Private Tales A New Beginning, A Fresh Start

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

"Four??" she immediately protested, her pout shifting to gaping horror. She couldn't eat that many! At least, she assumed she couldn't. If he was getting two of anything, how was she supposed to eat twice that? It became hard to hold onto her pout when he kissed her again. She was glad, suddenly, that he was holding her and that she wasn't expected to stand, because her limbs became jelly.

When he did put her down, however, it wasn't because she had asked for it. Syrre frowned between her husband and the vendor, but said nothing as she straightened her dress. Thirty copper didn't seem like a lot to her, but it was apparently a big deal to Liam and the man. They bartered for a moment, both bristling before they met in the middle and the coin was placed on the counter.

Syrre took her four -- skewers of meat, veggies, and fruit with seasoning and (on the apples, at least) some glaze. She followed Liam, and watched how he ate from his before she ventured a delicate bite. Some old habits were going to be difficult to break, and the nibbling, delicate way she approached her meals was one of them. Conscious of how clean she kept her face as she ate, she sampled the cucumber as well.

"It's very good," she said with a smile. "Better than half of what I've ate at noble parties. Some of their fancy foods tasted awful. The money they paid for it might have tasted better."

Laughing, Syrre took another bite and ruminated on a thought.

"What was that about?" she asked him after a pause. "With the vendor, I mean."

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

Syrre was a slow eater. She liked to nibble at her food and paid more attention to how messy her face got than she did to the food itself. That got a bit of a smile from Liam but also annoyed him. This was precisely why she didn't have any weight on her. It wasn't healthy. She commented on the food and mentioned how bad the nobles' food could be. That was surprising to him. He figured they had all of the best tasting dishes and commoners like himself had to settle for second best. She then asked him about what he had done with the cook. What did she mean? He hadn't done anything particularl odd.... Oh. That was what she was talking about.

Liam had started to eat a piece of fowl meat and made sure to finish it before he responded. "We haggled over the price. Every vendor, traders, and shopkeep will have their prices higher than they need to be. You can try to get a better price out of them by doing what I did. Not easy, but I have experience." It was one of the benefits of being the son of a shop owner after all. He learned what to say to get most people to be willing to lower their prices. Just had to make it seem worth their time and effort to lower it and not get too greedy on your savings.

Liam looked at Syrre for a bit then added, "Open up your mouth." As he waited for her to do that, he put both skewers into one hand. His nimble and skilled fingers held onto them as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her in next to him. He then kissed her cheek lightly getting a little juice from his food on her. He hoped she opened up her mouth like he asked.

Nerisyrre Silvern

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Syrre nodded like she knew what he was saying, taking a nibble out of a piece of meat this time. It made sense, but the application felt... strange. Any purchases she had made in the past, she had simply paid for and been on her way. Saving was an entirely new and challenging concept. They had to make their money last, so it made sense that he would want to haggle for lower prices on some things. She just hoped she wouldn't have to be doing any haggling of her own any time soon.

"Then I'll have to learn by watching a professional," she said with a little grin before taking another delicate bite of the meat. She held the skewer at an angle, careful not to get the crease and seasoning all over her.

When he prompted her to open her mouth, she gave him a curious look but chewed her food toward that end. Before she could finish eating that bite, however, he coiled an arm around her waist and planted a greasy kiss on her cheek. Glaring at him, she paused her chewing for several long moments, considering as she maneuvered the skewers in her hand to wipe her cheek with the heel of her palm. But she finished and opened her mouth obediently. She swore that, should he put his finger anywhere near her mouth, she was going to bite him. She was a bit petty and spiteful if he recalled.

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

Syrre was not happy with Liam about the kiss and he knew it. She had been very tidy and clean with everything she did since they left Vel Anir, even if some of the dirt and grim couldn't be avoided. So the kiss was definitely his way of annoying her. He was never exactly known for passing up a chance to tease those he was close with.

