Private Tales Read between the lines

[Talus]

"Sure." Talus said with a nod of agreement.

As he quickly began to unpack things, he mused over Zana's words. It would be helpful, no doubt in his mind that it would, but there was something...charming about the idea of keeping things discordant.

Talus knew it was a foolish notion, and that no illusion would last, but he had always enjoyed the thought of an unexplored world. Perhaps even when he was the one who was doing the exploring. Shaking his head he laid down the blanket Zana had packed. "We can."

He said finally in agreement.

"Or." Maybe he would voice it after all. "We let the kids do it when we're grown."

The former Dreadlord offered with a smile.

 

[Zana]

Zana helped to smooth out the blanket before she lowered herself down with care and the knowledge she wouldn't be getting up without Talus' help.

"I like that idea," she smiled and gazed off over the half-frozen lake with a distant expression. Once such a look would have meant a vision but now it meant she was dreaming. Dreaming of their lives, their future and for once it was entirely good. She snapped out of it then shook herself and helped to unload the rest of the bag. As always she had packed enough to feed a small army - or Talus - and it included a good spread of bread, meats, cheeses, small pies and pastries, tiny cakes and scones. Jams, spreads and cream also came out.

"I bet it's beautiful up here in the summer, the lake must be full of fish," she mused. The more they could live off the land the better in her opinion. "Maybe when they're older you could come and teach them how to build a little outhouse, then we can stores some bits up here."

 

[Talus]

Talus, obviously, was already eating. That was what they had come up here for after all, and he would be damned if he allowed anything to come between himself and food. That was just natural after all, why would he wait when he didn't have to?

That was the way he'd always been.

The Dreadlords had made him practically scavenge for food during his time in the academy, and a long time ago he had promised hismelf that would never happen again. Even if half the time it ended up with him feasting in excess.

Perhaps that was the dwarven side of him. "Psh."

Talus exclaimed.

"Sure." A smile touched his half full mouth. "But I'm making them carry the lumber."

What else were kids for?

 

[Zana]

"You'll do no such thing!" Zana berated as she made herself a sandwich and took a bite. Pregnancy had levelled up her hunger almost to a par with Talus'. She would be lying if she didn't already worry late at night in the small hours before dawn when they were kicking her, whether the twins would have his appetite or not. The whole farm might be needed just to sustain the three of them.

"Though from what they've already demonstrated they might be carrying the limber and you up here," she mused. Grey crept over with all the stealth of a pink elephant and lay his head in her lap. In the beginning he had begged from Talus but it hadn't taken the wolf long to work out that wasn't going to be anything left from that plate. Zana leant over and snatched a couple of cold chicken legs up before her husband could hoover them up. One she snuck to the grateful wolf.

 

[Talus]

"That's what kids are for." Talus argued with a simple shrug.

"Why do you think farmers have so many?" He told her. "It's so they can work the farm."

That was, at least he was pretty sure, an actual fact. Parts of rural life still escaped him somewhat, and in truth he might have been wrong, but it was worth a gamble. "Kids are meant to do the work their parents don't want to."

Talus said with a smirk.

"Plus like you said." He glanced down at her belly. "At this rate they'll probably just move the mountain."

A joke that with every day seemed to become more and more true.

 

[Zana]

"Farmers weren't the ones going through this for nine months," Zana muttered into her cup. The wise woman had insisted that twins always caused double the amount of pain and a normal pregnancy would be much easier but the ex-Dreadlord was no longer convinced. Not since seeing the milk-herders wife put on bed rest with just one child to carry. Not that she would change a single, brilliant moment. This is what they had both wanted more than anything. Her only regret was she hadn't been able to enjoy it like she might do with a future child.

Zana stretched out her legs as she nibbled on a scone and gave a small laugh about the comment of mountain moving.

"Well we don't need to work so there's no work we should be doing we don't want to do. And just how many children are you imagining here?" her eyebrows rose in mock horror but her eyes twinkled with joy.

