Private Tales On life's wayward trails

[Divina Rosenstern]

Finally, the assassins appeared.

When Tzuriel's urgent words clicked and he wheeled around to snarl, she was only partially ready. Scrabbling forwards, towards him, she flinched at the sounds of arrows impacting flesh, of his roaring in pain. Fury blazed to life in icy blue eyes, and the last stages of her plan began to realize themselves.

When he left to go into the woods, she had left briefly to find a source of water. It had taken all her energy and focus to bring it where she wanted it to, but it was getting easier by the moment. Water was flung up into all the closest trees, soaking into the wood, and then she took the last portion of the saplings, the hardiest part. Using the knife, she carved them into crude points, then pushed each of them into the ground with all her might around the bases of the trees. She even took care to hide them in the brush.

Their attackers would not have an easy path of melting into the trees or underbrush once she would be through. And though she had splinters, and her arms ached sharply with all the manual labor she was doing, it was worth it. The last piece in place was the jury-rigged spring trap for Tzuriel, in case he got violent.

But then, instead...

The cork to her water skin popped open, and a thin trail of water ribboned to life in the air, slicing into the chains to cut them away. Her eyes blazed a brilliant, icy cold blue, and her skin began to glow faintly. And though she wouldn't see their attackers, she could follow a basic path where the chains once led.

Ice. It began to crystallize in the very trees themselves, on the surface of their bark, making them buckle, begin to fall. First those on the parameter, then further out from the cave, groaning, creaking wood that would threaten to snap with the sudden frigidity of the air. And when those assassins would fall, seeking safer ground...

Well. She could keep them staked.

Her breath began to plume, her hands trembled, but she was lost in her fury. She would not let them hurt her man anymore, and she was beyond reasoning and logic. It was too long, too far, and too much, and she was prepared to take them all down.

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

Tzuriel felt the tingling of magic in the air, standing his fur on end and raising his hackles (another strange sensation, to be able to make his mane of fur stand up to make himself seem bigger, by bunching his muscles on his back and neck in a certain way reflexively).

The water severed the chains.
He looked back to see the effects of Divina exerting her magic against the assassins, and it was honestly a terrifying sight. He'd never seen her let loose like this, and knowing a little about magic himself, he worried that she might cause herself harm by overexerting herself.

He pulled one arrow out, and once he did it felt like a wave of relief washed over him.
The silvered weapon burned his flesh and weakened him, but as he pulled out the other two arrows out he felt his strength returning.

_________________________________________​

Magic activated all around the assassins, ice formed and began to strip the trees of their branches, leaving them with fewer and fewer places to hold as a vantage point.

They were nimble and skilled, jumping from tree to tree trying to find somewhere safe from the growing ice.
One assassin leapt for a branch, missed, and fell.
Under normal circumstances he would have been fine, but the ground itself was their enemy now.

A stake found the middle of his back and impaled him. He died almost instantly.

The other assassins ducked and dodged, skillfully staying ahead of the wave of magic and ice freezing the trees.
They heard a long, triumphant howl and knew that Tzuriel had freed himself. As assassins of The Family, they felt no terror or any emotion, but they knew that they had lost their strategic advantage and given their prey a huge gift.

Their situation wasn't ideal, but they had accounted for it. What they didn't account for was Divina's magical prowess... They will need to adjust their plans accordingly, if they survived the night.

_________________________________________​

Tzuriel let out a howl of triumph as his strength returned.
He could smell the assassins and track them.
It appeared that they were retreating.

A rational Tzuriel would have let them go and take the time to fully understand what he has become.
But in his current state, he identified prey running away, and his instincts told him to chase... So he did.
With a bound he ran out of the cave, crossed the rocky clearing, and entered the frozen forest.

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

Oh, they thought they could escape.

She didn't hear any yells. There was the dying gurgle as one landed on her trap, but she didn't pay them any mind. She was beyond fury, beyond rage. The hum of nature was reaching a fevered pitch within her blood, and she felt each water droplet, every sheen of moisture within miles.

Including the river.

Her hair began to turn silver, thin veins of magic shimmering beneath her skin. Before, she would have stopped, to prevent collapsing, but now she was beyond rational thinking, beyond the point of pulling back.

The air temperature continued to drop, and she listened. Mortal bodies were filled with water; she could feel the thrum, the pulses. Tzuriel was fleeing, but she felt as though she couldn't call him back. Her throat felt as though it were lined with lead. She focused...