After Syrre opened up her mouth, Liam quickly shifted his full skewer around in his hand so it was sitting sideways. He then slipped it into her mouth and slide the cucumber piece off. He moved his hand so it shut her mouth and she was forced to have the whole piece there. "Now chew."

Liam had his stubborn moments and he was going to show her how to eat her food. The fact it was definitely going to piss her off was just a little bonus for him. He moved his skewer to his mouth and pulled the apple chunk off with his teeth and began to chew it. Honey glaze stuck around his lips. After he swallowed he gave her another kiss on the cheek with the sticky glaze on his mouth still.

Nerisyrre Silvern

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Liam's quick, expert hand slipped the cucumber from the skewer into her open mouth. She began to protest, a guttural squeak eking out of her open mouth that was cut off as his hand pushed her jaw shut. But her tongue had shoved the cucumber to the side of her mouth, and as her teeth clamped down, a small geyser of juice and oil dripped from her mouth.

Onto her dress.

Syrre might have forgiven him for his playful antics, but she liked this dress. It was one of the few things she had left from her former life. Sure, it was painfully simple compared to the ornate gowns and fine materials she'd paraded around in daily, but it was now one of the nicest ones she had -- second only to pewter and lavender silk gown she'd worn to be married the night they'd eloped and run away.

He kissed her cheek again and she looked down at the dribble of grease on the front of her dress, her brows a disgruntled knot. She didn't chew until she looked back up at him. Angrily wiping the remaining grease from her face, she wasn't even sure what she wanted to say to him.

So she didn't say anything at all. Holding two of the skewers carefully in her teeth, she withdrew a kerchief from her pocket and dabbed at the spot. She wasn't accustomed to laundering her own things; she didn't have even the first notion of what to do with it.

Prone to being more than a little petty, she gave him a scathing look as she took the sticks in her hands again, holding the one she'd been munching on before to her mouth and resuming with her small nibbling bites.

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

Syrre was giving Liam that look. It was the look of utter loathing from the very depths of her soul. He loved it. It would seem that making her eat the cucumber slice had gotten a stain on her dress, a shame as nice as it was especially on her, and combined with the kiss had just done in her mood. He just smiled at her with this smug look of content as he idly watched her dab at the stain and went back to nibbling her food.

After eating a couple more of his skewer pieces, Liam said, "I'll wash it when we get back to the inn. I know how to get worse out of it." It was a small bit of repayment for what he had done. It was also his attempt to save the dress from his wife's unskilled and inexperienced hands when it came to domestic life. Commoner men didn't know how good they had it having wives with skills in that kind of stuff. He wouldn't want anyone else though than his wife Nerisyrre Silvern if it was ever offered.

Liam began to lead his wife off towards the public gardens as they ate. He had gotten directions from the inn keeper and the sooner they got there the sooner his wife's mood would improve. As much as he loved teasing her and making her mad, he loved her smiling face and good mood even more. After finishing his skewer, Liam just dropped his sticks to the ground. They weren't the only ground litter nor the worst of it in places. It was a shame but there really was nowhere else to put them.

After a few minutes of wandering, Liam said as he pointed with his free hand, "There are the gardens. Not much longer Flower."

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

His offer to wash the dress was a start in the right direction. She didn't pursue the remark about getting worse out of clothing, feeling a bit petty but also not wanting to dive into that conversation. Syrre had done her best to ignore the dangers he must have been in in the Vel Anir army.

She could hardly finish two of the four skewers he had gotten for her, and it was all she could do to poke in a few more bites from the third before she pressed them onto Liam. He tried his best to get her to eat more, but she told him (truthfully) that if she were to eat one more piece of food that she would likely vomit and waste it all. That, at least, seemed to pacify him.

He pointed after a little bit of walking, and she followed his hand. A bit miserable from all the food she'd eaten, she perked up. Suddenly she wasn't as affected by her distended gut.

"Oh, I'm so excited," she exclaimed with a little skip and giggle. Seeming to have forgotten his earlier transgression, she flashed him a bright smile and laced her fingers into his, giving him a tug. "Hurry."

