(09/19/15-[18:53:27] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..it had been a trying week.. had it been a week really? Had it been a number of days? Or had it even been a month.. maybe more?.. he had lost track of the days since he had been handed the news of his beloveds illness.. everything seemed to come to a stand still.. he had closed off the Inn ..something he had never really done before.. ever.. the residents that were already settled were well catered to.. but his usual jovial face was not around.. he was not in the family quarters of an evening having his usual whiskey whilst he caught up on the cities gossip .. he was not out in the snow coated yard tending to the garden.. he was no where to be seen.. his daughter was being well cared for by Nina.. the lovely woman knew something was up and had offered to help.. and whilst he knew he was well capable of looking after the child.. he also knew.. that in his current state of mind he wouldn’t really be much help to anyone.. the cook and those few helpers kept things running whilst he packed his bags.. sorting out a few odds and ends.. he had spent most of his days in with Marabelle.. just watching her as she slept.. and even though she tried to tell him to go out.. and do what he needed to he simply flat out refused.. he wasn’t leaving her side until he had to.. the day however had come around.. the last call for him to head off to Silverthorn if he was going to make this wedding.. he was reluctant to go.. and she told him over and over to go.. that he had to.. that this was something that was once in a life time and if he missed it that he would regret it.. that his daughter needed him in that moment.. that she would be waiting for him when he got back.. she made a promise there.. and he made a promise that he would return as soon as he could.. a clutched hand.. fingers intertwined.. a shared delicate kiss before he would part from her.. instructing that the cook to make sure everything was sorted and that if she wanted for anything that she got it.. he wrote young Jacob.. asking him to please check in on her when he could.. and to send him word immediately should anything happen or get worse.. the carriage shifted to roll up front then.. his bag was nearer the door being picked up by the footmen before he waved the young lad off.. he could carry his own suitcase and he certainly wasn’t going to make some young weak thing try to lift it.. moving out into the crisp cool of the wintry morning ..he had on a pair of grey slacks.. shirt, well fitted vest and coloured tie.. his jacket remained unbuttoned for now.. leather glove concealed hands lifted his case up as he stretched to place it onto the roof section of the carriage.. securing it with a few straps.. giving it a bit of a tug to make sure it was secure.. he had a hat upon his head.. drawn forward.. he looked a bit tired.. as if he hadn’t slept in weeks..not his usual happy go lucky self.. he would give her time.. a little longer to show herself if she still wanted to come along with him.. if not he would head off on his own.. he understood that it was a big ask for her given her past.. but ultimately.. he couldn’t make the decision for her-
(09/19/15-[23:42:07] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
says to .:Loss:..:She Was Mine:.: .. he tugged and pulled on the bags there atop the carriage.. the driver and helper looked a bit bewildered as to why he didn’t want them to assist.. he knew what he was doing he really didn’t need any help.. plus this way he knew it would be done properly and he wouldn’t lose his gear.. he gave it one last pull before he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.. turning then to catch sight of her approach in all her finery.. the dress was utterly exquisite he had to admit that.. it fit her perfectly as if it were a second skin.. she was beautiful.. stunningly so.. his mind however was not affording him with the ability to see much beyond what was infront of him in these moments.. - >. Ah!.. the beauty arrives.. you decided to tag along afterall.. .. he reached out for her case then.. waiting for her to pass it over should she desire it secured along with his own.. if so he would draw it up to settle atop the c arriage…securing it in with the straps before he would jump back down.. straightening his jacket out- .. Rose will appreciate it I know.. thank you.. .. he nodded a little.. moving across as the driver drew the door open for them both.. he moved to the side.. taking her hand to help her up onto the step if she desired the assistance.. waiting until she was suitably settled and comfortable before he himself would climb on in and sit just across from her.. rapping his knuckles back against the board behind him, alerting the driver to the fact that they were sorted and they could be off on their journey.. it took a couple of jerks before the carriage would be off and rolling.. turning about face and off down the slightly slippery slightly gravely roads.. it would be a little slower than normal.. at least until they had gotten out of Arvandor proper as the snow would cause a few problems.. but once they got into the outer they would be fine.. his hands came down to rest there upon his lap there.. fingers lightly drumming against the fabric of his slacks.. he reached up to remove his hat.. placing it down to sit beside him.. taking in a long breath.. exhaling it as slowly as it was drawn- .. Depending on the weather we may need to stay somewhere along the way.. just before we arrive.. it’s quite a distance afterall and I wouldn’t force it for us to arrive all in the span of one day.. .. he nodded.. it was quite chilly.. the winter was moving toward its end.. and it had been a harsh one truth be told.. for all of Arvandor.. they simply were not prepared for it.. even with as beautiful as it was.. he reached beneath the cushions of the seat beside him.. a compartment rested there.. he plucked out a fur lined blanket.. before he allowed the cushions to re settle.. he passed it across to her there.. her dress was beautiful.. there was no dispute on that fact, but there was not a lot to it.. so he figured she would easily become quite cool..- .. I know you’re risking a lot.. coming with me.. I haven’t heard a great deal from Rose.. in a little while.. I figure they are just all very busy indeed.. but if you still feel uncomfortable with arriving with me.. we will see if we can organise something at the place we are staying.. a secondary carriage or.. whatever works for you.. .. he nodded sinking back there in his seat- .. It wont bother me either way
(09/20/15-[06:50:35] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *How funny it was…. To know Garafins words were polite flattery, something he said to all the women he knew and met, his very mission in life to make women feel beautiful… And even know this, knowing that he didn’t mean anything about it aside from simply being sweet, it still made her heart thrill… She wondered if it would ever stop to be honest, but then again, it was such a sweet little thing… Harmless, warm and kind… She had heard things like that before plenty of times from other men, even a few women, and yet no one made her feel the way he did when he said it… The rogue… Her rogue… But she showed one of it, she just remained silent, that soft smile on her face… The dress was beautiful, but these were royal affairs as well, the regular run of the mill dress she could wear was not quite something she could get away with… Regardless of her abandonment as a young woman, tossed out because of what she had done, she was still a Princess. And, as a Princess, she was now on show… Or rather, she would be the moment she got out of her safe, warm, most beloved little city…* “If you are asking me, how can I refuse Garafin, that would be like asking the moon to no longer pull the tides.” *Warmly, softly spoken, but the words were quite true. She could no more refuse or reject him than she could stop the pain in her own heart, pluck it out like a little thing, some blade of glass digging into her soft flesh… She handed him her bag, not too large, just enough to fit a bit of this and that and no more. Old habits one can suppose…* “You look stunning… Very handsome Garafin… I haven’t seen you in such finery since you were twenty and we were dancing at the Celebration of the Heart… Will you save a dance for me at Rose’s wedding?” *She wanted to say our daughters but… She didn’t feel it was quite right… It wasn’t fair to thing that she had a right to say anything like this… He was going through his own trials, she had been the one to cause this sad look in those usually so happy blue eyes, all because she had told the truth… Funny thing… The truth was often not her friend yet she was close to it all the same. She watched him move easily through the snow, going from one place to another smoothly, from strapping everything in to opening the door for her… She took the assistance gladly, naturally, her hand placed in his as he helped her up into the carriage. She was not a young woman full of flash and fire and life, she was a mature woman who knew elegance and the social dictates, and… It was a chance to hold his hand, if only for a second… She settled in easily, spreading the short trail of her dress off to the side, giving him plenty of ample foot room for him to stretch out. Once he himself was up and in, she watched him rap on the roof, the slightly slippery shift and rock as the wheels struggled to catch in the snow at first. She watched him drum his fingers, the fidgeting sort of movements, tilting her head just a bit… Wondering… She said nothing though, she just watched him with her dark green eyes, silent… At least until he spoke.* “Silverthorn is a bit of a jaunt, even by coach, staying over at an Inn during fair weather is normal… In foul it can be a necessity… Is there a spot you had in mind for such a place if it should occur? There is a lovely little Inn a bit more than half way in which is very nice... “ *She wanted to ask him if his nervous twitches were because she was here with him… Did he hate her? Would he hate her? She had done no wrong… Yet she wondered… What was wrong with him? Or was this just… Who he was now? She was about to ask when he moved about and pulled a blanket out for her, which she took gratefully, for it was a bit nippy alone on her side of the carriage. She settled it down about her shoulders, her hands in her lap as she tilted her head, thinking over what to say… How to say it…* “Royal weddings are never for the couple… They are for the people… It’s a ceremony that is more public than private… It’s certainly not elvish in the sense of the word… It’s more like… A public promise… A guarantee to the people that they will have their next rulers, their guides, the people who will fight war and famine for them and theirs… Rose…” *She said softly, looking out the window for a moment, feeling a bit of a sting there before she controlled herself… She had learned a long time ago how to hide emotions…* “I wasn’t there for her when she needed me… I couldn’t hold her when she cried, to kiss her when she fell and made the pain go away, I wasn’t able to teach her about the ways of life and love so she could navigate them… I loved her, I carried her, I went through birth so she could live but… What is that compared to all else I was not able to do for her? I may be risking a lot but this is for her… I will not miss another moment of her life, not a second of it, not a one… Not now that I have her back… I think…” *She said softly, turning to look at him there, reaching out to gently place her hand on the top of his knee for a moment before she would go to move it away.* “I think that it’s time she got to see her mother and father together, unified, there for her in a way we couldn’t be before… I know I worried that it might give Rose the wrong idea but… I think she needs it, and I think, my dear Rogue… You need it too… All is not lost… The sun is just a little shaded by a cloud is all…”
(09/21/15-[03:02:11] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he tilted his head a little when she spoke on not being able to refuse him.. that it would be like asking the moon to no longer pull the tides.. he chuckles quietly- .. nonsense.. if you were preferential to keeping your bag with you in the carriage I would completely understand..Afterall I know all to well that you lovely ladies keep all manner of precious items within..things you wouldn’t want to lose should something go wrong.. where-as the rest of us gentleman can generally get by without much of anything really.. .. he secured the case along side his own there.. making sure the straps were pulled nice and tight before he jumped back down.. she made a comment about his current state of dress.. that he looked stunning..that she had not seen him in such finery since he was in his twenties.. at the Celebration of the Heart.. - .. Ah! now that was quite a long time ago.. .. his hand rose as he scratched his chin a little- .. felt it was high time I pulled out the .. better of the clothing given where we are headed.. .. he nodded.. his gaze lifting to look to her when she asked if he would save a dance for her.. at the wedding.. he paused a moment.. his hands falling back into his pockets there.. there was a bit of time there.. and for her it could well have seemed to take a very.. very long time.. when in truth it wasn’t very long at all.. - .. of course Melima.. .. he offered her a smile all be it reserved and a little on the small side- .. I’d be honoured.. he lingered maybe a moment longer before he moved around to the side of the carriage.. helping her up into her seat there.. waiting until she was suitably comfortable before he himself would hop on inside.. sinking down onto the cushioned seat directly across from her.. rapping upon the wall to get the carriage into gear .. it took a few jerks before they were moving.. a bit wobbly on occasion due to the ice but the driver soon had it sorted.. he mentioned the fact they may need to stay somewhere over night.. she seemed to understand it.. agreeing all the same.. he nodded- .. I hadn’t looked into it no.. but if you do know of somewhere as we get a little closer to the evening I’ll be sure to let the driver know.. you can direct him.. . he reached for the blanket from beneath the seat beside him.. reaching it across.. the temperature was dropping quite considerably and had been most of the day.. would only get worse as the day wore on and wouldn’t change really until they got out of the territory.. she spoke about how royal weddings weren’t for the couple.. that they were for the people and he nodded- .. Can’t say I’ve really been to one of these before.. at least nothing of this magnitude.. it should be interesting to say the least.. .. his hands came back down to rest there upon his lap there as she spoke about not having been there for Rose when she was small.. of all the things she had missed out on.. that she wouldn’t miss another moment.. not a single second of it if she could help it.. - .. She’s a beautiful woman.. inside and out.. very caring.. very considerate of others.. She is going to love having you in her life.. she is.. all about family.. which is why she contacted Tirithon as she did.. unfortunately that didn’t turn out quite for the best.. but.. That’s how she operates.. trying to see the best in everyone.. in everyone.. try not to beat yourself up over what you have missed out on.. look ahead on what you have before you.. and what is in store for you.. you have plenty of time to make up for what you have lost.. and I am sure you wont waste it.. .. his fingers twitched a little when she rested her hand atop his.. listening as she spoke on how Rose needed to see them together.. unified.. for her.. he shook his head when she said she worried Rose would get the wrong idea..- .. I don’t think she would readily jump to conclusion.. she might have once before.. but not so much anymore.. .. he dipped his head back so his gaze was up upon the darkened ceiling of the carriage when you spoke on him needing this.. that all was not lost.. that the sun was just a little shaded by clouds.. - .. possibly..I don’t think it really time to think on such to be honest.. I’m here for Rose.. would do anything for that girl..
