Private Tales South for the Winter

[Seryn Lusce]

It was proved that having left when Paetr had suggested, Seryn had been able to organise most of her things back home to be transported after her departure. The Manor seemed to be buzzing with life, as maids and footmen made haste in helping the Lady pack her things. Many of her dresses were carefully wrapped in soft paper and stowed away in several trunks.

It was not until dawn that Seryn and Paetr were in his carriage, travelling to the inn he had mentioned hours ago.

This was also her first opportunity to sleep, for her head rested in his lap as she curled up on the seat. One hand held the space above his knee, her face soft as dreams weaved in and out of her subconscious. For the first time in a long while, Seryn was able to sleep, for her slumber was often disturbed with anxiety and longing to see Paetr.

Now? Now Seryn no longer had to wait to see him. She was to return to her true home, to Paetr's home, and soon, they shall be married.

 

[Paetr]

It was quaint, Paetr thought to himself. The warm hearth, the round wooden tables. Even the two simple peasants who brought breakfast out.

That too, was a simple affair. Each person staying was brought a wooden plate with slices of cheese, thick chunks of bread and a little bowl of warm dripping.

The simple glamour made them appear human. Paetr smiled as he took a swig of a very bland ale.

He did not say thank you. Please, thank you and sorry we're phrases that carried weight among the fae. They were not to be used lightly. They were binding.

Paetr had let Seryn sleep, disturbing her only enough to guide her to a bed.

"We will use a portal stone to the coast and then take a boat," he said. "You must have missed something about our home?"

 

[Seryn Lusce]

"The flowers... that only bloomed or were the most alive at night." She smiled, tired, exhausted, spent. Seryn knelt before the trunk that housed her travelling fashions and other amenities she may need. Puling out a silk night dress, she smoothed a hand over the sage hue, smiling. "But most of all, I do miss my Mother. And Saang. And you, when you are not visiting me."

She turned to see where Paetr stood in the room. He did not look human to her, not when the glamour was made for the humans and not her own fae sight.

"Now, my dearest, I do not have a maid with me... will you help me with the laces?" Seryn stood, turning to have her back facing him as her hand gathered her hair to one side.

 

[Paetr]

"I like the song of the winds at night across the tundra," Paetr said.

They cut through the mountain peaks and whistled. The winds could lift the snow when it was hard and dry. Moonbeams could cut colour those winds.

They were pleasant, when you had warm shelter and a fire.

Paetr took two long strides to stand behind her. He towered above his beloved, letting his hands rest on her shoulders.

"You must be exhausted," he said softly. Both hands skimmed inwards and started on the laces of her dress.

 

[Seryn Lusce]

"I am." She smiled, doing her best not to fall into his touch when she truly needed out from her dress after all that travel to get here. "I could sleep all night and through the day. Never have felt like this before in my life!"

That being the truth of it, and that Seryn had led an often quiet life that did little to make her weary.

Her hands held the bodice of her dress to her frame, careful not to let it fall to the floor so she could keep it wrinkle free. As it loosened, she gently stepped out from it and was left in her underdress and her sheer stockings. Seryn crossed the room to gently lay the dress she had made across one of her travel trunks.

"The wind had always scared me. The harsh whistle of it at my window..."

 

[Paetr]

He watched Seryn closely. Undoing his shirt as she walked away. She was exhausted, he needed some patient. Unfortunately he was awful at showing patience or restraint.

"But imagine those winds and we are safe safely by a warm fire. I am sat with a glass of a fine port and you... Well perhaps you are before me and looking after your husbands..."

"Sorry. It has been a long trip and you need your rest," Paetr continued. A little shake of his head and he put the comely image to one side.

"Did you want to stay a few days before we move on?"

 

[Seryn Lusce]

Seryn's cheeks blushed, but she did her best to ignore it as she shyly slipped out from her things and quickly scrambled into her night dress. She turned to Paetr, audibly gulping the unsaid words stuck in her throat. She had wanted to ask how would he like her to look after him... but she was so tired and so close to tucking herself into bed.

The innkeeper had looked bored when Paetr paid for the room, had made a fuss about only needing one bed, but Seryn could see the innkeeper did not care they were still to be wed and what was proper.

But this bed had looked so inviting. Seryn glided over to it and crawled beneath the sheets, letting out an exhausted sigh. "Do we need to stay for a few days, Paetr?" She inquired, looking to him. "Must we really wait before you make me your wife?"

There was a slight pout to her ruby stained lips. An innocent shine to her green tourmaline gaze.