The gardens, of course, were far simpler than those she was used to touring in Vel Anir. They were, however, beautiful. Winter touched everything, and to Liam it was likely a very boring, but Syrre dragged him to every corner she could see within an hour. She gleefully pointed out the winter-hardy plants that survived in Elbion's climate, commented on varieties that seemed different from ones she knew, explained any medicinal or useful properties of the everything she recognized, and made verbal notes of anything she didn't recognize. After a full hour of admiring the gardens, they paused on a small wooden bridge over a creek that ran through the gardens, winding through the city towards the river inlet to the lake.

"It's beautiful. Thank you, Kite," she said, turning to her husband. Taking his hands in hers, Syrre gave them a kiss and looked up at him with a warm smile. "I'm sorry if it's not very exciting, though," she said, looking back over the winter gardens. "It will be more interesting come spring, I suppose."

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

Syrre's mood was rather sour until the gardens. Liam just walked around with her and listened while finishing off the skewers. He gave little nods and replies to everything she said so she knew her words weren't wasted on the wind. It always amazed him how much she knew about various plants. He knew how useful certain plants could be, but some of the ones he figured was a weed could be surprisingly useful.

When they finally got all the way through the garden they were standing on a little bridge over one of the creeks that fed the river and lake they had to ferry across earlier. Liam smiled to Nerisyrre Silvern as she tried to apologize to him. It was adorable, but he always thought everything she did was adorable. Would that little quirk of his ever go away? Maybe, but for now it didn't seem likely.

"It was enjoyable Flower. You know so much about all of the plants here. It is amazing. Makes me wonder if you are some kind of alchemist or witch." Liam responded with a bit of a chuckle. He looked out at all of the flowers and life they had just gotten through experiencing. It was slow and clear he was taking it all in. Eventually his eyes settled back onto his wife. With a warm smile he said, "It is beautiful here. But the most beautiful flower I will ever see is you Syrre."

A kiss was placed on her lips. It lingered for a moment but once it was done, Liam began to head down the bridge. No further words were spoken from him. They didn't need to be. He said what he felt and thought and it was enough for him. The exhaustion of traveling was catching up with him. A bit of a chill was also in the air. It was probably best they either went back to the inn or found that tailor shop to look at some fabric in.

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Syrre chuckled softly at his comment. "Neither. Just very bored with access to too many books," she admitted. But she looked out into the garden, musing on whether or not she could become either. Liam seemed to think she'd make a fine mage, but she had never had such ambitions. For his sake, however, she was willing to give it her all to become something.

She was still smiling softly at the garden when he remarked that she was the most beautiful flower, and she turned to him with a look of awe and surprise for a moment before it shifted to one of warmth. The grin returned, and she closed her eyes into the kiss with a deep sigh. It was far too short and then he was linking arms with her and leading them out of the garden. She laid her head on his shoulder, letting the silence between them say what she couldn't. Her heart was full, and simply being there with him was enough.

The late afternoon was turning chilly, and Syrre looked up at the sky, gauging the sun. It was dipping behind the rooftops, the warmth it had brought slowly going out of the world. She sighed and tipped her head to look at Liam.

"Where to next? Anything else you'd like to do, or is it back to the inn?" He looked a little worn. The stress of crossing the lake had been an ordeal, and she idly rubbed his arm as she recalled it.

"We can retire for the evening and take care of more business tomorrow," she offered. She wouldn't mind retiring early herself. While they traveled, she had been slowly mending a few of his things, using one of the few practical skills she had in what ways she could. Of course, the brightly colored embroidery floss she used was hardly subtle, but it filled her with pride to see him wearing her hard work. Having a place to stay that wasn't their wagon, sleeping only in the time they weren't traveling... It would be a new experience, and she honestly wasn't sure what they would do with so much time.

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

Syrre was willing to return back to the room. Seemed she was as travel worn as Liam was by this point. He had done plenty of it during his military days, but the couple of years since then had lowered his tolerance it seemed. He just gave his wife a warm smile and patted her arm fondly. It wasn't much in the way of romance but it expressed his level of affection for her and comfort around her.