09/21/15-[03:46:09] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *Even a soft chuckle was better than none… She was just glad he either chose not to see, or could not see, just how true her words had been for her…* “You mean the gee-gaws and all those other sorts of things? I’ve never been the type. It’s just a lot of clutter really, and bringing special things when you travel when they could be lost, well it’s a bit of a risk don’t you think?” *It was like begging for trouble in her mind to bring anything like that along. All she had in her bag were clothes, no jewelry or make up, she didn’t really ever use either one. Gods knew her dress was more than ornamental enough to make up for her stunning lack of anything else. Plus she had her tiara on, so really, what more did she need? Well… One thing she had wanted to have once… A very long time ago… But that window was closed up, and it seemed the only one who ever looked at it with longing was her, and oh how she wished to forget. He had commented on her dress, and she him, she had never seen him look quite so dapper and fine… Oh he had gotten dressed up for the celebrations, and never once did she miss him in all his flash, and he ever did cut the sharpest of figures. When Garafin entered a room, he might as well be the only male, he was the only one she ever saw. She felt the smile curling the corner of her lips at his words, just something small, but it was nice to feel it there…* “It was, but it was the last time I saw you in something like this, though last time it was black and gold… Very fetching… I like this one a bit better though, it’s more you, less… Temple…” *The celebrations were all planned ahead of time, and no one brought clothes with them, there was always a theme sent down by Hanali herself for everyone to follow… So this wad indeed more of his style than anyone elses, and she liked it quite a bit, especially the gloves… Something about that soft leather she found quite attractive.* “You will fit in quite well regardless… You have that knack for somehow belonging where ever you go.” “I do… Glaur is not far from here, we share a sort of territory line with Silverthorn and Tirithons lands, we don’t touch per sey but… Close enough for the routs to be very much the same closer to Arvandor… I will take care of the arrangements on this part…” *He had after all covered the transportation… The Least she could do was make sure that they had a spot to rest… He had pulled out the blanket for her which she was grateful for, the dress was missing the entire back, and it was a fair bit chilly without it… As she warned up, she told him the wedding was not quite what he was used to, that it never really was going to be… Not that the couple weren’t in love per sey they were just… Not like the ones in Arvandor…* “It is quite the learning curb… I would love to say that at least the food is good, but I fear sometimes they try just a little to hard to impress and while it all looks quite lovely on the plate, it is not quite so wonderful on the tongue… Calamari for instance… I wish someone would have warned me about that…” *She said with a little smile, just wanting to…. Not warm him up but… Make it less… Hard for him… He caused her to speak about what she had missed out on with Rose, things that perhaps only a mother can mourn, the connection a little diferent between mother and child… * “I watch her from a distance when I could before she left… Seeing how she is with her children, with her… Beaus… I think that is the only way to put it for those but… I think she is warm and loving regardless if it is a friend or family… She really makes a stretch to include everyone, to make sure no one is left in the cold…” *Though she worried that Rose would burn herself out doing it… Over stretching herself, leaving herself wide open to pain and hurt in the form of betrayal by those she had struggled to include… She had moved in just a little, just a soft touch when she saw him twitching and fidgeting, hoping it would help ground him… The twitch at her touch though… She pulled her hand back the moment he moved, resting them in her lap, beneath the blanket that was over her shoulders…. She had tried to help but it seemed she just made it worse… Wanting to help and yet not being able to.. Everything inside her head… She went silent and didn’t say anything else because in the end… What could she say?...*
(09/21/15-[07:53:25] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he nodded when she spoke on him fitting in quite well regardless.. that he apparently had a knack for somehow just belonging where-ever he happened to go.. - .. I suppose yes, though I find I am comfortable in most situations.. so maybe that’s why.. I don’t know.. .. they spoke on the fact that they may have to stay the night in some place along the way.. Silverthorn was a bit of a treck from Arvandor proper.. she spoke on how Glaur was not to far from where they were and how it shared a border with Silverthorn though the two kingdoms never actually touched.. he nodded once more- .. Well then I shall leave that in your capable hands.... he had organised the blanket for her.. figuring she was indeed a little on the cool side if not more than just a little.. they spoke on how the royal marriage would be a tad different than what he had witnessed before.. he himself even owning up to the fact that this would be his first.. - .. Royalty do tend to prefer the finer things in life.. so it wouldn’t surprise me that their food was no different.. all flash.. very little substance.. .. he let his head settle back upon the cushions there.. looking up to the ceiling of the cabin as he felt it shifting across the differing terrain.. the snow.. the ice.. the gravel and hardened grounds.. - .. I’ve loved her from the moment I met her.. I just knew she was special.. of course I had no idea just how special.. but.. it all makes a lot more sense now.. .. they travelled on for quite a distance.. mostly in silence.. he was at a bit of a loss for words.. his heart still ached.. he still hurt and he was just worn out.. though it was mostly from the inside.. he just had lost his drive.. his motivation.. hie desire to do much of anything.. for in his freedom he found Marabelle.. and she was the one to lift him out of the neck deep water he had found himself within.. only for him to be tossed right back down into it.. he was feeling a little cheated.. he was a good man. He helped out more than most did.. and yet up until now.. his luck in most things was just horrible.. he rubbed his forehead there.. exhaling softly as the carriage moved to approach this city she had spoken of earlier on in the trip.. he’d never been here before so wasn’t sure what to expect.. though all he needed really was a bed and some whisky.. that’s it.. he’d want for nothing more than that-
(09/21/15-[10:16:40] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
: “I don’t really thing any of us knows how or why our talents shine through…” *She said softly. Garafin was just so full of life, even for an elf he set the bar quite high, and many people were drawn to him simply to bask in the warm light that he had around him.* “You… Are just you… And that is its own special kind of wonderful… In more ways than you know…” *She said very softly, little more than a whisper at the end, to where he would have to have really been listening sharply to hear it. He spoke on perhaps staying a night at an Inn which she already expected, a bit more familiar with the trip due her trips here from Glaur every festival, knowing all too well in weather like this a stay over was a must. She explained that there was a spot, not terribly far from Silverthorn that would be very nice for them to stay at, a bit more his style than others… At least that is what she felt...* A wise choice…” *She said, only wanting to lightly tease him, just a bit to lighten his gloom… Or try to… Nothing seemed to help but she tried anyways for some terrible, self-harming reason. She had mentioned how the weddings were all pomp and flash really, or at least all the ones she had gone to, and in her position… She had gone to quite a few… Royalty and the nobility were rather… Well… Paper thin. She had tried a bit of humor at the food side of these things, she had a terrible run in with something called calamari that no one had warned her about, and before she knew it she had a piece or rubbery something or other in her mouth and it tasted like a wad of paper. Needless to say, she stuck to the more familiar foods now, not wanting to repeat that instance ever again.* “I suppose they do… Glaur is small compared to some of the larger ones, our nobility is more of a title and blood line compared to what Tirithon has in Silverthorn… We had a nice, comfortable living, but we were far from the kind of Excess you see in other kingdoms…” *Tirithon had always been about being the best in everything… A man who takes what he wants and makes no apologies… It can be quite attractive at first… Tirithon though, there was never an off switch, never a time he wasn’t always grasping for something more… She had tried to… Cheer him up… To tell him everything wasn’t lost… It was just… A little cloudy but it really didn’t do any good… So she had gone silent… Her touch had made him uncomfortable and her words had not done any good, she was at a loss and she didn’t wish to make the moment worse, so she just… Remained silent. It was in those moments he spoke out of the blue a bit… She herself remained silent for some time, not because she had nothing to say, but because she had nothing she could say… That and she didn’t exactly trust her voice not to betray her… When she did speak her voice was soft and even, supportive and warm… It gave no hint to what she was feeling inside.* “She is special… I knew her father once upon a time. He was a well to do tradesman at sea and he had a beautiful hand for detail… His carvings and statues were some of the best I had ever seen. We were all rocked when he died, he was a beautiful man, inside and out… I never met her mother though Marabelle told me about her… She and I have become friends after a fashion… I think I give her some sort of solace, having been a mother myself, or perhaps just because I care for her I don’t know…” *A gentle shrug of her shoulders, her hands hidden under the blanket, her eyes focusing on the snow white world around them… The feel of the wheels as they slipped here and there on the ice… They were both lost in their own thoughts, their hearts hurt… They remained in silence for a very long time, hours really, each of them dealing with pain in their own way… Trying to hide it, keep it buried, deep down inside… When they drew up into the town, it was more of a hamlet than anything else, a little accident of chance that had resulted in a charming little place… They were across the bay from Silverthorn, that massive city glittering here and there through the falling snow, and before them a two story bed and breakfast that was half over the ocean… The building itself was rare as it was actually the remains of an ancient two story galleon, her masts and canvas long gone, the portholes that one held cannons now held beautiful glass windows. The way up was the original plank that had been used to load elves and cargo generations ago, and it was for these reasons she thought Garafin might like it, if for nothing else than a reminder of his sea faring days.*
(09/21/15-[16:12:55] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he nodded as they spoke and continued to travel along.. she talked on how Glaur was small compared to some of the larger more settled cities.. that their nobility was more of a title and bloodline..and that it was a more comfortable living.. far flung from the kinds of excess other kingdoms had.. - .. I suppose the fancy has its place at times.. but yes I can’t imagine being surrounded by it all the time.. I like to work.. I like to get my hands dirty.. getting sweaty and grime covered after a hard days work is its own reward.. where-as I can’t imagine what it must be like to sit on my ass all day watching everyone else do everything.. no thanks.. .. he huffed a bit.. he could rub elbows with the best of them and he could like she said fit in extremely well.. but when there was excess involved.. it tended to get beneath his skin a little.. especially knowing how hard the lower classes worked to keep the upper classes in their finery.. he had made a comment about Rose and she took it as though he were speaking about Marabelle.. he lifted his head.. tilting it to the side a touch.. - .. no.. I was referring to Rose…. I have loved our daughter since I met her .. she’s always had this.. way about her.. it just made everyone feel comfortable.. she stole the heart of the boy I brought up as my own.. and I couldn’t be happier to see them together.. sure the relationship is a touch unconventional.. and I still have my reservations when it comes to Ace as we have a history.. but.. at the end of the day.. it’s not my future she is living.. it is her own..Marabelle is a beauty I never would have expected in a million years to wander into my life.. and yet apparently she had been there for quite some time.. I do love her.. I was more than prepared to marry her..but I guess.. in this section of my life.. my luck wanes a little.. I don’t appear to be lucky enough to be dealt the same hand as say.. a great number of other people.. but.. that’s ok too.. maybe they deserve it more.. .. he nodded.. something he was coming to terms with..maybe he was meant to focus on other things.. they had entered the city proper.. or the hamlet as the case was.. the carriage pulled to a stop there and the door was opened.. he himself stepped out first.. before he held his hand out to her to help her out.. allowing her to use him as an anchor .. to lean on if she needed it as she moved down the carriage steps.. the town looked nice enough.. small but comfortable.. there was an Inn directly before them pretty much .. - .. I’ll go and see what they have available.. .. it looked fairly busy afterall.. there were quite a few carriages around.. and they received more than quite a few looks.. he awaited her to accompany him into the small Inn.. not to much different from his own.. the keep was behind the counter there and seemed to be more than a little flustered.. wiping the sweat from his brow as his staff ran about like chickens void of heads.. he enquired about a couple of rooms only to be told graciously and apologetically that no.. they had one remaining.. they were booked out for the wedding you see.. so many were travelling to see the new King and Queen.. that caused his brow to rise a little.. he turned to look back to her a moment.. before the keep spoke quietly .. doing the sign of the cross.. that the great King Tirithon had indeed passed.. there had been a grand accident.. though details were slim.. his brows furrowed on it.. rubbing his cheek there..nodding as he thanked the gentleman for the information before he took the room that was offered- .. Sharing it is.. seems Rose is causing quite a fuss.. .. he took the key from the charge there as they were both lead down a long dimly lantern lit hallway.. reaching the door.. they were told where things were.. bathhouse.. kitchen.. bar.. before he moved to unlock the room.. allowing her to enter first-
.:She Was Mine:.
: *He was right in a large way… Though having a life of comfort, that was a blessing in and of itself, one she had discovered herself repeatedly over time… Glaur was beautiful but it was also harsh at times, and though the people and the royal family did very well for themselves, they would never compare to places such a Oaken City and Silverthorn… She had learned that on her travels well enough.*” After Rose was born my family put me out without a penny… They were a bit upset at me you could say… So I learned what it was like to suddenly have nothing the hard way. I learned much about hard work and the aches and pains a body can have at the end of a long day… I can say I value honesty and dedication more than jewels and silk sheets… I know what it feels like to have your skin split in the cold, or what it feels like to walk for hours on end in the fields and know you still aren’t done with your labors, the way the sun can seem as if it hates you in the summer and you can find no rest from the heat… I learned how to live then, and I can say that I can no longer look at palace life the way I once did, and I don’t think I could ever go back…” *It had been hard, oh Gods yes, but compared to giving Rose up it was really nothing… Over time she had developed stronger skin and muscles, she had calluses and cuts, she could work as hard as anyone else… She rented a little home that after a few years she had bought, she had her own furniture and clothes, and she knew the cost of each and every part of it… It was something that, in the life before getting pregnant, she never would have known. When he spoke about falling in love at first site, she had thought he meant Marabelle, and her heart had stung… She had spoken kindly though at his reply, she had also spoken, and thought incorrectly… So much… She flushed a deep rose red across her cheeks, instantly casting her eyes down, and wishing herself quite a ways away from the carriage… By the Gods how did one even TRY to cover that err? How did she hide what she had just revealed in those moments? She just… Oh… What she wouldn’t do to be anywhere BUT there in those moments… But she couldn’t just vanish into the leather seating, or appear somewhere else, just because it suited her. She looked out the window as if something were quite fascinating out there as she spoke very evenly… Trying her very best to hide just how embarrassing that had been.* “Forgive my err… I wish I could be around her more, truly I do, and young Jacob continues to encourage me to come out to her but… I can’t… It’s not that I don’t want to it’s just… I don’t feel I have a right… I will be here for her on her wedding days, I won’t let her down again but… I don’t deserve anything more…” *She had felt this way for… A very long time… She felt as if she had no right to anything regarding Rose because she had given her up, even if it was not by choice, she had taken a gamble and her baby had paid the price… What sort of mother was she? Better to not interfere… At least she could not hurt her this way… She cleared her throat a little bit, adjusting the blanket about her shoulders a little more, for though it was warm it was still a bit chill… Fashion… Not always practical…* “Maybe… Hanali is keeping you from those pathways because they aren’t… Where you are supposed to go… Maybe Caela and Marabelle… Aren’t who you’re supposed to be with…” *Yes… She had said that… She had no idea where she had found the courage to be so downright bold about it, but in a way, she felt she had a right to say it… She had been faithful to him without err… Even if it was one sided, she wanted no one but him, and she had remained untouched since… Was it easy? Gods no. She had had her offers aplenty, even a few young romantic souls who had been warm and kind and sweet, who’s affections were true… But they were not him… They were not Garafin… She wouldn’t ever be with another because she had no heart to share with them… For Garafin had stolen it all and buried it in shores far far away from sight…She was so grateful when they arrived at the little harbor side hamlet, little bigger than a village, but smaller than a town or city… With that charming little ship turned Inn that was utterly magnificent and more than a little tongue in cheek for Garafin… She wanted to fly out that door and run but she knew it would be both entirely against decorum and probably result in her having some sort of embarrassing accident… So she waited until he was out and down, and she would take his offered hand to help her down, which she did indeed need… Getting in was easy with a train, getting out not so much, because one has to worry about accidentally stepping on ones dress and taking a tumble… They arrived en suit, side by side, nodding her head when he said he would see what was available… Though what was really getting her attention was… Well… The attention they were getting… Everyone was dressed well, they didn’t stand out against the rest, so why the looks? She watched them back though without any hint she was doing so, wondering about it all… As Garafin checked in about a room, she watched the chaos around them, just waiting for news… Only to hear a familiar voice at her side that instantly resulted in her instinctual side step… From far away, it would be obvious that there was more than a little bit of tension between the pair, so much so that even her own cool composure was cracking and her movements were becoming agitated. What ever it was, it was not good… Before suddenly, and loudly, she slapped her hand against the strangers cheek with enough force to turn his head to the side. That got more than a few peoples attention as she walked away from him with her head held high, her shoulders back, every inch the princess in that moment. She got to Garafins side before they were informed there was just a single room, her mind far and away from the moment, simply nodding silently as they were lead down the hall towards their room. He allowed her to enter first, and the room though simple, was also quite wonderful too… There was a little kitchen nook with a fireplace for cooking and tea, a large bathroom on the other side with both shower and tub, a den and then the bedroom itself… Rather like a home without a few walls… It was large and yet not, the space warm and open, scented with apple logs on the fire… It was warm and the bed was… A full sized mattress… Bigger than the twin but a little smaller than a queen… She and Garafin would be a little snug in it together… She walked straight in and to the kitchen area to run her hand under a bit of water, the stuff in the sink pink tinted, revealing her skin was actually torn a bit… Has she caught it on something?...* “I will take the couch or something along those lines while you take the bed…” *She said softly as she seemed to be a little bit of a world away… Like something somewhere had disconnected…*
09/21/15-[19:30:00] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: .. he tilted his head when she spoke on Hanali keeping him for certain pathways because they weren’t where he was supposed to go - ..I don’t know really, I’d rather not want to entertain the thought that Hanali would force me upon a path that would take up a great lot of my life time.. only to have it turn about on me.. and make me look like a fool.. and then on top of that to fall for a woman who was dying.. if this is the way our goddess is.. well.. maybe its time for me to re-evaluate .... they arrived in the township soon there after.. he had hopped out and helped her down.. making sure she didn’t trip over the lengths of fabric she wore.. it was quite busy indeed.. more so than perhaps he had thought he would see.. they entered the Inn.. small rather amusingly shaped like a boat as it was.. he found the overrun keep there and they had a moment to talk.. asking about what they had available only to hear it was just the one left due to the wedding.. he took it naturally.. rather one than none afterall.. a bed was a bed.. he paid a few coins to the vendor there.. catching a view out of the corner of his eye of what was going on there.. seeing her strike another person.. his brow rose a touch.. he went to turn.. to perhaps intervene though when it appeared she was sorted and settled he decided to not interfere.. perhaps it was something personal.. and she didn’t appear to be harmed or alarmed in anyway.. they moved down the long lantern lit corridor then .. he nodded to the help as they gave him the information on where everything was before he unlocked the door and permitted her entrance first.. he followed in shortly there after her.. allowing the door to close.. he placed the bags down upon the small couch there.. unbuttoning his jacket as he went about removing his gloves- .. It’s quite busy due to the wedding so we will have to share.. as for the couch no.. .. he shook his head when he peeled his jacket off there.. letting it rest upon the back of a chair- ..We are both adults Melima.. we can share or I will take the couch if you are uncomfortable.. no woman in my company will be without a bed when there is one in offer.. .. he placed his gloves down upon the table there.. looking about the room.. finding it really quite well furnished.. it was larger than he was expecting.. - .. everything alright out there?.... he questioned as he sunk down to sit upon one of the arm chairs.. -
(09/21/15-[21:21:42] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *Well… She had tried… Tried and sadly failed a little bit… She hadn’t thought he would take that the way he had, she thought he might see it as a sign that perhaps he might need to look at alternate paths, perhaps… Something from a long time ago that had been ruined by people other than themselves… Then again, he wasn’t far off… More than once she had seriously wondered what she had done in a previous life to deserve this sort of heart ache… Why let her fall madly in love with him for so long if she was never allowed to have him? It was like a mean prank played by a Goddess who was less about love and more about long drawn out heartache… Still, if she were to believe that, she would have to then look back at some very special memories in a different light… Memories that had been one of a few precious things that had held her through some rough, cold, bleak years…* “I’ve loved the same man for so long I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have those feelings for him… My life was chaos for so long I wondered how I was ever going to make it, and at the end of a hard day, his memory made my day worth while… Imagine what sort of a hind end I must look like then loving someone who’s always in love with someone else.” *She shook her head after she had said it, holding her hand up, palm out for a moment to halt him.* “I promised you… When I came back and you were…” * She shook her head again with a soft little sigh.* “I said I would not make it awkward, and I won’t, I keep my word… I simply wanted to point out that you are not alone, though if you want to choose a different path it is your right, and I doubt anyone will stop you.” *Not long at all afterwards they had arrived at the little Inn she had told him about, albeit without many details, hoping the little play on it’s shape would make him smile. Of course, it was absolutely manic inside, and there was nothing but chaos here there and everywhere. She had heard snippets of things she found… Disconcerting… But not exactly… Unhappy? There were fanciful stories on the air here and there, about Tirithon being killed in battle with a dragon, or how he had been crushed under a part of the castle falling in… Some said he died in bed with a girl… Others with a boy… Oh it was all sorts of gossip and why not? When the man was alive such things would have been rooted out and dealt with, but he was dead and gone now, or so the stories told… It was while she was trying to sort out just what she was hearing when she had heard someone she knew rather well, causing her to side step, and everything had just… Gone from there… What Garafin saw was rather the tail end of it all, for while she had side stepped the man, he had taken her hand… Words were shared and though she maintained her composure and cool, something had happened that caused her to actually strike another elf, and that… Was when the man had bitten her. He had turned her palm up and normally that was saved for engaged couples, a kiss to the wrist was an intimate thing, and she was NOT about to let anyone do that to her. Especially this particular person… But before she could pull her hand away she felt teeth sinking into the fleshy part of her palm and instead of crying out in pain at it, she had yanked her hand away and slapped the man, and quite hard! He had hurt her and she was not very tolerant of that. She had walked away from him right there and then, going to Garafins side, just catching the end of the conversation between himself and the Innkeep. There was only one room left, and they would have to share it, which was… Not what she expected… Still, she followed beside him silently before they moved into the room, the space well managed… It was big but not too big, everything lined up in such a way that the space was used to the very best of it’s abilities, giving a more home like feel. She had gone directly to the sink there with her hand under the water, telling him she would take the couch and he could take the bed, simply because… She didn’t know if she could do it… Oh a part of her wanted to share that bed with him BADLY… Goddess how many nights had she prayed for it? But it wasn’t the way she had wished… His heart was growing cold and it hurt, he wasn’t interested in her, and maybe he never would be again… Though it seemed he wasn’t going to give her a choice…* “Then the bed will be shared… I’m not tall so the couch would have been fine, but your legs would hang right off the end of it Garafin.” *She was such a mess in those moments… She just rested her head on the cool glass mirror there before her as she let everything just slip down for a minute, just to breath, to gather together the shreds and start all over. She heard him ask if she was ok and she knew he was wondering…* “Yes just… Is there any gauze out there? He bit me and he broke skin and it’s not quite stopped bleeding yet…”
(09/22/15-[01:30:48] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..they had been showed the way down along the long lantern lit hallway.. soft conversations could be heard here and there.. voices from behind closed doors.. faces poking out every so often.. people seemed overall quite excited about the goings on.. perhaps happier for the future there could be in the coming months and years with the tyrant having been disposed of..they had been permitted access to their room.. he allowed her to go in first before he would follow soon along after.. placing their bags down upon the couch there.. he began to remove his coat.. his gloves.. letting both of them settle upon the chair and table respectively.. he glanced around the room a moment.. just taking it in.. he hadn’t been in another Inn for ..well as long as he could remember.. he’d not left Arvandor in some time afterall.. she mentioned him staying in the bed and her on the couch and he spoke his reluctance on that front.. that no.. when there was a woman in his presence and a bed that she would always be given it.. it was the kind of gentleman he was.. - .. It wouldn’t be the first time I have slept seated or even standing for that matter.. I can adapt.. but yes.. if you are comfortable with it.. we will share.. I have no problem with that at all.. .. he noticed she had gone off to the bathroom area there.. to perhaps freshen up after such a journey.. he recalled the little byplay he had seen out in the lobby and decided to question her on it.. to make sure she was ok.. though when she asked for gauze his brows furrowed..- .. I am sure there is yes.. one moment.. .. he moved down into the kitchen area.. opening a few of the cupboards before he came upon a first aid box.. drawing it open as he fished around a few things.. plucking out some gauze.. a few different lengths.. before he was at the bathroom door.. just in time to hear her say the guy had bitten her.. and broken the skin- .. he bit you?!.... he blinked.. moving in then as he placed the gauze down upon the table there.. - .. may I?.... he would question.. not about to put his hands upon a woman without permission.. if she said yes he would reach for her wrist.. turning it about as he would look upon the newly open wound- .. What on earth would possess someone to bite you?.... he looked more than a little confused about the whole thing and quite a bit shocked- .. I am.. just.. what?.... he shook his head.. reaching for the gauze then as he began to wrap it about her wrist.. around and around.. asking her every so often if it was too tight- .. do you know who it was?.. if he is a resident then the keeper needs to be notified .. I know I wouldn’t want some deviant loose attacking my patrons.. never.. Ever.. .. he exhaled.. plucking a small pin to secure the bandage as he released her wrist- .. I can go and deal with it if it’s a problem.. I have no quarms in doing it.. no one has a right to be putting their hands on you without your permission let alone biting you.. .. he frowned shaking his head as he moved out of the bathroom area .. I don’t quite understand some people today.. little morals.. little substance.. sad state of affairs indeed.. .. he rubbed his lips together.. - .. would you prefer to eat in tonight? Or are you comfortable going out somewhere?.. I don’t know this place at all.. but.. I will readily admit I should eat something before tomorrow..