And the ice raced, now razor-sharp towards the hum and flow of their enemies' blood. This went beyond just being a target, this became personal.

But as these crystals sought her targets, and would begin to grow, blood began to drip from her nose, the corners of her mouth. Her arms began to shake, breathing becoming ragged. They would reach the fleeing assassins, and suddenly grow, but just as they became deadly, freezing blood, cutting bone, she could feel it cutting within her as well, the surge of magic too much.

She gasped in pain, and abruptly the power surged keenly before cutting off, and she coughed hard, feeling her vision blacken.

She looked down to her dress, and saw the blood. Staggering, she made her way back to the cave, and collapsed within, narrowly missing the fire. She fell to the stone ground suddenly, unconscious before she even fully landed. But perhaps now, he was safe, she would... she could...

She couldn't finish the thought, but her final one was worrying over his safety.

But now, you rest. Rest, recover. You've over-reached your limit, child, now you will suffer the consequences. The moon-touched child, your mate, shall be fine. Rest now.

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

Tzuriel sprinted on all fours through the woods, traveling quickly like a flitting shadow through the trees.
Branches covered in ice littered the forest floor and even now continued to fall around him.
But he charged through heedless of the danger.
He stepped on a hidden stake but his paw simply splintered the wood, as if his skin couldn't be punctured by such mundane means.

He was catching up quickly with the assassins. They were swift through the trees but not faster than a werewolf on the hunt.
Ice continued to harass them as they retreated, they received some injury but still managed to stay ahead of the worst of it.

Tzuriel felt the tingling in his hackles as he sensed the fresh burst of powerful magic approaching, targeting the assassins.

He wasn't the only one, however. One assassin sensed the attack coming and pulled a potion out of his satchel.
Signaling to his comrades he was able to get close enough to others to include them into the effects.
He smashed the potion against a tree right before the ice blades struck, the effects of the potion created a momentary anti-magic area, dispelling the ice and turning it back to water so they were only splashed.
However, he couldn't protect them all, three assassins fell to the ground with ice shards in them.

The assassins took a moment to assess the situation. No further magical effects seemed to be forthcoming and the ice advanced no further.
Suddenly one assassin was grabbed from below and yanked off the tree branch. The assassin made no sound, but they could hear an audible crunch as Tzuriel noisily tore his head off.

Immediately the assassins were back in motion again, only about three remained of their group, and as they jumped away from that tree branch another was intercepted mid-jump.
Tzuriel was marveling at his jumping capacity as he began picking off the remaining assassins one by one, as well as the power in his bite and claws. The assassins broke in his paws like twigs.

But the magic had stopped, and the significance of that finally dawned on him and broke him free of his instincts.
She had gone too far.
As much as he loathed it, the remaining two assassins escaped while he turned around and bolted back to the cave.

It took him a couple minutes to get back, long before he reached the cave he could smell her blood, a familiar scent but one that formed a bit in his stomach, fearing the worst... An assassin couldn't have gotten by him, could they? He definitely wouldn't put it out of the realms of possibility.
He came out of the treeline and quickly crossed the clearing to the cave.

He found her inside, covered in blood and unmoving... But she was alive, he could hear her heartbeat.
He went to her side and turned her over, checking her for injuries.
As he suspected, she went overboard when she saw that he was hurt.
He didn't even notice it, but his injuries were already healed over.

He gently picked her up in his paws and placed her on the moss bed.
He made to remove her dress but found he couldn't manipulate the fastenings with his claws in the way.
He bent down and started licking up the blood, doing his best to clean her up and avoid attracting other predators... His intentions were good, but as he licked up her blood his blue eyes turned gold and his canine fangs grew longer and sharper.
He realized the same happened when he dispatched those assassins but he was too excited to notice.

He snarled but withdrew from her until his instincts calmed down.
Instead he settled for curling up around her, using his furry body to keep her warm through the rest of the night.

In the morning... He will be asleep, and a man again.

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

She knew she was alive, but not of much else.

Her hair faded once again from silver to chestnut, but she was pale, far paler than she was before. She wasn't a powerful mage before, and the exhaustion of the last few days and the high stress during that, would have taken a toll on even the most experienced of magic users. But she was already somewhat frail physically.