Along the way back to the inn, a store specializing in fabrics and tailoring popped up. Liam looked at it for a moment then began to subtly walk them towards it. He knew that she could use some thread. Everything she had was colorful and more suited to court clothing than the durable commoner's garb he enjoyed wearing. Some good neutral colored thread would go much better for patching and repairing his tears.

As they reached the door, Liam said with a smile, "Look Flower. Why don't we go in and you can browse their threads and fabrics? I know you enjoy your sewing." He was pretty sure she did. It was really more about getting none colorful thread for his clothing. He enjoyed her whimsy but it could get his ass kicked later if he got into being a sellsword.

Nerisyrre Silvern

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Syrre was content to allow him to lead the way, hanging onto his arm like a regal adornment as they meandered their way back toward the inn. Only once did she look back at the gardens, sighing and silently bidding them farewell. She did so love nature and was reluctant to return to the cold, damp streets of the city. But there was nothing for it, if Liam was going to rest. There was much to be done (or at least she assumed so) over the course of a few days, and she wanted him to have as much energy as he could get to tackle the tasks.

She didn't notice when they began to stray to the side and was blissfully oblivious to much of anything until he pointed out the shop. Her eyes lit up and her expression shifted from one of surprise to glee.

"Kite, you're spoiling me." She was pretty sure her face was going to split from smiling too much in an afternoon. "I do most love sewing," she confirmed.

She wasted the better part of a half an hour wandering from one end of the shop to the other, her husband trailing not far behind. He seemed most interested in steering her toward the thread, and she gave him a quizzical eye when he suggested something for more utilitarian use, as a means to save her more expensive threads and floss. She couldn't argue with that reasoning, in spite of whatever might have prompted it.

But she also found a length of simple wool in a pretty sable brown, her fingers running over the material. She contemplated asking him for it, but recalled a dozen or so remarks on their limited coin and moved on. She was a slip of a woman, and to buy the length of cloth required to make a dress form her would be minimal, but she simply had no idea how much that would be in relation to their funds. Syrre might have been a vain creature who was too oblivious at times for her own, good, but she wasn't entirely stupid.

With thread in hand, she turned to Liam with a broad grin.

"Some thread to match your clothes," she said, holding the spools up to his shirt with a sigh. "These shall do, if you're ready?"

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

A smile was always on Liam's face as he watched his wife enjoy the wonders of the store. He followed along behind her for most of the time, but eventually something caught his attention. An ivory hairbrush with flowers and ivy etched into its handle was sitting out. A bit odd of a thing to find in a fabric store. He went over to look at it while she looked over some bolts of wool.

Liam picked the brush up delicately and began to examine it. It was not new as a few signs of age were present in the craftsmanship style, but it might as well have been with how little use it seemed to have gone through. Curious. The flowers and ivy even had been painted, which was fading. It was clearly valuable even now so it was even more out of place than he thought.

The store owner walked up to Liam as he examined the brush. An elderly man near the age most would be retired by and have handed their duties on to their children or apprentices. His face was clean shaven and his head was bald. His eyes however were sharp despite the well earned wrinkles around them. With a smile the owner whispered, "That comb use to belong to my wife before she past. Took great care of it."

Liam glanced at the man and matched his volume in response, "I can tell." He glanced over at his blissful wife. "Would you be willing to part with it?"

The old man smiled more. "I might be. For the right price."

Liam frowned. "We don't have much. Definitely not what this is worth."

The old man said as he looked down towards Liam's waist, "There are other ways to pay."

Liam followed the old man's gaze down to the sword still resting on his hip. The old man said, "If you are carrying it then you know how to use it yes?" Liam nodded to the old man. "Excellent. I have a rather sensitive task needing done that I would rather the guard not be involved with. Promise me you will take it up and the brush as well as that bolt your pretty young wife is eyeing is yours."

