Private Tales Broken Compacts

[Cal]

Cal immediately dove forward.

As soon as she slipped beneath the waters he moved. His hands stretched out quickly, his hand slipping onto her skin and softly grasping to gently tug her back towards the surface.

One arm wrapped around her form, the other catching beneath the water as he dragged both of them above the surface. As they breached the water he smiled, holding her up so that she did not fall into the depths once more. "Not quite."

He told her with a smile, kicking to keep them both up above the surface.

"You need to breath too." Cal told her, his arm still wrapped tight around her. Skin pressing against hers.

 

[Órlaith]

She spluttered out the water she'd swallowed as he pulled her back to the surface and she wiped the water from her eyes with a laugh.. "Breathe.. right.." she coughed. Her eyes opened with a few blinks as she realised how close he was to her, and they widened slightly as she became so suddenly aware of his skin against her..

Well shit. She was thankful that he didn't possess the gifts that she did. She bit down on her lip with a sheepish smile, water dripping from her face, and his. Her gaze fell on his lips and her heart thudded hard against her ribs. His skin felt nice against her in the heat of the water, and she was quickly flooded with the desire to feel how his lips moved against hers..

She faltered, quite obviously flustered as she gently pushed away from him.. "Alright. Let me try again.." she laughed under her breath.

 

[Cal]

Cal drifted backwards, watching her for a few seconds as he was sent away from her.

Heat filled his core. A tumbling flame that seemed to snap into life.

Small ripples rushed through the surface, pinprick waves that seemed to send out through the pool. Cal's breath caught as he felt his hands on her, feeling them slip free of his skin with a mourning that he could not have put into words.

Her laugh pierced the silents of the cavern, and he nodded his head. "Calmly."

Cal said quickly, as if desperate to say something to her in that moment.

"Don't struggle too much. Just breath, kick your legs." He told her, his words quick though slowing as if he were trying to calm himself. "Take it easy."

The words were meant as much for her swimming, as for himself.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith nodded as she listened, and tried to take his advice on board. Her feet kicked calmly below her and her hands moved through the water, pushing it away from her. She breathed too, slowly and deeply.

She wasn’t going under. She was getting it... she was learning too quickly. Suddenly, her head was pulled under again and she flailed and reached blindly for him..

Such a shame... she almost had it.

 

[Cal]

A wide beaming smile pulled at his lips as he watched her float at the surface. He watched her arms carefully, though hesitated to let his eyes drift any lower within the bare light. Waves rippled over the surface of the water, and he was about to complement her when suddenly her head dipped beneath the surface.

Immediately Cal surged forward again.

There was no hesitation, no waiting. As soon as she disappeared between the water he dove forward once again. He had made a promise to not let her down, to protect her, and he would always keep that promise.

Before she had time to sink too deep, before she could flail around his hand once again grazed against her skin.

Fingers flittered over her hip, across the small of her back, tugging her close and towards him as he started to swim towards the surface.

 

[Órlaith]

As predicted his hands were there to pull her back up again, and she settled her own against his shoulders and gripped as he pulled her toward him.

She had to feign the coughing just a little this time, having learned not to panic and try to breathe in under the water this time.

“Almost..” she laughed quietly. “Maybe next time.” she whispered in sigh of apparent exasperation. She swallowed as she felt his body slide against hers, her heart stumbling over itself as she faltered again.

She seemed to lose control of her hand for a short moment, because without realising it was on his face, her fingertips trailing down the stubbled cheek and along his jaw in silent wonderment. She wanted to kiss him, but she knew she shouldn’t. She knew it was against the rule of his Gods, of their world, it would make him irredeemable in their eyes. He was guilty of enough crime without her adding kissing a witch to that list.

“Thank you Cal..” she grumbled with a soft smile, this time not so eager to push herself away..

 

[Cal]

Cal hardly heard her words.

Everything that fell from her lips was drowned out by the thundering of his heart in his chest. The sound was deafening. It thrummed through him in a repeating echo. In the rhythm of it he could see her lips move, part, close.

She was speaking, saying something, but all of it was lost. He wasn't ignoring her.

None of it touched her ears. All he could hear was his heart. All he could see was her. All he could feel was her. The touch of her skin on his. The sensation of her hand floating over the slight stubble on his face.

Cal could hear his breath catch.

He could feel time itself slow.

What was he in that moment? The War Criminal? The Noble? The Soldier? The would be Inquisitor? No. None of those. Nothing like that. In that moment he was a man holding a woman. A spark lit in his very being, a passion burning through him.