 

[Talus]

Talus shrugged innocently in response to the question. In truth, he hadn't really thought past the first two. If their magic was anything to go by the twins would certainly be enough of a handful for a dozen parents, much less two experienced ones.

"I dunno." The Former Dreadlord offered casually.

There wasn't a right answer, at least for him. Family planning hadn't exactly been...the top priority for them until lately, and even then it had been more about just making sure they had a home enough to be comfortable for the two of them.

"As many as we want." He said with a smile. "Enough to carry all the heavy stuff."

The smile turned into a smirk again. "You know, for the barn."

Bribes always worked.

 

[Zana]

Zana threw back her head and laughed in delight.

The morning trickled by into afternoon as casual conversation about the future, of meaningless things and important things flowed easily between the two. Sometimes they simply laid back and enjoyed the warmth of the autumn sun that basked this part of the mountain. It was... perfect. It was what she had fought for, these moments. It was only when the sun was getting lower that eventually they packed up what little remained of the food (nothing), the blankets and cushions and made they way back to the house. They arrived just as the sun was setting, bathing the place in red warm light.

"Looks like your friends have been busy," she smiled and nodded to the large pile of timber stashed beneath a canvas sheet to protect it from the weather.

 

[Talus]

"Good." Talus said, stroking his chin and wandering over towards the pile of lumber.

"I only paid them a fortune." Though truth was, it had taken Zana and Talus quite a bit of time to actually figure out just how much was a fortune in this place. Turns out prices in a little village where nowhere near as high as in Vel Anir. "Looks like I'm doing more building tomorrow."

The former Dreadlord mused.

He pulled the tarp back over the lumber, tucking it beneath one of the heavy logs before returning to Zana's side. "I told you I'd get it done."

Talus teased, guiding Zana back up the steps to their home.

 

[Zana]

Zana threw him a grateful smile as she leaned heavily on his offered arm as they went up the stairs. The hill back home she had only been able to go at a snails pace stopping often to take a drink.

"I had no doubts," she insisted as they made they way up. "But I think I might actually take it easy tomorrow," she admitted reluctantly. The fields were done and there was little else work wise she could do around the farm in her current state. With the building work resuming she wasn't sure how peaceful it would be in the house but there was a little bench swing almost as large as a bed that Talus had made in the backyard. She could make camp there.

"I am getting to the point I just want them here," and not laying on her bladder.

 

[Talus]

Talus nodded his head. "They will be soon."

Just a little while more now really.

Sometimes he wondered just where all the time had gone. It seemed like just yesterday they were still in the middle of Vel Anir. The day after that receiving accolades and medals, and the day after that starting construction on the house.

Time seemed to have blurred together, becoming one thin line that he and Zana walked along. It was an odd thing, looking at it in such a way. Talus couldn't help but wonder if one day he'd wake up as an old man, wondering where it had all gone.

"You rest." He assured her. "I'll get this done."

Slowly he looked around the house, as if planning something.

 

[Zana]

"I know you will," she smiled and cupped his cheek lovingly. Her husband. The love of her life and father of her children. There was no doubt in her mind that he would get it done and her children would know only love and happiness. Zana stroked her thumb over his cheek and then rocked onto her tip toes to kiss him before beginning the stairs up to their room; the only finished room in the house coincidentally.

The room was stunning, a testament to Talus' skill truly. Large enough to accommodate wardrobes and a bed both of them could sprawl in without touching it still managed to feel cozy due to Zanas touches. Furs and warm shades of reds, oranges and yellows created a space that asked to be relaxed in. Zana begun peeling herself out of her clothes as soon as she was over the threshold.

"Are the boys going to come help you tomorrow?" Four weeks was all they had if the twins stuck to the schedule but really it could be any day from now.

 

[Talus]

Talus shook his head. "No."

He was pretty sure they would if he asked, especially given what he was paying, but at this point he was sure that anyone helping would just get in the way.

"I'm going to take care of it." He assured Zana. "But..."

A smile touched his face for a moment. "I'm going to be quick about it."