Liam had to pause there. He knew where this was going and didn't like it. Less legal tasks could seriously effect his future ability to become a legitimate trader and gain them citizenship of Elbion. The city was very strict when it came to that sort of thing. A quick glance over at Syrre though and then he just nodded to the store owner. The man smiled brightly and patted Liam's hand. He took the brush and disappeared back where he came from.

After rejoining his wife, Liam watched her matching up thread with his clothing. Seemed his little gambit had worked and he could have more subtle thread for his clothing now. He led her up to the counter where the old man was waiting with the bolt of wool. A wide smile was on his face as the couple approached.

"Ah such a lovely young couple." The owner said in a very friendly tone. "You young man are very lucky to have such a beautiful wife. She reminds me of my late wife." He just continued to smile at them as he waited for everything they were wanting to be placed on the counter. Once they were finished he named the price. It was expensive but reasonable. There was nothing Liam could say about it that wouldn't make him seem like a cheapskate here. The old man was clever. Perhaps not the best sign considering his agreement earlier.

After Liam handed over the coin required, the shop owner said, "I had a nice chat with your husband earlier. So much love in his heart for you. Because of it I want you to have my late wife's prized possession and that bolt of wool I saw you eyeing earlier. Gifts for such a lovely couple and a little bribe to get you to come to my shop whenever you need something." The old man gave Nerisyrre Silvern a playful wink. He handed over the hairbrush to her and slide the bolt over for Liam to take along with the thread they bought.

Liam smiled and nodded to the old man in thanks. What kind of devil deal had he made to make his wife happy?

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

They approached the counter and Syrre inclined her head to the shopkeep with a warm smile to the shopkeep. He was an older gentleman with a soft face like well-loved leather and compassionate eyes. Her cheeks flushed when he complimented them, and she smiled up at Liam with pride. Though, she was sorry such a sweet man was now a widower. Syrre had been parted from her beloved for years, and knew the hurt of a small loss. But to grief him forever... She shied away from the thought.

She placed the spools of thread on the counter, the merchant gave his price, and Syrre looked up at her husband. Not knowing if it was expensive or not, she said nothing as he laid out the proper coin for their purchase. The shopkeep spoke to her again, however, and she listened with raised brows and a soft smile. Warmth crossed her cheeks once more and she glanced toward Liam with a soft smile that quickly melted to an expression of surprise. She glanced at the bolt of wool he placed on the counter and automatically held out her hands in confusion for the brush he offered her.

It was beautiful, the small flowers carved into the handle crafted by a patient hand. They looked as if true flowers had been suspended in ivory, and she turned it over for inspection. The paint was worn, an indicator of its age, but the brush was well cared for. Syrre looked between Liam and the man, her mouth agape.

"You are too kind," she said politely, though her voice was clearly colored by emotion. But there would be no arguing with him, and to press the matter further might offend him. She smiled with warmth and pride as she held the brush close.

"I'll cherish it -- in honor of your wife's memory." Syrre bowed her head and dipped in a slow curtsy, a show of respect and gratitude. She'd not been one for words, as her sister had been, but she found it easy to be demure and gracious.

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

Liam took the bolt and thread from the old man shop owner. A look from him was followed by a little wave for him to come closer. Liam raised a brow slightly but leaned in to hear what the old man had to say.

"What is your name and where are you staying my new young friend?" The old man asked. Liam knew it was to be sure he didn't just leave. Likely the guard would be summoned if he couldn't be reached. Not a good situation for him. A true devil deal right now.

"Liam. The inn is called...." Liam responded quietly then paused to think of the inn name. He hadn't actually paid attention to it for some reason. What had the inn keeper said the name was? Ah yes. Now he remembered. "The River Queen."

The shop owner smiled. "Good choice. Joseph Tailor, owner of the Fancy Fabrics. See you soon Liam."

Liam was worried but a deal was a deal. Syrre seemed to love the hairbrush so it was worth whatever it cost him. The shop owner said loud enough for her to hear as Liam turned to leave, "Young man you are right. Your lovely young wife is the most beautiful woman I've seen in some time." A playful wink followed.

