Private Tales Read between the lines

[Talus]

His hands slowly settled on each of her thighs, thumbs softly stroking across her skin as he opened his eyes and looked up at her. "I'm okay with it."

He'd never liked any of them anyway.

"Besides." His head tilted up, and he smiled at her as his hands gently floated up her legs and over her body beneath the sheet. "You can't tell me that you entirely hate it."

Talus bit his lower lip as he tugged the sheet to the side slightly, revealing a bit more of her skin.

 

[Zana]

Zana's laugh was like music as she leaned down and gently claimed his lips with hers. Her mirth spread into their kiss and gave it a whole new flavour. She enjoyed it for a while. The gentle sipping from this intoxicating drink she had found herself somehow owning. She loved it. Loved him. The emotions spiked again and a rippled of the purple energy ran over her skin harmlessly.

"This..." she watched as it travelled up his own hands doing nothing more than tickle. "Is going to raise a lot of questions," she bit down on her lower lip as it travelled no further than his hands then seemed to jump back into Zana's skin itself. She ran a hand over his forehead to brush back a few strands of hair with a small shake of the head.

"What are you doing to me?"

 

[Talus]

Talus watched the small jump of energy, the ripple of power that washed over their skin.

"I don't know." He said, smiling up at her. There was a light in his eye, the same spark that appeared whenever he watched her for too long.

Love.

That was what it was. Talus had not known it even a day ago, but now he was sure of it. Now he could peel it pouring from him...and oddly enough her. He did not know why, how. Perhaps it was some sort of side-effect from her magic, it didn't matter.

He could feel it. "But I'm happy that I am."

His hand slowly reached up, caressing her skin until he gently cupped her chin and drew her into a kiss.

 

[Zana]

Zana could have stayed like that for hours with him. Doting kisses on him, receiving them in return. Revelling in the knowledge of what they shared and had sealed with their passions of the night before. It felt so new and fragile and yet she had no doubt this bond between them would blunt any sword. After a while she felt her energy returning and sighed in quiet contentment as she rested her cheek against his shoulder.

"I think I can swim now," she murmured softly, her eyes closed as they rocked back and forth on the swing. The gentle breeze disturbed her hair tossing odd curls over her shoulder or across her face every which way. Part of her just wanted to stay like this but she also didn't want to waste her time with him doing nothing.

"Can I please have my clothes back Sir?" her eyes twinkled with mischief.

 

[Talus]

The moment Zana said the word Talus's eyes snapped open. His lips thinned, and his fingers suddenly gripped her skin a little bit tighter. A breath hitched in his throat, and he couldn't help but sink his teeth into his lower lip.

"I suppose..." Talus said slowly. "I can give you back a little bit."

He smirked. "Since you asked nicely."

She knew exactly where to hit him, something that probably should have concerned him a little more than it actually did. His fingers gently roamed over her body for a second, trailing over her skin and gently grazing against the mark he'd left.

"Tell me what you want." He said with a smile. "I'll fetch it for you."

Not like he was going to give away the whole goat.

 

[Zana]

She loved the way such a single word could rile him and her mischievous smile only grew into a grin as his breathing hitched and he clamped down on her thighs. For a moment she wondered if he would be able to fight through the tiredness to do something about it but it seemed he was as wrecked as she was. When his fingers reached the bruises on either side of her neck and trailed across them she leaned forward and planted a kiss to his nose.

"Anything, they're just going to come off when I go for a swim," or they would end up laying in tatters late on this evening. She wasn't sure why she had bothered packing such nice clothes. In truth she hadn't been sure what exactly to bring. She had started with the usual things she would take on trips away as a soldier - breeches, shirts, warm clothes and waterproof things. But then her mind had drifted to what she thought he might have wanted her to wear and lacier and silkier things had been thrown in along with a myriad of different dresses.

 

[Talus]

Talus smiled, and then he slipped his hands beneath her thighs. With not a single grunt he suddenly scooped Zana up and offer himself, lifting her into the air. "Can do, my love."

He answered her with a small kiss before turning around and placing her back onto the swinging bench.

