Private Tales En Route

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

"Then that is as good an end as any warrior can ask for. Prime or not. He died fighting for your people, there is no better end." Death in battle was the way of the warrior, the desire of any true warrior. To die as a shameful graybeard under furs, was a fear.

He was well-aquainted with the death of warriors. His father had been one of the few Lords to battle, to fight for the people. And perhaps, meet his end in pursuit of such a cause.

"Esme.. you can't let the past dictate your future.." he would hold her hand and squeeze it firmly. "Grieve as long as you need for your brother.. but please.. do not race to meet him.. or whoever killed him.."

 

[Esmeralda]

"Meeting the one who took Phillip might not be so easy to avoid. His homeland borders on Route, so the beast remains just a stones throw away."
Esmes blood began to boil at the simple fact.
Inhaling deeply, she would force herself to calm down and she would shift the attention to Valdr, "I barely hear you speak of your siblings, will I be meeting any when we arrive?"

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

So there it was, a natural rival. Phillip died fighting a hated enemy, a soldier. To her, a beast. She had already stripped the humanity from them, which would eventually strip the humanity from herself. "Then.. if we meet him, we will fight.. together."

I barely hear you speak of your siblings, will I be meeting any when we arrive?

"It was to keep you from feeling pain over Phillip, but since you ask.. I have seven other siblings, one was raised with us, so I count her. You'll likely meet Kavaros, whose twin is Kailani.. she.. is in hot water with the family right now, over her own actions. Their unofficial triplet, Ulva, is who I was going to offer up as a lady-in-waiting. Drastus and Isabella are the next set of twins, both are tied up in other tasks. And then there is Arabella and Doran.. you may meet Arabella.. but Doran died years ago. Some coward set our manor house in Vel Anir on fire.. and he died in the blaze."

 

[Esmeralda]

him, we will fight.. together

"Thank you for the offer," though Esme would never allow such a thing to pass - she would do her best to prevent it. Esmerelda refused to loose another man she loved...no, cared for to the same murderer.

keep you from feeling pain over Phillip, but since you ask.. I

"Valdr," Esme placed her hand lightly on his forearm.
"I never want to feel asif you cannot talk about your family around be, or any topic simply to spare my feelings."
She offered him a sweet smile. "I cannot wait to meet the 'triplits' and your other sister. Will you mother be there aswell?"

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

War was inevitable with an enemy, which meant no matter what, they would have to eventually face Phillips killer.

Valdr, I never want to feel as if you cannot talk about your family around be, or any topic simply to spare my feelings. I cannot wait to meet the 'triplets' and your other sister. Will you mother be there aswell?

Her hand touched his chest after she spoke his name, a feeling his cuirass kept him from experiencing, yet not fully. He still felt his own heartbeat quicken. It did that when he felt her, when she smiled, certain looks. He was just grateful the armor kept her from feeling it.

"Very well, Esme.. I'll hold nothing back." His hand rested atop hers to lift it to his lips for a gentle kiss before he set her hand back on his chest. His hand then settled on her upper thigh. "You won't likely meet Kailani. She'll be lucky if I don't expel her from the House.. as for my mother, she's aloof.. she might be on a trip when we get there." There was a look of brief sadness in his eye at that part.

 

[Esmeralda]

"A bit of a scandel regarding your sister then?" Esmes eyebrows twitched slightly but when she saw Valdrs face fall at the mention of his mother she knew the matter to be somewhat a serious one. "Your mother," she grasped his hand in her own two, "Do you wish to speak of it?"
If Valdr chose not to, she would not push the topic or pry any further.
Loosing a parent was one thing, but having them there yet not truly, Esme could imagine that held a different type of pain.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

"She cheated on her partner, the son of Jarl Rhogar, with the Noble of another House. At a party, and later was found in his room at an inn, when he was arrested. Torvald, the man she cheated on, had been her partner for a few years and was one she chose." He looked disgusted by the thought he shared relation to Kailani. "Goes against the beliefs of my house."