What was this old man's game? Liam just frowned a bit and made sure to pull his wife with him out of the store then and there. He held Nerisyrre Silvern close as he silently lead them back to the inn. He really wanted to not be around others right now. Only Syrre was fine with him to have close by. He feared he may have sold his soul for his wife's happiness. Would that be such a bad deal though? It was conflicting emotionally trying to decide.

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

The two seemed to be in confidence and Syrre gave Liam a small smile before stepping aside. She turned the brush in her hands, fingers brushing against the fine details and grinning to herself. It was a fine gift and was something she knew would be far too expensive for them to own right then. She wondered at the woman who had owned it before her.

Their conversation was brief, and very shortly Liam joined her. Syrre peered around him and gave one final smile to the shopkeeper.

"Thank you, sir," she called as they departed, waving before she linked her arm with Liam's. They got a few steps outside of the store before she raised the brush once more, inspecting it in the light before she slipped it into her dress pocket.

"What a kind old man. He must have really liked you. Did he offer you sage advice for a new husband?" She laughed, laying her head on his shoulder for a moment as they walked.

Returning to the inn, Syrre avoided the eyes of the patrons in the main hall. Entering their room, she put the brush on the vanity, unpinned her cloak and laid it over the vanity bench, and sat on the bed with a great sigh. She bent to unlatch the delicate buckles and slide her feet out of her slippers before lying back on the bed, an arm slung over her eyes.

"Ah, what a day," she said, content. Raising the arm above her head, she smiled up at Liam. "A fine welcome to Elbion?"

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

As Syrre and Liam were walking along she began to tease him. Something about sage. He wasn't entirely sure what she was saying. He wasn't paying enough attention to what she said. Was probably about that time he accidentally added too much to their food. He was the one cooking usually after all. Why would she be bringing that up now though? Seemed odd.

When she put her head on Liam's shoulder though, his attention was back on her. He put his head on top of hers and just enjoyed their walk. When they got to the inn, the same crowd from earlier was still there. He could have sworn they hadn't moved at all since the couple left. Hoots and hollers came from them playfully as the married couple went straight back to their room. Syrre tried to keep from looking at them, so he gave her hand a squeeze to reassure her.

Back in their room, Nerisyrre Silvern immediately went about getting herself comfortable. Liam decided to just watch her as he pulled off his own jacket and boots. His young wife was on the bed in a very defenseless state. It gave him ideas, but he pushed them aside. She wouldn't want what he was thinking right now and probably not for some time despite how much he wanted it.

"Exhausting." Liam said as he laid down next to her. An arm went around her waist and he pulled her in next to him close. A kiss graced her cheek. This was rather blissful.

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Syrre chuckled as he laid down beside her. She snuggled into his side, laying her arm on his shoulder and throwing her arm over his chest. He kissed her cheek and she giggled lightly before craning her neck to do the same, kissing his stubbly cheek. Laying back in the crook of his arm she sighed contentedly.

"I love you," she said softly, looking up at him through her lashes. Her smile was growing sleepy, and her thumb idly petted his chest. "I'm excited to finally be here -- with you."

She'd spent years alone, becoming complacent with her miserable future. She had fallen into a mindless, idle state that carried her from one day to the next but this -- this was living. She felt alive, happy, excited for the future. It made her chest tighten and her eyes tear up. Hugging Liam tighter, she buried her face in his chest.

"I don't know if I've ever been this happy," she mumbled against his body.

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

As Liam laid there with his wife in his arms the entire day just seemed to come down on him. What energy he thought he had left was just gone and all he was left with was a pleasant numbness that one could only experience after a fruitful day of work. It reminded him of when he was a kid learning the family craft for the first time. His dad and brothers all together in the shop. As the youngest he was to pump the billow for their little forge to smelt down their precious metals and go get whatever tools or items required for the job. He was on his feet the entire time and always in motion.

