Private Tales Read between the lines

[Zana]

"As soon as we can leave we will leave," Zana's fingers trailed over his cheek as they lay on the wooden boards of the porch in nothing but their boots and her necklace. The sun was only just beginning to dip below the treeline but the world kept its warmth for now and would continue to do so until the moon took possession of the night. Her words were a promise for him though for she could feel the desire in him after the past few hours and the build up over the last week. The training with the guards and the way they had treated her initially had hurt him badly.

Her Dreadlord with the human heart.

"I promise," she didn't need to say the words out loud but she knew they would help him and ease the knot in his chest. "Did I tell you Lola invited me out drinking with some of your regiment?" she rubbed her nose against his. She knew she hadn't because it had been whilst he was away but she wanted to take his mind off of the negatives of the week and focus on the positives.

 

[Talus]

Talus let a smile break out on his face. "Did she now?"

Nights out in the guard were a common thing. Ilyana had early on explained that it was a way for soldiers to bond. It was rare for officers to be invited along, though Talus had been extended the invitation once or twice.

Donric had been particularly insistent on him joining, and thus Talus had eventually capitulated and gone along. It had been quite the...experience. He smirked at her for a few seconds, almost as if searching for something.

"Well." He prompted. "You'll have to tell me everything."

His hands played across her skin softly, coaxing the truth from her.

 

[Zana]

Zana felt a burst of pride when he grinned. She didn't have friends per see. Sloan was too much like a mother to call her friend. Flor was the closest; it had been with her she had discovered the embarrassing truth about how bad she was at drinking. Her friend had had to take her home in a wheelbarrow and there had been a pigeon involved somehow... the details were blurry.

For some reason it felt like Talus wanted her to have more friends so she had been quietly overjoyed when she had been invited.

"I explained I couldn't drink," the last thing Zana wanted was to go out with normal humans with her gifts. "But they started a little campfire and we had something called a ... a picnic. I told them I bake things and they have insisted I bring something next time. It was "girls only" or I would invite you," she teased and nipped at his lip.

 

[Talus]

He smiled. The thought of her going out with people, Guardsmen no less, brought a flitter of joy through his heart.

Talus was happy to be her everything. He was more than glad to act as her support and center of her life. He had sworn to be her Anchor and he always would be, but bonding with others was important to. It was a lesson that he himself had learned from the Guard, and he was sure Zana saw it too.

”Well I won’t pretend not to be insulted.” He said playfully, shaking his head in mock anger. ”The ungrateful runts are going to have some extra time on the field.”

He growled at her, nipping softly at her lip. ”Girls only? Ludicrous.”

 

[Zana]

Zana giggled and wriggled as he nipped at her lips. She had always thought play a silly thing but she had discovered it was a fun thing with him. The quips and the way his fingers teased against her skin... Now she understood why couples laughed as they walked the streets together. It just felt right. Loving in its own unique way.

"I believe it's because men suck, as Kiera reliably informed me when I asked why," she bit down on her lower lip to stifle a laugh. "Did you know she and Ian were a couple?" Zana had never been privy to 'women's talk' as Lola had called it before. It had been rather interesting to learn how openly the Guards flirted and had relations with one another.

She stole another kiss and then yawned, raising a hand to try and smother it.

 

[Talus]

"I did." He said with a smile on his face. "The Guard is as gossipy as a gaggle of Tavern Wenches."

Talus wasn't entirely sure if tavern wenches were all that gossipy, but it was an expression that he had heard Donric use more than once. It was true though. Even though none of them talked directly to him Talus caught more of what his soldiers were doing than he would have liked.

"I also know that Bella has a crush on Tam and that Perrin got caught trying to peep." He let a chuckle and shook his head, the man had been disciplined for that, but not by the Guard.

"Tired?" He asked her with a smile. "I have a bit of a surprise waiting for you inside..."

A smile touched his lips.

 

[Zana]

"I haven't slept since you left," Zana confessed and rested her forehead against his closing her eyes. She had felt his concern from afar and she knew as soon as she said it she was going to make him worry. She just hadn't been able to bring herself to sleep knowing what would come. If she kept busy and awake then she stood more of a chance of keeping them at bay.

