Private Tales The Mountains Ahead

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim's arms wrapped around her in a tight embrace.

For a moment there were no thoughts of anything else, of the future, of the past, of what might still lay ahead of them or even what lurked behind them. All he cared about in that moment was her, all he cared about was the fact that they were together.

He didn't need any more. "Me too."

Kasim told her softly.

"Me too." His lips pressed down against the top of her head, eyes closing as he took a deep breath and simply held her.

Kasim didn't care how long she needed to cry, how long her weight needed to be pressed against his. He would hold her until the end of time if he had to.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

When Aviana finally lifted her head, her cheeks were wet and Kasim's tunic was left a little damp from her tears. Eyes red and puffy, she reached to rub them and accidentally fumbled one of the forgotten rations. The cloth wrapped food tumbled to the floor, but she didn't immediately move to pick it up. Her focus was too keened in to Kasim.

She mumbled a hushed apology before raising herself onto the balls of her feet to kiss him. Nothing else mattered, not for the moment, at least.

The other wrapped ration fell to the floor as she slipped her arm around his waist to hold him close.

She was safe here. They were both together and finally didn't have to run. The ache of her losses fell further and further away with each kiss. They still had each other. Everything would be okay.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim tightened his grip around her.

His hands slowly sailed in soothing touches over her body, tracing across her spine, hips, and back in slow rotating circles. In that moment he just wanted her to be comfortable, safe. He wanted her to know that he was there.

Their lips met, the spark of love and passion rupturing through the both of them as he felt his heart thunder in his chest.

Gods but had he missed her.

The feel of her hands on him, the touch of her lips, the scent that hung around it. It was intoxicating, and he found it hard to breath as her lips pressed against his in an oppressive assault.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Time seemed to melt away within the safe confines of the castle walls. Days blurred into weeks in the blink of an eye. For the first time since she'd met Kasim, Aviana didn't feel as though they were on the run. Their little world was secure and their family was finally safe. At first, she'd been plagued with worries about how long this sense of stability and safety would last. Surely, at some point, someone would find them.

But no one ever approached the supposedly abandoned winter estate. An isolated fortress nestled at the top of the world.

Gradually, Aviana allowed herself to feel more relaxed and her nightmares started to lessen -- as did her frailty and nausea.

She passed her time in the castle garden, long since overgrown. It reminded her of the forests her and Kasim had spent so much time traversing. A natural hot spring fed into the garden, warming air and soil alike so that plants could grow year round -- no matter the weather outside. The crystal ceiling overhead sheltering the previous flora from the harshness of winter.

She often wondered if magic had been involved in the creation of such a place. Here, at least, she could feel some what productive. While Kasim and Kiovec would go out hunting for food, she tended to the garden -- which largely involved ripping out weeds and stone. Slowly, day by day, the overgrown bramble began to look like a proper garden.

Done with her weeding for the day, Aviana shuffled over to the open water that swirled in the middle of the courtyard. Bathing in the warm waters had quickly become a tradition of hers. It soothed her aching body.

As happy as she was to be with child, being pregnant in and of itself was exhausting. She'd always heard there was supposed to be glowing involved. So why the hell did she feel like a bloated whale all the time? When was she supposed to get this fabled "glow"?


She sighed contently, floating in the water as she gazed up into the brilliant blue sky beyond the crystal ceiling. Her fingers trailed over the distinct swell of her belly, a small smile on her lips. There was a flutter in her womb and then a more insistent nudge against her stomach. One of the twins was restless, it seemed.

Aviana's smile grew and she closed her eyes, humming a lullaby that her own mother used to sing for her when she was little.

Peace. Serenity. Tranquility.

Could it really last?

 

[Kasim Areth]

How long had it been now?

Kasim had no idea. The days seemed together in their own sort of way, a calm falling over them as they continued day by day going onward. A part of him was always waiting for something to come, waiting for his father to show up.

Yet he never did.

All that happened was the days continuing by. Sometimes he and Aviana would go for walks, others days they would spend entire days in the library. It was a calm, pleasant sort of life, and Kasim couldn't help but wonder if they would somehow manage to stay there forever.

It seemed a silly dream, but one he had nonetheless. "Comfortable?"

The Jester asked as he stepped through the garden.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

The sound of Kasim's voice pulled Aviana's attention away from the sky. She shifted her position so that she was treading water, instead of floating on her back. Her silver hair floated all around her in a shimmering halo.

"Just enjoying the water." She answered with a slight smile.

For a brief moment, she was reminded of their encounter in the river -- when Kasim had come rushing to her "rescue" because he thought she was in danger. It seemed so far away now.

"Is everything alright?" The princess asked him as she swam a little closer to the edge of the pool.

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim slowly came to the edge of the pool squatting down there and smiling as she treaded water to meet him. "Of course."

Their life here had been shockingly calm, more so that any other time they had been together. It was no wonder that both of them were constantly seeming to be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

His hand reached out, brushing over her cheek. "How are you today, Liebchin?'