(09/22/15-[03:20:41] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
: *It was more than a little odd for her in these moments, she had to admit, more than just the Inn itself but… Everything altogether… It defied logic just a bit… She had never seen the place to busy, but with such a grand affair as a royal wedding, people would be flocking from all around in droves. That meant even little hidden treasures like this place were going to get more than a shade or two of foot traffic. The heads peeping out from this or that door at them, all so many strangers, it left her feeling disconnected a bit… It was hard not to remember years passed when she had used this Inn while on her travels, and the energy at the Inn now, it wasn’t so different as it had once been… They were shown to their room and it was after the door was opened that one got to see what a curious little gem this place was, the way the space was used in the best way possible, furniture and decorations used in the best way… He had taken a seat and gotten comfortable while she had made her way straight to the bathroom, running her hand under water while she just let it all go for a moment, just releasing her grip long enough to feel a little relief before he spoke on the bed. She had opted to take the couch originally but he wasn’t having any of it, saying they were both adults and they could sleep in the same bed, and most like having no idea what that did to her… The bittersweet emotions that swept through her like a flood and only the Gods knew what sort of wreckage would be left at the end of it. She told him that if he took the couch his legs would hang clean over the end and they would too, Garafin was tall and long of leg, that couch would have been more than a little too small for his length.* “You are not sleeping in such a manner Garafin Aranosse. I can share a bed just fine…” *Well… Sort of… She had her doubts she would get any sleep at all considering who she would be sharing a bed with, not to mention the fact she would actually be sharing a bed with anyone, and she wouldn’t even go into the fact she slept in the buff… Which of course in the end left her in a bind sort of… A slip would work fine for a nightgown but she had always slept in her own skin so she had no idea how well she would tolerate it… He had questioned her then after a few moments of silence, asking if everything was alright, knowing he wasn’t asking about her in specific so much as… What he probably saw… She told him she was fine but she needed a bit of gauze, the blood wasn’t going to stop without some sort of pressure, not for a little bit anyways… The bite was not very nice, it was raw and jagged about the edges, and for such a fast moment in time… It was quite deep.* “Mmmhmm….” *She said when he asked in both shock and surprise, in a bit of doubt most like, and who could blame him? Biting wasn’t even common among humans, but among elves? It was unheard of. He had asked if he could tend her wrist, and after a moment of hesitation, she handed it to him… She was used to tending herself and tending others… Not so much being the one tended to. She would tell him if it was too tight or not, having him loosen it a little now and then, but nothing too bad…* “He’s… Possessive you could say…” *After all, she had slapped him silly for more reasons than just biting her, though Gods knew that was reason enough. She settled to lean against the counter for a moment, slipping out of her little ankle boot heels, settling her bare feet down on the soft cotton mat before the sink… He asked her things as he wrapped her up, and she hesitated more than a little, unsure of how to… Not even explain but… To even just try to broach things… What would Garafin think? She shifted on her feet a little before she began to speak.* “I do… He isn’t a local at all, he wouldn’t really be caught dead residing in a place like this normally… It’s not his… Style…” *She said, trying to… Skirt things if she could… Watching him slide the pin home in the bandages she couldn’t help the small smile as he offered to take care of it… That no one had the right to lay hands on her without permission… She wouldn’t say anything much on some fronts of that, the warmth of the memory was enough for the moment, a pleasure she hadn’t expected…* “Thank you… I forgot what it’s like when gentlemen offer to slay dragons on your behalf… But no… Vasarko… He…” *Her words trailed off, unsure how to proceed really, just…. Not ready to reveal such a…. Dark chapter…* “He won’t attack again…” *Not in public anyways… But she wasn’t going to say that… She would just have to be more on her guard… Cautious about her steps… He asked about eating an she wouldn’t take him outside to save his life, not with Vasa here, that was begging for trouble… Instead she walked to the door and pulled the menu from the clever little manilla pocket there.* “In if you don’t mind… The snow is lovely, but I’ve no desire to go tramping around in it just yet… I remember… This inn has the best pumpkin soup ever, as well as a chicken breast with herbs and baby red potatoes that is quite delicious, and they do have a wonderful whiskey… Shall I order for you?”
(09/22/15-[04:41:33] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: . he had moved to stand in the bathroom with her.. asking to take her hand there so he could get a closer look at the damage.. she accepted and he reached for it.. turning her narrow wrist over so he could have a proper look.. though from the look on his face he was clearly unimpressed.. and he made enough comments to prove it.. he did well to bandage up all he could.. trying not to make it too tight .. listening to her instruction when he was .. making sure to loosen it every so often.. he asked then about what had happened.. whilst he was finishing up with the bandages.. she explained this possessive fellow.. his brow rose a touch.. he didn’t comment at first.. allowed her to finish speaking before he would interject- .. Are we talking former flame? Family member?.. someone who has their eyes on you perhaps?.. Its not every day you catch sight of a woman slapping a fellow is all.. so I am indeed curious.. though don’t feel pressured to tell me.. it’s entirely up to you.. if I have delved to deeply into the personal just let me know.. .. he nodded.. lingering there a moment longer before he would move to step out into the main area of the room.. he had offered to go and take care of this.. problem..her comment about not recalling what it was like when a gentleman spoke of slaying dragons on her behalf.. he chuckled quietly at that and nodded his head- .. Ahh.. well I’m a bit old fashioned perhaps then.. I am sure you could handle your own if the situation presented itself.. .. he had asked her about their food then.. wether or not they should move out? Go for a wander or.. if perhaps they should eat in.. especially after such a long trip.. and what with her sudden unease with those that were waiting in the shadows.. he would have understood if she prepared to remain within the room.. he nodded as he watched her pluck out the folder.. room service on the menu..he reached up to tug down upon his tie.. releasing it from its many knots there as he let it rest there upon his shoulders.. .. Please do.. .. he offered her a small smile a nod of the head when she spoke on ordering for him if he so desired.. reaching to slide his fingers back through his hair then..he’d poke around the room a little.. locating a small liquor cabinet.. it wasn’t perfectly stocked but it was better than nothing.. a bottle of whisky .. a glass and then another in case she was wanting.. before he moved to sit down upon the couch nearer to the open fire place.. sinking down into the cushions there.. popping the top.. pouring some of that amber liquid into the pair of glasses there.. motioning to her where it was after she was done ordering the food- ..Might be best for you to remain here then.. until we head off in the morning.. you’re friend might still be around waiting for you to drop out.. I don’t think Rose would take to kindly to having found out who her mother is only to then lose her..
(09/22/15-[05:29:25] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *She wasn’t about to tell him no… She could have bandaged it herself, but it would have been sloppy due to the bite being on her right wrist, leaving her trying to manage with her left in such a case. His hands had gotten softer in the years since she last felt them, a lot of the rough callouses from holding the ropes and climbing the rigging were gone, replaced by smaller ones in different places… His hands would never be soft but that was something she loved about him… She always had… The story of his life was found in his hands… She had guided him a bit here and there as he wrapped her delicate wrist, and he did beautifully well really, pinning it in place as he asked about what had happened. She tried to skirt it but she should have known better in a way… This was Garafin after all… She chewed on the inside of her lip, nibbling at it with her canines on the right as she debated trying to explain Vasa, the complicated and…. Ugly story around it… Just how much could she get away with? How much could she keep hidden? She slipped out of her little booted heels and leaned against the counter for a moment before she spoke.* “Vasarko is… Some I have known for… A long time.” *She wouldn’t tell him that Vasarko had been trying to court her for twenty years… That sounded like a cross between bragging and a very disconcerting sort of stalking status on Vasa’s part… Though… The latter might as well be true in a way…* “We worked together for some time, and he developed… Feelings for me… I suppose you could say… He tried to court me but I just… I was never interested. He thought there was some reason behind it so…. He went digging into my past and found out about Rose…” *It was… Scary how deep Vasa had dug into her past to try and find out why she wasn’t accepting his suit… The truth of it was just that she wanted no one but Garafin, but Vasa didn’t know that, and she doubted it would do anyone any favors for him to understand it either… He had found a good deal of information on her to be honest, so much so that for a few weeks there, she had been in true fear of the man…* “He offered to help me find her, and I took his offer in friendship, I would have given anything to find Rose… But as the days went into weeks, his…. Attitude changed… He began to snap at our co-workers, getting jealous if anyone got near me, even if it was just to ask for help which was my job… He started to circulate rumors about us…” *She had never even bumped Vaso, yet he had told people she was pregnant with his child, that they were secretly engaged and it was just her family that was causing them to be so secretive… It was all lies and she had confronted him on it, demanding he stop, that this was beyond blasé.* “I had to denounce him in public to make the rumors stop… It didn’t make him stop in the end though and he’s been… Well not a stalker but… He’s had a way to pop in without any warning and make things rather difficult for me..” *Which was putting a very g-rated spin on everything, but she wasn’t about to make a big deal out of it, it wasn’t how she was.* “I slapped him after he bit me to be quite honest... I think it was a little justified…” *She didn’t tell him that he had come up to her and offered to please her if Garafin wasn’t up to the task, resulting in some rather not so nice words on her part, which got Vasa to bite her and she to slap him before leaving him in her shadow. He had offered to handle Vasa for her and she just… Luxuriated in the moment… To have someone offer to slay her demons for her… For it to be him no less...* “There’s nothing wrong with it… Even if I can fight my own battles… It doesn’t mean I want to…” *She would have let him fight for her but she wasn’t going to… Not at the risk of losing him. He asked about dinner plans, and both of them were perhaps worn out, a little too much so to go out in the snow… So she offered to order in instead, smiling softly at his acceptance… So for him she ordered hot cross buns and pumpkin soup and a bit of chocolate cake for desert… For herself she ordered the chicken and red potatoes with a side of pasta, a bottle of wine with two glasses, and some cheese cake for desert… When that was done, she put the page on the outside of the door for the help to take, and she settled down on the bed while he made himself a whiskey. Garafin advised her to stay in the night and she nodded softly, curling up on her side on the bed for a moment, taking in the scent of rosemary and lavender in the bedding.* “I honestly don’t know…” *She used to think Vasa would never hurt her but the wound in her wrist said otherwise. Would he follow her to Silverthorn? Or would he go on his way? Why had he bitten her like that? Why had he commented on Garafin as if he knew her desires?* “I haven’t seen him in five years and yet for him to find me now… I can’t begin to understand his motives…”
(09/22/15-[15:44:08] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he had settled down to sit there upon the couch.. a bottle of vaguely cheap whisky and a couple of glasses as she spoke about this fellow that was giving her a bit of a run around.. he had asked if it was a former flame.. or maybe it was a relative.. a protective insane relative at that.. he nodded when she spoke about this guy being someone she had known for a long time.. that they worked together.. and how feelings were developed.. that the guy had tried to court her but that it wasn’t receiprocated.. he sunk back in the seat when she spoke about the guy finding out about Rose..- .. well.. he certainly sounds like he was doing all he could to get your attention.. .. he took a sip of the whisky there.. grimacing a little as it wasn’t the best but it would do.. listening as she spoke further on the subject how the guys attitude suddenly changed and how the guy became suddenly quite possessive..- .. Unhealthy.. .. he nodded.. he wasn’t surprised when you said you ad to publically denounce the guy.. it made sense.. if it had gone as far as you said it had.. then yes that would probably be the only option to get things to stop.. he took another drink of the whisky there as she placed the card on the other side of the door.. - .. Well.. he sounds like a right nutbag then.. .. he rubbed his chin with his free hand there.. scratching lightly .. Infatuation can make a person do some very odd things.. hopefully he will come to realise his advances aren’t reciprocated and that will be the end of it.. if he approaches you again however.. and you aren’t feeling comfortable about it.. I don’t have a problem with intervening.. maybe he just needs to hear it from someone else?.. I mean if you aren’t interested.. then you aren’t interested.. that’s it.. end of story.. he needs to pull up his boots and move on.. and biting a lady.. .. he shook his head- .. no excuses for that nonsense and disrespect in my books.. .. he turned his head as he caught sight of her curling up on her side there upon the bedding.. - .. probably best to not try and understand his motives.. for you’l never quite understand the goings on within a mans mind when he is focused upon one thing.. You’l be ok Melima.. .. he nodded- .. We will be out of here at first light.. and on our way to Silverthorn where I am sure you will be well looked after.. and if all the talk on Tirithon is indeed correct and truthful.. then that’s yet another thing you don’t have to concern yourself with.. Just the added stressor of Rose becoming a Queen.. .. he chuckled lightly and shook his head.. downing the remainder of the whisky then.. wincing as it burnt on its way down.. he moved to stand sliding that tie of his off of his shoulders.. letting it come down to rest upon the back of the couch.. he moved over toward the bed then.. sinking down just nearer to her.. - . come on.. it will be ok.. .. he nodded.. - . I can tell you’re worried.. little bit more concerned.. he wont get his hands on you whilst I’m around.. ok?.... he would guide her into a seated position if she was willing.. - .. now I know in the past my hugs have done people wonders.. whilst they might not be of the same capacity or worth as they once were.. it’s still on offer if you think it will help?.... he held his arms out to her then.. it would be up to her if she would want to draw in-
(09/22/15-[17:38:03] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
: *She was grateful when he pulled out a second glass. She didn’t drink often but… It helped at the end of the day, loosened her tight strung nerves, dulled the ache… She had poured herself a small glass, just a couple of fingers at the bottom, lifting it to take a sip… Only to stick her tongue out and hold the glass away from her, looking at the amber colored liquor in the glass, setting it down on the counter… This place used to have a very fine whiskey, something a person could be proud to drink, but this… This was just a few steps above rot gut… It would do the job of getting one properly plastered yes, but at the taste of it, it was certainly not meant to be drunken straight… Garafin asked her about Vasarko, and though normally she would have not said anything but… She just couldn’t lie to him, even though she wanted to desperately sometimes, it just wasn’t possible for her… So she told him about what had happened… Not all of it… She didn’t want him to worry about her when he had so much on his plate as it was… She mentioned how Vasa had dug into her past, using their daughter as bait, and she had taken it too… How could she not? Though things had gotten… So much worse after that… Like she had inadvertently given his obsession something to latch onto, to feed on, and he had just gotten worse as time passed…* “To be honest it scared me… It was all kept so secret from everyone… Him knowing about it was… Disturbing…” *And it did… She had tried for many years, wrote so many letters to So many people, begging for even a sliver of information about her… She made the order for them then, their dinner as it were as neither of them were ready nor willing to go running about in the snow… Once she had finished, she placed it in the outside folder, a very clever and quite convenient way to order dinner en suit without having to flag someone down. She took up the glass once more and took another cautious sip, finding that the taste did not improve on the second round, but the burn was a little too pleasant to pass up… Especially given the conversation. Plus…* “He’s…. Something… There’s just… It’s hard to explain… I always have a feeling like he… I can’t really say but… I’ve never been comfortable around him…” *Something about him had always set her skin to crawling. There was nothing obviously wrong with him, no physical deformities outside of a scar on his cheek, nothing that would make a person shy of being around him… Yet people naturally avoided him… It wasn’t like he was a social pariah or anything, he had more than a few girls he kept on a string, a few male friends he hung out with during their breaks… She nodded her head gently when he said that infatuation could make a person do some strange things… Of course, the same could be said of being in love… More than once he had come to her... She had turned him down time and again, and each time it had gotten worse, until he had threatened to take his own life if she didn’t accept him… Garafin didn’t need to know any of that though and as such she kept it behind her teeth and in her own head…* “I can only say no so many times… I thought after the last time he had finally given up because I hadn’t seen him in so long… I fear I was wrong and… To be honest… I may need you to be my Valiant…” *She was strong but she wasn’t THAT strong… She had curled up on her side on the bed there, Vasa being there worried her more than she would admit to, her fear making the bite mark seem to ache a bit more… It had been a hard week and she felt like she could just fall asleep and stay that way for years…* “Can I hold you to that Garafin?...” *She wanted to be ok… To just shove all this off of her shoulders like a bird shaking water off the wing. She tilted her head a little bit as he spoke about Tirithon, which meant he had heard the same thing she had, and she wondered…* “I wondered about it… I heard that he was killed in a castle collapse… We might be in for a pound now…” *She sad softly as he finished his whiskey, watching him come to sit on the bed not too far from her, setting her heart to galloping like a young girls next to her crush… He was picking up on more than she thought she was revealing, moving to sit up with him as he guided her into an upright position, looking up into those sea blue eyes… Hearing his offer for a hug… His words as if he were somehow less valuable now…* “Garafin…” *She wanted to say so many things… Oh a thousands words all pushed against the back of her teeth, just begging to get out, but she had no right to a single one of them… She loved him… But he loved Marabelle… So she simply went into his arms and hugged him back… Her slender arms coming up under his to press him in closer, her head against his heart, seeking out it’s beat… Just… Happy to be close to him in any context but this… It was more than she thought she would ever have again.*
