Private Tales Falling Snow..

[Willa]

Willa bit on her lip at the anger in Ivar's tone. It was sort of reassuring that he felt so affronted by the mere insinuation that he hurt her. She looked up at Vras and nodded her confirmation quickly, but she stood and limped toward the healer before tapping on her own chest.

Vras seemed to accept that Ivar had nothing to do with her injuries, but he frowned at her as he tried to work out what she was trying to say.. "Eh?.." he scratched his head. "Oh.." he chuckled, but there was no warmth in it.

"Well, sorry lass but you ent exactly in much condition to be workin' off any debt." he snorted and shook his head. He sighed deeply and muttered to himself about 'this fucking town' and nodded in agreement with Ivar.

"Right. Fine." his eyes rolled.

 

[Ivar]

The Barbarian nodded. "I have a deal with the Innkeep for a deer."

Ivar offered.

"I ca-" Before he could speak Vras shook his head and waved Ivar off, seemingly pushing away the suggestion of taking something like that for his payment.

"Don't need food, Lad. Need another favor when she's better."​

Ivar cocked an eyebrow.

"Two towns over, Barristol. I need someone to head over there for me and deliver a message. Should be simple enough for both of you."​

He looked at Willa as if saying 'does that satisfy?'. Ivar frowned for a moment, and then slowly nodded his head. "We can do that."

It would be a detour, but they hadn't exactly planned out their journey just yet anyway.

 

[Willa]

Willa's gaze narrowed as she looked between the two men. There were questions on her mind that she was unable to ask and she sighed instead, her lips thinning as she nodded to Vras as he looked at her, but she couldn't help but feel slightly nervous about a task that sounded so simple.

Vras gave a nod and slipped a few small bags of dried herbs from his case as well as a vial of milky liquid. "Tea with these in the morning, add no more than two drops of this." Vras stared at her intensely for a moment and she took the items into her palms with a short nod and a small smile in thanks. The man made her slightly nervous, but there seemed to be a kindness buried under the harsh exterior.. He patted her hand and turned to leave the room in the same harassed stated he'd arrived in.

"I'll give her three days to get back on her feet. Then find me." he grumbled. Willa frowned down at the herbs and vial for a moment and looked up at ivar with a soft, apologetic smile in appreciation.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar nodded. "Three days is enough."

The Barbarian confirmed, looking at Willa for a moment. If he thought she could travel by then, well that was solid enough. Also gave him opportunity to find some more supplies and earn that bow.

Wouldn't be a sword, but a bow was better than nothing.

The Healer gave both of them one last look, let out a sigh, and then he waved to the both of them and ducked back out of the door. Ivar looked after him for a few seconds, lips thinning before he looked back towards Willa.

"Strange man." He commented, shrugging his shoulders. "But kind, I think."

 

[Willa]

Willa shrugged and gave a quick nod in agreement. She'd have killed for a warm bath, but a warm bed and something for the pain was just as desirable. She limped to the table to lift the jug of water, and poured it into the pot by the hearth and left it there to heat with one of the little sacks of dried leaves.

Almost the moment she took off her cloak she was shaking with cold and she put the cloak over her bed for an extra layer and drew back the blankets to slip under them and curl herself up to get warm. She smiled a little at the comfort of the bed, and the thought of a warm, comfortable and undisturbed sleep gave her cause to feel actual happiness even for a brief moment.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar did not yet go to bed, if only because there were a thousand things yet to take care of.

He waited for Willa to fall asleep, knowing that if he tried to leave while she was still awake the young woman would very likely object. So he simply sat himself by the fire, stoking it's flame and letting the heat permeate the room until Willa was snoozing in her bed.

Then he went about the work he had to do.

The first stop was the General Goods store, trading in the necklace for some Silver and general supplies. The next was a seamstress for a single change of clothes for both himself and Willa. Then last came a quick word with some of the men in town.

He gathered rumors, their thoughts on Kislyth, and everything else he could.

Eventually he returned back to the room, slipping himself into his own bed and falling asleep like a heavy log.

 

[Willa]

The tea was pleasant enough, but the drops of milky liquid dragged her into a settled and dreamless sleep. Even as she started to wake the pain was dull and manageable, and she let out a rumbled sigh as she nuzzled comfortably into her pillow, her lips curling at how cosy she felt. She'd almost forgotten what it felt like to feel safe and warm, and she'd savour it for as long as she could.