"I managed a few minutes here and there in the saddle," and when she had been knocked unconscious but she didn't want to bring up those memories or feelings for him either. When he mentioned a surprise she opened her eyes and searched his quietly. "You keep spoiling me Major Morrid," she hummed then bit down on her bottom lip with a concerned frown. "I think... I should try those bracelets," even she had to admit she needed the sleep now. Nearing four days with nothing more than a few snatched moments would start to wear on her body.

 

[Talus]

Talus looked down at her with concern as she admitted to her lack of sleep, a frown touching his lips as he looked down at her with an extreme amount of concern. "Okay."

He said softly, his hand coming up to slowly drift through her hair.

"I've put Runes around the entire clearing." Talus said as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "If anyone comes within two hundred feet of the cabin I'll know."

His hand slowly folded through her hair. "The cabin is warded too. No spell will pass beyond."

That had nearly made him collapse, but it had all been for her safety.

"And I'll stay up all night." He closed his eyes, breathing her in. "You're safe here, my love. I promise you."

 

[Zana]

"I know," Zana raised her head and gently brushed her lips across his, her hand coming up to cup his cheek. Her smile was faint but it still made her eyes dance.

"I trust you, you don't have to stay up all night. Grey will sit watch," the wolf was becoming increasingly good at smelling people before she could sense them herself. There had been an awkward incident when she had nearly not been able to hurl him back from taking a bite out of Flor the other day. "I want you to sleep with me," his whole presence was a comfort to her and helped her sleep even with the visions. Of course she would understand if he couldn't bring himself to sleep properly; Zana didn't think she would be able to if he was in her position and she felt responsible for his safety. Even so she hoped he wouldn't feel pressured to if he did need to sleep himself.

"Come on, let's try these bracelets," she stood in one fluid movement and held out her hands for him.

 

[Talus]

Talus wrapped his hand around hers, pulling himself up from the ground. He landed on his feet with surprising smoothness, giving her a small kiss on the cheek. "Okay."

He couldn't help the joy that radiated through the bond, the happiness he felt that she was so willing to try such a thing. Four days of not sleeping...four days of running herself ragged. He could not have imagined such a thing.

Softly taking her hand in his Talus lead her into their home.

The living room was unchanged, though she would see that the kitchen cabinets were now ornately carved with a leaf and vine like pattern. To the right was the addition, though it was walled off with a single doorway draped in cloth clearly meant to keep the night air out.

Beyond in the bedroom she would find nothing changed save for the bed which was now twice as large as it had been before.

 

[Zana]

Zana smiled wearily as she felt the joy coming through the bond. At this point she would try anything but she would be lying if she said she wasn't still nervous. To rid herself of her magic was just... she tried to not let the gnawing sensation in her gut put her off as she followed Talus into the house.

Her eyes flicked to the new additions and a faint smile touched her lips when she saw he had made the kitchen more beautiful, for her, then actually began to laugh when she saw the bed.

"Yes this will definitely be big enough for Grey's new lady friend too," the wolf in question was already sprawled out on top of it. Zana kicked off her boots and then turned round and held her wrists out towards him with a large exhale of breath.

"And we'll take them off if I want, yeah?" She looked up at him nervously.

 

[Talus]

Talus walked over towards one of the floorboards, leaning down and popping it open. He had not been able to hid the cuffs within the walls. Whatever allowed them to stop the use of magic also stopped magic being used on them, so he had relied on a more ordinary hiding place.

"As soon as you ask." He answered softly as he retrieved them, taking just a second to pull the key out as well.

He had placed the silvery key on chain, simple, but long enough that it would be able to hang around her neck. Holding the manacle with one hand, Talus used the other to offer the chain to Zana. "You'll have the key the entire time."

Opening the manacles as actually as easy as simply putting in the key and turning it. Apparently the Elves had decided that was enough.

With a deliberate slowness he placed the cuffs around Zana's wrists.

"Ready?" He waited until she said yes to close them.

 

[Zana]

Zana took the chain and slid it over her head. The key nestled between her breasts far below the choker. For a moment she ran her fingers over the key as if to make sure it was real then she held her hands back out to him.

