can walk me to class." <Ilarion> ::grins:: Can I watch? * Temire smiles, "After we start making noise." <Ilarion> Well, I meant your bath... ::winks at her:: * Temire blushes and looks down, "No..." <Ilarion> Ah well... ::he winks at her:: * Temire shakes her head, "What am I going to do with you?" <Ilarion> I can think of lots of things, but you already said no once this morning... ::he grins at her:: I can only take so much rejection in one day. Go spar, or whatever it is you're supposed to be doing... I'll catch up with you in a bit. * Temire blushes again, "I'll see you soon Roni." * Temire stands and quietly leaves the room. * Ilarion leans back into the guest bed. He sighs, looking up at the ceiling. **************************************************** The sun was creeping in through the window, warm for late fall. The woman opened her eyes. She looked around and saw nothing familiar. Softly, from another room, she heard a girl crying. The woman stopped for a moment, then carefully rolled out of bed. She discovered she was wearing only a long white shift. Frowning, she began a quiet, careful search of the room. She discovered a handsome blonde elf, lost in the Reverie, sitting in a chair. She snarled silently and continued to move around, trying to find some clothing. She was careful not to step directly in his line of sight. In a drawer of a small oak cabinet, she found a set of black breeches and a cotton tunic. She watched the elf male carefully as she quickly changed clothing, her lip drawn back in a silent sneer. She hated her own race, more than any peoples in the world. Fully dressed, the woman began a systematic search of the room, pocketing valuables. The young elf had a full purse which she casually transferred to her person. *Consider yourself lucky, elf,* she thought. *I don't have a knife or I'd have slit your throat.* She moved to a window and looked out. The hot autumn sun was streaming in from the east. Carefully, she lifted the window and gracefully climbed out onto the porch roof. She eased the window closed behind her and climbed down the rest of the building. From the ground, she surveyed the area, checking for watchers. Seeing none, she straightened and casually walked away. |
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