A wink was offered her way, and then suddenly his entire body once again filtered into that odd translucent blue. Nearly a full minute later he stepped out of the front door in his whole form, a sundress made of some sort of soft cloth draped over his arm.

It was a thing colored in orange, splashed with soft flowers that did not grow anywhere near Vel Anir. "Will this do?"

He asked with a smile.

 

[Zana]

Her smile lit her up from the inside as he picked her up and bestowed upon her that precious term of endearment once more. His kiss was as sweet as honey and she returned it with a blissful sigh of contentment. When he lowered her back onto the swing she bit down on her bottom lip and narrowed her eyes in suspicious as he shifted forms and disappeared back through the house. So they were definitely somewhere within the wooden walls. She was half tempted to follow him and see where he came out but Grey came to distract her by putting his head in her lap and demanding a fuss.

When he finally did return she had just thrown the ball for the wolf.

"Perfect," her lips kicked up at the corners and she stood up, letting the sheet she had kept wrapped around herself fall before taking the offered sundress and slipping it over her head. "Lead the way," she slipped her hand into his.

 

[Talus]

Talus ogled Zana a she dropped the sheet, smiling at the view for a few moments and giving her a very contented look as she slipped the sundress over her form once more.

"One second." The Dreadlord said as he stepped back into the home. It took him longer than it had to find her sundress, but eventually talus stepped back onto the porch holding what appeared to be a blanket folded several times.

He shot her a smile, walking over to her and offering her his hand.

"This way." Talus told her. "It's not too far."

 

[Zana]

Her eyes roved over the blanket curiously for a moment before she took the offered hand and walked by his side as he led them off through the forest. It was a similar route to the one they took yesterday and Grey whizzed off ahead to check the paths he had taken yesterday for any new scents. Zana tracked his movements until he was lost in the undergrowth and smiled faintly to herself. With the sun on their skin and this feeling of utter joy running through her there was practically a skip in her step.

At one point she even gave a small twirl as she hummed a song.

"Do you like swimming?" she asked as she spun back into his arms and tried to coax him into dancing with her.

 

[Talus]

Talus watched Zana with a smile.

He wished that their life could have always been like this. He wished that they could have just stayed at the cabin for the rest of their lives. No battles. No wars. Just the two of them spending time together and doing as they pleased.

It was a dream, but one that he had hope for.

As Zana spun back into his arms Talus caught her, a smile touching his face. "I do."

Surprisingly, as she tried to coax him into her little dance Talus followed her into it. His arm gently wrapped around her, the other holding the blankets, and then slowly he began to move with her in a steady rhythm, feet sliding around hers in an expert choreography.

It was Fen who had taught him this; "Dancing's easy, it's just the footwork for a sword fight without the sword".

Now as he danced with Zana, he found it to be thankfully true.

 

[Zana]

Zana loved finding out all the little things about him. She would uncover them all; he was her greatest adventure and treasure all in one. Swimming was a sport she thoroughly enjoyed, second only to horse riding, and she was glad to find that he shared that enjoyment. Her delight only grew as he followed her into the dance. There was no real rhythm aside from the tune she hummed beautifully and that was broken every now and then with a breathless laugh.

He was a surprisingly good dancer.

More than good.

She twirled as he spun her, her dress spinning out into a wide circle before falling against her slender legs with a soft whisper of fabric over skin when he pulled her back close to him.

"Where did you learn to dance?" It wasn't a normal Dreadlord lesson; Zana had learnt court during her time within Luana when it became apparently she would need to attend balls. But she had a secret love for folk music that she would sneak away to listen to on her days off. It was the gypsies who had taught her how to move her hips and flow like a river bend.

 

[Talus]

Talus smirked. "The Training field."

A laugh passed from his lips.

Among the Dreadlords there were five men who were in contention for the greatest blademaster. It was not really public knowledge, nor did any of them really speak of it, but they held a competition every few months to see who was truly the best. Fen won every time.

Talus was one of the other four.