Perhaps it was just in her mind but as he rested the manacles on her Zana imagined she could feel them draining her magic already. Her heart began to hammer in her chest and her breath came a little sharper.

"No but do it," she wriggled a little and met his eyes as he closed them about her wrists. For a moment she sat there and turned her hands this way and that. The metal felt cold and when she reached for her magic it was like coming up against a wall of ice. Zana panicked. The magic had been a part of her for her entire life and now it was gone.

"Please don't leave me," her hands gripped his tightly.

 

[Talus]

Fingers tightened around hers in an instant, his head coming up to softly kiss her on the forehead. "Never."

His voice was firm, strong.

"Not for a second." Talus reached out, sliding his hands down her forearms and slowly around her entire body in an embrace. His body slowly braced against hers, softly pressing her back into the bed. "It's okay."

He whispered quietly. "I promise you."

Arms enveloped her, surrounded and encapsulated her. "I'm here."

 

[Zana]

Zana shut her eyes and buried her face in his chest as he made his promise and enveloped her in his arms. Her breathing was still laboured as she tried to wrestle with the feeling of emptiness inside of her. It would help, she would be safe, he was here. Grey seemed to sense his mistresses distress and once the pair were laying on the bed he wriggled his way up to press against Zana's other side with a soft whine.

"Okay," she said softly and slowly shifted her body so that she was comfortable, pillowing her head on his chest. "I trust you," enormously. There was noone else in the world she would ever be able to do this with.

It did take a while but eventually she managed to calm herself and sleep was not far behind.

 

[Talus]

Talus stayed awake.

He wasn't entirely sure why. He could have slept, he felt tired, but something kept him awake. His hand slowly flowed through Zana's hair, his eyes resting in her as she slept peacefully for the first time that he had ever seen. "I love you."

Talus whispered the words softly, his finger brushing over her cheek as she slept.

He never moved. He never even thought about doing as such. Instead he held her, letting the heat of his body meld with hers as she slept. It was calm, peaceful, more so than any other night he had spent with her. Love and calm flowed through the bond, washing over her in a constant stream.

It was all that he had hoped for in a night like this, and even as the sun came up he did not move.

Instead he waited, wanting her to sleep as long as she could.

 

[Zana]

Zana slept.

And slept and slept.

There was no dreams that tortured her, no spike of pain that made her eyes or nose bleed.

Nothing.

The sun rose steadily throughout the morning and began to crawl past midday before she showed any signs of stirring. To begin with it was just a mumble and a small movement. Grey snuffled against her face and she slowly raised a hand to push him away.

The wolf barked and waged his tail then jumped on the pair suddenly.

"Fuck, Grey damnit," she groaned but finally gave the wolf the scratches he wanted as he assaulted her face with kisses.

 

[Talus]

Talus tried to to push Grey away before he could wake Zana up. His hand gently pushed him away, but the Wolf was rather insistent that he get attention. It was likely the longest that he'd ever seen Zana sleep, and after a while he simply had too much energy to actually contain.

Lips pressed softly against the back of her neck. He breathed in softly as he looked over her, ensuring that everything was as it should be.

"He makes for a nice alarm clock if you need it." Talus grinned at her. He'd experienced it more than once, though Zana was usually up before the crack of dawn. Grey was usually still sleeping with him while Zana did...well whatever she felt like that morning. "How did you sleep?"

Talus asked as he softly kissed the back of her neck. "It seemed to work."

There was a desperate amoubt if hope in his voice.

 

[Zana]

Zana opened her arms and Grey wriggled his way into them with a happy noise. She gave a muffled laugh that was thick still with sleep and rested her face in his fur. With Talus at her back and his arms around her it was the perfect morning.

"It did," she moved one hand down to rest over his arms which were clasped about her belly. "It worked. No visions only dreams - happy dreams," her voice was full of wonder at it. She hadn't ever thought it was possible.

Zana pulled him closer and turned her face to kiss his shoulder and then down his arm.

"That was the best night sleep I think I have ever had."

 

[Talus]

Utter joy ran over his features as she said the words, eyes lighting up and expression practically glowing as she said the words.

He couldn't have been more happy in that moment, couldn't have felt more joy. To know that she had finally slept, that it had worked and she'd been able to get a full night's rest made him want to jump out of bed and face. Talus practically beamed at her as he kisses her skin, his arms tightening around her to drag her as close as he could.