She rolled over and pulled her blankets up to her chin, her icy gaze peeking out of her little cocoon to see if Ivar was awake. If he wasn't, he would be soon with the sound her stomach was making. She'd chosen sleep over a meal last night, and now her body was protesting,

A few days off her feet, Vras had said.. Good thing she had a barbarian to wait on her hand and foot..

 

[Ivar]

Ivar slept in.

It was not something he had done in years, mostly because he hadn't been able to. There was always something to do, something to fix, something to look after. It wasn't really any different now, but he had spent half the night running around the small village they were staying in.

So he slept.

It was a pleasant sort of sleep, the kind that one could only get when they were well and truly worn. By the time the Barbarian awoke it was nearly mid-noon, his eyes folding open and a yawn escaping him as he shifted beneath the fur blanket.

Briefly he forgot where he was, but as his mind found it's way back to reality memories crashed in on him. Lips thinned, and he took a slight breath. "We'll see what the white wolf brings today."

Ivar murmured to himself.

 

[Willa]

Willa’s lips curled into a sleepy smile at Ivar’s words. She felt somewhat better today. The sleep had done wonders for her body and mind both. She gave a silent yawn and sat up, shifting to set her feet on the splintery floor and test her leg. She stood, and although there was still pain there she was pleased to feel that she could at least bear a little more weight on it. She padded carefully to the hearth and sat herself down in front of it to get a new fire going.

Willa was hopeless. She’d never made a fire in her life, and she piled everything on in the wrong order and had no idea how to actually make it.. hot. She’d just, never had to do it on her own, and everyone else always made it look so simple. Her shoulders sagged with a huff and she looked over her shoulder at Ivar with a lift of her brows in mute appeal for help.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar had pulled himself out of his bed, tossing on a tunic and dragging on his trousers by the time Willa made a strangled sound of desperate annoyance.

A frown pulled on his lips for a moment, and he let out an "Ah."

He had never really thought about how the other side lived, but watching Willa try to make a fire was like watching a fish try to fly. It was...oddly pathetic, and he frowned for a moment before shaking his head and closing the distance between them.

"You're going to have to learn some things while we travel." Ivar said as he began to rearrange the logs and tinder. "Here."

The Barbarian said as he showed her how to properly light the fire. "We have firesticks, but you should learn to use flint and steel now."

He said as he offered her what appeared to be a small knife and a piece of stone. "Firesticks aren't so common in the wilds."

Ivar explained.

 

[Willa]

Willa nodded quickly at him, it was her intention to learn, she hated to feel like a burden. Her pale cheeks blushed a faint pink as he rearranged the logs and she sighed, giving him an apologetic look and watching what he did instead.

She arched a brow and took the little knife and stone. She'd seen it done, but had never tried it herself. It took her several tries, but as she struck the rock against the blade well enough for it to spark, she held it next to the kindling until it caught alight. When it did, her expression lit up and she smiled at him and reached to squeeze at his forearm in thanks.

She poured more water into the pot and settled it over the growing fire to heat, and when it did she made her tea and added two more drops from the vial into the cup, before climbing back into bed with it.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar nodded, watching the small fire grow for a few moments before he stood and wandered over to his things.

As Willa made her tea Ivar began to dress himself in the rest of his clothes. The southlands were not cold, but it was cool enough that it would bother him when he was stalking in the cold. His fingers tightened for a moment as he pulled on his cloak, wishing that he'd not lost his things back in Kyslith.

Damned guards had taken it all.

"I'll be going hunting." Ivar told Willa as she climbed back Into bed. The Innkeeper had told him he could grab the bow when he was leaving, then keep it until he left. Hopefully though, he wouldn't have to give it back at all.

"Saves us some silver for the room." He explained. "And the Innkeeper has agreed to give me the bow when we leave. If I can land a buck every day."

Thankfully. "You can lock the door behind me, I'll be back in a few hours, and you can keep the knife with you too."

He doubted she would want to go out, and perhaps that would make her feel safer.

 

[Willa]

Willa's brow rose as Ivar spoke to her and she gave a short nod in understanding as she blew the steam from the tea and her fingers tightened on the cup. She hadn't been alone in quite some time, and where it had been all she'd wished for when she'd been with Rhist, now the thought only made her nervous, particularly whilst she was still vulnerable.