Talus had the luck of being a mage, a Dreadlord. He had been trained for war, combat, but his abilities extended beyond that. A part of him had been weary of taking things too far, stretching himself beyond what he could do.

But as the days passed his confidence rose, and his need to finish their home came to a crux. Talus wanted this to be done, wanted their home to be finished.

He would push himself to seeing it done.

 

[Zana]

Zana tugged on the nightdress that was definitely too small now but that she was loathe to replace with one a month to go. It dug into her swollen breasts and outlined the round curve of her pregnant belly. With care she eased herself into the bed and drew the covers up to her lap before beginning to brush out her long wavy hair.

"It'll get done," she said with a confidence she would have said something had she seen it in a vision. All she needed in this case was to know Talus was involved. "Now come to bed," there was a wicked light in those eyes as she set the brush aside. "I'm not quiet worn out just yet..."

 

[Talus]

Talus smirked, practically jumping into bed and half pushing Zana over. His hand came down upon her rear, the sound drowned out by his laughter. "Is that so?"

The former Dreadlord demanded.

"Well I can help with that." There were certain things that once simply had boundless energy for, and he supposed that this was one of those things. His hands quickly slipped all over Zana's form, lips pressing against her at every opportunity.

It was a passion, a lust, that the two of them had carried between one another for years now. One that would not soon fade.

Even as dawn of the next day came.

 

[Zana]

Zana fell asleep in the early hours when pink begun to tinge the sky feeling sated, safe and loved. Emotions and feelings she had never imagined feeling but that now she felt every day. She slept long into the day and woke when the sun was past its midday height. Wrapping herself in cozy jumper over her nightdress she yawned and made her way downstairs.

Hammering told her Talus was already at work so she left him to it and fixed herself some tea before heading outside to enjoy the afternoon sunshine with her book.

The swing offered an enviable view of the house. Even uncompleted she felt a wonder to see it. Something that was theirs. With a content sigh she sat back and settled curled up to enjoy her well deserved break.

 

[Talus]

Talus did not rest for the day.

He pushed himself.

Most had never considered his magic the most powerful. There had always been a use for it, always been a way for the Proctors to set him forward. Yet it had not been Magic like Zana's, like Illthid, like any number of Archon's and First Level Dreadlords.

Yet moving fast was where he shined, and that was what he did now.

Talus moved through the house like a bolt of lighting. His flickering ghostly image seemed to be in twenty places at once, ripping through the house and placing beams, nails, rails. It went fast, the tides of time turning quickly until the sun was beginning to set.

Within the course of a day the house had gone from a gutted incomplete thing to a home. At least the inside of it. The first floor was finished, still empty, but the walls and doors were there.

Talus sat half dozed off against one of the main pillars, his head lulling as sweat shined on his skin.

 

[Zana]

"My love," Zana whispered softly and cupped his cheek, her fingers grazing over his skin with a reverent love. She smiled at how relaxed he looked in sleep and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I've cooked spaghetti for you," his favourite dish. The first thing other than gruel he had eaten in her home after he his discovered a secret about her she hadn't even told Sloan. Every time she cooked it she was reminded of that moment and the love that was born from it.

"Will you give me a hand, darlings?" she whispered and a hand stroked over her stomach. There was a pregnant pause and then suddenly a wind that managed to be gentle yet strong helped Talus to his feet. "You have to eat, then straight to bed with you," Zana said as her unborn children helped her get their father to the table. It was a surreal thing being able to communicate with them but during her time outside that is what she had discovered. It had begun simply as reading to them, then dissolved into a conversation of sorts. Questions about the part of the story they had missed, surprise at twists, joy at others.

 

[Talus]

Talus was tired, exhausted.

Magic took it's toll. It always did. The weight upon ones shoulder was clear, no matter how much the magic came forth. Talus had been running around for a whole day, using abilities that most would have utterly envied. The effects were clear, both on the house and Talus.

He felt like he was about to pass out. "The day's been productive..."

Talus said quietly, too tired to even notice that Zana was not what was carrying his weight, that something unseen was helping.