(09/23/15-[02:32:17] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he had asked her about this disturbing male that had bitten her.. enquiring as to just why it had happened.. and what could well have been behind it all.. she gave him little tid bits here and there.. certainly more than enough really.. giving him a better understanding as to why she was more than a bit concerned at his most recent treatment of her.. he nodded when she said she couldn’t be comfortable around this other guy- .. well Im not surprised.. I don’t think I’d be too terribly comfortable around someone if they had treated me similarly to how you yourself have been treated. And then all of this on top of that.. No.. you Shouldn’t be comfortable around him because clearly he’s crossing every single boundary there is.. .. he had offered to help her.. to step in if it became necessary.. - .. I’m not going to let anything happen to you Melima.. .. he nodded- .. don’t worry about that.. just remain at my side and I’ll make sure he doesn’t come anywhere near you.. the audacity of him.. I mean.. unbelievable.. .. he was still quite shocked by it all.. learning that someone had just bitten her.. like that.. in broad daylight more or less.. she had curled up there upon the bed.. he had long since settled down upon the couch with the not so good whisky.. it burnt perfectly but the taste was just not there.. it was not right.. they spoke about Tirithon and the knowledge they had both come across.. he noticed she was falling.. that she was concerned.. worried.. perhaps even a little frightened.. so he moved.. coming down to sit there upon the edge of the bed.. guilding her into a more seated position.. his head tilted as he looked back to her there and in that moment he realised he couldn’t remain down in the dumps so to speak for the entirety of the trip.. he had someone to look after.. and for her the danger was immediate.. he offered her a hug then.. telling her that it might not be worth what it once was.. but it seemed to fix a number of ills in others.. so why not her.. she seemed to hesitate a moment before she curled in against him.. his arms easily wrapped around her.. her head came to settle there just atop his steadily beating heart.. his chin rested against her hair there as his hands lightly rubbed up and down her back there.. just stroking against the smooth bare flesh.. - .. it will be alright.. I promise.. .. he spoke softly.. holding her there for what could have seemed like an eternity.. the silence in the room settled.. just the faint popping from the fireplace wood.. the wind whistling on the otherside of the windows.. and the gentle hum of visitors in adjoining rooms.. before he pulled back- .. now… I imagine that food will be here soon.. and I don’t think you’re going to want to get any on that dress of yours.. have you something to get changed into?.. you could go grab a shower.. or a bath.. I’ll take one after you.. and then we will settle in for the night.. not entirely sure what we will do.. .. his brows furrowed as he looked about the room- .. but I’m sure we could find a deck of cards.. or.. something equally as un-entertaining as that.. if we really try.. .. he chuckled a little and shook his head.. slowly rising from the bed there as he moved back toward his case there.. taking hers over to rest it upon the bed for her- ..if you don’t have anything though.. you’re case is a bit on the small side.. I have an extra shirt.. .. he shrugged his shoulders- .. though on you.. you’d probably drown.. I’m quite a bit bigger than you are.. but go.. .. he waved her off- .. go relax.. if you’re anything like me you will find that a lot easier without all the finery on.. then again.. maybe that’s just me
(09/23/15-[03:25:39] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *She had a feeling that if she didn’t tell him enough, he would continue to ask about it, if only to ensure he knew what was going on… She just didn’t want to give away too much… She didn’t want to tell him about what had happened, or how long any of this had been going on… Vasarko had… Issues… To put it both gently, and very, very plain… When she was back home and handling him she was… Not comfortable per sey, but she had done it for so long that she just knew how to handle him, but today… Today he had been so left field in both words and actions, only to then bite her, it threw her very much off her center and left her a bit shaken… Garafins offer to help her… To keep her safe… She forgot what that was like. She had done it herself for so long that she forgot someone would ever want to do that… To step up and protect her… * “Vasarko was never this…. Bold. He was always… Behind the curtain… Sly… Calculating… This was… Entirely out of character for him and I’m afraid it’s tossed me so hard I can’t quite figure out where to stand… Thank you… From my heart… I promise I won’t wander far.” *She wouldn’t be his shadow, and he wouldn’t be hers she knew, but they would remain close… Which for her… Even if it was because Vasa was back… It was worth it to be around him… As they spoke she had slipped to her side atop the bed, she was honestly running thin, things were catching up to her. She was not as young as she once was, and her heart and body were both not as elastic as they once had been, she didn’t snap back as fast as she had before. Would she be ok? Of course she would, this sort of thing didn’t kill anyone, it just… Left one feeling run down and exhausted inside and out. She felt warmed by the not so good tasting whiskey, grateful for it’s ability to make her feel a little sleepy, a little lulled… It helped take the sharper edge off of some things… They spoke of Tirithon and she felt horrible… Not because they were speaking of his death, after all speaking of the departed was quite normal, it was the fact that she didn’t feel a moment of sadness for the man who had once been her betrothed… She was glad he was dead… Tirithon was not so different from Vasarko, they were broken on the inside, something just not connecting right within their minds… He helped to guide her into an upright position before he offered her a hug, the words he had said tore at her heartstrings, making her want to tell him otherwise… She had promised not to make it awkward though… So she would keep them on her tongue despite every wish to let them fall… So she simply slid into his arms, feeling his wrap around her, her head pressing to his chest… Her slightly longer, sharper pointed ear resting against his shirt, hearing the sweet steady thump of his heart… She could spend forever like that, being held by him, his hands along her bare skin…* “I’ll hold you to that Garafin Aranosse…” *She spoke just as softly, not moving an inch… She didn’t trust herself… She wanted to kiss him… To just tilt her head back and take his lips for herself… Would he have kissed her back? Or would he had just let her try and not do anything other than sit there before pulling her away… If he didn’t reciprocate it the entire trip would be quite uncomfortable for them both, and she didn’t want to ruin a moment of time she had with him so… She simply kept it to herself. When they parted after a time she was so grateful to him for it… It was a slice of heaven.* “I have a slip I can wear for bed…” *The issue a bit with sharing a bed was that she normally slept naked… Not a stitch… But she could wear her dress slip in a bind…* “I’ll grab a shower then, I will save you plenty of hot water, I promise…” *She said with a smile before he got up to get their bags, speaking on a game of cards, something unentertaining to do. She was opening her bag as she spoke, her fingers lightly shifting through this or that fabric, seeking out her shift.* “Oh I learned not to play cars with you my dear Pirate… I lose every time…” *He offered her his shirt then, her fingers going still in her bag, curling a little bit…* “I will prefer your shirt if I can impose… Youll see a bit less of me that way…” *Dress shifts were silk and small, and she could hide a lot more in one of his shirts than in her own items, and that… Might be best. She moved away from her case then, her fingers releasing something she had held for a moment there, reaching up to unclasp the diamond studded turtle neck collar.* “I won’t be long… You get comfortable as well…” *She said, stepping away while her case was still open, something glittering on the top of the clothes there… Something… Catching the light… Would he notice? Would reach in to look? After all she was leaving the room, closing the door to the bathroom behind her, the sound of water running… She wouldn’t catch him if he did peek…*
(09/23/15-[03:50:37] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: .. she said she would hold him to it.. referring to him promising everything would be ok- .. more than welcome to Melima.. .. and he was being honest.. he would make sure she was ok.. in all facets that he could.. he’d put his very life on the line if something dangerous should happen to come her way.. he just held her there for a time.. gliding his hands up and down her back all in an effort to calm her.. to settle her.. she was worried.. concerned and most probably a bit frightened by all that had just occurred.. no doubt there would possibly be a little elation at the fact that Tirithon had passed which meant there was one thing she no longer had to concern herself with.. he slowly pulled away from her then.. mentioning their food would be there soonish.. especially with the hours growing later.. and that he knew she wouldn’t want to grubby up that beautiful dress of hers.. that maybe a shower and a change would lift her spirits a little and help her relax.. he could only hope in any rate.. he spoke on them playing cards as he placed the cases down upon the bed there.. her comment about not playing with him made him chuckle a little- .. Ah!.. it’s been a very.. very long time since I have been in a boat my dear.. so I think you’re quite safe.. .. he shook his head once more.. the chuckles continued.. it was possible that he was.. lightening a little.. his mood was not quite so base deep down level .. that she was bringing him up.. little by little.. though his lovely Marabelle wouldn’t be far from his mind.. it were possible that whilst away.. it would give him the chance to.. just be.. to just exist.. without the worries of the Inn.. the worries of his beloved.. the worries of what was happening with the children.. it was all taken care of.. he nodded when she said she would prefer one of his shirts- .. of course.. you toddle on into there and Ill get one out.. Ill come tap on the door when I have it.. .. he flicked the little locks on the front of his case there when she spoke on how she wouldn’t be long.. he scoffed a little- .. really.. take as long as you need to.. I am not concerned.. I know full well you lovely ladies would have fins if it were possible.. .. he knew the women always took longer in the bathrooms then the men did.. especially when it came to the Inn.. he fished around in his case there.. plucking out a crisp white shirt.. it would be far to big on her.. but it was a very soft cotton.. she would find it very very comfortable on.. he moved across.. tapping there upon the door.. if she heard he would pass it in through a small crack.. if not he would leave it upon the handle there.. telling her as such.. he could hear the water running as he moved back into the room proper.. gaining a first hand view of her case beside his own.. he tilted his head when he caught sight of the glittering object there.. something was reflecting the light.. curiosity had a firm hold upon him in that moment.. and he struggled with it a touch.. it was her belongings afterall..he came to stand before it however.. looking down.. he wouldn’t reach for it though.. he wouldn’t move things about in there.. but it would give him a view of whatever it was that had caught his eye.. before there was a knock at the door.. he blinked.. turning to move toward it as he looked through the small peep hole.. it was a member of staff.. he opened the door and they had a bit of a chat.. it was about the dinner.. that the kitchen was quite understaffed and would they mind waiting a bit longer for their meals.. he of course told them they didn’t mind what so ever.. that they could in fact be put on the very end of the list.. to bring it up when it was ready.. there was no rush at all.. but if they were feeling generous perhaps a really nice bottle of whisky and a nice white wine to tide them over in the interim.. the staff member seemed quite pleased with that and rushed off then.. returning a short time after with some beautifully aged whisky and a sweet white wine.. he would close the door then.. placing them both down upon the table nearer to the fires place.. taking out his bed clothes.. something simple.. he was never out to impress.. and he sunk down to sit.. and wait-
09/23/15-[04:35:33] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *She could only smile for him when he said he would be there for her… She had been so long standing on her own, pushed out of the nest as she had been, out into the world that owed her no favors… She had become resilient and resourceful, she had learned to stand on her own two feet and not to lean on others, and she had gotten used to it over the years… She trusted Garafin though… More than anyone else… Was it the wisest course of action? Probably not, leaning on him would allow her to be weaker, and when that happened, she was more open to hurt too… He had taken her in his arms when he noticed she was having a bit of a moment, and they had shared that time there, and for her… It meant so much more than she could say… She had so much going on inside herself that in those moments, knowing she was safe and warm, knowing that he held her… It just… Calmed everything for a while… When they separated and they spoke on dinner and card games, and she teased him about it, she had learned some time ago never to play cards against him… He didn’t cheat or anything like that, she just had either terribly bad luck at it, or he had very good luck! That or he just knew all her tells, who could say, but she had certainly lost a purse or two to him in their youth… She teased him a little then, using her old nickname for him, calling him a Pirate only to hear his light laugh.* “Mmmhmm… Alright then… We will play a bit of cards after I get out… I wonder if you are still as good as you once were?” *She teased lightly as she went through her case that he had kindly brought over for her, trying to find a shift that was more cloth than lace, trying to be…. Well… A little more politely dressed for bed… She slept in her skin after all, and though that was well and fine on ones own or with a lover, not quite so acceptable in this situation. While looking, she felt her fingers run over something that she had packed without realizing it, the hard metal circle resting cooly under her fingers… It was old… The silver though still bright showed it’s age in the slightly rough texture of it, never being worn so skin and wear had no time to smooth it… It was an engagement band, lacquered in a blue that perfectly matched his eyes, a small diamond in the anchor relief on the front of the ring… She had got it for a younger Garafin, when he was still sailing the sparkling sea, when the ship was his home and the Inn was still in the hands of his elder family… He was not alone when he bought a ring for her… Not by a long shot… When he offered her his shirt she took him on it, even if it was big, it would cover more of her body than her shift would. Better swimming in the fabric of his shirt than skin tight in her shift that would leave nothing to the imagination… She smiled for him when he mentioned he would bring it to the door for her, reaching out to lightly touch his shoulder in thanks, nodding her head softly.* “Thank you so much Garafin… You always were the best man I ever met…” *She said as she began to unfasten the collar of her dress, telling him she wouldn’t be long, that she would leave him plenty of water… She didn’t want to drag on for hours… Though in truth the idea of a boiling hot shower sounded so good… Her house ran out of hot water in about five minutes so she hadn’t really… Luxuriated since coming to Arvandor a few weeks ago… She really couldn’t pass up the opportunity… His teasing about fins and such made her giggle a bit there, shaking her head as she walked, looking over her shoulder him.* “Silly boy elf… All girls have fins…” *She teased him, just wanting to let him stretch it out, to enjoy this… She had gone into the bathroom then and closed the door, slipping out of her dress and hanging it on the available bar to the side, turning on the hot water so the room filled with steam… She heard the knock on the door and opened it just a touch, reaching out to catch the soft shirt in her hand, resisting the urge to rub it between her fingers…* “Thank you lisse'er (sweetone)…” *She said quietly before she closed the door and slipped into the hot shower… Resting her head against the cool tile as she let it wash over her, and in those moments as she made the water relax her tense muscles, she took care of… Other tense things… She was dead silent, the most he might hear is picked up breathing, a soft long exhale as she found the ultimate stress reducer…. By the time the shower was done she was as relaxed as she was going to get, warmed up from the inside out, smelling like lavender soap with a light hint of something citrus like… Slipping into his shirt it was indeed big on her, coming down to almost her knees, the sleeves on it hanging over her hands which did well to hide the bandage. She had missed the entire conversation about dinner, coming in to see the whiskey and wine on the table, sighing n appreciation.* “Oh that looks like quite the promise… Why don’t you grab a bath and I’ll pour you a glass?” *She asked. Her hair was still damp, hanging in loose curls down her shoulders, his shirt hanging off of her shoulder on one side.* “I’ll get the cards out and ready too.”