Kasim asked her with a smile.

It all seemed...right that they were here, that they were comfortable. A part of him was still nervous, but a whole other piece was simply glad that the Estate had treated them so well.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Aviana tilted her head into his touch, closing her eyes with a sedate smile. She reached out to trace her fingers along the fabric of his trousers and then she took his hand in hers, kissing the back of his knuckles.

"Sore and bloated." She teased in a playful tone.

Another concern had risen to take the place of her fear of Sarkus. Child birth loomed in her near future, and she would be very much alone in the endeavor.

"Is everything alright?" She asked him in a softer voice, lifting herself out of the water just enough to kiss his cheek.

 

[Kasim Areth]

"It's all fine." Kasim said with a smile.

What was there to complain about really? They had safety, food, comfort. Everything that they had missed along their journey was to be found here. Even Kiovec had managed to make himself comfortable in the castle grounds.

"It's all good." He said with a smile. "Isn't it?"

Kasim smiled. "Sure beats camping out in the middle of the woods."

He much preferred the bed.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Aviana laughed softly at his reply, nuzzling her cheek into his lap before she tried to pull herself out of the water. While she was a naturally graceful woman, her swollen belly made everything rather awkward for her. Instead of being able to be easily push herself up onto the ledge, she needed Kasim's help to climb out.

She grabbed her robe once she was out of the water, wrapping it around her naked form to soak up the water droplets that clung to her skin.

"So... I've been thinking." She started to say, settling back down next to Kasim at the edge of the pool. One hand idly came to rest against the top of her belly, her thumb brushing small circles against the fabric of the robe.

"We're going to need a midwife soon. And I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to travel for..." She explained the predicament rather hesitantly.

"I don't know what we should do."

 

[Kasim Areth]

Kasim slowly took a step forward, putting a hand on her belly as he took in a deep breath. "We're in Anirian lands, Liebling."

The words were somewhat strained, but mostly because Kasim hated thinking about the fact that it was actually true. They were in the smack-middle of the worst place for them to be if they were ever caught. Virak's House Guard could travel far and fast.

His father had seen to that. Yet it also meant that that Kasim had friends here; the Underground.

"There are people I can reach out to, friends." His lips quirked to a frown for a brief second. "I believe many of them would be willing to help."

Especially if it meant stabbing a needle in his fathers eye.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

She closed her eyes as his hand came to rest over the swell of her belly, even the twins seemed to settle for a few moments. He had a way of calming her through his touch alone. The knowledge brought a faint smile to her lips.

"I trust you." The half-elf said simply, opening her eyes to meet his gaze. If he thought his contacts here would be safe to reach out to, then she believed him. Kasim always had a sixth sense for danger.

"Just be careful, whatever you decide to do, love." She murmured, pressing a light kiss to his cheek.

 

[Kasim Areth]

He nodded his head.

Reaching out to the Underground was dangerous, he couldn't deny that, but so was not. He couldn't risk something happening to Aviana, and if the people who had helped him escape helped him here than it would be worth it.

"I'll send a message." Rune Magic would help with that. A paper bird with a note that would reach them.

It would take a few days, but they wouldn't need help for some time yet.

He leaned over and gently kisses the top of her head. "It will all be okay."

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Kasim's reassurances went a long ways. If he thought everything was going to be okay, she had no reason not to believe him. When he kissed the top of her head, she smiled slightly and gave a small nod.

"Would you want them to come here or... will we travel?" She asked, leaning back to look up at him with her hands lightly resting on his chest.

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Here." He said softly.

Anyone he contacted from the Underground could be trusted. The network had never once been infiltrated by agents of the Houses, and it was extremely unlikely that such a thing had changed since Kasim had last been here.

The Underground was thorough, brutally so if need be.

"I don't want you traveling." A hint of protectiveness touched his tone as he spoke. "Not right now. Plus the castle is safe."

He reiterated once again, smiling as he kissed the top of her head.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

His answer made her feel considerably more at ease. The last thing she wanted was to leave the castle and start venturing across the country side while in such a volatile state. Here they were protected and sheltered and she had the herbs she needed to make herself comfortable.

She took Kasim's hand in hers, tugging him along the stone path to show him the work she'd been doing. There was a tree covered in pink flowers with a subtle fragrance hidden in the back corner of the garden. Aviana had never seen such a tree before, but she'd immediately fallen in love with it. Low hanging branches swept outward, shading a good portion of the corner. It seemed the tree grew more outwards than up.

The ground was lightly littered with the pale petals of fallen flowers. Much of the soil was freshly toiled, since the princess had taken to yanking out weeds by the handful. Beneath the tree there was a simple yet elegant stone bench. The bench was Aviana's destination.

She guided Kasim beneath the tree and took a seat with a heavy sigh. Her hand rubbed her belly, feeling one of the twins stir once more.

