Private Tales En Route

A private roleplay only for those invited by the first writer
"Oh," Esme squeaked after she felt Valdrs hand on her shoulder.
A smile crossed her lips once she felt his mouth on her cheek. "Good morning, why are you up so early?" Her eyes followed him as he sat down.
 
His thumbs would massage into her shoulder blades briefly to work away the tension there, before he took his seat. He noted the smile with a grin of his own.

"I seldomly sleep for long periods of time." He would respond. "And why are you up so early? Another nightmare?"
 
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Esme shook her head, "Fortunatly not. I thinks its more of an adjustment, from sleeping on the floor to a swaying bed and now on solid ground with a soft mattress."

She stood to get more caffine, "Would you like some?"
 
"Eventually it all just feels the same." Valdr would assure her. "If you do that constant travel enough."

When she stood, he would shake his head. "No thanks, dear." He would lean back in his seat, letting out a steady sigh as the first rays of light began to peek over the roofs of nearby houses.
 
"Do you not ever get tired of traveling?" She asked once back in her seat.
Esme watched as the sun peacefully began to rose.
 
He would smile faintly at her question. "I do.. but I do it out of necessity.. my father.. we never recovered the body. So, part of me thinks he's alive, trapped out there somewhere, maybe lost. I have traveled to most corners of Arethil looking for him."
 
"Valdr I," Esmes eyes lowered, eyebrows knit together, she took his hand, "I cannot imagine what it is you are going through." Esmerelda let out a breath she did not even know she was holding. With her other hand she grabbed his remaining free one with a sense of urgency. "Rangvaldr, I swear, the moment we return to Route I will send out people to look for your father. My other plans can wait. I shall do my best to help you. You have my word."
Esme was left with very little to say after this. There was not much she could say.
The young women tried her best to process what Valdr must be going through, the emotional turmoil, stress and simply, the unknown.
 
"Esme.." he said gently, with a forming smile. "I appreciate your efforts, but its been almost ten years.. we need to put our lives at the forefront, our kingdom, us.." he would lift both hands to his cheeks, kissing each palm before he let her hands settle.

He then gently cupped her face and leaned in to press his lips against hers in a kiss. There would be no eyes upon them, if a look was cautioned, even Brandr seemed to turn away from his perch.

"We can send out a few riders.. but when we get back.. we need to focus on Route. Your support in this.. it means more than I could ever express."
 
The kiss was undexpected and once Valdr retreated her fingers slipped to the spot where his lips were.

"Yes yes, when we return.
"
Esme was still taken a back by the kiss, not that it was the first time they had shared such an affection but this time it was different, more public.

Esme cleared her throat, "When would you like to leave the Inn and continue on our way?"
 
He would scratch his jaw after he leaned back, his inner thoughts amused by her reaction. He couldn't tell if it was something she had enjoyed or if it was something she was still sorting out. "Yes, so we have time, until all that."

At her question, he looked up to the third floor. "Well, according to both Brandr and Athelstan, our escorts played a drinking game with some of the locals here. So perhaps when they wake and sober some. Or.." he would shrug. "We can head out alone, see if they try to catch up."
 
"Absolutely!" Esme almost jumped from her chair. "I shall go get my coat and tell Brandr we shall be riding ahead."
Esme flashed him a toothy smile and headed for her room.
She had not been on a horse since her stitches tore open and now that her wound was practically all heald up, there was just a large scab now in place, Esme could ride again.
Besides that, she would be partially alone, able to ride as fast as her horse could take her. To say she was ecstatic was an understatment.
 
"Very well." He would rise to his feet. "Meet me back down here within fifteen minutes. Pack light, we won't be eating a feast for lunch or anything, but we won't have to worry about days of camping." He had a mischievous smile as he followed her up the stairs and re-entered his room.

Fifteen minutes later, he would be down at the table where they were sitting, clad in his armor with two small bags on the table beside him.
 