(09/23/15-[08:06:35] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: .. they had embraced.. sharing that warm hug for a moment perhaps two before they inevitably parted.. he mentioned cards and she spoke on how he used to play when he was still about the ships.. he chuckled a little when she wondered on wether or not he was still as good as he once was- .. most probably not.. I haven’t actually played in.. well.. a very long time.. but it’s all in good fun.. perhaps you will win afterall!.,... he had told her she could wear one of his shirts if she was partial to it.. if she preferred.. he knew she wasn’t carrying much by the size of her luggage alone.. and she seemed happy with that so he sent her off to her shower.. telling her he would pass the shirt on soon enough.. he could hear the water running.. plucking out one of his soft cotton shirts.. handing it through the door there.. - .. I don’t know about the best Melima.. perhaps that doesn’t say much for the likes of the gentleman you have come across.. especially if they bite you.. .. he offered her a small smile there when he drew her bathroom door back closed once more .. the glittering item had indeed caught his eye.. and his curiosity got the better of him as he moved toward her opened bag there.. glancing down at the small item that was semi peaking out from between some fabric and other trinkets.. it appeared to be a ring?.. one with an anchor upon it.. his brow rose a touch.. he did actually move to pick it up.. letting it come to rest there upon the dip of his hand as he looked to it.. it was an odd little thing.. far from perfect and yet it seemed strong.. resilient.. like it could easily weather the sands of time.. but it didn’t look like something she herself would have worn.. and it was much to big for her slender rather dainty fingers..a small realisation struck him in that moment that he had to have been paying close enough attention to have noticed such a detail.. before the door was knocked upon.. tearing him from his curious mind wanderings..he placed the ring back down within her bag there.. the keep and help were there.. they discussed the meal arrangements and he asked for wine and whisky.. something a lot more top shelf.. he didn’t mind paying if he had to though the staff were adament it was on the house due to their wait..he placed the bottles down upon the table there.. catching sight of her as she moved to exit the bathroom soon after.. the shirt on her looked darling.. it did.. it was far to large.. she was drowning in it as he figured she would be.. he rubbed his chin a little and chuckled- .. I sware we could fit two of you in there.. .. he tilted his head.. her hair down in loose curls like that was nice.. he had to admit that.. she was a beautiful woman.. he nodded when she said for him to grab his bath- .. I will yes.. help yourself..the meal is going to be a bit late.. so this is the payment for that.. .. he picked up a couple of items from his own bag there and he moved to the bathroom.. - .. the doors are locked.. no one is going to get in.. .. he nodded.. making sure she understood the lengths he would go to.. - .. if at all you don’t feel comfortable or safe on your own.. just come in.. I’d much rather deal with the mild embarrassment than having you get hurt.. ok?.... he nodded.. he was being serious.. he would wait on her response before he would move into the bathroom.. closing the door behind him.. deciding on a bath or a shower was a touch choice.. but for as lovely as a bath would have been it was more for when you did not have company.. and he didn’t want to make her wait for a good hour to an hour and a half.. he ran the shower then.. nice and hot.. before he stripped down and hopped in..it was relaxing.. the feeling of the soft streams of water upon his muscular shoulders and back..very soothing.. at one point he too had his forehead pressed to the cool smooth tiles.. standing there in that stream of water was reminding him of when he had done the same in that little cottage .. when he was not on his own.. when he was with Marabelle.. and that just made him tense up a bit.. how could life be so cruel?.. still he finished up washing his hair.. gliding that soap across his skin before he moved to step out.. drying his hair.. his frame.. he slid on a pair of lounge pants.. form fitting along his muscular thighs.. and a loose grey tank style top.. he peered down into the mirror there.. running his fingers back through his hair.. it was a bit on the dishevelled side .. but he looked extremely comfortable.. leaving the towel there about his shoulders.. to continue drying the back of his hair he moved back out into the main living area..- .. are we all sorted for cards then?.. what are the stakes?.... he moved across the room then.. sinking down onto the couch before the fireplace-
(09/23/15-[11:52:21] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
: *The night they had come together the first time they had been unable to sleep for hours, just far too excited and high on the day and what it had been… So he had offered to teach her how to play cards, the stakes then had been paid in kisses and touches, and oh so… So many laughs… Of course she had lost every hand, ending up owing him more than few promises before the sun came up and they eventually fell asleep together. Those were the happiest days of her life…* “Neither have I! Perhaps the field might be a little more level this time? I might come out ahead instead of owing you.” *She had no idea if he remembered that or not, those days of the festival when they were inseparable, where he had shown and taught her so much… They agreed that a shower would be a good idea, a chance to warm up all the way through, to relax a bit… He had told her to go first and she disappeared behind the door to start the shower, thanking him for it all, telling him what she thought of him… His words made her lips twitch up in a small smile, more of it shining in her eyes, the way the dark leaf green colored iris seemed to laugh…* “Vasa is just a bad example…” *She began to remove the fastenings, slipping out of the beautiful dress and hanging it on the rack meant for such things, just in time to hear Garafins little knock… She took the shift gladly and thanked him, slipping into her shower that ended up derailing perhaps a little bit, the whiskey and company leading up to a rather… Unavoidable circumstance… She dried off on a nice thirsty towel, leaving her hair down for once, letting the soft damp curls to air dry overnight. His shirt was indeed too big for her, but in a way it suited her because of that, just the ends of her fingers showing at the ends of the long sleeves and her slender legs half hidden by the hem… She was unaware he had seen his ring, that she had left it so close to the surface… She had made her very first trade for that ring, a vendor at the Celebration of the Heart had it on display, swearing it promised the safe return of sailors at sea… She was going to ask Garafin to marry her in those days, knowing she had found her soulmate in him, so sure of everything… She stopped in her steps when he commented on her fit in his shirt, turning to smile at him, her cheeks flushed and beautifully rosy.* “Probably so! But It’s very comfortable, thank you again Garafin…” *She told him it was his turn in the bath, that she could wait for dinner to arrive in his stead…* “Aah… Well it is kind of them to compensate for the lateness…” *He had picked up his things and made his way to the bathroom, pausing to tell her he had locked the doors, something that in elvish society was rarely done… She relaxed then, the way her shoulders fell a little from their perfect posture position, that little bit of tenseness melting away… Even if Vasarko tried to break in, he would make more than a little bit of noise, and she doubted he would do anything so public as all that.* “I promise I will come to you in the bathroom if I feel unsafe…” *Though she would try to avoid it, he was already doing so much for her, the last thing she wished to do was to add more to his already tender shoulders. As he went off to take his bath, she went to her small case to set everything back to rights that had been shifted about on top of the carriage, catching his ring there… Seeing the little engraving there… ‘Calm seas never made a good Sailor.’ She loved him… She had faith in him when she had faith in no one else… She felt an odd sensation then, as if someone were looking in on her, which was rather funny since they were on the second floor… She shook it off and pressed a soft kiss to the ring before sliding it back into her bag, closing the latches on it and setting it to the side along with Garafins larger one, freeing the space on the bed. She poured out a good sized portion of whiskey for Garafin in a clean glass, white wine in hers as she sipped it, searching for the cards for their game. She found the pack just as he came out, taking a drink of her wine before turning to look at him, suddenly stunned by what she saw... Her breath stolen in a moment, seeing him in those just tight enough pants and grey tanker, his body still as strong as she remembered… Seeing his arms there, the flickers of ink here and there just peeking out, her fingers… Itching to run over his skin… She had to take a very, very deep breath, keeping her feelings to herself.* “Indeed we are!” *Spoken with a smile, she got up from the floor where she had been sitting, pulling the falling neckline of his shirt up now and again. She handed him his glass as he sat down on the couch, smiling softly for him and him alone, settling across from him with the table between them. She began to cut and shuffle as he asked what the stakes were, tilting her head to the side a bit, debating…* “How about… For each person who loses, they have to answer a question from the other, with the option to tell them a story about their past in lieu of the question…Sound fair?”
(09/24/15-[03:40:06] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: .. he laughed a little when she spoke on how this time the playing field might be more level- .. well yes.. it could very well be.. I haven’t played cards in quite a few years, this ought to be very.. very entertaining.. .. he had slipped off into the bathroom then.. closing the door there.. his pyjamas upon the counter as he ran that shower water hot.. originally he was going to just hop in and out. But the floor of memories there didn’t help matters.. and he found himself just standing there in a sort of daze.. for quite a while.. letting the hot water run down over his broad shoulders.. his lids having long since closed.. he dried off afterwards and slipped into those rather comfortable soft pants.. a tank style top.. the room was quite warm with the open fire afterall.. the towel resting loose about his neck.. appearing back in the room there soon after.. glancing around before his gaze fell upon her own.. a slight pause there as he continued to rub the towel up against the back of his neck there- .. Ah! you found some cards then.. good.. good.. .. he nodded.. moving across to sink down upon the couch there.. taking the newly poured glass - .. wonderful, thank you.. hopefully this will settle a lot better than what the room had originally.. .. he lifted his glass to her there.. before he would press it to his lips. Taking a small drink to begin with.. his brows furrowed before he sagged a little- .. Oh now..now that is a lot better.. yes.. .. he took another drink.. this one quite a bit larger than the one previous.. his lids half closing as he felt that lush burn on its way down.. it was smooth.. extremely so.. he asked her about the stakes for such a game then..nodding when she said the loser would have to answer questions.. with an option to speak about their past in lieu of the question if they so chose- .. sounds fine to me yes.. .. he nodded- .. You pick the game m’dear.... he slid that towel over his head properly as he rubbed it through his hair.. taking of the last of the excess water there before he placed the towel down.. his hair was a mess.. a bit all over the place before he ran his fingers back through it.. causing it to slick back which in effort made him look quite a bit younger than he was.. - .. and set it up.. deal the cards.. whichever takes your fancy.. .. he shifted a touch.. his free hand coming down to rest there upon his upper thigh.. his other still cradling that glass…swirling that amber coloured liquid around a little whilst he watched her..- .. I imagine the meals will be along in a short while.. so I probably shouldn’t drink to much of this on an empty stomach.. .. he chuckled a little-
(09/24/15-[04:12:50] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *Even if it wasn’t quite as level, she wasn’t exactly going to mind… How many years had she dreamed of just being around him again? Missing his smile or the sound of his laugh… The way he smelled or the look of his shoulders… She didn’t mind losing a hundred hands if it meant just spending the time around him… Stock piling new memories… Storing images of him in her mind, the way he sounded now, the ways he had changed as they both grew older…* “The last time I did was with you, so fear not, you are in fine form in comparison!” *It had been forty years since the last time she touched a deck, card games not exactly something you take up with work mates, and the nuns at the convent those first ten years thought such things were… Beneath them… So in truth, even if he hadn’t played in twenty years, he was still better off than she was. She had read up on them though, all sorts of games, the ways to bluff and how to wear a proper poker mask… Hoping some day they could get a chance to play once again, where she could show off her new knowledge, hoping to have him in her debt. He had gone off to take a shower and she made no comment on the time it took. She was unaware of his trip down memory lane, she was taking one of her own when she found the ring on top of the clothes in her bag, recalling the day she had gotten it… The first day she had ever worked for anything in her life, and it had been for him, the engraving along the top she had even done herself… Hours spent with a sharp tool as she slowly etched words in the silver… She had put it back and organized her pack, sorting them both and setting them to the side, freeing up the bed as it should have been. She had poured him a glass with a few fingers of whiskey in it for him, a glass of wine for herself, sipping on it as she hunted down that pack of cards. When he got out she was sitting cross legged on the floor with the pack in her hand, his shirt continually slipping off her shoulder, long bare legs holding the ends of his shirt pooling in the space between. Their eyes locked in a moment, just a second really as he looked at her and she at him… She had nearly swallowed the wine glass like a circus trick when she saw him come out, the slinky tight pants just giving away enough to reminds her quite well that she knew what lay beneath them well enough, making her curl her toes before taking a very deep breath to get her emotions under control… Not that it was easy… Not at all.* “I did indeed. They weren’t easy to find though!” *She said as he sat on the couch, handing him his glass of whiskey, setting her wine down on the table between them. She began to cut and shuffle the cards, hearing his hopes on the new bottle, to which she smiled across at him.* “That other stuff was a bit like rot gut admittedly… This one is much better, I had a bit of a drop while pouring it out to make sure… They still have wonderful whiskey thank goodness…” *The earlier stuff had embarrassed her, especially after bringing up how good it was here, talk about foot in mouth for a moment or two. She laughed softly as he toasted her, setting the cards down to toast him in return, even giving him a wink there as he took a drink. She knew it was good the way he just seemed to melt a little, asking what the stakes were, laying down the cost of loosing… It would be a good way for them to catch up… And to get some answers to questions that had long since haunted her… He agreed and she began to lay out the cards, leaving a single one face down on the table, dealing out ten to him and ten to herself.* “Rummy is nice and fast… Plus it’s a deal more fun than poker or twenty one… First person to get rid of their last card wins the hand…” *She was dealing as he tried his hair, slicking it back there, looking almost exactly as he had that first night after the rather… Exceptional bath… She was just stuck for a moment, watching him, she couldn’t even breathe for a moment… Her heart slamming and racing yet feeling as if it were stopped too… She had to shake her head to herself to get out of the mesmerized state she had been in, reaching out to take a rather large drink of her wine, setting it back down as he mentioned the food.* “We can hope?... Though I don’t exactly mind the wait and the wine is quite good… Besides, to be quite honest, you hold your liquor like a fish in water, I doubt you’ll even wobble a little bit. I’m the one who should worry, little light weight that I am, but I think… Tonight is just one of those nights where the devil can take the consequences for a bit…” * She made sure they each had their ten before flipping the first card over, a king of hearts, which had her choke on her wine a bit before she laughed.* “Obviously this game is favoring you off the bat!” * She had no card to play to that one.*
(09/24/15-[04:34:23] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..they appeared to have a bit of a moment there.. the pause long enough for both of them to notice it.. though for both to be unsure on just the reasoning behind it.. just what was the other person thinking.. he had indeed caught sight of her.. seated there upon the floor with her legs crossed.. looking right comfortable for all intents and purposes.. the way the shirt had fallen down from her shoulder revealing that soft smooth pale skin.. she was beautiful.. she always had been.. and she was someone he could never ever have forgotten.. he made mention of the cards to get his mind onto a different track.. there was twinges of guilt there in response to thoughts that he didn’t feel were quite right.. so he sank down upon the couch there..settling back against the cushions.. doing a semi lean.. a casual recline as he watched her cutting the cards.. shuffling and the like.. he thanked her for pouring him a glass of whisky.. making comment that he hoped it was better.. he lifted his glass to her.. offering a smile when she did the same back to him before he took a drink and was pleasantly surprised.. such she would have found easily readable upon his features as he began to relax.. he told her to chose the game.. ladies first afterall and he nodded when she chose Rummy..- .. perfect.. .. he placed his glass down a moment whilst he reached up with that towel to dry the remainder of his hair.. tossing the towel aside before he would slick those richly coloured locks back and down.. he figured the food wouldn’t be too terribly far away.. he had spent some time in that shower afterall.. and so had she.. before he spoke on how he best not go to hard on the liquor before he had some food in his belly- .. ahh yes.. well.. the devil may take the consequences tonight but in the morning you’l pay pretty lady.. .. he chuckled and shook his head- ..We both will if we polish off those bottles I know it.. .. he sat up a little when she handed out the cards.. he took his own there.. watching as she turned up the one which appeared to be a king of hearts.. he tilted his head when she laughed and choked on her wine.. before making the comment that the game was favouring him off the bat..- .. Ah.. beginners luck I assure you.. .. he laughed a little.. taking another drink from his whisky glass there.. leaving only a small remainder in the bottom of the cup ..before he would turn back to his cards there.. flicking through with a finger before he placed down that Ace of hearts.. - .. still plenty of time for you to catch up.. plenty of time.. .. he chuckled a little before he slid his cards back into a little pile there.. moving to stand.. - .. hope you don’t mind.. if you do Ill move over toward the window .. but I cant have cards and whiskey without a cigarette.. it’s like going out and not getting dessert.. .. he fished around in his case there.. plucking out that small silver and black laquered container.. moving back to settle upon the couch unless she wanted him to move in which he would back toward the door a touch.. offering her one however.. they were crafted a bit more like a thin cigar.. sweetly scented and therefore laced with something lush.. not enough to send someone completley off their rocker but enough to calm and sooth-
(09/24/15-[05:16:30] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *It wasn’t easy to see him like this in a way… It was a bit like looking at something you had always wanted but would never be able to have, a sweet form of self torture, surely… She couldn’t think of anything else that could really… Explain it… Wanting to see him yet knowing it was trying to warm her hands at an inferno, she was just going to be hurt, but the need… It was too strong… Her mind reasoned that this was just going to hurt her, but her heart just ran on ahead anyways, heedless of the reasoning and risk. She had pulled herself out of the moment as he had, his mentioning of the cards being exactly what she needed, getting them both off of that other track neither of them understood. They moved to the couches with their prospective drinks in hand, her fingers making short work of the deck as she shuffled and cut it, talking about the hopes for the whiskey. She promised it was good, she had a little bit off of the side of his glass just to make sure, otherwise the kitchen would be dealing with her for a moment without a doubt. He had saluted her and she returned it, smiling for him, even tossing him a little bit of a wink before he took a drink. His pleasure was obvious as he seemed to relax, like someone was cutting a few ties that had been holding him tight, letting him slump a bit. He asked for the game and she chose Rummy, it was fun and fast, and it didn’t need any form of a poker face. She cut and began to deal the cards out, watching him secretively as he dried his hair off completely, slicking it back… Stealing her breath in those moments… He mentioned the whiskey and how he shouldn’t have so much on an empty belly, making her smile, telling him that the devil could take the consequences this night… She rarely drank if ever, normally only when circumstances forced her to, and she found that the bottle of wine tonight was… Perhaps exactly what she needed. She told him in her own opinion too that she didn’t think he had much to worry about, she was the light weight in the room after all, not himself…* “Maybe the price is worth it? Besides, we’ll have half a day inside the carriage to recuperate before we ever arrive in Silverthorn, and that is if the traffic is good.” *Which was the truth. With how busy this little out of the way place was, she knew she was going to be in that carriage for a while, so getting drunk tonight… Well she saw no reason not to. She smiled across to him as she held her cards in her hand, tapping her nail softly against the rim of her glass, a soft little gleam in her eyes as they lit up a bit just from being around him.* “For the trip… Let’s just forget it… Forget everything for a little while and just… Live in the moment? What do you think?” *She asked as she took a drink from her own glass, flipping the card over to start the game, only to see it was the King of Hearts which made her choke and laugh. She hadn’t been expecting that! What a cosmic tongue in cheek there… She pointed out the game was already favoring him, watching him set down the next card being the Ace, his words that it was beginners luck.* “Oh pish posh! Beginners my buttons… You’ve always had the devils luck somehow!” *She teased as she looked through her cards, looking up at him as he moved to stand, her head tilting to the side. When he spoke about a cigarette she shook her head softly, dragging her hair over her shoulder, the neckline was just being a bugger and she was done trying to tug it up all the time. She set down the two of hearts then as she spoke, her eyes on him, not the cards.* “Help yourself truly, I don’t mind at all, I like the smell… You used to have this leather chair at the Inn that smelled like you and Cigarettes… When you were busy with tenants after the nights festivities I used to curl up in that chair and wait for you, it smelled so good…” *She said a bit randomly, but she was a little buzzed at the end of her first glass, being around him and relaxed made her far more open than she had allowed herself to be previously. While he got his cigarettes, she poured him another glass, as well as herself. Adulting could sod off for the night… This was for them. She was a little surprised he had offered her one, taking it with a soft thank you, placing it between her lips as she waited for him to light it up for her… What was in it? She had no idea. She had only ever smoked with him and once in a while in private, just when the memories got to be too much, when she needed something to level the field for her. What ever it was though, it tasted and smelled amazing to her even before it was lit, taking a slow drag after he had done her the kindness of lighting the tip. She paused a moment, holding it in her lungs, letting it work its magic on her before she exhaled slowly and sighed… Oh it was so lush indeed, and with the wine, it was perfect… Who needed food when this was so much better? She shifted a bit on the other couch there, unaware of the shifting of his shirt on her frame, looking over the cards in her hand.*
(09/24/15-[06:32:02] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..they had discussed the idea of hangovers in not so many words.. how maybe it would be best for them to take it easy at least until they had had something to eat though she spoke on how maybe the price would be worth it.. that they had half a day inside a carriage to recuperate before they even arrived in Silverthorn.. and that was only if the traffic was good.. to perhaps just forget it all.. to live in the moment.. he rubbed his lips together.. pondering on that for a moment.. were it truly possible to just live for the moment when there was a great deal of stressors placed upon a person.. were it possible to just let things go.. his gaze.. that strong blue lingered upon her own for a little while longer before he nodded- .. well I wont make any promises but I will certainly try my best.... he lifted his glass to her then before he took a drink.. it would be nice he thought to just drown out the sorrow for a while.. to become numb to it.. to give his worn mind a bit of a rest.. she dealt out the cards.. the game was set.. the stakes weren’t too high.. they were agreed to and they had begun.. she unable to meet the first card.. where-as he settled in easy there.. placing his down with a bit of a chuckle.. a remark about beginners luck.. before he moved to stand.. plucking out his cigarettes then.. asking if she would prefer he moved over toward the window there.. though she seemed to like the smell.. mentioning the chair that smelt like him and cigarettes.. he chuckled and nodded as he sunk back down upon the couch.. drawing over a small dish for the ash as he offered her a cigarette there.. waiting till she took one before he leant over to light hers.. before he lit his own- .. Ah yes.. I do remember that chair.. I practically lived in it until Caela got rid of it.. .. he took a drawn out drag from that cigar then.. holding it a moment longer.. his voice straining as he slowly released that stream of sweetly scented smoke- .. certainly was a shame.. it was a favourite.. .. he plucked up his cards once more.. flicking through what he had before he popped down another two.. this one of diamonds as he plucked up that glass once more.. downing the remainder of the whisky it contained within.. - .. I struggle somewhat with the idea that you liked the smell of that old chair.. .. he glanced up to her with a bit of a chuckle- .. You are a bit of an odd duck aren’t you Melima.. .. he sunk back then.. semi reclining .. his elbow coming own to rest there upon the arm of the chair.. his cheek to his opened palm as he watched her- .. odd duck indeed…
(09/24/15-[07:03:58] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *She could say the one time she had a hang over was with him… That first night they had gotten more than a little drunk, both before and after, and when morning came… Ok… More like afternoon really… They had both been hurting a bit! Just the memory of it made her smile, even though she had thought she was dying with the way her head was hurting, she also had the best night of her life. The cure had been his cookie, scrambled eggs and toast with a little bit of black tea on the side, and lots of smiles and laughs over the table… Oh she would gladly have a hundred hang overs for mornings like that… As they spoke she mentioned just… Forgetting it all for a little while. He had been hurt a lot, she knew his heart was badly bruised, limping inside his chest… She was hurting too, Marabelle was a sweet girl, and she wished her no ill will… She might be jealous of the fact she had Garafins heart, that she was having his baby, but at the end of the day? Marabelle was just a young woman with a short life to live, who was taking all the world had to offer her in stride, living every day to the fullest… What was happening to them was sad, and Garafin needed a break from it, a chance to breathe… She wanted to give him that… Give them BOTH that… She didn’t expect it to be easy, or even doable, but the effort… The willingness to try… Wasn’t that enough to at least give them a chance? Better to attempt than not, after all, the only failure was not trying at all… She felt his gaze on her, looking up to him to return it, her head tilted just a little. She ended up smiling there as he toasted her, raising her own glass once more, taking a sip of the crisp white wine.* “Trying is better than not attempting at all…” *She had said as they settled in to play the game, and he already had the leg up on her right from the bat, hearing his laugh and little talk about beginners luck. She had told him luck her butt really, he was always like that, and she wouldn’t change a moment of it. He asked if she minded him smoking, to which she told him to go right ahead, laying down her card there as she waited for him. She was a little buzzed, her tongue a little more free, telling him about the chair of his that she had loved… The smell of warm worn leather and his cigarettes, the hints of brandy and the smell of him deep in the dark brown chair, the way it had wrapped around her like his arms in those days… She had adored that chair, she fit right in the middle of it curled up, and there was few places she ever felt so… Comfortable… Like she belonged. She took another drag on the cigarette he had given and lit up for her, tapping a bit of the ash off at the end there as he mentioned remembering the chair, that he had lived in it before Caela tossed it. She felt her heart break a little to know it was gone, slumping a little into the soft fabric of the couch as he finished off his whiskey in the glass, her finger sliding over the lip of her wine glass to make it sing softly.* “She ruined everything good, didn’t she?... She just… Breaks all the things I love…” *She mentioned softly, her heart more than a little sore and angry at Caela for that, because it was just another notch in the very much cut at pole of her life… Caela had ruined her life, stole her Garafin and then refused to let her near him, denying that the child was his… She had no feelings of compassion or kindness for that woman… Caela was the snake in the garden of eden, and if she was REALLY lucky, someone would come with a shovel and nick her head off. OR you know… Hit it really, really, really hard. She lifted up the bottle and refilled his glass, finishing off her own and doing the same, giggling a bit impishly then at the card he laid down earlier. She shuffled the ones in her hand with a very puckish little grin on her lips as she wriggled in the seat a bit as she sat upright, the cigarette hanging from her lips in that moment, eyes bright… She began to lay down card after card… Three, four, five, six, seven, and eight of diamonds in a row before setting down another eight of spades. All the while he spoke about struggling with her liking the smell of his chair, calling her an odd duck as she looked across to him, her lips curling up in a smile as she held the cigarette between her fingers.* “Why is it so hard? The chair… IT smelled just like you when I curled up in it and it got warm… It was like… Being close to you even when you were busy… I found that if I curled up, I fit exactly on the cushion and my head on the arm of it, so it was almost like being held by you… I would have done anything to have saved that chair…” *She said, taking another drink, getting that warm happy feeling.* “Do you like odd ducks, Garafin? I would think so since your one yourself… You were once quite the sailor… You used to tell me so many grand adventures then somehow you become an inn keeper… Don’t you miss the sea? That life?”
