Private Tales What History Holds

[Olvir]

Olvir had found himself to be surprisingly tired by the time he’d been introduced to his rooms. There had been a brief peek around, mostly for holes cut into the eyes of paintings or false walls that assassins could be hiding in.

It wasn’t that he expected anyone to be watching, or listening-no, that wasn’t true.

He didn’t believe that Elspeth would ever have someone watch him. That didn’t mean her father wouldn’t do such things, or anyone else who knew of this trip. Perhaps he was being paranoid, but sometimes it paid off.

After a rather thorough check of his room, and finding that thankfully there was nothing hidden, Ollie simply threw himself into bed. Shirt and trousers stripped off, blade placed against the nightstand. Quickly the noble found himself passing out. Only waking when he heard the tap on his window.

Eyes snapped open almost instantly, fingers searching for the blade at his side. The sword found it’s way to his palm as he scrambled out of bed, not bother to throw on any clothes as he rushed towards the door. Eyes flickering in a quick search.

Drawing the curtain back with a careful, and weary eye.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Tap tap tap.

“Ollie-” a hushed whisper, almost like a ghost.

Tap tap, a little stronger this time.

The curtain pulled back and a hooded figure peered in, silhouetted by the light of the moons in the night sky beyond, “Ollie it’s me,” a bit clearer, just slightly louder than a whisper this time, “put a tunic on and come outside…” a gentle giggle of amusement followed as the figure pushed back their cowl to reveal the gleam of red hair.

 

[Olvir]

“Oh.” Oh. Ollie thought to himself as he realized what he was wearing, or rather, what he wasn't wearing. The curtain he had pushed to the side was quickly thrust back in front of himself, and he gave Elspeth a quick and embarrassed nod.

Crimson colored his face, matched with a both nervous and excited smile as he quickly put together the slice of mischief that was brewing.
Without another word the young Noble spun on his heel. Sword thrown onto his bed without second thought.

Rushing towards the nearby bureau, which had helpfully been filled with his clothes by attendants, and quickly throwing on whatever was at hand. Ending with a dark tunic and trousers, mostly because he figured it was better for blending into the dark.

As he stepped back towards the door, he hesitated, glancing towards the blade for a moment. He mused, lips pressing thin, and then he shook his head. Moving towards the door to greet Elspeth once again. “What are you doing?”

He asked with a grin.

“You’re going to get me in trouble.” Ollie jested.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Elspeth pulled her lips in to keep from openly giggling at his sudden disappearance to dress. Such a shy young man, he truly was a gem. She waited, continuing to look around and ensure that no one was out and about to catch them, and turned back when she finally heard his voice again.

“Only if we get caught,” Elsi grinned at him from within her hood and motioned for him to hurry up, “come on then. We’re burning moonlight.”

She was not above her mischief, and Elspeth was more than fit for the challenge of sneaking off for some real time alone with him. Her hand reached out into the space between them, his golden bracelet dangling from her dainty wrist and catching the light of the moons, “This way.”

Before he could say anything more, once his hand was in hers, she whisked him off to the far end of the veranda where she hopped up on the broad stone railing and swung her legs over in a mirror of when she’d perched upon the fence at the Tourney of Anir. There was a criss-crossing section of panels lining the space from the veranda to the ground below where morning glory vines climbed. She easily scaled down and hopped off toward the bottom.

Ollie, with all his training as a man of the sword, might just be able to make the leap if he was feeling bold. It wasn’t terribly far.

 

[Olvir]

Ollie let out a nearly silent whistle as he watched Elspeth quickly scramble down the side of the building. Landing on her feet within a matter of seconds. For a moment, he simply stood there on the balcony, icy blue eyes admiring the woman he was going to marry.

The smile on his face nothing less than that of a love-struck fool.

When she turned to look back at him, he seemed to snap back into attention. His gaze flickered onto the path she had taken, and then the distance from the balcony down. He considered for a moment, and then quickly grasped the railing. With one swift motion he propelled a long leg over the guard, perching himself on the other side before quickly hopping down.

With a surprisingly smoothness for someone of his size, Ollie folded Into a sweeping roll. Crashing against the tough cobbles in such a manner to protect his fall. A quick tumble seeing him spring back to his feet in one swift motion carried by his own momentum. He spun on his heel, offering Elspeth a wink. “Learned that in Dornoch.”

The swordsmen said, the small brag sounding more a jest than any true boast. A few steps drew him close, his hands aching to reach out to her. Hesitating only because he knew they had yet to reach their final destination.

“Where to?” He asked, not bothering to hide the excitement that now flowed through him.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Elsi doubled over, a laughing gasp of surprise escaping that she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth to subdue, “I must have missed those classes while I was there,” she joked, then straightened herself with a quick glance back down along the path that followed the side of the structure. They were on a servants path that lead back to the wash areas and the village, but that wasn’t their destination.

She reached for his hand again and promptly lead him off the other way, along the path that lead toward the southern end of the estate where the waves met the shoreline. A few times they had to pause or hide from a servant or a guard making their rounds, but in short order Elsi was pulling her slippers off her feet and her cloak from her shoulders as the stone path brought them to soft sands. She deposited them all on a foot trail worn through a sand dune that lined the break of the shore against that of the estate inland.

