Completed Breaker of Chains

[Quacey]

The fae nodded to her response. He walked towards the door and placed his hand upon the handle then paused. Wood was more difficult than ground and stone to feel vibrations through. Things felt hollow and bouncy. As if walking upon bundles of tubs that felt as if they would flex yet never did. But he could still feel it. There was still activity downstairs. Lively in fact. The night was still alive and so too would the kitchen.

He turned his gaze to Ethir and was about to say something then stopped. She was wearing his tunic. When had she put it on? Why was she wearing it? A ponder given then let go. There was more pressing needs and desires to sate right now.

"We should get dressed and join the locals. Be good to listen to some noise and music." Quacey said before smirking a bit. "Other than how you sing in bed that is."

He moved away from the door. What would she do? Would she say she wished to stay up here? Would she return his tunic to him if he didn't ask? Perhaps if he tossed her dress on top of her head....

Ethir

 

[Ethir]

Ethir glared at Quacey but there was no effort behind it. Reluctantly, she stood, pulling his tunic that she had only worn briefly over her head and throwing it at him. She took her time getting dressed in the same tunic and pants from yesterday, and could not wait until they could get her new dress. She probably shouldn't wear it as they trekked through the woods, but she but would grateful for clean, new clothes, that would fit her better than what she wore now.

"Shall we talk about how you sang?" she replied once she was dressed. "I'm sure they heard you from downstairs," She was not about to be the only one called out here.

Once both she and Quacey were presentable (there were still marks on both their necks visible above the collars of their shirts), they would descend the stairs to the tavern below them. Ethir did not know what time of night it was, but evidently it was still early enough for people to be drinking and eating and singing.

Quacey

 

[Quacey]

"Often the rumblings of the mountain are missed by the hills."

Quacey responded simply and in a purposefully cryptic way. The way his eyes glanced upon her and the tone of his voice testament to his desire to irritate her by doing so.

The tunic was taken and he dressed himself. The pair went down the stairs to find the place filled with the later half of a busy tavern. Drunks about with some already having fallen out into a hop filled haze or wandered from chairs to sing the same sweet song as the pair of fae had just with the hopefully gendered partner they thought.

Quacey made sure to escort Ethir through the throng and despite the cat calls towards them both, none dared attempt a rogue touch upon her as they did upon the poor wenches waiting the tables.

He picked out a relatively private spot for them and would help Ethir get sat down then sit himself. One of the girls managed to wade through the sea of loose hands and tongues to make her way to them. Requests for drinks and food asked. His attention went to Ethir and he waited for her to make her requests first.

Ethir

 

[Ethir]

Ethir let Quacey lead her down into the tavern. She ignored the catcalls from others in the tavern, glad that Quacey didn't say anything about it either. She supposed it was because he was close by her side that no one reached out for her.

She sat down and Quacey sat across from her. Her muscles were still sore but she certainly was not about to admit that to him. When a waitress managed to get to them, Quacey let her speak first. She was about to ask for a tankard of ale but decided against it- ordering instead a cup of mint tea and a bowl of broth and bread. It was comfort food, and she needed that right now.

When she finished ordering, she turned to look at Quacey, raising a brow and waiting for him to order.

Quacey

 

[Quacey]

The large fae made the same order with only a single alteration after she had. He asked for a fruit tea with honey instead. The woman just gave them a nod and made her way back through the handsy crowd as quickly as she could. A look of being grateful neither Quacey nor Ethir had decided they needed to swat or pinch her behind as she left.

His attention went back to his companion.

"No wine this time?"

The music was staying energetic but it was obvious the bard was growing tired. The same was true of the drunks around them. Not yet done for the evening rather in the winding down portion of it.

Ethir

 

[Ethir]

Ethir shook her head. "No," Her reply was simple and she didn't elaborate- she just wasn't feeling wine today. She had a feeling it would make her feel nauseous.

"None for you?" she asked after a moment, turning the question back on him.

She would wait for his response before asking another question. "How much longer until we can reach your home in the Spine?" she asked.

The noises and people left were decreasing, and Ethir guessed morning was drawing near.