To restore, she had to rest, and deeply. The dawn came, but she didn't move, however, she was no longer bleeding. She hadn't noticed that Tzuriel had returned, but at times she almost surfaced from sleep, only to once again sink back into the deep dreamlessness. She had shifted, once, and it was to curl into the warmth, but otherwise, she would have to remain inert.

The consequences of her actions would yet reveal themselves.

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

A movement from Divina woke him up and he awoke with a start, looking around their surroundings and trying to separate his dreams from reality.
He looked at himself, he was human again and very naked, but still not cold in the least.
Divina had curled to him in her sleep, but she was still not awake.
He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and rubbed some of the dried blood away with his thumb.

He carefully extracted himself from her and found his clothes. After he dressed himself, he returned to Divina's side and began to properly examine her.
She was pale, but at least her hair returned to normal. He'd seen such things often, sometimes a magic user would push themselves too far and simply run out of energy, even hurting themselves at times.

He found his canteen and dribbled some on a spare rag, using it to gently wash her face and apply something cold to her skin.
He cleaned her up as best he could, then went through their packs to reassess their supplies. They had a fair supply of rations, but it was always wise to supplement these with whatever else you could forage.
He rebuilt the fire and set out some rations in case she awoke while he was gone foraging.
He didn't want to stay here any longer than they had to, the assassins would pick up their trail from here, likely with reinforcements.

If he had to, he would carry her from here. Which felt well within his power once again. It almost felt like he was a vampire again, except that he wasn't dead or cold, he didn't need to fear the sun, and he had less control over his emotional reactions.
His senses were once again heightened, his strength was enhanced, and he was no longer vulnerable to mundane forms of damage.
He looked at this optimistically, especially since he was able to maintain control over his rational mind even in beast form.

He could detect wildlife all around, investigating the decimated woodlands surrounding the clearing.
He planted a kiss on her forehead before rising up and going out of the cave, he could smell several rabbits curiously browsing around the broken tree branches, a few of those and they could save their rations for emergencies.
His hunting instincts and awareness were heightened allowing him to easily catch and kill the rabbits.

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

Her body desperately needed sleep. However, they still weren't out of the woods yet; when the warmth left, she wanted to move towards it. However, maddeningly, she couldn't move her limbs. Everything felt numb and distant, as though she were made of the very stone of the caves. And even the cold water and Tzuriel's tender touch couldn't rouse her fully. Even if she strained, she could barely manage the twinge of a finger, the flutter of feelings along her eyelids. She grew frustrated.

However... last night was blank. She couldn't remember why she felt so tired and cold; the last she could recall was spending the final sunlit hours with her partner, before... nothing.

When he left again, she cracked open an eyelid. It was a small victory, considering. Slowly, painstakingly, she began to feel, and to move.

The pain was almost unbearable once it caught up to her. Her temples throbbed fiercely, and she gritted her teeth, rolling to her side and clenching her eyes tight. Her chest ached sharply, every heartbeat like a knife, and though her skin felt warm, she felt frozen inside. After a few moments, the pain lessened, and she let out a shuddery breath, slowly, gingerly, rising to sit upright and rest her head on her knees.

The iron tang of blood. She could smell it; lifting her head slightly, she saw the bloodstains on the front of her dress, and felt a spike of fear. Was it Tzuriel's?

Looking up, horrified eyes registered the fallen trees, a sick pit forming at the base of her stomach. Memories came flooding back. She remembered now. Seeing the dark form of Tzuriel loping into the treeline, as they were cracked and falling... what if she had accidentally injured him?

She hadn't realized his clothes weren't there, nor the rations he left behind for her. There was just the terror of plausibly having hurt him, or worse, gotten him killed. Staggering upright, she leaned against the walls of the cave, hoping to see him.

She needed to see if he was alive.

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

Tzuriel had to hold himself back. Just because he COULD catch all the rabbits in the area didn't mean he HAD to catch all the rabbits in the area.
They only needed about two or three for a quick breakfast and then some for later.
He even went all the way to the stream to refill their canteens, unconcerned for now about any assassins, they were likely rejoining a main group and making their report.

He took off his coat and shirt, finding a calmer spot in the stream to examine his reflection. He still possessed the scars he'd received from events post vampirism, it seemed lycanthropic regeneration wasn't as thorough in regards to imperfections of the flesh.
Vampirism had cured him of many blemishes and flaws in his appearance, he was actually somewhat grateful that his new curse didn't change his normal appearance.