The grasses hissed in a song with the ocean breeze.

Elsi beamed warmly into the moonlight and looked up at the stars. The sky was clear and the inky blackness of night was a blanket from east to west.

“It’s been years since I’ve seen this,” she proclaimed, squishing her bare feet into the sand, “mm, lovely.”

 

[Olvir]

Ollie followed along without a word. Relishing every step they made together with their fingers intertwined.

The walk alone would have been enough for him that night. No worries about being admonished for standing too close, no prying eyes looming over them and waiting for a moment to offer some criticism. It was a simple joy he took from their time alone. Something that they were allowed so rarely.

As they reached the beach Ollie, smiled, his hand slipping free of Elspeth’s. A moment passed as his progress stalled, pesky boots failing to slip quickly from his feet. He let out a grunt, hopping comically on one leg as he pulled off one shoe, and then quickly followed by the other. Narrowly avoiding toppling over and crashing into Elspeth's backside as she made her proclamation.

Catching himself, Ollie foot pressed into the soft sand. Lingering warmth from the days sun drawing over his skin.

“It’s quite something.” The young noble agreed as he stepped up besides Elspeth, his gaze passing over the rolling waves. The oceans embrace only illuminated by the pale light of the moon.

For a moment he lingered then, his chest slowly rising and falling as he let silence settle between the two of them. Then, slowly, his fingers slipped between Elspeth's. A look of mischief drawing into his eyes as he tugged her just a little bit closer to himself. “And how long has it been since you swam here?”

Olive asked, one step away from sweeping her off her feet and rushing into the waiting sea.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

His hand found her own quite happy to once more entwine with his, and how natural it felt to do so. Her gaze shifted from the sky, arcing over to his taller self, warmth suffused from her feet and her claimed hand throughout the rest of her body that had nothing to do with the lingering warmth of the day. He was looking upon her with mischief, but she could only summon unabashed fondness.

Most women might've broken the gaze or looked away at his closeness or his question. Elspeth did not. She held his eyes with her own and let her smile broaden in curiosity at the question, "Just as long I expect... why?"

 

[Olvir]

Olvir smile seemed to grow just the slightest bit. The spark in his eyes becoming downright devious. ”Well, it's just…”

Suddenly, without a word of warning, Ollie took one more step forward and swept Elspeth up and Into his arms.

Lean but well muscled arms wrapped around the daughter of House Sirl as she was unceremoniously drawn into his grasp and picked up like a bride. Then without a second of hesitation he turned on his heel and began to sprint towards the sea.

A mad cackle leaving his throat as he charged forward.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

"OOP!" her feet had left the ground and with great a flurry of red hair and flying sand she was quite abruptly being locomoted toward the water. Elspeth gasped, cut loose a squawk of surprise, "OLLIE!" and began laugh-shrieking, feet flailing, as he ran.

By the time he reached the lapping waves she had an arm around his neck and was clinging, huddled against him for dear life.

 

[Olvir]

All semblance of decorum and secrecy flew out the window as Olvir went sprinting into the ocean. Elspeth's voice carrying across the beach as she screamed his name and his laughter echoed soon after.

It was not long before they went crashing into the waves. The warm waters of the Cortosi Sea catching Ollie first at the knees, and then splashing as he continued to rush further in. His chest heaving with great cackling laughter as he eventually began to hop, long legs carrying him further and further into the water.

Then, finally, the sea fought back.

A wave suddenly rolled across the water, growing taller and taller until it struck the young noble just beneath the chest. Splashing over Elspeth as he tucked her securely against himself, but the tide ripping his feet out from beneath him.

Together they went tumbling, falling into the ocean as Ollie continued to laugh.

Forgetting all the stresses of the world.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Laughter carried brightly as he trounced out into the waters, interspersed with a yelp of surprise as they were overtaken by a wave. No sense of panic or concern - she could swim well enough, but with Ollie there it always felt like there was nothing to fear. The waves of turmoil might've crashed against them, but so long as she had him as her anchor they could weather whatever might come at them.

When they emerged from the wave Elsi's laughter sputtered beneath the water still slicking red hair across her face. She pushed it back and wiped her eyes clear - "You're still that mischievous boy I knew in my youth," Elsi said with no tone of complaint, but a wry fondness, "I should have known... oh dear... "

Her eyes crinkled as she smiled up at him, "There are sharks in these waters, you know."

 

[Olvir]

Ollie was still grinning like a fool. ”Mischievous?”

He balked, putting a hand to his chest in mock insult. The young Anirian shaking his head as though he couldn't quite believe Elspeth would make such an accusation. Completely ignoring the last few seconds of their interactions.

”I can assure you, Lady Sirl.” Ollie said as he kicked off ever so gently against the soft under soil of the beach. Propelling himself ever so slightly forward towards Elsie. His hands coming up to gently catch hers so the two of them could float together. ”It was all an accident. I simply tripped as we were strolling by the sea. You can believe me.”