His soldiering days were like that too. He never did seem to get proper rest. Always on the march from one place to the next. If they weren't the vanguard then they were the vanguard's reinforcements. Heat and sweat and blood and horrid sounds. His childhood was a pleasant dream and his soldier days were a never ending nightmare.

Liam had drifted off there for a bit. Syrre had snuggled up into him at some point. She spoke to him. A tired smile crossed his lips. He kissed her wherever was closest to him. He wasn't sure where exactly that was. "I love you too Flower."

Liam squeezed his wife gently and just enjoyed the moment. It was only a moment as sleep finally claimed him after it was over.

Nerisyrre Silvern

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Her heart was too full. Syrre squeezed Liam tight, breathing a deep sigh of his scent. He fell asleep so quickly, and she was reluctant to pull herself free of his slumbering embrace. Instead, she shifted closer, made herself comfortable, and settled in to sleep beside him. The bed was indescribably comfortable after weeks spent sleeping on the sparse padding against the wooden boards of the wagon, and lulled by his steady breathing, she was soon pulled into a slumber of her own.

When she awoke, it was well and truly dark. Groaning softly, Syrre rose from the bed. She'd slid away from Liam as they'd slept, rolling her back to him but using his arm as a pillow. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stood with a great stretch, her shoulders and back popping softly as she sauntered toward the window. Drawing aside the curtain, she surveyed the night. It was likely near midnight, for as much cotton as was in her mouth and how delirious she felt.

She poured herself a drink from the pitcher on the vanity before she returned to the bed. Lounging beside Liam, she considered letting him sleep longer, but she felt a small pang of hunger. If she was hungry, then he'd be starving. Syrre laid her hand on his shoulder and gave him a gentle pat.

"Kite, love. Wake up," she said sweetly, scooting closer to give his cheek and jaw a trail of kisses.

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

What does a former soldier turned sellsword born and raised to be a jeweler and trader that is newly married dream about? For Liam it was nothing. Usually his sleep was plagued with twisted nightmares of horrors he experienced or living through his greatest fears. It was not often things were pleasant or even just weird for him. The inky blackness of the dreaming void was the best thing he could hope for, and his first night in Elbion seemed to deliver him that.

With that kind of wonderful apathy, Liam was not so pleased to be suddenly roused from his slumber. Well not at first. It took him a moment but soon he realized his wife was kissing him repeatedly with her hand on his shoulder. Was she finally in the mood? His sleepy, not fully awake mind said yes.

Sliding a hand up her leg to her rear, Liam said in a drowsy, hushed tone, "Love you too Flower." His other arm wasn't really responding to his mental commands to move as it had fallen asleep due to his wife using it as a pillow. This little fact didn't really register either as he didn't freak out like he normally might from the sudden inability to use a limb. The little needles endlessly pricking the inside of his arm slowly began as his lifewater rushed back to where it had been denied before.

Just as slowly Liam began to fully awaken mentally to the situation at hand.

Nerisyrre Silvern

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Liam was groggy as he roused from his slumber, and she wriggled closer to continue the trail of hisses from his chin to his temple. He either slept like a log that had laid on the forest floor for decades or as a tripwire that woke to even the smallest sound. She never asked what he dreamed about, knowing a nightmare when she saw it. This was a case of the prior, and she almost felt bad for waking him. But, if he had as much to do the following day as he'd implied earlier, then it would be best if he were to wake for a few hours so as not to wake too early.

She squeaked and jumped when his hand slid up her thigh, grabbing a handful of her backside as he rolled toward her. If he could have seen it in the darkness, her eyes widened, her mouth set in a wide line of surprise, and her face turned a furious shade of red.

"Kite?" she whispered. Syrre hadn't thought about how her body was pressed against his, how her mouth hovered so close to his own. A chill ran up her spine and she gathered a fistful of his shirt. She'd put off a certain aspect of marriage and he'd not questioned her request, not because she didn't want it, but because she'd wanted it to be right. But what constituted as right? Her heart was thumping hard against her ribs and her stomach wasn't so much hungry now as a swarm of butterflies.

"Are you awake now?" she asked, her voice still a breath.