"We should try to think of a few names, shouldn't we?" She asked him with a smile.

 

[Kasim Areth]

He smiled. "I suppose we should."

In truth, Kasim hadn't really given it much thought at all. Most people in his family were named for other members of their family, but he had absolutely no desire to do that. Near everyone who was related to him was tainted in some way, save for of course...

His lips tightened for a moment.

"If it's a boy..." He looked at her shyly. "Reinhard, maybe?"

It was his brothers name. Kasim was sure that there were a dozen ancestors who had besmirched it somehow, but his brother...his brother had done nothing but give it the weight of love. "Or Ein."

His nickname.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

A kind and understanding smile settled over Aviana's features at Kasim's suggestion. She nodded once, then reached over to place her hand over his. "Reinhard is perfect for one of them."

Her fingers squeezed his with another smile and then she chuckled quietly. "But... Since it's twins we're going to need more than one name."

There was a pause as she considered the names of any significance from her own life. Her father's name left a bittersweet taste in her mouth, so she never gave voice to the suggestion -- something told her it wasn't right. Instead, another name came to mind: Madhain.

He'd been a soldier alongside her mother during her time in the military; and when she was married to the Regent King Leaonell, he transferred to the royal guard to serve as her personal guard. Aviana remembered his sardonic smile and the sound of his laugh. The man had always smelled of tobacco and horses. There was always a sense of warmth about him. A sentiment that was mostly absent when her thoughts turned to her father.

She tucked a stray curl behind her ear and shook her head. "What about Madhain? Or Mads for short?"

 

[Kasim Areth]

"That's a nice one." Kasim said with a smile, his hand softly running over her skin as he considered more.

Madhain and Ein.

Two boys would be...a handful, but if they could stay in the Castle he thought that it might not have been so bad. A smile touched his face for a few seconds as he considered their future, wondering whether or not how things would come to pass.

"Girls names." He said next. "I've always liked Ilyana. One of the women who helped me escape was named that."

Though of course he had no idea what had become of her now.

Still, the woman had undoubtedly saved his life

 

[Aviana Sabel]

"Ilyana." She repeated the name, as though trying it out to see how she liked the sound of it on her own tongue. "I like it. It's pretty."

Her lips pursed slightly as she considered a girl's name herself. For a moment she considered her mother's, but refrained. Keyleth was a singular woman and she didn't want her potential daughter to feel as though she had to follow in her grandmother's footsteps.

"What about... Morgana? She's from an old Minrasin myth." She offered with a slight grin

 

[Kasim Areth]

He let the name lull over his tongue for a few moments, considering for a few seconds before nodding his head in acceptance. "Yeah."

Kasim said with a smile.

"Yeah I think that would be good." There was an acceptance in his voice, a contentment and happiness that bloomed of the fact that they were finally...finally there. He leaned in and kissed Aviana's cheek. "I'm happy we're here."

He told her softly.

"It's been nice to have some comfort." Nice to feel like he was at home again.

 

[Aviana Sabel]

Aviana laughed quietly then reached over her head to pluck one of the pink blossoms from the branch above them. The leaves rustled as the slender twigs swayed back into place once the tension broke and the blossom came free. Still smiling, she bent her head to smell the fragrant flower, before she tucked it into her wet curls.

"It's certainly nice to finally have a bed to call our own. And .... For once we aren't running from something." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, slowly exhaling a moment later as she leaned into Kasim's chest.

"Weird... To feel safe again." She murmured in a low, relaxed whisper.

 

[Kasim Areth]

His arms wrapped around her. "But good."

The Castle was home, at least for now, and it would keep them safe. There had been a few flashes of magic when he'd thought something might have gone wrong, but each time it had simply been an owl perching itself on the wall.

It seemed that whatever magics his ancient relatives had put into the walls of this place still held strong. Kasim could not have been more glad for it.

"We'll build our own castle eventually." He told her softly. "Maybe somewhere in the mountains."

 

[Aviana Sabel]

"Castles are expensive." She said playfully, lifting her head from his chest to look up at him. There was an amused glimmer that glinted in the blue depths of her gaze.

She curled her index finger beneath Kasim's chin as she chuckled. "We'll have to make sure if has an aviary for Kiovec."

For a moment, she'd considered asking him how exactly they would afford to pay for a castle of their own; but she decided to indulge him in the idle fantasy for a short while. What harm was there in having a dream?

 

[Kasim Areth]

"Are they?" Kasim joked, smiling for a few seconds. He wasn't the typical noble, not after spending five years as a traveling bard. He knew what things cost and that there wasn't always a limitless supply of money, but...

Well that hadn't even been an obstacle for him before.

"We'll manage." He said confidently. "Aviary and all."

In truth, a part of him just wanted to keep the one they were staying in now. It would have been foolish, eventually someone would find them...but the idea of raising his children where he had spent so many years of his childhood?

There was something appealing in that.