Her hands claimed his, something that caught his attention during his reverie.

Your mom, do you wish to talk about her?

"She was alive, but absent. I basically raised my siblings. She hides in her room."

 

[Esmeralda]

Esme saw the shame and disgust on Valdrs face when he spoke of Kailani, his expressiom shifting when he mentioned his mother again, disappointment? Hard-heartedness? She was not certian but she would not push either subject further.
"Family is a fickle thing."

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

"Family is fickle. So if I seem... as an adult at times, its because I had to grow up young. I had to lead or risk my House drifting into shadow after the disappearance of my father.." he sighed, relaxing some with her.

"Perhaps one day I will find him and restore her soul." He mused.

 

[Esmeralda]

"Well, if you ever act a bit to elderly, I shall do my best to exilt some adventure." Esme offered him a cheeky wink.

"We shall find your father Rangvaldr, one way or another." She offered him a reassuring kiss.

Esme shuffled in closer to his body and made herself comfortable. Slowly her eyes would flatter closed and she would drift off into a nap.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

He smirked at her wink. "Oh, I'm sure you will, Esme. Gotta keep me young and sporty." He joked, his arm moving around her to pull her closer.

We shall find your father Rangvaldr, one way or another.

She then kissed him sweetly, as if to reassure him. To seal her oath. "Even if we can't.. I can't focus on the past.. I lose my future, and for the first time in awhile, I want to see what lies ahead."

She got comfortable, and soon the pair would drift off into a nap.

*****
​

Some time later, Valdr would waken to find Enyalius had shifted her body to wrap about them, her wing draped over them to trap in the warmth.

 

[Esmeralda]

Esme stirred in her sleep, feeling a tickle on her face, a feather tickled her face ending in her sneezing herself awake.
"Pardon that," still half asleep as she apologized, Esmerelda rolled her shoulders that ended up stiffining from the position in which she had drifted off. "We should probably get going, if we want to arrive before dark," she suggested, giving Enyalius an affectionate scratch.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

And just like that, Esme made one of her sudden moves to wake. He was sure one day she would give him a heart attack. Though, it was very entertaining. "Well we are still a few days ahead of the others.." he mused. "So.. we don't have to rush." He said, joining her in the scratch.

The sun was already beginning its descent. "So, we have three options. We can wait here and watch the sunset, then camp here tonight. Be there by lunch tomorrow. We can watch the sunset in the sky, flying, and sleep in a bed in Tar'shan tonight. Get to S'agara for breakfast. Or, we can fly straight through and get in late tonight."

 

[Esmeralda]

Esme mocked thought, finger to her chin and stared into space.
"I vote sunset and a camping, but!" She jumped forward, his face inches from her own. "Only if we get to go for a swim in the stream before we leave." Esme pointed in some obscure direction, attempting to signal the body of water they had seen on their walk earlier.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

I vote sunset and a camping, but! Only if we get to go for a swim in the stream before we leave.

She had thought, and then made a counter-offer before she was suddenly inches from his own face. His eyes would lock on hers. "Deal." He leaned just a bit closer, teasing her with the promise of a kiss, before pulling away.

Leaning back, he pulled her close so that they could watch the setting sun. "We can swim either late tonight or just before we leave. Your call.."

 

[Esmeralda]

What a tease, she rolled her eyes as he pulled back.

Esme lay back onto Valdrs chest, ready to watch the sky change with an eruption of hues. "Hmm, lovely dynamic we have here I must say. I call the shots and you support them." She teased him, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes, a playful smirk on her lips. "I am certien I could get used to this."

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

She settled against his chest, his arm nestled around her waist, while his other hand took hold of her left hand. His thumb traced her ring finger as she spoke, his smirk framing his lips.

Hmm, lovely dynamic we have here I must say. I call the shots and you support them.