He insisted. ”I'm very trustworthy. Quite known for my stern and stoic nature, after all. I wouldn't knowingly endanger my betrothed.”

The young noble said, adopting a deeper and more serious voice. ”Besides! If any shark is to come calling, I swear you're safe with Vel Anir’s greatest swordsman!”

Who currently did not have his sword, but didn't mind boasting in jest anyway.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Floating and bobbling along with the waves, hand-in-hand with Olvir was certainly not how she'd expected the evening to go but Elspeth would not say she was disappointed in the turn of events. She smirked along with his joking and gloating, loosing a laugh at the proclamation of how he might fend off the neighborhood sharks.

"And where is this sword now, oh great Swordsman of Vel Anir?"

 

[Olvir]

Ollie happily would have stayed in that moment for the rest of his life. Floating there with Elspeth, his fingers wrapped around hers, not a care or worry in the world.

It was a blissful vacation away from reality. Gone were the troubles of Vel Anir, the worries of Great Houses. No one would press them for not holding to decorum, no one would beg a word about funding some project or signing a piece of paper.

For that moment, it was just them, alone.

"Oh." Ollie said, a look of surprise flickering over his features for just a moment. He seemed to debate, and then his head turned and right. Eyes frantically glancing around the ocean as though he were in search of his blade. "It seems to have gone moment for the time being..."

The young Noble mused as he swam just a little bit closer. "But nevertheless my lady, be assured that I have everything I need to keep you safe."

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Of course, of course, he'd misplaced it on some coral reef or sand dune. He couldn't be expected to keep track of such a thing all the time.

Elspeth's eyes remained locked on him, calmly taking him in without any hit of propriety or modicum of restraint. Without anyone here to keep appearances for, she readily dropped the act of schooling her thoughts or expressions.

"Ollie..." a needling tone of discontentment, but not for what he might think, "...call me by my name."

 

[Olvir]

"Elspeth." The name trickled from his tongue without thought, without even a second of hesitation.

He let the word trill across his tongue, before leaning in and softly pressing his lips against hers. Kissing her just long enough before letting out another breath. "Elsi."

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Why did hearing her name from his lips sound so nice? They'd kept up their manners for so many years, hearing her name so clearly was something she had wanted for so long from him ... almost as much as that kiss.

Elsi.

She smiled, eyes closed, drinking it all in. The lingering feel of his lips on hers, the sensation of his breath against them, the sound of her name.

"Mm," her smile quirked into a pleased warmth as she opened her eyes again, nearly forgetting they were out bobbing in the gentle flow of waves, "say it again."

 

[Olvir]

He would have said it a thousand times had she asked. ”Elsi.”

The name rolled off of his tongue with a thrill, a joy that came with the knowledge that she felt just the same as she did. That despite the peril of their families, they both wanted this more than anything. That alone brought a joy to his heart that would have been enough for the rest of time.

”Elspeth.” He said again without thinking, her full name gliding from his lips before he could stop himself. ”I love you.”

The feeling, he knew, would drive him to do anything that she asked. Eli would probably call him a fool, as would a dozen others for being so young and yet embracing this moment with such rashness. But Olvir didn't care, he knew what he wanted. ”I can't wait to spend the rest of my life at your side.”

He knew he would, for everything else would feel empty without her there.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Every time he said it made her heart sing a little louder, a little stronger. It was racing in her chest, beating with the excitement of the moment and just when she thought it might burst, Ollie said those three words any sane girl in her right mind would die to hear from a young man such as him.

I love you.

Even though the words he spoke thereafter were just as sweet, she did not hear them for the cacophony of her heartbeat in her ears. Elspeth felt her breath catch in the unexpected shock of it, holding the air in her lungs until they burned and released with a breathless sound. She stared at him, stunned into wordlessness as the low-tide waves continued to gently lap against them.

Then she felt something slither past her leg in the water and gave a shriek of surprise, "Something touched me! Get me out!"

 

[Olvir]

On the heels of his confession, Ollie hardly had time to think about what he said.

It had all spilled from his lips before he could even think about it, and even had he known he would not have taken it back. The young noble was set and confident in himself, he knew his feelings, and he knew that marrying Elspeth was right. No one could have told him any different, and he was sure that she felt the same.

That was why her shriek startled him all the more.

Confusion flickered over his face at first, thinking that he had done something wrong. Then Elspeth shouted in her panic, and Ollie couldn't help the whirlwind of relief and joy that exploded from him as he realized her reaction was about something entirely different.

Within the span of a second Ollie scooped up Elspeth once again, his chest still rising and falling as he chuckled and rushed his beloved from the sea. Waves splashing against his legs as they fled. ”It's alright!”

He called over the noise he was making.

”It was probably just a Reesh Shark.” Ollie offered, bringing to mind the small dog sized sharks that tended to feed on crabs and other shellfish. Not wanting to bring up the much bigger, and much more dangerous sharks that also dwelled within these water.

His feet splashed a few more times before he stepped onto the beach. His steps slowing as the water began to lap only at his ankles, though showing no sign of letting Elspeth down from his arms.