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

The words and actions of his wife went right over Liam's sleepy head. He was still dreaming as far as he knew right now. Dreaming about his wife it seemed and was taking a little too much advantage of it. A bit of a squeeze was something he always wanted to do but never did have the chance or opportunity while they were traveling. Not as if it meant much right now with him still dreaming. As if she would be in the mood....

The cloudiness of sleep had faded enough from Liam's mind after the textile sensation of his wife's backside in his hand. He began to realize he wasn't asleep and dreaming but was very much awake. It was sobering, like cool water over his face. He just stared at her for a bit before he cleared his throat a bit.

"Sorry Flower. I'm awake now." Liam said in a hushed voice so as not to wake up their inn neighbors. His hand hadn't been removed from where he had placed it earlier. He might be awake now but he wasn't above taking some advantage of the situation still. This woman did marry him knowing how much of a rogue he could be.

"What did you need? Or was it a bad dream?"

Nerisyrre Silvern

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

He finally seemed to rouse, looking at her with a sleepy surprise before clearing his throat. To her merit, Syrre stayed very still and tried to calm her racing heart by taking even, steady breaths.

"Good morning. Or, rather, good evening," she said, her voice small and hurried. He wasn't moving his hand. She was so close to him, and with him holding her like that... Syrre swallowed, gripping his shirt tighter and her eyes dropping to his mouth as he spoke.

"I thought -- Well, if you had things to do tomorrow, I didn't want you to sleep too long too early and wake up even earlier and be tired early and..." She was rambling. Syrre's brain scrambled for coherency and she loosened her grip on his shirt, her hands opening to lie flat on his chest and shoulder. "And I was hungry, so I thought you might be hungry, too," she finished meekly.

She hadn't withdrawn, but certainly hadn't tried to push him away. Her face was still warm. They were married -- there was nothing to be embarrassed or even shy about. That argument was rendered invalid, however, by the fact that this was the closest they'd ever been. A thrill ran through her at that realization, and her eyes watched his in the dim light from the window. She was afraid to move closer yet unwilling to pull away from him. Syrre hadn't requested they wait because she didn't want him. Far from it, he was the only man who had ever excited that burning response in her. She'd inadvertently gotten herself here, but was too conflicted to commit to kissing him or pulling away.

// Liam Silvern //

 

[Liam Silvern]

Syrre's behavior was off. It wasn't hard to notice at all given her usual bubbly self that was chatty with him. Right now she was certainly still chatty but in a nervous and not so confident kind of way that just wasn't Liam's wife. He would have raised a brow at this but he figured it had to do with what she was doing along with the nervousness. The grip on his shirt and then placing of her hand on his chest while his hand remained unhindered on her behind was telling enough. It seemed she wasn't opposed to their night being more active than planned....

But Liam knew now wasn't the time. When Syrre wanted something she just got it or made it clear she did to him. There was no nervousness, not like now. She might be thinking about it and not be opposed to it but she clearly didn't want it just yet. As much as he burned to be with her intimately he wasn't one of her courters or arranged fiance that had no interest in her wants or needs.

"Then let's get you some food Flower." Liam said in the hushed voice from earlier. A quick slap with his hand was made before bracing her as he got them both leaned up. There would be plenty of time for more intimate nights in the future. A kiss was placed on her cheek then he got himself fully up and started looking for something for her to eat.

Nerisyrre Silvern

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Liam quietly suggested getting food, giving her a gentle pat before sitting them both upright. Syrre peeled herself off of him, her face somehow redder as he kissed her cheek and stood. She sat on the bed, laying her hands over her cheeks and exhaling a deep breath while his back was turned. She was a mess, but at least she knew she was almost ready. Liam's withdrawal was likely wise.

When she had herself in order, she rose and lit an oil lamp on the vanity for him to see by.

"Did you sleep well, at least?" she asked, taking a seat in one of the two straight-back chairs. She crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap. "You were sleeping so peacefully, I almost didn't want to wake you."

// Liam Silvern //