"I'm so happy to hear that." Like she wouldn't already be able to tell.

Talus was almost happier than she was. The mirth around him palpable. Finally she would be able to sleep. Finally she would be able to rest and take the time she needed. He wriggled happily against her, fingers slowly floating over her skin.

"I'm so happy to be your safe place." He whispered to her in-between kissing her skin. "To have you back in our home."

 

[Zana]

Zana chuckled as he pulled her back into him and tightened his arms more about her. His joy was like a blanket around her and her eyes closed as she savoured the moment. She couldn't quite comprehend how happy it made him that she had gotten sleep but she was happy it did regardless. The sleep had certainly done her wonders; she hadn't felt so... alive in years.

"It feels good to be home," she confided with a sleepy smile. Her townhouse felt like a work space now she had been here for that blissful week. She just couldn't relax there like she could here. And now, apparently, even more so. Zana glanced at the metal cuffs and ran her fingers over them slowly.

"It's like my powers are behind a thick wall of ice," she said softly and then finally wriggled in his arms so that she could turn round to face him. "It's not uncomfortable but it ... it feels like I'm missing something."

 

[Talus]

His lips softly brushed over hers as she wriggled in his grasp, his breath filling with the scent of her. "I can't imagine."

His own magic was as innate as hers. Talus couldn't even think of what it would be like not to be able to phase walk. Stepping out if reality for him was like breaking into a sprint for an ordinary person. It was easy, and not having that ability would have terrified him. A part of him admired her for taking the plunge, and another loved her all the more for doing it for him.

"Thank you for trying it." Talus said softly. "I know it couldn't have been easy."

Yet he was glad for it. "Do you want to take them off?"

She said it was not uncomfortable, but Talus himself wouldn't have wanted to be without his magic for a second longer than he had to be.

He leaned in and kissed her again, letting his fingers play over her skin.

 

[Zana]

"Only here, only with you," Zana said softly before he kissed her. Her eyes closed and she sunk into it. Her hands sliding up his chest, over his shoulders, and her fingers locked together behind his neck. The touch of his fingers was like a brand against her skin. It stoked the embers that constantly burned for him into a bigger flame. If she heard his question she showed no signs of it as she pulled him closer to her.

The kiss was slow and lazy like she had all the time in the world to explore him and enjoy this moment. It tasted of a warm fire and reading on the sofa, lazy Sunday mornings eating breakfast in bed, a million possible futures of complete and utter peace. Tranquillity.

Finally she pulled back just a little as her lungs began to burn. Zana couldn't bring herself to move out of his arms however and instead pressed her forehead to his, their breath mingling in the slim space between them.

"I might... I might keep them on a little longer," a day and two nights with no visions... she just wanted to enjoy this feeling of not knowing what was going to happen when he smiled or touched her or said something.

 

[Talus]

Talus rested his forehead against hers, fingers slowly playing over her as he took in the breath that she had stolen from him.

"Okay." There was no hesitation from him. If that was what she wanted, then that was what she would have. "I think we could break the chain between them without stopping the effects."

It was something he had noticed. The Chain between the two manacles was just an ordinary silvery chain. There was a keyhole in each of the cuffs, and all of the runes was located on the manacles themselves rather than the metal that connected them. "But before then..."

He leaned in and kissed her again.

"I had a little bit of an idea." Fingers slowly traced down her spine and over the curve of her rear.

 

[Zana]

Zana glanced down at the chain. It was quite fortunate that it was a long chain and not rigid or short, offering her flexibility to move her hands quite well but it wouldn't do if she wanted to walk around the house and do things with them on. Really, all she had been thinking about was spending the day in bed. She had heard of these things called 'naps' the Guards had spoken of and they had sounded pleasant little tiny sleeps. She'd said she did them all the time on the road or a snatch here and there between work but apparently a nap required you to be waddled in blankets in a sunny spot on the sofa or bed fully clothed. It was intriguing.

But as his hands ran down her spine causing her to shudder and he murmured those words her cheeks grew heated.

"Yeah?" she nipped at his lower lip playfully. "What kinda idea?"