(09/24/15-[09:01:07] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he had lifted his glass to her then.. telling her he would try to just live it up whilst they were on their way and within the confines of Silverthorn.. to just..relax.. and he would try.. though he wasn’t sure that he would succeed so readily.. giving her a bit of a nod of his head and a small smile in response to her words.. that trying was better than not attempting at all.. she was right.. he knew that.. he just had this feeling.. the majority of which was guilt.. that he had left Marabelle behind in the fashion he did.. he knew his reasons were justified..and he knew full well that she had told him to go.. it was his daughter afterall.. but it just didn’t sit right.. he was an old fashioned gentleman.. they played a few hands of rummy there.. he got the upper hand to begin with but she seemed to catch up pretty quickly soon after.. he hopped up to get his cigarettes.. as cards, liquor and cigarettes were just a match made in heaven.. it wouldn’t be right if all the pieces weren’t there.. he offered her one and she took it.. he made sure to light hers up first and then his own as he drew back on it.. she remarked about the chair.. that big leather one he had in the family den area.. and he nodded.. explaining that Caela had gotten rid of it.. - .. I never knew why really.. I just recall coming home.. that last time I was out at sea.. and it being gone.. I was already shot from the voyage.. all I wanted was to melt into that seat and forget.. but no.. that wasn’t to be.. .. his gaze lifted.. settling upon hers when she spoke on how Caela had broken all the things she loved.. that was a bit forward.. making him take a bit of a deeper drag on that cigarette there before he thanked her for the refill when she topped up his glass once more- .. shes gone.. she can’t be a bother to any of us anymore.. .. he nodded as he took a drink from the glass there.. oh he was starting to feel comfortable indeed.. warmed.. smooth.. his nerves were becoming numb more so with each sip and drag he took.. together and with the lack of food for quite a while he knew this would do a number on him if he wasn’t careful.. he watched her when she placed the cards down.. one after the other.. his brow rose there and he exhaled a thin stream of sweetly scented smoke.. laughing softly as he shook his head- .. Ahhh huh!.. look at that then.. .. he motioned to the table there- .. I do believe.. there’s no way I could Ever top that . he chuckled a little more lightly there.. he called her a bit of an odd duck for desiring the scent of that particular chair.. and she explained.. how much she enjoyed it.. how it calmed her.. how it was lke being close to him when he was busy.. he rubbed his lips together.. his free hand rose to run back through his hair..- .. I honestly don’t know what she did with it.. .. he wasn’t ignoring her words.. her choice of phrasing.. or anything like that.. he just wasn’t sure how to respond.. it was not that it was awkward.. not at all.. he didn’t feel uncomfortable.. or embarrassed.. he was just.. perhaps conflicted.. - .. I do like odd ducks Melima.. I always have.. Always that little bit left of centre.. you of all people know that.. .. he chuckled.. watching her as he slid that cigarette back between his lips once again.. she asked about how he was once quite the sailor.. and how he had many grand adventures.. but then he become a land dweller.. - .. I do.. .. he nodded.. speaking softly as he tok a breath- .. I do miss it.. I have for a long time.. .. he took a drink from his glass there- .. I haven’t been back.. for well.. so many years.. I don’t know if you remember.. .. he shifted then.. to sit down upon the floor there so he was more at her level.. his back to the front of the couch there as he stretched his legs out before him- ..a little while after the festival of hearts.. after.. well.. .. he motioned toward her.. and then back toward him with a hand gesture- .. I got word.. I had to go.. it was in the form of a letter.. from Caela.. that there was a ship out at sea with cargo that was indeed quite precious.. it was a mixture of food stuffs for Arvandor proper along with a crew of adults and children that were needing to be rehomed.. coming from the newly war torn areas to the east.. so I felt honour bound.. I had to go.. and I did.. I collected a crew.. and we sailed the next morning.. it was hard.. and long.. .. he rubbed his hand across his forehead there- .. the weather was not good to us.. we managed to lose two crew on that trip.. and to top it all off.. when we arrived there was no ship.. there was no children or food.. there was nothing.. it was a mistake.. I had sailed.. for weeks.. looking for this mysterious vessel.. for nothing.. only to have to return.. and speak to the wives and children of the two young men that we lost.. .. he downed the rest of the alcohol there.. one foul swoop making him grimace a touch- .. I miss it.. I do.. it’s a big part of me.. but.. I couldn’t go back after that..
(09/24/15-[15:39:50] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *She wasn’t worried… Now that was a lie… She was worried, not for herself, but for him… She felt that she knew him so well, better than anyone, yet out of all the people… She had been blessed with so little of his time. The drinks and cards were flowing smoothly, and when the cigarettes were added, it was a slice of heaven in that room… Warm and safe, the room was quiet but for their conversation and the fire going in the hearth, the sound of glasses being lifted and set down or the tapping of a cigarette in the ashtray… And with the inhibitions being dropped, the conversation opened up, the forbidden door on the past was cracked open and they both were looking through it. She mentioned the leather seat he had, she had adored it more than any other furniture, and when he told her that Caela had just tossed it one day… She blurted… Her usual control over her thoughts and words was slipping, and though she wasn’t bad, she was saying things that she had promised herself she wouldn’t say… She had promised him when she first came back she wouldn’t make it awkward, and over the weeks she had done a very good job of it, at least in her mind… But now… That promise might be broken… She nearly swallowed her tongue when he aid the last time he had gone out to sea was when the chair had been tossed out, making her wonder if Caela knew how much comfort that chair brought her, intentionally scrapping it to spite her? What other reason could she have? Caela was just…. A snake in the grass… The water moccasin in the pond… She chewed on the inside of her lip for several moments before she responded, her fingers gripping the stem of her glass tighter than she normally would, swinging quite hard between remaining quiet and saying something… Thanks to the alcohol though, her tongue was not so… Silent as she normally kept it… She finished off her second glass in a lady like fashion, but faster than she would have normally, releasing a small sigh before she spoke.* “You left the day I came back… I had… Something to ask you and I couldn’t wait anymore and so I came back to Arvandor as fast as I could… But you were gone. Caela was there and she nearly bit my head off and told me to leave in some not so nice words… She said that you and here were… A… Thing…” *She hadn’t believed it though, not at all, how could she? Caela was as well suited to Garafin as a snake is suited to a cage of newly hatched chicks… She wanted to call her on it but without Garafin there to ask… She had gone back home, the ring she had gotten for him burning a hole in her pocket, her heart beating for him alone… That was when she started to write daily, trying to find him, to get a hold of him… But the letters started to get returned unopened, as if they were just… Never even touched…* “The worst part is that she’s gone, free to live her life, as if she did no wrong… While the rest of us are trapped in the wreckage she left…” *Caela had ruined her life, her hopes and dreams, her happiness… Yet Caela was off somewhere, scott free without a care in the world, smelling like roses while she left them all knee deep in manure. She had a nice run of cards after the one he had laid down, putting her a deal ahead of him, with only four cards in her hand to his eight. She made sure their drinks were always full, and why not, really? They were adults, they were not driving or riding or doing anything where they had to be responsible, so sod the rest… To her, this was all just very civil, even friendly… She had no idea she had just been really so forward, or how it sounded to him, his reaction clean over her head as she had been sorting her cards… She was giggling softly to herself as she took another drag, that impish, sweet yet somehow naughty grin on her face the same as it had been forty years. * “Ah! I couldn’t have done it without your help you know! You did me a favor on that one. And you can still catch up, why, I might not be able to make another play and youll come out winning.” *Which was true, Rummy was always a game of chance, but a fun one. He called her an odd duck then and she asked him if he liked odd ducks, being one himself, her lips curling up in a smile as he told her as much… That she always knew he had…* “This is true, without a doubt, but it’s the odd ducks that make life interesting I think…” *She had asked him then about what had happened, why he stopped living his life at sea, why he had just up and decided to take over the Family Inn which was just… So not him.. Not the man she had known in those days… She was perfectly silent when he told his story, a part of her in shock really, sinking down deeper into the couch as she listened raptly… She took a deep breath then, calming her nerves a little from time to time… She took a drag of that cigarette to calm her nerves before she spoke…* “Before I was due to have Rose… I came back to Arvandor… To find you… I didn’t know why you were returning my letters unread, or why every time I tried to come back I was always headed off by Caela, her words that you never wanted to see me again always ringing in my head… I wanted you to bet here for her… For us….”
(09/24/15-[18:50:30] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he was slowly becoming relaxed.. further and more so as the night wore on.. the whisky was extremely smooth.. it burnt a little at first sure but after the first few glasses filled he was seated firmly on that silky cloud ..the cigarettes were just the perfect accompaniment.. the lack of food however meant it was going to his head a bit more quickly than it would have done normally.. when he knew he was going in for a bit of a drinking / smoking session he usually made sure to have a pretty hearty meal..but he hadn’t been eating much at all in the past week.. or even longer.. he often just forgot about it.. his mind was on Marabelle and her sickness.. the stress of it all was disrupting his appetite.. they played a few hands of cards..shared a few paused.. long glances.. he lit her cigarette and she made the comment about the chair he once had.. he told her what had happened to it.. that Caela had gotten rid of it.. or that’s what he figured anyway since it was gone when he got back.. he tilted his head when she said he had left the day she had returned.. that she had something to ask him.. that she couldn’t wait anymore.. but he was gone.. his brows furrowed a touch.. he exhaled when she spoke about Caela biting her head off.. telling her that Caela and him were a thing.. he shook his head.. taking another drag from the cigarette.. a slow one- .. I had no idea you were there.. .. he exhaled out that slow stream of sweetly scented smoke- .. no one ever told me.. but no.. there was nothing going on between Caela and I at that point.. I barely knew her really.. just her sister.. What were you going to ask me?.... he tapped the cigarette down upon the dish there.. removing a bit of the excess ash before he took a drink from his newly filled glass.. he told her of the story of why he had settled on land.. of why he had left the water..left the warm embrace of the sea.. the story of losing crew members.. of a long hard voyage for nothing.. he nodded when she spoke on Caela being free to live her life.. whilst everyone else was trapped in the wreckage she left behind- .. I had thought that originally yes.. and I was surprised somewhat when Rose spoke up on Caelas behalf at her trial.. but.. I guess.. our lives are only wreckage if we allow it.. she’s not here anymore.. so she can’t control any of us.. I think we all need to be reminded of that fact.. .. he nodded.. watching as she placed her cards down there.. he laughed and mentioned that she may as well have won the game taking such a large hit like that he pulled out another card there.. placing it down upon the table.. they spoke on odd ducks and he admitted that he liked odd ducks and how she of all people knew that.. all to well no less.. he sunk down off the couch there.. to sit upon the soft thick mat .. his legs stretching out before him.. his head back upon the cushions of the couch pressed to his back.. he listened as she took a few breaths.. before she spoke on a time before she was due to have Rose.. that she went back to Arvandor.. to find him.. he lifted his head then.. looking across to her.. his cigarette held firmly between his lips there as he swirled the amber coloured liquid in the glass.. his lids half closed when she spoke on letters being returned.. and how Caela told her that he never wanted to see her again.. he exhaled slowly- .. Im sorry Melima.. .. he dragged his tongue across his teeth- .. I never saw any letters.. ever.. I never knew you had returned.. the last time I saw you.. was before I left.. I figured you found a life elsewhere.. and that’s why you never got into contact or came and saw me.. I .. he withdrew that cigarette then.. placing it down upon the dish there as he exhaled the smoke once more.. his hand rose to rub across his forehead- .. when I was on the boat.. you were the only thing that kept me going.. Ill readily admit to that.. and I did wonder.. when I got back.. what had happened..