Cal felt himself floating, not within the water, not within the spring, but something else. It was as though he'd lost himself, and the only anchor was her.

His other hand slid onto her hip, his arm tightened around her waist, and gently he pulled her further against himself. Even if they slipped beneath the surface once more.

It was worth it just to feel her skin for a second more.

 

[Órlaith]

When he said nothing, a breath caught in her throat and she glanced at her hand before recoiling it. Though, at the same time she felt him pull her closer, she felt his pulse quicken, felt him look at her. He couldn't possibly want her to kiss him; who knew what would happen if she did. It had taken so much practice for Órlaith to control her emotions, to keep them at bay and push it all down in fear of the pain that came with letting them loose. He was supposed to be afraid of her, supposed to find her abhorrent, disgusting, evil.

But he was holding her.

She forgot to breathe again, and she let the breath she'd been holding tumble out in a soundless laugh as she carefully returned her hand to his face, letting her thumb slide over his cheek. Everything told her not to, told her to apologise and push herself away from him, regain the distance that ought to have been between them at all times without a wall to separate them. And yet her mind swam with thoughts of him holding her in the cold, of laughing at her, of seemingly smiling for no reason whenever he looked at her, of the anger that her hardships sparked within him, of him saving her life.

She could trust him.

Órlaith bit anxiously on her lip for a moment, and finally gave in, closing the gap of static air between them to kiss to droplets of water from his lips.

 

[Cal]

Cal felt the world slip away as Orlaith pressed her lips to his. Joy raced through his veins like fire. A passion ignited and burning through him the instant that she kissed him.

His hands tightened on her body, his fingers dragging against her skin as he pulled her fully into his embrace. The water seemed to still around them, small ripples coming to a stop as he let himself fall still against the feeling of her body.

There was no thought of home.

Of the lessons he had been taught throughout his life, the evils of mages and the corruption that they wrought. Those lies were lost, gone. He knew they weren't true, had known it, perhaps for all of his life.

Orlaith was proof of it. The innocence of her smile. The purity of her laugh. The taste of her lips.

Cal did not need to know more. He did not need to question what was right or wrong. In that moment he knew, and what little doubts he had left were washed away as he took a breath and deepened their kiss.

 

[Órlaith]

She had never believed more in fate than she did in that moment. That she would wind up hiding out in his home, of all homes, that he would have turned his back on his life for the sake of hers. She was supposed to be here, with him. Her lips burned with the knowledge that he wanted this, that he wasn't repulsed and that it was right. All doubts and anxieties were stopped dead in their tracks and a throaty sound of approval rumbled against his lips as everything intensified.

Órlaith had never been kissed like this, nor at all, though her mouth seemed to know what it wanted. Her breaths deepened and her free hand slipped upward over his chest to the slope of his neck, her fingers dragging over his skin and sliding into his hair. Any nerves she'd had dissolved in the pool around them, the droplets washing away an unseen pain, a doubt, an angst. For the time their lips were locked together the world itself ceased to exist, blurred and indistinct as a wet painting left out in a torrent of rain.

She pulled back only enough to breathe, their lips still close enough for them to graze softly as though afraid they'd ache again if she pulled too far away. Now that she knew how they felt..

"Oh.." she breathed out with a beaming smile. "...better than cake." she laughed under her breath, her fingers running through his hair.

 

[Cal]

His hands slowly sailed over her hips, his feet kicking back to catch one of the small rocks beneath the surface so that they did not sink into the pool.

Cal couldn't help the small chuckle that passed from his lips, the wide beaming smile that tugged across his face. "High praise."

The words were a whisper, barely audible over the sound of the stream.

In that moment the world could have unraveled, could have come apart and he would still have been satisfied. Dying with her lips upon his, her hand in his hair, her skin touching him. It would have been alright. It would have been okay.

A breath filled him, lungs desperate for air.

Lips pressed against hers for just a brief second, slowly drawing her in, holding her in desperation as though she might float away.

"But definitely true." He said quietly, his voice shaky as he drew away from her lips again.

 

[Órlaith]

He had quite literally flipped her entire world on it's head in a matter of days. Her mind struggled to keep up with one smile after another, another laugh, another feeling of warmth, of calm and comfort. One kiss. The sheer happiness was overwhelming, it seemed to swell in her chest until it ached, brimming with this new found affection for the first person, first very beautiful, very sweet person who had ever not looked at her in disgust, who seemed very much to care about her.