"Well, you are the Queen.." he mused lightly. "Even if you make me your King, the dynamic won't change." Once more, he found their eyes focused on each other, hues of reds, yellows, oranges, and even a faint purple, lit of Esme's face as the sun slipped between two peaks of the Jades. In that moment, she was breathtaking.

I am certain I could get used to this.

"As could I.." he said softly, before his lips pressed against hers in a heated kiss. This one wasn't a gentle kiss that they had shared previously, this one was all passion. As if he had been waiting to do so until the levy broke.

 

[Esmeralda]

An array of colours danced around the sky, rickashaying off of Valdrs face.
Esme felt his lips on her and kissed him back with intent.
She had not kissed anyone like that in a long time and she was happy to not face disappointment.

Eventually, Esme pulled back with reluctance - her face now a soft scarlet colour. She cleared her throat, still a bit flustered. "Would you like something to drink?" Esme offered and continured to rifel through her satchel alongside her.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

When at last the kiss broke, Valdr was near breathless, having never allowed himself to act so crassly. It would go against how he was raised. But she was different, they were likely to be married, at least he could only presume she desired to, based on her own treatment of him.

Would you like something to drink?

She was flustered, and he would wrap his arm around her shoulder. "I would." He rifled through his own pack and procured a flask. "Mead?" He asked her, offering it first to her. "Now that you aren't at threat of vomiting." He said playfully.

 

[Esmeralda]

As Valdr took out the mead and offered it to her, Esme could not help but pull a face. Their weren't to many fond memories floating around the beverage.
"I shall stick to my wine for now, thank you." She took a sip of her preferred drink. "Warm up, I am certain the water is going to be perfectly icy!" Esme offered up a cheery smile and took another big sip from her own flask.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

He smirked at the face, laughing lightly. "Enjoy the wine, Esme." He would say before taking a pull from his own flask.

Warm up, I am certain the water is going to be perfectly icy!

"Worst comes to worst, you could always steal my heat while we're in the water. If you get too cold, that is." An offered shrug to accompany a look of content.

 

[Esmeralda]

Esme closed her flask and put it aside. She got to her feet then and extended a hand to Valdr, "Well?" Esme nodded her head in the direction of the stream. "Shall we?"

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

Valdr set down his own flask, to help her to her feet. He would then take her offered hand as he rose to his feet. "We shall. Stream should be this way." He then gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he slipped past her to continue down the small rise.

"This should be deep enough to swim in, just too narrow for most boats to maneuver through. So we should have a great deal of privacy while we swim.".

 

[Esmeralda]

Once the pair reached the stream, Esmerelda sat down on the bank and began unlacing her boots. Off came her socks, coat and belt and tunic, all left now being her thin white vest and leather slacks.
"Do not tell me you are swimming like that?" Esme raised an eyebrow, her skepticism directed towards his still fully dressed form.
She flashed him a cheeky smile and diving into the stream in hopes it would be deep enough. Fortunetly, that was true. Esme emerged from the dark water, her clothes skin tight she would turn to face Valdr once more, mid motion slicking back her blond hair.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

They reached the stream and as Esme began on her boots, Valdr would begin to undo the buckles of his cuirass. He slowed some, enjoying the sight of her stripping down, a sight he would probably become very accustomed to. She glanced over and noticed he still wasn't undressed.

Do not tell me you are swimming like that?

He grinned. "No, I am not. Nor like that." He would nod to what she wore. The cuirass was set atop the ground, followed by the chain vest, the gambeson, and finally the tunic. Gloves and boots were set aside and even the greaves came free. Luckily for her, he still had some undergarments on maintaining some level of decorum. He would turn just in time to see her emerge from the water, her soaked clothes now clinging to every contour of her body.

He didn't avoid himself from staring. Instead, he would wade into the stream, bare chested, before dipping into the water. It was cool, and the waning light of the sun was still warm. "Better?" He asked with a smirk.