(09/24/15-[19:43:06] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *They were both slipping into that sweet warm little cloud of alcoholic bliss, needing it more than they would ever admit to, the freedom it allowed to thought and speech… They might regret it tomorrow in the form of a set of hang overs, but who knew when they might get this chance again, to just exist around each other without the world crashing in and shaking them up? There was no need to have filters on here, no past to pretend that didn’t exist, no witnesses to hide from… Tirithon was dead and his threat with him. They could just be…. Themselves… Garafin and Melima… They were away from Arvandor now, they had a chance to take a breather, to use the break in the storm. She asked him about his favorite chair and when he told her Caela had tossed it out, she had been honest to her bones, her feelings coming through quite clear… Caela just ruined everything for her… As if she had somehow offended Caela to the extent that the woman had made it her life’s mission to make her miserable… She was unaware of the effect it had on Garafin, her heart was a little too bitter in those moments, their discussion on Caela in those moments…* “I couldn’t find you at all… I came into town and I was asking everywhere for you before Caela caught wind of it… Next thing I knew she was on me and telling me you two were together… An item…” *He pretty much floored her when he asked her what the question had been though… She was dead silent for some moments there, taking a few drags of the cigarette as she debated telling him the truth… It was something she had held onto for forty years… Something that she still wanted more than anything else… Her feelings for him, the way she loved him, it had never wavered or changed a moment… She was still as madly in love with him now as she had been at the first…She stood up then and walked, albeit not 100% straight, towards her little case… Flipping open the latches and raising the lid, reaching into the little compartment to pull his ring out, holding it in her hand before resuming her seat. The shirt had fallen clean off one shoulder at that point but she was beyond caring about modesty, about keeping the hem line down, the neck line up… She reached out for his hand, turning it over if he allowed it, pressing the ring into his palm then.* “To be honest… I was going to ask you to marry me…” *It was simple… Sweet… Honest and to the point… She had asked why he suddenly changed his professions, going from being the most amazing sailor to a man with ties strong to the land, and his story… IT broke her heart… To have been called out to save lives, only to lose them in the process, all for a lie… A falsehood… And all on the day she had come back to find him… To ask him to marry her… She mentioned the unfairness of it all… Caela coming out on top and leaving all the broken bodies of those who she had stepped on to get there… Coming out smelling sweet while the rest of them were left in the wreckage of her stench… He surprised her once more in fast order when he spoke on Caelas trial, how Rose had spoken out for her, how it helped to change his perspective…* “I wish I could say that too Garafin… I don’t think I can forgive her…” *She normally never held a grudge or got angry, but Caela, she had earned that special little privilege from her. She had a good run with the cards for a moment there, light laughs and smiles, a break in the mood for a moment… Speaking on odd ducks and his liking of them, more soft teasing, watching him slide off of the couch and onto the floor. She smiled down at him for a moment before dragging his foot up into her lap, lightly massaging up and down his calf as they spoke… Just wanting to touch him in these moments… The conversation shifted once more and she had a bit of a struggle in a moment there…Her emotions were higher than normal for her, but then again she had never been in this situation before, and the alcohol was making everything that much sharper… She told him she had come back when she was due to have Rose, that she was desperate to find him, to have him there with them… Caela stepping in once more and refusing her, blocking her path to him, saying Garafin wanted nothing to do with her…* “I wrote you every day over that year… At first I just never heard anything back… Then after a while my letters just began to be returned unopened, unread, a refusal of address…” *She said, her hands stilling on his leg, those deep green eyes looking down into his blues.* “There was no life elsewhere Garafin… They let me keep Rose for a week until a family came and took her from me… After that, my family sent me to a religious cloister, and I didn’t see the outside of the walls for ten years… By the time I was allowed to be free, I couldn’t find you, or Rose…” *She gently ran her thumb over the knot of his ankle as she looked at him there, this beautiful man that she was still head over heels in love with…* “When I was in that place or when I was struggling to make my way in this new world… You were always on my mind… No one has ever held my heart but you Garafin… And No one else ever will…”
(09/25/15-[03:18:15] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he had asked her what the question was.. what it was that she was going to ask him though at the time she could not locate him.. he watched her.. feeling the silence there as it settled around the both of them.. before she suddenly got up.. his brow rose.. his head tilting to the side a touch.. sitting up a little.. observing her moving back toward her bag there before she hunted around inside it.. returning to his side once more soon there after.. he was about to draw breath to question what was going on.. what she was doing before she reached for his hand there.. he naturally allowed her to do whatever she liked.. he sat up a little straighter there.. reaching with his free hand to remove his cigarette once more.. exhaling a long line of sweetly scented smoke before she placed the ring he had caught sight of earlier down into the dip of his palm.. his gaze.. that striking blue lifted.. looking to her when she admitted it.. that she was going to ask him to marry her.. he settled his back against the seat of the couch there as he glanced down to the ring there.. his fingers turning it about so he could look at the design of it.. turning it so as to see the inscription.. his heart took a good few leaps there in his chest.. the beats were quite shallow enough to take his breath away.. it knocked him pretty hard.. he exhaled softly..- .. Oh Melima.. .. his voice was little more than a whisper.. his hand rose as he rubbed it across his forehead.. his fingers gliding down along his cheek to scratch against his chin and jawline.. this was hard.. it was not so much awkward as he was just feeling so very conflicted- .. I wanted you.. So badly.. .. he just blurted out.. he placed the ring down upon the cards that rested there directly before him as his hands slid back through his hair and his fingers interlaced there against the back of his neck.. his elbows out to the sides.. he dipped back so the back of his head was atop the cushions of the couch- .. but you were no where to be seen.. I.. I just figured you were far to high above me.. and you come to that realisation.. that it was all just a bit of fun.. and when I didn’t hear from you.. .. his brows furrowed- .. I just figured that was it.. I don’t push.. I didn’t feel it right for me to be writing to a beautiful young woman that I had been lucky enough to spend a short period of time with.. I’m a bit old fashioned in that regard.. I would never presume that you wanted more.. .. his hands slid back down along his face there.. clearly a bit frustrated by it all- ..for the love of god.. .. he exhaled.. rubbing his temples.. he reached for his glass there.. downing the remainder of the whisky it contained.. grimacing as it burnt like a bitch on the way down.. - .. I never got the letters.. Im sorry.. I never even knew you were there.. I would never.. Ever have let you look after Rose on your own if I’d known.. never.. not in a million years.. I am So so sorry Melima.. .. she had pulled his leg up to rest there upon her lap.. he felt those touches.. the gentle massage up and down his calf.. she felt soft.. it was nice.. it was soothing.. he exhaled once more- .. this is an awkward situation.. .. there was a knock at the door then.. the help calling out that their meals were ready.. before he told them to come in.. to place them down upon the table there.. he lingered there looking to her a moment before he slowly pulled his leg away from her lap.. drawing himself to stand as he reached down to take her hand- . come.. .. his fingers would interlace with hers as he helped her to her feet-
(09/25/15-[09:31:59] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
: *It had not been an easy thing to answer… That question came with so many memories, so many feelings from deep inside her heart, both sweet and bitter… She didn’t know if she should answer it, not because she was ashamed of it, but because she was afraid… Afraid of what it might meant to him, what it might make him feel, what he would think of her… It would not be an easy thing for him to hear either, and just like stone, one could not undo what was done to it… This was their past, a shared one with plenty of rain and storms in it, and nothing they did now would ever remove the storms of their yesterdays…. Perhaps it was because of that she had gotten up and given him his ring, something she had tried to do for forty years, something that was… Well past due… She didn’t look away from his gaze as she told him she was going to ask him to marry her, she never wavered as she watched him, his beautiful eyes… She continued to watch him as he looked at the ring, the writing she had put on the band, the anchor and the little diamond in the front with the sea blue lacquer around it… She would have given quite a bit to know what he was thinking in those moments, what he was feeling, what was going on in places she couldn’t see… She was silent when he spoke, just a whisper at first, just her name… Before he admitted he had wanted her too, and badly, no less… She just watched… Seeing the way he moved, his hands running down his face before sliding to rest behind his neck, the way his head dropped to the cushion… When she did speak it was soft as well, like her the moment was tender and fragile, like something too sharp would just shatter the magical bubble…* “What you were mattered to me… Not because of rank or anything but because you were so passionate about everything… The sea was your home and you told me such grand wonderful adventures of lands far from my home, stories of mermaids and sea monsters, what the sun looks like just coming up over the sea… I didn’t care that I was a Princess and you were a Sailor… It never mattered to me… And it still doesn’t…” *She didn’t blame him for anything… No more than she was sure he didn’t blame her for not being able to keep Rose… What had happened to them had not been her, or his fault, but simply the actions of others… Her family for not letting her keep Rose and making her give her up, Caela for returning all her letters she had written for over twenty years, for people keeping them apart… She had lifted his leg to set it in her lap, gently rubbing his calf, long soft fingers working along the muscles there… It was a touch she allowed herself because it was innocent, but the pleasure it gave her, the solace… She needed it… Just to feel his warm strong body under her fingers, if only, only for a moment… Their game of rummy forgotten…* “I thought it was Caela after the first time she and I butted heads… I couldn’t imagine you not reading a single letter over twenty years… No one could be so heartless… I still tried though… I hoped that perhaps one might get through to you some day… Caela was very dedicated to her task it would seem…” *She wasn’t going to tell him that if Caela hadn’t interfered, they would have had Rose, they would have raised her together… Her family had gotten a little softer on her towards the end, her step-father telling her if she could find Garafin and have him agree to raise Rose with her, that she could have kept their baby… But she hadn’t found Garafin, Caela always managed to send him out of town around those times, as if she had a magic mirror that told her when such trips would be made…* “Please don’t blame yourself Garafin… Everything came out alright in the end… Our baby grew up into a strong young woman with children of her own, with two very strong husbands to keep her safe and give her what she needs… You used to tell me no sunrise was more beautiful than the one after a bad storm at sea, remember? Don’t hate the storm…” *She blushed out of embarrassment then, when he said it was an awkward situation, looking to the side there… She had done very well, or so she felt, over the weeks to keep things between them from going odd… She had even promised him she would do so… But it seems she failed and really.. How could she not? He pulled his leg away and she reached for her glass, finishing off her now third glass of wine and the bottle was nearing the empty side… She didn’t expect him to reaching down to her, to take her hand, her breath catching as he linked his fingers with hers… That sudden embarrassment shifted to elation as her heart pounded and raced suddenly, her fingers curling in, cupping his hand… She got up easily enough, pulling his shirt down from where it had been hiked up, straightening the collar… She walked with him over to the table and began to set out the silverware, bringing the whiskey and wine over, refilling their glasses all over again… She lifted off the silvered tray cover then, putting down his bowl of soup and bread on his side, the chicken and little red potatoes with a side of pasta for herself… She paused after all was done, looking to him as they stood by the table there, her fingers curling in around the hem of his shirt that she wore…* “Thank you…”
(09/25/15-[18:41:40] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..those striking blue eyes looked up to her there.. lingering upon her when she spoke about what he was and how it mattered to her.. that his passion meant the world.. how he loved the sea and how he told her of the wonderful and grand adventures he had ..he rubbed his lips together.. exhaling softly.. there was a lot going on in those moments .. a lot going on in his head.. so many what ifs.. so many missed opportunities and how right now.. this couldn’t have come at a worse time.. his poor heart was aching more than a bit.. and the guilt for the feelings he was entertaining was starting to win out.. she had taken his stretched out leg then.. rubbing along his ankle.. his calf there.. it felt nice.. simple.. soft.. he shook his head when she spoke about Caela..- .. If possible.. maybe we shouldn’t speak about her.. .. I really don’t think.. as much as I want to be respectful to everyone.. that she isn’t worth the breath or time wasted upon the mere thought of her.. in this instance.. she’s gone.. and.. I spent so much of my life on her.. I don’t want to spend a moment longer if I can possibly avoid it.. .. and it was true..his life.. a very very large chunk of it was spent on a woman who did not care a whit for him.. who never loved him.. who simply wanted to attain him.. to take him.. to keep him from others.. and he remained perfectly faithful to her.. in all aspects.. he had put himself out on the line for others.. he stepped in when he knew Diovan and Sybelle belonged together regardless of his own feelings for the lavender girl.. he took Caelas hand when so many around them told him it was the best option .. he listened to Caela when she told him that he was needed.. elsewhere.. on journeys and voyages.. never once questioning the sudden and urgent needs with no notice.. he had become so helpful and trusting in so many others.. forgetting all about himself in the process.. and he paid for it.. with a very.. very large section of his life.. the only honest to goodness part being when he was able to bring up Jacob as his own.. he was the only light in the dark of that very large blackened out piece of his history.. he nodded when she spoke about the sunrise after the storm- .. only then in the quiet moments after the storm.. do we learn who was strong enough to survive it.. .. their moment was interrupted then as there was a knock on the door..the help had arrived with their meals at last.. he motioned for them to place them on the table before he himself moved to stand.. he reached down for her.. asking her to come.. before he wrapped his fingers around her own.. he allowed her to use him as an anchor.. he helped her easily to her feet..he guided her over to the table there before he released her hand.. watching as she set out the plates.. the food and cutlery.. he waited until she herself had seated before he would do the same.. old fashioned manners afterall.. he settled in.. - .. no, thank you.. .. he motioned for her to begin.. and he would after she had.. taking in the soup there.. appreciative of the flavour.. it was good.. quite good indeed.. and warming him even more than the alcohol had only moments before.. glancing up to her every so often.. it was an odd situation.. to know this.. and yet to know in his position.. what could he do? .. he placed his spoon down- .. I wanted to thank you.. for everything you’re doing for her.. for Marabelle.. especially given all that.. well.. .. he exhaled.. - .. I know it must be hard..
(09/25/15-[19:36:49] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *The what if’s of their lives had often haunted her more than once in her life. It was a regular recurrence for her, the wondering, the dreams of what might have been… It was not an easy thing. She struggled with it some days when it was especially bad, when it was all she could do to drag herself out of bed, to find that silver lining he had taught her about… She managed, but she could honestly say that it never went away, she just got better at dealing with it… Pretending it was ok… She had been doing it since she got back, finding him free of Caela only to have fallen in with another, once more missing that window… Always coming just a little too late… Like Caela had cursed her… She had reached down to take his leg and gently massage it, just needing that reassurance of him, that he was really there… That this was no dream… His words on Caela then earned a nod from her… For her, she felt better for vetting her emotions, her thoughts on it… But even while she had suffered because of the woman’s actions, Garafin had been forced to live through them… He easily had the worst of it, being stuck like that with her, falling in love and being faithful to her when Caela had no feelings for him at all…* “Consider it closed and finished… I won’t speak of her again. You know… Your legs are still quite nice… They’re bigger now, I think, than they were while you were at sea…” *He had always been very well built, but his work here on land had given him stronger legs, the flare of his calves was…. Very…. Very nice… She wouldn’t bring up Caela again, after all what was said was said, and what was done was done… Maybe, if Hanali wished it, they might have a chance later… An opportunity to discuss things but right now… He was right… It didn’t need to be said or spoken of… She spoke instead of his words, things he had told her once a very long time ago, when he caught her upset at having to leave… She didn’t want to go… She wanted to say with Garafin, to ask him the question that had burned in her heart, to see if he felt the same… That was all she had wanted to do… But her family was demanding her return, and she had known that the moment she returned home, there would be nothing but fire and sword waiting for her… While Garafin had lost a large section of his life with Caela, she had lost a large part of hers too, though not in the same way as perhaps he had… She had lost her family, she was forced to give up her only child, disowned by her family… She had lost people who had once been her friends, the comfortable lifestyle she had always had, the security in knowing where she belonged… She had been thrust out, heartsick and broken days after Rose was born, shoved into a covenant to hide her shame… After she left it wasn’t to return home, but out into the real world as it was, learning everything she needed to survive in the world without any previous experience… She had discovered she had a natural talent for healing, and she had devoted thirty years to her craft, specializing in rare and lethal health issues… Cancers… Viruses… Diseases… The things that killed elves… She knew them all… She couldn’t help Garafin with what was hurting him though, it was an issue of the soul, the pain within his heart and mind… It was an illness she could not treat… She had no treatment for it…* “Exactly… “ *Garafin was the strongest man she had ever known, she adored him with all she had, and her respect for him was boundless… She knew he would come out on top of this, his ship a little battered, the sails a little torn… But sound… Whole… The knock at the door had shattered the little bubble the and perhaps with a good reason, she knew that there were lines in the sand around them, little borders they should not cross… And if they kept it up, they would be crossed, and he would regret it in the morning… Her regret would follow in his owns shadow… So she got up when he offered his hand, their fingers linking, and she had set up the table for them. She sat down a moment after thanking him for all of this… For the talk… Most of all for the talk. She smiled as he turned it around, nodding her head softly before she would begin to eat, the chicken so juicy and tender… The potatoes were young and sweet and cooked with herbs and pink salt… It was all a beautiful melody of taste on her tongue. She was taking another drink of her wine, the last in the bottle, the two of them casting glances at once another over their plates… Sometimes catching each other looking, sometimes not… She in wonder of just how beautifully he had aged… Of everything about him now… When he spoke, the way he thanked her for caring for Marabelle, especially with everything in mind… She set her fork and knife down, half the plate finished as she reached for her wine, taking another long drink before she spoke.* “Marabelle is a very… Delicate case… She’s a warm woman inside and out, she loves very deeply, selflessly… Regardless of how it effects me… She matters to you… and that is all that matters to me Garafin…”
(09/25/15-[22:36:08] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
:
www.roleplayoasis.com/forums/index.php?topic=1161.0 (for those entering)
(09/26/15-[03:53:23] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: .. he had told her that it would probably be best to not speak about Caela anymore.. he knew that it was a sore point.. and it really was for the both of them but if they continued it was highly possible the mood would shift.. and he would become frustrated and he had made a promise to himself that he was not going to allow that woman to consume his mind.. his actions or emotions for a single moment longer.. he tilted his head when she said his legs were still nice.. that they were bigger than than they were when he was at sea.. he laughed a little and shook his head- .. Lot more hard work on the land.. built that Inn up from almost nothing by hand.. plus.. .. he patted his belly there- .. Cook makes sure I am well fed.. .. he just watched her there as she sat across from him.. he could feel the gentle massage against his somewhat tired and tight muscles.. it was nice.. it really was and he was entertaining thoughts fuelled by the sweet laced cigarettes and the extremely smooth whisky that he knew his guilt would kick him for later.. the cards had been forgotten about for the moment.. the two of them just.. existing in the same space.. comfortably.. a little awkwardly yes but things were being said that really needed to be.. things that were brewing just beneath the surface and had been since she had come back.. the two of them were interrupted by the help arriving with their meals.. he drew her to her feet then.. his fingers curling around her own as he guided her across to the table.. she set out the cutlery and the food for the both of them.. he waited for her to be seated before he himself would settle.. he thanked her for all the trouble she had gone to.. before he began to tuck into the meal there.. the soup.. the warmed bread.. it was all quite lush.. perfectly seasoned.. and the bread was crusty and just right.. he had made the remark there .. the offer of thanks for what she was doing for Marabelle.. especially given what she had been feeling.. he nodded at her response there.. that Marabelle was indeed a lovely woman.. inside and out.. - .. she does.. she’s a pretty special person.. and I feel lucky.. to have been a part of her life.. for as long as she will be around.. I wont deny that it makes me a little angry.. to see someone so young being struck down with something so very horrible.. I’d much rather have taken it on myself.. I have lived my life.. sure it hasn’t been a perfect one.. but.. I have seen many years.. and experienced a lot.. and yet she is so young.. So very young.. she should by all rights have her entire life ahead of her.. .. he shook his head there as he plucked up his glass of whisky there.. downing the remainder of the amber liquid there as he grimaced just a touch when it burnt on the way down..- .. it’s not fair.. plain and simple.. and then you have the whole argument of.. there are some people in this world who continue to do So much wrong.. who lie and cheat and steal and kill.. and yet.. it’s the good ones that seem to suffer the most.. .. he tore off another piece of his bread there- .. I sincerely hope she will have a better time.. on the other side..I really and truly do.. I could only wish her the best and if I could have a private meeting with the gods and goddesses themselves I would offer up all I could to make sure her transition to the farshore was a smooth one.. but alas.. I am not afforded such a luxury.. I will forever be in your debt.. for looking after her as you are..Im serious.. .. he nodded.. looking across to her there.. .. but really.. please.. can we talk about something else.. Anything else.. I fear I’ll just slide right off this chair and down under the table if this continues.. .. he rubbed his forehead with his hand there- ..