Órlaith smiled against his lips as he stole another gentle kiss, it was his move, he affirmed that what she'd done was okay, that it had been welcomed. She grazed her nose against his and closed her eyes with a deep, tumbling sigh.."Well, there is definitely no going back home now.." she laughed under her breath, and rested her forehead against his as she let her fingertips slide down the slopes of either side of his neck to draw tiny circles with the water on his exposed shoulders and chest, enjoying being near him on an entirely new level. And now the nerves slowly snuck their way back into her mind, and her heart piqued over again. She was new to this, and her desire to explore a little further into the unknown was hindered by fear.

 

[Cal]

"I hadn't even dreamed of it." There had never been a question about going home. Not for him, not until she had been safe.

Now?

Now it was out of the question even after. He did not know how he could be apart from her after this journey, after the short few days. His eyes closed as she rested her forehead against his, fingers slowly trailing over the small of her back as she traced small circles on his chest.

It was like he couldn't get enough of her. His touch was slow, reverent. "We'll get over that mountain."

He told her, one hand softly sliding up her body, trailing over her side and across her shoulder until he gently reached up to grasp her chin.

Cal slowly tiled her head, his eyes meeting hers.

"Together." The word passed by his lips as he kissed her again, feeling as though he could never stop.

 

[Órlaith]

Her cheeks dimpled. When they'd started their journey, she assumed he'd help her to the next town and leave her, that would have been kind, that would have been enough. Now, it didn't seem likely that he'd leave her anywhere, and she didn't want him to. She didn't really care where they ended up, she'd found her safety right here against his chest like she was right now.

An involuntary hum sounded on her lips as his fingers trailed over her back, and her eyes opened as he tilted her face to look at him, leaving her at the mercy of those eyes, blue as a perfect spring sky and warmed by his gentle smile.

She happily surrendered to another kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck to hold onto him, binding them in a kiss so charged that it called every nerve to standing attention. She was lost, and her self control was crumbling like sand.

 

[Cal]

He had no idea how long that kiss lasted. How many seconds or minutes trickled away as they embraced one another, the hand at her chin slowly slipping down her neck and over her collar bone. It dragged across her skin in that slow, reverent touch.

Cal forgot about the troubles ahead.

The fact that they were being hunted.

All of it slipped by the wayside. All that he wanted in that moment was to be with her, spend time with her, feel his skin against hers. Rhagos, the Inquisition, the Gods themselves could be cursed for all that he cared. None of them mattered.

Not in the face of his. His hand drifted down from the small of her back as she slipped her arms around his neck, fingers softly drifting over the curve of her rear as he pulled her flush against himself.

 

[Órlaith]

Kissing really was better than cake. It was an escape, just for a while, a reprieve for her mind and body to be treated so tenderly, the heat of the water wrapped around them both like a warm, comforting blanket. She could have stayed right here for hours, days, hell if they had enough food she might never have wanted to leave at all.

Her skin tingled in the wake of his touch, her breath catching nervously as his hand found it's way over her curves, as she felt his body against her.. Her heart pounded and she grinned her lashes fluttering open to study his face. She sighed as she left a few more feathery kisses at the corner of his mouth before resting her head in the crook of his neck..

"We should get moving..." She'd certainly warmed up.

 

[Cal]

His hands lingered in place, fingers slowly curling, running over her skin as goosebumps rushed out from where she whispered into his neck.

A shaky breath fled his lungs, eyes closing for a moment as he slowly nodded his head. "We should."

Cal said quietly, though in that moment it felt almost impossible to let her go. He took in another breath, letting the warmth of her skin seep into him as though he would be able to recall the touch at will. A minute passed, maybe more, and then slowly he let his fingers draw away from her.

His lips pressed softly against her cheek, then her lips.

"I'll turn around." He said softly, still never crossing those lines. Still gentle. Still the same man.

 

[Órlaith]

The smile on her lips lingered. She was content to rest there for that little while longer, her fingertips trailing up and down the side of his neck as she breathed calmly. She'd needed this, this moment of peace amidst the chaos, especially now she knew that she hadn't been let go, that they were hunting her and that it was possible that the chaos would catch up to her again. Just a moment to forget about all of it and to feel something other than fear.

She looked up to accept the kisses with a warm smile, her brow quirking as he offered to turn around. She nodded gently and pushed herself away.. "Wait.." she grinned, and treaded water in the middle of the pool as he'd taught her.. She chuckled mischievously and shrugged.. "Looks like, I got it this time.." she mused, and used the same method to pull herself through the water to the rocks where her clothes lay.