For a few seconds Talus held Zana close, enjoying the feel of her pressed against himself a she brushed his lips softly over hers. "Maybe we'll attend a dance sometime."

He whispered to her.

"Blow the other couples out of the water." Another dream, but one he wanted to grant her.

 

[Zana]

There was a wave of emotion that wasn't her own and it was linked to the reason he laughed at his own comment. It hinted at there being a memory or an inside joke she was not privy to. She wondered at what it could mean for the briefest of moments before his next comment pushed the thought aside altogether. One of her rarer dimpled smiles appeared at the very idea of going to a dance with him. She twirled once more then bit down on her lower lip as her cheeks coloured.

"Actually, Luana throw a ball for the Dreadlord's every year," she said almost shyly as her hands ran down his chest, all the while stepping still in their dance. "Perhaps you can be my date," it was uncommon but not unheard of for Dreadlords of other Houses to be invited though it was usually Pirian Dreadlords or those from the Kings Guard; people Luana hoped to court over to their side or make alliances with. Talus would be a perfect candidate.

"I have this dress I think you would love," it looked as though it were made of water itself.

 

[Talus]

"Sounds like a date." Talus said with a smile, his arms wrapping tightly around her as he pulled her into a deep kiss.

The truth was that such a Ball sounded like he would be walking into a nest of Vipers while being only one of two Mongoose. There was no doubt in his mind that House Luana would love to see him dead, neutralized, or otherwise disposed of.

Yet, the truth was Talus would have bathed in vipers for Zana.

If he could see her in that dress, if he could see the smile on her face, if he could somehow feel her joy through whatever new magic this was...it would be worth it. "Just tell me when."

He said softly, pulling away from her lips.

 

[Zana]

That he would even submit himself to the politics that were involved in such a dance just to be with her thrilled her. She actually gave a small noise of exclamation and bounced onto the tips of her toes to meet him for the kiss. Perhaps it would be the first year that she actually enjoyed the event rather than stood awkwardly against the wall fearing touching anyone in case she got a vision of their future or a future linked to them.

"It's usually around the Summer Solstice, it's at the manor," it was meant to be a show of how much the House loved and appreciated their Dreadlords. "If you hate the rest of it the food is usually very good," there had been more than a few occasions she had sought out the cooks afterwards to ask for the recipes for her own collection.

She spun away from him again and tugged him after her. She could make out their destination ahead of them now and she was itching for a swim.

 

[Talus]

"As long as you're there, I'll be happy." Talus told her as he suddenly found himself wrenched along her path.

Talus let out a bark of a laugh, feeling the giddyness that ran through Zana. It was almost like she was bubbling over with joy and mirth by the fact of his simple agreement. The grin on his face grew wide, and he followed after her quickly.

Eventually they rounded the last bent through the wood, and there it was.

They stood atop a tall cliffside, directly below them a pool of water so clear that one could nearly make out the bottom of the quarry a hundred feet down. Talus and Zana came to a stop at the top of the cliff, a place washed with sunlight. "Here."

Talus said as he unfolded the blanket and cast it onto the ground.

"Someplace to sit after." He said with a smile as he walked with her towards the edge of the cliff.

 

[Zana]

His laughter was music to her ears. She continued to half skip half tug him along the path as if he were reluctant, though she knew he were not. It was a sweet and innocent game. Something precious that filled her with an emotion she couldn't quite place her finger on.

As they came out into the small opening that led them on to the cliff side Zana slowed her pace back down to a walk. She was a little breathless and colour rode high on her cheekbones but she had enjoyed the little game of chase. Now her eyes turned to the view before them and her breathing slowed as a sense of calm hit her.

"This is beautiful... the idea forming in her mind was exhilarating. It looked a good few meters down and she wasn't truly sure how deep the water went. At least she could tell it was devoid of large hidden rocks. The water was so clear it basically begged for her to fall into it. She tugged off her dress and threw it on to the blanket. Before Talus could say anything to the contrary she took a running start from the blanket and then jumped off the side of the cliff. She managed three perfect somersaults before diving into the water below with barely a splash.

