Private Tales Where the Ancients Dwelled

[Kaira Yehven]

Spring had brought Valenntenia spectacular sunrises once more, now breaking earlier in the day that she did not have to wait long to see it light the skies in the softest palette. Kaira had spent two evenings in her room reserved for the Guardian of Faith at the Tower, as the last touches to her family's home's restorations would be complete for another week yet. The home she had made in an abandoned House of Blessing soon proved no more use to her, as the Ancients no longer required her attentions and thoughts of diligent prayer.

Not when she found a happiness to keep her awake and present, one that made her feel relaxed and at ease.

Mabbon Dreierg had written to her that he would meet her at the Tower after dawn to escort her on a half week trip to the Ancients' Dwell. Such a journey would take two days, or one if you had the expertise such as the Guardian of Darkness, but Kaira had been more than prepared to leave Valenntenia for that amount of time. Only in the presence of the Guardians could she leave the city, and they had both tested this technicality a few times now to be sure.

And yet still, even as she found her way down from her room, pack all set and ready for the travel, she could not help but feel a swell of happiness in her. Perhaps a giddy tone too. Heart beating fast, she did her best to calm it, but there was no use when she saw him.

"We really could have waited for nightfall, Mabbs." She said once she was close enough, a smile wearing her cheeks with exhaustion as she walked to him. "First camp is only a fair few hours away, I would have been fine to have waited for you to be comfortable."

Kaira dropped her mag and closed the distance to him, arms wrapping round him to give her something of support as she leaned forward to press a kiss to his cheek. Her own burned bright and hot, and the Guardian of Faith tried to stifle her nervous laugh. "Otherwise, good morning to you, Mabbon."

 

[Mabbon Dreierg]

The day promised to be bright and productive. Even so, Mabbon couldn't help but feel nervous about the journey ahead. She'll be fine, he promised himself, riding into the Tower's main courtyard an hour after dawn, the sun's glow at his back and the wind in his hair.

The Tower's inhabitants welcomed him warmly, the guards on duty recognising the Guardian in a heartbeat. They knew why he was here, who he had come to see.

Gossip spread fast, and the stories surrounding Kaira Yehven and himself grew by the day.

They had started the night of the Valenn Ball, where he had -quite publicly- made his affections for her known. With a kiss, of all things. There was magic in the air that night, he thought, remembering it fondly, the way her dress had shimmered in the chandelier light, complimenting every curve. They had been so happy, then. Lost in each other, caught up in their own world.

The feelings had only grown since then. Correspondence had been shared, talks held between their two families. His mother, Carissa, had already made up her mind; Kaira would be her daughter-in-law, and that was the end of it.

Early days, he had reminded her, face aflame at the vehemence with which she spoke. He loved his family with all his heart, but his mother terrified him, as all good mothers should their sons. 'We really could have waited for nightfall, Mabbs.' A voice broke him from his thoughts. Blinking, he pulled his gaze away from the view beyond the gate. He heard her footsteps way before her arms reached out to pull him into an embrace.

Smiling, he opened his own to her, turning his face at the last moment so her lips touched his.

'I am comfortable, now you're here,' he grinned playfully, glad to see Kaira. 'Good morning to you, too.' He bowed his head. 'Are you all set to depart? You look'- beautiful, perfect, '-ready.'

Kaira Yehven

 

[Kaira Yehven]

The meeting of their lips filled her with a happiness only he could bring out in her. Mabbon left her grinning like a fool in love, still embracing him longer than she had planned but entirely to comfortable against him. She did not mind that there would be witnessed to such a display, but it had been no different to Valenn night right here in the Tower courtyard.

"Excited to go and see Ancients' Dwell." She answered gently.

She wore a new cloak too, one that had caught her eye in the market down by the port. It was nothing like that she wore in her day to day, in fact, her entire appearance was a Kaira renewed. Her long hair was not coiled and fixed at the base of her neck, and instead showed the natural curls that fell against her back. A matching scarf wrapped around her shoulders, and Kaira grinned up at him. "Well, if you are comfortable, and I am ready, we should get going."

A number of days would be spent outside of Valenntenia. They would leave the Tower, wander through Old Town, and find themselves in the Province before the last gates encasing the city of Valenn could be seen. They would pass through, and Kaira had very amount of faith in the fact she had the Blessing of the Anicents to go on this journey. She had prayed for a safe journey, that she would learn firsthand where the Ancients chose to dwell after leaving Valenntenia to their children.

In her packed bag was a book waiting to be filled with her thoughts and notes. Her own journey as a Guardian of Faith needed to be written down, to be handed down to the next Guardian to take up Faith. Her predesccors had opted not to note their experiences and discoveries, leaving her very much in the dark, but with Solomon's support and some of the Somners, Kaira began to write.

The gates loomed before them, Vanguard caling greetings to them both as they waves both Guardians through.

Kaira's hand went to search for Mabbon's and gave it a squeeze, holding it as they passed on through the gates and outside of the city.

Mabbon Dreierg