Órlaith water for him to turn before climbing out, a rush of hot water falling from her skin, steam rising from her body and the cold instantly rushing in, attracted to the droplets of water that raced in rivulets down her skin to puddle on the rocks. She shook some of the water from her before pulling on her clothes as quickly as she could to trap the heat, keeping her back to him to let him dress too.

 

[Cal]

As soon as she slipped away a yearning struck him. A deep feeling of need that plucked at his heart strings when her fingers drifted from his skin. His eyes closed for a moment, opening only when he heard the splashing sounds of her swimming.

A smile broke out on his face. "This time, huh?'

Cal teased, shaking his head as she swam across the small pool. His head shook.

"Still seems like you need some practice." Cal told her with a smirk, being true to his word and turning around so she could clothe herself. He waited a few moments, then quickly followed after her.

He got dressed as quickly as she had, not wanting to lose the warmth now within him. "Let's eat something."

Cal said as he tugged on his coat.

"Then we keep going, alright?" Hopefully back towards the surface.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith laughed musically and shot him a mischievous grin, shrugging at his teasing.

Fully clothed again, she wrung out her wet hair and drew it up into a knot and pull up her hood to stop the cold from reaching it. She smiled as she wrapped her arms around herself, embracing the warmth that had settled in her bones from the pool and she now felt radiate throughout her entire body. Hopefully without the wind she would stay warm for some time.

"That sounds like a good idea to me." she agreed, her brows quirking at him as she made her way to their supplies. "What do we have?.." she asked, settling down on their bedroll, of which she now noticed was the only one..

 

[Cal]

Cal walked over towards their things.

From the Mantic he had managed to grab most of their food, leaving only a little bit behind. The Saddlebags he would make more comfortable for himself to carry, the other things they would use rope to tie together. It would work for now.

Until they got a better pack in the village. "Some Hard tack. Rations."

He pulled open the saddlebag.

"Oh, bread too." Though it was the sort bakers made specifically to last a little longer...not exactly the most delicious thing to eat.

 

[Órlaith]

Órlaith nodded with a soft smile. She may have now tasted what actual food was supposed to taste like, but she would never turn her nose up at food no matter how meagre or grim. She was used to everything tasteless and white. White dry chicken, potatoes, bread, rice, porridge. Things that would ideally have salt or seasoning applied to make it a little more pleasant for consumption. But it wasn't meant to be a pleasant meal, it was meant to keep them alive and nothing more.

She took a small chunk of the bread and chewed on it as she cosied up to him and let her gaze wander over the stalactites of the cavern, what little light there was causing the crystal ore to glitter and shimmer back at them. "I don't think I want to leave.." she sighed out and looked up at him with a smile.

 

[Cal]

Cal smiled as he took the other half of the bread. "It's not a bad spot."

He agreed quietly.

Before today he'd never known that water could be heated by...well the earth. He still had no idea how the spring was warm, but it fascinated him to say the least. He mused for a few seconds, wondering how it was done before he spoke again.

"Maybe we can come back." He told her as he wrapped a gentle arm around her belly. "One day."

When they had run, when they had been forgotten by the people back Home.

 

[Órlaith]

She settled her own hand over his as it slipped around her stomach, her head turning to nuzzle at him. "Perhaps.. If we make it I suppose we can go anywhere we want.. Except home." Not that she'd ever have any desire to see the great city again. She'd only ever known it as a prison, there had been nothing homely about it. Not for someone like her.

Órlaith would have been content to stay here for the night, but the eagle still circled in the back of her mind, and she knew they should move in case whomever was hunting her caught up with the lone mantic sooner than they hoped and doubled back.

"Alright.." she pressed a kiss to his jaw and pulled herself to her feet, offering him her hands to help him up. "Lets get going."

 

[Cal]

He gently squeezed her palm a second after pulling himself up, taking a deep breath as he looked around. The temptation to stay was still there, but she was right. It was best to move on, best to keep going until the Spine was behind them and Rhagos was forgotten.

"Lets." Cal said with a nod of his head.

Their journey took a day, or perhaps a little less. It was nearly impossible to tell just how long they walked beneath the earth. The torch needed to be re-oiled once, and that was as good an indicator as anything else.

It was only as he grew tired, as Orlaith began to gently sway at his side that Cal noticed a light up ahead.

The source was feint, pale. Not the sun, no, not the light of a torch either, but the moon. Gently he wrapped an arm around Orlaith. "Look."

There was a tiredness in his voice.

"I think we found our way out." Though he had no idea where they would be.