(09/26/15-[05:22:00] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: *She couldn’t help the spontaneous giggle that erupted from her when he talked about how his Cook made sure he was well fed… She knew the work on land was hard, she had learned that very truth herself many times over the years, but she couldn’t help the rich little laugh about the food part.* “I am sure he must have! You couldn’t have put on this sort of physique with just rum and biscuits!” *She teased him back, just smiling for him there, he head tilted to the side.* “When I came by at first, I thought I was in the wrong place, I couldn’t believe what you had done to that little house… It was a cute little place at the first I remember, a five bedroom home that was converted to a bed and breakfast, and now look at it… One of the best Inns in all of Arvandor… One day you will have to tell me the story of how you did it all… The things that inspired you…” *Forty years had changed the large elvish sea facing home into one of the most beautiful and charming Inns she had ever seen in her life. It wasn’t grand or fancy like some places were, no the thing that made the inn the best one to her? Was how you felt when you came in. You didn’t feel like you were walking into an Inn… You felt like you were coming home. At least, that was how she had felt… This felt like a dream to her… All of this. Him and her together, talking about everything that needed to be said, finding things out together… Of course, she was a little more… Liberal than she normally would have been, but that laced cigarette and the almost whole bottle of wine had gotten her to drop walls she had built up for a very long time, opening so many doors… The moment was broken just a bit with the door, but when he had held her hand, linking their fingers… Her heart had skittered around quite a bit! To cover her racing pulse and the joy she had gotten just from that simple touch, she began to set the table for them, taking her seat after refilling their glasses. The food really was fantastic, well worth the wait in her mind, the potatoes just had that perfect sweetness that blended like a dream against the savory spices… She was half way through the plate when she had to pause for a moment, to let it all settle, to give his words the attention they needed. Her position there with Marabelle hurt… A lot… She didn’t speak of it, she didn’t show it, but it took so much out of her… She was constantly at war inside herself, the jealousy and sympathy often fighting like a couple of lions in her heart, and she wouldn’t even begin to try and sort out what her mind was going through… Even worse was how Marabelle had gotten her to help… Playing on her love of Garafin to have her stay and keep her secret, to put herself on such a thin wire, cutting herself for the sake of a love that still burned so very brightly in her chest… She wouldn’t tell him that though, he would feel worse for it, and it would be an unkindness to a woman who was a good person. Instead she gave his words the attention they deserved, her hands resting over her bent knee, watching him across the table.* “Garafin… As terrible as it is… It is a part of our life, our world, and a price we pay to live here in Arvandor… We don’t suffer or age like Mortals do… We have a world that is the most beautiful in all existence… We enjoy long lives with wonderful health, a world full of magic and all the beauty it encompasses… We don’t die from age… Look at us… Well past the middle of a humans lifespan, yet here we are, barely into the prime of our lives… Without things like what Marabelle is going through, our world would become instable, we would put a strain on it like the humans do on their surface… “ *It was something she made herself believe over the years, when a too tender and too innocent heart was thrust into the rosebed of life, both beautiful and painful all at once… She watched as he continued to eat, and when he said he wished he could make it a smooth transition, she smiled softly.* “The Gods heard you Garafin… I specialize in this… She feels no pain Garafin… She is just tired, but I keep the pain from her, I can promise you that…” *He begged off then for a change of topic as he looked at her, her lips twitching up in a little smile there, knowing exactly how he felt…* “Did I tell you that our little Rose was supposed to be Reigh? When I went for my check ups. The doctor swore to me I was having a little boy, and so I began to think of boy names for our son… Thinking about who he might look like, if he would have your coloring or mine, or neither of us but some distant relative perhaps… I was in labor for ages, she was taking her sweet time coming I promise you, two days she took… But when she was born she was so beautiful Garafin… So much thick blond hair like sunlight, and a wee little rose birthmark on her belly like mine, and NO boy parts. The doctor swore Rose changed sexes in the two days it took to deliver her, saying she did it just to spite him, that sweet silly thing was so embarrassed!”
(09/26/15-[05:43:08] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he nodded when she said he would have to tell her one day of how he had done it all.. how he had managed to bring up that Inn from the wee little 5 bedroom house to one of the largest Inns in Arvandor proper.. - .. Oh of course.. it’s an interesting tale.. Ill be sure to share it with you one day.. .. he had drank down the remainder of his whiskey then.. feeling that burn.. grimacing a touch in the process.. oh but it felt heavenly once its warmth over took him.. it was forcing him to relax…to let loose all the insecurities.. the awkward feelings.. all of it.. just washing away.. enabling his shoulders to sink down.. his posture to settle.. the meal was good.. extremely good no less.. the food perfectly seasoned.. the right temperature.. everything about it was well worth the wait.. they spoke about Marabelle and he did thank her for all she was doing.. knowing as much as he does now he could only imagine how hard things must have been for her at times.. he spoke about how he wished Marabelles illness was on someone.. like himself.. someone older.. who had seen the better part of life.. not someone so young with still so much life ahead of them.. he nodded at her response.. - .. no.. no you’re right.. yes.. of course.. .. he exhaled- .. I don’t like it.. but yes you are right in that regard.. we have it pretty damn good considering.. . he tilted his head.. his hand rubbing at his cheek a little when she said that the gods knew what he wanted.. and how Marabelle was feeling no pain.. that the girl was just tired.. - .. thank you.. for that .... he settled back in his seat a bit more there.. his hands coming down from the table to rest there upon his lap.. .. I will be honest I don’t know how Im going to take it when it gets to the end.. but.. I guess.. will just have to wait.. .. he made mention the fact it was time for a subject change.. like really badly.. he was about to slide off the chair if this continued at the rate it was.. and she did just that.. talking on how Rose was meant to be a boy.. his brow rose a little and he chuckled- .. really?.. a boy?.... he scratched his chin a little there.. - . don’t know why I am surprised that she managed to some how switch it up and well.. surprise everyone.. that’s just how she is.... he chuckled and shook his head a little.. a smile appearing there all be it on the small side- .. still..I cant imagine Arvandor without her around.. if she was a lad she’d have probably travelled and not settled so easily.. the pregnancy.. was it ok?..did you have any troubles?
(09/26/15-[06:36:19] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: “I will hold you to that, you know, so best be prepared! I can be quite stubborn when I want to be.” *Which was more than true enough in many instances. She was worse than a dog with a bone when she got truly set on something, and nothing other than satisfaction would get her to let it go, which meant she would poke at him to tell her later on in the future. Alcohol and cigarettes had loosened their tongues, but when some filters dropped, so did others… It wasn’t a bad thing, even if the conversation was not of a light and bubbly nature, that didn’t mean it was bad… They were all things that needed to be said in the end, forty years of separation condensed down into a few words… So very badly needed, and yet, she felt better for it… She took a sip of her wine as they spoke on Marabelle, how unfair it was for her, to be so very young and yet be going through what she was… In truth she hated it but in the end? She always found a silver lining somewhere… She had to… After a bit of silence on her part, she reached out to take his hand, to hold it between hers.* “I haven’t lived the life you have… I haven’t suffered or hurt the way you have… I can’t tell you that I know how you feel… If I might be so bold…” *She asked softly, giving his hand a squeeze if he let her take it in the first place, stroking her thumb up along the side of his own.* “Marabelle knew this was going to happen since she was little… I know your heart is hurting you but… The time you are sharing with her? It’s the best she has ever known… You’ve let her fall in love, you taught her what it’s like to love someone with all you have, and to feel loved in return… She has learned to laugh and love, to know what passion and desire are… She will give birth… You’ve given her everything she never had before… You might curse her situation but… In her mind?” *She said softly, reaching up to touch his face, to cradle his cheek if he didn’t pull away… A soft smile on her face, full of warmth, of gentle support.* “She’s had just the right amount of time…” *She wasn’t sure if she would, or should, ever tell Garafin what Marabelle asked her to do… That was a secret she would keep for a little while longer… She would remove her hands back to herself there as he begged to change the topic, and who could blame him, truly? She had done her best to try and bring to light some of the warm, soft, beautiful things about what was going on… To point out that silver and gold lining on the clouds for him, to show the end of the storm he was weathering, and hopefully lighten the weight upon his heart… So in order to change it up, she told him about Rose, their baby girl and how it had been to be pregnant with her. A funny little story about how Rose was supposed to be a boy but how at the end, she came out a golden little girl, all thick blond hair and big beautiful eyes… A bright smile lit up her face when he took to the new subject, the laughter from him was encouraging, as were his questions.* “Oh yes! I was surprised but quite happy, thinking about little boys names before I settled on Reigh, I loved the way it sounded… Reigh Aranosse… So when I went into labor everyone was prepared for a little boy, with a little powder blue onesie and little mittens, all of it… Then when she arrived a very happy, chubby baby girl, well everyone was a bit confused! I had no girl names picked out what so ever, but when I saw her little birthmark on that chubby baby belly, I just knew… Rosamund… Rose of the world… She was certainly the rose of mine… So chubby and perfect…” *She said with a warm laugh of her own, resting her hand in her cheek for a moment as she took another drink of her wine, that smile starting to stick to her lips as she thought about the little girl she had loved more than anything else in the world…* “Mmm, with my love of adventures and your wander lust, she never would have settled down if she were a boy I think… She would probably end up like her father, a kind hearted pirate with a chest full of gold…” *She tapped over her heart then, looking at him across the table, a little wriggle of her nose with another smile.* “The pregnancy was insultingly easy or so I was told. I never had any issues like morning sickness or fatigue, if anything I had more energy while I was pregnant, I didn’t even swell. I ate like a pig though, I was Always hungry, like there was never enough food. I was told it was my eating that made the labor take so long, Rose was a very round baby when she was born, she was honestly soo chubby. She was such a good baby too, she never cried or fussed, she just smiled and laughed and gurgled… She was so perfect.” *Her pregnancy had been a dream, the only issue was the hormones, those played a game of merry hell with her…* “I know you were way when she was born but I always wondered if you would have been happy with a little girl… SO many men I know are always harping on about boys, heirs and all that, but I don’t think you care about that… Do you?:”
(09/26/15-[16:20:20] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..she spoke on the fact that she had not lived the life he had.. that she hadn’t suffered or hurt the way he had.. he shook his head-.. we can’t judge one persons lifes struggles on the measures of anothers.. your struggles are just as valid.. .. she spokeon how she knew his heart was hurting.. but that he was doing a lot for young Marabelle.. allowing her to experience things that she would not possibly be able to.. he simply nodded.. he had nothingto say toward that.. it would be a sore point for along time.. something he wouldn’t be able to sit with for quite a while.. he returned to his meal there.. partaking in a bit more of the soup.. the warmed bread and the perfectly seasoned vegetables.. he asked of her to change the subject.. that it was time for them to talk on other things ..she brought up how young Rose was meant to be a boy.. for the longest time only to turn out to be the sweetest little girl ever.. he offered a smile a nod of his head..- .. she certainly sounds it.. ..he made the comment about how if Rose were a boy that she probably wouldn’t have remained in Arvandor.. the lad would have taken off.. exploring much like he did for most of his life..he chuckled when she said Rose would have ended up like him.. a kind hearted pirate with a chest full of gold..he asked her how her pregnancy went.. was it simple or did she struggle.. he genuinely wanted to know..nodding as he listened.. having settled back in his seat there.. finished with his meal for the most part.. - .. Ahh good good.. it’s always a bit of a blessing to see a woman go through an easier pregnancy.. so many seem to struggle with it.. .. he tilted his head when she asked about wether or not he cared about boys or girls.. heirs and the like- .. it’s never bothered me.. I don’t have a kingdom to keep an heir in power..I adore little Pia.. she is a ray of sunshine to me.. and I brought up Jacob from practically a baby..so I have been around both.. I just wanted children.. have for a long time, not a lot.. nothing like what Rose and Jacob have.. I don’t have it in me anymore... .. his hands rested down on his lap- .. Just a couple.. playing catch up on my life afterall.. .. he placed his cutlery down upon the plate there.. - .. this was lovely, thank you for ordering for me.. it certainly filled an empty spot.. .. he slowly rose from his seat there.. his head was feeling a bit on the heavy side.. he moved across the room there.. sinking down on the couch before the fire place.. settling in against the cushions-
09/26/15-[17:12:16] ) .:Loss:.
.:She Was Mine:.
says to ..-The Golden Heart-...…: “Well yes… That it a bit like calling a fish a fool because it can not climb a tree… Our stuggles are all valid I won’t argue that…” *But she didn’t so much worry about her struggles… She worried about his… He was the one in the most pain right now… He was the one who’s heart was bleeding… She simply wanted him to know that she understood and that… She was here for him… She wouldn’t tell him he had to take his sorrow and tears elsewhere just because it was a painful situation for her too. He had asked her about her pregnancy with Rose, how it had gone, and she was more than happy to tell him all about it. She hadn’t been able to keep Rose long, just a week, but she had packed in so very many memories… She told him how everyone swore it was going to be a little boy, the name she had picked out for him, only to find out that the little boy was in fact? A happy, chubby, round little girl. How it was perhaps better that she was born a little girl or the wanderlust would have never left her and she would have roamed about everywhere the winds and tides could take her... What sort of adventures would their son have had, if they had had such a child? Would he have been so very fond of wandering? Or would he have preferred to stay at home and be studious like young Jacob? Would he have become a sailor or a healer like herself? There were millions of paths and all of them happy, at least, to her mind… Though their daughters path now, though not exactly the smoothest sea one could sail, was certainly full of it’s own adventures and joys…* “I have noticed it myself… I always felt a little guilty that mine was so easy but so many others encounter rougher waters.” *She said with a little laugh before she had asked him if he preferred one or the other, some men were all about having little boys in their wake, while others preferred girls… And some cared not at all so long as the mother and child were healthy… She was glad that Garafin fell in to the later really, and every time he spoke about their daughter, she knew it was with nothing but love straight from the heart.* “Pia surprises me to no end, such a smart little girl, and still just a baby really… Jacob is a fine young man and I enjoy the visits we share immensely, I am so happy that he found Rose, that he took her back to us…” * At his words she nodded her head gently. She had wanted children too… Not a grand, large family, in truth she had no idea how their daughter managed four… She would have liked two, perhaps three at the most, a snug little family unit… She didn’t really mind boys or girls, so long as they were happy and healthy, that was all that mattered to her… In those days so long ago… She and Garafin had talked about how they both wished for children… It was why she never took anything after their week together… She simply let nature take it’s course, and if she was meant to have a child, she would… When she had found out she was expecting it was one of the most terrifying yet beautiful days she had had in her life… Remembering it in those moments had her silent, her fingers resting over her belly, a flash of sorrow there for a moment… She was closing that gap… She knew she had five years or so left to have another baby before that great change came over her, and after that happened?… She wanted another baby, she wanted to be able to raise them, to love them and hold them and go through the motions of life with them… She wanted what had been taken from her by people who understood nothing and cared for less than nothing…* “You’re a beautiful father Garafin…” *She said with a soft smile. He finished his meal and she herself was full, though she would have probably finished off another bottle of wine if she had it. Whether or not that would have been wise though…. Her movements were graceful and silent as she placed the plates together, one atop the other, watching him stand and move to take a seat on the couch. “It was my pleasure, I am just glad I remember what you like to eat, I thought I might have forgotten.” *She stood herself after placing it all on the tray, setting it outside the door for the help, leaving the room as tidy as it had been when they first arrived. She made him the last glass of whiskey then, setting it beside him before sorting out the cards, putting them all back in their box… Oh she was pleasantly blitzed and warm to her toes, his shirt comfortable and warm against her skin, and that was exactly how she went to bed… She slid into the side closest to the door out of habit, pulling the blanket up as she watched him there by the fire, storing up the image of him for a moment.* “I think it’s wise for me to go to bed now… Come in when ever you are ready…” * She needed to sleep… Not because she was tired because she honestly wasn’t… She needed to sleep so she wouldn’t say or do anything they would regret tomorrow… Like sitting in his lap like she used to and stealing a kiss.*
(09/27/15-[04:48:12] )
..-The Golden Heart-...
…Garafin Aranossë...
When I give you my time, I’m giving you a portion of my life that I will never get back
Please don’t make me regret it
: ..he had wished her a quiet good night.. assuring her he would be settling in there soon enough.. he just needed to sit up a little bit longer.. gather his thoughts.. let the food he had just eaten settle..he watched her a moment as she sunk down into the bedding.. and pulled the covers up.. he made sure the lights were down to a very minimum so they wouldn’t disturb her.. he didn’t really need anything other than the glow of the fireplace afterall.. his elbow rested to the arm of the chair.. his cheek to his then opened palm.. he just stared into the flickering flames.. watching as slowly over time they began to grow smaller.. and smaller.. leaving only the hot orange coals behind.. his mind wandered a little.. over things that had been spoken.. actions made.. declarations aired.. it had been quiet a journey .. the past couple of weeks had shocked him just about to his core.. and even now.. things continued to strike him.. to surprise him and he was still travelling that fine line between guilt and acceptance.. he had rubbed his cheeks.. his forehead.. and dragged his fingers back throug his hair before he pushed himself to stand .. wavering perhaps just a little.. his body was exhausted.. and his mind was quite softened.. his heart was intoxicated only seconded by his mind,,he made his way across to the bed there.. removing the shoes from his feet as he quietly slipped down into the awaiting warmth.. it was smaller than he realised.. it looked much larger.. but that was when no one was in it.. she was a small thing already so it was clearly all just him.. he shifted about a touch.. before he just reached out.. sliding his arm beneath her as he settled his head to his pillow.. they would both remain on their sides.. facing one another.. to sleep.. -