"Few more like that..." He trailed off sleepily. "Whole thing will be done and done."

 

[Zana]

The twins gently lowered him into a chair and Zana pushed it in to the table and tied a napkin round his neck; Talus was a messy eater and she didn't think she'd be able to coax him into the bath. No need to get dirtier than he already was in that case. She pressed a kiss to his temple then sat to his side and tugged their plates closer.

"I know, you've done really well," she soothed and took his hand guiding it to the spoon. "You just have to eat a bit my darling, you've used a lot of magic," he needed to get some of that energy back. Quietly she worried over the state of him after just a day of using his magic like so but trying to convince him to go easier could wait until the morning.

"Eat, then sleep."

 

[Talus]

"Mm." The sound came from Talus' throat as he slowly began to eat.

The pace was much slower than usual, though not because of any mysterious reason. The former Dreadlord really was tired. Food was always good, undeniably so, but a tired man could only expand so much energy. It was clear just how weary he was.

Even soaking up the delicious meal took time. More than it ever had before. "Sleep."

He agreed, practically falling asleep on his plate.

"Get the lads to cut more lumber too." Talus said, a loud yawn escaping his lips. "Might be done by the end of the week."

More than enough time to spare.

 

[Zana]

"Already done," she murmured gently and brushed the hair back from his face as he ate, a tender smile curving her lips. "I sent Grey," the town knew the direwolf by sight now (though it had certainly taken them a great deal of getting used to) and it wasn't the first time Zana had sent him in her stead with a message. The blacksmith would pass on her request to the lads and they would no doubt arrive as soon as they could with more lumber to get their gold.

Once he had managed to eat enough that she was satisfied he wouldn't die in the night when his magic ate through his energy stores, the twins helpfully tugged Talus to his feet once more and helped their mother get him up the stairs and to the bedroom.

"Rest, love."

 

[Talus]

It was a short trip to the bedroom, though the stairs proved to be more difficult than he would have liked to admit.

Using that much magic so quickly was hard on anyone, especially when you weren't used to it. Back in Vel Anir they had been constantly pressed and prodded to use more of their magic, to build on it and become stronger. That wasn't the case here.

Over the last few weeks he had allowed himself to grow slack, to let those muscles loosen.

It wasn't a bad thing, far from it in his gauge.

The fact that he could relax, that he didn't always have to use his magic was a sign of just how well they had done. Sure it made a day like today more difficult, but it meant the rest of his life would be far more comfortable. Who was he to argue with that. "mhmm, shosleepy."

He said quietly, practically falling into the plush of their bed.

 

[Zana]

Zana laughed quietly under her breath as he fell face first into the mountain of pillows. Pillows he had complained out bitterly when she had first bought the cartful home. Apparently a person only needed one flat thing but now her husband used more than she did to support various back aches or cramps. With loving care she tugged off his boots and stripped him as best she could before tucking him in. With a press to his temple she let him sleep.

The next morning she rose whilst he was still asleep and was there when the lads brought up the rest of the timber to be cracking on with. She paid them and sent them back with a good healthy slice of fresh cake which had them all grinning ear to ear. By the time Talus woke Zana had donned an old shirt and stretchy leggings and with her hair tied back had begun to make a start on painting the rooms.

Two other paintbrushes were working on other walls as she hummed.

 

[Talus]

Talus feet swept over the wooden floor as he stepped into the living room.

"Good morning." He said with a smile, noting the floating paint brushes steadily doing their work.

By now he had become somewhat used to the odd occurrences. Magic simply...happened. It was the twins, he knew. At first it had been strange, and now it almost seemed like it would feel stranger for it not to happen. A mark of how quickly you could get used to something that was out of sort.

"One step closer to done." Talus said as he came up behind Zana.

His arms wrapped around her in a gentle squeeze.

The house was still in pieces, still needed more work, but it would be done in time. It seemed a silly thing really. They could have stayed in Vel Anir, they could have joined the Dwarves, but it had been important. A family home, their home.

Even if it was not fully complete.