She drew in a deep breath and smiled at him as he offered to leave the knife, the gesture indeed making her feel a little better.

Willa locked the door as he left, only opening it for the friendly inkeep who thoughtfully brought her a tray of food and a fresh pot of tea as well as some hot water for a bath. She shed a few happy tears as she sunk into the hot water, and she let it sink into her bones and muscles and sooth her body and mind both. The scent of lavender clung to her, and she knotted her long, damp hair atop her head and wrapped herself in fresh linen.

She picked up the dress that Rhist had given her, her nose wrinkling with disdain as she considered throwing it in the fire, but her gaze fell on the knife and her head tilted.

By the time Ivar returned, she'd made a whole new dress from cutting and sewing a new shirt, bodice and skirts with a fur shawl, which was all neatly tailored and much more suitable. Her mother had taught her to make her own clothes when she was younger, and luckily, Vras had left his needle behind.

 

[Ivar]

It took him longer than he thought it would. Usually the Southlands had plenty of game, more than enough to supply a dozen cities like Kjos', yet the land here seemed more...empty.

Had he been more knowledgeable Ivar might have guessed that it was due to Kyslith. That the cities darkness and the magics that lingered within it naturally drove animals away, but since he had no such knowledge he simply assumed it was a strange sort of season up here. Eventually though he managed to find a herd of deer, taking one down with a bleeding arrow and sending it to the ground over the course of a mile.

He tracked it, and then scooped it up whole to carry back to the village.

Upon his return the Innkeeper seemed delighted, summoning a portly woman from the back of the Kitchen and raving about how they would have fresh meat on offer. The woman offered no word of thanks, but took the deer from Ivar as though it weighed less than a sack of feathers.

The Barbarian made some small talk, and then headed back towards the room. He rapped his knuckles on the door, loud enough to wake If she was asleep. "Willa, it's me."

He called out, disregarding the fact that he probably should have called her "my lady".

 

[Willa]

She had been sitting waiting at the window, pulling her hair into a long, silvery braid when the knock on the door made her jump. She smiled though, and limped her way over to unlock it. She seemed a little brighter than what she had been over the past few days, and she met him with a bright smile and an expression that mutely asked how he'd got on.

The room was tidy, save for a few scraps of fabric, and the missing sections of the curtains and bed linens. She'd been heating the bath water for him too, she'd just have to cover her eyes to let him bathe if he wanted to.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar noticed the dress first. "Doing a bit of sewing?"

The Barbarian asked, more in wonderment than anything else. He had no idea that people of her status were taught such skill, but then again he didn't really know anything about her childhood or how she was brought up.

He didn't really know anything about others in Kjos.

It was the flaw of being stuck outside the city, exiled and only allowed in for some small amount of trade. There was still a bitterness that clung to him because of those thoughts, one that he tried to ignore now as he slipped inside the room and closed the door. The bow he'd been carrying was quickly put up against the wall.

"First hunt was successful." He told her. "I also know the quickest way for us to head south."

An old stone road that had apparently been built centuries ago and was now used for trade.

Ivar opened his mouth to speak more when he noticed the bath. "Oh. Did I interrupt? Ill head back out."

The barbarian said, never thinking such a thing could be for him

 

[Willa]

Willa smiled at the news, but the smile fell as he seemed about to leave again and she reached out a hand to grip gently at his arm with a shake of her head.

'No.. For you..' she mouthed to him with a silent laugh as she pressed a finger against his chest, and shrugged.

 

[Ivar]

Confusion crossed Ivar's features.

Kindness, especially from someone of her station, was more than a little confusing. Most people had spat on him back in Kjos. Had ignored and even beaten him a few times. The only friend he'd really ever had was Braum, and the two of them had parted after the Blightlands with an oath to see each other again within two years.

Since then Ivar hadn't experienced much in the way of kindness or thoughtfulness, and the idea that Willa had done something for him made him feel...he was not entirely sure what.

Suspicion? Confusion? Joy?

"Oh." He said softly, frowning for a moment and looking at the bath for a few seconds before regarding Willa once again. "Thank you."

The barbarian said, clearing his throat and standing there awkwardly.

Not quite sure what to do.

 

[Willa]

Willa's smile slowly melted away as he seemed hesitant. Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink and she chewed on her lip before shaking her head at him.. 'You don't have to..' she mouthed slowly and turned to limp back to the window to give herself something to do to avoid more awkward staring.