Quacey

 

[Quacey]

The fae shook his head in response to her question. "I wish to respect your example this evening."

That truly was the answer. He just wanted to skip out on the wine as she had chosen to first. A small form of support for her independence. True independence never hinged on the large decisions. It was all the little ones made throughout the day. This was his way of respecting this fact and attempt to push her along that path in her life.

"My home would take months by mortal means. It will be perhaps two by my own as I do not believe you are familiar with the fae lines."

The tavern was indeed winding down for the night. The new day had already begun but the sun still yet was sleeping. The Twins held reign and so things were more at peace. The last hold outs of the drunks were thin however much to the relief of the poor bar wenches' behinds.

"I hope you have been enjoying your time with me away from your former employers. You are free to depart and travel your own path whenever you wish. Simply let me know and I will make sure you do not have to begin with nothing."

Ethir

 

[Ethir]

Two months. it would be two months of travelling until they would reach Quacey's home. She should have known it would take that long. She was in fact not familiar with the fae lines- she had never been taught how to use them; never having left home until she fell into Orion's hands.

Quacey spoke once more, reminding her of the freedom she had now. She could leave, she supposed, but where would she go? There was so much she didn't know due to the sheltered life she had lived. She supposed if she had freedom and independence, she was free to be selfish as well, right?

"I have, and I don't plan on leaving any time soon. I don't really have anywhere else to go," she replied matter of factly. She had indeed been enjoying her time with Quacey, very much so.

Quacey

 

[Quacey]

A slight smirk crossed Quacey's lips. Mischief was on his mind after her words. The sentiment was heard and taken to heart. The fact she felt she could trust him enough to stay with him for now and enjoyed his company made things so far worth it. Duty brought satisfaction, but words of appreciation of any form brought a different kind of satisfaction to the heart.

All of that did not damper his desire for mischief however.

"Already obsessed with me Ethir? I am flattered. Shall we carry you like a Princess all the way to my home so that you can gaze upon me undisturbed?"

Ethir

 

[Ethir]

Ethir's ears went pink even as she snorted derisively. "Obsessed is a stretch," she replied, ignoring the rest of his question.

The waitress returned with their order, and Ethir took a sip of the warm tea, glad for the balm it provided her throat and stomach. The broth and bread helped as well, and for a few minutes she was silent as she ate and drank.

Once she had had her fill, she would lean back in the booth she sat in across from Quacey.

Quacey

 

[Quacey]

The pink shade and absence of retort towards a particular portion of his teasing did not go unnoticed. A slight smirk still upon his lips. He also focused on his meal and drink in silence. There was no needs for words right now and there would be a need to talk over the drunken crowd and bard if one did wish to speak. He did not wish to fight for simple small talk right now.

Their meals safely in their bellies, the fae focused his attention back onto Ethir. She was more relaxed now than before. Excellent. How much of a role he played in that verses the hot meal and drink was not an answer he wished to discover. Already he knew which way it lay and it was not towards him.

But her to be content and happy was the goal of all of this. A sign she was closer to her true path and no longer as lost as before. Moments like these were too rare for him. Help and guidance could only do so much. He could only do so much. Getting to see some small fruits for his labor made all the hardship worth it.

"Any more thoughts on what you would like to do now with your freedom? Any pursuits or goals in mind no matter how petty or minor?"

Ethir

 

[Ethir]

Quacey was the first to speak, and like usual, he asked her what else she wanted.

"None at the moment," she replied. She just wanted to go to Quacey's home and sleep in a real, good bed and eat real, good food and not have to walk or travel all day. Whatever happened next, she didn't know, but she would have months to think about it as they continued to travel.

Once the two of them had paid for their brief meal, they returned upstairs to their room. Ethir did not bother changing or requesting a bath- she merely pulled off her boots and crawled into the bed, where she would be joined soon after by Quacey. A barrier had been crossed between the two, and Ethir felt the difference of it, and she wondered if he did as well.

In the morning, they would pick up Ethir's clothes and their supplies for the rest of their journey, and then they would continue on towards the Spine, and Quacey's home nestled among the mountains.

Quacey