Even in the cool morning air he didn't feel cold. In fact, his shirt and coat almost felt stuffy to him.
He left them off, carrying them and the canteens over his shoulder while he carried the rabbits in his other hand.
He made his way back through the woods, quickening his pace just in case Divina had woken up in his absence.

When he returned he spotted her from the edge of the clearing, struggling at the opening of the cave.

What did she think she was doing?!

He sprinted across the clearing, faster than a normal human could move, and he was quickly by her side and holding her before she had the chance to fall.
"Divina, what do you think you're doing?! You need to lie down and rest."

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

She saw a blurred shape rush towards her, and when she saw him, her knees went weak with relief, and she sagged against him, pressing her palms against his chest when he held her. Suddenly, tears slid free, and to her mortification, continued falling.

"Thank the Gods."

Her voice came in a rasp, and she winced. Her throat still felt raw, as though she had swallowed sand. "I'm sorry, I was so furious--" she managed out, then shook her head. Rest. Did they have that kind of luxury? Brushing away her own tears, she tried hard to marshal her own thoughts, to clear her mind, but the relief of his being alive, the aftermath of last night's fury, and the stress of keeping herself together were difficult to manage. After a few ragged breaths, she stared at him.

"I can rest later. But... are you hurt anywhere? Did any survive?" She brushed a hand to his cheek, frowning at the heat. "You're so warm."

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

"Thank the Gods."

She was relieved to see him, he glanced past her and the rations were untouched. She must have only just woke up and noticed he wasn't there.

As she fell he was there, holding her and supporting her, but he obviously held back, once again his strength was of superhuman proportions and he had to be delicate with her.

"I'm sorry, I was so furious--"

"Shh, don't talk, I understand I just wish you hadn't taken it this far. You're in no condition to travel right now."
He shushed her with a finger and helped her into the cave and towards the "bed".

"I can rest later. But... are you hurt anywhere? Did any survive?" She brushed a hand to his cheek, frowning at the heat. "You're so warm.

He gave her a confident smile, "I am fine, all injuries healed quickly once the silver was removed. Two survived and escaped to report, I doubt that was their entire group."
He held her hand as she felt his temperature.
"Thanks to my new condition, I imagine. I'm practically a living campfire."
He gently snuck a leg behind her to "trip" her and slowly lowered her to the bed.
"No debate, my love. You went too far last night and now you are suffering the consequences, I won't let you suffer the consequences of doing something else stupid and reckless while you're recovering."

He extracted himself from her grasp only long enough to set aside the rabbits and his shirt and coat.
Then he laid down beside her, radiating heat like a bedpan full of hot coals.
He looked at her, half with unconcealed affection and half with the expression of one realizing a sad reality.
"I am a monster again, Divina... And this time you get to see it."

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

She wanted to stop the tears, but they kept falling. Gods, she wasn't some sniveling little noblelady! She was Divina Rosenstern, leader of Rosenstern Co., chosen leader of her family and one of the members of the Allirian Council. But just for the moment, she was just a woman, overwrought and overwhelmed. She allowed herself to settle back down, the pain in her temples making her close her eyes a moment, gritting her jaw.

The warmth was nice, but part of her loved how he looked at her. Like she was someone worthy...

"I am a monster again, Divina... And this time you get to see it."

She opened up her eyes a fraction to give him a stare. The tears had thankfully abated, but she still could hardly believe his words. He really thought himself a monster? After the control he exerted? She nuzzled closer into him, closing her eyes again. The light hurt to keep them open.

"You're not... not really. Just a big dog."

She muttered this, mostly between them, but there was a faint grin on her lips. The smile slowly faded, though, as she let out a reluctant sigh.

"We can't stay here, though... and we need to throw them off." She was feeling herself want to slip back to sleep, but she had to talk to him, to figure out a plan. Stubbornly, she blinked her eyes open, looking back at him with a worn look.

"...New plan?"

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

"You're not... not really. Just a big dog."

He couldn't help but smirk at this. He gets turned into one of nature's most apex predators, bereft of full control over his emotional expression, powerful enough to break her in half... And his wife-to-be called him "Just a big dog."

What a world to be alive in.

"We can't stay here, though... and we need to throw them off." She was feeling herself want to slip back to sleep, but she had to talk to him, to figure out a plan. Stubbornly, she blinked her eyes open, looking back at him with a worn look.

"...New plan?"