She huffed quietly at herself, fingers fidgeting with her braid as she watched the little square outside as the setting sun cast a golden glow over it and people wandered here and there. Her lack of voice was testing her patience now, and even when she was trying to do things right she done them wrong. Her head shook in silence and she rubbed at her brow.

 

[Ivar]

"No no." He said as she mouthed telling him that he didn't have to.

It wasn't that he didn't want to take a bath, more that...well accepting such a thing wasn't exactly that easy for him. Fingers tightened at his side for a moment and he wasn't entirely sure how to put into words what he was going to say.

"I..." Lips thinned. "I am not used to having others do things for me."

There was a reason his body was so worn. The only person who had ever done something for him was Braum, and his old friend was now a world away.

At least that was what he thought. "Thank you, I will use it."

He told her.

 

[Willa]

Willa looked over her shoulder at him with a small frown at his explanation and she chewed on her lip, giving a short nod in understanding. It was just a bath, just hot water, she really hadn't considered that she'd done anything grand at all. She felt guilty then as she looked over him, knowing how privileged she had been in comparison, knowing that her father had cast him from his own home. And yet through it all he'd managed not to let bitterness shape him into a bad person and he had remained kind and considerate, at least to her. A bath was the least she could do.

She smiled softly as he agreed to use it, and she limped to lift up her cloak and pull it around her shoulders. She gestured to her mouth and mimed biting into something invisible and chewing. She'd leave him to bathe in peace, feeling comfortable enough since the in keep's visit earlier, to go and fetch them food on her own.

 

[Ivar]

Ivar simply nodded in response, still not entirely sure how to take this situation.

In times passed he had always just...well made sure that he could survive. Kindness was not exactly something he was used to. Even with Braum it had always been more of a sense of looking out for one another more than anything else.

His friend had certainly never drawn him a bath. Something that IVar was kind of thankful for in hindsight.

As Willa made herself scarce and went to go fetch them food, Ivar stripped off his clothes and made his way over towards the tub. He lowered himself into the hot water, making small noises of discomfort as he did so.

Usually he bathed in the cold, something he was more used to.

This was nice though, and as Willa got their meal the Barbarian slowly began to wash himself.

 

[Willa]

"Ah good evenin' little lady. I hope Vras seen you right, you certainly look better if'n you don' mind my saying so!"..

Willa smiled warmly at the man and mouthed the words 'thank you'. His smile faltered a little and he gave her a nod.

"Ah, well, some things jus' take some time to heal, eh? heh.. Can I get you some food?" She smiled and nodded, holding up two fingers and the man chuckled and nodded at her. "Well of course, lass. Coop! Two bowls of stew and bread, lad." he ordered the young help and the boy rushed off to the kitchen at once. The man poured a large tankard of ale and had been about to pour another when Willa shook her head at him, and pointed to the bottles behind him.

"Ahah, wine drinker eh?.." he nodded. "Well of course you are!" he rolled his eyes at himself and set a bottle of red wine down in front of her. Coop brought two bowls of steaming venison stew and a loaf of warm bread, and Willa carried the tray upstairs with some difficulty. She understood why Vras had told her to stay off of her feet.

She nudged the door open and stepped backwards into the room to set the tray down on the dresser, keeping the rest of the room to her back in fear of catching a glimpse of more flesh than she ought to..

 

[Ivar]

By the time Willa got back she would find that Ivar had sunk into the bath almost up to his nose.

His eyes were closed, his entire body was cloaked in water save for his legs and feet which were sticking out of the end of the tub to facilitate his body taking up the space. Some of the water had spilled out onto the floor, though he seemingly did not care.

He was relaxing.

It was not something that he oft was allowed to do. Even back home there had been a constant worry about things. Food, direwolves, the fire getting out of control. The last few months in the southlands had been absolutely no different.

Tension was his life, but now that he was comfortably seated in the tub Ivar found himself so comfortable he did not even hear Willa open the door.

All he did was lay in the bath.

 

[Willa]

Willa chewed on her lip as there was no sound. She wondered if he'd fallen asleep, or whether he'd even got into the bath at all. She turned her head slowly to peek over her shoulder, her icy gaze settling on the unwinding barbarian. Her first instinct was to turn away, but her amusement over the sight of his legs dangling over the edge of the tub gave her cause to grin and she laughed with no more sound than the breath it took to do so.