Esme wondered to herself what plan Valdr was cooking up whilst she was packing. She had packed a medium sized satchel and pulled on some attire that was more riding- friendly.
Before meeting up with Valdr, Esme popped into the kitchen and got some carrots for their horses.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" She annoucned herself with a large smile.
 
He would turn at the sound of her voice and he laughed at the sight of the carrots. With a nod at them and a grin he would choke back the rest of the laugh. "We won't need those unless you plan on snacking on them."

With that, he rose to his feet and grabbed both bags, before heading for the door. Reaching it, he would open the door for her. "Here we go."
 
"Im sorry," Esme glared at Valdr whislt still sporting a playful smile and walked through the threshold, "I would like to make sure our horses have a snack for the road."
Her fist now on her hip, carrots in the other hand as she stood outside while Valdr closed the door behind them.
 
"Who said anything about horses?" Came the remark as he hefted the bags over his shoulder and began to walk deeper into town, away from where their carriages and horses were.
 
"Valdr," Esme lifted her skirt and picked up spead to catch up with him.
"Why in the relm would you like to go by foot instead of taking our horses and how exaclty would this be any sort of race?" She questioned once alongside him, bobbing and weaving through the crowd.
 
He paused to look back at her, nodding to her skirts. "Esme, why if we're riding are you not wearing riding pants?" He teased with a smirk. He then turned and continued walking. "This is a short walk, but we are neither walking nor are we riding a horse. I considered a boat down the lake, but.. your arrival here should be marred by something other than food poisoning." He said with a laugh.
 
"I have pants in my satchel," Esme continued after him, "Besides, I know how yo ride in a skirt or has your memory of our first week on this trip illuded you?" She asked rhetorically.

A look of confused crossed her face, "If we are not to walk or ride then how do you suggest we get there? As far as I know there are no portal stones that drop as at your front door."
 
"We would need a mage to even use them." He added. "You may want to change then. Skirts have no place on this adventure."

Their walking would lead them to the Wardens Chapter House. There were a handful of Knights preparing a single gryphon. "We will be flying astride one of the Gryphons."
 
Esmereldas eyes grew wide once Valdr had announced their new form of transportation. She looked between him, the large, flying beast and back again.
"Well I guess I have no use for these now." Esme said, tossing the carrots aside and let out an exasperated sigh. "Let me go put on pants."
 
He would laugh lightly, before giving her a wink. "You can go inside the chapter house. I have a office in there, unlocked. I'll be waiting, Esme."
 
Esme was surpised to find out that Valdr would have his own office.
She made her way inside the chapter house and walked down the hallway until finally reaching a door with his fool name on it.
Twisting the doorknob she stepped inside and closed the door behind herself.
"I guess he has more power then I originally anticipated, then the whole bloody council did.." Esme muttered to herself.

Slipping out of her dress and pulling on some leather slacks and a well fit tunic, Esme packed up once again and rushed out, forgetting to tie the strands on her top.

"Alright," Esme gripped her satchel tightly and walked over to Valdr, standing so close to him she was basically ontop of Rangvaldr.
Nerves truly began setting in and without thinking she took Valdrs hand in her own, intwinimg their fingers, seeking some sort of comfort in his touch.
 
A few Wardens in the Chapter House would offer her a nod as she walked with purpose to his office.

Valdr wouldn't have to wait too long, he was in the middle of discussing something with another Warden, when he felt a hand slip into his. A glance and he saw Esme, to which he offered her a smile and gave her hand a squeeze to reassure her. "Welcome back, Beautiful."

The Warden would nod to her before stepping away towards the Gryphon.

Valdr would turn to her. "Alright, everything tight?" He asked giving her clothing a once over. "I've had a poorly laced tunic slip free during a dive."
 
Esme put a hand to her chest and looked down, "Oh my."
She whipped around quickly and fixed her tunic. "Sorry about that," Esme offered him a smile and turned back around.
"Now how exaclty do we um," she cleared her throat, "ride or well fly?"