"New plan?"
His tone grew more serious.
"We have them on the back foot, militristically speaking, now is the perfect time to counter attack... But that's if we were an army and our enemy weren't professional assassins. For now the plan is to recoup, you pushed yourself too far with your magic and now you need to get it back."
He reached over to their supplies and grabbed the waterskin he just refilled, unstopping the lid and putting the opening to her lips, using his hand to tilt her head so she didn't spill or choke.
"If necessary, I can carry you and all of our supplies quickly away without any issues. If it's possible, if I could learn to control my transformations during the day it might be possible for you to ride me as a mount and we could be out of this forest before you know it!"

He looked over to the arrows that he saved from the attack.
"It's apparent that my new form comes with similar weaknesses to when I was a vampire, those are silver arrows, they burn me and drain my strength on contact, an improvement, as a vampire they could completely paralyze me as well. I don't know what other weaknesses I may have, and it's safe to assume that they might be aware of other ways to subdue me or bring me down. They have the informational advantage at the moment, so keeping our distance is still a priority."

After she'd drunk he set the waterskin aside and laid by her again, putting his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close against his chest, still careful of his strength to not crush her.
"I caught some fresh food, it could last us a couple of days. I'll cook it, but lay with me for a bit first."

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

She was too tired to argue. Though her lips twitched slightly at the idea of using him in his transformed state as a mount, she didn't react much to his words. Drinking slowly, she sighed in relief as some of the coppery taste of blood was rinsed out, and the rawness in her throat eased. She knew he was right, but it mildly annoyed her that he was so right.

Still...

"I caught some fresh food, it could last us a couple of days. I'll cook it, but lay with me for a bit first."

"Maybe I could design protective armor for you in your form..." she muttered tiredly. When he pulled her into his chest, she snuggled in, not fully realizing just how effortlessly he really held her. All she cared about was the fact that he was here, he was alive, and he was safe. She had never been so depleted in her life. But... it was worth it. Though there were questions, she didn't have the power to keep her eyes open and demand answers. He was warm and strong.

It wasn't long before she slipped into unconsciousness again.

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

"Maybe I could design protective armor for you in your form..."

He chuckled and she could feel his chest move as he did.
"Thoughts for when we get out of here alive and get ourselves properly educated on the subject."
He caressed her hair, running his fingers through her dark waves.
He hummed low, causing his voice to vibrate deep in his chest where her head rested, and he soothed her like that till she was asleep again.

He lay with her like that for half an hour, letting her sleep and rest in his arms.
Finally he slowly and gently extracted himself from her again, placed the water near her hand, and then went to rebuild the fire which had gone out. He set about cooking the rabbits, which will help preserve them... Though if they had some salt that would preserve them even better.
But he made do with what he had.

Once the rabbits were cooked the sun was reaching it's zenith, it was about mid-afternoon. He separated out some portions for each of them and stored the rest in their pack.

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

Time slipped away again. She knew he was just being considerate, letting her sleep, but the noblewoman wasn't adjusted to such ways. Any previous relationships she could reference were ones of strict business; she didn't love them. And yet...

When she cracked her eyes open again, the pain in her head was less. However, her throat was still sore. Rolling over slightly, she saw Tzuriel, framed in light, and felt the bag by her hand. Lifting it, she swallowed a few sips, looking at how he moved, drinking it in.

However, something else smelled divine. She couldn't quite put her finger on it; it was like chicken, but better. But there was another scent that roused her from her slumber; the scent of the woods, of pine, and for a moment, there was a different kind of hunger that rushed to the surface, before she wrestled it back down.

"How long was I out?" She rasped quietly, struggling to keep herself from staring too hungrily at the rabbit. She couldn't explain it; she had felt hunger before, but the smell--

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

"How long was I out?"

He looked over to her, then out the mouth of the cave to gauge the sun.
"A couple of hours."
He got up and brought the food over to her side, setting it by the water as he checked her forehead for a temperature, with his enhanced senses he could tell that her pulse was fine so he didn't check.
"How do you feel? Think you can eat something? There are lots of rabbits in this area, I suspect that we won't need to use our rations for a while."

Aside from physical injuries she seemed in better condition, cold nights weren't an issue anymore since he was always running hot now.
"I think we should plan on leaving tonight after I transform. Even if you can't walk, if I can carry you safely then we will make better time, eventually we will have to come across the road or a town if we keep heading the direction we've been going."