"Do you truly wish to wait to for that fine port and the warm fire?"

 

[Paetr]

"I would never wish to make you wait for that," Paetr replied. He couldn't deny any request when she looked at him like that.

He joined her beneath the covers. One hand snaked towards her thigh, fingers brushing across her skin.

In a rare moment of discipline, Paetr rolled himself to turn his back to Seryn.

"If you wish, I will have breakfast brought to you in the morning and we can get straight onto the road!"

 

[Seryn Lusce]

Paetr's withdrawal felt cold as his absence from her was felt significantly. She frowned, pouted at the vision of his back turned to her. Here she had thought he would pull her in, be liberal with where he would be touching her or even accompany his casual conversation with wandering hands... Seryn in fact liked the attention he gave her, and so this evening without it only made her feel the chill from the Winter Court linger inside her despite the fire of her affinity being able to warm her until she was too hot to touch.

"Yes... yes breakfast sounds pleasant." She said softly.

Had she said the wrong thing? Should they... delay?

 

[Paetr]

Paetr was silent for a few seconds. He slowly turned back towards Seryn.

Her tone had made her dissapointment incredibly obvious. That was just enough to catch Paetr's attention.

"My dearest Seryn, did I say something wrong?"

 

[Seryn Lusce]

Seryn held her breath, debating whether or not to speak her worries aloud. Perhaps she was being silly, and that Paetr himself was tired and in need of his rest than to...

"I... yes, it is all well... only..." She turned her head, blazing him with the stunning green eyes she possessed. "I like it when you touch me. Hold me. I have never been held like the way you have and I... I enjoy it." And try as she might, she could not hide the flush at her cheeks. "You have always held me as if I have always been your's."

Again, there was a tug towards him that she felt compelled to listen to. At first, she was sure it was her own discovery of feelings and affection for him, but ever since they suspected... perhaps it was a tether between mates.

"I know we are not wed yet... but that has not stopped you before, my love."

 

[Paetr]

Paetr lost himself in those eyes. He would have gladly remained in the labyrinth of coloured flecks, but her questions tugged at something.

"Ah I see. And now you feel as if I do not want you? Of course."

Fae were, on the whole, needy creatures. They were very careful with their bargaining, but there was always something they were after. Seryn was only just beginning to experience her physical desires to the full, but of course anyone would demand his attention if it was on offer.

"I was simply thinking of you and how tired you are," he started to explain. "I do not have the greatest of self control. If I start, you will find no sleep. You will be sore. And if I am being entirely honest, I will probably break almost every piece of furniture in this room."

 

[Seryn Lusce]

She bit down in her lip. Seryn could not help the pouting, nor the innocence lighting up her eyes. She was playing coy, a matter evident in her voice as she spoke lowly. "You can practice your restraint on me, Paetr."

Anything to have his arms around her. Of course, she could not think of a moment Paetr every exercised self control so seriously.

"You... stopped yourself plenty in the carriage ride to the winter fête." Why could she not accept his attempt at being mindful? Was she truly that enamoured being worshipped by him? "Unless... you would prefer to rouse me from sleep in the morning?" An invitation for him. Paetr could indeed be considerate of how tired she was, but Seryn became insatiable for him the moment they met.

 

[Paetr]

It was the way she bit her lip that sealed her fate. His gaze glanced down, tracing the shape of her expression. Her invitation was left waiting for an answer.

Paetr slowly drew the covers back. He sat upright. Like the most deadly night predator, his gaze remained fixed on her as he stalked.

He placed one hand on the other side of Seryn. His body was against hers. One strong arm a column on each side of her. Caged.

He lowered himself down until there were scant inches between their lips.

"I could practise," he murmured. "But I would fail. I am afraid sleep will have to wait now."

 

[Seryn Lusce]

He had always made her breathless, but even as she tried to breath for air, it was his own he was able to fill her lungs with. Seryn loved how Paetr became the answer to her, the moon to her sun. Daring not to move, not to reach up and touch a tender hand to his cheek, she settled for meeting his close stare.

Paetr commanded the very breath that escaped her parted lips. He was the maestro of every rise and fall of her chest, the steady beat of her heart.

"There would be... plenty of time for me to catch my rest in your carriage." She countered, further convincing Paetr to not go back on his word. For centuries, she had been without the touch Paetr had been patient to teach her. Seryn could not help but feel as if that was why her father had no true love for her and her sisters, that they were slacking behind in making marriages and starting their own families.

Would her father deign her worthy now? On her way to becoming a Lady of the Night Court?