 

[Talus]

Talus blinked as he watched Zana leap from the cliff and dive into the water, his mouth hanging agape. "Sure know how to pick em, Talus."

The young Dreadlord murmured to himself with a smile.

With three quick movements he stripped himself completely, tossing his clothes onto the sundress Zana had left behind and taking three long steps before jumping off the cliff in the opposite direction she had jumped. Unlike her he offered no fancy tricks, but simply dove into the water.

A splash rose from where he landed, Talus slipping deep into the water.

His eyes popped open as he righted himself, spotting Zana with a smile. Three powerful strokes and he pulled himself over to her, his arms wrapping around her in a dangerous embrace and he kissed her beneath the waters.

 

[Zana]

The water was cool but not icy from its time in the sun over the last few weeks as spring gave way to summer. As it engulfed her she let the momentum of the dive drive her further down then gave a slow and lazy kick to push herself on further. out of the corner of her eye she caught the ripples and bubbles that gave away the presence of someone else entering the water. Her strokes slowed and she rolled over in the water in a lazy gesture to wait for him.

It was pleasant to just watch the way he moved through the water. Strong, confident. She would have sighed if she could spare the air. As he caught her up in his arms and claimed her lips in a kiss she melted into him. It was so peaceful under the waves that she could have lost track of time as they hung like that, their hair floating around them and sunbeams streaming down through the waves to give them their own private spotlight.

After a moment or two more she broke the kiss and then kicked her way to the surface for air. Once she did she took a deep breath in and trod water, glancing around to see if he would join her.

 

[Talus]

Talus swam up to the surface, breaching the waves just besides Zana with a wide smile. "Oh hello there."

The Dreadlord said with a smirk.

"Come here often?" He'd heard the line once or twice at a tavern, but he thought it fit here well enough as a joke. The book he'd read often talked about using one liners like this in situations that didn't necessarily fit.

Out of place humor and all that.

A smirk touched his lips as he swam there in place, eyes lit up by the simple fact that they were sharing this moment together.

 

[Zana]

Zana returned his grin with a sly smile of her own and then rearranged her expression into one of perfect surprise and shyness. Like how she suspected women did react if they ever found themselves swimming naked with a man they had never met before.

"Now and then," her voice was coy and playful as she pushed herself away from him with a kick of the water which splashed up into his face. There was a soft jingle of laughter as she floated away on her back, her hands coming up behind her bed as she lay under the heat of the sun with the water lapping at her skin.

"What's a man like you doing in a place like this?" another one liner though used more on women than on men but she was enjoying this game.

 

[Talus]

Talus turned away as the water splashed into his face, head half hiding as he bit his lower lip. A wide beaming smile spread across his lips, and as Zana asked her own question he quickly swam after her.

He seemed to almost move naturally in the water, floating through it as though he had been meant to be there all his life. He caught up with Zana in no time, slowly coasting alongside her and drifting just parallel. "Me?"

Talus said, mock innocents in his voice.

"I heard there's treasure in the quarry." He clicked his tongue. "Seems they were right."

His eyes were fixed on her.

 

[Zana]

"Such flattery Good Sir" Zana said in her best impression of a noblewoman. Her hand lay across her heart dramatically and the other across her forehead as if she might swoon. She was on the surface one moment and then next she had flipped herself upside down and disappeared back underneath the waves. It didn't take long for her to pop up a little ways away.

"A gentleman would avert his eyes if he found a lady so indisposed," she gave a chiding wag of the finger as she trod water where she was, her smile creeping across her face. "Though know I realise you are as equally so I should shield my eyes too to protect thine honour!"

 

[Talus]

"Ah, my good lady." Talus offered, his head shaking as though he were rueful and apologetic.

"Would that your light burned less bright." He tried to remember what little he could remember of the classical works the Proctors had made them read. "Then perhaps my eyes would not be drawn to you so."

Talus feigned a hand to his head. "Alas, I cannot help but stare at the beauty presented before me."

As he finished the young Dreadlord suddenly burst through the water, his hand quickly reaching out to grasp Zana and pull her close.