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

She hummed once in appreciation at the warmth he had; she leaned in slightly, only blinking when he moved away. Rabbit. So that was what she smelled; for some reason, the idea didn't seem so unappealing, though she had never tasted it before, that she could recall.

"How do you feel? Think you can eat something? There are lots of rabbits in this area, I suspect that we won't need to use our rations for a while."

She nodded slowly, brushing a hand against his arm lightly, marveling. Now that she was a little more restored, thoughts came back, and ideas. Still, the idea of riding him to escape seemed odd, but if he said it was possible, she would try.

She nodded to his question, blinking.

"Oddly enough, I'm starving." This wasn't merely the hunger of a depleted mage; it felt like something more.

"Tonight, then. It shall have to be then." She wasn't looking forward to it; if they were fleeing, they would be pursued. Taking her share of the food, for a moment she seemed nonplussed about how to eat it. Gingerly holding the leg between delicate fingers, she attempted to nibble. When that didn't seem to cut it, she flushed and bit down harder. It was gone practically too soon, and she blinked in surprise. It wasn't quite enough. Still... shaking her head, she took another sip of water.

Aside from the odd hunger, she felt a little closer to good shape.

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

He ate as well, it was bland without any seasoning but not bad.

"Oddly enough, I'm starving."

Divina seemed to be recovering well with how voraciously she ate, he chuckled and gave her the rest of his share.
"Slow down, Divina. We don't need you to relapse."

"Tonight, then. It shall have to be then."

He nodded as he crossed his legs under him and sat.
"If you're up for it, but I suspect that we won't have much choice. The assassins likely won't waste any time, so even if you're not feeling well by tonight, I will carry you and we'll go."

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

She hated the fact that she possibly worried him extremely. Hated more so that they didn't manage to finish off any witnesses from spreading the fact that he hadn't, in fact, killed her as what seemed to be originally planned. But she didn't have the energy or willpower to provide a counter-plan yet. Instead, she merely finished off his portion when he handed it to her, freezing only when she was mostly finished, and blinking once.

"Did I... eat the whole thing myself?" she muttered, blinking twice.

However, she was pulled back to the present by his comment about carrying her.

If you're up for it,

"I am," she answered firmly, reaching out a hand to you, hesitating slightly.

"...Forgive me. Last night, I don't know how... but I felt something." She hesitated, then lightly touched his hand with her own. "If you got hurt again... I'm not sure what I would do. I need you."

She flushed, eyes downcast slightly. The next words faltered, rusty in her lack of use.

"...I love you." But then looking up at him, he would see it. Despite everything, she was full of conviction. She would not dwell in failure; they would survive and get to the bottom of this. By the honor of their houses, they would survive and tear down this unknown opponent forever.

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

"Did I... eat the whole thing myself?"

She certainly did have an abnormal appetite, but he just chalked it up to her being magically fatigued and made no comment on it.

"I am," she answered firmly, reaching out a hand to him, hesitating slightly.

"...Forgive me. Last night, I don't know how... but I felt something." She hesitated, then lightly touched his hand with her own. "If you got hurt again... I'm not sure what I would do. I need you."

She flushed, eyes downcast slightly. The next words faltered, rusty in her lack of use.

"...I love you."

She hadn't said it often, it was more of an understanding they had... At least that's how it was from his perspective...
But one look at the conviction in her eyes told him that her statement was a full realization... The words "I love you" came out too different to be ignored.

He felt a lurch in his chest which caused him to pull back and blink rapidly with a look of confusion on his face... He expected to feel things emotionally more often now, his new curse made him more susceptible in that way, but that didn't mean he understood everything he felt.
Then a smile grew on his face as he realized what it was...

"I think my heart just skipped a beat..."

He took her hand in his again before she could take it back.
"I love you as well, Divina! In ways that I don't understand... While I have the strength to do so, I would tear armies apart with my bare hands for you. And when I don't have the strength, I will crush them with mercenaries and the full force of Alanthis and Co. behind them."

He kissed her hand.

"I don't want you putting yourself in unnecessary danger on my behalf, if I am to protect you and our future then I don't want you defeating the purpose of my efforts and sacrifice."
He looked her dead in the eyes, a seriousness entering his tone.
"Remember that you are my future, Divina. My legacy rests in you, but also I don't think I could bear losing you either, so please, do not love me sacrificially."

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

"I think my heart just skipped a beat..."

Her blush deepened, but he grasped her hand before she could shift back. Blue eyes flicked up to stare as he seemed to tease her. However, kissing her hand seemed to give her an odd flutter in the pit of her stomach, which made her frown slightly. She was the Black Widow. Her heart didn't flutter. Even when staring into the alluring features of Victoria O'Connor at that party many moons ago, there wasn't a stirring in her heart. Not even from her first two husbands, though they weren't regarded poorly in her mind, and who never stirred in her that kind of passion a simple touch Tzuriel brought.

"Remember that you are my future, Divina. My legacy rests in you, but also I don't think I could bear losing you either, so please, do not love me sacrificially."

She didn't like when he talked like that. Like their time was so limited. Though it was cold, hard facts, she still resented the fact that he spoke as though there was no way for him to stay by her side.

"I don't," she answered flatly, features softening ever so slightly. "But may I be a little selfish?" She brought his palm up to her own lips, but instead of kissing the back of it, lightly pressed his wrist instead with a kiss, allowing their hands to press against her cheek.

"You and I will continue this legacy together. I swear it. Regardless of what promises you made, I will not let you fall so easily." Despite her exhaustion, that stubborn glint came in her eyes again. "I just gods-damn love you, even though you have scared a few years off my life." The last phrase, however, made her hard mask crack ever so slightly, and a faint grin touched the corners of her lips.

"We will survive. Believe it."

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

"I don't," she answered flatly, features softening ever so slightly. "But may I be a little selfish?"

He held her cheek when she kissed his wrist. If she was a little more selfish, maybe she could look after her own wellbeing when he is unable to do so... That would give him some more peace of mind.

"You and I will continue this legacy together. I swear it. Regardless of what promises you made; I will not let you fall so easily." Despite her exhaustion, that stubborn glint came in her eyes again. "I just gods-damn love you, even though you have scared a few years off my life." The last phrase, however, made her hard mask crack ever so slightly, and a faint grin touched the corners of her lips.

He smiled as well, in spite of himself.

"We will survive. Believe it."

He leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips.
"I believe it, I believe you... I love you, Divina. I'm going to marry you."
He smirked.
"Please don't die before then, okay?"

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

She smirked back at his words, releasing his hand.

"You'd better marry me. I would accept no other by my side."

There would be time to prepare. Though she was still severely depleted in magic, she knew they couldn't linger, and their lives could be in danger once again. Running was alright, but they needed a new strategy soon. Still, she would help him prepare as much as she could. Still, waiting for the sun to set was nerve-wracking. Though she believed in Tzuriel's abilities, she still wasn't easy with the idea of him... transforming.

She wanted to ask about his time as a vampire, but wasn't sure how he would react. Still, if anyone had told her a year ago she'd be in a cave with the Merchant King of Arethil, she would have thought them mad. Madder still if she was told she would be engaged to him. If only she could go back in time to prepare better... but they would have time enough for the future, she would make sure of it.

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

"You'd better marry me. I would accept no other by my side."

"As you wish, milady."
He stood up, a smile on his face at their renewed resolve for one another.
She made the future seem less bleak, something worth fighting for and working towards.

He returned to the fire, stoking it up a little bit and continuing his preparations for their escape.
Divina's condition had delayed them and that was simply the situation they found themselves in, they could have ideally made good time and taken advantage of the assassins confusion, maybe taken better care of their flight and possibly thrown them off their trail temporarily.
But it was useless to speculate.

He made sure everything was properly stowed. They had eaten more than he anticipated just now, but there will be more food.
"I take it you've never pushed yourself this far before, correct? Then you probably don't know how long before you recover your full strength?"

 

[Divina Rosenstern]

"I take it you've never pushed yourself this far before, correct? Then you probably don't know how long before you recover your full strength?"

Broken from her thoughts, she blinked a few times at his question, then shook her head briefly.

"No, never. I have had some informal training, but... this is out of my depth." Her lips twisted in wry humor. "Quite literally, no pun intended." In fact, she was still uneasy with just how much destruction she had wrought last night. If she was this powerful, perhaps the mage that offered to teach her had lied about her abilities. But why?

Her chest still felt tight since the night before, and though she rubbed a fist over it, it was still rather painful in a way. And those dreams... premonitions, perhaps?

If so, whose child was that, which she heard? She frowned absently, staring at the flames as she lightly rubbed her knuckles over her chest as though to ease the pain.